After I handed her the bread, I felt an awkwardness I’d never experienced before. How to put it? For the first time, I sat formally facing someone—back straight, posture rigid—the entire ten minutes from when she started eating until she finished.

"T-thanks..."

Ayakawa suddenly spoke once the bread was no longer clamped between her teeth. Her eyes locked onto mine, like she had something urgent to say.

"I’ll pay you back for the bread—thank you..."

*Whoa?!* I’d never met a delinquent who said thanks before! Get in character already!

"No need—it’s just pocket change—"

I’m a gentleman, after all. Can’t make a girl repay me. Wait, why did I say "after all"? That sounds like I’m putting myself down—

"You trying to make me owe you one?! This old lady doesn’t do debts! Or you wanna add more bruises to that face? Spit out the price!"

Ayakawa snapped. The desks were close; she leaned in so near our lips almost brushed. Have some delinquent dignity! Though honestly, I’m weirdly flustered by this fantasy of mine—

"Fine. Since you insist: 57 yuan total for the bread and two cartons of milk you just drank. Cash only—no cards."

"Ridiculous?! Are these artisanal loaves or something?! Tastes like the stall by the school gate— And I *do* have money to pay you!"

Her outrage made sense. I’d doubled the lunch price.

She grumbled about the unfair cost, but her actions betrayed her. Her left hand dug through her shoulder bag on the desk—searching for her wallet, probably—while her right clutched the half-empty milk carton.

"Not artisanal. Just the school gate stall."

"Hey! You scamming me?! Looking for trouble?!"

Her glare promised *more bruises on your face*. I avoid risks—that’s my life motto.

"No scam. First: who eats cold food and drinks in this freezing weather? I paid a 10-yuan heating surcharge. The rest totals 20. Simple."

Ayakawa’s brain lagged. Ten seconds later—

"That math’s broken! 27 yuan missing! You *are* messing with me?!"

She puffed her cheeks, tiny brows furrowed in childish fury. *Hey—aren’t you a delinquent?!* Where’s that "fear is my brand" attitude? You’re radiating pure *kawaii* right now!

"Forgot something?"

"What?"

*Oh ho!* You ate my lunch, then play innocent?

"Did you *ask* me to buy you lunch? Was this even *for* you? I didn’t buy it specifically for you, did I?"

"Ah... well..."

Regret flashed across her face. Her small fingers twisted at her chest. She couldn’t meet my eyes anymore.

"Still wrong! Three yuan short—!"

"Ever heard of *second item half price*? Heating others’ food wastes electricity too. The stall owner gives 30% off reheating fees. With the milk discount? Perfect 50% off. Didn’t see that coming, huh?"

"Our stall owner’s a genius?!"

Ayakawa muttered irrelevantly. Even I admired his hustle—he’d been there years, reading customers like open books. Though still no match for Xia Mo.

"So—thanks to you, I’ll starve all afternoon... You owe me."

"Owe you?! What weird nonsense is this?! Want me to dismember you?!"

"Don’t jump to creepy conclusions. I mean *you* should treat *me* next time. Seriously—how long’s it been since you talked to anyone?"

"None of your business!"

She whined like a tsundere. *High score!* Acting reluctant while secretly happy? Textbook tsundere! I swear she’s one!

"Here—this’ll fill you up a bit..."

Ayakawa fidgeted, eyes darting between her milk carton and me. After a full minute of hesitation, she thrust it toward me.

"Don’t get the wrong idea! I just... felt a *tiny* bit sorry for you! Not like I like you or anything!"

*Hey—I never thought that!* A delinquent liking me? Unthinkable. Besides... didn’t she do *that thing* before? What does she know about "liking" someone?

"You’re giving me your half-drunk carton?!"

"What?! My... half-drunk...? Uwaaah!!! This is... this is an *indirect kiss*?!"

Ayakawa froze, then slammed the carton on my desk and started headbutting her own. *Ayakawa! Stop murdering the desk! Even furniture has feelings!*

"...Done venting? Can I have my money now?"

I asked carefully while she still banged her head. Just saving the desk—not pity. *At most, I’d pity a stray kitten.*

"Oh. Right."

She lifted her head, forehead flushed red. *Are you okay?!* Delinquent stamina really is something.

"Here. Every last cent..."

Her wallet was pink with bunny patterns. *Fierce outside, girly inside?*

"Oh ho—Huiyuan, here early?"

A familiar voice cut in behind me. I turned. Zhou Hao stood there. *Already?* I checked the clock—1:10 PM. Class in 20 minutes. Zhou *had* said he’d come early to finish homework... but why was *Mengxiang* with him?!

The girl behind Zhou Hao had been smiling—until she saw my hand taking money from Ayakawa’s outstretched palm. Her smile froze. Worse, Zhou blurted:

"No way?! Huiyuan, making shady deals with a delinquent?!"

*Huh?* I glanced at us. From their angle, it looked exactly like that:

Me paying Ayakawa to do... unspeakable favors.