I Reincarnated as the Villain in a Rom-Com but I’m Enjoying Youth with My Favorite Heroine - I Reincarnated as the Villain in a Rom-Com but I’m Enjoying Youth with My Favorite Heroine chapter 72

72. Mashiro’s Cheerful Lunch

The opening ceremony proceeded smoothly, and before long, it was lunchtime.

At Kizakura Academy High School, where we attend, there were classes in the afternoon even on the day of the opening ceremony, and now it was time to eat lunch in the classroom.

—

—

Today, Rei, who usually eats lunch in another classroom, came to my seat.

“Ryusuke, are you feeling okay? It’s important to take care at the start of a cold, so don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Thanks for worrying about me, Rei. But it’s not like I’m feeling that bad.”

“Well, that’s good to hear. Mashiro is worried too, so take care of yourself.”

Rei, who is worried about me having a cold and came to eat lunch together, is truly kind and a good guy.

He sits down in the empty seat next to me, spreading out the bento he brought while checking on my condition.

With his silver short hair styled refreshingly and gentle gray eyes shining brightly, he exudes a calm atmosphere—he’s a beautiful boy.

He’s the perfect guy, excelling in both sports and academics, yet he’s also kind and dependable.

Right next to him, stuffing his cheeks with white rice like a squirrel, is Kyouya Nishikawa. He’s also one of my friends who rushed over during lunch break to check on me.

“Seriously. I was shocked to see Ryusuke, who was so energetic during summer break, suddenly catch a cold.”

“Kyouya, I feel the same way. I was completely fine until last week.”

“I’ve never caught a cold in my life, you know. Not that I’m bragging or anything!”

Kyouya strikes a triumphant pose, jabbing his thumb in the air.

Watching Kyouya, Rei shrugs his shoulders in exasperation.

“Kyouya… that’s what they call ‘fools don’t catch colds,’ isn’t it?”

“Hey, Rei. That makes it sound like I just don’t realize I have a cold. That’s not true, okay? I’ve seriously never caught a cold!”

“Uh-huh. I’ll just pretend I didn’t see you running around with a bright red face and a runny nose during middle school.”

(Middle school Kyouya… Yeah, I can easily imagine that.)

I smiled at the thought of Kyouya running around, laughing heartily with a flushed face from fever. He probably really didn’t realize he had a cold back then.

Kyouya stuffed more rice into his mouth, chewing it with great delight.

Even though he had been frowning at Rei’s teasing just a moment ago, it seemed the deliciousness of the rice had reset his mood. This natural side of him is so typical of Kyouya.

So, while I was warmed by the thoughtful care of the two, I decided to have lunch together, but then I realized with shock that I had forgotten my bento in my bag.

“Oh no… I completely forgot to prepare this morning because I was feeling unwell.”

“It’s rare for you to forget something, Ryusuke.”

“Seriously. The always flawless Ryusuke forgetting something is hard to believe.”

As they teased me, I felt my ears heat up with embarrassment. Even though I had a foggy head from the cold, forgetting my important bento was a blunder. I even left behind Mashiro’s bento that I always prepare.

If I go without lunch, it would affect not just me but also Mashiro. I had no choice but to brace myself and head to the store… just then.

A large, two-tiered bento box was placed heavily on my desk with a thud. The desk creaked under the impact, and it couldn’t just be my imagination.

As I widened my eyes in surprise at what had just happened, I noticed Rei and Kyouya nearby were also staring in shock.

Cautiously lifting my gaze, I saw a beautiful girl with an angelic smile—Mashiro standing there.

—

“Ta-da! I made a super energetic bento just for Ryusuke! It’s Mashiro’s special two-tier bento!”

“Uh, um… Mashiro, what on earth…?”

“When you’re not feeling well, you need to eat something nutritious to get better, right?”

“No, that’s not what I meant… Why is it you making a bento?”

“I told you yesterday when we were talking on RINE, right? I said that since you looked unwell, I would prepare lunch for you today.”

“I-I’m sorry… Honestly, I have no memory of that. I might have thought it was all a dream because I was feeling so miserable with this cold.”

“Oh, Ryusuke! But when you’re not feeling well, it’s understandable. Hehe, today I’ll take good care of you, okay?”

“Mashiro…”

“How is it? Are you happy?”

“I’m super happy… Can I just catch a cold every day?”

“No way! You need to get better quickly. I’m worried about your health, Ryusuke.”

“Ah, I’ll eat your energetic bento and show you that I can get over this cold right away.”

I can’t believe Mashiro prepared this for me; I’m so happy I might just cry.

Thank you for being so dazed this morning. If I had forgotten my bento, it would have been a disaster with my two servings and Mashiro’s special two-tier bento.

From noble mtl dot net

Then Mashiro borrowed a chair from an empty seat and brought it over to my desk.

She opened the bento box and proudly presented her homemade dishes to us.

Inside the box were vibrant meat rolls, fried chicken, rolled omelet, and rice balls, all packed in a delightful variety. There were even two pairs of chopsticks and small plates for serving, showing her thoroughness.

With a natural grace, Mashiro poured warm tea from her thermos and offered it to me. I truly appreciate the thoughtfulness of my angelic childhood friend.

“Reo-kun, Nishikawa-kun. If you’d like, you can both have some too! I got a bit carried away and made too much.”

“Wha-what!? Can we really… eat Mashiro’s cooking…?”

“Hey, Nishikawa. You’re shaking like crazy. Are you okay?”

Nishikawa pinched his cheek as if to check if he was dreaming, then relaxed with a blissful smile. He’s completely smitten, that Nishikawa.

“I wouldn’t dream of turning down such a wonderful invitation from Mashiro-san. I’ll gladly accept your offer.”

“Yeah, I thought you’d say that, Reo-kun. Thank you!”

“No, thank you! It looks so delicious that I might end up eating too much.”

“You know, Reo-kun, you’re quite the foodie. I know you actually ate more than Nishikawa-kun at the summer festival the other day, right?”

“Ahaha… When there’s delicious food in front of me, I can’t help it. I usually keep it in check, really!”

“But today, you don’t have to worry about that. We’re all part of the foodie alliance! Hehe, let’s all eat a lot together!”

Reo scratched his cheek shyly, still wearing a refreshing smile, and seeing his reaction made Nishikawa grin.

Then Mashiro and I exchanged smiles, and the four of us joined our hands together and said, “Itadakimasu!”

While savoring the supreme luxury of eating Mashiro’s home-cooked meal, the four of us spent a delightful lunch break.

We were completely unaware of the girl gazing enviously at that dazzling scene of youth from the hallway.