The Raven & The Lady – The Strongest Problem Buddy In The World Of Special Abilities

Chapter 4: Farewell My Elegant And Peaceful Lunch Time

When I returned to the classroom from the student counseling office, classes had already started.

After explaining the situation to the teacher in charge, I took my seat, opened my textbook, and focused on the class.

(Haa …… so depressing.)

I senses the whisperings and eyes looking at me from various corner inside of the classroom.

They are probably making meaningless assumptions about what I have done.

Since only Shizuka-san and I know the truth, I hope she understands the consequences of her frequent calling to her office as soon as possible.

However, my mind is not so feeble as to be disturbed by such a thing.

The class went on without any incident, the bell rang to signal the end of the last four periods of the morning, and we greeted each other and took a lunch break.

With the students running out of the classroom, eager for bread from the store, I pull out my bag and grab the bento that Mio had made for me.

Unwrapping the cute cat-print wrapper and opening the lid, I was greeted with a colorful array of side dishes and rice sprinkled with nori seaweed.

“So, it’s a nori bento today, huh?”

I clasp my hands together as I chew on the happiness of eating my sister’s homemade bento every day.

First, I takes a bite-sized octopus wiener, and then continues with the rice.

……Yes, it’s delicious and filled with love.

It’s a simple yet reassuring taste.

Whatever it is, anything made by Mio, it is bound to be delicious!

As I continue to eat without giving my chopsticks a break, I suddenly notice that the classroom is buzzing.

Well, it’s none of my business.

My first priority is to finish the lunch Mio made for me without leaving behind a single grain of rice.

I won’t let anyone else interrupt my moment of bliss.

“—Kyosuke Sato.”

……I think I heard a familiar female voice that sounded like she was in a bad mood.

No, it’s impossible as a practical matter.

I don’t believe that there will be a minuscule number of people who wants to talk to me, who happen to be in the middle of having lunch.

“Are you listening…..?　Kyosuke Sato.”

My homemade bento suddenly disappears from my desk. 

As I lifted my head up, my vision was filed up with the glossy and silver-white bundle of hair.

The school uniform that she wears without a single wrinkle wraps fittingly around her slender body as if it had been custom-made just for her.

Her silhouette was thin, slender, and delicate.

Her skin is as white as a porcelain doll, but the cherry color of her cheeks and lips gives her a human-like appearance.

Her eyes, which are double-lined, are as blue and clear as the beautiful sea.

This is definitely not something that I am expecting at my peaceful lunch time.

I tried to hold back the urge to scream, and tried to deal with the situation in a very calm manner.

“……Well, what does a celebrity like you want from me, Arisa Arisugawa? Also, I want my bento back.”

“Since you didn’t seem to hear my voice. I am here for you. Can you please listen to me?”

How can you put up such a polite request when you already have no intention of hearing a ‘no’ from me in the first place?

I really don’t want to get involved with Arisugawa at school.

But if I were to got involved right now, I’m pretty sure that I will never be get out of this anymore.

The reason why is simple….

Because I am a bottom-tier student and Arisugawa is a talented girl at the top of the school caste.

It is obvious what will happen if I refuse Arisugawa’s invitation in front of the crowd.

I don’t want to cause unnecessary animosity and make my school life even worse than it already is.

The only option I can take now is to accept.

Farewell, my elegant and peaceful lunchtime.

“……Oh, okay. And give me back my bento.”

“Excuse me for this. Shall we go then? You can bring your bento, too. I haven’t had lunch yet either, so let’s talk while we eat.”

I carefully put the bento box back on the desk, rewrapped it, and followed Arisugawa, who silently appealed, “Follow me.”

Jealous and hateful stares clung to me as I left the classroom, but I’d also like that to change if I could.

Arisugawa speedily pace ahead as if I’m not there.

Still, I followed without a single complaint to it and climbed the stairs and unlocked the door leading to the rooftop.

“I’m going to ask you something that I can’t …… get it, but why do you have the key to the rooftop?”

“I talked to Shizuka-sensei for a while, and she was very kind to lend it to me.”

Shizuka-san ……. don’t give in to your students.

Everyone doesn’t want to get involved with the displeased Arisugawa, but isn’t it terrible that I’m the only one to be sacrificed?

The breeze on the quiet rooftop is warm and the fabric of my blazer is fluttering.

The view through the safety fence is so good that you might get carried away.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me. Kyosuke Sato, come here.”

“Oi, oi…….”

Arisugawa sat down on a small step and urged me to sit down, so I moved next to her, leaving a space for two people.

I don’t have to worry about people’s eyes once I’m here, and if someone approaches, I’ll be aware of it by the sound of their presence.

I respond to her in my usual manner, and spread my bento on my lap.

Arisugawa also pulls out a small water bottle and a homemade sandwich from her handbag.

It is hard to believe that she prepared …… them by herself.

Arisugawa’s morning weakness is well documented, and she says that she does her best to get up and get ready for the day.

“So, what’s your business?”

“Don’t be so hasty. People hates the fast men.”

“……It is not the right thing for a high school girl to say.”

“That’s not important. I’m as broad and generous as the sky, and you have an idea why I’m angry, don’t you?”

“I have a lot to say, but …… I’m sorry. I thought I sent you a message that I was leaving first, but I guess I didn’t send it.”

I turns my body exactly to apologize and waits for Arisugawa’s reply.

Tension runs through me.

Don’t worry, don’t worry, Arisugawa wouldn-t blame a person who is sincerely apologizing to her, right?

“–I understand. It was an unintentional accident, is that what you mean?”

“Um, yeah. That’s right.”

“But that doesn’t change the fact that you left me alone. It’s disgusting, Kyosuke Sato.”

“Isn’t that unlikely with the way things are going right now?”

My face twitches at the degree of her unreasonableness.

Apparently, my understanding of the human being named Arisugawa wasn’t so good in the first place. 

She said it so lightly as if it were a matter of course, and began to eat her sandwich.

Leaving me to wonder if she actually doesn’t care about me.

However, I can’t bicker with her right now because who’s in a bad mood.

And it can’t be helped that my stomach won’t stop tightenning until she is in a better mood.

“What do I have to do to be forgiven…..?”

“Thank you for accepting so quickly.”

“I’m asking you with as much common sense as I can muster.”

“No one expects anything from Kyosuke Sato. Let’s see …… come out with me for a bit this weekend. I’m sure you don’t have any plans anyway.”

“You know, some important matters could pop up any time”

“What’s the worst that could happen?”

“I don’t have…….”

“Then, it’s settled. If you forget this time, I’ll tell Mio-chan all about it.”

Isn’t this a fine threat?

There is no way out left, and her demands are considerably better than expected, except that the content is opaque.

I seriously have a problem with abstract demands such as “satisfy me.”

I’m a weak communicator and interpersonal person, and I am the perfect person to not be asked this wish. 

“I’m done talking to you, Kyosuke Sato.”

“Okay. Well then, I’ll go.”

As I was about to stand up to wrap up my finished bento, thin, cold fingers entwined around my right wrist.

Regardless of physical strength, it was unlikely that I would be able to untangle myself from the power here.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“It’s not every day you get a chance to enjoy lunch time with a beautiful girl like me, okay?　And since an age like yours = no girlfriend …… no, you will never find a loving companion for the rest of your life, that’s why you should chew on this good fortune.”

“Do you have something against me?　I mean, do you usually call yourself a beautiful girl? Isn’t your mind rotten?”

“Can I crush your wrist?”

“No.”

“I’m just kidding. Please don’t be so frightened, it makes me feel like I’m doing something bad.”

Quickly removing her hand, Arisugawa smiled out of character.

A smile that would knock out any of those boys in an instant, but to me it looks like there’s more to it than that.

There are only 10 minutes or so left until the afternoon classes begin.

We spend the rest of the day in the drowsy spring sunshine, occasionally interspersing casual conversation.