Both Satsuki and Kuroki walked out of the school building and sat down on a bench beneath the shade of a tree.
"Ahh, finally, it's time to eat!" Satsuki said excitedly, practically bouncing as she waited for the food Kuroki had packed.
"Okay, okay, just wait a second," Kuroki replied, handing her the bento box.
Satsuki untied the cloth and lifted the lid.
Her face instantly lit up. "Ohhh, this looks soooo good, Kuroki!"
Inside were neatly packed rice, rolled omelets, octopus-shaped sausages, vegetables, and crispy chicken cutlets.
"Well… thanks," Kuroki said with his usual indifferent tone.
"Thank you for the food!" Satsuki clapped her hands together before digging in.
As she ate enthusiastically, she looked up at him. "Hey, how did you get so good at cooking?" Her mouth was full, and a grain of rice clung to her cheek.
Kuroki answered while eating his own lunch. "I think I've already told you. My mom works late, so she doesn't have time to cook. I took charge of cooking at home. You seriously don't remember?"
"Hmm… nope," she replied casually, still chewing.
Kuroki clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed.
"Well, maybe you should slow down," he added with a smug grin. "You're a model. You don't want to gain weight, do you?"
"Huh?" Satsuki blinked. "I'm fine. I run on the treadmill for an hour every day, and I've got a fast metabolism."
"Is that so…" Kuroki muttered, his teasing attempt completely failing.
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, lost in thought.
(Satsuki's been modeling since her second year of middle school. She's lived a comfortable life her whole life. Her dad's a movie director, and her mom's a model. Me? I'm nothing like that. I'm not poor, but I don't have much either.
The problem is… she lacks basic life skills. She can't do things on her own. She's always had maids, and somehow I end up helping her all the time. It's like I'm her parent or something. Despite her looks, she's completely helpless.)
By the time he finished thinking, Satsuki was already done eating.
"Burp… Man, that was good!" she said, patting her stomach. "Thanks, like always, Kuroki. You'd make a great wife someday."
"Yeah, don't worry ab—"
"…Huh?"
Kuroki froze. "What did you just say?"
"I mean," she continued innocently, "you cook, you clean, you nag me about everything, and you've been making my lunch every day since middle school."
"So being responsible makes me a wife?" Kuroki snapped. "Not a husband?!"
"Nope," Satsuki replied flatly.
A vein bulged on Kuroki's forehead. "God, you're so annoying."
Just then, a girl nearby noticed them and hesitantly approached.
"Um… are you two dating?"
Both Satsuki and Kuroki stared at her with deadpan expressions.
"No," Kuroki said immediately. "Who in their right mind would date this thing? She barely even counts as a girl."
"And who'd date him?" Satsuki shot back. "He can't even ride roller coasters."
The girl panicked. "I-I'm so sorry! You just looked like a couple!" She bowed quickly.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Kuroki said. "Who are you, anyway?"
The girl had short brown hair held back with a pin and warm brown eyes.
"My name is Hanagawa Uzuki. I'm in Class A1-1," she said politely.
"And…?" Kuroki prompted.
Uzuki turned toward Satsuki.
"OH MY GOD—ARE YOU AOZAKI SATSUKI?!"
Her calm demeanor vanished instantly. She grabbed Satsuki's hands, eyes sparkling.
"You're really her, right?!"
"Y-Yeah, that's me," Satsuki said, startled. "Do you need something?"
"Can I have your autograph?!" Uzuki pulled out a modeling magazine with Satsuki on the cover. "Please!"
"O-Oh… sure," Satsuki said, signing it.
"Oh my god, thank you! I'll treasure this forever!" Uzuki exclaimed, then sat down beside them, admiring the magazine.
Kuroki and Satsuki stared at her in silence.
"Um…" Kuroki finally spoke. "You know we're still eating, right? Why are you still here?"
"Because Aozaki Satsuki is right here," Uzuki replied cheerfully. "My idol."
Kuroki looked at Satsuki, silently begging her to do something.
Instead—
"W-Wait, you're a fan of mine?!" Satsuki gasped, her face lighting up like she'd won the lottery.
"Yes! I've been a fan since middle school," Uzuki said eagerly.
"R-Really? That's amazing! I've never had a fan before!"
(Are you serious…) Kuroki thought blankly.
As the two excitedly chatted, an idea crept into Kuroki's mind.
(God, this is annoying… but this would be funny.)
"Hey, Uzuki," he said, pulling out his phone. "Wanna see something?"
"Hm? What is it?" she asked.
He showed her a video.
It was Satsuki at home—messy hair, oversized tank top, completely unpolished and half-asleep.
"This," Kuroki smirked, "is your idol in her natural habitat."
Uzuki froze.
"Wha—"
"HEY, WHAT THE HELL DID YOU SHOW HER?!" Satsuki shouted, snatching the phone.
She watched the video.
"…You're dead," she hissed, glaring at him murderously.
(Ohhh… this is bad. But totally worth it.)
She grabbed his collar, pulling him close.
"You bastard."
Kuroki glanced over at Uzuki.
She was shaking.
"This… this…"
(Spit it out already.)
"THIS IS AMAZING!" Uzuki suddenly burst out laughing.
"…What?"
She wiped tears from her eyes. "Seeing this just makes me like you even more, Aozaki!"
Satsuki and Kuroki stared at her in complete disbelief.
(She's… laughing? Why is she laughing?)
Kuroki was annoyed—this definitely wasn't the reaction he wanted.
"Hahaha—oh my god, my sides hurt—hahaha!" she continued laughing at the video she had just watched.
"Ha… ha… that video was so funny," she said as she finally began to calm down, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye.
"Was it really that funny?" Satsuki asked.
"Yeah…" Uzuki replied with a warm smile. "You two have such a great relationship, don't you?"
Satsuki blinked. "Huh?"
"How long have you known each other?" Uzuki asked, still smiling.
"Since elementary school," they answered in unison.
"Stop copying me, you shit," Kuroki snapped.
"Don't copy me, asshole," Satsuki shot back—also in unison.
"Pfft—haha!" Uzuki burst out laughing again. "You guys really do get along so well. Are you sure you're not a couple?"
"No, we are not," Kuroki said irritably. "Who in their right mind would want to date this woman?"
"You bastard!" Satsuki shouted back. "Who would ever want to date a short elf like you?!"
"You bitch!"
The two immediately started yelling at each other again.
BEEP—BEEP—BEEP
The bell rang.
"U-um… you guys?" Uzuki tried to get their attention, but neither of them was listening.
(Oh well,)
She stood up and walked toward the school building.
As she did, their words echoed in her mind—we're not a couple.
(I'm surprised they aren't dating,)
She glanced back at them, still arguing in the courtyard, completely unaware that the next period had already started.
"Heh," she giggled softly.
(They're perfect for each other.)