Side: Yurika
Yurika was a complete and total freeloader. She relied on Koutarou for both room and board, which had actually gone a long way to improving her diet. She no longer survived solely off of instant noodles.
“So why do you keep buying them?”
Three square meals a day were served in room 106. Ruth, Kiriha, Shizuka, and Harumi all took turns cooking, and each of them made healthy food—and plenty of it. In other words, Yurika had no good reason to be purchasing instant noodles these days. So when Koutarou saw her stuffing them into her shopping cart, he couldn’t help asking why.
“This is different!”
But Yurika had her reasons, so she pled her case.
“I can’t rest easy unless I’m all stocked up!”
Yurika was living out of the wardrobe in room 106. She’d filled it with her personal belongings, which included a robust supply of instant noodles. Without them, the wardrobe felt empty. That’s why she kept a minimum stock on hand at all times.
“Is this just some sort of trauma left over from living as a vagrant?”
“I’m not a vagrant!”
“I know. You’re taken care of now. And that includes getting fed, so there’s no reason to buy instant noodles anymore.”
“Ugh, th-that’s...”
Yurika always got her fill at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There really was no reason for her to buy any more instant noodles—especially not when she still had some from the last time she bought them. Koutarou pointing that out sent her into a tailspin as she floundered for an explanation.
“That’s what?”
“That’s, um... There are a lot of reasons, like, you know...”
“Use your big girl words.”
“Sometimes I just get hungry, okay? I like having a snack around, so I need these.”
“How do you get hungry when you glut yourself at every meal?”
“...”
Yurika averted her eyes, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
Wait, don’t tell me she’s—
Seeing Yurika behave this way, something finally dawned on Koutarou and a harsh tone took hold of his voice.
“Don’t tell me you’re supplementing your diet with instant noodles because you’re picking out all the foods you don’t like at mealtime!”
“...”
“That’s exactly what you’re doing, isn’t it?”
“...”
Whap!
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’m sorry for ever being born! I didn’t mean anything bad by it!”
“If you did, I’d hit you again!”
“Wait, does that mean that I can be picky about my food?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Waaaaah!”
Yurika was an extremely picky eater. She particularly disliked anything smelly or bitter, such as celery or bitter squash. And worst of all was anything that fit both categories, like green pepper. Whenever such vegetables were part of dinner, Yurika was very careful to eat around them. Then, after dinner when Koutarou fell asleep, she’d have herself a secret feast of instant noodles. Since he slept like the dead, he had no clue what she was up to at night.
“I’m asking Kiriha-san to make stuffed peppers tonight.”
Koutarou took Yurika’s noodles out of the cart and returned them to the shelf before heading to the produce aisle. Yurika, in tears, grabbed his arm and begged clemency.
“Please! Anything but that!”
“Nope.”
“Have mercy! At least overlook the noodles!”
“Why would I? Idiot.”
That night, Yurika would be forced to eat stuffed peppers. Koutarou would hold her mouth open and put them in himself if he had to.
“Do you not love me, Satomi-san?!”
“I’m doing this out of love, Yurika. It’s so we can have a bright, happy future together.”
“Nooo! You’re lying! It’s all lies!”
Her fate was sealed, yet Yurika couldn’t help but protest it in vain. Struggle though she might, however, it would be stuffed peppers for dinner tonight.
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