137 - The Lunchtime Battle

RAW

The noisy classroom was filled with voices from classmates saying things like, "Is Tojo-san really that forward?" or "Ayaka-chan is totally in love with Otsuki-kun."

"See, Shizuku-chan, because of you, everyone’s got the wrong idea now!"

"There’s no misunderstanding at all, is there? Everything I said is true."

"T-that’s not… ugh…"

For Ayaka, being talked about like this by her classmates was embarrassing. However, since she had decided to openly date Haruto, she didn’t want to lie or hide her feelings for him. Her face turned bright red as she let out a small, adorable whimper.

"Shizuku-chan, you’re such an idiot…"

"Sure, sure. By the way, eating lunch in such a noisy place is kind of annoying, don’t you think?"

Shizuku brushed off Ayaka’s weak insult and looked around before speaking.

"The weather’s nice today, so let’s all eat in the courtyard."

As she made the suggestion, Haruto quickly interjected.

"Wait a second, Shizuku. Ayaka’s hurt her leg, so going all the way to the courtyard might be a bit much."

Going to the courtyard would mean going down to the first floor and then back up to the third floor where the second-year classrooms were after finishing lunch. Haruto was worried that the round trip would be too much for Ayaka, who had sprained her ankle.

In response, Shizuku calmly declared, "That’s not a problem. Haru-senpai can just carry Ayaka-senpai. Alright, let’s head to the courtyard!"

"Carry her? In front of all these people…?"

"What are you talking about? You already carried Ayaka-senpai like a princess earlier."

"That was an emergency!"

"Well, this is an emergency too."

With that, Shizuku turned her gaze to Tomoya, who was standing next to Haruto.

"Tomo-senpai, where’s Haru-senpai’s desk?"

"Huh? It’s over there."

As Tomoya pointed to Haruto’s desk, Shizuku said, "Excuse me, excuse me," and made her way through the upperclassmen to Haruto’s desk. She then took out his lunchbox from the bag hanging on the side of his desk.

Next, Shizuku turned to Saki.

"Saki-senpai, where’s Ayaka-senpai’s desk?"

"It’s right here."

Saki, who had caught on to Shizuku’s plan, grinned and tapped Ayaka’s desk, which was nearby.

Shizuku quickly moved to Ayaka’s desk and took out her lunchbox from the bag hanging on the side. Then, holding all three lunchboxes (including her own), she turned to Haruto and Ayaka.

"I’ll take good care of your lunches and bring them to the courtyard. You should be grateful to such a kind underclassman."

"Hey, wait!"

"I’m not waiting. Saki-senpai, Tomo-senpai, let’s hurry to the courtyard and have lunch."

"Right. I’ll go ahead, so Ayaka, enjoy your princess carry from Otsuki-kun and come to the courtyard."

"Hey, Saki, wait!"

"Hurry up, Haru. If you’re late, I’ll eat all your lunch."

"Hey, Tomoya! Wait!"

The two friends grinned and waved at Haruto and Ayaka as they followed Shizuku out of the classroom.

With their lunches taken hostage, Haruto and Ayaka exchanged glances.

Haruto was worried that if they took too long, their lunches might really be eaten. His best friend was the type to go all out when he wanted to. For Haruto, a healthy high school boy, losing his lunch was a matter of life and death.

After glancing out the classroom door where Shizuku and the others had gone, Haruto looked around at his classmates. Then, after a brief pause, he made up his mind.

"...Sorry, Ayaka. Today’s lunch has Grandma’s mini hamburgers."

"Huh? Kyah!"

As Haruto swiftly picked Ayaka up in a princess carry, she let out a small surprised cry. Her voice was drowned out by the cheers from their classmates, especially the girls, who let out high-pitched squeals.

The classroom erupted in loud cheers, and Haruto ran out with Ayaka in his arms.

As they entered the hallway, many students turned to look at Haruto with shocked expressions. Of course, they would. After all, the girl he was carrying in a princess carry was none other than Tojo Ayaka, the most famous girl in the school, known as the "school idol" for her beauty.

When Haruto had carried Ayaka during gym class, most of the students had been confined to the classroom, so only a few had witnessed it. But now, it was lunch break.

Moreover, with the rumor that "Tojo Ayaka’s boyfriend is Otsuki Haruto" spreading throughout the school, the attention on Haruto and Ayaka was at its peak.

Haruto, carrying Ayaka, ran down the hallway. Soon, he caught up with Shizuku and the others.

"Carrying Ayaka-senpai in a princess carry in public, Haru-senpai, you’re really showing off."

"It’s because you took our lunches hostage!"

Shizuku, with a straight face, ignored Haruto’s retort and continued walking toward the courtyard.

"Hmm, hmm, such attention. It feels good to be famous."

Shizuku, walking slightly ahead of Haruto and Ayaka, spoke in a cheerful tone. Saki, walking beside her, looked at her with amusement.

"Shizuku-chan, you’ve got nerves of steel, don’t you?"

"From now on, call me Ironheart Shizuku."

"Hahaha, what’s that? That’s hilarious."

Saki laughed out loud at Shizuku’s playful response. Meanwhile, Ironheart Shizuku continued to lead the way confidently. Watching her, Tomoya chuckled and said, "Right now, Shizuku-chan is like 'the fox who borrows the tiger’s authority.' Maybe Tojo-san should learn from Shizuku-chan’s mental strength."

As he spoke, Tomoya glanced at Ayaka, who was blushing and looking down in Haruto’s arms. While Shizuku was enjoying the attention, Ayaka was clearly embarrassed.

"Ugh… I could never be as strong as Shizuku-chan…"

Ayaka’s weak voice prompted Shizuku to turn her head and look back.

"If you’re embarrassed by something like this, you’ll never be able to get all lovey-dovey with Haru-senpai."

"We’re not going to be all lovey-dovey at school!"

"Oh? So you’re not going to be lovey-dovey? You don’t want to? Saki-senpai, did you hear that? Ayaka-senpai says she’s not going to be lovey-dovey at school."

"Oh? Is that so, Ayaka? Even after going public with your relationship with Otsuki-kun, you’re not going to be lovey-dovey?"

Shizuku and Saki both stared at Ayaka, who averted her eyes and tightly gripped Haruto’s arm.

"T-that’s not… I didn’t say we wouldn’t at all… Just a little… maybe…"

As Ayaka mumbled her excuse, Saki grinned, and Shizuku smirked slightly, saying, "Muttering Ayaka-senpai, you’re something else."

"Ugh… Haruto… they’re bullying me…"

"There, there."

Still being carried, Ayaka buried her face in Haruto’s chest, and he gently patted her back. Watching this, Tomoya sighed.

"Man, you two are already being all lovey-dovey."

Haruto, still patting Ayaka’s back, gave a wry smile in response to Tomoya’s comment.

Eventually, Haruto and his group arrived at the courtyard, drawing the attention of many students around them. The courtyard of their high school was a peaceful spot, with flower beds, benches, and trees providing shade—a perfect place for students to relax.

"Ah, I'm starving. Let's eat already!" Tomoya said, rubbing his stomach as he sat down on a bench with a table attached. Saki sat down beside him.

"Mind if I join you?" she said cheerfully.

Tomoya looked slightly surprised, but Saki glanced at Haruto and Ayaka, who were sitting together, and added, "It’s not like we can just squeeze in between those two, right?"

"Ah, true enough," Tomoya agreed, nodding.

At the other bench, Haruto gently helped Ayaka sit down, treating her as if she were something fragile. The two naturally sat side by side, while Tomoya and Saki sat across from them. Shizuku, seeing the arrangement, took her seat at the "head of the table," as Haruto called it.

"Alright, Shizuku, give us back our lunches," Haruto said, reaching out to her.

"Haru-senpai, you’re so obsessed with food. It’s kind of pathetic," Shizuku teased, handing over the lunchboxes she had taken hostage.

"It’s not about being obsessed. Skipping lunch is basically torture," Haruto retorted as he opened his lunchbox.

Beside him, Ayaka also opened her lunchbox and happily clasped her hands together. "Thank you for the meal!"

As the two lunchboxes were laid out side by side, Saki opened her own and asked, "Ayaka, did you and Otsuki-kun make the same lunch today?"

"Ah, yes. This morning, Haruto, Kiyoko-san, and I made lunch together."

Recently, Ayaka had been learning how to cook from Kiyoko, Haruto’s grandmother, and often joined her in the kitchen.

"You two really are close, huh?" Saki remarked.

Meanwhile, Tomoya peeked into Haruto’s lunchbox and his eyes widened. "Haru, is that Kiyoko-san’s hamburger steak?"

"Yeah," Haruto replied shortly, eyeing Tomoya suspiciously.

"Don’t even think about it."

"Huh? Come on, we’re best friends, right?"

"Even best friends can’t have this. Grandma’s hamburger steak is off-limits!"

"You’re so stingy, Haru!"

"Stingy is fine by me."

Tomoya shrugged and bit into a convenience store bread he had brought, but he suddenly reached out to snatch one of Haruto’s mini hamburgers.

"Now’s my chance!"

"Not happening!"

Haruto swiftly blocked Tomoya’s hand, and the two began a fierce battle over the mini hamburgers. While the boys were caught up in their pointless struggle, Saki turned her attention to Ayaka’s lunch.

"Hey, is that hamburger steak really that good?"

"Yeah. Both Haruto’s and Kiyoko-san’s hamburger steaks are incredibly delicious," Ayaka replied with a smile.

Haruto had first impressed the Tojo family with his cooking when he made hamburger steak as part of his housekeeping job. It was the dish that had won them over and led to their regular contract with him. For Ayaka, the hamburger steak from the Otsuki household held special meaning.

"Is that so? Hey, wanna trade one of your hamburgers for one of my meatballs?"

"Sure, that sounds good."

"Ayaka-senpai, I want to try Kiyoko-san’s hamburger steak too. Let’s trade for this pickled radish."

"Okay, but isn’t that a bit of an uneven trade?"

"Hmm, then how about this octopus-shaped sausage?"

While Haruto and Tomoya were busy with their intense battle, the girls peacefully exchanged items from their lunches.

"There are three mini hamburgers! Just give me one!"

"Shut up! You ate all my fried chicken the other day! I haven’t forgotten!"

The group enjoyed their lively lunch together. In the end, Haruto gave in to Tomoya’s relentless pestering and shared one of his grandmother’s prized hamburger steaks.

"Man, Kiyoko-san’s hamburger steak is the best. It’s still delicious even when it’s cold."

"Make sure you savor it properly."

Haruto couldn’t help but feel proud as Tomoya praised his grandmother’s cooking.

Once lunch was over, the group relaxed and chatted. The courtyard was filled with other students, many of whom were glancing their way. However, since Haruto and Ayaka weren’t alone—Shizuku, Tomoya, and Saki were with them—the attention wasn’t as overwhelming.

Just then, a girl from the crowd of onlookers stepped forward and approached the group.

"Um… excuse me, can I talk to you for a second?"

The girl’s voice caused Ayaka, who had been laughing and chatting happily, to tense up slightly.

"Terazawa-san…" Ayaka murmured softly.

The nervousness in Ayaka’s voice was palpable, and Haruto instinctively moved closer to her, as if to reassure her.