It was just past noon, and the warm summer light filtered through the tall windows of Gekkoukan High, casting long shadows across the courtyard. The hum of cicadas buzzed faintly in the background, a typical summer sound that added a lazy rhythm to the day.

You sat under the familiar persimmon tree—the one that somehow managed to stay green all year, a quiet place most students passed by without much thought. But it had become your shared spot with Fuuka ever since she nervously asked if she could eat lunch with you last week. That day also marked the first time she offered you her homemade cooking.

Unfortunately, her bento had been... memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Now, a week had passed, and despite the questionable flavors—and the stomachache that lingered for hours—you never rejected her. You could see how much effort she was putting into it. And today, there was something different in the air.

Fuuka sat beside you, knees together, bento box cradled in her hands, wrapped in a soft blue cloth. Her fingers trembled slightly as she unraveled it.

“U-Um... I tried something a little different today.” she said, her voice quiet but filled with hope. “I asked Aragaki-senpai for some advice… just a little, not too much.”

You glanced at her. Her eyes met yours for just a moment before darting away.

She opened the bento.

A faint, unsettling smell drifted into the air, faint, but persistent. Your eyes hesitated before lowering to the food. The colors were vibrant… maybe a little too vibrant. Bright green rice? A square piece of something that might’ve once been tamagoyaki? A sauce that shimmered a hue between orange and gray?

Your stomach gave a twitch of warning, but when you looked up, Fuuka was smiling at you.

“I really hope it’s better this time...” she said, clutching the edge of the box “I… practiced a lot.”

Despite the smell and the unnatural palette of the meal, you knew this wasn’t about food anymore. It was about effort, about connection. You picked up the chopsticks, giving her a small nod. Fuuka leaned forward slightly, watching with nervous anticipation.