Chapter 417: Not Accepting, I Accept
Chapter 417: Not Accepting, I Accept
“W-what?! I mean, this bento isn’t a Heart-shaped Bento!”
A hundred wings…
Even if Himekoji had the strength of a dragon or a tiger, he’d probably get sucked dry, right?
“Isn’t it?”
Nanami’s gaze shot straight at him, giving Himekoji unexplainable pressure.
“Well anyway… others’ aren’t…”
He blurted it out as if possessed.
Hearing that, Nanami got even more annoyed.
“Hah? Others’ aren’t? So the two for us are Heart-shaped Bentos then? And shamelessly giving them both at the same time? Are you spelling it out for us—you wanna date the two of us at once?”
“Then… so what?! Call me shameless! But I just like you, Nanami and Mashiro!”
All the confusion, longing, torment, and pain built up these days finally erupted. Himekoji’s head got hot, and he just shouted it out.
Oh man, so embarrassing!
The moment he finished, his own face burned red. He couldn’t back down now though. All he could do was clench his fists and hold himself up uneasily in front of Nanami and Mashiro.
“I like… both of you!”
He was already all in. He tacked on one last line to show his determination.
Himekoji had never said he liked anyone to anyone before. And his first confession… was to two people at once…
Facing Himekoji’s incredibly shameless outburst, both Nanami and Mashiro froze.
It took a while before they snapped back.
“You! What did you just call me?!”
Blushes were contagious, and Nanami caught it hard. Her bright cheeks looked way cuter than Himekoji’s though.
This was the first time Himekoji called Nanami by her name.
Same for Mashiro, even though she’d asked him to tons of times before.
Who knew… it’d finally happen like this…
“Akito confessed to me.”
Mashiro reached up, a little dazed, and cupped her blushing, warm cheeks.
Watching her, Nanami’s heart lurched. A bad feeling struck her, and she hurriedly reminded Mashiro,
“Wake up, Shiina! He’s confessing to two people at once! A scumbag! Utterly despicable! A total pervert!”
She shot Himekoji a glare.
“I absolutely won’t accept it!”
That strongly showed her displeasure.
“…I know, I know.”
Against Nanami’s scolding words, Himekoji couldn’t deny it. Filled with shame and awkwardness, he gave a hollow laugh.
“Even I know it’s impossible. So I won’t say anything weird like asking you both to date me at the same time…”
“I accept.”
Himekoji was only halfway through when Mashiro suddenly cut in.
“Huh?”
“Eh?”
This time, Nanami and Himekoji froze together.
Mashiro continued calmly as if nothing happened.
“If Nanami won’t accept, I will. If only I accept, Akito doesn’t have to date two people at once.”
“Hey! Shiina!”
Nanami suddenly felt like she’d been stabbed in the back by her buddy.
What’s the big deal?!
Weren’t they supposed to be allies against this scumbag?
How come Mashiro sold her out?
“Hm?”
Caught in Nanami’s stare, Mashiro tilted her head, seeming puzzled.
She blinked clear, innocent eyes, playing dumb and innocent.
“Looking cute won’t help!”
It felt like Mashiro had calculated it all along…
“Is it cute?”
Mashiro dodged the main point.
Nanami just rolled her eyes, refusing to answer.
“Is it cute?”
Not getting an answer from Nanami, Mashiro threw the question to Himekoji.
“Huh? Ah…”
Himekoji was dazed for several seconds. His brain just couldn’t keep up with Mashiro’s pace.
Mashiro never played by the rules. Everything she said or did was unexpected.
“Ah… c-cute! Totally!”
After coming to his senses, he blurted out an answer instantly.
“Ouch!”
Then he earned himself a solid kick from Nanami.
“No dating! Mashiro needs to focus on drawing manga right now! It’s a key moment!”
Nanami warned Himekoji.
“Nanami needs to focus on being a Seiyuu now. It’s also a key moment.”
Mashiro copied her immediately.
“And, you!”
She didn’t argue with Mashiro but turned to Himekoji.
“Me?”
“Yes! You now…”
“Now?”
“Hmm… now you need to focus on studying! Also a key moment!”
“Huh?”
That reason felt so forced?
Ever since he gained the “Super Scholar” skill, he had always been the top student in his grade…
But he didn’t dare disagree with Nanami now, so he forced a twisted smile and nodded.
“Right, that makes sense. Studying is every student’s duty after all…”
“Eat bento.”
Mashiro spoke up then, smoothly shifting the topic elsewhere.
“Didn’t you just eat?”
Nanami gave Mashiro a puzzled look, patting her own stomach. It was still full.
They’d eaten identical portions together moments ago.
“Heart-shaped Bento. Haven’t eaten.”
Saying this, Mashiro reached out to grab it.
“Wait! Not that one. That’s Nanami’s.”
“Huh? Mine? What’s different?”
Nanami’s curiosity was slightly piqued.
“Yours were both specially made.”
“Well… I suppose I’ll take a look then.”
Nanami pretended reluctance but still accepted the bento from Himekoji.
Mashiro was first to open the lunchbox.
Meanwhile, Himekoji, the chef, began explaining.
“For Mashiro’s bento, the main dish is braised lamb liver with eel. It boosts vitamins B, iron, and protein. Excellent breast enhancement food.”
“Breast enhancement?”
Mashiro blinked at the lunchbox. Then, freeing one hand, she lightly cupped her small chest and mumbled,
“Akito really thinks I’m too small…”
“N-No! You specifically said you wanted it bigger that day! Personally, I think you’re just fine like this…”
The real reason Himekoji cooked breast-enhancing meals stemmed from the System’s earlier mission —
Massage Mashiro’s breasts to larger size within three months…
Since waking up, the System’s temperament changed drastically. Oddly cooperative now, Himekoji asked if the mission still counted.
The System replied — “Probably…”
That “probably” troubled him deeply. It felt completely unreliable.
But believing “better safe than sorry,” Himekoji decided to take action proactively.
Breast massage seemed too mysterious. After much thought, he chose a scientific approach—hence this bento.
Enlarge Mashiro this way, then give a symbolic massage later. That should trick the System into marking it complete, right?
That was his calculation.
“Rita says all men prefer big ones.”
Mashiro puffed her cheeks like a sulky child.
Beside her, Nanami’s chest swelled with pride upon hearing this.
“Hmm! Then I’ll see what’s in mine now.”
Nanami threw back her shoulders and lifted the lid.
“Huh? Why so little?”
She compared portions. Mashiro’s bento contained more than double hers.
Favoritism?
“Yours is a slimming meal, Nanami. One plate of veggies, half a bowl of rice noodles, four skinless chicken slices. Boiled in clear broth—almost oil-free. Light taste helps kidneys and liver detox.”
“Haah?! Are you calling… me fat?”
Nanami’s proud stance shifted instantly—
Sucking in her stomach!
“N-no! That’s not what I meant!”
Neither girl listened to his explanation.
“Mmmu… thinks my chest’s too small…”
“Hmph! Thinks I’m fat!”
They muttered regretfully to themselves, their complaints endless.
“No! I don’t! Didn’t!”
After that, nothing Himekoji said made a difference…
He’d wanted to showcase his care through these custom bentos.
Instead, he’d completely ruined everything…