Chapter 8: At lunch time, a rivel appers

Takamari Academy’s dining hall was larger than I imagined.

Students lined up under a large chandelier,

Neat and luxurious-looking tables and chairs,

And even the neatly written words on the menu.

A faint aroma of food filled the space, and the sound of plates clashing and students laughing could be heard here and there.

And this is the general dining hall.

Then what on earth does the special dining hall look like?

Even this dining hall feels so different from a regular high school or restaurant.

Still, what makes this place feel like a school cafeteria is probably thanks to the students sitting in groups of three or five at each table, chatting while eating.

I looked up and looked at the menu.

The menu was not special, as befits a general dining hall.

Curry, ramen, tonkatsu, omurice… typical student cafeteria menus.

However, when I saw the explanations written small below the menu, it was clear that it wasn’t just ordinary food.

Takamari special curry with directly blended spices.

Tonkatsu rice bowl completed with a sauce aged for 3 days.

Omurice made with organic eggs and fresh vegetables…

‘What, how is this a student cafeteria menu?’

I looked down at the menu, admiring it internally.

The prices were expensive for Japanese standards, but I, who knew the price of delivery food in Korea, easily accepted it.

I heard the students ordering while waiting in line, and they all chose different menus.

‘Takamari’s dining hall has this kind of atmosphere… It’s a world of difference between the novel and seeing it in real life.’

In the novel, this was one of the places where major events took place.

But when I actually set foot here, it was strange that I was at the center of that incident.

It’s like feeling out of place in this glamorous space.

Aya and Mizuki naturally approached the line with the kiosk, as if they were used to it.

I followed them, feeling the gazes of those around me.

“Ayarin~ What are you going to eat today?”

Mizuki asked, glancing at the menu.

“Hmm, probably curry? What do you want to eat, Rina?”

“Ah… I don’t know yet. What’s good?”

Aya smiled slightly at my answer and said.

“The curry here is pretty good. Try it.”

Aya and Mizuki naturally chose their menus, and I decided to choose curry as they recommended.

While waiting in line, I felt the familiar murmurs around me.

“Huh? Isn’t that Yukikawa and Asakura?”

“Yeah. But who’s that girl next to them?”

“Right? She’s really cute.”

Their conversation continued at a distance that was barely audible.

I lowered my head and looked only ahead.

‘Ah, please… Someone stop these gazes…’

But Aya and Mizuki were already so used to this situation that they chatted casually.

Maybe I’m the only one who’s conscious of the gazes here.

After receiving our food, we naturally approached a table near the window. As if to tell us to sit here, the empty table was neatly arranged.

Aya first put her tray on the table, then pulled my tray and said.

“Rina, sit here. The view outside the window is pretty.”

“Ah… yes. Thank you!”

I carefully sat down and picked up my spoon.

Steam rose from the curry in front of me, but strangely, I had no appetite.

It was because I kept being bothered by Aya and Mizuki laughing and chatting, but also because of the scenery of this dining hall.

‘I guess coming to Takamari itself wasn’t ordinary.’

That thought crossed my mind, but Aya’s soft voice cut off my thoughts.

“Rina, how is it? Is the curry good?”

“Ah, yes… it’s delicious.”

Unlike me, who answered with a forced smile, Aya nodded with a satisfied face.

Mizuki saw Aya and said playfully.

“Ayarin, aren’t you being too kind to Rina? I’m starting to get jealous.”

“There’s no way.”

In the conversation between the two, I just silently ate the curry.

As we were eating, a new voice was heard from behind.

“Huh? It’s Yukikawa and Asakura.”

When I turned around, the student council seniors were approaching.

The gold ornaments on their ties and the neatly worn school uniforms proved their status.

“Can we sit with you?”

Aya smiled and nodded.

And that smile looked a little different from the kind of smile she showed me.

How should I say it, a little more formal and official… No, why am I realizing this?

“Of course, seniors.”

I didn’t even have time to answer.

The seniors naturally took seats near us and sat down.

“Asakura, are you going to apply for the student council this time too?”

“Yes, I’m going to apply for the position of treasurer. I mainly handled financial management and budget execution in middle school.”

“Oh, that’s a choice worthy of Asakura. You’ll be perfect with the budget.”

The senior nodded with a trustworthy expression.

Soon the gaze shifted to Yukikawa.

“What about Yukikawa? Will you be active in the student council in high school too?”

“Yes. I’m going to apply for the planning position. I want to take on tasks such as coordinating events and managing schedules.”

“Treasurer and planning… You two will be a good match. You’ll be the mainstay of the student council this time too.”

“Thank you. We’ll do our best.”

Mizuki and Aya exchanged smiles.

The seniors were looking at the two with a gaze full of trust.

“Since it’s the first semester, there will definitely be a lot of work if you take on student council duties, but if you two take the lead, there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Yes, we’ll do our best.”

Between them, I quietly moved my spoon.

The interest the student council seniors showed in Yukikawa and Asakura seemed so natural, and the level of their conversation seemed so far from my world.

‘That’s why I say the going-home club suits me…?’

I muttered that to myself and focused on the curry in front of me.

Their conversation seemed so natural and familiar.

Compared to them, I, who was just an irregularity, just fiddled with the tray and quietly picked up the spoon.

But suddenly, a senior looked at me and asked.

“I’ve never seen you before, are you a transfer student?”

Suddenly, all eyes were on me.

I quickly straightened up and answered awkwardly.

“Ah, yes… I’m Ku, Kurosawa Rina.”

The seniors nodded and smiled.

The senior who had been asking Mizuki and Aya questions, sitting diagonally in front of me, also asked me a question.

“Kurosawasan, are you interested in the student council? A friend who seems as sincere as you would do well in student council activities.”

And when I heard his question, I screamed internally.

A deep and calm voice, neat black hair, and sharp yet gentle eyes.

The neatly styled school uniform and gold badge indicated who he was…

Seeing him in person, he was a handsome man who could rival a celebrity.

“Oh, haha. I’m late in introducing myself, I’m Hiiragi Haruto, the vice president of Takamari Academy’s high school.”

Hiiragi Haruto.

A black-haired noble, a rival to the protagonist in the novel.

A character who stands at the center of several incidents with his outstanding intelligence, leadership, and composure.

At first, he was in a competitive relationship with the protagonist, but after confirming that the protagonist had a strong relationship with Aya, he changed to a helper position.

‘But… the protagonist isn’t here right now?’

How will Hiiragi Haruto act in this situation?

Will he still be interested in the heroine Aya, or…?

I felt a vague sense of anxiety and a slight sense of relief.

I thought that if Haruto and Aya got together, my ordinary life might return.

“Student council activities are really a recommendable experience.”

Haruto continued speaking with a soft smile.

“Especially a friend who seems as thoughtful as Kurosawasan would suit it even more.”

His gaze continued to be directed at me.

Those eyes were warm, yet I felt a sense of liking.

At the sudden question, I stammered and answered.

“Ah, that… I don’t know yet. I’ll think about it a little more.”

Haruto nodded and said.

“Okay. There’s no need to rush, so ask me if you have any questions.”

At that moment, Aya quietly opened her mouth.

“Haruto-senpai, Rina is still adjusting to school. I’d appreciate it if you could talk about the student council a little later.”

Aya’s words were soft, but there was a subtle feeling mixed in them.

Wait, is this, is this, a catfight… No, I mean, isn’t this like a battle of nerves?

Haruto looked at Aya in surprise for a moment, but soon regained his composure and nodded.

“I will. If Yukikawa, you say so, I shouldn’t get ahead of myself.”

The conversation between them continued naturally, but I quietly fiddled with my spoon throughout.

Hiiragi Haruto and Yukikawa Aya.

Those names were always mentioned together in the novel, and they always created a tense love line with the protagonist.

I thought so and lowered my head, but I felt a strange feeling.

Haruto kept looking this way, but he seemed to be conscious of me, not Aya.

My hand, which was fiddling with the spoon and putting curry in my mouth, stopped.

Haruto turned his head slightly several times and looked at me.

It looked awkward, like he was trying to say something, but then closing his lips again.

‘Ah, no matter what, I don’t date men.’

Screaming inside, I barely turned my gaze towards the window.

But Haruto’s gaze was still felt.

Is this because of the twisted setting in the novel, or is it just my misunderstanding?

No matter how much I thought about it, the answer did not come easily in this already incredibly twisted romantic comedy world.