While we were looking for empty seats, Miss Kaguya and Miss Yuzuru appeared in front of us.
Since the two of them usually went to the cafeteria, I wondered why they were in the dining hall today.
"Kaguya, Yuzuru, good to see you. But why are you two here? Isn’t it always the cafeteria for you?"
"Hmph. That battlefield has already been pacified. Tonight’s Yamai was searching for a new front."
"Explanation. Since the usual four kings of cafeteria buying battles were absent from school, we came here today."
"Ah, I see."
The four kings who always battled the Yamai sisters had taken the day off from school.
I was a little worried about that, but thanks to it, we’d run into Kaguya and Yuzuru in the dining hall, so I decided to be grateful.
"Then, if you don’t mind, may we sit beside you?"
There was plenty of empty space at the table the two of them were using, since almost no one was sitting there.
So I asked if we could join them.
"Hmph, very well. I shall grant my domain to my vassals. Govern it well."
Fortunately, Miss Kaguya agreed readily.
"Confirmation. Hieta Sachi, Mayuri, Shido, Rinne, Tohka, Master Origami... oh, and Ren as well. So Ren was at school too."
As Miss Yuzuru checked our group, she noticed Miss Ren and sounded genuinely surprised.
They didn’t know that Ren had come to school because of Itsuka-kun’s wish, so that reaction made sense.
"Ah, the Storm Twins attended this school too. Thanks for helping us back then. We’ll be relying on you again."
When Miss Ren greeted them, Miss Kaguya nodded and said, "Hmph. I don’t dislike that respectful attitude. However, there is a condition for providing seats."
"A condition?"
I’d thought she was agreeing readily, but there was a condition.
And that condition was...
"Acknowledgment. While we go buy the lunch sets, please hold the seats for us."
It was a very simple condition.
Just holding seats wasn’t difficult, so Miss Ren said okay as well.
"Decision made. Then, Yuzuru, there are ten of us total, so let’s go with five each for the premium course."
"Response. As you wish. Then please wait for us. Is everyone fine with the recommended lunch set?"
At Miss Yuzuru’s question, I almost reflexively said yes, but something felt off.
"No, no, are you two carrying all of them?"
There were ten of us in total, so I thought it was a little much for just the two of them to carry everything.
Even if they were spirits, their spiritual power was sealed, and there was still a limit to what they could physically carry.
So I asked because I was worried, but the answer I got was very much like them.
"It is fine, so just wait."
"Explanation. This is a contest between Yuzuru and Kaguya. With unstable trays in hand, which of us can get back to the table faster? That is the showdown."
I was surprised they’d even turn something like this into a contest, but I still couldn’t help worrying.
Still, neither of them was the type to back down once a contest was involved.
"I see. Then please be careful on your way."
So I decided to do nothing more than tell them to be careful and watch their showdown.
"Fufu! There’s no need to tell us that!"
"Explanation. Today’s rule is that we don’t interfere with each other, so there should be no problem."
"There was even an interference rule...?"
"Regret. It disappeared after we were severely scolded by the cafeteria lady before."
"That was the first time we’d ever been scolded that badly..."
"Heh heh."
Of course they got scolded.
It was basically the same as fooling around while carrying food, and in the process they could spill it and cause trouble for everyone around them.
So it was easy to understand why that kind and gentle cafeteria lady would get angry.
"Well, enough chatting! Let’s go, Yuzuru! Fair and square!"
"Agreement. It’s a match."
In the end, I watched the two of them really head off for their contest and let out a sigh.
"I thought this yesterday too, but those two... how should I put it? They’re living at full power."
Miss Ren said that while looking at their backs with me.
"Well... yeah."
It was a pretty roundabout way of saying it, but I couldn’t exactly deny it.
The two of them had once had no choice but to compete because they were becoming one Yamai, but now that they could coexist and still chose to compete, it really did feel lively.
Though I did wish their contests wouldn’t inconvenience other people.
"Looks like Hieta cares about them quite a bit too."
"I do...?"
Just as I was about to agree without thinking, I realized something was off.
"Oh, was that a misunderstanding? You seemed pretty worried."
"That’s..."
Saying I cared about Kaguya and Yuzuru sounded a little strange, but I couldn’t deny it either.
After all, they were part of my connections too, so worrying about them was only natural.
I wondered if that looked to other people like I was fond of them.
"I can’t deny it. Still, I’d say I care about everyone else too."
"Is that friendship, or affection?"
"......"
I had a feeling answering that would cause a disaster, so I decided not to comment.
There were already two intense stares burning into my back.
I had no idea when they’d started eavesdropping on my conversation with Miss Ren.
"Tch."
"What a shame."
Why are you disappointed?
"Fufu, looks like you’re loved here too."
At Miss Ren’s amused chuckle, as she watched the reactions of the Fire Keeper and Mayuri, I nodded.
"It’s more love than I deserve."
"Haha, how modest."
"I just know my place."
While we were chatting, Kaguya and Yuzuru came back this way with incredible concentration and balance.
They were carrying five trays each, using their heads, hands, and arms, and I couldn’t help thinking that was amazing.
"How do you even do that...?"
Since Itsuka-kun was saying that too, everyone else probably felt the same.
How they managed to keep their balance without even the slightest wobble while carrying everything, I really didn’t know.
Once again, I was reminded that Kaguya and Yuzuru really were full of talent.
"A-ah, ahh!?"
While we were waiting for them to arrive, I heard a panicked cry from a male student.
Maybe he’d missed a step and slipped, because I saw the flustered boy fall toward Kaguya and Yuzuru.
"Th-that—"
Just as Rinne tried to say something, my body reacted before I could even hear the rest.
I immediately stood up and reached the boy from behind.
I grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him back before he could fall.
Fortunately, there was no food on the tray he was carrying, so Kaguya and Yuzuru weren’t affected.
"Phew..."
"Th-thank you."
"It’s nothing. Be careful."
After saying that, I helped the boy up and returned to my seat, only to feel a lot of eyes on me.
"...I think I’m getting way too much attention."
"Well, of course you are after doing that."
It was a little depressing that I couldn’t argue with Rinne.
To defend myself a little, my body had just reacted on its own.
But from everyone else’s perspective, it looked like I’d moved at incredible speed, so that excuse probably wouldn’t work.
Still, I didn’t regret it.
If I hadn’t stopped him, Kaguya and Yuzuru would’ve gotten caught up in it.
So I ignored the stares and waited as Kaguya and Yuzuru arrived.
"Thanks for earlier, my vassal. Here are today’s recommended lunch sets for five!"
"Amazement. That was incredible speed. Thanks to that, Yuzuru got here before Kaguya."
"What are you talking about! This body was definitely one second faster!"
"Denial. I can’t trust Kaguya the Yamai’s eyes. Yuzuru was slightly faster."
Come to think of it, this was a contest.
Because it was a contest, neither of them would back down and they were arguing that they’d won.
And Kaguya had even been given some weird middle name.
From where I was standing, it looked like they’d arrived at the same time.
"Could you not give me some weird middle name!?"
Thanks to the strange middle name Yuzuru had slapped onto her, Kaguya’s chuunibyou speech pattern completely fell apart.
Rinne, watching the two of them, shook her head as if she couldn’t help it, while the Fire Keeper and Mayuri ignored them and tried to eat.
They were used to this, since they’d seen it so many times.
Same for me.
At times like this, it was best to settle the contest somehow, so just as I was about to step in—
"Hmm... from the looks of it, you arrived at exactly the same time."
Miss Ren said that.
"Ugh... a draw?"
"Regret. Still, it can’t be helped. Let’s move on to round two."
"Hmph, as I expected."
Apparently accepting the draw, they pushed their contest to the next round.
I was relieved by that, but could we eat now?
"Um, can we eat now?"
"Ah, sorry, everyone. It’s all the same, so eat whatever you want."
"Explanation. Sachi and Mayuri are already eating."
"What?"
"You two were arguing too much."
"We were just hungry."
I wondered how many times they’d gone through this for them to say that so shamelessly.
Kaguya and Yuzuru knew that too, so they didn’t say anything else and sat down.
Once everyone had taken their seats, I pulled my tray over and said, "Then, let’s eat."
The fried shrimp was crispy.
Crunch
"Now then, my dear guest, try mine."
"What! Hey! Try mine too!"
"Tch! Yuzuru! This is no time for us to be fighting each other!"
"Cooperation. It’s time to join forces."
"...Everyone, it’s all the same menu, so why are you doing this?"
...It was a lunchtime full of piercing stares from the boys.
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register