"Huh?"
"Uchiha-kun made this?"
When Sakuraba Emma and Nikaidou Shiro heard this, they both fixed their shocked gazes on Yuki's bento box.
He'd never cooked for anyone before.
This...
Wasn't Uchiha-kun and Yuki's relationship getting way too close, way too fast?
"Mm."
Yuki nodded, then held out her small, fair hand, gently opening the slightly heavy bento box to reveal its contents.
As the suppressed aroma wafted out, the great witch froze in place.
The dish Shinta Uchiha had prepared was **pork katsu sandwiches**, not some weird dark cuisine.
It looked pretty good too—golden, juicy pork, oozing with rich cheese, making anyone's mouth water just looking at it.
But... was this a portion meant to feed a pig?
"..."
Yuki stared blankly at the multiple portions of neatly arranged pork katsu sandwiches in the box, and fell silent.
She only weighed 30kg.
If she ate all of this, rounding up, that would be 31kg.
She'd jump straight to a healthy weight in one go!
...Uchiha-kun, what exactly did you mean by making so much?
"Hmph." Sakuraba Emma had unconsciously leaned toward Yuki, lured by the food's scent.
"Emma."
Yuki shifted her gaze to Sakuraba Emma.
"Huh? That."
Sakuraba Emma instantly straightened up, swallowing the saliva that had already pooled in her mouth.
Wow, no way.
She'd look like a friend trying to steal Yuki's food if she did that.
"Want some?"
Yuki set the bento box on her lap, smiling at Sakuraba Emma.
She remembered... good girl Emma was a big eater.
"Is it okay? This must be something Uchiha-kun made specially for Yuki, right?"
Sakuraba Emma tilted her small head hesitantly, running a hand through her hair, looking a little embarrassed.
But her nose had already started twitching on its own, actively sniffing the rich aroma of the pork katsu sandwiches, like a puppy drawn to meat and bones.
"I can't finish it all."
Yuki stated her reason for sharing simply and clearly.
"That's right, this portion is way too much for Yuki... well, I guess there's no choice. Let me help you out, Yuki!"
Sakuraba Emma pumped her small fist as if to hype herself up, then took two pork katsu sandwiches from Yuki's bento, holding one in each hand, and opened her mouth wide with a *nom*.
"This portion is definitely excessive, but even Emma..."
Nikaidou Shiro still furrowed her brows.
In her eyes, Uchiha-kun making this much food for Yuki carried a serious suspicion of wasting food.
"Shiro."
Yuki shifted her gaze to Nikaidou Shiro.
"...I know. Wasting food is wrong."
After noticing Yuki's gaze, Nikaidou Shiro let out a sigh, then obediently took a portion of pork katsu, helping Yuki shoulder part of the burden.
"Hmph."
Yuki lowered her head, looking again at her lunch for the day.
Although... the portion was still huge, it was at least to the point where she could force herself to eat it.
This way, she wouldn't have to throw it away for not finishing.
Yuki let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Of course, she only thought this with Shiro, purely believing that wasting food was wrong, with no other meaning attached.
"Wow, this is so good!"
Sakuraba Emma wore a blissful expression, devouring the pork katsu sandwiches at an incredible speed, letting out exclamations every now and then.
Shinta Uchiha's cooking was absolutely top-tier in terms of taste.
It wasn't greasy, the pork was tender, and unlike regular fried food, it didn't leave an unpleasant salty aftertaste after a few bites.
The combination of cheese and egg yolk inside was also perfect.
Speaking of which... to be friends with someone she didn't get along with very well, like Uchiha-kun.
Could she eat this every day?
"It really does taste good."
Nikaidou Shiro also nodded, acknowledging that Uchiha-kun, who she was otherwise at odds with, had a unique talent in this area.
"..."
Yuki also took small bites.
Like Sakuraba Emma and Nikaidou Shiro, she had a high opinion of Shinta Uchiha's cooking.
Still, she couldn't let go of that absurdly pig-sized portion.
Next time, she'd find a way to make Uchiha-kun make a portion that one person could finish.
"Hmph!"
Watching from afar, Shinta Uchiha couldn't hold back a huff.
He was satisfied that his cooking had earned their approval.
But he did have one small regret... his eyes weren't good enough.
If he could awaken the Sharingan, or even the Mangekyō, he was absolutely certain he could master this cooking skill to perfection.
"..."
Nikaidou Shiro ate her pork katsu sandwich with an elegant, gentle, and refined demeanor, all the while keeping her gaze fixed on Shinta Uchiha.
In her red eyes, she took in the full figure of the boy who was just a few centimeters taller than her.
Uchiha-kun was an extreme person in her eyes, obsessed with right and wrong, and could snap at any moment.
But... he wasn't completely without merits.
First, Uchiha-kun would never collude with the bullies; like her, he would stand up against injustice and protect Yuki.
Second, judging by the meal he'd just made, he seemed to be the type who was good at taking care of people.
And finally, since he was close to Yuki, he'd be convenient in many ways.
Compared to Emma, that good girl who was completely unreliable, who couldn't even take care of herself and only put on an act of kindness.
Handing Yuki over to Uchiha-kun during her study abroad was definitely the right choice.
So...
"Shiro-chan, what's wrong?"
Sakuraba Emma looked up, freezing in place in obvious confusion.
At that moment, Nikaidou Shiro, who'd just been sitting next to her, had stood up and walked over to Shinta Uchiha on her own.
Nikaidou Shiro issued her third line of dialogue to Shinta Uchiha.
But... unlike the previous two sudden encounters, her purpose this time was much clearer.