As the warm sunlight streamed through the window and bathed me in its glow, my mind drifted toward a single question: what was for lunch today?
"That’s why, since Kai-chan is going to eat the bento I made, the Death King can head on home."
"...Fate... go home... and do your work."
The temperature today was perfect, the kind that made the idea of a nap feel absolutely blissful. There was a lawn-like area in the garden of Lilia-san’s mansion, and I found myself wanting to curl up right there.
Having a pet would make it even better. Napping with a cat on my lap was a situation I’d always longed for.
"Work is what the God of Space-Time is for! Besides, aren't you the one who shouldn't be visiting the Human Realm so casually? Don't blame me if this turns into a massive scene."
"...It's fine... Lilliwood... will take care of it."
Eating outside on a beautiful day like this sounded wonderful. It might be fun to invite Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san, the group caught up in the summoning with me, for a picnic.
Well, our destination would probably just be the mansion's garden, though...
"Kai-chan, are you even listening?"
"...Kaito... which bento... will you eat?"
"..."
Right. It was time to stop escaping reality. Staring at the two bento boxes held out toward me, I let out a heavy sigh.
"...I mean, how did I even end up in this situation...?"
If I recalled correctly, it all started about ten minutes ago. Isis-san, whom I had an appointment with since yesterday, had come to visit Lilia-san’s mansion.
Then Fate-san showed up unannounced, and before I knew it, the two of them were locked in a standoff.
"Look, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, right? So, as a pre-investment so that Kai-chan will support me in the future... even though it was a pain, an absolute massive pain, I worked hard and made this bento for Kai-chan!"
"...I-I see."
"...I... wanted Kaito to eat... something delicious... I'd never cooked before... but I studied... and made this."
"Th-Thank you very much."
What was I supposed to do? To be honest, my current preference was split about nine-to-one in favor of Isis-san’s meal. Compared to Fate-san—who was driven by ulterior motives and insisted on emphasizing how much of a "pain" it was to cook—I could feel nothing but pure affection from Isis-san.
The difference between them was as stark as that between an angel and a devil, but I couldn't exactly snub Fate-san when she’d gone to the trouble of making a bento, regardless of her intentions.
However, both of the boxes being offered were quite large, each about the size of a single layer of a tiered lunch box. Eating two of them would be a serious challenge.
I could try to eat half of each... but I felt bad leaving any of Isis-san’s food behind, unlike Fate-san’s. Fate-san's, on the other hand...
"...Hey, Kai-chan? Is it my imagination, or am I being savagely insulted in your head right now?"
"It’s your imagination."
"A beautiful girl like me cooked for you, so shouldn't you be weeping with gratitude?"
"It loses its impact when you say it yourself."
I gave a half-hearted response to Fate-san, who was surprisingly sharp, and Isis-san spoke up with a worried look on her face.
"...Kaito... are you okay? ...If you're not hungry... will you eat it later?"
"No, I was actually just thinking it was about time for lunch. I'm really happy for your consideration, Isis-san."
"...Something’s wrong. There is a glaring difference in how you're treating me compared to the Death King, isn't there?"
"It's your imagination."
Despite the dismissive way I was handling her, I was genuinely happy that Fate-san had cooked for me.
I was a guy, after all. Having two beautiful girls like Isis-san and Fate-san prepare home-cooked meals for me was something to be grateful for.
"...Ah, I know! Why don't the three of us eat together? That way, we can handle this amount..."
"Sure! Aside from snacks and things, it's been a while since I've had a proper meal."
"...For me... it's been... four thousand years..."
"...Eh?"
I tilted my head in confusion at Isis-san’s casual remark about not having a meal in four millennia. Fate-san spoke up to explain, sensing my question.
"Ah, Kai-chan. The Death King and I are a bit different from humans. Eating and sleeping aren't necessities for us; they're strictly hobbies."
"I see..."
"Anyway, putting that aside... shall I be the first to unveil my bento?"
Speaking in her usual relaxed tone, Fate-san placed the large bento box on the table and pulled off the lid.
Inside, I saw a variety of colorful vegetables and fruits... and that was it.
"...Wait, Fate-san? What exactly is this?"
"It’s a bento."
"To me, it looks like a box filled with nothing but raw, peeled vegetables and fruit..."
"...Kai-chan."
"Yes?"
"Don't you think that just peeling them... was a pretty big effort for someone like me?"
"..."
I didn't even know where to start. It wasn't that there was some hidden ingenuity or specific intent behind it; she had quite literally just peeled some ingredients and thrown them in a box.
I didn't understand. I truly didn't. I had no idea why Fate-san was wearing such a triumphant expression after showing me this...
"...Fate-san, does this actually look delicious to you?"
"Nope, not at all! Honestly, it looks like animal fodder!"
"Then why did you bring it!?"
"I thought maybe I could just wing it with enough energy and momentum!"
Where was her guardian? Chronoa-san... Please, I'm begging you, come take her home immediately...
"...Fate... you mustn't... let Kaito eat... a bento like that."
"Okay, fine, maybe I cut a few too many corners. But couldn't my love have covered the difference?"
"...I think... that's impossible."
"Guh... Fine then! What kind of bento did the Death King bring?"
"...I... properly made... the food Kaito likes."
The animal fodder—er, Fate-san’s bento—was whisked away by Isis-san. Now, the bento box Isis-san had brought sat before me.
But the food I liked? Was it Hamburg steak or fried shrimp? Wait, did I ever tell Isis-san what my favorite foods were?
With those doubts in mind, I lifted the lid... only to find the box packed to the brim with a massive amount of baby castella.
Wait, what? A baby castella bento? Since when was this my favorite food...? No, no, it definitely wasn't!
"...I-Isis-san? What... exactly is this...?"
"...I asked... Kuromueina... what food Kaito likes."
I knew that Spirit of Baby Castella was the culprit! Why was she going around telling people that was my favorite food?!
"...Um, Isis-san? It's not that I particularly consider baby castella to be my favorite..."
"...I-Is that... so? ...I'm sorry... I..."
"Ah—no, wait! I just remembered! I love baby castella more than anything! Man, I'm so happy! I've never seen such a wonderful bento before!"
"...I'm glad... I'm happy... that Kaito is pleased."
I had been about to tell her the truth, but the moment I saw the sorrowful expression on her face, I immediately abandoned that plan.
Regardless of whether it was baby castella, there was no changing the fact that Isis-san had worked hard to make this for me. I’d figure out a way to gently correct the misinformation without hurting her while I ate.
That’s right. For the sake of Isis-san’s smile... I’d polish off this entire box of baby castella without breaking a sweat.
"There really is a difference in how you're treating us, isn't there?"
"It's your imagination."
After giving a short reply to Fate-san, I turned my attention to the challenge: a tiered lunch box overflowing with baby castella.
On this day, a brand-new trauma regarding baby castella was engraved into my heart.