After so more ti had passed.
"Hey!"
"Yes?"
"Give the expired lunchbox!"
This ti, Shuen, who seed to have shifted her aspirations to becoming a bandit, held a fan in her hand, trying to intimidate .
I raised my hands, playing along with her act, and smiled.
"Oh, Miss Shuen, have you switched careers from being a student to a bandit? Impressive."
"No! This is a perfectly legitimate demand!"
Shuen winked at , striking a flirtatious pose.
"Yoohoo!"
"I haven't eaten yet, so it's a bit early for an antacid."
"What? My charm doesn’t work on you?! You're not human! You're a beast! A demon! A eunuch!"
"...?"
"I take back the eunuch part!"
"Thank you... But honestly, your 'charm' is more like a wooden puppet dancing around, so it's not quite working for ."
I slid out from behind the counter, responding to her provocation with a playful sway of my hips.
"Sothing like this, with a deadly serious expression, is what I’d consider seductive."
"Ugh... this is frustrating!"
"Well, it's only natural. After all, I've mastered the art of allure to beco a successful butler for the Desmont family."
"Arrrgh!"
Shuen clenched her fists in genuine frustration and demanded the expired lunchbox with bold determination.
"Then, hand it over!"
"Haha... What a brazen beggar you are."
"What did you just say, commoner?"
"I’m a commoner, ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) speaking as a commoner."
"Oh-hoho! Well, then it's no surprise I didn't understand!"
'Idiot.'
It seed Shuen had forgotten the whole notion of supposedly tornting Mihail. Every lunchti, without fail, she would be the first to arrive at the convenience store, cheerfully greeting .
However, when Mihail happened to visit at the sa ti:
"Where are you going in the middle of your al?""Don’t talk to !""Your attempt to hide is painfully obvious, especially around your chest area.""Beast!"
She’d draw clear lines between us when Mihail was around. But once he left, she’d be back, shining her bright eyes at , striking up conversation as if nothing had happened.
Today was no different.
"I really forgot both my wallet and lunch today! I spent my allowance on steak, but I left it behind...!"
With a genuinely frustrated expression, Shuen boldly demanded lunch from . It seed she’d disposed of any remaining noble dignity, shalessly trying to get a free lunch.
'I think it’s ti we talk.'
The mont was nearing when Shuen would confess to Mihail, a grand, public confession in front of the academy’s fountain.
Of course, in typical noble fashion, it was grand and extravagant—until it failed miserably.
Though it was just a passing interaction, I felt a desire to show her so consideration. I didn’t want to see another girl like my lady end up hurt, especially not over a confession that had no hope.
"Today’s lunch special is the convenience store set."
I placed her favorite 'pork cutlet lunchbox set' and a 'mango juice' on the table and smiled.
"Is this a confession?"
"No."
"Then why are you giving this to ?"
"I just wanted to."
Shuen narrowed her eyes suspiciously, her gaze sharpening.
Stare.
"It's not like that."
"I’m suspicious!"
It wasn’t the first ti I’d encountered a woman who complained even when given food, but Shuen’s bold attitude made sigh and shake my head.
"Today’s lunch is on . This isn't an expired one—it's a brand-new item."
"See? You must like !"
"Alright, fine, I’ll just eat it myself."
"No, wait!"
Shuen smiled brightly as she hugged the lunchbox. Seeing her cling more to the food than to made laugh, but her cheerful expression was endearing nonetheless.
"Go on, sit down and eat."
"Oh-hoho!"
"Please stop laughing like that."
"Yes..."
For the mont, Shuen set aside her noble airs and dug into the lunchbox like a ravenous creature.
"This is not just a lunchbox! The crispy breading is practically alive!"
"It’s not that amazing."
"Do not insult pork cutlets, commoner!"
"..."
After watching her for a while, and as the bottom of the lunchbox beca visible, I carefully broached a sensitive topic.
"Uh... Miss Shuen, this might seem like an out-of-the-blue question."
"Mmnnng... mmph! (Go ahead, commoner!)"
"Please don’t take this the wrong way."
"Hmmmph! (I don’t care about what a commoner has to say!)"
"Okay, then."
Nod.
"Do you have soone you like at the academy?"
Sure enough, Shuen almost spat out her food, looking at in shock and shouting.
"So you are interested in after all! How dare you, commoner, harbor impure thoughts about !"
"Not really, you’re not my type."
"Disgusting commoner!"
Suppressing a laugh, I cald her down.
"It’s just that love stories are always the most entertaining, right? And soone your age would naturally be thinking about such things."
"...That's true!"
"That’s why I asked. Not because I’m interested in you, but because I was wondering if I could help sohow."
"What could a commoner like you possibly help with?"
"Haven’t you heard the rumors about ?"
"...What?"
As I smiled wickedly, a flood of mories of the terrible things her seniors had said about rushed through Shuen's mind.
"He’s just a dog.""Woof! Woof! That guy’s mouth is full of trash.""He loses his mind whenever he sees a woman.""Watch out if you ever et him. He might devour you whole."
Shuen clapped her hands together, pointing at .
"A... a horny dog!"
"...What?"
"They said you’re a panting, rabid dog, not a person!"
"That story seems to have taken on a life of its own, but okay."
I tried to ignore Shuen’s disgusted expression. Still, hearing myself called a rabid dog stung, especially since I didn’t even have any friends to defend . It really hurt.
"So, who’s the person that cos to mind when you think of ?"
"A villainess!"
"You’re a villainess too."
"I am not!"
"Anyway, I wasn’t talking about my lady. I ant soone with white hair."
"The Tower Lord?"
"Is your head full of rocks?"
"How dare a commoner insult a noble!"
"Mihail. I’m talking about Mihail."
"Oh!"
Shuen smiled brightly, clapping her hands.
"You an Mihail-senpai? Why would you be involved with him? You’re not even worth his toenail."
"Well, I’m taller than him."
"I know."
"Anyway, Mihail and I have had plenty of clashes."
"That’s your fault!"
"Yes, and that’s why I’m saying this. When soone hates you a lot, you tend to learn a lot about them."
"Oh..."
"What they like, what they hate."
As if she were being drawn into a web, Shuen listened intently.
"Tell more."
I leaned against the table, smiling faintly as I continued.
"Well, I don’t know who you like, but if it happens to be Mihail, I might have so helpful information."
"So you do like after all!"
"..."
Was her head made of rocks?
I shook my head at Shuen’s stubborn reaction.
"Fine, think whatever you want."
"...!"
"As your lunch buddy, I just want to help. But if you’re going to act like this, then let’s just stick to expired lunchboxes."
"Don’t ignore ! I’m a top student, you know!"
"For the record, I ranked in the top ten when I was at the academy."
"...I got tenth in the written exam."
"Impressive."
"Don’t mock , you friendless villain!"
"Well, you’re eating lunch with this villain... so I’ll hold my tongue."
Watching Shuen pound the table in frustration, I gave her an awkward smile.
"Anyway, it’s been fun."
"Huh?"
"It’s almost ti for to leave."
"Leave? What do you an?"
Shuen looked shocked, staring at with wide eyes, as if the idea of losing her lunchti companion was unbearable.
"Wait! I can’t date you, but I can be your friend!"
"Haha, that’s not necessary."
Shuen lowered her head, looking like she was about to cry.
"Is business... not doing well? If that’s the case, I’ll give you all of my allowance!"
"I appreciate the sentint, but no."
"...Why not?"
I smiled sadly at her teary question.
"There were complaints."
"Huh...?"
"Soone filed a complaint with the academy, asking why a criminal who caused so much trouble is still working here and demanding I be kicked out. But don’t worry, business is good, so the convenience store isn’t going anywhere."
"..."
"I also need to return to my main job. I can’t stay here forever."
"Missamo mbers...! He’s back!"Shuen lowered her eyes, realizing the source of the complaint. She knew all too well where the trouble had originated.
"..."
She had no words to defend herself.
Shuen looked at , tears welling up in her eyes, and spoke with a trembling voice.
"Are you... really leaving?"
I nodded and answered her, explaining that every eting eventually leads to parting.
"Yes."
As Shuen, on the verge of tears, stared at , I spoke carefully.
"That’s why I’m bringing this up now."
"..." "Do you like Mihail?"
About her feelings.
Hoping she wouldn’t get hurt too badly.
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