As far as I know, the school lunches at Gehenna are quite inconsistent thanks to Juri’s ability to put a bad spin on food. But since Juri is still a middle schooler, it’s pretty obvious that the cafeteria staff consists of just last year’s Fuka, who just entered first year, and a few unidentified seniors from the third year set to graduate.
According to Hina’s testimony, those third-years are equally iffy, but no way they could be worse than Juri. That would be something that couldn’t possibly exist in reality — something that definitely shouldn’t exist.
The advantage of walking alongside Aco with Hina in between us is that the crazies bothering us have vanished without a trace.
On our way to the Gehenna student cafeteria, the delinquents who crossed our path tucked their tails between their legs the moment they spotted Hina. Watching them stiffen up and silently retreat was indeed a strange kind of satisfaction.
By the way…
“Hey, today’s school lunch was a bit strange, wasn’t it? I heard some weird noises from the kitchen earlier.”
“Yeah, it felt like we were back in last year. If I had known, I would’ve just eaten in town.”
What do you mean by that, Gehenna mob friends? Why does my one attempt to try the school lunch immediately spark talk about how weird it is? And what’s up with those strange noises?
“Well, it’s obvious without even looking. It must’ve been those idiots again.”
“Ah… right. It can’t be explained otherwise.”
“It’s so annoying that they keep causing trouble at the student cafeteria. I really want to teach them a lesson, but it’s like fighting a wall! Ugh…!”
Hearing those two mobs pass by from the direction of the student cafeteria, our trio exchanged glances. The scent of an incident… or rather, as those kids suggested, the possibility that the Gourmet Research Club was at work.
“Um, can we postpone trying the lunch? If we’re really hungry, it might be better to just eat in town.”
“If what those students said is true, I’m not really keen on trying the lunch today either. Still, we should check the kitchen to see if there’s an issue.”
“Ugh, last year’s lunch was truly horrible. I really don’t want to taste that again. For now, like the President said, it might be wise to see what those troublemakers in the kitchen are up to.”
Aco, effortlessly revving up her hatred for the Gourmet Research Club, is just so on brand. Is it just me not being part of the student council that makes it hard to sympathize?
It might just feel that way because Haruna has never actually caused trouble when she’s around me. When you think about it, Millennium was the place where C&C caused the problems, and during the festival, Haruna ended up showing some unexpected restraint.
Ah, maybe during the festival, things just didn’t go her way.
Anyway, since our Haruna has never showcased that infamous behavior in front of me, I helplessly find myself supporting her.
Bang!!
But what’s with the suspicious sound echoing as soon as we step into the student cafeteria that’s trying to crush that feeling?
Hina, who so often shows a laid-back vibe by my side, suddenly strides ahead with a commanding presence.
Seeing her aura, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if she kicked down the kitchen door, but because she’s the embodiment of common sense, it’s cute that she pushes it open with her hands…
“All units, stop what you’re doing. The student council has come…”
As the kitchen door swings open, Hina’s eyes blink in surprise at the scene revealed. It was so surreal that it was almost beyond belief.
“…Haruna-chan?”
“Fufufu… I never dreamed I’d run into you, Mika-san, at such a terrible time. And Hina, the student council president.”
“Kurodate, what’s the situation here?”
Honestly, seeing Fuka for the first time made me immediately feel a twinge of sympathy. She was tied to a chair, staring at Hina like a freshly picked daisy, and it was just pitiful.
It’s not like there are people who dislike the Gourmet Research Club just because they like Fuka — being that kid really is tough.
But watching Haruna kneeling before Fuka, tying her up like that… it makes the image a bit distorted. If that’s what you’re doing, why bind her at all? Leave Fuka alone!
“Student council president…? Please let me go! Ugh, Haruna! Even if you say that you’ll teach me how to cook after we schedule it properly… why are you so adamant about making me do it all myself?”
“…No. It’s too late for that, Fuka-san. If summer passes, the meaning of making you unagi don will be lost. Also, if I’m not the one making it from start to finish, it just won’t have any significance—”
“Haruna-chan, that’s enough. I don’t know what exactly you’re tormenting this cafeteria staff for… but wouldn’t it be polite to let a busy person go? Right?”
Realizing the unexpected situation made it hard to notice, Akaru and Izumi were totally relaxed in a corner, munching on popcorn. The color of the popcorn Izumi was eating looked strange, making me curious but also uninterested in finding out the flavor.
“…Wow, pulling apart ropes with your bare hands. Truly terrifying☆”
“I suddenly wanna try the handmade noodles done by the Vice President!”
“…Vice President?”
No, I’m not part of the Gourmet Research Club… please stop confusing people, for the love of all that’s holy! Now Hina’s gaze towards me is even 0.5 degrees colder.
Once I freed Fuka, she immediately stood up and expressed her gratitude.
“Umm, thank you? But more importantly, why is the student council president from Trinity here…?”
“Ahaha, there are complicated circumstances behind this. But more than that, Haruna-chan, I’d like to hear a bit more about this situation. I’d really appreciate your honesty. Can you do that for me?”
“…Fufufu, how could I lie to Mika-san? The original plan was to surprise you, but it got all tangled up because Fuka-san was being uncooperative.”
“Wait, how is that my fault? Because of you tying up Haruna, I couldn’t help with preparing the lunch at all.”
So, looking at the situation roughly, it seems Haruna had something she wanted from Fuka, and it stemmed from her desire to personally make unagi don for me?
“Uh, Haruna-chan, you’re not keeping Fuka-chan tied up just to learn how to cook, right?”
“…Ugh.”
“Yes, as you said… Haruna mentioned wanting to make health food for a special person who often struggles. But there’s a minor issue.”
“Uh, Fuka-san? Would it be okay if I said it myself… it’s a bit too embarrassing for me to hear my faults from someone else.”
“And does that justify keeping a person tied up for over two hours?”
“Ugh… Sorry, Fuka-san. It’s just… a habit…?”
“…Is Haruna apologizing?”
Fuka, looking bewildered, stares at Haruna as if she were an alien. Of course, even I find this side of Haruna to be oddly awkward, so how could Fuka not feel the same?
“Mika-san, my cooking skills are somewhat… problematic.”
“Somewhat?”
“…Yes, somewhat.”
Though she said it shamelessly, it was clear Haruna knew her culinary skills were abysmal. After all, she keeps abducting Fuka whenever she needs a cook.
“Dealing with the heavy workload as the student council president and recently suppressing the terror… I’ve been thinking about what I can do for you, Mika-san. After deep contemplation, I decided to express my feelings by personally making you health food. Considering you’re a foodie and that summer is almost over, the best menu I could come up with is unagi don.”
“So that’s what happened when a troublemaker falls in love… Ugh! Does that mean, soon the president will…?”
“Ako, even I find that unpleasant.”
“Ah, yes. Certainly, that can’t be true for the president!!”
Saying that right in front of the protagonist seems a bit much, but surprisingly, Haruna doesn’t seem to care about what others say, and just ignores their conversation.
“After purchasing the supreme quality freshwater eel right away, I faced reality. The truth is, serving you with my current skills… is more of a disservice than a favor.”
“Hm, dishes like unagi don can be found in recipe books. Just keeping to the recipe while letting Fuka-chan handle the preparation should be enough…”
“Mika-san, if you want to eat a bowl of charcoal fragments instead of grilled eel, I can still make that happen now…”
“No, no, I understand. I think I get why you were bowing down like that in front of Fuka-chan.”
“And the preparation must be done by me. If from beginning to end, I don’t put my hands on it, then it wouldn’t count as cooking with my heart.”
…Yeah, I get the sentiment. Just the sentiment.
In the past, I might have thought that Haruna’s reformation was utterly impossible, but this time feels a bit different. And considering Wakamo has started down the path of reformation too, thinking that Haruna can’t too is merely a prejudiced assumption.
More than anything, I possess the strongest weapon of all — ‘me’. Kneeling before Haruna, I take her hand and calmly communicate my feelings to her.
“Haruna-chan, I truly appreciate that you want to do something for me. No one would be unhappy to hear that. But you know as well as I do that if it causes other people trouble in the process, I can’t just accept that happily, right?”
“Yes, of course, I understand. But—”
“Haruna-chan, let’s put an end to making excuses here. I hope there won’t be any more instances of you causing others trouble under the pretense of wanting to help me. Can you do that?”
“…Yes.”
“Good girl. Make sure to apologize properly to Fuka-chan before you get up.”
“…Um. Am I dreaming or something right now?”
After watching me gently pat Haruna, Fuka murmured in shock. Realizing, the stares around us feel strangely nuanced.
What’s up with that?
