13. Lunch with the Orc

"Hey, we need to talk."

As promised, Asakura walked into my classroom to get an explanation for yesterday's situation.

Upon hearing his voice, I sighed not because of the fact that it was time to spill the beans, but the general fear of the class when they saw Asakura at our classroom door.

"Be careful, the Orc is here!"

"Shut up, don't let him hear you!"

"The Orc and the Yeti are together again!? Where's the Hero when you need him!?"

Ignoring their meaningless gossip, I got up from my desk to head towards Asakura.

"Come on, let's go before they take all the seats in the cafeteria."

"Super spicy Set C for me!"

"..."

I was wondering why I had to pay for his lunch, but I'd say it was a small price to pay for his silence.

Showing off the emblem that symbolized my valedictorian status, I got the two lunch sets for free and we found a corner table that was an unpopular choice between students.

"Fujita, thank you for the lunch!"

"... It doesn't seem to me that you have such a financial difficulty."

"Nothing beats a free meal!"

Without delay, Asakura began to savor the bowl of crimson udon.

"... I really wonder how your taste buds are still functioning..."

"Ngngngn Mmmm Uh!"

Translation: "You don't know what you're missing!"

As I began to eat my lunch at my own pace, I noticed some commotion from the students.

Turning my gaze toward the entrance, I saw a particularly familiar palette that commonly greeted my sight in these past few days.

The Princess, along with her circle, was gracing the cafeteria with her presence.

For an instant, our eyes met.

Fearing the worst, I immediately looked away but nothing happened.

As if she was ignoring me, she stood in line for lunch while she continued to talk to the other students.

While I was relieved that my lunch wasn't interrupted by hundreds of jealous stares, a part of me felt...alone.

"So, what happened with you and the Princess?"

And to make matters worse, the Orc was right in front of me.

Sighing, I told him the events that happened in the past few days, leaving out the more... embarrassing parts.

"You are so trapped, my dear!"

"It's no laughing matter..."

Placing down my chopsticks on the half-finished lunch, I asked him seriously.

"So, what do you think?"

"No idea. She pretty much came out of nowhere. If this were a story, she'd be the beginner heroine they give you to show you the ropes."

Despite his behavior, Asakura had listened to my situation as intently as he could, as if he was paying back all the times I'd done the same with him.

Our bond was not something I could call "friendship," but something akin to mutual counseling.

"But I can understand why she's so fixated on you."

"Why?"

"It's not for me to say since it's the same for me"

"?"

Unable to understand his words, I wanted to ask him for an explanation, but I felt my phone vibrate.

"A message from the Princess?"

"Does this look like the cas..."

Sender: Girlfriend <3

"..."

"I'd say I hit was spot on, heheh."

Inviting me to open the message, I saw that there was another picture of Shibata.

It was a selfie while she had ordered a lunch set identical to mine.

"Next time, let's eat together ；^ω^）"

I didn't even know how to respond to her message, but when I met her gaze, she winked at me and resumed eating.

"Let me guess, she's jealous that we're having lunch together?"

"Why would she be jealous..."

"But she wants to have lunch with you, right?"

"..."

Unfortunately, my silence meant a confirmation of his assumption.

"Don't worry, I think she's sincere."

"... How can you be sure?"

"Because you attract those kinds of people."

Without knowing how to respond to Asakura's statement, I saw that he raised the bowl and finished drinking all the scarlet soup as well.

"Candy, please!"

"..."

Pulling a candy out of my pocket, I gave it to Asakura and I was as usual amazed at the extremes his tongue could still perceive.