Chapter 146 Then You Just Stand There

Chapter 146 Then You Just Stand There

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Other than the messy quilt on Rin's bed, the rest of his dormitory room was clean and organized. It hadn't been turned into a complete disaster.

If Rin had managed to turn the room that Horikita had painstakingly cleaned into a mess in just one day, she probably wouldn't have known what to say.

"Huh? A hairpin?"

While glancing around the dormitory, Horikita suddenly paused, her eyes showing a trace of surprise. On Rin's desk sat an exquisite hairpin.

What's up with this hairpin?

At that moment, Rin walked in, and Horikita quickly looked away, her expression returning to its usual calm.

Rin placed the plastic bag he was carrying onto the desk, then turned to look at Horikita, who stood upright as if she were in class. "There aren't any extra chairs here, Horikita. If you don't mind, you can sit on my bed."

"What if I do mind?"

Horikita glanced at Rin. The sight of the girl's hairpin in his dormitory made her feel inexplicably uneasy, so she snapped back at him.

"Then you can keep standing," Rin replied matter-of-factly.

"..."

Horikita glared at him but eventually sat obediently on his bed.

She sat with her back straight, her bare legs tilted slightly and closed neatly under her skirt. Her posture exuded elegance and discipline, giving off an air of dignity that reflected her upbringing.

Rin, however, felt a bit awkward having Horikita watching him so intently while he ate. He broke the silence. "Horikita, what do you want to talk to me about?"

"..." Horikita hesitated for a moment. Truthfully, she didn't have any particular reason to talk to him—she just wanted an excuse to come in and sit for a while.

"Did you get a message from Chabashira-sensei this evening?" she finally asked.

"Yeah, about swimming lessons. What about it?"

"…Did you buy a swimsuit?"

"I ordered one online. It should arrive soon," Rin said, giving her a curious look. "Why? Were you planning to ask me to go buy one with you?"

"What nonsense are you thinking? I've already bought a swimsuit," Horikita replied sternly. "I asked because I figured you'd forget and wanted to remind you."

Horikita was lying. She hadn't bought a swimsuit yet. She had considered ordering one online but ultimately decided against it.

Her original plan had been to wait until the evening when she delivered Rin's dinner. She'd casually ask if he had already bought a swimsuit, and if he hadn't, she'd claim that her studies had made her forget as well. Then, she'd suggest they go shopping together.

But now, there was no need for her to gather the courage to ask him—this guy had already handled it himself.

"Stop staring at me. Just eat quickly so I can take the lunch boxes back," Horikita said, tilting her chin slightly to gesture at him.

"Oh…"

Seeing that she wasn't planning to leave, Rin turned his back to Horikita and began eating. He opened the plastic bag to reveal four lunch boxes inside.

Wow, four lunch boxes. No wonder it was so heavy.

He opened the first box, revealing a perfectly prepared sukiyaki.

The second box contained freshly fried shrimp tempura, its golden batter crisp and inviting.

The third box was filled with steaming chicken and radish curry rice.

The last lunch box was a soup pot, containing kelp and tofu soup. The emerald-green kelp and white tofu, combined with a thin layer of oil floating on the surface of the soup, looked particularly appetizing.

The tantalizing aroma wafting from the four dishes made Rin's appetite grow even more. He picked up the chopsticks and porcelain bowl that Horikita had thoughtfully carried for him.

"Here, you're welcome," she said lightly.

The shrimp tempura had a fragrant, crispy crust, and the shrimp within was fresh, chewy, and full of flavor. As Rin chewed, he couldn't help but display a contented expression of joy.

As expected, he really had to find a way to trick Horikita into handling his meals every day!

"This is amazing, Horikita. I truly appreciate your cooking skills!"

"Who needs your approval?" Horikita replied with a faintly disgusted tone.

But Rin, already deeply immersed in the delicious food, didn't even respond to her words. Sitting on the bed, Horikita slightly turned her body to the side, casting a subtle glance at him. She really wanted to know what kind of expression Rin wore while eating her food.

A little concerned, she carefully observed Rin's face and noticed it was filled with pure happiness and satisfaction.

After confirming his expression, Horikita Suzune's thin lips curled slightly, revealing a faint trace of pride and joy.

For anyone who cooked, the ultimate compliment was seeing others experience happiness, satisfaction, and enjoyment from their cooking.

And since Rin held a particularly special place in her heart, knowing that her cooking made him happy brought her an even deeper sense of accomplishment.

Horikita suppressed the faint smile and joy in her heart and spoke in a calm tone.

"Rin, what's with the hairpin on your desk?"

Horikita was very familiar with Rin. She knew that when he was engrossed in food, his defenses would lower, and he would answer questions without much thought.

"I bought it," Rin replied simply.

It wasn't clear whether it was the delicious food that put him off guard or if he simply didn't consider the hairpin worth hiding, but he shared its origin without hesitation.

"You bought it? Why would a guy like you buy a girl's hairpin?" Horikita asked, her tone carrying a trace of urgency.

"To give it to a girl," Bai Yuan answered matter-of-factly.

Horikita's heart tensed up in an instant, and she instinctively blurted out, "Who?!"

"Ichinose from Class B."

"…" Horikita fell silent, her bare toes curling slightly under her skirt.

If I had known the answer would be like this, I wouldn't have asked…

"Ichinose from Class B… Is she the pink-haired girl I saw in the gymnasium earlier?" Horikita finally broke the silence, speaking hesitantly.

After a moment of hesitation, she continued, "Rin, you… like Ichinose from Class B, don't you?"

"Well, Ichinose is pretty, has a great figure, and a cheerful personality. I think all boys like her," Rin said casually, chewing on a piece of sukiyaki mushroom as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I really shouldn't have asked!

"So, you're planning to give her this hairpin and confess your feelings, aren't you?"

Ah… Why do I keep asking…

"No."

As expected… Wait, what?

Horikita's head shot up abruptly, and she looked at Rin's back in shock. "Rin, you were planning to give Ichinose a hairpin, so why aren't you confessing your feelings to her?"

"Because Ichinose and I aren't very close yet. I want to spend more time with her before I say anything," Rin said casually, as though it was the most reasonable thing in the world.

"…"

Not very close yet?

If you're not close, why are you planning to give her a hairpin?

I've known you for so many years, and yet you've never given me anything!

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