The Classmate Who Is Adored by Everyone Smiles Teasingly Only at Me-Chapter 1Volume 2 .7 - Hospitality Comes with a Soufflé

Hospitality Comes with a Soufflé 7

“Ah, I really messed up the soufflé today.”

He was disappointed because the feedback wasn’t great. But it was a big gain to learn things he had never even considered before.

‘Alright, I’ll do better next time.’

He quickly rebounded from his momentary disappointment.

“I’ll try again soon. Will you taste it for me then?”

“Of course! I’m looking forward to a much tastier soufflé next time!”

Chika looked at him with eyes full of unwavering belief that the next soufflé would be delicious.

Feeling such expectations placed upon him, his motivation surged.

‘Yeah, I’ll definitely make something that’ll make her happy next time.’

He genuinely believed that.

“――Then, can I ask you to join me in something I want to do next?”

After finishing the soufflé tasting, Chika made such a request.

“Uh, you planning to do something at my place?”

While clearing away the empty cup, he was surprised. He hadn’t been told anything.

“Can’t we do that next time?”

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“Don’t say that. It will be beneficial for you too, Sōma-san.”

He wanted to reflect on today, so he tried to make a reluctant face, but Chika started rummaging through the handbag she had brought.

And what she took out were textbooks and notebooks.

Understanding what that implied, his face turned sour again.

“Let me guess, you want to study because midterms are coming up.”

“That’s correct.”

She clapped for him, but he wasn’t happy at all.

“I want to study, or more precisely, I want to have a study session with other people.”

“Have you never had a study session with friends?”

“I have, but the other person was Miki-chan, so…”

“…Ah, I see what you mean.”

Chika’s words trailed off, but he quickly understood.

Miki is an excellent student, at the top of her class in grades.

In contrast, Chika is just an average student.

What would happen if these two held a study session?

It’s likely that Miki would teach Chika, but Chika teaching Miki would probably never happen.

“It’s not a study session but more like a tutoring session, huh?”

At Sōma’s words, Chika nodded in agreement.

“It’s been like this since junior high school. It was the same during the high school entrance exams. I’m really grateful, but I think it’s not good to always be taught by Miki-chan.”

“From my perspective, I’ll be grateful to have Saito look over my test study, though.”

To be honest, she’s much more reliable than the reference books around here. She would definitely refuse him, but if she could help him, he wanted her to teach him and Chika together.

However, Chika shook her head to the side.

“We will have to take many tests in the future. It’s not good to always rely on others.”

“Well, true.”

“Besides, I feel like I’m cheating every time I take a test after being taught by Miki-chan like I’m the only one getting an unfair advantage.”

“Is that so?”

‘You’re such a serious person’, He thought, half amazed and half impressed.

To put it bluntly, she’s choosing the harder path for herself. It’s better to have higher test scores, and it’s not like she’s cheating or cribbing.

If it were Sōma, he would definitely take advantage of Miki’s help.

But Chika doesn’t see it that way.

She wants to face the test with her own strength.

“I guess it’s very Chika-like.”

She is not content with the lukewarm status quo, striving for the self she wants to be and being able to discipline herself.

It’s refreshing to watch such strength of spirit from the sidelines.

“Got it. So, what you want to do this time is ‘get good grades on the midterm test without relying on Saito’s help,’ right? If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to teach you one-sidedly, so I’d be a convenient partner for a study session.”

“That’s right. Then, would you like to study with me?”

‘To be honest, I don’t want to study right now. I’m not in the mood for it whatsoever.’

‘But, as I look at Chika gazing up at me with those puppy-dog eyes, it’s somehow hard to say no. With a reluctant sigh that I keep to myself──’

“Alright. Let’s study then.”

“Yes!”

Chika nodded energetically, and at that moment when Sōma also took out textbooks and notebooks from his school bag─

──Ding-dong.

The Ichinose family’s intercom rang again.

“Did someone order something online? Chika, you can start without me.”

“Okay!”

Hearing the obedient reply behind him, he headed towards the entrance.

“Sorry to keep you waiting──huh?”

He put on his sandals with a stamp in one hand and opened the front door to find not a deliveryman but two familiar faces standing there.

“Ah, there you are.”

“Sōma, yahoo!”

“Shōhei… and, Saito?”

Shōhei, dressed in a loose street-style outfit, and Miki, in slim pants style, are looking at him with a blank expression. It’s a combination that can hardly be seen at school.

“What are you guys doing here? What do you want at my house?”

“What do you mean ‘what are you guys doing’? We came to keep an eye on you, to make sure you don’t do anything weird.”

“Saito…”

While holding the now unnecessary stamp, he couldn’t help but make a fed-up face.

“There’s no way I would do that. Are you an idiot? It’s unthinkable for me to use sweets as a pretense for something like that.”

“You never know. Even if that wasn’t your intention at first, you might be overwhelmed by Chika’s cuteness and let your inner beast loose.”

“That’s not going to happen. Seriously, if anything, it’s more likely that I’ll be attacked by Chika.”

Sighing deeply, he turn his gaze to Shōhei.

“So, why is Shōhei here too?”

“Saito-san asked me to guide her to Sōma’s house.”

He said, puffing out his chest with a bit of pride. Then Miki, looking slightly annoyed beside him, said,

“I just asked him for Ichinose family’s address, not to guide me here.”

“Well, I’ve been here several times to hang out, but I don’t know the exact block or house number. I had no choice but to guide you.”

“You could’ve just taken a screenshot of the map and marked it. That would’ve been enough.”

“That would be too confusing.”

Sōma’s house isn’t located in a place that requires navigating through complicated streets. In fact, Chika, who is visiting for the first time, has managed to arrive without getting lost.

Most likely, Shōhei wants to hang out with girls and insists on guiding her here.