Prologue
At the high school attended by Ichinose Sōma, there is an unofficial tradition known as ‘escape’. (dassō)
The origin of this tradition dates back decades to a student whose love for eating surpassed all else.
Back then, convenience stores weren’t widespread, and since his parents both worked and couldn’t prepare a lunch for him, he had no choice but to rely on the school cafeteria and the school store.
However, the cafeteria’s ramen and the school store’s sandwiches were unimaginably terrible, plunging him into deep despair.
With no other options, he had to endure the bland ramen and dry sandwiches day after day.
How much suffering this diet caused him is unknown to us now.
The only thing passed down among the students is the fact that, at one point, he snapped due to the awful taste.
Unable to bear the terrible lunches any longer, he broke free from the teachers’ restraint and dashed out of the school.
He then rushed into a nearby diner and indulged in a delicious meal to his heart’s content.
His act was a clear violation of school rules.
However, the teachers fully understood the dreadful taste of the cafeteria and school store offerings.
Therefore, they showed leniency, and he was absolved of any wrongdoing.
Following this incident, a peculiar dynamic formed at the school: students secretly left during lunch break to eat and teachers turned a blind eye.
It’s surprising that such a tradition has persisted into the Reiwa era. Perhaps it’s not the times but the school itself that is indulgent.
Regardless, thanks to this great senpai, the lunch options have increased, and even though his name and face are unknown, gratitude is surely due.
Sōma, too, cherished this tradition and was one of the students who “escaped” once a week.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had stand-and-eat soba.”
Satisfied with his tempura soba and inari sushi, Sōma patted his stomach and muttered to himself.
Then, a brown-haired female student walking beside him turned to him with a cheerful smile.
“Today’s lunch was so much fun!”
“I’ve thought this before, but is it really appropriate to describe a meal as ‘fun’ or ‘not fun’?”
“Well, it was my first time eating while standing, so I was really excited!”
“Right, you said something similar when we first ‘escaped’ to that gyudon place.”
The one who had suggested trying the stand-and-eat soba was his classmate, Satomi Chika.
And it was Sōma’s role to go along with her whims.
Sōma and Chika had formed a strange cooperative relationship.
Sōma had a dream of becoming a patissier. Until September, he had been self-studying and practicing, but he felt he had reached a plateau.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.
That’s when he discovered that his classmate, Satomi Chika, had a keen sense of taste and a wealth of knowledge about Western confectionery.
He thought that if she could taste the sweets he made, as well as those from famous shops, he could gain valuable feedback.
That’s why he asked her to become his exclusive taster.
In contrast, Chika, nicknamed ‘Angel of Peace’ in a way uncharacteristic for a high schooler, was a beloved and cherished figure.
People doted on her so much that she ended up lacking many experiences, which became a significant complex for her.
Fearing she wouldn’t grow into a proper adult, she resolved to gain various experiences.
However, due to her lack of experience, she felt hesitation and fear even when attempting the smallest challenges.
So, she asked Sōma to be there to watch over her when she tried something new.
Today’s lunch break was part of that series of challenges, as Chika had asked him to accompany her to a stand-and-eat soba shop she had never visited before.
“Come to think of it, we did go to that gyudon place, didn’t we? Sōma, it’s amazing that you remember such a trivial conversation from nearly two months ago.”
As Chika widened her eyes while walking, Sōma shrugged lightly.
“I tend to forget important things and remember trivial ones. That’s why I also remember that you can’t swim, Chika.”
“I would have preferred you forgot that.”
Chika glared at him with a sullen look, but she quickly returned to a smile, seemingly in high spirits from her new experience with stand-and-eat soba.
“You look like you’re really having fun.”
“I really am!”
At Sōma’s words, the brown-haired girl nodded vigorously.
“It’s so much fun to be able to do various things with you, Sōma-san. It feels like my world is expanding!”
“You’re exaggerating.”
The things she wanted to try were often trivial: buying clothes on her own or jumping into shops she had never entered before.
But even such things were fresh and enjoyable for her, who had no experience with them.
As someone who had taken on the role of watching over her, it was gratifying for Sōma to see her grow.
Sōma also felt that his understanding of Western confectionery had deepened thanks to Chika’s taste tasting.
In that sense, he was tremendously grateful to her.
“Do you also find it fun to be with me, Sōma-san?”
However, he couldn’t simply nod in agreement to this question.
“I think it’s fulfilling.”
“What’s with that non-committal answer?”
Chika seemed dissatisfied with his evasive response, puffing up her cheeks and stepping in front of him as if to block his way.
“I asked if you find it fun to be with me.”
The correct answer would probably be to say it’s fun, as Chika was clearly seeking that response. But he felt a strong resistance to nodding.
While avoiding her pouting gaze,
“Well, it’s moderately and reasonably fun.”
“What kind of vague answer is that! You sound like a politician avoiding the issue!”
“Then let’s just say it’s moderately fun.”
“Say something like ‘My world has become rosy!’ or ‘My life has started to shine brightly!'”
“That sounds like a pitch from a sketchy seminar.”
As they arrived at the high school, Sōma managed to fend off Chika’s persistent questioning.
After making sure the coast was clear, they hopped over the back gate painted in light blue.
“Math for the fifth period, huh? What a pain.”
Muttering to himself, he headed back to classroom 1-4.
“Sōma-saaan.”
Chika, who had not yet climbed over the gate, called out to him.
“Don’t tell me you want help getting over.”
“That’s right! Please help me!”
“I told you to learn how to get over it yourself.”
“How am I supposed to learn that in just a month or so? I’m a delicate maiden, you know?”
“…”
“What’s with that silence?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
—Delicate maidens don’t tease people, send outrageous photos, or tackle someone down—
He swallowed the words that almost slipped out and leaned forward with his upper body over the gate, hooking his foot on the latch of the gate.
“Come on, the bell’s going to ring soon. Hurry up.”
He said while extending his hand to her.
Instead of taking his hand, she retracted hers and, with a cute cry of “Ei!”, clung to Sōma’s neck.
“Whoa, heavy…!?”
Using all the muscles in his neck, back, and abdomen, he managed to keep his balance as he nearly toppled over.
“This way is easier to lift. If you use your hand, you might dislocate something.”
She came up with a plausible excuse, but her voice was clearly amused. It was obvious she was having fun.
Furthermore, she whispered a sweet voice in his ear.
“Right now, I’m feeling Sōma-san with my entire body. Are you feeling me with your entire body too, Sōma-san?”
“You…!”
Feeling his face heat up from her enchantingly seductive whisper, Sōma finally aware of the reason he couldn’t agree when she asked if he enjoyed being with her.
Was it fun being with her? The reason Sōma couldn’t simply nod and say yes was right here.
The usual Chika was treated like a beloved mascot, pampered and adored by everyone.
However, in front of Sōma alone, she showed a completely different side.
She teased, mocked, and was mischievous, all in an attempt to make him embarrassed.
According to her, his embarrassed face was extremely cute, and she wanted to see it a lot.
For Chika, who is often forced into a passive role in daily life, Sōma is the perfect counterpart with whom she can freely express her more sadistic nature.
Despite his repeated pleas for her to stop, she shows no sign of doing so. If anything, it feels like she’s escalating.
“Come on, hurry up or we’ll be late for the fifth period. Please pull yourself together. Go, go, Sōma-san!”
The faint breeze from her lips tickles his earlobe.
Just that was enough to make his body temperature rise sharply.
How much has he been teased in this not-so-long period of less than two months?
He thinks he should have gotten used to it by now, but he hasn’t at all.
No, it’s not a matter of getting used to it or not.
The mature Chika is bewitchingly beautiful.
That charm completely captivates him.
That’s why, no matter how many times she teases him, he still gets excited, and he can’t find it in himself to get angry or push her away.
Even though he wishes she would stop, part of him also wants to see more of this mature Chika.
“Damn it, fine! I’ll pull you up!”
Half in desperation, he blurted out those words and hugged Chika tightly with both arms.
Then, using all the muscles in his body, he lifted her up.
After dragging her into the high school grounds, he confirmed that her feet had touched the ground and released his arms.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Surprisingly, Chika also let go of Sōma’s neck in response.
Then, she stared intently at Sōma’s face from up close.
“Yes, the embarrassed Sōma-san today is cute as well.”
“What kind of confirmation is that? Besides, you’re the only one who says that.”
No one, not even his parents, has ever told him his blushing face was cute.
As he spoke with flushed cheeks, Chika chuckled at him.
“I’m sorry for being mean. But I just can’t help wanting to see Sōma-san blush regularly.”
“What kind of addiction is that? It’s too much of a nuisance.”
“That might be true. But lately, I’ve been thinking that I want to see Sōma-san’s blushing face even at school.”
“Hey, you were the one who started saying not to tell anyone at school.”
“That’s true, but…”
When Chika and Sōma formed their cooperative relationship, it was Chika who asked to keep it a secret from friends, as she was sure they would meddle.
“But Miki-chan, the one I wanted to hide it from the most, ended up finding out.”
“Lately, that girl has been enjoying our situation in a weird way…”
Their classmate, Saito Miki, Chika’s best friend and ‘chief pamperer’, had seen the interactions between Sōma and Chika and started saying incomprehensible things like how it’s really nice and like something out of a 2D romance.
Recently, she’s been content just watching.
She wouldn’t interfere with what Chika wants to do.
As he thought about their tall classmate, Chika, as if to interrupt his thoughts, threw her arms wide again and hugged him.
“H-Hey…!?”
Just as the heat in his face was starting to subside, he could feel his body temperature rising all over again.
“If we did this in front of everyone, Sōma-san would surely blush even more than now. I really want to see that.”
“You really have a nice personality, don’t you?”
He felt her body warmth and thought deeply.
It was exasperating, but even that expression seemed to amuse Chika.
“Sōma-san, I only do this kind of thing with you, you know.”
Whether that was something to be happy about or sad about, Sōma couldn’t quite tell.