"Extra-large katsu curry! And make it extra, extra saucy!"
As soon as fourth period ended and lunch break began, I headed to the school cafeteria with Miyama, just as we’d agreed yesterday. Miyama, showing absolutely no restraint, had me shell out 1,000 yen for her extra-large katsu curry.
(Since I made the promise, I won't complain. Or rather, I can't.)
Even an introverted otaku like me has a shred of masculine pride.
(Still, the extra-large portions at our cafeteria are notoriously massive.)
The moment that thought crossed my mind, the beast emerged from the pickup window. It was a mountain of white rice topped with eight thick cutlets, the savory curry poured so high it was practically surface tension holding it back from the edge of the plate.
Just looking at it was enough to make me feel full—and give me a phantom case of heartburn.
I think I'll just stick to a single rice ball today... (Mostly for the sake of my bank account).
We grabbed our respective meals and sat down across from each other at a table for two.
Lunch with Airi Miyama... if I’d told myself two days ago that this would happen, I would've thought I was hallucinating.
This was the second time I’d been face-to-face with her since yesterday, but no matter how many times I looked, her facial beauty score was easily University of Tokyo level, and as for her chest, that was Harvard valedictorian tier (definitively).
Besides, for a loner like me, having lunch with a girl was a first since the days of mandatory middle school seating. The tension was off the charts.
(I have to be extra careful with my table manners.)
"Thanks for buying today, okay? Sorry I picked something so expensive."
"It's fine. It's just pay-back for yesterday..."
"Are you really okay with just one rice ball, Ryouta?"
"I'm a light eater."
The truth was I had to endure the hunger because of my dwindling funds, but I wasn't about to admit that.
"You’re surprisingly conscientious, Ryouta."
"Conscientious? Me?"
"Yeah. Honestly, Airi didn't think you’d actually treat me. I figured it was just a verbal promise and you’d find a way to wiggle out of it."
She had zero faith in me. Even if I am a loner, I'm the kind of person who stands by his word.
"By the way, I've been meaning to ask..."
"Hmm?"
"Don't you think people are... staring?"
I stole a quick glance around. Sure enough, the local boys were shooting me looks filled with palpable murderous intent and jealousy.
"Who is that guy? What class is he even in?"
"Eating lunch alone with Airi Miyama... I'm so jealous I could die."
"Pant, pant... My precious Airi-tan is... heavy breathing..."
Well, of course it turned out like this. Miyama herself seemed oblivious, but she had the kind of idol-like status that commanded a school-wide fanbase. Seeing an idol like her sharing a meal with a bottom-tier loner like me was more than a scandal—it was a riot waiting to happen.
(Goodbye, my peaceful school life...)
"Hey, Ryouta? You listening?"
"Wh-?! Y-y-yeth?!"
Miyama snapped me out of my internal panic.
"Geez, ignoring me is the worst."
"I-I'm sorry! Please forgive me, I'll do anything!"
"You don't have to apologize that intensely... well, whatever."
Miyama started talking again while aggressively shoveling curry into her mouth.
"So, about this morning."
"U-uh-huh."
"Were you talking to Yuria about something, Ryouta?"
Gah... she saw that? Miyama didn't miss a beat, stuffing more cutlet into her mouth, chewing, swallowing, and then immediately opening it again to speak.
"I wouldn't call it 'talking.' We just exchanged a few words... but why do you ask?"
"Ah, Ryouta, were you in a different class last year? I guess it makes sense you wouldn't know."
"Huh? Know what?"
"Yuria, see, she's almost never spoken to a boy since our first year."
"Wait, really?"
"Yeah. That’s why I was so shocked to see her talking to you."
Ichinose didn't talk to guys? That was a surprise. Since she was a gyaru, I’d just assumed she had a boyfriend and a bustling social life.
"So, what were you two talking about? Was it something... spicy?"
"N-no! She just told me, 'I've memorized it,' and that was it..."
"Yuria said that? What's that supposed to mean?"
(I was hoping you could tell me...)
"Hmm, 'I've memorized it,' huh? I wonder."
"I’d like to know too, if possible... but it's not like I can just go ask..."
The hurdle for a loner like me to approach a downer gyaru like Ichinose was simply too high.
"Well, as her best friend, I could always go find out for you."
"Really?"
"Actually, wait! Timeout! That wouldn't be any fun."
"Huh?"
Miyama finished the last of her curry, pressed her hands together in thanks, and gave me another one of those practiced winks.
"I'll tell you something especially good right now, so why don't you try asking her yourself, Ryouta?"
"Something... good?"