-Me, Lily…?
-Yeah?
-Are we really going to eat here?
-We went through all the trouble of forging an identity, so we should use it!
-But still…
I glanced around cautiously.
We were currently in a wide open park.
Given how unbelievably vast the Academy’s grounds were, there were several parks like this one – but this was the biggest, the Central Park.
The expansive green fields were a popular spot for students who brought bentos instead of attending the formal luncheon.
So when lunchtime rolled around, it would be absolutely packed with people…
Just a moment of looking around confirmed that the park was filled with students.
There were groups of friends enjoying their leisurely meals together…
Clusters of students collaborating on assignments…
And then…
Couples feeding each other in close proximity.
Lily, who had transformed back into her cat form, focused her sharp eyes on one of those couples.
-Let’s eat quickly!
She looked up with shining eyes, clearly envious.
However…
“…Out of the question.”
-Huh? Wait, Arthur!
I tightly held Lily in my arms and sprinted away from the park.
Once we’d distanced ourselves from the park, I finally let her go.
The soft front paws of the cat jabbed at my chest.
-We were going to eat together!
-We will… Just not there.
-Why?
Without saying a word, I took her front paw and placed it near my heart.
Lily, who initially hadn’t understood my actions, widened her eyes.
-Arthur, is your heart…?
Thump… Bump… Thump… Thump-thump.
My irregular heartbeat pounded loudly, as if it would burst at any moment.
Struggling to control my breathing, I spoke to Lily.
-Sorry, Lily. I’d like to eat together, but I’m too nervous…
Honestly, I hadn’t expected to feel this bad.
Growing up, I’d been hurt by others, so I never felt comfortable with the attention of crowds.
Even though I thought I’d gotten used to being around people thanks to Lily…
When I imagined all those people in the park looking at me, my chest clenched up like it used to, and cold sweat trickled down my neck.
I could almost see Louis’ smirking face in front of me.
Lily gently wiped away a bead of sweat that was rolling down my jawline.
-Sorry, Arthur. I got too excited.
-No, I’m the one who’s sorry. You must’ve really wanted to eat together.
-I’m fine. Let’s just eat back at the dorm.
-Lily, but-
-I’m fine, really. Let’s go.
Lily’s red eyes turned toward me.
While I might not be able to read a cat’s expression, somehow, as if our hearts were connected, I could sense her feelings.
Amazingly enough, I could perceive Lily’s emotions.
And the concern etched in her vertically slit cat eyes was unmistakable.
-Thank you.
Thank you for worrying about someone as pitiful as me.
With that sentiment, I gently embraced Lily.
Given our position, my nose naturally buried itself in her fur.
Through the soft hairs brushing against my nose, I could sense Lily’s unique scent.
Taking a deep breath, I enjoyed that scent and felt my mind grow clearer as I walked forward.
The distance we had run turned out to be further than I’d thought, as we soon arrived in front of the dormitory building.
Before entering the building, I absentmindedly glanced to the side.
And…
“Hmm? Isn’t that a ramen shop?”
-Lily.
-Yeah?
-We went through all the trouble of forging an identity, so shouldn’t we give it a try?
-I’m fine. You don’t have to inconvenience yourself for me.
-There’s a place where we won’t need to inconvenience ourselves.
-Huh?
I pointed to the side of the dormitory building where a smaller, less crowded park we occasionally visited was located.
-This should work.
Walking a bit into the park, we found a suitable bench and sat down.
For a while, we waited for the perfect moment when nobody was looking our way.
Finally, it came.
“Hmm… Being in cat form for long really makes my joints ache.”
Stretching her arms, Lily who appeared unmistakably feline in her human form had this seductive vibe about her.
“From now on, you can walk around freely during lunch, Lil…ina.”
Lily’s forged name on paper was “Lilina.”
Calling out her real name in public could lead to trouble.
Summoning a bento box out of thin air, Lily presented it.
The thickness of the box alone suggested that there was plenty of food.
Noticing my expression, Lily soon explained.
“It’s because we’re eating together; I prepared a lot.”
Opening the lid, a variety of scents attacked our noses.
Each dish was individually mouth-watering, but together, they harmonized into a symphony of flavor.
Eating a bento like this would have been unimaginable for my past self.
The meals were selected based on what I knew.
Just biting into the Old One kebab, crafted with a perfectly crispy exterior, created an indescribable sensation.
“Mmm… gulp. Wow, your cooking is getting tastier!”
“Of course! It’s from the fresh Old One I… caught for you.”
While chewing on a piece of sushi topped with spouse-tuna, a large grape was pushed toward my mouth.
“Ah~”
“Mmm…gulp. Ah-huh.”
“Is it good?”
Swallowing the sweet-tart grape, I smiled in response.
“Yes, it’s the best.”
“Good~”
I passed her a grape.
“Lily, ah~”
“Hehe, ah~”
After placing the grape in her mouth, Lily affectionately patted my head.
Enjoying her touch, I reached for another dish.
We spent the lunchtime feeding each other back and forth.
Since we had met the chancellor not too long ago, we weren’t able to finish the entire bento before having to leave.
“Was it tasty?”
“Yes, it was incredibly tasty.”
“You’ll have something to look forward to tonight too.”
“Yes!”
After finishing our meal and standing up…
“Ahh…”
During the meal, I had been too focused on the food and Lily to notice our surroundings.
Regaining my senses and looking around…
The gaze of bystanders was intense.
Specifically from the men.
Their glaring eyes felt like they could kill.
Even though we had refrained from kissing out in the open…
Their gazes felt like we were sworn enemies.
With little time left before lunch ended,
I entered the dorm building with Lily.
And immediately…
“Chu~p!”
Clinging closely, we shared an intense kiss.
“Ah… We don’t have much time, so you need to hurry.”
“Mm, I’ll hurry.”
Our lips met again.
Though it was brief, it was a powerful moment.
No matter how rushed, skipping Lily’s “meal” wasn’t an option.
Hmm, absolutely not.
—-
“Cough…”
Exiting the room, I fanned my heated face with my hand.
That was a rather intense, albeit brief, moment.
Tightly holding Lily in her cat form, I sprinted toward the classroom.
-This… We might be late.
-Sorry, I lost control…
Thanks to our shared connection, emotions in our words were even more pronounced.
Lily buried her head deep in my arms, her ears flattened in dejection.
I gently stroked her head.
-Lily is far more important than being late, so don’t feel so down.
-Waaah, Arthur~
Fidgeting, Lily rubbed her head against me, so adorable.
I continued stroking her with a smile that welled up from my heart.
The warmth radiating from her in my arms warmed my soul.
-Arthur, do you want to eat like this tomorrow too?
Upon hearing Lily’s careful suggestion, I…
-Of course!
Replied energetically before kissing her forehead.
Thinking back, I used to lonely devour meals in the dorm.
Now, I get to share bentos with my adorable fiancée.
From my dorm room, to my school life, and now my lunch breaks…
It felt like my life was being painted with Lily’s presence.
A story that I couldn’t have imagined, a tale I didn’t dream of…
Yet, the life within my arms reminded me every moment that this was reality.
Thinking about the continuous days ahead, warmth welled up from the depths of my chest.
More emotions than I’d ever experienced in my life have surfaced since meeting Lily.
I let the feeling roll off my tongue.
‘Happiness’
Such a heartwarming sentiment it was.
—-
As Arthur darted forward, someone appeared behind him.
A man holding a small newspaper in his hand.
“Never would’ve thought you were an Academy underclassman. Famous enough to appear in the newspaper and I had no idea.”
The man licked his lips, glaring at Arthur’s retreating figure.
“…Pigs and pearls.”
He glanced at his newspaper.
A photo of a couple.
Staring quietly at the photograph, the man ripped the newspaper in half.
Not just any tear, but a precise cut dividing it evenly.
As he alternated his gaze between the split pieces, the man crumpled one and threw it far away, then carefully folded the other half.
Opening an envelope from his coat, he inserted the folded newspaper along with the envelope’s original contents.
Sealing the envelope, the man placed it in Arthur’s dorm room door.
Looking down at his handiwork, the man smirked.
“Kekeke… I wonder how this will turn out?”
