After the morning lecture ended, Alyssa and I met up with Iris-san, who was taking another lecture, and came to the school cafeteria to have lunch…… but we stopped on our tracks, seeing that the cafeteria was more crowded than we had imagined.

  [There’s quite the crowd here…… Probably because the holidays just ended?]

  [……We came a little late huh. It doesn’t seem like we can get a good seat…… What should we do? Kaito-san, me, and Iris-san don’t have afternoon lectures today, so why don’t we eat outside?]

  [Hmmm, I’m fine with that but…… Iris-san, have you brought a bento today as well?]

  [……No…… I didn’t…… bring any…… today.]

  Alyssa and I often eat at the school cafeteria, but Iris-san sometimes brings a bento depending on the day, so I asked her if she brought one today, but it doesn’t seem like she did.

  If that’s the case, we might as well eat outside as Alyssa suggested.

  [Well then, let’s go eat outside…… Where should we go?]

  [That’s right. Alyssa-chan is a Transcendental Beauty of a Lady who knows what peak cuisine is…… Let’s go for hamburgers!]

  [……Iris-san, where would you like to go?]

  [You’re ignoring me!?]

  Well, to be honest, Alyssa eats just about anything…… so I should just focus on Iris-san’s request here.]

  [……I’ve never…… really tried…… hamburgers…… before…… so I’d like…… to try it out.]

  [I see. Then, let’s go to the hamburger joint in front of the station.]

  [……Unnn.]

  [What’s with this difference in treatment…… I don’t understand.]

  Ignoring Alyssa’s grumbling, we left the cafeteria and headed for the hamburger joint.

  Thereupon, as if she suddenly remembered something, Iris-san spoke.

  [……Should we also…… invite “Fae”?]

  [Ahh, you’re right. Alyssa…… Did Fae-san attend school today?]

  [She should have attended today…… but she’s probably sleeping around the library again, isn’t she?]

  Fae-san is one of my classmates who is a good friend of mine. Her name is Murakumo Fae…… Her name may give you the impression that she’s Chinese, but she was born and raised in Japan.

  I heard that she was technically 1/4 Chinese, but I haven’t really heard the details about that.

  She is Alyssa’s childhood friend and best friend, and I had known her since high school. She was very smart, especially with things related to computers, but she was a lazy person who finds things bothersome, often skipping class.

  Well, even when she’s such a person, she’s still going through college without a hitch…… which makes me think that she’s somewhat of a great person.

  [……If we also have to look for Fae-san, the day may end before we find her, so let’s just go by ourselves.]

  [Well, you’re right.]

  As Alyssa said, Fae-san isn’t a person we can find just by trying to find her. It’s apparently likely that Alyssa, who has been with her for a long time, could find her…… but it isn’t 100% sure that we could find her.

  That’s why we decided not to search for Fae-san this time, and the three of us headed to the hamburger joint.

  After we finished ordering at a famous hamburger chain in front of the station and received our orders, we sat down together at a four-seater table.

  Incidentally, I’m on the cheeseburger faction, while Alyssa is on the teriyaki burger faction. As she had never eaten one before, Iris-san had ordered an orthodox hamburger.

  [Even so, I’ve been wondering about this for a while…… Iris-san, do you have a criteria for the day where you bring your bento? It doesn’t seem like it’s on the days of the week, isn’t it?]

  [……Unnn…… I make my bento…… together with Dad’s bento…… and on Dad’s rest day…… I don’t make one.]

  [Heehhh, I see…… What does your father do, Iris-san?]

  [He’s the president of a trading company, you know?]

  [Heehhh, so that’s why his vacation days are all over the place…… Wait, why the heck are you the one answering…… Alyssa?]

  I was taken aback by Alyssa’s reply before Iris-san could answer, but we continued our idle chit-chat.

  [Even so, bringing bentos is also great. Mom isn’t that great of a cook to prepare me a bento…… and I sadly don’t have the cooking skills either, so I admire you a bit.]

  [……I see…… Then…… Why don’t you ask Alyssa to make it?]

  [Whaa!? W- Why me!?]

  [……After all…… Alyssa is…… a very good cook.]

  Indeed, as Iris-san said, Alyssa’s cooking skills are top-notch. She comes over to my home quite often and has served me her home-cooked meals on several occasions…… All of them tasted really great.

  [No, well, I certainly am a Super Transcendental Beauty who can make everything from mom’s cooking to foods served in 3 michelin star restaurants but…… that doesn’t mean I should just make him bento…… N- No, well, if Kaito-san really insists…… I’m fine making it. Well, there’s obviously a fee……]

  [Seriously!? Is it alright? If that’s the case, I’d be very grateful but……]

  [Eh? Y- You’re interested in that? Ahh, please wait, your face is too close…… Even Alyssa-chan needs to prepare her heart……]

  [No, Alyssa’s cooking is really good, so if it’s around the same price as the school cafeteria’s lunch, I’d gladly pay, you know?]

  [I- I- I- Is that so…… W- Well, I’m not really a professional, so y- you can just pay for the ingredients. T- Then, shall I start making you bentos tomorrow?]

  [Yes. Thanks, Alyssa. I’m really looking forward to it.]

  [……G- Geez, you’re so aggressive sometimes, that it’s bad for my heart.]

  [Unnn? You said something?]

  [It’s nothing!!!]

  This was an unexpectedly pleasant turn of events. I am really looking forward to lunch tomorrow.

  [……Alyssa…… You’re blushing.]

  [Shaddup! What are you giggling for there…… Ahh, geez! This is what happens to mouths who say too much!]

  [……Ahh…… Wait…… I don’t like mustard——— Spicy!]

  For some reason, Alyssa took a mustard-smeared nugget in one hand and began shoving it into Iris-san’s mouth.

  **********