Chapter 22: Naoto's Love Bento
After Kuriko single-handedly defeated more than a dozen delinquents, Kuriko's popularity in school soared, even surpassing Naoto's.
During this time, Kuriko also gained a series of titles such as 'Cold-faced Valkyrie,' 'Ice Queen,' and 'Emotionless Demon,' and was eagerly sought after by various sports clubs.
Kuriko expressed some regret about this.
She should have just used the memory erasure technique to wipe everyone's memories clean. But as the saying goes, what's done is done. Since Kuriko had already done it, she had no chance to regret it. Anyway, no matter how bad the situation got, it couldn't get much worse.
Anyway, the school had been much quieter recently because those delinquents were gone—mainly because that group of delinquents was too ashamed to return to school. Fifteen or so people were beaten down by a little girl; how could they still have any reputation? The most crucial thing was that if you told anyone about it, you'd be too embarrassed. Bullying a little girl and getting beaten by her—are you even a person? Whether you told your parents or your teachers, the final result would either be expulsion or jail time, so it was better to just go home for a few days and wait for the storm to pass.
And today's story begins at lunchtime.
During lunchtime, Naoto-kun, as usual, went to the rooftop with his mischievous friend Sakuta to eat lunch.
Unlike other schools, the rooftop wasn't an off-limits area. Many students had a key to the rooftop—otherwise, Naoto-kun wouldn't have been able to come here to jump off, right?
Most of the teachers at the school adopted a 'turn a blind eye' attitude towards this kind of thing; as long as it wasn't too excessive, they couldn't be bothered to manage it.
"Hmm? Naoto-kun, your bento today, why does it look a little different?"
Just as the two were about to eat lunch, Sakuta immediately noticed that the bento in Naoto-kun's hand was completely different from before.
Speaking of previous bentos, they were all made by Kuriko's mother and were generally normal bentos.
But the bento in Naoto-kun's hand today looked somewhat luxurious.
It had all sorts of vegetables and fruits, and the rice was even arranged in the shape of a heart. This was clearly the legendary 'love bento'.
"Could it be that Kuriko helped you..."
Sakuta looked at Naoto-kun with a mischievous grin, even letting out a snicker like a pig's head.
"You're overthinking it. I made this myself. I also made one for Kuriko."
Facing his friend's wild imagination, Naoto-kun immediately cut off his fantasy. Asking Kuriko to make a bento? That would probably kill him.
Although Kuriko was indeed a god, and Kuriko had tastes almost identical to normal people, sometimes Kuriko was really strange. From the fact that she could eat a bag of ghost peppers without changing her expression, Naoto-kun didn't dare let Kuriko cook. He was afraid that if he wasn't careful, time would reset.
"You made it? You have this skill?"
Hearing that this bento was actually made by Naoto-kun himself, Sakuta was immediately shocked. This person actually had such a skill? No way, this person not only drew so well but also had this kind of skill?
Naoto-kun was naturally very proud of Sakuta's surprise.
He remembered that when he went out sketching with his seniors from school, a large group of people were just going to make instant noodles to get by, but he alone cooked a hotpot for everyone.
Since then, every time they went out, he was responsible for everyone's food. Whether they were older or younger students, who didn't call him 'Big Brother'?
"It's delicious. Did you really make this?"
Taking advantage of Naoto-kun's inattention, Sakuta quickly snatched a piece of fried chicken from Naoto-kun's bento.
Although it couldn't be called an absolute delicacy, it was certainly in the category of good food.
Sakuta expressed, 'Does this person want to let people live? So outstanding, he's going to be envied!'
"Of course, I'm very confident in the bentos I make. Also, don't touch my fried chicken."
"Oh, don't be so stingy, Naoto-kun, another piece!"
"That's enough, don't you have your own?"
"How can that compare to a bento personally made by our ONE-sensei? Come on, come on, how about I trade you this for it?"
"Go away, you're really too much."
..."Kuriko, your bento... it's so beautiful!"
Meanwhile, Kuriko, who was eating lunch with her good girlfriends, looked at her bento with a panicked expression.
Oh my god! What in the world is this?
Inside the exquisite food, there was a big heart, and on Kuriko's favorite dessert—coffee jelly—there was even a message: 'For my dearest girlfriend, Kuriko.'
Just by looking at it, the girls around her felt a sense of fullness in their stomachs.
What was this sickeningly sweet aroma? This was just bullying the singles, wasn't it? It must be!
"Wow! So sweet! Is this the love bento Naoto-kun made for you? It's so romantic!"
"That's so nice, I also want a boyfriend to make me a love bento. Food bought from a convenience store really can't compare to a love bento."
"No, this... this thing..."
Faced with her friends' teasing, Kuriko was truly speechless.
Because her mother was out today, Naoto-kun volunteered to make the bento.
However, what was completely unexpected was that Naoto-kun actually made a love bento.
Seeing her own portrait on the rice and the pink heart, Kuriko really wanted to throw away the bento in her hand.
Wouldn't opening something like this at school make people shy?
But then she thought that if she threw it away, she would go hungry, and given the coffee jelly, she would forgive him this once.
It wasn't because it was a bento personally made by Naoto-kun and she couldn't bear to throw it away, it really wasn't!
Under the excited gazes of her friends, Kuriko could only blush and pick up a small octopus sausage, putting it into her mouth.
Soon, Kuriko's face was filled with an excited smile.
"Kawaii desu ne."
"So Kuriko is the type who says no but means yes."
"A love bento made by her boyfriend."
"I really want a bite."
Seeing Kuriko's cute and happy face, her girlfriends around her also showed expressions like little foxes.
However, by the time Kuriko reacted, it was already too late.
"How nice, her boyfriend is a famous painter, and he's so gentle and considerate, even making such good food."
"Otherwise, he wouldn't be worthy of our Kuriko, would he?"
"You're right."
"Stop, stop talking."
Faced with the teasing of her mischievous friends, Kuriko gradually couldn't hold back anymore.
Thus, today's winner of Love is War… is our Mr. Naoto!
Naoto: Someone seems to be talking about me. Is it my imagination?