Chapter 77: I, Katsuragi Keima, Just Want a Lunch Break
Horikita Suzune swallowed hard. It wasn't out of appetite, but rather tension. She had never seen food like this before. It looked... a bit too twisted, didn't it?
"What's wrong, Horikita-san? Why aren't you eating?" Elsie asked.
"I... excuse me, but what... kind of ingredients are these?" Horikita bit her lip and asked in confusion.
"These are from Hel—"
"It's Hell Octopus! This is called Hell Octopus!" Katsuragi Keima interrupted instantly.
He absolutely could not let Elsie make any more terrifying statements.
"Hell Octopus?"
"That's right... but that's just a nickname. I'm not entirely sure about the specific scientific name. In this school, can't you special-order things that aren't originally available? As long as you have enough points, you can buy almost anything, so Elsie went and pre-ordered some ingredients."
A strained smile appeared on Keima's face. "And what Elsie made should be... sashimi, right? So it's still... this is actually quite common."
Keima could only hope Horikita would believe such nonsense.
Horikita frowned, thought for a moment, and eventually nodded. After all, it wasn't rare for people to eat octopus sashimi. When eating it, the tentacles did indeed tend to wriggle.
'But... is this really an octopus?'
Horikita felt these tentacles were significantly different from the octopuses or squids she knew.
'Does such a creature really exist?'
"..."
'Perhaps my range of knowledge just isn't broad enough.'
"It's super delicious! Horikita, try it quickly!"
"Right, then I won't stand on ceremony."
Horikita had never experienced it, but after a moment of hesitation, she nodded and picked up a tentacle with her chopsticks. It was still squirming against the wood. For the first time, a hint of genuine fear rose in Horikita's heart.
"Um, Horikita, you don't have to force yourself with this..." Keima advised.
However, such words had the opposite effect on the highly competitive Horikita. She felt she absolutely could not show weakness in front of Keima. Summoning her courage, she placed the tentacle in her mouth.
The taste was... incredibly good?!
Horikita was stunned. This flavor and texture were unlike anything she had ever experienced. She had never eaten anything like it.
"How is it, how is it, Horikita-san!" Elsie waited expectantly for her praise.
"The taste is quite excellent," Horikita nodded with certainty.
"See, Kami-nii-sama! Even Horikita-san thinks my cooking is good! You're the only one who's picky!"
"Horikita." Keima looked at Horikita, a newfound sense of respect appearing in his eyes.
"Speaking of which, can I start calling you by your first name from now on, Horikita-san?" Elsie asked.
"By my first name? Is there a reason for that?" Horikita was puzzled by the sudden request.
"No special reason. It's just that after chatting with Haru last time, she told me that you should at least call people you're on good terms with by their first names."
"Haru?" Horikita froze. Who was Haru? After thinking for a few seconds, she finally associated the name with Hasebe Haruka.
"Weren't you calling her 'Haru-chan' just a few days ago?" Keima muttered under his breath.
"Eh? Was I?"
"So you didn't remember at all?"
"My apologies, I didn't mean anything by it. But Elsie-san, we haven't interacted much. We're probably a long way off from being close friends," Horikita stated. Although she didn't dislike Elsie, their lack of contact meant they weren't at the level of using first names.
"We haven't talked much, but aren't you on very good terms with Kami-nii-sama, Horikita-san?"
"???"
Hearing Elsie's words, Horikita's cheeks turned red, and she quickly shook her head. "No! We're not—"
"Oh, I get it, Horikita-san~" Elsie wore a meaningful expression and nudged Horikita gently with her elbow.
"What do you get?"
"Horikita-san is a tsundere, isn't she?"
"What? What are you talking about?" Horikita stood up almost frantically, her face turning even redder, her voice becoming stuttered. "That... that kind of adjective, what does it have to do with me?!"
"Kami-nii-sama said so: the more you deny it, the more you're actually admitting it." Elsie laughed. "Besides, I see you and Kami-nii-sama are always on great terms! Why else would you be eating together? I heard only people who are at least 'more than friends' do that!"
"I have business with Katsuragi-kun..." Horikita let out a long sigh and sat back down. She had lost the strength to argue. The more she protested, the more it proved Elsie's point.
"Fine. I don't quite understand this behavior, but how you choose to address people is your own business. Do as you like," Horikita replied.
"Hooray! Then please take care of me from now on, Suzune-san!"
"Suzune... it sounds rather cute when said out loud."
"You... you're not allowed to say it!"
Normally, Horikita didn't feel anything special about people using her name, but coming from Keima's mouth, it felt strangely off.
"Eh? Didn't you just say it was up to us? Are you going back on your word?"
"I... fine, whatever!" Horikita said, sounding like she had given up.
"By the way, Suzune, why are you eating with Kami-nii-sama?" Elsie asked.
"I just said, I had questions for Katsuragi-kun regarding the study group."
"Suzune, why don't you just join our study group?" Keima suddenly suggested.
"Huh? Why the sudden invitation?"
"Your situation over at your study group isn't very optimistic, is it? Instead of wasting time on beyond-saving cases, it's better to help students who actually want to be helped," Keima explained.
His study group was growing. Hasebe Haruka was extremely lopsided in her subjects, Karuizawa Kei hadn't officially joined but likely had poor grades, plus Sakura Airi—this meant Keima would have to spend significantly more time on it.
'That would cut into my gaming time!'
Shiina Hiyori was focused on Elsie, and Kushida Kikyo only came occasionally. Thus, Keima thought he might as well pull Horikita in to share the burden. Furthermore, Horikita's presence might make Kushida act more proactively, perhaps allowing him to discover the secrets she was hiding.
"..."
"Besides, our bet doesn't have much meaning anymore. We might as well call it a draw," Keima added.
"Even if there were no bet, why should I have to join your study group?"
"I thought you would definitely join, Suzune. Since you value class promotion so much. I'm someone who hates trouble and only really cares about my own study group. Plus, I figured since you have great grades and are so good-looking, you'd surely agree."
"Don't think that level of flattery will convince me." Despite her words, the corners of Horikita's mouth were turning slightly upward, though she didn't realize it herself. "I can... consider it. But it's solely for the purpose of moving the class forward, so don't get the wrong idea."
"Got it, got it."
Just then, another knock sounded at the door.
"Katsuragi, did you invite someone else for lunch?"
"No." Keima was also full of confusion. Why was it so crowded this noon? This was his precious lunch break! He had planned to finish eating at light-speed, send Horikita off, and seize the remaining time for games. He hadn't expected another visitor.
He frowned. Who could it be at this time? While secretly praying it wasn't another troublesome person, he stood up and walked to the door.
However, when he opened the door and saw who was standing outside, he felt his precious lunch break was officially ruined.
Sakayanagi Arisu stood there elegantly. She wore a perfectly kept uniform, her long white hair brushed meticulously. Her clear eyes, like tranquil lakes, sparkled with an interested light as she looked into the room. In her hand, she carried a sophisticated, two-tiered lacquered wooden lunchbox with a classical pattern.
"Good afternoon, Katsuragi-kun. I hope I'm not interrupting your lunch break." Sakayanagi's voice was soft and pleasant, like a mountain spring. "I didn't know if you had eaten; I intended to invite you for lunch and a game of chess."
Sakayanagi wanted to play another game with Keima, so she had sought him out alone.
"..."
Her gaze drifted past Keima, landing on the table and Horikita Suzune sitting there. The smile on her lips deepened, becoming meaningful. "It seems I've come at an inconvenient time? Or rather... exactly the right time?"
Her gaze lingered on Horikita for a moment before returning to Keima.
'Crap... it's Sakayanagi Arisu. Why now of all times...'
A high-level alarm sounded in Keima's brain. Unlike Kiryuin Fuuka, Sakayanagi was the type who preferred precise calculations within the rules, but her difficulty level was no lower. This sudden transition into a dual-character lunch scenario could lead to a simultaneous drop in favorability for both sides if he wasn't careful.
"Sakayanagi-san." Keima struggled to keep his expression calm as he stepped aside. "Please come in. But we're in the middle of eating, so maybe..."
"It's no matter." Sakayanagi nodded slightly, walking in with a composed pace and gently closing the door.
Her arrival made the atmosphere in the already small dormitory room turn subtle. Upon seeing the newcomer, Horikita's brow twitched imperceptibly. She had only seen Sakayanagi for the first time that morning, but she had heard rumors. Sakayanagi Arisu was definitely no ordinary student. Moreover, as a Class A member, she was naturally a future rival—provided Horikita's desire for promotion never wavered.
But why was she looking for Keima? She had already sent him a console this morning. A sliver of doubt and a very faint sense of vigilance—one she hadn't yet clearly recognized—rose in Horikita's heart.
"This is my classmate, her name is Horikita Suzune. And this is Sakayanagi..." Keima introduced Horikita.
"I know." Sakayanagi nodded with a smile. She cast her gaze at Horikita again, her tone gentle yet carrying an invisible distance. "Horikita Suzune-san of Class D. I've heard much about you."
"Apologies, but do you know me?" Horikita asked.
"After all, I heard you are one of the rare students in Class D with genuine academic prowess." Sakayanagi's smile took on a slightly aggressive edge. "I originally wasn't very interested in the lower classes, but since there is such a special existence as Katsuragi-kun, I did a little research just now on the people close to him~"
Sakayanagi took a step forward. Though her demeanor was elegant, her words were not without a trace of provocation. Arrogance was etched into her bones; she truly had little interest in the lower classes. The only one she cared about was Keima. Everyone else was the same.
Furthermore, Sakayanagi felt a flicker of annoyance that Horikita had occupied Keima's time this afternoon.
"Lower class? That's only temporary. One day, we will surpass you and become Class A," Horikita countered seriously.
"For a lower class, you certainly have a big mouth. Try surpassing Class C before considering anything else."
"We will do so soon."
"Well, that's a matter for the future. This food doesn't look like it's from the cafeteria; did you make it yourself?"
"Yes."
"I'll begrudgingly praise your handiwork. However—" Sakayanagi placed her own lunchbox on the table and opened the lid. The dishes inside could only be described as luxurious and high-end. "Compared to what I've prepared, it's still a step below."
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