Kato Megumi

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The morning passed in a flash. At lunchtime, Yuto hauled a backpack stuffed with lunch boxes up to the rooftop.

'Sigh…I miss Utaha.'

The joyful times they once shared on the rooftop were, for now, out of reach. Opening the door to this place where Utaha gave her reward, he wasn't surprised to see the graceful figure of Yukino Yukinoshita already standing there.

"Good afternoon," he greeted.

"…" Yukino set down her chopsticks, her small cherry-like mouth stuffed full of rice balls, and cast a glance at the boy.

It seemed that today, Miss Yukino wasn't starving like last time. Though she wasn't eager to exchange pleasantries with this popular boy, the etiquette ingrained in her since childhood prompted a slight nod in response.

Today, the lively Kitagawa Marin wasn't joining them for lunch. As a fashion model, she'd been incredibly busy lately—her manager even whisked her away for work during lunchtime.

Tap, tap… Light footsteps echoed from the doorway. Both looked up to see Kato Megumi arriving.

"Good afternoon, both of you," she said. The short-haired girl had fair skin and a gentle, lovely face. Her pure JK uniform highlighted her slender yet shapely figure, especially her long, well-proportioned legs wrapped in black over the knee socks, paired with brown calfskin shoes that radiated youthful energy.

"Good afternoon, Megumi," Yuto replied, shifting to make space for her to sit beside him. He genuinely liked this soft-spoken girl who always listened attentively to his conversations.

"Yuto-kun, I made my own bento. Want to eat together?"

"Sure, I brought mine too. Let's eat together."

'Every time I see this guy, he's surrounded by pretty girls…' Yukino thought. Used to being alone, she had no intention of joining them and continued eating her rice balls.

She was late again today. Though she didn't snag the pork cutlet bento she'd wanted, the cafeteria lady had saved her a few plum rice balls, ensuring she wouldn't go hungry. Yukino wasn't picky, though; she merely pursed her lips and kept eating.

But as she ate, a faint aroma drifted over from across the rooftop, catching her attention. 'What is that smell? Why is it so fragrant?' The rich scent of the dishes wafted through the air, carried by the midday breeze, teasing her taste buds and making her mouth water.

Yuto had cooked standard dishes today: stir-fried pork, tomato and egg stir-fry, minced meat eggplant, braised pork, garlic vermicelli… Over ten lunch boxes in total, all homemade dishes prepared the night before and reheated with a quick 'Mana Burst.'

"Oh my, Yuto-kun, did you make all these? Your cooking is incredible!" Megumi, lucky enough to taste them, couldn't stop eating once she started. Her bright eyes sparkled with delight. These dishes were unbelievably delicious, she'd never tasted anything so good.

"Megumi, your eel rice is great too," Yuto said, savoring the tender, peppery eel meat. Megumi's cooking skills exceeded his expectations.

'Damn it! What are those two doing… showing off their affection?' Yukino thought, clutching her plum rice ball, which suddenly tasted like flavorless wax. She lost her appetite as the pair across from her sat close together, enjoying a feast of delicacies.

"Yuto-kun, have some green tea," Kato Megumi said with a soft smile, wiping his mouth with a handkerchief and handing him a cup—his favorite brand. He wasn't sure when she'd memorized that detail. Her gentle, meticulous care was truly comforting. Yuto didn't even realize how thoroughly she was looking after him. 

Unconsciously, they'd ended up sitting very close. Megumi's long, straight legs pressed against his pants, her smooth, tender skin almost tangible through the thin fabric. With his height, a slight turn of his head gave him a glimpse of her half open collar, where a light pink bra hugged her fair, jade-like skin, the curves drawing his gaze.

"Ahem…" Yuto blushed and quickly shifted his seat. 'Good grief, no wonder she's called Saint Megumi… her subtle, silent charm is something else.'

"…" Kato Megumi remained composed, her fair face showing no trace of embarrassment or shyness. She simply adjusted her position slightly and smiled without a word.

'Is this girl doing it on purpose or by accident?' Yukino wondered, her suspicious gaze lingering on the short haired girl. But after watching for a while, Kato continued eating her lunch as if nothing had happened.

The atmosphere settled into silence. Yuto kept digging into his meal, feeling the Heart of the Red Dragon digest the food and nourish his body. Suddenly, a soft meow sounded from ahead. Looking up, they saw a pale yellow kitten clinging fearfully to the edge of the rooftop, seven stories above the ground.

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