"Just because of this kind of reason?"
Kaito couldn't help but raise his hand to his forehead, somewhat at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
Good news: the friendship he carefully maintained had not gone bad, it was just a misunderstanding.
Bad news: it feels... might as well have gone bad.
This kind of "pretending to be boyfriend" plot, in the past he had only seen in all kinds of light novels or manga, it was the first time he experienced such a thing in real life.
Novel, indeed very novel, but helplessness was also truly helpless.
This Tokyo anon always manages to throw some new trick at him from time to time.
"Please, please!"
Anon was crying bitterly, still clutching his sleeve, like she was holding tightly to the last life-saving straw.
"As long as Kaito-kun willing to pretend to be my boyfriend, no matter what it is, I'm willing to do!"
This line sounded a bit familiar.
Seems like... when he first met Hitori, that little social-phobe also said similar words to him.
'Is this the underlying code engraved in your girls' DNA?'
Kaito thought for a moment, just as he was about to respond, the classroom door was knocked on.
The person who came had a face so exquisitely cute it could be considered foul play, long hair black as crow feathers reached her waist, black over-the-knee socks wrapped her slender legs, on her feet were matching small leather shoes, she stood there graceful and upright.
"Yukinoshita-san?", He was a little surprised.
Second Miss visiting uninvited, of course she didn't come just to chat idly.
"This is the thank-you gift you asked for, Kaito-san," The girl still wore that same serious appearance, solemnly handed him a delicately styled lunch box.
The lid of the lunch box was transparent in design, the capacity was large, the interlayer was divided into many separate spaces, all filled with desserts.
Egg tarts, red bean cakes, macarons, dorayaki... not only traditional Japanese desserts, there were even other Asian and Western ones mixed in. One could see the maker's care.
"I'm not too sure about your taste, so I made a variety of desserts."
Yukinoshita Yukino slightly lowered her eyes, long eyelashes trembling lightly, her tone still calm, "If you're not satisfied, please tell me the shortcomings, I will improve."
"Already very good."
Kaito opened the lid and glanced, the taste was not yet confirmed, but at least the appearance was indeed excellent.
'Just this quantity, isn't it a bit too much?'
He originally thought the lunch box had only one layer, but in fact, there was something hidden inside, space existed under the divider.
Kaito was not a crazy dessert lover, the reason for making this kind of request, was simply to let Yukinoshita-san easily repay the favor.
But the Second Miss's personality was a bit too serious, even a trivial post-meal dessert could be made with the momentum of a full-course imperial feast.
He thought for a bit, then simply issued an invitation, "If Yukinoshita-san doesn't mind, would you like to stay and eat a bit together?"
Desserts too sweet for one person, were just right for three.
Yukino hesitated for a moment.
Faced with such polite words, she originally should have refused.
But...
Her lake-blue eyes subtly glanced at the unfamiliar pink-haired girl nearby.
That person sat beside Kaito-san, the two seemed quite close.
After a moment of silence, Yukino slightly nodded, "Then I'll impose."
———
Although the rare two-person lunch was declared void due to the addition of a third wheel. Anon didn't feel disappointed.
She was a bit curious about this girl named "Yukinoshita", but only just that.
After a brief self-introduction, she put her attention back onto Kaito, continuing to act cute and plead pitifully.
"Let's do this."
Kaito was a little helpless from her pestering, simply stretched out a finger, and said lightly, "As long as you can answer one question of mine, I'll agree to your request."
"Isn't it… won't it be one of those legendary unsolvable hard questions?"
Anon looked over warily, if he made her prove Goldbach's Conjecture, or answer how many stars are in the universe... how is that any different from a guaranteed death trap?
"Relax, not that complicated."
Kaito looked toward Yukino beside him, "How about letting Yukinoshita-san be the judge? Over-the-line questions won't count."
The young lady had gotten up very early today, but had been busy making desserts all morning, and instead forgot to prepare her own bento. At the moment she was nibbling on bread.
Suddenly being named, she was a bit surprised, but didn't refuse.
"I see... then that's fine."
With a third party overseeing, Anon clearly let out a sigh of relief, and regained confidence, "Hmph, bring it on!"
"Question: Sarah's mom has four children, the first three are Summer, Winter, and Autumn, what's the name of the last one?"
"Isn't this easy?"
The girl triumphantly put hands on her hips, laughed heartily, "Of course it's Spring!"
Yukino: "..."
The young lady was silent for two seconds, looked toward Chihaya-san with a gaze showing a bit of compassion.
As for Kaito, he had an expression like it was just as expected, and even picked a piece of salmon from his bento and gave it to her, "Eat more, nourish the brain."
"So… does that mean I passed the test?"
Anon looked surprised and delighted, eyes full of expectation as she turned to the judge nearby.
Unfortunately, the iron truth does not sway according to anyone's will.
Yukino's heart was as cold as a fish that's been killed for ten years, and said lightly, "Very sorry, the correct answer is Sarah."
"Eh? eh? eh?"
The simple girl clearly hadn't expected this kind of ending.
She originally wanted to argue based on logic, but recalling the question in her mind… seems she really did answer wrong?
Chihaya Anon, struck like thunder.
"Forget it."
Seeing the girl frozen in place, as if even her world view had been shaken, a certain kind-hearted Mr. Kaito thought for a moment, decided to give her another chance.
"Just take that one as a drill. I'll ask you another question. If you can get it right, the previous condition still stands."
As the saying goes, Heaven never bars one's way.
Anon regained her energy again, just that this time she treated it like facing a great enemy, "Bring it on again!"
"The school holds a sports meet, you sign up for the 100-meter dash, during the race, you just overtook the second place. Tell me, what place are you in now?"
Eat a loss, gain wisdom.
The girl, who had been completely defeated last time, didn't answer immediately this time. She mulled it over and over in her heart, then cautiously said, "First place?"
'Overtook second place, doesn't that mean I became first?'
'This time I can't possibly be wrong!'
"Congratulations."
Kaito gently applauded, and in Anon's gradually brightening gaze of joy, spread his hands, "Wrong answer."
Chihaya Anon: "..."
Anon was a bit frantic, "Why?"
The judge lady beside sighed, couldn't bear to watch anymore.
"Chihaya-san, suppose you overtook first place, what place would you be?"
Anon answered without thinking, "Of course first!"
Yukino calmly asked, "So, after you overtook second place, shouldn't you become second?"
Anon: "..."
The girl froze in place, suddenly felt that the world was so vast, yet there was no place for her to stand.
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