Rivalry Over Dinner

In a world where every boy dreams of having a girl beside them—someone to support them, a girl that would make them happy—some say it inspires them to do better and motivates them, but for me, it doesn't work that way.

As a guy destined to be a background character, I believed I should stay in the background.

However, fate had other plans, especially when these two popular girls became my roommates and insisted on keeping me away from the background.

We finished our dinner with a lavish spread that was never meant to happen, but it did. It all started when Kaori suggested that if Luna became overwhelming, I could spend time with her, offering comfort when loneliness crept in.

Just as she said that, a knock echoed at the door, continuous and abrupt, and it ceased when Luna rose from her crouch. We were bewildered by her actions, as if they had been meticulously planned.

Luna approached the door, verifying the peephole one more time, and her recognition prompted her to open the door while clad in a servant's attire.

"Lady Luna, we're here as you requested."

"Alright, place the food on the table; arrange it stylishly."

"As you wish, Lady Luna..."

Her servants promptly followed Luna's instructions, meticulously cleaning the dining table and rendering it even more opulent than before.

I had momentarily forgotten that everyone in Luna's world was like her—a pampered brat.

They laid out a luxurious feast, including pork, beef, and precious steak. Our dining table was overflowing, resembling a banquet more than a regular dinner.

The servant was about to leave, but her gaze lingered on Kaori and me, her stare fixed on Kaori as if she were glaring. She then voiced her curiosity.

"Lady Luna, why is Kaori here?"

"My father ordered that Kaori and I should share the same room."

"But, Lady Luna, she's your ri—"

"I'm aware she's my rival, and that's precisely why she's sharing a room with me. We have a final competition to settle our score."

Luna's revelation took the servant aback, filling her eyes with confusion. It appeared she didn't comprehend the nature of the final competition between Luna and Kaori.

However, when she glanced at me, something in her mind seemed to click. She smiled at me before departing, bowing to Luna.

"Lady Luna, I pray for your victory. With your looks, no one can equal your beauty. Just stay confident."

"I know, Maria. Go back to the mansion and give my regards to my father."

"Understood, Lady Luna."

Maria, the servant, and four others accompanied her in setting up the dining table and ensuring its immaculate appearance.

As they left, I stood and approached the dining table. and there were three chairs, one for Luna, Kaori, and myself.

We sat close together, with Luna on the left and Kaori on the right, and I was in the middle between these two popular girls.

Their intense gazes bore into me as I avoided eye contact and focused on my plate. Then Luna, always one to take the initiative, broke the silence.

"Ced, what would you prefer, beef steak, pork, or chicken? Or perhaps something else... besides food?"

What on earth was she thinking? I wondered. Was she okay? Unsure, I replied, "Uh, I'll go with the stir-fried vegetables."

They exchanged incredulous glances, clearly surprised at my choice.

Kaori voiced her concern, "But Ced, don't you want to try the steak?"

"I'll pass; the stir-fried vegetables are just fine."

That was it. The first rule for being a background character was to keep things simple. But my resolve didn't waver, and they appeared unconvinced.

Luna, not one to give up easily, fed me a piece of meat from her fork with a seductive smile. I had barely finished when Kaori followed suit, feeding me a piece of steak.

Luna's words resounded in my ears, "I don't have any intention of letting you become a background character, Ced."

Confused and overwhelmed, I stammered, "Eh? Just eating such a luxurious meal for dinner is so... unusual."

Luna continued, her tone teasing, "Ced, who's better, the beef steak or the pork?"

I sensed the underlying rivalry in her question, as if Luna were indirectly asking, "Who's better, Kaori or me?"

I tried to evade the question, "I don't know... it was all so sudden."

Their persistence persisted, with Luna saying, "Every taste of a person counts, Ced. Let's cut off the excuses. Who's better?"

Hesitant, I replied, "Sometimes... personal experience is the best judge, Luna."

Their rivalry escalated further, and Luna declared, "Kaori, I'm pretty sure Ced liked the pork better than the beef steak, so he doesn't like you."

Unfazed, Kaori retorted, "Luna, hearing your words, it feels like you're fabricating things."

Their argument raged on, and it seemed that they were competing for my affection.

"Stop it, Luna and Kaori!" I interjected, attempting to diffuse the situation.

Their attention shifted to me as I suggested, "Let's just enjoy our meal. It's a waste to argue in front of this delicious food. Both the beef steak and pork are excellent, so I'll eat them both."

They were taken aback by my decision, and Luna asked, "A draw?" Kaori added, "Ced..." and I explained, "It's just a matter of timing. Both the beef steaks and pork taste equally good."

I took a piece of pork and a slice of beef steak, adding them to my plate.

I savored each bite, expressing my delight, "Delicious! So delicious!"

My determination to savor both dishes led me to consume them with equal enthusiasm. Luna and Kaori, however, seemed more interested in my voracious appetite than the food itself.

"Isn't your appetite lacking tonight?" I asked, observing their flustered expressions.

Luna struggled to respond, her voice wavering, "Um, no! It's not like that. It's just that watching you eat... it feels different, like it touches my heart."

Kaori chimed in, equally flustered, "Yes, Ced, Luna's right. Your appetite for this meal is... surprising."

It was as though Luna regarded me as her beloved pet, savoring the luxurious meal while I, the adored pet, reveled in the treats she offered.

Kaori, on the other hand, appeared equally flustered but remained silent, her eyes darting between Luna and me, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events.

After we finished dinner, three glasses of water were set before us, and we drank. I felt overly full, and my gratitude spilled out.

"Thank you for the wonderful meal!"

"Ced, you really eat a lot of food," Luna remarked, still amazed.

"Ced, our family has some fast-food restaurants. Maybe you'd like to visit?" Kaori suggested, subtly making a move, and Luna picked up on it.

"Or, Ced, perhaps you'd prefer going to a restaurant with buffets. My father has a friend who recommended one."

"Luna, I think Ced would prefer the fast-food restaurant over your father's friend's place."

"Oh, Kaori, Ced won't want to go to a fast-food restaurant with a crowd. You know he's a background character. I treat Ced as more than that, but you're treating him like a background character."

Kaori seethed with anger, her eyes darting like daggers across the dining table. Secretly, she extended her leg under the table, her foot connecting with Luna's, and she delivered a hard stomp, causing Luna to yell in pain.

"Ahh! Aw... K-Kaori...?" Luna winced, clutching her foot.

"Oh, Luna, are you alright? Did something bite you?" Kaori retorted sarcastically, her irritation evident.

"You brown-haired woman...!" Luna shot back, her own foot retaliating as she stomped on Kaori's in response. Her action was forceful and brimming with strength, causing Kaori to scream out in agony.

"AHHH! L-Luna?" Kaori cried, clearly in pain from the powerful retaliation.

"Oh, Kaori, did something happen to you?" Luna asked with feigned innocence, as if she bore no responsibility for the pain she'd just inflicted.

Their rivalry was intensifying, and their gazes locked in a fierce standoff. Sensing the need to intervene, I redirected the conversation.

"Kaori and Luna, how about we shift our focus to some math? There's a quiz tomorrow on lesson 1 after the discussion," I suggested, hoping to defuse the tension.

"Oh, that's right! There is a quiz on math!" they both exclaimed in unison.

They promptly cleared the dining table, placing the dishes in the sink. Luna grabbed a cloth and cleaned the dining table with a determination that matched her earlier competitiveness.

Kaori, on the other hand, retrieved three math textbooks from our bags and They both returned to the dining table, sitting down with an air of anticipation.

As we opened the math textbooks to lesson 1, page 5, titled "Introduction to Quadratic Equations," I couldn't help but lament my dislike for math. Like a true background character, I planned to slack off and skim the content without absorbing any knowledge.

Luna and Kaori, however, seemed to catch on to my intentions. Luna, ever the proactive one, spoke up first.

"Ced, would you like a tutor? I can help."

Kaori, feeling overshadowed, added with a hint of frustration, "Ced... I've heard Luna got three mistakes on her math exam, even at her previous school, scoring a 37/40, not a perfect score? Pathetic. You aced the entrance exam at Ouran Academy, but it seems like pure luck."

Luna smirked, retorting, "Oh, Kaori, I've improved since then. That's why I aced the entrance exam at Ouran Academy. Why bring up the fact that you entered Ouran Academy last year and made one mistake on the entrance exam? It must hurt to be second."

"Damn you, Luna!"

"Give it a try, second-placer."

I interjected to diffuse their escalating rivalry, "Kaori and Luna, I'd appreciate it if both of you could teach me."

Their bickering ceased, and they responded in unison, "Wh-why?"

"Two heads are better than one, right?" I reasoned.

They exchanged glances, seemingly convinced. Kaori begrudgingly agreed, "Okay, Ced..."

And so Kaori and Luna took up the task of tutoring me in quadratic equations. They guided me through the intricacies of the subject, and I found myself writing down formulas under their watchful eyes.

Despite my initial reluctance, I couldn't help but think it was indeed exhausting. I was supposed to embrace a carefree, happy-go-lucky background character role, but these two were determined to mold me into something more prominent.

They aimed to make me a named character, a path I vehemently resisted. I had no desire to follow the cliche path.

Instead, I, Ced Nakano, aspired to reach the pinnacle of becoming the ultimate background character, a path known only to me—a solitary number one with no second or third place contenders.