Status Window Chapter 11 : Lunch

11. Lunch

Clang, clang, the bell rang.

"The bell already? With that, today's classes are over."

"Yay, it's lunch!"

"I'm tired, I'm hungry~"

"Wanna go get water together?"

When the teacher raised her voice, the students stood up, cheering as if they had been waiting for this moment.

Schools in this other world end classes in the morning. Normally, you'd think we'd just go home for lunch, but here there's a custom of eating lunch together.

Well, I guess it's considered a waste to come to school just to study and go home. Since so many children are gathered here, they made lunchtime to create an opportunity for interaction.

Everyone loves this time. They instantly become energetic and prepare for lunch. Though 'preparing for lunch' just means taking out the food brought from home and going to draw water from the well outside.

I also took my sandwich out of my bag, placed it on the desk, and held my cup in hand. We all noisily left the classroom and went to the well, taking turns pulling up the bucket. The mundane act of drawing water is popular, leading to a bit of a scramble.

Well, I don't like such troublesome things, so I just get the leftover water someone else drew. Heheh, thank you for your labor again today.

After filling my cup with water, we all trickled back into the classroom. Then, it's fun lunchtime. Voices exchanging greetings could be heard here and there in the classroom, and I did the same.

Glancing to my side, I saw Lumel opening a cute box.

"Ah, Lumel has a bento."

"Yeah. You know how my place is a restaurant? While they're cooking, they pack some for me too."

"Heh, I see. That's nice... wait, isn't that super fancy?!"

"Yeah... They always pack so much it's like they're overdoing it."

Inside the opened box, colorful side dishes were lined up, and every single one looked incredibly delicious. As expected of a restaurant daughter; I'm jealous.

At that moment, a window opened before my eyes. A choice at a time like this? While wondering why, I read the displayed text.

The options "Compliment it saying it looks delicious" and "Don't you make it yourself?" appeared. Oho, these are interesting choices.

Normally, you'd just end with a compliment, but asking 'Don't you make it yourself?' implies something more. After all, you wouldn't go out of your way to ask that. We're kids, right? The idea of a child making their own bento doesn't usually come up.

This choice appeared to develop the topic. So, what I choose isn't the compliment, but—

"Don't you make it yourself, Lumel?"

If I choose this, surely something will happen. That's what I thought.

Then, Lumel blinked, looking surprised. It was an attitude like she'd never been asked that before. But her surprise was momentary, and she soon smiled.

"That's an option too!"

"Right? You want to inherit your shop, don't you, Lumel? In that case, wouldn't it be okay to do a little cooking?"

"Yeah. Since I'm not a twelve-year-old apprentice yet, they won't let me cook or anything. I thought it couldn't be helped, but there's no problem with cooking starting now, really."

We start working after we turn twelve. Using that as a guideline, the adults let us, who aren't twelve yet, be free.

That's something to be grateful for, but for a kid with a goal, it must be a frustrating period. Because even though they want to start immediately, they can't get their hands on it.

"If you say you want to make your own bento, I'm sure they'll allow it. After all, you're the one eating it."

"That's true. Even if I fail, I'm the one eating it, so it won't trouble anyone else. I see, there was that option."

"Since it's the superhuman Lumel, won't you be able to make even your first bento perfectly?"

"Geez, what do you think I am? I'm not that perfect."

"No, you'll definitely finish it perfectly. You've been watching the cooking happen properly, and you have the motivation. It'll definitely go well."

"I-is that so?"

There's nothing the number one angel of the capital can't do. When I conveyed that strongly, Lumel blushed shyly. Then, she looked down as if thinking a little. Wondering what on earth she was thinking, Lumel looked at me with a strong gaze.

"I'll make it!"

"Oh, that's the spirit!"

"S-so... I have a favor to ask you, Rio."

She was fidgeting a little, looking like it was hard to say. Being told something like that in advance makes me want to grant any request, hehehe.

"Ask anything!"

"Um... will you eat the bento I make? I want someone else to evaluate if it's delicious."

"Are you okay with me?"

"Because Rio, you'll say anything honestly, right? I thought I might improve more that way."

Well, true. I lie sometimes, but mostly I speak honestly. Lumel knows me well. As expected, the capital's number one angel properly observes people.

"Leave it to me! I'll tell you honestly!"

"Really?! I was wondering what I'd do if you refused."

"There's no way I'd refuse a request from the capital's number one angel!"

"Fufu, then maybe I should ask for anything?"

"Actually, please keep it reasonable."

Somehow this exchange is turning into a school romance simulation development. Good grief, it makes me feel nostalgic. Thanks to that, my excitement just keeps rising.

Then, the notification sound piron rang. Checking the window, "Lumel Eliamir: Favorability +1" was displayed.

This display is irresistible! Talking to people becomes more fun, and motivation surges. I'm going to talk to more and more people and raise those numbers!