About Her Love -1-
"..."
Shuen was in a bind.
"This is bad...!"
She'd left her wallet behind. For Shuen, who couldn't focus in class on an empty stomach, this was a life-or-death crisis.
"Dangerous...!"
She'd barely made it into the convenience store, but without any money, Shuen flailed about right in front of me.
Hmm...
I slipped a hand into my bag and watched her rummage like a twenty-first-century cat robot, forcing an awkward smile.
She's got me worried in all sorts of ways.
She should've given up by now after digging that deep, but here she was, treasure-hunting in front of the counter for over ten minutes. Shuen seemed like a bundle of problems. Fiercely proud. The sort who insisted on handling everything alone.
Shuen shoved her hand into her bag and muttered to herself.
"Ugh... what am I gonna do...."
"..."
"I definitely brought my wallet... oh no!"
"Customer."
"Ughhh... Shuen, are you an idiot?! What were you thinking, leaving your wallet on top of the lunchbox container?"
I gave an awkward smile at her vigorous self-muttering and carefully picked up the triangle kimbap she'd set on the counter.
And Shuen jolted in surprise, grabbing my hand.
-Grab!
"What are you doing?!"
I explained to her with an awkward smile. No money meant no food.
"Don't you have any cash?"
"But..."
"Too bad, then."
"Ugh... it's the exact same one senior Mihail picked.... Hold it for me! I'll go grab some money right now!"
I gave her a wry smile and asked,
"It's a thirty-minute walk to the dorms from here—round trip's an hour. Think you can make it back before lunch ends?"
"How do you know that! Are you some kinda industrial spy?!"
"Not a spy. Just a dropout."
"Ah... forgot about that."
"How'd you know?"
"Eek!!! It's a secret!"
I burst out laughing at her flustered panic and pressed on.
"So, can you make it?"
Shuen hung her head dejectedly.
"...No way."
"Figured. Borrow from a friend, then..."
At "friend," her face drained of color. She gawked at me, lips flapping silently.
"Ohoho... oh ho..."
Shuen just stared blankly at the ceiling.
She spent ages gazing mournfully at the triangle kimbap in my hand, her face all gloom. Like she was staring down an ex she couldn't let go of. I smiled awkwardly and let out a sigh at those pitiful eyes.
I wanna feed her, though.
Pretty girls have a way of softening the heart. Not that I'm doing this 'cause my pockets are deep or anything.
"How about this, then."
"Not my body!"
"Heh heh..."
She hugged herself tight and backed away a step.
"No need."
I shook my head at her prim haughtiness and ventured carefully,
"Not your body—borrow cash from me. Or eat some near-expired lunchboxes together?"
"T-together?!"
It wasn't "expired" that lit her up—it was "together." Her eyes sparkled as she stared at me.
"Mind giving me some space?"
"Ah, sorry! Got too excited..."
"Haha... anyway, can't give food for free... here we go!"
I plunked some soon-to-expire convenience store lunchboxes on the table and told her,
"They're trash-bound anyway. Figured it'd be nice to share."
"They throw out this much?!"
"Boss says a dish lives by its flavor, keeps dates short... anyway, nothing spoiled. No tummy aches. Though if you get sick, don't blame me."
"Gulp..."
"If it feels iffy, can't help it. But free lunchboxes? Not bad, right? I was feeling lonely eating solo anyway—two birds, one stone."
"...Really? Just that?"
"Huh?"
"Eat together, and the lunchboxes are free for me?!"
"Ah, yeah."
The corners of her mouth crept upward. She clapped a hand over it and let out a ladylike laugh.
"Ohoho! My mistake! Should've realized every commoner dreams of dining with a noble of my refinement! I'll graciously share with you..."
"Ah, then I'll eat alone."
"W-wait!"
She grabbed my hand, eyes pleading.
"Together...! I'm sorry."
Really, now.
"Puhaha!"
An unpredictable woman.
*
Shuen's mind was a whirlwind. She had no clue which rhythm to follow.
The guy right in front of her was the one who'd tormented senior Mihail. In simple terms, the last person she—who adored senior Mihail—should ever tangle with.
The seniors' stories proved it, and she knew it herself. She'd never dealt with him directly, but with his notoriety still buzzing around the Academy, it didn't sound like lies.
And besides.
Even the kindest soul in the world, senior Mihail, despised him.
Shuen had harbored plenty of ill will toward Ricardo.
Though she had no idea why senior frequented this convenience store now...
Shuen watched the bustling Ricardo and pondered.
Just what kind of guy is he?
"Pork cutlet? Or inari sushi?"
"Inari sushi for me...!"
"Got it—I'll prep that."
There had to be some ulterior motive, yet he never let it show.
Rumors painted him as nasty-tempered, but he took the insults hurled his way without a flicker.
-Does that bastard have no shame, showing his face here?
-Right? Wish he'd drop dead, but Mihail comes by so much, it stays afloat.
-Honestly, it's convenient. Fair prices, cheap too.
Even then, he rang them up calmly and served the next customer.
What ulterior motive could he have?
-Squint...
He's weird.
Shuen couldn't shake her suspicions of Ricardo. She just couldn't pin down what he was.
Not that she liked him, of course. She already had her prince—senior Mihail.
-Beep beep——!
Ricardo pulled a steaming lunchbox from the mana stone warmer, muttering "Whoa, hot" as he sat.
Shuen gulped at the rising white steam and eyed him.
"Sit."
"..."
"Can't offer the good stuff on my salary, but it's decent."
"...Thanks."
Shuen sat with pursed lips, then slowly scooped into the lunchbox.
How long had it been since she'd shared a meal with someone?
"Sniff..."
The Misa Club banned mingling—no friends there. And she'd botched her intro at orientation, so no luck elsewhere.
-Slurp.
Shuen smiled faintly as she sipped the broth.
"Tasty?"
To his gentle question, she murmured,
"Yeah..."
"Right?"
"No! Commoner grub—barely edible!"
"Puhaha! Gotcha. Got it."
Oh no—slip of the tongue. She glanced up and asked,
"Not mad?"
"Huh? What'd I say?"
"No... I keep calling you commoner. Th-that offends, right?"
"Ah..."
Ricardo waved it off with a dopey grin.
"It's not wrong."
"Huh?"
"And you don't mean it nasty. You're not saying it to hurt me."
Shuen ducked her head meekly.
"True..."
"..."
Ricardo froze mid-scoop, then shook his head with a real laugh.
"You're a riot."
"..."
"It's fine. I've had worse—this is just humor."
"Worse than me?"
"Yeah. Someone calls me 'pauper,' 'dustcardo,' 'wheelcardo.' You're tame by comparison."
"Does that one have friends...?"
"Nope."
"..."
Shuen ate in silence, resolving to fix her speech habits.
*
After that, Shuen showed up every lunch hour.
-Ding-a-ling.
"Hey, commoner!"
She'd arrive hauling a two-tier lunchbox tower, or "forget" her wallet and we'd eat together.
Of course.
-I'll buy the drinks!
-Oh...
-Here's the cash!
-Didn't you say no wallet?
-...Just found it!
Terrible actress, though.
Anyway, her visits ramped up.
-Ohoho... commoner. Today I brought lunch—specially! Far too grand for a dull commoner like you, but I'll allow it!
She was a riot. Nothing like the novel trope of a woman quietly studying magic after Mihail rejects her. Personality for days.
How she saw me? No clue.
Still...
"You cook great."
"Ohoho~! I do!"
"Impressive."
"Don't just do spaghetti—try the potato stew too!"
Didn't seem like she saw me as the villain.
Out of pure consideration, I smiled faintly and nodded.
From there, we chatted, learned names, got friendly.
And.
I broached it carefully.
About her love.