Chapter 12: Three Girls Fed Me. I Think I’m in Love… or Dying.

Event Two of the Harem Olympics.

"Lunchbox Battle: Who Can Cook Kaito's Heart?"

Reina showed up to my house at 7 a.m. with a chef hat and a bell.

She rang it like we were in a five-star restaurant.

"Competitors, to the kitchen. Your time starts… now."

---

Contestant One: Yuna "The Arsonist Chef" Hoshigawa

Yuna tied her hair back and pulled out ingredients like she was on a Food Wars episode—if the theme was "Chaos."

"I'm making omurice," she said, confidently. "With a secret twist."

"…What twist?"

She winked. "Surprise is part of the taste."

Ten minutes later, the kitchen smelled like burning.

"Yuna. Is something on fire?"

"It's fine! It's just the soul of the chicken."

Reina raised a fire extinguisher. "Standby."

Yuna plated it with a heart-shaped ketchup swirl and blew me a kiss.

"You'll love it. Probably."

---

Contestant Two: Riko "I Don't Care But Also I Kind Of Do" Hanazawa

Riko showed up with a neat bento box, already prepared.

"I made this yesterday. Don't expect anything fancy."

She looked away. "It's just rice balls and egg rolls. Whatever."

I opened the box. Everything was perfectly cut. Neatly packed. Balanced. Homemade.

One of the rice balls even had a tiny seaweed smiley face.

"…This is amazing."

She glared. "Shut up and eat."

Reina wrote: "Tsundere bonus activated. +5."

---

Contestant Three: Airi "The Culinary Scientist" Yukishiro

Airi pulled out a digital scale, three thermometers, and a binder titled:

> "Project Kaito: Ideal Flavor Matching Based on Psychological Profiles."

"I've analyzed your taste preferences based on your behavior patterns," she explained. "This dish is designed to stimulate positive emotional feedback and long-term romantic association."

She handed me a bento with:

Grilled salmon (buttery, tender)

Pickled vegetables (sweet and sour ratio 1.3:1)

Rice sculpted into the shape of my own face (why)

"…You shaped rice into my head."

"I like your head."

Reina nodded. "Concerning. But delicious."

---

Judging Phase

Reina tapped her clipboard. "Kaito. Taste and rank."

I took a bite of Yuna's omurice.

My eyes watered.

"…This is spicy."

Yuna smiled. "It's love. In hot sauce form."

Then Riko's meal.

Warm. Soft. Perfectly balanced.

I chewed slowly, and for some reason, wanted to cry.

Last: Airi's.

The flavors hit like a spreadsheet—precise, mathematical, and weirdly satisfying.

"…I can taste the… science?"

Airi blushed. "I used real data."

---

Results

Reina stood dramatically.

"In third place… Yuna. For attempting arson with style."

Yuna shrugged. "I cook like I live—hot and messy."

"In second place… Airi. For psychologically weaponized food."

Airi smiled. "Acceptable."

"And in first place…"

Reina looked at Riko.

"You win this round."

Riko blinked. "Wait. I actually won?"

"Yes," Reina said. "But your rice ball smiled at me. Never do that again."

---

Later That Evening – My Stomach Is Full, My Heart Is Not

I sat on the porch with Riko beside me.

She was picking at leftover rice with chopsticks.

"…Thanks," I said.

"For what?"

"For cooking. For real."

She glanced sideways.

"…Whatever."

She smiled.

And I felt my heart skip a beat.