—
The war ended not with bloodshed, but with my defeat and her smug grin.
"Okay, so—since you're finally awake," Nonoa clapped her hands together like some kind of camp counselor, "it's breakfast time!"
"…Breakfast?" I mumbled, dragging myself upright, my hair a complete disaster.
She hopped off the bed, puffing out her chest. "Like, yeah! I already went ahead and cooked something. You should be grateful."
"…Wait." My eyes narrowed. "You cooked?"
"Wow. The audacity in that tone." She pointed dramatically at me. "For your info, I can cook."
"…Are you sure?"
"Like, duh! Don't underestimate me." She huffed, then quickly muttered under her breath, "I mean… okay, I might've Googled the recipe halfway through, but still."
That didn't inspire much confidence.
Still, I dragged myself out of bed, half-suspecting smoke alarms would go off the moment I stepped into the kitchen.
And I wasn't wrong.
The scene that greeted me… how do I put this? It looked less like "breakfast" and more like a tragic documentary about food's natural enemy: fire.
On the table sat a frying pan with suspiciously blackened eggs, a stack of pancakes that leaned to one side like the Tower of Pisa, and something that might've been bacon but resembled crispy origami.
"…So," I said slowly, "you cooked, huh?"
Her hands went straight to her hips. "Don't give me that look! It's edible. Totally edible."
"…I feel like if I eat that, I'll unlock a hidden resistance skill."
"Like, wow. Rude." She picked up the spatula and wiggled it at me like a weapon. "You're eating it. No backing out. Boyfriends are legally obligated to taste-test their girlfriend's cooking."
"…Pretty sure that's not in the law."
"Like, it is now. Deal with it."
I sighed and sat down, staring at the "breakfast." "…Which one is the least dangerous?"
"They're all fine!"
"Translation: they're all equally dangerous."
"Ugh, you're so dramatic." She grabbed a fork, cut a piece of pancake, and shoved it toward my mouth. "Open up."
"…Do I look like a baby bird to you?"
"Like, yep. Chirp chirp. Open."
I considered resisting. I really did. But the way she leaned in with those stubborn eyes told me resistance was futile. So I opened my mouth and let her feed me the bite.
Chew. Chew. Chew.
…
"…So?" she asked, leaning closer, face full of anticipation.
"…It's…" I paused, trying to find words that wouldn't instantly destroy her pride. "…Unique."
Her eyes narrowed. "Unique?"
"Yeah. Like… if pancakes had a rebellious phase, this would be it."
Her cheeks puffed out immediately. "Like, that's sooo not a compliment!"
"It's not an insult either. It's… creative. Bold. Courageous."
"You're literally just listing random adjectives!"
"Well, if nothing else… it has personality."
"…Food isn't supposed to have personality!"
I chuckled, unable to hold it back anymore. "Alright, alright. It's not bad. Just… crunchy."
Her expression softened, just a little. "See? I told you it's edible."
"Yeah, edible in the way gravel is edible."
She grabbed the spatula again, threatening me. "Do you want me to smack you with this?"
"…Would that taste better?"
She froze, then burst out laughing. "Oh my gosh, you're the worst."
"Hey, I'm still eating it, aren't I?" I said, taking another careful bite of the pancake.
"True. Guess that means I passed the girlfriend exam."
"…Pretty sure the exam requires actual cooking skills."
"Like, no. The exam requires effort. And effort—I have in spades!" She proudly tapped her chest.
I couldn't help but smile. "…Fair enough."
For a while, the kitchen was filled with the sound of clumsy utensils, my cautious chewing, and her running commentary about how "next time I'll totally nail it" and "for real, this recipe lied to me."
Eventually, after I'd survived half a plate, I leaned back in my chair. "Alright. I think that's my limit."
Her eyes widened. "Limit? It wasn't that bad!"
"…My stomach disagrees."
"Like, liar. You secretly loved it."
"…Sure. Loved it the same way people love horror movies. With fear in my heart."
She leaned forward, eyes sparkling with amusement. "Then next time… I'll cook something even scarier."
"…Please don't."
She giggled, flopping onto the chair beside me. "For real though… it's kinda fun. Cooking with you around, I mean. Even if you're just being a sarcastic zombie."
I looked at her, the messy-haired girl in an oversized shirt who'd just declared war with her frying pan. "…Yeah. Fun's one way to put it."
"Like, what's the other way?"
"…Dangerous."
"Ha! You love danger."
"…Do I?"
"Totally. You're dating me, after all." She winked, leaning against my shoulder.
I sighed, pretending to be exasperated. "…You've got me there."
And just like that, the morning sun spilled brighter through the window, painting the kitchen in warm light. Breakfast was a disaster, my stomach felt like it was questioning its life choices, but somehow… I didn't mind.
Because this—this chaotic, ridiculous mess—was ours.
—
The walk to school should've been peaceful. Keyword: should've.
Because walking next to Nonoa meant peace was legally impossible.
"Like, I'm telling you, Yuki's the type who could trip over nothing and somehow get endorsed by Nike. For real, she's got that aura."
I gave her a blank stare. "Aura? You mean gravity. She trips because gravity doesn't discriminate."
She jabbed me with her elbow. "No, duh, Deeno-kun. I meant her charisma aura! Like, hello? Do you even listen?"
"…You're saying she made a random team of athletes endorse her."
"Exactly! See? You were listening." She smirked, as if I'd just confessed to a crime. "You always pretend to ignore me, but you totally keep track."
"Yeah, so I can build a case against you later."
"Objection! Like, for real, that's harassment of the highest level."
"Harassment is making me listen to your morning commentary."
Her gasp was exaggerated, like she'd just been personally betrayed. "Wow. For real, I'm hurt. Deeply. Tragic. Someone call the press."
"Press release: Local girl won't stop talking, causes long-term ear damage to innocent civilian."
"Ha-ha, very funny." She rolled her eyes, then skipped ahead a step, spinning on her heel to face me while walking backward. "But admit it—you'd be bored out of your mind if I didn't tag along."
"…I'd be free."
"Like, liar." She pointed at me accusingly. "Your whole zombie look? Totally screams 'needs girlfriend commentary DLC.'"
"…That's not even a real DLC."
"For real, it should be. I'd be, like, the top seller."
"You'd be an uninstall button waiting to happen."
"Rude! You love my company."
I sighed. "…You're not entirely wrong."
Her grin widened immediately. "See? That's, like, a confession. You can't take it back."
"…I wasn't trying to confess."
"Too late. Already screenshotted in my brain." She tapped the side of her head. "For real, permanent storage."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "And this is why people call you relentless."
"Relentless equals dedicated, duh. Don't twist my brand."
We passed through a narrow street where other students were walking the same direction. A few glanced our way, whispering. Nothing unusual—Nonoa had "charm like" energy that drew attention no matter what.
She didn't seem to notice—or maybe she noticed and just didn't care. "Oh, by the way, don't forget: we've got that group thing in PE later."
"Right. Volleyball."
"Like, ugh, I still suck at serving. Don't laugh if I hit the net."
"I wasn't planning to laugh."
"You totally were."
"…I'll laugh internally, then."
"Still counts! For real, that's betrayal again."
"Not betrayal if your serve commits self-destruction."
"Wow. So supportive." She puffed her cheeks, glaring at me. "And here I was, planning to make you a lunch box today."
"…Correction: planning to poison me."
"Like, excuse me? Yesterday's eggs were only slightly undercooked."
"They were alive, Nonoa. I think I saw one of them blink."
"Fake news!"
Before I could retort, we reached the main road leading to school. More students clustered around, the chatter of morning greetings filling the air.
Nonoa, of course, didn't lower her voice. "Like, hey, Deeno-kun, walk closer. People'll think you're ditching your girlfriend if you stay all broody back there."
"I am broody."
"Broody's hot, but not when it looks like you're avoiding me." She tugged my sleeve, dragging me into step beside her. "There. Much better."
"…You realize people are staring."
"Let them stare. For real, I look good today."
"You're insufferable."
"And you're lucky."
The worst part was that I couldn't even argue with that last one.
We crossed the gate just as the bell rang, students flooding into the courtyard. Yuki—yes, the same Yuki from earlier—waved from a distance, surrounded by her usual entourage.
"See? Like I said, popular." Nonoa nudged me. "She legit just sneezed and three people handed her tissues."
"…That's not popularity. That's cult behavior."
"Cult of charisma, duh. You wouldn't understand."
"Thank god I don't."
She giggled, looping her arm around mine before I could escape. "Relax, Dino-kun. You've already got the best girlfriend upgrade. No need to join the Yuki cult."
"…An upgrade that makes bad breakfast and wakes me up with pokes."
"For real, that's premium-level content."
"You're confusing premium with defective."
"Defective?!" Her voice jumped an octave, but she quickly leaned closer, whispering with mock menace. "Say that again, and I'll expose your weakness to the entire class."
"…Which weakness?"
"The one where you secretly—like, totally—get flustered if I hold your hand too long."
I froze, and she smirked like a cat catching a mouse.
"…That's not real."
"For real, it sooo is." She tightened her grip, refusing to let go. "Exhibit A: your ears are red right now."
"…Allergies."
"Pfft. Lame excuse."
The bell chimed again, louder this time. Students were rushing inside, and yet here we were, still caught in our banter like idiots.
Finally, I exhaled. "…Fine. Let's just go before we're late."
"Like, admit I'm right first."
"…You're… annoying."
"Close enough. Victory!"
And just like that, she dragged me toward the building, smiling like she'd just won a national championship in "Teasing Deeno-kun Olympics."
Honestly, mornings were exhausting enough. But with her? They were exhausting and weirdly fun.
'I feel like I'm forgetting something though'