Chapter 6

Lunchtime. As usual, I was chatting with Keita while biting into a bread roll I’d bought from the cafeteria.

It wasn’t any particularly deep conversation—just random jokes and game talk to kill time. After what happened this morning, Keita had been teasing me non-stop, but even so, I was grateful to have someone I could talk to so easily.

“Hey, are you seriously telling me there’s nothing going on between you and Shirasaki-san?”

“I told you, there’s nothing…”

“But come on, that scene this morning looked super suspicious!”

Keita grinned mischievously and nudged me with his elbow.

Just as I was about to take another bite of my bread in exasperation, the murmuring of students in the cafeteria caught my attention.

“Miyahara-kun. May I join you for lunch?”

The entire cafeteria froze at the sound of that voice. Me included. When I turned around, there stood Rinka. And not just Rinka—she was in full princess mode, elegantly smiling.

“Uh… I mean, I don’t mind, but…”

“Thank you very much.”

With a graceful smile, Rinka sat down beside us, and in that instant, I could feel every single gaze in the cafeteria locking onto us. My once peaceful lunchtime had, in the blink of an eye, turned unbearably tense.

“…Kazuya. Dude, you’re incredible.”

Keita whispered under his breath.

No, seriously, I don’t even understand what’s happening here.

“Oh, right! Just remembered I have something to do! Gotta go!”

Saying that, Keita quickly stood up and hurried out of the cafeteria.

That b🬀🬀tard… He totally bailed, didn’t he?

“Saionji-kun, is something the matter with him?”

“Uh, um… who knows?”

Now left alone with her, I answered with a shaky voice. Rinka simply smiled and gracefully took out her bento box.

When she opened it, inside was a beautifully arranged assortment of colorful dishes—like something straight out of a food magazine.

As I admired how delicious it looked while biting into my own bread, I noticed her gaze shifting toward my cafeteria bread and vegetable juice.

“Miyahara-kun, is this all you usually have for lunch?”

“Uh, well… yeah, pretty much.”

“…And what about your usual diet?”

She asked with a concerned expression, making me pause and think for a moment.

No, I should probably just be honest here…

“Uh… things like cup noodles, cafeteria bento… stuff like that?”

Hearing that, Rinka’s eyes widened in shock, as if she couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

“No, no… that’s far too unbalanced nutritionally, isn’t it!?”

“Y-you think so? I mean, it’s just how it is.”

I answered vaguely, and Rinka let out a small sigh. After briefly scanning the surroundings, she suddenly leaned in close to me.

“Today, I’ll come over and cook dinner for you.”

Her tone shifted from her princess mode to the casual way she spoke when we met on her day off—her Lily mode.

“H-huh!?”

My voice cracked involuntarily. Rinka-san coming over to cook? At my house? What the hell is she even saying…!?

“Uh, you’re joking, right?”

“I am not. Caring about a friend’s health is only natural.”

She switched back to her princess tone, speaking as if this was the most normal thing in the world.

No, no, no—she just announced she’s coming over to a guy’s house, so why is she acting so calm…?

My heart had been racing nonstop.

“Wow, this is surprising. I never thought the Princess would be eating lunch with someone like Miyahara.”

A displeased voice reached my ears.

Turning around, I saw Tachibana standing there, smirking as he glanced between Rinka and me.

“What’s the occasion, Princess?”

His words were dripping with sarcasm, making my chest tighten. Unable to come up with a response, I lowered my gaze—but then, Rinka stood up and faced Tachibana.

“Tachibana-kun. I am here because I want to have lunch with Miyahara-kun.”

Her voice was firm, carrying not a trace of hesitation. She met Tachibana’s gaze head-on and continued.

“I… I see…”

“Also, I suggest you refrain from making remarks meant to mock others.”

At those words, Tachibana visibly flinched. With all the surrounding eyes on him, he seemed to lose his ability to respond and quickly left the cafeteria.

“…Thanks.”

I murmured a quiet word of gratitude.

If she hadn’t been here, I probably would’ve ended up in a foul mood again. But Rinka simply looked at me and smiled gently.

“No need to thank me. I only said what was right.”

Once again, Rinka had come to my rescue…

As she smiled softly, she looked almost like an angel.