Looking at the noisy classroom, I walked back to my seat.

I spotted a puddle of sticky white goo on the chair. Squatting down, I pulled out tissues and started wiping it clean.

Don’t get the wrong idea—it was just white glue. For such a simple prank, I felt no ripple inside.

After cleaning the chair, I sat down. I checked the rest of my desk and pulled out my textbooks.

Glancing at the brand-new books, I nodded. These girls were fairly restrained—they hadn’t covered all my textbooks in glue. Otherwise, I’d have a real headache.

Humans stay human because morals, rules, and identities hold us back. Even if they hated me deep down, they wouldn’t attack like wild beasts.

Maybe I should be grateful? Grateful this damn opposite-sex aversion aura doesn’t work on animals. Otherwise…

Picturing that scene made me shudder. It sounded way too bloody.

The class bell rang. The noisy room fell silent instantly. Students returned to their seats, ready for their first real lesson.

Math class came next. The teacher was an elderly man with reading glasses. Seeing him, I breathed a sigh of relief.

The whole morning passed smoothly. A few simple pranks popped up, but I spotted and dodged them easily.

Seriously, what decent pranks could well-behaved schoolgirls pull? I’d seen these tricks since elementary school—they were old news.

The lunch bell chimed outside. I scratched my head, watching students form small groups. They pulled out bento boxes and ate with new friends. I sighed.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t make bento. I just couldn’t stand Japan’s icy-cold lunches.

As someone originally from China, no matter how pretty or fancy Japanese bento looked, how could I stomach that cold bird food at noon?

Plus… the school had no microwaves!

But I couldn’t skip lunch. I pulled a self-heating meal pack from my bag—my daily school lunch staple.

“…What flavor today?… Curry beef rice?…”

I tore open the wrapper, poured in my water, added the heating pack, and set the vacuum-sealed rice and food together.

Under weird stares from others, I waited for the rice to warm up.

I caught whispers like “weirdo” and “junk food.”

“Huh? Bro, why eat this junk again!” Nishi Mitsutaka, about to stand, stared at me in shock. “This school has a cafeteria!”

His words made my disposable chopsticks clatter onto the desk.

“What are we waiting for?! Let’s go!”

I grabbed his hand and bolted out, leaving the heating pack behind. With a cafeteria, who’d eat self-heating slop?

At the cafeteria, I saw an auntie serving food at the counter.

My face fell instantly.

—Even heaven wouldn’t let me eat warm food?!

Just as I turned to leave, I spotted Nishi beside me. A brilliant idea hit me.

“Nishi! Got a favor!” I rubbed my hands together.

“What’s up, bro?”

“Aren’t we brothers?!”

“Duh! If we weren’t, who’d hang with a girl-hated guy like you!”

—This mouthy bastard!

I cursed inwardly but kept my face calm. My future meals depended on him. If I ordered myself… I’d be lucky to get a few spoonfuls.

“Long-term mission: grab my lunch too every day!”

“No problem, bro!~” Nishi slapped his chest confidently.

“Good bro! Sunday feast on me!!” I patted his shoulder hard and stuffed bills into his hand. “Go—I’ll wait here.”

He headed to the counter. I shrugged, found a seat, and scanned the cafeteria.

It was the new school year, so few students ate here.

Even if they knew about the cafeteria, most preferred homemade bento or store-bought bread. This place was mostly for staff—the prices were steep for students.

Money wasn’t an issue for me. I controlled the household budget. My parents, working abroad, sent big monthly transfers for expenses.

After daily costs and allowances for Ruri and Hidetomo, I still had plenty left.

Most went to my dating strategy plan. Results were tiny, but every bit counted. Affection points built up slowly.

Why my parents stayed overseas… maybe this aura made Mother despise me.

I sighed. Parents like them? Heh heh heh…

Soon, Nishi—the mouthy but decent guy—returned with two trays and sat across from me.

“Tonkatsu rice bowl! You’ll love it, bro~”

He placed the golden-brown bowl before me.

I gave a thumbs-up, snapped apart the bamboo chopsticks, and said, “I’m starting!”

Then I dug in heartily.