Chapter 17 - Bento Wars: Rito’s Trouble Grows!

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[Next Day – Sainan High School – Lunchtime]

RIIIIING!

Finally, the lunch bell rang. My stomach growled like a starving dog, loud enough to scare off a bear. And speaking of food, I instantly thought of Mikan, who always prepared a perfect obento for me—a small comfort in the middle of this intergalactic circus my life had become.

As I walked toward my usual spot, I noticed three pairs of eyes sparkling like stars on a clear night, staring at my backpack like it held some kind of legendary treasure.

— Rito-kun! — Asia called out, smiling sweetly, her hands clasped together as if in prayer. — Can I sit here?

— Of course, Asia! — I replied absentmindedly, already digging through my bag.

Then, out of nowhere, Haruna approached, clutching a colorful bundle in her hands, glancing around like she was smuggling contraband.

— Um, Rito… I… I made something for you too…

Before I could process that, Lala burst in like a pink tornado, holding what looked like a futuristic lunchbox, complete with blinking lights and soft electronic beeps.

— Rito, look what I made for you! It's a special obento… with a surprise!

A surprise from Lala? Oh no. That couldn't mean anything good.

Trying to play it cool despite the rising panic, I opened my bag. Mikan had left my lunch as usual, with a cute little note that said, "Good luck today, onii-chan!" Honestly, it felt like something a doting wife would do for her husband heading off to work. And judging by the way Lala, Haruna, and Asia were eyeing it, they thought the same thing. Their tense expressions said it all—Mikan, despite being my little sister, suddenly looked like a serious contender in their eyes.

— Uh, you guys, it's just food — I tried to ease the tension. — My sister's just… well, Mikan. She overdoes things sometimes…

Asia, cheeks glowing bright red, opened her own lunch carefully, as if unveiling a priceless treasure.

— I made this just for you, Rito-kun…

And when she revealed it, my jaw practically hit the floor. She had crafted a scene of the two of us holding hands, drawn with rice, seaweed, and delicately cut veggies. It was so heart-meltingly sweet, I felt like I'd been hit by Cupid himself.

— Asia, this… this is amazing. Thank you so much!

Haruna, looking a little unsure, followed suit, opening her neatly wrapped box. Inside was a beautiful arrangement, with little carrot and cucumber flowers surrounding my name written in the center. It looked like something out of a gourmet magazine.

— Haruna-chan… you didn't have to go to all that trouble!

She gave a shy smile.

— I just… wanted to do something nice for you, Rito-kun…

And just when I thought I'd survived the emotional overload, Lala stepped up, grinning ear to ear as she set her high-tech lunchbox on the table.

— Now it's my turn! Get ready for the best obento in the galaxy!

CLICK!

That's when things got weird. A bright flash lit up the room, followed by a strange humming noise. And then—

— RAAAAWR!

A panda-shaped rice ball leapt out of the box and immediately grew to the size of a small car.

— What the heck is that?! — I yelled, nearly falling out of my chair.

— Yay! It worked! — Lala clapped her hands, totally thrilled. — My invention makes food grow into giant cute animals!

— Cute?! That panda looks like it's about to eat me alive! — I shouted, dodging as the panda-riceball loomed over me, eyes locked on me like I was its next bamboo snack.

— Rito, watch out! — Haruna cried, shielding her own lunch like it might save her from the chaos.

Asia shrieked, ducking behind me.

— Lala-san, what do we do now?!

— No worries! I just need to press this little button right here — Lala said, fiddling with something on the lunchbox.

CLICK!

Bad idea. This time, a sausage-shaped bunny hopped out, growing even faster than the panda and puffing little clouds of smoke with every jump.

— Rito-kun, run! — Asia screamed, grabbing my hand and pulling me away.

BOOM! CRASH!

Tables flipped, students screamed, and total mayhem broke loose. The panda tried climbing the walls while the sausage-bunny bounced around like a pinball, knocking over everything in sight.

And then I heard a dramatic, booming voice echo down the hallway:

— Fear not, young Earthlings! I, Zastin, am here to protect you!

Zastin appeared in full heroic glory, armor gleaming under the fluorescent lights, sword drawn.

— Prepare yourself, rice and sausage beasts! — he bellowed, charging headfirst into battle.

SLASH! WHAM! POW!

Zastin swung at the oversized lunch monsters like a seasoned warrior, dodging attacks and landing blows with pinpoint precision. The whole scene felt like a bad anime come to life.

— Lala-sama, please be more careful with your inventions! — he scolded mid-swing, cleaving a chunk off the panda.

— Sorry, Zastin! I just thought it'd be fun! — Lala giggled sheepishly.

After an epic showdown worthy of legend, Zastin finally shrank the creatures back to normal size, leaving the classroom floor littered with squashed rice and sausage.

— Victory! — Zastin declared triumphantly, striking a heroic pose atop a shattered desk.

Silence crept back in, the kind that settles when chaos itself runs out of breath. Students peeked in from the hallway, eyes wide with disbelief at the carnage caused by lunch.

I collapsed onto an overturned chair, covered in rice and vegetables.

— Yep… normal life? Long gone…

Asia, Haruna, and Lala gathered around, still clutching their battered lunches.

— Rito-kun, I'm so sorry about today — Asia murmured, eyes downcast.

— No, it's not your fault — I assured her, managing a tired smile. — We just need to avoid lunches that come to life.

— Agreed — Haruna sighed, brushing hair from her face, still a bit flustered.

Lala laughed, her usual carefree self:

— I promise next time I'll make something less… exciting!

Looking at the three of them, despite the mess, I felt a warm, comforting weight in my chest. Maybe Mikan was right—food really is the way to someone's heart. Even if, in my case, that road was full of giant, rampaging rice pandas.

— Maybe next time… we just order pizza? — I suggested, half-laughing.

They smiled, relieved.

— Great idea, Rito!

And honestly? Surviving another meal with them felt like a pretty big win.