About Her Love -2-
A little more time passed.
"Hey~!"
"Yes?"
"Gimme the discarded bento~!"
This time, Shuen—who was dreaming of a future as a bandit—was threatening me with a fan in hand. I raised my hands in surrender, playing along with a smile.
"Oh... so you've switched from student to bandit, Miss Shuen? Impressive."
"Nooo~! This is a perfectly legitimate demand~!"
Shuen struck a sultry pose and winked.
"Yoo-hoo~!"
"I haven't eaten yet, so it's too early for digestive aids."
"You! Does my charm not work on you~!? You're not human~! A beast! A devil! A eunuch!"
"...?"
"Eunuch's off the table~!"
"Thank you... but if you're calling that charm, it looks more like a wooden puppet dancing. Not really doing it for me, personally..."
I stepped out from behind the counter, thrusting my hips out seductively in response to her provocation.
"I think something like this—with a killer expression—is what sultry really means."
"Ugh... cheater~!"
"Can't help it. When a guy like me, who made it as the Desmont butler on charm alone, is naturally sultry."
"Hnnngh~!"
Shuen clenched her fists, genuinely frustrated. Then she boldly demanded the expired bento.
"Hand it over~!"
"Heh... never seen such brazen impudence."
"What'd you say, commoner?"
"A commoner said something commoner-like."
"Oh ho ho~! Then it's only natural I wouldn't understand."
Idiot.
Shuen had apparently forgotten all about framing me for bullying Mihail. Come lunchtime, she'd rush to the convenience store before anyone else for her daily greeting. Though if her visits overlapped with Mihail's...
-Where are you off to in the middle of lunch?
-Don't talk to me~!
-Hiding that obviously? Especially around the chest area.
-Beast!
She'd draw a firm line like that. But once Mihail left, her eyes would sparkle like nothing happened as she chatted me up. Today was no different.
"I really left my wallet and bento behind today~...! I used my allowance to grill a steak...! Ugh...!"
Shuen looked truly upset as she boldly demanded food from me. Her noble pride seemed neatly sorted into the recycling—facing her shameless grab for free grub, I let out a dry chuckle and licked my parched lips.
Time to have that talk, I guess.
Shuen was getting close to confessing to Mihail. A public one, right in front of the academy fountain. True to her noble love of attention, the grand spectacle had ended in spectacular failure... Still, for someone who'd crossed paths by chance, I wanted to offer a little consideration. I didn't want to see another girl like the Young Lady suffer. No more creating burnouts. Especially not over a confession doomed from the start.
"Today's lunch is the convenience store special set."
I placed her favorite 'tonkatsu bento set' and mango juice on the table with a smile.
"A confession~?"
"No."
"Then why give it to me?"
"Just felt like it."
Shuen eyed me suspiciously, her gaze sharpening.
Smack.
"It's not like that."
"Suspicious~!"
First girl to complain even when I give her food... well, not the first, but shaking my head at her boldness, I sighed.
"Today's lunch is on me. Not discarded—brand new stuff."
"So you do like me~!"
"Fine, I'll eat it all."
"Sorry~!"
Shuen beamed innocently, hugging the bento. Her materialistic side—liking the food more than me—drew a laugh, but her bright smile didn't feel half bad.
"Sit down and eat already."
"Oh ho ho~!"
"Don't laugh like that."
"Yesss..."
Shuen set aside her noble airs for a moment and dove face-first into the bento, inhaling it.
"This isn't bento~! The crispy batter's alive and dancing~!"
"Doesn't seem that extreme."
"Don't insult tonkatsu~! Commoner!"
"..."
How long did I watch her? When the container bottom showed, I cautiously broached the sensitive topic.
"Um... Miss Shuen, random question."
"Mmmph... mmm! (Go ahead, commoner.)"
"Hear me out, no misunderstandings."
"Mmmph!! Phew! Mmm! (I won't be swayed by a commoner's words~!)."
"Alright, here goes."
Nod.
"Do you have a crush at the academy...?"
Predictably, Shuen nearly spat out her food, staring at me in shock and yelling.
"So you are into me~! You scoundrel... filthy commoner! Harboring impure thoughts toward me...!"
"No, you're not my type."
"Impure~! Commoner!"
Chuckling awkwardly, I soothed her.
"The world's most fun stories are always romances, right? Everyone your age wonders about it."
"...True~!"
"That's why I asked. Not because I'm interested in you. Just wondering if I could help with anything."
"What would a commoner like you know~!"
"Haven't heard the rumors about me?"
"...Huh?"
At my sly smile, memories of the awful things her seniors had said flooded Shuen's mind.
-He's just a bastard.
-Woof! Woof! Woof! Bites rags.
-Goes feral around girls.
-Watch out if you meet him. You might get eaten.
Shuen clapped and blurted to me.
"Horny... bastard!"
"?"
"Heard you're not human—a panting, horny bastard."
"...Sounds pretty twisted from the original, but anyway."
I ignored her disgusted glare and muddled through. Even so, 'horny bastard' stung. Spreading that about a friendless guy.
It honestly hurt.
"Who comes to mind?"
"Wicked bitch~!"
"She's one too."
"Not me~!"
"Anyway, not our Young Lady. Someone with white hair."
"Tower Master?"
"Got rocks in your head?"
"How dare a commoner insult a noble...!"
"Mihail. Mihail."
"Aha!"
Shuen clapped with her fist, lit up with an 'aha!' and beamed innocently.
"Senior Mihail? Why would he be tangled with you? He couldn't catch up even on his toenails."
"...I'm taller."
"I know~."
"...Anyway, Mihail and I clashed a ton."
"Your fault~!"
"Yeah, that's why I'm telling you. When you really hate someone, you end up knowing a lot about them."
"Oh..."
Like what they hate saying, or what they like and dislike.
Shuen fell right into my words, hooked by how spot-on they seemed.
"Tell me more~."
I leaned on the table, smiling faintly at her rapt attention, drawing closer.
"Well, I don't know who you like, Miss Shuen. But if it's Mihail, I might have some helpful info."
"...So you do like me~!"
...
Rocks in her head for real.
I shook my head at her obtuse reaction.
"Sure, think whatever's comfy."
"...!"
"Trying to help as your lunch buddy, but a dumb noble can stick to discarded bentos."
"Don't ignore me~! I'm a model student~!"
"For the record, I stayed top 10 at the academy."
"..."
"Dumbass."
Shuen slammed the table with her fork hand in frustration but had no comeback, mumbling timidly, "I got 10th in writing..."
"Impressive."
"Don't tease~! Friendless villain!"
"You're eating lunch with the villain, Miss Shuen... Makes me sad, so I'll shut up."
I gave her an awkward smile as she fumed.
"Anyway, was fun."
"Huh?"
"Time for me to head out soon."
"Head out where?"
Shocked by 'leaving,' Shuen stared at me, face screaming what about my lunch buddy?
"Wait~...! Can't date, but I can be friends!"
"Heh, no need."
Shuen hung her head, on the verge of tears.
"Business... not doing well~? I'll give you all my allowance...!"
"Appreciate the thought, but can't."
"...Why?"
I gave her teary question a bitter smile.
"Got complaints."
"Huh...?"
"'A criminal stirring trouble at the academy working here? Fire him quick.' That kind. Luckily business is good, so no worries about the store closing."
"..."
"And I gotta get back to my real job. Can't stay forever."
-Misa fan club members...! He's here!
Shuen's eyes trembled as she recalled her own past words, staring at Ricardo. She knew where the complaints came from.
"..."
No defense.
Shuen gazed at his bitter smile, voice choking.
"You're... really leaving~?"
I nodded to Shuen. Meetings end in partings, after all.
"Yes."
I opened my mouth heavily toward her tearful face.
"That's why I brought it up."
"..."
"Do you like Mihail?"
About her love. Hoping she'd hurt a little less.