“Let's eat lunch at the rooftop, Eli-chan.”

Everyone are looking at me.

“You are really lucky aren't you, Reverren? For you to be able to be this intimate with Hecate.”

Said by a classmate who has been chatting with Eli-chan.

“Fufufu. I know right. I'm really fortunate to be able to have her.”

Eli-chan is glaring at me instead of being abashed like I hoped for. So complimenting her will no longer work huh?

“You have such a sweet tongue. But I don't think it's enough to move Hecate.”

Really? She's simpler than you think. It's just that she's kind of angry at me at the moment.

“Are you and Hecate childhood friends or something?”

The other girl asked before taking a sip of water.

“Oh. I don't think so.”

“...............”

Is it just me or did Eli-chan just become gloomy?

“You charmed her then? Hahahaha.”

“Oh perhaps I did. But how about you? Aren't you ‘charmed’ by me?”

”Haha. Nice try, but your charm doesn't work on me, mister~”

“Fufu. Of course of course. Anyway, I'd like to borrow your goddess for a while.”

“I haven't brought a lunch with me.”

Eli-chan finally spoke.

“Then let's buy at the canteen first.”

“But I—”

“We made a deal Eli-chan...”

She was just about to reject me so I reminded her about our deal by whispering to her.

“...............” She purses her lips. She looks really reluctant to go with me.

“Enjoy.”

“We'll be leaving as well Hecate.”

Eli-chan smiles softly at them as a response.

“Where are you going Mark-kun?”

We're just about to leave but Mae-chan called me out.

“Oh hello there Mae-chan.”

She didn't respond at me. She is looking at Eli-chan seemingly disturbed.

This intrigued me so I turned my eyes to Eli-chan. She's looking at Mae-chan with eyes brimming with hostility.

“Mae-chan.”

“Oh. Sorry.”

“What is it?”

“Are you going to eat at the canteen?”

“No. We will go there to buy Eli-chan a lunch first then eat at the rooftop.”

“Can I come with you?”

“No.”

“...............”

Eli-chan stepped forward to block Mae-chan from me.

“Ohh. Sorry Ms. Hecate. I just have something to say to Mark-kun.”

“Say it now then.”

She sounds territorial fufufufu.

“What do you want to talk about Mae-chan?”

“Uhh.. Did you convinced Al?”

So she wanted to ask about that.

“We'll hang out tomorrow and I'll convince him by then.”

“Oh I see. Thank you Mark-kun.”

“You're done now right? Let's leave.”

“Why do you seem so hostile to her, Eli-chan?”

“I'm not.”

Oh really?

“I'll leave now.”

Mae-chan smiles wryly while stealing glances at Eli-chan.

“Oh alright. Don't worry. I'll convince him for you.”

“...............”

After that, I brought Eli-chan to the canteen to buy her a lunch.

She isn't looking at the food choices. It's like she doesn't have any appetite. Hmm... Right. She just doesn't want to be with me.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Anything.”

“Come on. If I give you my flesh, will you eat it?”

“!!”

She looks unusually.. uh... Well, anyway, I got shivers.

“Don't take it seriously okay?”

“...............”

She lowers her head.

“Don't look disappointed!”

“...............”

“Tell me what do you want to eat.”

“Curry.”

“Alright.”

“...............”

I bought her a curry-rice. It's in a styrofoam lunchbox.

“Well then, let's go now.”

Carrying our lunch with me, I lead the way walking side-by-side with Eli-chan towards the rooftop we almost copulated at.

“!”

I don't know why but there are eyes that are watching the two of us. I'm sure Eli-chan notices that as well.

Whatever. Eli-chan is popular. I'm also used to these stares. There's one with a little bit of hostility though.

The rooftop has an unlocked roof door that serves as an egress so how to get up there without climbing up the building like we did last time is no problem.

*Plop!*

The roof structure that covers the staircase is enough to give us a shade so under its protection, I take the lid off my lunch box. The aroma of a fried chicken wafts in the air.

“Let's share each other's lunch.”

“En.”

She opens her styrofoam lunch box. Inside, there's a white rice and a curry in their respective compartment.

“Here take this.”

I give her a chicken leg.

“...............”

And she scoops me a spoonful of curry.

“Let's eat.”

I start eating.

“...............”

"You just didn't invite me here to eat right?"

Eli-chan suddenly asked me a question after few minutes of silence.

“Perhaps. But let's continue eating for now. How's my sister's cooking by the way?”

“It's good as usual.”

“I know right. She wakes up at 3 AM to prepare for our breakfast and lunch. She's such a hardworking little sister— Wait. Why do you look so disgusted? I am only praising her okay? Don't think too much about it.”

“I said nothing.”

But you're face says it.

“Yes you did. Communication isn't only verbal you know.”

“...............”

“We also talk through gestures, actions, writing, and perhaps more.”

“I see.”

“I think what caused us to this situation got something to do communication.”

“Yes. You lied!”

“I didn't though.” She glares at me.

Then she turns her head away looking rather angry. Eli-chan looks adorable with this angle though.

She is sitting beside me. And although she's taller, because I have my back straightened while she is sitting with slightly curved back, I am seeing her profile view from a high angle.

“I have something I wanted you to listen.”

“No. I don't want to. You'll just lie anyway!”

“Uh-huh, but still listen to it.”

I pull out my phone to play the trimmed recording at full volume.

『“Ah ma'am!”

“What is it Mr. Reverren?”』

Eli-chan is looking at me suspiciously perhaps she assumed something from just that.

『“Didn't you told me and the boys to pick up the new locker last Tuesday?”

“What of it?”

“I'm just wondering if it will put me into trouble.”

“Why would it be?”

“We left before the ceremony ended after all.”

“Don't worry Mr. Reverren. It won't put you into trouble. If it would anyway, it will be my responsibility. I'm the one who asked you to help after all.”』

The recording ended there. I hope this will solve the misunderstanding between the two of us.

“...............”

“Can you believe me now? That I didn't lied to you that time?”

“...............”

“Hey.”

She's not responding. She has her head lowered so I don't know what's her expression.

“...ou rope her in...”

“What?”

“You made her say that...”

The hell???

“Hell no.”

“You did!”

“Why would I do that?”

“To trick me what else?!”

“But I am not!”

“No! That's not true! There's no way it will be true!”

“Why are you so stubborn about this?”

“Because I'm fed up with you lying to me everytime!”

“But I did not!”

“NO SHUT UP!”

She stands up.

“I told you I won't listen to you anymore!”

Oh bloody hell... Let me finish. Stop cutting me off Eli-chan.

“Please believe me. I am sorry for breaking my promise but I want us to be okay again.”

“...............”

“...............”

“...............why are you... even trying...? You don't even want me anymore...”

What? Is this the main reason why?

“When did I even say that I don't wan—?”

“HEY!”

The shade is at the side of the entrance and we're under it, so I've long known somebody with a familiar presence has been eavesdropping at us.

He was literally separated from us with only one wall.

“What are you doing to miss Hecate?!”

That person is B-mac who's looking rather heroic and righteous under the heat of the sun.

Bloody hell. Why do you have to meddle now? I should have gotten rid of you earlier.