"What the hell is this!?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka stared at the bento box in front of her, a question rising from the depths of her soul.
Sure, the bento looked pretty fancy, but could someone please explain why there was a huge heart on top? And it wasn't just the heart—even the side dishes were shaped like hearts!
If she were eating alone, it wouldn't be a big deal. But the problem was she was currently sitting with her colleagues for lunch, and the moment she opened this thing, it attracted everyone's attention.
Sengoku Chihiro, who'd been about to open her own bento, saw what was happening and quietly stopped. She kept her face perfectly straight, terrified she might accidentally laugh out loud.
After all, she knew full well that her friend here had trained in martial arts and didn't know the meaning of "going easy on people."
If she actually laughed, she'd probably get knocked out with one punch.
"Shizuka-sensei, your bento is just filled with love! When did you get a boyfriend? How come you didn't tell me?" asked a teacher who was pretty close with Hiratsuka Shizuka, grinning.
Hiratsuka Shizuka's mouth twitched. For a moment, she genuinely didn't know how to explain this. She couldn't exactly say it was a bento made by a female student, right? If she said that, it'd probably cause an even bigger misunderstanding.
Now she finally understood what Shirai Mio meant by "love-filled bento."
She quietly closed the lid on the bento box and said, "Sorry, I just remembered I have something to take care of. You all enjoy your lunch."
Hiratsuka Shizuka hadn't even taken a few steps before she heard her fellow teachers talking behind her: "Do you think Shizuka-sensei is embarrassed?"
"Actually, yeah. She totally looks embarrassed."
Hearing those voices, Hiratsuka Shizuka's footsteps quickened considerably. She decided she needed to find an opportunity to teach Shirai Mio exactly how to make a proper bento.
After Hiratsuka Shizuka left, Sengoku Chihiro also found an excuse to get up and leave. She headed to an empty classroom before finally opening her own bento. Sure enough, it was exactly the same as Hiratsuka Shizuka's. Thank goodness she hadn't rushed to open it earlier, or she'd be added to the social death list too.
Meanwhile, Shirai Mio, who was eating lunch in her classroom, suddenly shivered. She blinked, wondering whether Hiratsuka Shizuka had opened the love-filled bento she'd so carefully prepared.
Thinking about something, Shirai Mio suddenly broke into a pleased smile.
Too bad she couldn't see it in person. That would've been really fun.
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Afternoon, after school.
Shirai Mio and Shiina Mashiro didn't participate in club activities because they'd already made plans with Iida Ayano to meet this afternoon.
So after school, the two of them headed straight to a café near campus.
Before Shirai Mio could even figure out what to order, she saw a woman in professional business attire walk into the café. After casually scanning the room, she walked straight toward their table.
"Hello! I'm Iida Ayano, an editor. You must be Mio-chan who wrote White Album, right?" Iida Ayano acted super familiar, walking right up to Shirai Mio and grabbing her hand, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Hello, I'm Shirai Mio." Shirai Mio greeted her very politely.
Iida Ayano didn't jump straight into business. Instead, she first ordered a bunch of desserts, then said with a smile, "I've read your script many times. It's really excellent. I honestly can't imagine this is something a high school student could come up with. Don't tell me it's adapted from your real-life experiences?"
Shirai Mio's mouth twitched. "It's just fiction."
"Alright, I'm just kidding. The main reason I came today is to talk to you about serialization. White Album has been approved at the serialization meeting." As Iida Ayano spoke, she pulled two contracts from her bag and placed them in front of the two girls.
Shirai Mio picked up the contract and started reading it carefully. She took contracts very seriously—after all, before she transmigrated, she'd been screwed over by one. Ever since that incident, she'd been super careful every time she signed anything.
Iida Ayano didn't rush her, instead starting to sample the desserts.
After a while, once she'd finished reading her own contract, Shirai Mio picked up Shiina Mashiro's contract and looked through that too. After confirming both contracts were fine, Shirai Mio signed her name and stamped it.
"I'll take the contracts with me. Please make sure to keep your copies safe. Here's my business card—if it's convenient, please leave me your contact information too. It'll make communication easier if anything comes up."
After signing the contracts, Iida Ayano didn't stay long. After chatting with them for a bit, she got up to pay the bill and left.
Once Iida Ayano left, Shirai Mio pulled out her phone to check the time, then said, "Mashiro, we should head home too."
"Coffee... not finished yet."
Shiina Mashiro looked at the coffee she'd only taken one sip from, seeming a bit conflicted.
"Did you not add sugar?"
"Just... curious about the taste without sugar." As Shiina Mashiro spoke, she lowered her head and took another small sip. The bitterness made her rarely furrowed brows scrunch up.
"I really can't with you." Shirai Mio picked up the coffee Shiina Mashiro had been drinking and chugged it all in one go.
"Alright, let's go home."
"Mm." Shiina Mashiro made a sound of acknowledgment, then pulled a candy from her pocket and handed it to Shirai Mio.
Shirai Mio smiled. She was going to say it wasn't necessary, but seeing Shiina Mashiro's determined look, she accepted it anyway. She unwrapped it and popped the candy in her mouth.
Not bad. Pretty sweet.
Since she had to cook dinner for Shiina Mashiro, and Sengoku Chihiro would also be coming home for dinner, Shirai Mio now went straight to Shiina Mashiro's place first whenever she got home. After finishing dinner, she'd return to her own apartment.
Today was no different.
Just as she stood by the door waiting for Shiina Mashiro to find her keys, the door suddenly opened. But the person who opened it wasn't Sengoku Chihiro—it was Hiratsuka Shizuka, wearing a kind smile.
The moment she saw Hiratsuka Shizuka, Shirai Mio sensed trouble. She instinctively tried to turn around and bolt.
However, her reflexes were no match for Hiratsuka Shizuka, who'd trained in martial arts. The moment she turned, she was caught and forcibly dragged into the apartment.
Anyone who didn't know better would think Hiratsuka Shizuka was about to do something questionable to Shirai Mio.
"Shirai, why'd you try to run when you saw me? Am I that scary?" Hiratsuka Shizuka said to Shirai Mio with a smile.
"N-no... I just suddenly remembered I had something to take care of at home first," Shirai Mio made one last desperate struggle.
"Well, before you go home, could you please explain to me what's up with the hearts in the bento?"
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