A Man Who Cooks For Himself And A High School Girl (WN)

24th Meal

Highschool Boys and Stalking Part 2

The man had the appearance of a college student who could be found anywhere.

His face, as Hiyori put it, was “just average.” He appears to be of a certain height, but not particularly tall.
He is not very particular about what he wears, or maybe he just happens to be a bit carefree today, but he is dressed quite roughly.

(Tired: Just average? Really? *Looks at the illustrations*)

In general, there is nothing outstanding or inferior about him, and he’s the kind of young man you would expect to find at least once in someone’s class.
That was their first impression on Asahi Mahiru’s, a popular female student in the class, man that she calls “Onii-san.”

“Well…He’s really ‘Average,’ huh? I knew you glasses duo were making up stories about Asahi having a boyfriend.”

“Who’re you calling ‘Glasses duo?’”

Ryou then turns his attention to the conversation between Mahiru and the others, who are a little further away from the group, while being commented on the term “glasses guy,” which is used to refer to both Yuzuru and Yukiho Fuyushima, the glasses girl in the group.

“Hello, Yamori-san.
I'm sorry for interrupting you the other day.”

“Don’t worry and it’s been a while, Kotsubaki-san.
Also thank you for being the poiso–food taster on that day too.”

“…Onii-san, didn't you almost say 'poison taster' just now?”

“If Hima had made the curry by herself, I would have refused to be the poison taster, but Yamori-san was right there watching over you, so it was fine.”

“Why are you saying ‘Poison Taster’ without any hesitation, Hiyori-chan!? What I made was delicious, you know!?”

The fact that that college student was acquainted with Hiyori was also true to their information.
Surprisingly, her attitude toward the man is quite soft.

She is often teased as a “Mom” for the way she takes care of the somewhat outgoing Mahiru, but in fact, Hiyori seems to have been very attentive to Mahiru’s social relationships ever since they were in middle school.

Mahiru’s kind to everyone, but this also means that she is more easily taken advantage of than others, and if left unchecked, she might get caught by someone bad.
Hiyori’s probably concerned about that.

(Isn’t it plain amazing to be recognized by Kotsubaki, who’s protective towards Mahiru…? Well, he's a college student, right? Perhaps he doesn't have evil intentions towards high school students, even if that student is Asahi…)

For example, Ryo is currently a high school freshman, but if one were to ask him if he would want a junior high school girl as his girlfriend, he would say, “That’s a little…” Though in reality, the age difference is not that wide, still, there seems to be a big gap between “Junior High School Students” and “High School Students.” Then, it is likely that the same gap exists between “High School Students” and “College Students.”

“Don’t Onii-san have classes today?”

“Yeah.
Originally, I only had morning classes, but now that those classes have been canceled.
That’s why today’s pretty much a holiday to me.”

“Woah~ That’s nice~”

“Not really, since I would take supplementary classes to make up for it, and that might take some of my free time.”

“Oh, is that why you’re here to shop?”

“That’s about it.”

For the average high school student, having a day off was a strange sensation.
Perhaps it was because of his earlier thoughts, but the college student appeared mature in Ryou's eyes.

(Does that mean he’s not interested in High School girls…? Maybe that's why Kotsubaki doesn't say anything about it….)

I glanced at Yuzuru, who was hiding next to me, and he seemed to have calmed down considerably as if he was thinking about something similar.
Mahiru didn't have a boyfriend, and there was no reason for her to continue stalking her like this.
Ryou was about to suggest that they withdraw before Hiyori found them…But that's when it happened—

“By the way, Mahiru.
What are you doing at the supermarket?”

“”!!!””

‘No way, he called her by her first name!’ the two of them thought.
It was so shocking that Ryou and Yuzuru feel like they were hit by a bolt of lightning.

(Ehh!? Were those two really that close?!)

If he had called Hiyori by her name, they would have been convinced that he was that kind of person, but he addressed her with her last name and with a “-san” at that.
But he said Mahiru’s name without honorifics as they were close.

But most of all—

“That bastard…! He just casually called Asahi’s name…!”

“I knew that this annoying guy is going to snap!”

Ryou held Yuzuru, who was about to lose himself again while lamenting.