Noon, Tokyo, Sobu High School Cafeteria
The bell rang, signaling the end of morning classes. Shizuka Hiratsuka-sensei's lecture on reading comprehension had wrapped up, and Ryuo Tenshin exhaled in relief. With his newly awakened "Listen to Advice" system, any reading comprehension question felt like child's play—provided it was logical and in Japanese. The answers flowed effortlessly, as if the text itself whispered them to him.
Still, some questions lingered in his notebook, scrawled in messy kanji: Why was I reborn here? How do I get rich quick? If I were a native of this world, would the system even work? On the test's third question, which asked for the "profound meaning" of a story's hero's name, the answer had materialized in his mind with startling clarity.
But this was just a basic skill, not some overpowered cheat code. If he tried applying reading comprehension to, say, understanding someone's true intentions… could it work? Ryuo hadn't tested it yet. Lunchtime beckoned.
---
"Oba-san, one oyakodon, please," Ryuo said, approaching the cafeteria counter.
"That'll be 400 yen. Cash or app?" the cafeteria oba-san replied, her tone warm but brisk.
Ryuo scanned his phone to pay for the oyakodon—a comforting bowl of chicken, egg, and rice, its savory aroma wafting from the plate. As he inhaled deeply, he glanced at the fifty-something oba-san stirring a pot.
"Oba-san, any tricks to making oyakodon this delicious?"
She blinked, caught off guard, then waved her ladle toward a stack of pre-made meal kits.
"We use Shinomiya Foods' pre-packaged oyakodon mix. Just heat it up, and it's perfect every time."
Ryuo's shoulders slumped. Defeated by modern convenience, he thought, carrying his tray to a small round table.
---
Before he could take a bite, a girl with short, shoulder-length hair plopped down across from him. Her presence was impossible to ignore—lively, bold, and brimming with energy. She set her own oyakodon bowl on the table, her grin wide and teasing.
"Well, well, senpai! Oyakodon and you—quite the classic combo," she chirped.
Ryuo looked up, instantly recognizing her: Hana Uzaki, a second-year at Sobu High from Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! They'd bonded last year when he'd lent her his umbrella during a sudden downpour. Since then, she'd declared herself his "kohai savior," much to his amusement—and occasional exasperation.
"Yo, Hana-chan," he said, keeping his tone flat. Her enthusiasm was infectious, but he wasn't about to let her know that.
Hana's eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Such a cool attitude, senpai! No wonder you don't have many friends at school."
Ryuo raised an eyebrow. Hana was a good kid—always ready to spot him lunch money when he forgot his wallet—but her mouth ran faster than a Shinkansen. He flicked her forehead lightly.
"I've got plenty of friends, Hana-chan. They just bring bento to school. I'm not big on rice balls or bread, so I hit the cafeteria solo."
Hana clutched her forehead, pouting dramatically.
"Ow! That hurt, senpai!" She crossed her arms, her voice dripping with mock pity. "But seriously, eating alone, going to class alone… you're practically a tragic anime protagonist! If it weren't for me, you'd be lonely forever, senpai. Boo-hoo!"
Ryuo smirked, reaching out to pinch her cheeks, cutting off her theatrics.
"You haven't even ordered yet, have you? The cafeteria line's thinning out. Go get your food before it's too late."
Hana wriggled free, rubbing her cheeks with a huff. She shot up from her seat, her energy making the table wobble.
"You're so mean, senpai!" she declared, but her grin betrayed her.
In her mind, she was convinced: With that attitude, no one else would hang out with him. If I don't stick around, senpai's doomed to be the lone wolf of Sobu High!
Spoiler: he wasn't.
---
Ryuo didn't bolt while she was gone, and soon Hana returned, plopping her oyakodon across from him. As she dug in, she tilted her head, a curious glint in her eyes.
"Senpai, you asked oba-san about oyakodon tricks earlier. Masaka—are you trying to cook your own bento to feel like someone's making it for you at home?"
Ryuo snorted, tempted to flick her forehead again, but she preemptively covered her mouth with both hands.
"I've thought about it," he admitted, leaning back. "I can only manage instant ramen, egg fried rice, and maybe some stir-fried veggies. Never quite nail the flavor, though. Figured I'd learn something new." He paused, then smirked. "Wait, Hana-chan, can you cook?"
Hana's cheeks flushed, caught off guard.
"O-Of course! I'm the smart and totally empathetic Hana-chan, aren't I? Cooking's a breeze!" She puffed out her chest, trying to recover from his teasing. "I make stuff for Kaa-san all the time at home."
Ryuo's grin widened.
"Oh? Then teach me, Hana-sensei. How do you make the perfect oyakodon?"
Hana froze, her chopsticks hovering. She'd seen her mother make oyakodon plenty of times—seen pigs run, never eaten the pork, as the saying went.
Clearing her throat, she mustered confidence.
"Pfft, you need me to teach you something this simple?" She leaned forward, her voice authoritative despite her trembling hands. "First, cook the eggs until they're just set. Then toss in the chicken. Once it's cooked, add the rice and stir-fry it all together. Boom—perfect oyakodon!"
Her back shook slightly as she finished, but she doubled down, pointing a chopstick at him.
"Got it, senpai? I won't repeat something this easy!"
Ryuo chuckled, noting her bravado. Maybe he'd try her "recipe" later—if only to see how spectacularly it might fail.