The bento culture in Japanese schools has a long history.
The way someone eats their bento at school can reveal a lot about their social circle and interpersonal relationships.
Those with friends usually eat together in the classroom, while couples might dine on benches or rooftops.
As for those who struggle socially or have poor relationships, they might retreat to a dark corner or even eat alone in the bathroom.
To be honest, as someone from Donghuang, Bai Mo prefers hot meals.
But since it was his first time preparing a bento for Haku this morning, he got a bit carried away and made extra, which turned out to be convenient for lunch with Hirasawa Yui and the others.
The group didn't head to the rooftop to bask in the sun—during the school tour earlier, Amakusa Shiu had mentioned that the rooftop was locked to prevent accidents, and only a few people had the key. Bai Mo wasn't keen on sitting in the flower beds under the scorching sun either, so the four of them simply pushed their desks together and ate in the classroom.
That's right, four of them—aside from Hirasawa Yui and Kato Megumi, the fourth was none other than Yui's "mother," Manabe Nodoka. Having witnessed Bai Mo catch the thief and recover Yui's phone, Nodoka held a favorable impression of him. So when Yui invited her to join them for lunch, she didn't refuse.
And so, the four of them sat together and unpacked their bento boxes.
Compared to the girls' small, delicate bento boxes, Bai Mo's three-tiered container drew surprised glances. But given his 185 cm stature, it made sense.
The airheaded Yui looked at Bai Mo with envy. "Hey, hey, Bai Mo-kun, is it because you eat so much that you're so tall? Should I eat more too?"
Before Bai Mo could respond, Nodoka interjected, "Yui, you can't compare yourself to boys!"
Bai Mo nodded in agreement. "Girls should definitely have the ability to protect themselves, but overdoing it isn't good either."
"I've heard a saying from Donghuang: moderate exercise attracts the opposite sex, while excessive exercise attracts the same sex..."
"Hey, hey, Kato, don't spread rumors! I'm a guy who likes girls!"
"Oh? Then we might be in danger~"
With that, Kato Megumi playfully hugged her shoulders, as if afraid Bai Mo might lose control. Watching her antics, Yui and Nodoka lowered their heads, stifling their laughter.
After the banter, the group finally began their lunch.
When Bai Mo opened his three-tiered bento, an enticing aroma wafted through the air. Sniffing the delicious scent, Yui's eyes sparkled as she stared at the dishes in his box.
"Hey, hey, Bai Mo-kun, Bai Mo-kun! You said you made this bento yourself? It looks so good! Can I try some? I'll trade you one of Ui-chan's fried shrimp!"
With that, Yui held up a golden-brown fried shrimp from her bento—one of only two in her box—offering it to Bai Mo.
Bai Mo didn't refuse. Instead, he slid two of his side dishes toward the center of the table.
"Let's all share. I actually prefer hot food. I wonder if the school has a microwave—it'd be great if we could heat it up."
"I think the cooking club has one. Next time, you could borrow theirs," Nodoka suggested. "Some sports clubs and other specialized clubs also have appliances like that. Maybe once you join a club, you could heat your food in the clubroom!"
While Nodoka was brainstorming solutions, Yui, already captivated by the food, had already picked up two shrimp with her chopsticks and popped them into her mouth.
"Wow! These shrimp are amazing! Not only do they look good, but they taste incredible too—so smooth and tender when you bite into them!"
"These are crystal shrimp dumplings. My little sister loves them, so I made extra this morning," Bai Mo explained, inviting Nodoka and Kato Megumi to try them as well.
Aside from the crystal shrimp dumplings, Bai Mo's bento also featured five other dishes: cold spinach and glass noodles, fish-flavored shredded pork, pine nut corn, crispy spring rolls, and, as the main course, rice along with three leftover Cantonese shrimp dumplings. It was an exceptionally lavish spread.
The three girls were so engrossed in the food that they barely spoke. If not for the fact that this was Bai Mo's lunch, they might have devoured everything.
After tasting Bai Mo's cooking, Yui offered her fried shrimp, Kato Megumi shared her salt-grilled mackerel, and Nodoka placed her hamburger steak on Bai Mo's rice. She felt a bit guilty—she'd only meant to try a bite, but the food was so delicious she couldn't help taking a few more.
Bai Mo didn't mind. After all, the ingredients he'd used for Haku's bento were from Teyvat, far more vibrant and flavorful than modern ingredients. They were perfect for nourishing Haku's originally frail constitution—and, of course, they tasted incredible.
Seeing the girls' lingering desire for more, Bai Mo pushed the remaining three shrimp dumplings toward them after finishing his last bite of rice.
"Go ahead. I'm pretty confident about these shrimp dumplings."
Nodoka, who had been about to decline, couldn't stop Yui in time. The airheaded girl immediately picked one up with her chopsticks, popped it into her mouth, and exclaimed, "Oishii (delicious)!"
With things already at this point, Nodoka gave up resisting and, along with Kato Megumi, each took one.
"They really are delicious," Nodoka admitted. "Bai Mo-kun, your cooking is amazing. Did you practice specially?"
"Well, don't let the fact that I attend Sakuragaoka fool you—I also take courses at Totsuki whenever I have time!"
"Eh?!!"
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