'Why are you being so n-nice to men Ku-reiji san?' Kasumi stared at the food I gave her like it might evaporate if she blinked.
'I'm not being nice.'
I stretched and closed my eyes, soaking in the sunlight.
'I'm just treating you like a normal human being. Pretty revolutionary concept around here.'
'B-But…' Her hands trembled slightly. 'You're the only one who does.'
'Then congratulations.' I said. 'You've met the only person in this school with a functional conscience.'
'Sniff… sniff.'
Kasumi dabbed her tears with the sleeves of her uniform.
'What now?' I asked. 'Did the food punch you in the feelings?'
'N-no…' She smiled through her watery eyes. 'I'm just happy.'
'…Weird reaction, but okay.'
I rolled onto my back and returned to my very important job of professional sunbathing.
Then the bell rang.
*Ding-Dong*
'L-let's go, Ku-reiji san!' Kasumi jumped up. 'If we're late, we'll get in trouble.'
'Relax. If being late was illegal, I'd already be serving a life sentence.'
Still, I stood up.
At that exact moment…
A strong gust of wind blew across the rooftop.
Kasumi's long brown hair whipped around in the wind. She held her skirt down with both hands.
'Ah-!'
A tiny squeak escaped her mouth.
I tried to stay serious.
I truly did.
'Pfft-'
But it was impossible.
'Hahahaha!'
She spun towards me, her hair plastered on her face.
'W-why are you laughing?!'
'Nothing.' I said.
I totally wasn't thinking of a chick.
—————————————
'Class dismissed.'
Students flooded out of the classroom like prisoners escaping jail.
Kasumi, however, stayed seated.
She pulled out her textbook and began writing.
'You're not going to your club?' I asked.
'I don't have club activities today.' She said softly. 'I'm just finishing some homework.'
'I see.'
I inclined back in my chair.
'Then you should hang out with me.'
*Clatter*
Her pen dropped.
'Ha-hang out?!'
She stared at me like I'd just invited her to rob a bank.
'B-but my mother is picking me up.'
'When?'
'In… two hours.'
'Perfect.' I said.
'Th-then I-'
Before she could finish, I had already packed her books and slung her bag over my shoulder.
Then I picked her up.
'Awah?!'
She made a tiny squeaking sound as I carried her toward the door.
'You're coming with me.'
'Ku-reiji san! People are watching!'
Indeed, they were.
Students turned their heads as Kasumi kept making small, panicked noises.
Which only made the situation worse.
'P-please put me down!' She begged, 'I-l'll come with you! I promise!'
'See? That wasn't so hard.'
I set her down.
Her hair was a mess.
Her face was red.
Her breathing sounded like she had just sprinted up a mountain.
'Alright.' I said.
I pointed forward dramatically.
'Let's go, my little chick.'
'Ri-to-ru… Chi-Kku?' She repeated.
'It means 'baby bird' in my language.'
'B-baby bird?!'
She covered her cheeks with both hands.
'Don't overthink it.' I said, already walking away. 'Come on, little chick.'
'I-I am not a ri-to-ru chi-kku!' She protested as she ran after me.
—————————————
'We're here.'
Kasumi looked up at the street and immediately shrank a little behind me.
'U-umm… Ku-reiji san… isn't this place… b-bad?'
'Why would it be bad?'
'I heard people at school say you should never walk through this street… unless you want to wake up missing a tooth.' Her voice trembled.
I shrugged.
'Then those people have no idea what they're talking about. The people here are friendly.'
I motioned forward.
'Come on. I'll prove it.'
Instead of heading to the small restaurant I visited last time, I led Kasumi toward a Korean BBQ place down the street.
There was a line outside, but it wasn't too long. Maybe a few minutes.
The guy standing in front of me suddenly turned around.
Then his eyes widened.
'Ah! Hello, boss!' He bowed immediately.
His friends noticed me too.
'Sa-ppu, boss!'
'Sup.' I replied.
Kasumi blinked in confusion.
'Are you eating here with your girlfriend, boss?' One of them asked.
'Gi-gi-girlfriend?!"
Kasumi froze.
Steam was rising out of her ears again.
'Don't kill the poor girl with embarrassment.' I laughed. 'She's just a friend from school.'
'Ohhh.' The guy nodded.
'So are you eating here with your friend, boss?'
'Yeah.'
He suddenly spun around and shouted:
'MAKE WAY FOR THE BOSS!'
The line instantly split apart.
Everyone moved aside.
I stared at him.
'Are you sure about that?'
'Of course.' He said proudly. 'We don't have to wait long anyway.'
'… Alright then.'
I tapped Kasumi's shoulder.
'System reboot complete.'
'Ah-?!"
She snapped back to reality.
'Let's go'
As we stepped through the line, people greeted me one by one.
'Hello, boss.'
'Sa-ppu.'
Good evening, boss.'
At the entrance, the waiter greeted us.
'How many people, esteemed guests?'
'Two.' I held up two fingers.
'Please follow me.'
He led us inside the restaurant.
But instead of stopping at the busy dining area, he kept walking.
'Uh… isn't the seating here?' I asked.
'Ah, for esteemed guests like yourselves, we prepared the V.I.P room upstairs.'
'What's the V.I.P room?'
'A private room for you alone.'
He pointed upstairs.
I scratched my head.
Honestly… that sounded terrible.
'I'd rather sit here.'
I pointed to an empty table among the crowd.
The waiter panicked.
'A-ah… but -'
'I like lively places.' I explained. 'Feels more fun when people are around.'
The waiter hesitated before nodding.
'If that is your wish, esteemed guest.'
He guided us to the table.
'Have you ever eaten at a K-BBQ before?' The waiter asked.
'No.' I said.
A long time ago, before I became a hero, I vaguely remembered going to one with my friends.
But the memory was pretty blurry now.
I turned to Kasumi.
'How about you, Kasumi?'
'…'
She had frozen again.
'Kasumi.'
I waved my hand in front of her face.
'Ah-! Y-yes?!'
'Have you ever eaten K-BBQ?'
'K-k-k-BBQ? No-no…' She shook her head.
The waiter began explaining everything.
Where to get ingredients.
Where the drinks were.
How to use the stove.
'And that is everything.' He finished with a bow. 'Please enjoy.'
'Alright.' I stood up. 'Let's grab food.'
Kasumi didn't move.
'Kasumi.'
I tapped her shoulder.
'Y-yes?'
'You've been spacing out a lot. Something bothering you?'
She glanced around the restaurant.
'It's just… It's loud. Everyone is talking… laughing…'
She looked slightly overwhelmed.
'I'm used to quiet places.'
'Then do you want the V.I.P room?' I asked.
*Shake shake*
'N-no… I like it here.'
'Really?'
She smiled softly.
'Everyone here looks like they want to be here… They're laughing honestly.'
She lowered her voice.
'I'm used to dinners where everyone pretends to be polite… while secretly trying to outsmart each other.'
Ah. That sounded exactly like the nobles. Those people were walking headaches.
'Well.' I stretched my arms. 'If you like this kind of atmosphere…'
I smiled.
'I'll take you to similar places in the future.'
'In... the future?'
She tapped her chin.
Then her face brightened.
'Yes.'
Suddenly, she stood up.
'L-let's go, Ku-reiji san! Food waits for no one.'
She took steps toward the bar.
'Sure.'
—————————————-
At the food bar, we grabbed an absurd amount of meat and a few vegetables.
When we returned to the table, we started grilling.
A minute later…
'Ku-Ku-reiji san!'
'What?'
'My meat turned black!'
She held up a completely burnt slice with the tongs.
She looked like she might cry.
'I think the meat hates me.'
I couldn't stop myself.
'Hahahaha!'
'I-it's not funny!' She protested, poking the burnt meat sadly.
'The meat here is thin.' I explained. 'It cooks faster -'
As I was explaining, she raised the burnt piece toward her mouth.
'Don't eat that.'
She froze.
'…Why?'
'Because it will taste like charcoal and regret.'
'Oh…'
She slowly lowered it.
'I'll grab a bowl. ' I said. 'It will be a graveyard for the fallen soldiers.'
Throughout the meal, Kasumi kept burning the food.
But she slowly improved.
By the end, she finally cooked something properly.
'Yum…'
She leaned back in her chair and rubbed her 3-months-pregnant stomach.
'I'm full.'
'Same.'
I stood up.
'But I still have room for dessert.'
Her eyes enlarged.
'Desserts?!'
'We can grab ice blocks and eat while walking back.'
'S-sure.'
At the cashier, the worker smiled.
'Your meal is on the house.'
'Ohh.'
I nodded.
'Thanks.'
We grabbed melon-flavoured ice blocks and left.
*Lick lick*
'How was it?' I asked.
Kasumi, the food thief… no, Kasumi, the destroyer of ice blocks, was eating hers at terrifying speed.
'I-it was fun.' She said.
'Glad to hear.'
When we arrived back at school, we spotted her mother's car parked outside.
Kasumi strode forward, then turned to face me.
'Thank you for today, Ku-reiji san.'
She smiled warmly.
'I really had fun.'
'Same here.'
She hesitated.
'Th-then… if I ever have time again… can we do this again?'
'Of course.' I said. 'That's what friends do.'
'Friends.' She quietly muttered with a smile.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her mother walking toward us.
'Looks like your mum's coming.' I said. 'See you tomorrow.'
'Shii yuu tomaroo?' She repeated.
'It means "bye, let's meet again tomorrow" in my language.'
'Ah.'
She smiled dazzlingly.
'Shii yuu tomaroo, Ku-reiji san.'
'Yeah.'
I waved.
'See you tomorrow, little chick.'