During lunch break, Asato Hitomi once again appeared with her luxurious bento and publicly invited Kuroha Akira to eat with her.
This time, Kuroha Akira couldn't be bothered to put on an act or offer explanations.
At this point, the situation was like mud falling into one's crotch—whether it was a big deal or not, it had become one. He might as well just give up and embrace the absurdity.
If the class president didn't mind being misunderstood, Kuroha Akira certainly minded even less.
After a quick greeting to Fujiyoshi Michio, Kuroha Akira stood and followed the class president toward their lunch destination.
...
On the way, Asato Hitomi spoke with slight surprise.
"I thought you might invite Fujiyoshi-kun to join us." She glanced at him. "He always seems to eat alone, and you're probably his first real friend in the class. I feel a bit like I've snatched you away from him. Almost guilty."
Kuroha Akira spread his hands casually.
"Ha, I did consider bringing him along. Fujiyoshi-kun might be the only person in class who actually understands we're not dating." He shrugged. "But bringing him would only cause trouble."
"True." Asato Hitomi nodded immediately. "If we invited him to eat with us, people would definitely interrogate him afterward for gossip. Given Fujiyoshi-kun's personality, he'd be vague and try to cover for us. Everyone would find him boring, and it would become even harder for him to integrate into the class."
No need for lengthy explanations—the class president grasped his meaning instantly. Conversations with her were remarkably comfortable.
"Exactly right. Class president is brilliant."
"What a pity." She smiled slyly. "I thought Kuroha-kun only wanted to be alone with me. It seems I was being presumptuous."
"Haha, well..." He rubbed his neck. "I did have that thought, actually. Seeing those envious, hateful glares from our classmates? Strangely refreshing."
"So Kuroha-kun is treating me as a prized possession to show off?"
"Would I dare desecrate the sacred class president like that?" He grinned. "It's just that I'm the type of gloomy person who enjoys watching others get frustrated."
If he actually had a perfect academic beauty like the class president as a girlfriend, of course he'd want to show her off. Like a fisherman who finally caught something worthwhile, wanting the whole world to know about his big catch.
"And don't worry about Fujiyoshi-kun." He continued. "Sumitomo Ryota will probably absorb him into his clique eventually. Based on his previous obsession with you, he seems like someone who values friendship. He's already using Fujiyoshi-kun's first name—that's probably not just for show. He'll definitely invite him to eat."
"That's true..." Asato Hitomi considered this. "But I'm worried about whether Fujiyoshi-kun can adapt to their social circle. Sumitomo's group is built entirely around him as the core."
"Is that a problem?"
"Simply put, everyone in that circle has high goodwill toward Sumitomo personally. But they're not necessarily good friends with each other."
"Hoh..." Kuroha Akira nodded appreciatively. "So that guy really is a genuine normie."
She meant everyone in Sumitomo Ryota's circle had arrows pointing toward Sumitomo, but no arrows connecting the other members to each other. Without Sumitomo present, the energy level would plummet to near zero—maybe even disband on the spot.
Normie circles built around a single person weren't particularly reliable. They probably wouldn't stay in touch after high school graduation.
But honestly? Having fun together for three years was fine. Better than the lonely myth of going it alone.
"Sumitomo is very straightforward." Asato Hitomi continued. "He gets along with both boys and girls easily. That's why he's popular."
"A straight man being popular?" Kuroha Akira clutched his chest dramatically. "It makes me tear up..."
The real reasons, of course, were that Sumitomo Ryota was lively, cheerful, good at having fun, and genuinely handsome. Some people just had that normie charisma.
*The Hayama Hayato template
Today, the class president chose the long bench in the campus courtyard as their eating spot—one of the most popular couple destinations,second only to the rooftop. When they arrived, two other couples were already there, enjoying their bentos together.
But for some reason, the moment they spotted Kuroha Akira and Asato Hitomi, both couples quickly gathered their things and scurried away.
"Why are they avoiding us?" Kuroha Akira asked, genuinely confused.
Asato Hitomi spread a small mat on the bench before answering.
"Perhaps in their eyes, our level is too high."
"Level?"
She nodded seriously. "In their perception, we've already completed the fourth stage—reached home base. Gone all the way."
She gestured as she explained. "Even if they successfully confess and become a couple, only a minority manage to complete all four stages, you know? According to statistics, the breakup rate for high school couples is as high as seventy percent."
Kuroha Akira was familiar with the four-stage theory. It used baseball as an analogy:
First base: holding hands.
Second base: kissing.
Third base: snuggling and intimate touching.
Home base: scoring—you know, the deed.
Asato Hitomi sat and patted the spot beside her, inviting him to join while continuing her lecture.
"Moreover, 'graduating' together in the school infirmary is considered extremely bold. Getting caught by a teacher means suspension, maybe even expulsion. So in the eyes of current couples, that's an impressive achievement." She smiled wryly. "Only truly idiotic couples disregard consequences for love."
"So they're intimidated by the couple halo generated by rumors." Kuroha Akira snorted. "How childish."
He sat beside her, and the class president began unpacking her bento. He noticed today's menu had changed again—completely different from yesterday.
Is she planning to rotate menus daily? How thoughtful can one person be?
"By the way, class president." He glanced at her. "You knew going to the infirmary with me would cause this situation. Yet you came anyway."
Asato Hitomi nodded honestly, handing him the bento box and chopsticks while pouring tea.
"Yes. This time, I genuinely felt that being considered a couple with Kuroha-kun was rather nice." She smiled serenely. "Troublesome social engagements have decreased. My school life has become even more relaxed."
She picked up a piece of tamagoyaki with her chopsticks and held it toward his mouth.
"So I'm very grateful to Kuroha-kun. You've become my safe haven in class. Let me reward you properly. Come, ah~"
Kuroha Akira accepted unceremoniously, opening his mouth to receive the offering.
Sweet tamagoyaki. The class president had a sweet tooth.
"Besides," she continued, "talking with Kuroha-kun is much more interesting than talking with others. And the time spent with good friends can be extended." She tilted her head. "Completely beneficial with no drawbacks, isn't it?"
"There's one drawback, class president." He chewed thoughtfully. "If you keep this up, you won't be able to get a boyfriend."
"I never planned to have a boyfriend in high school anyway."
"Oh?" Kuroha Akira raised an eyebrow. "So you're from the 'high school students shouldn't date' faction?"
"I simply considered it carefully and concluded it was meaningless." Asato Hitomi's expression turned serious—lecture mode engaged.
"As I mentioned, the high school breakup rate is seventy percent. Of the remaining thirty percent, twenty percent will break up for various reasons after graduation."
She counted on her fingers.
"Of the final ten percent who survive that long, very few actually walk hand in hand into marriage. Parents might object. One might fall for someone else. And even without those obstacles, freshly graduated students lack the financial means to ensure their partner's happiness."
She looked at him directly.
"So in the end, most high school couples are just impulsive relationships that can't be sustained long-term. Is it really worth engaging in something destined to leave regrets?"
Kuroha Akira opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
No words came out.
Because everything she said was true.
But...
It was too realistic!
Class president, you're way too realistic! Excessively, painfully realistic!
What would the people who believe love is an essential part of youth think about this?!