Chapter 7: At lunch time, a rival appears

Takamari Academy’s cafeteria was even more impressive than I’d imagined.

Students lined up beneath a massive chandelier. Elegant tables and chairs filled the spacious room. The menu, written in neat calligraphy, exuded sophistication. The air was filled with the subtle aroma of food, the clinking of plates, and the cheerful chatter of students.

And this was just the regular cafeteria. What wonders awaited in the special dining hall? Even this place felt a world away from an ordinary high school cafeteria.

The only reminder that this was, in fact, a school cafeteria was the groups of students gathered around tables, chatting and enjoying their meals.

I glanced up at the menu. While the options themselves were typical cafeteria fare—curry, ramen, tonkatsu, omurice—the descriptions beneath each item hinted at something more.

• Takamari Special Curry, made with a unique blend of spices.

• Tonkatsu Donburi, featuring a sauce simmered for three days.

• Omurice, crafted with organic eggs and fresh vegetables…

‘How is this even school cafeteria food?’ I marveled internally.

The prices were a bit steep, even by Japanese standards, but knowing the cost of takeout in Korea, I could easily accept them. Listening to the students placing their orders, I noticed a wide variety of choices.

‘So this is Takamari’s cafeteria… It’s completely different from how it was described in the novel.’

In the novel, this was a frequent setting for important events. But being here in person, knowing I was now at the center of this story, felt strangely surreal. Like I was an anomaly in this elegant space.

Aya and Mizuki, looking completely at ease, headed towards the kiosks to place their orders. I followed, acutely aware of the stares directed at us.

“Aya-ring~ what are you having today?” Mizuki asked, glancing at the menu.

“Hmm, maybe curry? Rina, what are you in the mood for?”

“Uh… I’m not sure yet. What’s good?”

Aya smiled. “The curry here is quite delicious. You should try it.”

They made their selections, and I decided to follow Aya’s recommendation and get the curry. As we waited in line, the familiar murmurs began.

“Hey, aren’t those Yukikawa and Asakura?”

“They are. But who’s the girl with them?”

“I don’t know, but she’s really cute.”

Their hushed conversation continued just within earshot. I lowered my head, staring straight ahead.

‘Please… someone make these stares stop…’

But Aya and Mizuki, seemingly oblivious or simply unfazed, continued their cheerful chatter. I was probably the only one self-conscious about the attention.

After collecting our food, we headed towards an empty table near the window. It was as if it had been reserved for us, spotlessly clean and waiting. Aya placed her tray down and gestured towards the seat next to her.

“Rina, sit here. You can see the view from the window.”

“Oh… okay. Thanks!”

I sat down carefully and picked up my spoon. Steam rose from the curry in front of me, but I had no appetite. I was too distracted by Aya and Mizuki’s cheerful conversation and the grandeur of the cafeteria.

‘I guess coming to Takamari wasn’t going to be ordinary after all.’

As that thought crossed my mind, Aya’s gentle voice interrupted me.

“Rina, how is it? Is the curry good?”

“Oh, yeah… it’s delicious,” I replied, forcing a smile.

Aya, seemingly satisfied with my answer, nodded happily. Mizuki, watching her, teased, “Aya-ring, aren’t you being a little too nice to Rina? I’m starting to get jealous.”

“Don’t be silly,” Aya replied.

I continued eating my curry in silence, listening to their banter. Then, a new voice spoke from behind us.

“Oh, it’s Yukikawa and Asakura.”

I turned to see a group of upperclassmen approaching. The gold embellishments on their ties and their impeccable uniforms marked them as student council members.

“Mind if we join you?”

Aya nodded with a smile. And that smile… it was different from the ones she directed at me. More formal, more official… Why was I even noticing this?

“Of course, senpai,” Aya replied before I could even utter a greeting.

The upperclassmen settled around our table.

“Asakura, you’re applying for the student council again this year, right?”

“Yes, I’m planning to apply for the treasurer position. I handled financial management and budget allocation in middle school as well.”

“Oh, a fitting choice for Asakura. I’m sure you’ll handle the budget perfectly.” The upperclassman nodded approvingly, then turned his attention to Aya.

“And Yukikawa? Will you be joining the student council in high school as well?”

“Yes, I’m planning to apply for the planning committee. I’d like to handle event coordination and scheduling.”

“Treasurer and planning… you two make a great team. You’ll be the pillars of the student council again this year.”

“Thank you. We’ll do our best,” Aya replied.

Mizuki and Aya exchanged smiles. The upperclassmen looked at them with trust and admiration.

“There’s always a lot to do in the first semester, but with you two leading the way, I have no worries.”

“We’ll do our best,” Aya repeated.

I continued eating my curry in silence, pushing it around my plate with my spoon. The upperclassmen’s attention towards Aya and Mizuki seemed perfectly natural, their conversation about student council affairs a world away from my own concerns.

‘This is why I belong in the going home club…’ I thought wistfully, focusing on the curry in front of me. Their conversation flowed so smoothly, so naturally. Compared to them, I was an anomaly, an outsider.

Suddenly, one of the upperclassmen turned to me.

“I haven’t seen you before. Are you a transfer student?”

All eyes turned towards me. I straightened up, flustered.

“Uh, yes… I-I’m Kurosawa Rina.”

The upperclassmen nodded and smiled. The one sitting diagonally across from me, the one who’d been asking Aya and Mizuki questions, addressed me.

“Kurosawa-san, are you interested in the student council? Someone as diligent as you would be a great asset.”

I inwardly screamed. His deep, calm voice, his neat black hair, his sharp yet gentle eyes… his perfectly pressed uniform and the gold badge pinned to it all revealed his identity. He was even more strikingly handsome in person, like a celebrity. He smiled sheepishly.

“Oh, haha. My apologies, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Hiiragi Haruto, vice-president of the student council.”

Hiiragi Haruto. The black-haired prince, the protagonist’s rival in the novel. A brilliant and charismatic leader, always at the center of the action. Initially a rival to the protagonist, he eventually became an ally after realizing the depth of the protagonist’s connection with Aya.

‘But… there’s no protagonist now, is there?’

How would Hiiragi Haruto act in this situation? Would he still be interested in Aya, or…?

A flicker of anxiety mixed with a strange sense of relief washed over me. If Haruto and Aya ended up together, perhaps my normal life could be restored.

“Being on the student council is a truly rewarding experience,” Haruto continued, his gentle smile unwavering. “Especially for someone as thoughtful as Kurosawa-san, I think you’d fit right in.”

His gaze remained fixed on me, his eyes warm and… almost admiring. Flustered by his attention, I stammered, “Uh, well… I’m not sure yet. I need to think about it.”

Haruto nodded. “That’s fine. There’s no rush. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

Just then, Aya spoke, her voice quiet but firm. “Haruto-senpai, Rina is still adjusting to school. Perhaps we can discuss the student council later.”

Her words were polite, but there was an underlying tension, a subtle challenge. Wait, was this… a catfight? Or rather, a power struggle?

Haruto looked at Aya, momentarily surprised, then quickly regained his composure and nodded. “Of course. If Yukikawa says so, I won’t press the matter.”

Their conversation continued, but I remained silent, fidgeting with my spoon.

Hiiragi Haruto and Yukikawa Aya. Their names were always mentioned together in the novel, their dynamic with the protagonist creating a tense love triangle. I lowered my head, lost in thought, but something felt off. Haruto kept glancing in my direction, his attention seemingly focused on me, not Aya.

My hand, lifting a spoonful of curry to my mouth, froze. Haruto kept glancing at me, his lips parting as if to speak, then closing again. He seemed hesitant, almost nervous.

‘No, no matter what, I’m not interested in men,’ I screamed internally, desperately averting my gaze towards the window. But I could still feel his eyes on me.

Was this a consequence of the novel’s plot going off-rails, or was I just misinterpreting the situation? In this twisted romantic comedy world, the answer remained elusive.