Bonus 3: Days That Never Change

“…I don’t really get it, but isn’t keeping some distance important?”

“Hmm, it’s tricky, you know.”

Even if they tell me something about keeping a natural distance from Master, I don’t really understand either. I’m just going with the flow because sucking up or acting cute is way too much trouble.

“That’s why you need to get off me, you pervy cat!”

“Yeah yeah.”

Lulu, while resting her hand on her chin in thought, lets go of me. I was just about to land a corkscrew punch into her defenseless body, but guess she got lucky this time.

“You were completely pinned down in an instant.”

“Lulu’s gotten pretty strong.”

Master and Yuria are sitting there looking all relaxed, watching us go at it, but they’ve got it all wrong. There’s no way I’d go all out against a rookie brat. They’re underestimating me way too much.

But, well… I guess I was being overconfident, can’t deny that. I’ll admit defeat fair and square this time. Being a good sport is a virtue, after all.

“…I was wondering if I should step in, but well, it’s easier to deal with Sora.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I don’t like to say it myself, but I feel like I’m the annoying type.

“It’s easier ‘cause I don’t have to tiptoe around you.”

“Hey, at least try to be considerate!”

I don’t like people thinking it’s fine to treat me however they want. Sure, I’ve given up on a lot because of my position, but being treated like some random snack from the fridge? Yeah, I absolutely object to that.

“…Would you actually enjoy being treated like a young lady or a proper madam?”

“…Nah, being chill is the best.”

I almost gagged imagining myself getting escorted around by Master. No thank you on that kind of special treatment. I’d take a good yakiniku joint over some fancy restaurant with a view any day. Or even some ramen from that Chinese place we used to sneak into after middle school.

The old guy who ran the place would always smile and say, “You’re such a cute little lady,” and slip us an extra slice of pork. Pretty sure he just felt bad for the pack of starving boys. There wasn’t a single girl at our table, so… what was he even seeing?

“…Now I’m craving ramen.”

“Hey, don’t say stuff like that right before dinner…”

Master grimaced really obviously. Guess ramen cravings are contagious. Let’s suffer together.

“Ramen?”

“It’s a noodle dish from my hometown. Young guys who don’t like ramen or curry were a rare breed.”

“Huh.”

“Senpai, what about girls?”

“Who knows? I didn’t have any female friends.”

The moment I answered, Lulu and Yuria both gave me these weird looks. What’s that about? Is it really that strange to not have female friends?

“Didn’t really matter with the people around me. Wait, Sora, you really didn’t have any female friends?”

“Why are you saying it like that, Master!? Is it a crime or something!?”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

It’s not like I never had any. But after I got into high school, there was… an incident, and after that, they basically vanished.

“I got this weird letter from a senior in the basketball club and after that, they all disappeared.”

“A letter?”

“Yeah, it was in my shoe locker. Said something like, ‘I couldn’t forget you after seeing you once,’ and ‘I felt destiny when I saw you at a game,’ and they wanted to meet on the rooftop after school. I figured it was a duel challenge, so I went, but then some upperclassman girl got involved and after that, the girls kept their distance…”

Even now, it still makes no sense. Like, the senior’s the one who called me out, why am I the bad guy here? Why was I getting glared at just because some dude sent me a challenge letter?

“…There’s a bunch of words I don’t get, but I think it’s what we think, right, Yuria?”

“Definitely what we think, Lulu…”

What’s with the whispering? And that reaction—it’s the exact same reaction the girls gave me back then.

“Hey! Don’t just whisper about me like that!”

“….”

Suddenly getting grabbed and pulled onto Master’s lap was a surprise. Like, give me a heads-up next time.

“What is it!?”

“Don’t worry about it. Just jealous, that’s all.”

“That doesn’t make sense at all!”

What’s going on here?

“…Maybe I’ll make some ramen next time.”

“I’ll help!”

“Ah, I’ll help too!”

Master gave a wry smile and nodded, locking my stomach in place with his arm as Lulu and Yuria immediately scooted closer.

“Do we have the ingredients?”

“I can probably manage some chashu, and we can gather some decent veggies.”

Sure, meat and vegetables seem doable. But we’re missing the most important thing.

“What about menma?”

“…Do we need it that badly?”

“Of course we do!”

I don’t know exactly how it’s made, but wasn’t it something like soaking bamboo in… something?

It feels like I’m remembering wrong, but whatever. Without bamboo—or at least something bamboo-like—there’s no point. If we’re making it, no cutting corners allowed.

“Bamboo, huh… do we even have any?”

“Wouldn’t it be growing in the Land of Dragons or something?”

I haven’t seen any bamboo crafts or anything like that at the port.

“I’ll go look around… but more importantly, how do we even make kansui?”

“Hmm? Well, I’m sure we can wing it somehow.”

Thinking about it, there are a few ingredients I have no clue how to make. I wonder if Riara-san knows anything.

“Worst case, soup pasta could be an option.”

“…Is that really okay?”

“Actually, now that I think about it, probably not.”

“Hey.”

While I was going back and forth with Master about our ramen-making plans, I suddenly felt a stare from next to me.

“……”

…And there was Lulu, glaring at me with those half-lidded eyes again.

“Lulu?”

“It’s this… this is exactly what I’m talking about, Senpai!”

“Eh…”

Seriously, I don’t get it.

“Every single time, before I even realize it, you’re already in that spot!”

“Wait, Lulu, I can’t get away righ—gyah!?”

Stop pulling my cheeks! I’m pinned by Master right now, I can’t even escape!

“Quit fighting on my lap.”

It’s not like I’m doing this on purpose! If you think it’s a problem, then stop Lulu! And also let me go—hurry up already!!

“I’ll go ahead and dish up the lunchboxes.”

“Plhease, helph mhe!”

Why is Yuria just standing there acting like this has nothing to do with her!?

“I’m jealous! Share a little of that, will you!?”

“No way thihs is fhair!!”

This is way too unreasonable!!

Jeez, I thought I could have a nice quiet moment watching the flowers, but what is this chaos!? My whole life’s changed—where I live, my standing, everything—yet somehow, absolutely nothing’s changed at all!

My flower viewing got completely ruined. Seriously, you guys need to grow up already!

“Oh, this sandwich is pretty good.”

“I’m glad you like it, Master! I really put effort into it.”

Don’t just sit there all relaxed while I’m getting attacked on your lap!

Somebody—help—me!

In the end, after the usual chaotic flower viewing, we did manage to make ramen a few days later. Turns out, if you look around, you can find the ingredients.

The only miscalculation was that Riara-san ended up asking for it as a nightcap after drinking. Everyone around here is such a pain to deal with.

Honestly, every last one of them… nothing ever changes.