Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Gasps and shrieks towards the entrance of the school’s cafeteria quickly attracted the attention of the rest of the students inside. And soon enough, many eyes were immediately locked on Yuuji as he entered with a lunch box in his hand, looking around in search of someone.

“Ah~! It’s Yuuji-kun~! Oh, do you see that? That must be the rumored lunch box! The one he makes himself!”

“Eh?! Seriously?! He can cook too?! How amazing~”

“Ah~ I want to taste it too~ Just once is enough~”

“I really envy the Tsubakihara sisters~ Their lunches were also made by him!”

“Wow... I wish I have a boyfriend like that...”

“I know right~ Not only does he got the looks, but he can also cook~ I’ll definitely be a spoiled girlfriend if I have a boyfriend like him~”

Ignoring the comments and gazes of the female students around him, he quickly made his way deeper into the cafeteria.

Soon, he saw a girl with a bright smile, waving both of her hands at him, and made his way to her.

Nearing them, Yuuji could immediately recognize four other beautiful girls with similar appearances, but different styles and air to them, sitting at the same table with their cafeteria-bought lunches before them.

One of the girls with the two-star hair clips, in particular, had a lot of food before her that caught his attention. Udon noodles, grilled shrimps, grilled squid, grilled oak, baked potatoes, and even a cup of pudding for desserts...

While he understands that women have varying levels of appetite as do men, he was still slightly taken aback. His mother, sisters, and aunt almost never ate this much food in one sitting. All leftovers on the dinner table were essentially dumped into him. So it was quite surprising for him to see a cute, petite girl eat this much food.

The moment he arrives, all eyes of the quintuplets turn to him with varying reactions. But there was one thing that Yuuji noticed from all of them aside from Yotsuba. Apprehension.

“Here he is, girls~! This is Tsubakihara Yuuji! He has been helping me a lot with my studies!”

“It is nice to meet you. As Yotsuba has introduced, my name is Tsubakihara Yuuji. I’ve been in her care as her classmate and friend.”

All four of them continued to stare at him until the girl with short hair curled her lips into a teasing grin and narrowed her eyes.

“Hm~ So this is the rumor “hottest guy in school”~ I was really surprised when I found out you’re close friends with our little Yotsuba, here~”

“Hmph. I’ve never heard of his academic achievements in school. How is he qualified to teach us?”

The girl with butterfly hair clips said with narrowed eyes, clearly looking to be on guard as she crossed her arms.

“...I’ve never heard of it either. Was he the one who lent you those notes?”

The girl with a pink headset resting around her neck said with a quiet voice. It didn’t seem like she was trying to lower her voice on purpose. It was just her natural volume.

“He is~! The notes were all copied from Yuuji-kun!”

“...”

And lastly, the girl with a lot of food before her was staring at him silently and fixated, as if observing his every movement.

This... might be tougher than I first expected.

Yuuji sighed inwardly and sat down beside Yotsuba after she moved away slightly to give him space.

Even without his enhanced senses, he could feel the tense air prickling at his skin and the piercing gazes from four directions.

“Before anything else, may I know your names? I believe simply saying “Nakano-san” to address one of you would be quite confusing, given you all share the same family name.”

“Ahaha~ I see~ Good thinking, Yuuji-kun~ My name is Nakano Ichika. Call me Ichika, okay~?”

“...I am Nakano Nino.”

“...Miku. Nakano Miku. It’s nice to meet you.”

“My name is Nakano Itsuki. Pleased to meet you.”

Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, Itsuki... I see. That makes it easy to remember.

Yuuji smiled, surprising the four girls, and began opening his lunch.

“Well then, before we talk, let’s have our lunch first. It'd be better if we could talk with a full stomach, wouldn’t it?”

“Alright~! I’m also very hungry~! Thank you for the food~!”

With Yotsuba leading by example, the girls also begin to eat one by one, starting from Itsuki.

It seems like she has been holding back all this time.

Despite her clear apprehension towards him, she seemed like a well-mannered girl with an adorable gap-moe.

“Hey, Yuuji-kun~ Did you really make your own lunch~? It seems very well done~”

Ichika leaned over towards him with a teasing smile while purposefully or accidentally flashing her deep valley from the opened buttons of her uniform.

“I do, though my mother also helped me quite a bit. I just learned how to cook a few days ago.”

“Really~? Just a few days ago? That’s amazing~”

“Thank you. Would you like to have a try?”

The moment those words left his mouth, all four girls immediately turned to him with a piercing gaze.

Similarly surprised, Ichika blinked a few times before her lips curled even more into a teasing grin, accompanied by a light blush on her cheeks.

“Oh my~ I thought you were aiming for Yotsuba~ But could you perhaps be aiming for me instead~?”

She was clearly trying to tease him. But as someone who has been teased by his mother and aunt for years, he wasn’t some regular boy who would become flustered by this level of teasing, even if it is from a beautiful girl.

“I was simply being polite. If you do not want to try any, then it can’t be helped.”

Yuuji replied calmly with a soft smile and began to eat.

But before he could take a bite, Yotsuba suddenly grabbed his shoulders and looked at him with sparkling eyes.

“Yuuji-kun! I want to try!! Please!!!!”

“Of course. Which one do you want?”

“Really~? Yay~!!! Then~ I shall take this rolled omelet graciously.”

Yuuji held out his lunch box and let her pick up the omelet with her own wooden chopsticks, the disposable ones she got from the cafeteria.

She put the entire thing into her mouth at once and began chewing.

“Uhmmmmmm~!!!! It’s so fluffy and delicious~!!! How could a simple rolled omelet be so flavorful~! The juices are bursting from every bite~!”

Yotsuba held her cheeks with both hands and ascended to heaven as she enjoyed the rolled omelet from Yuuji.

How cute.

Even if she was overreacting, Yuuji couldn’t help but smile softly as she blissfully ate the food he made. She looked absolutely adorable, and her green ribbon headband made it seem like she was a little animal. He could easily imagine it beginning to twitch just like a real animal’s ears.

Satisfied by her adorableness, Yuuji took his gaze off Yotsuba and decided to start eating. But he noticed the other four sisters looking towards him, this time at his lunch boxes.

With a helpless smile, Yuuji raised his lunch box towards them.

“Would you like to try some as well?”

“Oh my~ Really~ Thank you~ I couldn’t not try one after seeing Yotsuba’s reaction~ Thank you for the food~!”

“...Hmph! T-Then I guess I’ll have one, only because you’re offering it!”

“...I’ll take a chicken karaage. Thank you very much.”

“T-Thank you. T-Then, I shall take an omelet as well. Thank you for the food.”

One by one, with varying levels of reaction and expression, the girls picked their food item of choice and ate it.

And just like Yotsuba, an expression of amazement, shock, and blissfulness appeared on their faces.

“This is amazing~ I never thought an omelet could taste like this!!”

“I-I-Is this real...? How could a simple chicken karaage taste like this...?!”

“...It’s very delicious. This is the best chicken karaage I’ve ever had.

“This is amazing. Yuuji-kun, you’re very skilled at cooking! I never thought an omelet could be so flavorful and perfect!”

“Thank you very much for your praise. My mother taught me very well. She is a great cook herself.”

Or rather, she is the best cook in the entire world for me.

Yuuji thought proudly to himself. Even if there are other chefs who are objectively better, for him, his mother would always be number 1. Nothing could beat the taste of home and a mother’s love.

Tsubakihara Yuuji: “Fine. I’ll help you out. I still need to thank you for your pictures before, and I also understand how annoying it must be with all those confessions. I’ll give you a selfie.”

Kiryuu Aika: “Really~?! Yaaaayyy~! Thank you so much~!!!! I swear I won’t use it as a “side-dish” too frequently! I also won’t share this picture with anyone else!!!”

Tsubakihara Yuuji: “Wait a second. What is that second part supposed to mean?!”

Kiryuu Aika: “Hehe~ It’s nothing~ Come on! Hurry up and take it! Make sure to look as handsome as possible, okay~?”

Tsubakihara Yuuji: “...Alright.”

Yuuji sighed and set the camera on his smartphone to his front camera. This was the first time he had ever taken a selfie, but he managed to let out a small, genuine smile that seemed natural.

He could feel his cheeks burning from sending his own selfie to his female friend. After a few moments of preparing his heart, he sent it and waited for her reply.

Kiryuu Aika: “Eeeeehh~? Is that it~? How boring~ Wear something better please~ Like a collared shirt so you look more mature! Also, change the settings of your camera so it’ll look better! And pose better! Be more attractive!”

T-This girl...

Yuuji could easily imagine Aika blabbering all these orders with a stupid grin on her face, which somehow made him want to squish her cheeks and make her pay. But in the end, he acquiesced and listened to her each and every request.

He wore various clothes and took selfies according to the pose she asked for. In the end, he had sent much more than he first expected and was completely drained mentally by the end of it.

Tsubakihara Yuuji: “...Happy?”

Kiryuu Aika: “Uhn~! They’re all amazing~! With this, no one would be brave enough to confess to me anymore~!!! Thank you, Yuuji~! I love you~! You’re the best~!

Tsubakihara Yuuji: “You’re welcome...”

Kiryuu Aika: “Hehe~ Now then, let’s chat~”

Tsubakihara Yuuji: “...What?”

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

Aika hummed a cheerful anime song with her beautiful voice on her way to school the next morning, ignoring all the gazes she received, perverted or not, from the male students who were on their way to school as well.

Everything that happened last night kept replaying in her mind, and every time she thought about it, she became happier and happier.

She thought she’d only get one selfie from him after much convincing. But to her great surprise, Yuuji agreed to all of her requests and send all of the selfies he took!!! She can’t believe it!!!

In truth, the first one he sent was already perfect. With just his face and that beautiful natural smile he gave, it was already more than enough to convince her friends and admirers that she has a boyfriend. But she coudln’t help it.

Yuuji was just too handsome. His appearance is practically the embodiment of everything she likes in a man. So in the end, she lost to her desires and tried asking him to try out various clothes and take a selfie in various poses.

She never though he’d agree that easily.

Geez... Is he trying to make me fall for him~?

It wasn’t only this instance. Ever since knowing him and talking to him through the multiverse group chat, she has been noticing things about him that she couldn’t help but love.

He’s funny, understanding, kind, smart, considerate, and cares about his friends and family very much. Chatting with him was always fun, even when they were chatting about the most mundane stuff.

Before she knew it, she felt like she was slowly falling in love with him even though it has just been a few days since she knew him.

She wants to know more about him. She wants to meet him in person. She wants to talk with him in person. She wants to see him wearing these clothes in person. She wants to have fun with him in person!

And perhaps by then, she might fall in love with him completely.

Honestly~ What a sinful guy~

Aika looked down at her smartphone and giggled softly. She had already changed her lock screen and her wallpaper to Yuuji’s selfies he sent last night, and she has been staring at all of his photos while chatting with him all night.

If she wasn’t a high human, she would’ve had dark circles under her eyes and looked completely exhausted after not getting a single wink of sleep.

Before she knew it, Aika arrived at her school where a lot more students noticed her cheery mood, and a lot more boys became entranced by her smile.

At first, Kiryuu Aika was only known for her pervertedness that rivaled even the three greatest perverts in the entire academy by her classmates.

But now, she was known as the third great beauty of Kuoh Academy in the entire academy with her appearance rivaling, and in terms of sexiness even surpassing Rias Gremory and Himejima Akeno.

Countless males students have fallen for her and even tried confessing to her. Compared to the other two great beauties of Kuoh, Aika was much friendlier and was in her first year of high school, making them more confident in getting accepted.

But even after two days of an endless stream of confessions, she never accepted a single one of them. Some were heartbroken from being rejected instantly, while some who knew of her “perverted nature” tried to force themselves on her, only to be thrown to the ground before they know it.

Even the second-year and third-year sports club members who tried to force themselves on her were thrown to the ground just like any other despite their much larger build and strength. And after she embarrassed the Judo Captain by flipping him over with one hand and walking away, no one was brave enough to try forcing themselves on her.

In exchange, the number of confessions from the still optimistic male increased instead. Even this early in the morning, there are already many male students standing around the halls leading to her class with their hearts beating in anticipation.

And the moment she appeared, all eyes turned to her. But unlike the other few days, they were all frozen in their place.

Aika would normally quicken her steps and hurry inside her class. All of them were ready to at least get her attention or stop her in her path.

But now, they were all completely entranced by her soft, beautiful smile as she walked past them while looking at her smartphone.

One by one, Aika passed by her admirers while they were frozen in shock. But when she was about to reach her class, a first-year student from another class suddenly jumped out and stepped in front of her, catching her attention.

“U-U-Uhm!!! E-E-Excuse me! M-My name is I-Ichika! Sato Ichika! U-Uhm! I-I’ve become entranced by your beauty and elegance ever since I first laid my eyes on you! A-A-And I-I’ve fallen in love! W-W-Will you please be my girlfriend!!!”

The decent looking young boy with messy black hair shouted with his cracked voice as he bowed his body, almost to a 90-degree angle, and raised her hand towards her.

He was completely stiff and extremely nervous, so much so that she couldn’t bear to raise his face towards her and meet her eyes.

Some of his friends who had confessed to her told him their tale of being slapped by words of rejection before they could even finish their confessions. So he had readied his heart for such a thing. Even though he was quite confident with his looks, the girl he’s confessing to was too far beyond his league. He understood that fact completely and knew that his chances of success were low. In fact, he even expected to be treated like his other friends.

But even after waiting for so long, an answer never came.

Feeling hopeful, he slowly opened his eyes and raised his head slightly, just enough to see her face. And there she was looking at him, no, observing him with those bewitching golden eyes.

He instantly felt optimistic. This had never happened before. Even the guys who were watching this from the sidelines felt their hearts sank.

After a few moments that felt like an eternity, Aika let out a beautiful smile.

Even Sato Ichika, who was known for his adorableness and shota attribute, look so plain... Hehe~ You really have to take responsibility for ruining my sense of beauty, Yuuji~

“I’m very sorry, but I am already in love with someone else~!”

“Eh...?”

All the boys immediately froze in place. Their faces paled as their eyes widened in disbelief.

And before any of them could react, a girl’s voice from within the class was the one to break the silence.

“Eh?! Seriously?! Aika you got someone you love?!?!?!”

“I do~ I’ve actually been in love with him for quite a while and we finally started dating officially a few days ago~”

“Eh?!?! Why didn’t you tell me?!”

“Well~ He’s too handsome, you see~ So I needed to keep him a secret until I can improve myself to be on the same level as him~ And now that I am, I can finally let it be known to the world~!!”

“Too handsome? Do you have his picture?”

“Here~”

Aika gave her smartphone to her friend, and the moment she saw the photo of Yuuji laying his head on his arm on the table while looking at the camera with a soft, gentle smile, her face turned instantly red.

She began sliding through the images, all of which were that of an insanely handsome young man’s selfie.

Seeing her reaction, the other girls also became extremely curious and crowded around her. And they all turn completely red as well.

“I-I-Is this real...?!”

“It’s real~ If you still don’t believe me, why don’t you check my chat logs with him~? We chatted the entire night last night~”

Immediately, they opened up her chat and looked at the content.

At first glance, it only seemed like a chat between extremely close friends. But then, they started talking about going for a trip to an extremely luxurious ryokan in Kyoto. Alone! Just the two of them!

It was unmistakably a conversation between lovers!!!

“I-I-It’s real...”

““WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?????!!!!!!””

At that moment, all the boys burst into tears of sadness and despair. But their cries were quickly drowned out by the girls’ gasps and shrieks of excitement as they looked at each and every one of Yuuji’s selfies on Aika’s phone.

AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please comment your thoughts~! I would love to hear what you think about it~!!!!

Also, if you'd like to read additional chapters ahead and get a pdf version (Light & Dark), please feel free to check out my at /verglasx ~!!