Status Window Chapter 18 : Lumel's Bento (1)

18. Lumel's Bento (1)

"Good morning! Good morning! Good morning!"

Today too, I rushed into the school with a flurry of greetings. Coming to school while listening to the pleasant notification sounds of favorability going up has become a daily routine.

I proceeded down the hallway, entered the classroom, and greeted everyone loudly again.

"Good morning, everyone!"

When my cheerful voice resonated, the classmates in the room replied.

"Rio, good morning!"

"Good morning. Energetic from the morning, huh."

"Morning. You've become even more energetic lately compared to before."

"Well, yeah! Because of the skill's blessing!"

"Geez! You shouldn't talk about your skill so much!"

I've started having various conversations along with the greetings. Thanks to that, my relationships with my classmates are good. My ordinary school life has turned into a fun school life.

Until I reach my seat, I chat with various kids, raise their favorability, and listen to the notification sounds. It's like work but not work; it has a kind of satisfying, task-like fun. I never thought daily life would become this enjoyable just by hearing notification sounds.

"Ah, Rio. Good morning."

"Lumel, good morning!"

As I approached my seat, Lumel greeted me brightly. Hmm, today's smile is a perfect score too. As expected of a beautiful girl. Being next to her purifies me.

"Even after entering the classroom, you couldn't reach your seat for a while."

"Chatting is fun, you see. I end up stopping to talk."

"Fufu, you look like mothers having a gossip session by the well."

"Mothers' long talks are hell, aren't they?"

It's a mystery why their conversations get so long. If you go shopping with them and they meet an acquaintance, they won't move from that spot for dozens of minutes. At those times, I had dead eyes, feeling like I spent meaningless time.

I hung my bag next to the desk and sat in my seat. Then, Lumel next to me started looking fidgety.

"What's wrong?"

"Um, you see, actually... I finally made my own bento."

"Ah! You got permission!"

Ever since the day I advised her to make her own bento, it seems Lumel had been asking her family. Saying she wanted to cook herself.

At first, her parents opposed it, saying cooking is for when she becomes an apprentice. But Lumel wanted to cook quickly, so she apparently negotiated with her parents many times.

Well, when she failed, I comforted her and cheered her on so she'd regain her spirits. Thanks to that, Lumel didn't give up and kept negotiating with her parents.

And today, it seems she got permission and made her own bento.

"Your parents were stubborn too. To think they'd refuse the wish of such a beautiful girl. They have stronger mental fortitude than average."

"The beautiful girl part is unnecessary. But really, persuading them was tough. However, because Rio encouraged me, I could do my best too."

"Yeah. I'm the type who cheers on kids who have things they want to do."

"Fufu, what's that?"

But I'm really glad Lumel got to do what she wanted to do. I feel like her smile is shining even brighter today than usual.

"So..."

This time she fidgeted shyly. No, no, a beautiful girl shouldn't do that. If I were a boy, my heart would pound so hard it would burst.

"I want you to taste it, Rio."

"Taste it? Is someone like me okay? Wouldn't getting feedback from your parents be more useful?"

"Because you cheered me on, I want you to verify the taste of my cooking. Is it... no good?"

Ugh! A beautiful girl's plea is super effective! Clasping her hands and tilting her head slightly is a foul move! If told that, I'd just nod obediently!

"Well, if you're okay with me."

"Really!? Thank you! Rio is kind."

Good grief, this beautiful girl toys with people's hearts so easily. Can't let my guard down for a second.

Well, since I'm the one who suggested it, I'll look after her properly. Now then, how did Lumel's bento turn out? I'm looking forward to lunchtime.

***

When the bell rang, the classroom became noisy.

"Okay, that's all for today!"

"Alright!"

"Freedom!"

"Let's go get water!"

When the teacher raised her voice, the classmates started moving noisily. Everyone went outside at once to draw water, filled their cups, and returned. We also filled our cups with water in the same way.

"I'm starving. Why do we get hungry just by sitting?"

"That's because you're using your head. Since your brain is running at full speed, you get hungry too."

"Rio always uses weird metaphors. It's funny."

Oh my god. I'm supposed to be having a normal conversation, but just that gets called funny. Is that good or bad?

While having such a conversation, we prepared for lunch. I had my usual sandwich. Lumel had the bento she made herself.

"Let's see, what kind of bento did Lumel make?"

"Having you look at it is a little embarrassing."

Blushing, Lumel opened the bento box. Inside, small cut sandwiches and colorful side dishes were arranged. However—

"Hmm... the meat is burnt."

"As expected, your eyes go straight there."

The shapes of the side dishes were uneven, and the crucial main dish was burnt. Well, it's her first time cooking, so isn't this to be expected?

"It's your first time, so failures are common."

"It helps to hear you say that. Then, could I have you taste just a little?"

"Then, I'll give you a little of my sandwich too."

"That's okay. I made a little extra."

Hoho. So she was thinking of having me eat it from the time she was making it. Lumel is unexpectedly calculating.

Lumel cut the omelet into a bite-sized piece with a fork, stabbed it with the fork, and—

"Here, go ahead."

She was trying to feed me.

...No, no no no! This isn't the world of a dating simulation game! It's a realistic other world!

What is Lumel?! Is she a game heroine or something?! Could it be that some kind of compelling force is at work?!

"Rio, aren't you going to eat?"

"Eh, ah, um..."

Could it be that because there's an Affection system, events related to that are occurring? Eh, just because my skill is 'Window,' does it distort the laws of the world or something?

Window... what a terrifying child.

Well, if it's a bento, this kind of event happens, right? Yeah, it's normal, a totally clichéd event, so getting flustered now is weird.

Here, let's just eat obediently.

"Mm."

I ate the omelet with a bite and chewed slowly. The omelet was softer than expected and smelled of butter. This is delic—?!

Crunch, a sound rang out. This is... an eggshell is in it. At that moment, a window appeared before my eyes.

[Eat it and say it's delicious]

[Say it honestly]

Hoho? A choice at a place like this. Now, which one is the correct choice here?