Zhi Jun and I Are Just Dining Companions

❤️The main story is complete. The bonus chapters continue their sweet romance!❤️

"Hanami, aren't you getting a little too close to Miyaji? You even stick together at lunch every day... Are you dating?"

Hearing her friend's question, Hanami replied, "Nope."

"We're just lunch buddies."

Her friend breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. That guy's a total jerk. You'd be better off staying as far away from him as possible."

Hanami tilted her head. "Huh? But I think Osamu is wonderful. He's such a good person."

Her friend: "..."

#Maybe there's a third person with the surname Miyaji at Inarizaki#

#Something scarier than seeing a sweet, gentle friend get snatched up by a jerk has happened#

#Kashino Hanami, maybe you should get your eyes checked#

-

Kashino Hanami really does think Osamu is a wonderful person.

First, he has a great appetite and can finish anything she can't eat.

Second, he always looks so satisfied no matter what he's eating, which makes her hungry too.

Osamu probably really likes the food she brings him.

They both get what they want, so they naturally become lunch buddies.

"If we're lunch buddies, shouldn't we exchange LINE IDs so we can share recipes later?"

Hanami nods.

"Let's go out together this weekend. There's a really good restaurant."

Hanami thinks for a few seconds, then agrees.

"Hold my hand so you don't get lost."

Hanami doesn't refuse.

"Give me a hug. Today's food was really good."

Before Hanami can figure out how those things are connected, he's already hugging her.

...Well.

Although Kashino Hanami never does figure out the logic behind it, it seems like she kind of likes being hugged by this gray-haired fox.

One day.

He eats a piece of pudding she gives him, but his eyes are fixed on her lips.

"Osamu?"

The fox doesn't answer. He leans closer, and a moment later, smiles seductively.

Like a carnivore that's long been eyeing its sweet, tender prey, finally baring its fangs.

"Can I kiss you?"

-

It takes Kashino Hanami a long time to realize two things.

Osamu really is a bit of a jerk in certain ways.

Especially when his "appetite" is for her.

1. The first character in the heroine's name, Kashino, is pronounced like "jian" with a first tone, the same as the word for "strong."

2. A slow-on-the-uptake, sweet girl × a jerkishly handsome guy. A pure-love, everyday-life sweet treat with no angst, ovo

3. "Are Hanami and Osamu Really Just Lunch Buddies?" "But Osamu Himself Doesn't Seem to Think So...!"

-

Upcoming story "How to Catch a Little Kenma Cat", blurb below:

[Third-person narration]

My name is Chitanda Tomozuki, and I'm an ordinary middle school girl.

On the way home from school one day, I tell my friend that my older sister, Eru-chan, has a boyfriend who's an energy-saving type.

My friend says, "Maybe your Chitanda family has that kind of genetic trait. You just like lazy people."

Me: "?"

No way.

The next second, I see a black-haired boy sitting across from me on the subway. Like a cat taking a nap, he's resting against the seat back.

Me: "..."

Mom, I'm sorry. Maybe our family really does have that genetic trait.

-

After going to a lot of trouble, I find out the boy's name is Kenma.

And we end up going to the same high school.

You know how it is. Those lazy, catlike people are our Chitanda family's weakness.

And I think Kenma and I might be fated to meet.

Because we keep running into each other in all sorts of places.

Besides fate, I think I'm also really good at catching cats.

So our relationship heats up quickly.

Finally, I decide the time is right.

I work up my courage and say, "Kozume, how about we make a bet?"

Kenma, whose hair stands up like a frightened cat's: "...What?"

"If you lose, will you be my boyfriend?"

"...Sure," he pauses. "But what are we betting on?"

I'm thrilled. "How about a video game?"

"…"

After a long silence, the boy in front of me nods.

-

I win the bet and successfully snag a little Kenma cat to be my boyfriend.

Not long after, I learn two things.

1. Kenma is actually an exceptionally skilled gamer.

2. It seems all those chance encounters were deliberately arranged by Kenma.

Huh?

So who was catching whom?!

Theme: Youth