Chapter 413: I Kind of Want to Be Your Girlfriend~

"Huh? Sui-kun, you're giving me a gift?" Megumi gasped in surprise, her face flushing pink as she looked at him shyly.

"Yes," Sui nodded, extending his hand toward her. Resting on his bent index finger was a stunning butterfly, its wings shimmering with hues of blue and purple, fluttering softly like a dream.

"Oh, it's so beautiful!" Megumi cupped her cheeks in awe, her eyes glued to the butterfly, unable to look away.

Girls naturally adore beautiful, delicate things, and Megumi was no exception. She fell in love with the butterfly instantly.

With a slight smile, Sui gently placed his hand on Megumi's hair. The butterfly settled on her head, resting there like an elegant bow.

Megumi blushed even more, her hands fidgeting in front of her as she gazed shyly at him. The butterfly's vivid purple and blue wings complemented her own blue hair perfectly, adding a touch of purity and vibrancy to her appearance. She looked utterly adorable, brimming with youthful energy.

"Is this the gift you're giving me?" Megumi asked shyly, her voice laced with joy. "It's such a lovely pet."

"It's more than just a pet," Sui chuckled. "The powder on its wings is a rare and precious spice. You can feed it with milk or juice, and it'll stay by your side."

"Really? That sounds so valuable..." Megumi's eyes widened with surprise. She immediately felt a bit uneasy, realizing this butterfly was not just beautiful, but also extraordinarily rare and probably quite expensive.

"Don't worry, it suits you perfectly," Sui reassured her with a warm smile.

"Thank you..." Megumi hesitated for a moment, then nodded, whispering, "I actually noticed Miss Erina had one just like this on her head this morning. At first, I thought it was just a decorative headband, but it turns out it was a butterfly too?"

Instead of feeling uneasy about receiving the same gift as Erina, Megumi was filled with joy. To her, this meant that Sui saw her as just as important as Erina. She had never wanted to surpass Erina; just being equal to her was enough to make her happy.

"You noticed it this morning?" Sui raised an eyebrow. He recalled how Erina had happily worn the Butterspice in her hair before heading to school earlier that day. Seeing that Megumi wasn't upset by this, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Even though he knew it might seem unfair to Erina, Alice, and the other girls, Sui couldn't help but think of Megumi. She had always been kind to him, and their relationship had grown stronger over time. He felt she deserved some recognition.

Seeing that Megumi wasn't jealous or bothered by the gift, Sui felt this could be a positive step forward. Of course, it would ultimately be up to Megumi herself to decide how things would progress, and Sui had no intention of pressuring her.

"Hey, Megumi, where did you get that bow? It's so pretty!" Yoshino and Ryoko approached to chat with Sui and Megumi, quickly noticing the butterfly resting on Megumi's hair.

"Your bow is so intricate! It looks like a real butterfly. The colors are gorgeous! Where did you buy it, Megumi?" Ryoko asked, admiringly.

"This isn't a bow," Megumi said shyly, smiling as she removed the Butterspice from her hair. She had already fed it some juice that Sui gave her, and the butterfly had recognized her as its owner.

"What? It's an actual butterfly!" Yoshino's eyes widened in disbelief, her voice rising with excitement.

"Megumi, how do you keep it so tame?" Ryoko asked enviously, clearly wanting a pet like this for herself.

"I'm not really sure. It just became very obedient after I fed it once," Megumi explained with a soft smile, gently placing the butterfly on a nearby pot. Sensing the warmth, the butterfly flapped its wings a few times, releasing a fragrant powder into the air.

"What a delightful smell!" Yoshino remarked, astonished by the rich aroma. "But Megumi, aren't you worried that the powder might be toxic?"

"Don't worry, the powder is actually a spice," Megumi reassured them with a laugh.

"Is that so?" Soma, who had been nearby, suddenly perked up with interest. He grabbed a spoon and tasted a bit of the soup. His eyes lit up. "The flavor is incredible! It's much more fragrant and savory!"

"Let me try too," Ryoko said eagerly, scooping up a spoonful of the soup. Yoshino leaned in to take a sip as well.

"This was just regular fish soup, but with just a touch of that powder, the umami flavor really pops, and there's this elegant, floral fragrance!" Ryoko exclaimed, staring at the butterfly in awe. She and Yoshino were both now thoroughly enamored with the charming creature.

Such a stunning pet, serving as both a decoration and a spice dispenser, was irresistible to aspiring chefs like them.

"It must've been a gift from Sui, right?" Yoshino asked, her tone tinged with playful jealousy.

Megumi's face flushed even deeper, but her heart was filled with sweetness. She couldn't help but feel like a girl showing off a gift from her boyfriend to her best friends.

"I knew it! Sui, when did you start dating Megumi? Is this some kind of love token?" Ryoko teased with a grin.

"Uh, it's just a gift for Megumi," Sui replied with a smile, trying to play it off casually.

Yoshino and Ryoko exchanged glances, both secretly envious of Megumi for having such a beautiful and unique pet. They knew the butterfly must be quite rare and valuable, so they didn't feel comfortable asking Sui for one themselves.

"Sui, you really spoil Megumi," Ryoko said, half-jokingly but with a hint of seriousness. "You send her food and now a butterfly... I'm starting to want to be your girlfriend too."

Megumi blushed furiously, standing quietly beside them, her head lowered. She was too shy to respond, but inwardly, she was overjoyed.

"Well, Ryoko, if you're interested, I wouldn't mind," Sui teased, flashing a playful smile.

"Sure, but first, give me a butterfly," Ryoko responded with a sly grin, holding out her hand expectantly toward him.