Grade 1 Class C.
Lunch break.
The previous Class was a brain-intensive math Class, and it was quickly digested.
So, as soon as Class was dismissed, the students in the Class began heading to the cafeteria for their grand meal.
Because the Class evaluation points were retained, the monthly living expenses of over 50,000 points were enough for general consumption, so students still had the freedom to choose their dishes.
Rather, it was only after experiencing the extremely unpalatable free wild vegetable set meal that they felt satisfied with having points.
So, naturally, they spent them.
However.
Hikigaya did not leave.
He sat in his seat.
He had confirmed it in the morning. Horikita had specially prepared a bento for him.
So, all he had to do was wait.
Only.
Among the students who went out to eat, there was a girl who was talking with her companions, but as she passed the back door, her gaze suddenly glanced over here.
And this girl was Kei Karuizawa, with a beautiful golden ponytail.
By the way, Karuizawa, what are you looking at here for?
When he first met Karuizawa, Karuizawa would look back during Class, but after Hachiman sent her a message telling her not to do so, she became very obedient.
Only.
During Class today, she also looked back several times.
However, most of the students were like this, so it wasn't strange.
But there's no need to stare now.
"Kei--"
And she was quickly called away by her companions.
Hachiman remained in the classroom.
Finally, the other students left.
Only Hikigaya and Horikita Suzune remained.
But.
Two minutes had passed, and Horikita Suzune, who was sitting next to him, didn't speak.
Her gaze was just a little unstable, seemingly looking towards him, then she bit her lip.
For Horikita, her relationship with her only brother was like that. Although she could eat the food she made as long as she paid for the ingredients, making a bento for someone else should be her first time.
And she had no experience in how to invite the other person.
Fortunately, Hikigaya was an observer of human beings.
He noticed this.
"Then I'll go to the cafeteria too--"
Finally, Hikigaya couldn't hold back, pretended to get up, and even moved his chair, deliberately, even overtly, making a sound. This was specifically giving Horikita a step.
Giving her a chance to speak.
And doing so, one second, two seconds, probably at the sixth second.
When Hachiman felt his actions were already obvious enough.
"May I, just take a moment of your time?"
And Horikita Suzune finally spoke.
See?
Horikita Suzune had very little experience with making friends.
So even though he gave her a chance to try to make an invitation, look at what she said?
"May I, just take a moment of your time?"
So polite.
And such politeness was only fleeting; she seemed to be very troubled.
Her hands were not on the table, but on her lap, looking very nervous, "You didn't bring rice balls today, did you?"
Isn't that nonsense?
Haven't you seen it many times? He tried holding convenience store rice balls and staring at her many times, but she ignored him.
Then he concluded that Horikita Suzune was a genuine straight woman.
"Hmm..." For now, Horikita had made progress, so Hachiman cooperated with her.
"Then, just rice balls would be too plain, wouldn't they?" Horikita said.
But it was clear that she seemed to be forcing herself very much. "And, didn't you say yesterday that you wanted to have lunch with a companion?"
Hmm.
Hachiman nodded.
"I did say that, and I'll also pay for the ingredients."
And hearing him say that, Horikita seemed much more at ease, "I say--"
She suddenly took out a small package from the cabinet, "I did make a bento."
"..."
Hmm.
Finally, she took it out.
He had noticed it in the morning; she had been hiding it then.
Now she finally took it out.
It wasn't easy; the process of tricking her into voluntarily giving him the bento was truly not easy.
Hachiman now somewhat understood why Horikita Manabu was willing to pay 1 million points to his Horikita for lessons that night.
Because.
His Horikita was really difficult to get along with, and also very difficult to have friends.
So, Horikita Manabu was actually trying to forcefully rely on him, wasn't he? At least, he hoped his Horikita could change.
Otherwise, it was truly too agonizing.
Ah.
Dirty brother.
Although he said that, Hikigaya's impression of Horikita Manabu actually improved.
Of course, Hikigaya did not want Komachi to encounter such a him, like Horikita Suzune.
However.
Now Horikita had taken out the bento.
Hikigaya thought maybe he could liven up the atmosphere.
So.
"Hmm..." Hachiman nodded, "Then you eat."
"...Huh?"
Horikita Suzune suddenly looked up, "Hikigaya, are you serious?"
Of course not.
If he were serious, he wouldn't have stayed in the classroom after Class, but would have gone directly to the third-floor cafeteria.
Sakayanagi had sent a message during the second period, saying she could treat him again today.
But he didn't go.
And now, Hachiman saw that Horikita looked like she was about to cry, so he quickly said, "My apologies, after thinking seriously, I didn't think it was possible, but this is indeed a bento made for me, isn't it?"
"...It's not 'specially' anything."
Horikita Suzune seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, "It's just that you said yesterday you wanted to eat it."
So Hachiman took the bento box to his desk.
From unwrapping it to opening the lid.
Although the optimal eating time had passed, one could still tell from the color and appearance that it was a bento made by a girl herself.
And Horikita's gaze never lessened.
She probably cared a lot about getting a satisfying answer.
So.
Even if it wasn't delicious, then please don't hurt her.
It was probably like that.
Hachiman was still quite gentlemanly. For example, even for very burnt cookies, he could say they were delicious.
"Although there's less meat and oil, it looks good from the outside."
He said.
However, when he picked up a piece with his chopsticks, he noticed Horikita Suzune was still looking at him, seemingly not at ease without a precise answer, so Hachiman said, "Hmm... it's quite delicious."
He suddenly felt that tasting Horikita's cooking was not such an easy task after all.
"You haven't eaten yet."
"..." Horikita, can't you understand people's hearts?
Hachiman picked up a piece of fried tofu fish with his chopsticks and took a bite.
Horikita usually had no expression when eating lunch.
But from the appearance and aroma, it should not be bad.
"Hmm... it's quite delicious." And the moment he bit down, that feeling of instant satisfaction came out.
He wasn't a picky eater, but he still felt satisfied. He could only say that Horikita Suzune really had cooking skills.
This skill might even be higher than his.
Making Hikigaya, who wanted to be a househusband after graduation, have a better impression of Horikita.
"Is that so... Considering Hikigaya usually has a strong palate, I made it a bit saltier." Horikita seemed relieved.
Uh.
Horikita, making dishes salty is what you do to deal with mothers-in-law, can you not use it on him?
Although he complained internally, Hachiman still expressed his gratitude.
"There's also tea, do you want some?"
And Horikita took out another thermos bottle. The lid could be detached.
So she directly poured the tea from the bottle into the lid.
Then held it in her hand.
Isn't this the lid she usually uses? Horikita Suzune, do you know what an incredible thing you're doing?
The term 'indirect kiss' immediately appeared in his mind.
No, no, no.
Can't think like that.
Because this was Horikita Suzune.
She had no friends, much less a romantic relationship, and knew very little about love, so… she probably hadn't thought about that aspect of things.
But now that Horikita was ready, directly rejecting her seemed a bit cruel.
"…" Hachiman.
So, after some thought, Hachiman decided to cast aside the thoughts of the opposite gender.
Thus, he decided to accept Horikita's lid.
However.
Hachiman looked at Horikita, who held the lid in her hand, but only moved it slightly, not indicating she would come over.
"…I said, I can't reach it like this."
The distance between their desks was 40 centimeters, and Horikita didn't even extend her hand, so he couldn't reach it at all.
"…" However, Horikita remained seated, saying, "I said, do you want me to specially stand up and give it to you?"
Uh.
It should be said that this was very Horikita Suzune.
But.
Horikita Suzune, you won't have any friends like this.
Please imagine this: you make a friend, then make a bento for her, which instantly brings you two closer, and that friend also thinks Horikita is easy to get along with, and then Horikita also prepares tea, and immediately says, "Ha, aren't you coming to get it? Do you expect me to bring it to you?"
Like charity.
Friendships would end on the spot.
Hachiman had no choice but to stand up and walk over to her.
"Here." But this time, she genuinely handed over the tea.
Bentos are generally cold food, but even cold food, when paired with hot tea, actually tastes quite good.
Then, perhaps feeling that watching Hachiman eat alone was a bit boring, she also took out her own bento box.
Actually, at this moment, Hachiman was thinking, the tea is in a bottle, and he'll return the bottle cap later, so will she drink it?
No, no, no, don't have strange thoughts about Horikita.
She completely doesn't understand these things.
It's just a little bit concerning.
Because will she really drink it?
And as he thought this.
Hachiman saw Horikita Suzune begin to act; she took out… a bottle of juice from her backpack.
"…"
Hmm.
Can it be like this?
"…Do you want more?" Perhaps she felt Hachiman's gaze was too strange, and he was holding the finished teacup lid, so she spoke again.
"Hmm… a little more," Hikigaya said.
Although he felt he was thinking impossible things, Hachiman was very honest about having tea to drink.
Then.
After paying 400 points for ingredients, Hikigaya finished his lunch.
Then the two of them went to wash the bento boxes together.
Since it was a homemade bento, the bento box needed to be washed after use.
Of course.
Hachiman was also considering whether he should pay for the bento box.
Because the bento box he used was new.
However.
Aside from the bento box being an expense, today's ingredients only cost 300 points.
It was cheap, but delicious.
Hachiman didn't dislike it.
Although he could go to Sakayanagi's place for a treat, Sakayanagi's meals weren't always available.
So, Hikigaya now preferred to be at Horikita's place.
If she made an extra portion for him when she made her own bento, then he only needed to pay for the ingredients. Since she was already making her own portion, it wasn't that much trouble.
Although convenience store onigiri weren't bad.
But.
Indeed, homemade bentos were more appealing.
After a brief consideration.
Hachiman already had an idea.
"Then, Horikita, can you add a portion for me when you make bentos again?" Hikigaya said.
"…?"
Horikita Suzune then looked over.
"No way."
Is that so.
Of course.
Although it's just preparing an extra portion when she's already preparing her own, it's still a task.
It's natural for her to refuse.
However.
Horikita Suzune's gaze was not so calm; it shifted slightly, "However, depending on Hachiman's future performance, it's not impossible to continue making it for you."
"In other words, you want to distribute based on effort, then." Hachiman said.
"Specifically, that should be the case." Horikita did not deny it.
Then there's no problem.
Because Hikigaya's only task was.
To get into Class A, to get into Class A, and still to get into Class A.
So Horikita's request was practically a freebie.
In other words, Hikigaya, aside from being treated to meals by Sakayanagi, could also eat good food cheaply.
This meant that even during lunch breaks, he had the option of going there.
However, since he was eating her food, occasional compliments were appropriate.
People are the type who like to hear rewards, praise, and compliments.
And these things don't cost money, as long as you have a mouth.
So Hachiman said, "I feel like you're quite good in this state today. Isn't it good to be like this normally?"
Although she would still say things like, "Huh? Do you want me to bring it to you?" which would end friendships, Horikita's other behaviors were still fine.
"I can't do it." But she directly refused, "I said before, I generally prefer to be alone, and I also don't think it's necessary to do that."
Is that so.
But Horikita, do you understand?
Whether it's actively proposing to become partners with others, or being willing to fulfill a partner's request to make their bento, these are all signs of you, this block of ice, changing.
You are gradually changing, do you understand?
Then.
Because of Horikita Suzune's change, the next day after school, Hikigaya was invited to meet by an unexpected person.
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