"Your classmate is something else."
Shirogane's father admired the sashimi laid out in a blooming rose pattern, each slice cut to perfect, even thickness.
"Does his family run a restaurant?"
"No, apparently they run a farm… but honestly, I don't buy it," Miyuki said.
"I see."
Soon after, Takamine brought out the main course.
The main wasn't as fancy—everyone got a bowl of eel rice and a plate of tempura.
Finally done with his kitchen marathon, Takamine sat down to eat as well.
"How does it taste?"
Shirogane Miyuki: "Delicious."
Shirogane Kei: "So good."
Shirogane's father: "Almost flawless. Thanks for the meal."
"No need to thank me. Since I was out working part-time with the president today and dropped by his house, I figured I'd cook something too."
Kei asked, "Takamine-senpai, how did my brother invite you into the student council?"
"I asked to join. The president agreed."
"I see. My brother must have caused you some trouble."
"Hey! He's the one causing me trouble!" Miyuki protested.
But Kei glared him into silence.
"Not at all. The president always considers others and works hard. I really admire that."
"You hear that?"
"Shut up, bro."
"..."
Shirogane's father said, "You're the first classmate Miyuki's brought home. You two must be close at school."
Miyuki: "Not really. We've only known each other for about a week."
Even he didn't understand why he brought someone he barely knew home. It had never happened before.
As student council president, he was popular and had lots of casual friends—but none close enough to bring home.
Takamine, though, was different. Despite constantly pulling dumb stunts at school, he had an oddly familiar vibe.
About half an hour later, the eel rice bowls were mostly empty.
Takamine returned to the kitchen and brought out ice cream and freshly sliced watermelon.
"Here—dessert and fruit."
"…Why make this feel like a five-star restaurant?"
"I heard this is how people eat in Japan."
"No, no. Regular families definitely don't do this."
Kei took a bite of the ice cream and let out a blissful sigh.
"Well, I gotta admit—Senpai cooks way better than my brother."
"You—ugh, fine. You're not wrong."
Miyuki knew full well his amateur skills didn't hold a candle to Takamine's pro-level cooking.
"If there's a chance, I'll come cook again," Takamine said with a smile.
"Next time, don't use such expensive ingredients. This meal cost over a million yen..."
"If you feel bad about it, just make me a bento on Monday."
"Huh? What kind?"
"Just the usual ones you make."
"Sure."
"You know, it's kind of amazing," Shirogane's father said, eating watermelon and looking at the three kids, "It really feels like a family."
"Dad, please don't start thinking of Rinji as Mom."
"Of course not. Takamine-kun feels more like the eldest son of the house."
"I'm the eldest son!"
"The eldest, huh? I'm actually an only child, so I've never really experienced what it's like to be a big brother."
As he said that, Takamine casually threw an arm over Miyuki's shoulder.
"President, call me big bro."
"No way! I'm the upperclassman here!"
"Rinji-nii."
Kei called out sweetly without hesitation.
"Good, you're my little sister now. If you ever have trouble at school, just call your big bro. As the student council treasurer and disciplinary officer, I promise cross-campus enforcement."
"You've said enough!!" Miyuki couldn't handle Takamine's nonsense anymore.
——————————————————————————————————————
"Whew~"
At the entrance of an old apartment building, Takamine Rinji leaned against the railing, gazing at the brightly lit skyscrapers sparkling in the night.
This rundown apartment building was quite a rare sight in Tokyo, like a grilled snack stall suddenly popping up inside a luxury hotel.
He leaned against the railing, smoking a cigarette. The smoke drifted upward from the glowing tip.
"Rinji, aren't you violating school rules again, as a member of the disciplinary committee?"
"We're off campus now. The disciplinary committee doesn't have jurisdiction here," Takamine Rinji said with a smile.
"…Thanks again for today. It's rare for my family to have a good meal. Are you sure it's okay to spend so much money? Your family…"
"I didn't spend my family's money. I earned it from part-time jobs. And money is meant to be spent. If you don't spend it, it loses its value."
"You really are…"
Shirogane Miyuki smiled and walked over to Rinji, leaning his back against the railing and looking up at the sky.
"Kaguya gave me an assessment of you before. But I think she may have been wrong."
"Oh? What'd she say?"
"She said you're… ruthless, violent, disregard rules… and that you don't see people as people," Miyuki said with a wry smile. "Now that I think about it, those descriptions were a bit too much…"
"No."
Takamine Rinji stubbed out his cigarette and turned to look at Miyuki.
"That's a very accurate evaluation, President."
"Eh?"
"Although I find that heiress of the Shinomiya family annoying, that evaluation was surprisingly honest and precise," Rinji said. "As she said, I'm not a good person to begin with."
"…"
"But the reason she was able to describe me so accurately is because I never hide that side of me."
Miyuki could relate to that.
Despite his handsome appearance, his wealth, and the fact that he could openly confront the Shuchiin Student Union, even holding some influence—if he just acted like a normal student, his popularity at school would rival Miyuki's. Yet Rinji always chose to waste all his good cards.
He didn't know how to hide his darkness.
He had no mask of personality.
But… do people without masks really exist? A mask can hide all your weaknesses and flaws.
And yet, Rinji seemed to have no interest in doing that.