Chapter 10

My heart pounded violently. The fact that Shirasaki Rinka, the school’s number-one Princess, was in my room was beyond normal. No, this might even be a dream.

But she was standing right in front of me. After stepping into the room, Rinka glanced around, taking in her surroundings.

“Heeh… surprisingly, your room is pretty clean.”

“W-well… yeah, I guess…”

I was glad I had been cleaning regularly, just in case Misaki ever came over.

I had shoved all my scattered manga and magazines, along with anything I didn’t want to be seen, deep into the shelves. For now, I was safe.

“Alright, I’ll borrow your kitchen.”

She pulled a pale pink apron from her bag, swiftly wrapped it around her waist, and tied her long hair back. Even these simple movements were so graceful, they reminded me once again why she was the Princess.

“Is there anything I can help with?”

I asked hesitantly, and Rinka turned around with a bright smile.

“Nope. Just sit and wait.”

I was flat-out rejected. And with such certainty that I couldn’t even argue. With no other choice, I sat on the sofa, pulled out my phone, and opened a random mobile game. In the game, I was the leader guiding everyone, but in reality, I was just a gloomy introvert.

From the kitchen, I could hear the rhythmic chopping of a knife and the sizzle of a frying pan. When I stole a glance, Rinka was calmly preparing the food. Her movements were as effortless as a professional chef’s. Watching her work so naturally made me feel even more useless.

Wait a second—doesn’t this situation kind of feel like a married couple? Like a husband waiting for his wife’s cooking…? The more I thought about it, the more my heart raced…

“Thanks for waiting. It’s done.”

At the sound of her voice, I looked up to find the table lined with mouthwatering dishes—teriyaki chicken, a colorful salad, and a fluffy egg soup. Everything was so perfectly arranged that I couldn’t help but gulp.

Even if someone told me this was a high-class restaurant’s menu, I wouldn’t question it.

“This is amazing… Rinka, you can make stuff like this too?”

“This much is normal. I cook at home all the time.”

Normal…? No, no, there’s no way this is normal. The stuff I usually eat is instant ramen and frozen food.

As expected of the Princess. To think she cooks meals like this for herself every day…

“Alright, let’s eat.”

“Go ahead.”

The moment I took a bite, a rich, comforting flavor spread through my mouth. It had the warmth of homemade cooking, yet the seasoning was so refined that even my untrained palate could recognize how good it was.

“Wow! This is seriously delicious!”

“I’m glad. It suits your taste, Kazuya-kun.”

My vocabulary failed me, but Rinka nodded in satisfaction.

“Oh, and also, I made three extra days’ worth of meals for you. When you run out, I’ll come and cook for you again.”

She pointed at the fridge as she spoke.

Her words made my eyes widen. Three extra days’ worth of meals…? Just how much was she planning to take care of me?

“Uh, no, that’s a bit too much… I’d feel bad if you went that far…”

I hesitated, but Rinka chuckled and shrugged.

“Don’t worry about it. Besides, now that I know you’re not eating properly, I can’t just ignore it.”

“I feel kinda bad… I mean, I’m just a plain, introverted guy…”

I muttered apologetically, and Rinka’s face clouded over.

“Don’t put yourself down like that. Kazuya-kun, you have so many great qualities that no one at school knows about.”

“I… have qualities?”

The words slipped from my mouth before I could stop them, and Rinka quietly nodded.

“Yeah. Like how you lead your team in games. You’re always considerate of everyone while guiding them forward, right? I think that part of you is wonderful.”

Her gentle voice left me at a loss for words. No one had ever said something like that to me before.

“And also, you always listen when I ask for help. That’s really kind of you.”

Her gaze was unwavering, as if she wouldn’t allow me to deny it.

“…No, it’s nothing special. I just go with the flow, and I’m bad at saying no…”

“Even so, people who just go with the flow don’t put in this much effort for others. You should be proud of yourself, Kazuya-kun.”

Rinka’s words sank deep into my heart. What was this feeling? Maybe this was the first time in my life that someone had ever affirmed me like this.

“T-thanks… I feel a little lighter now.”

My voice, forced out with all my effort, sounded unreliable even to me. But still, Rinka smiled in satisfaction.