"Brotherly Guidance in Bento Affairs: Shiroe Panics"

As Shiroe and Shiriku approached the school, the familiar sight of Fuyumi waiting for Shiriku caught their attention. Shiroe, ever the older brother, nudged Shiriku and teased, "Look, my little bro, little Shimizu is already waiting for you as usual." A playful laugh escaped Shiroe's lips, but Shiriku could only sigh in response, muttering, "Well, this is another normal morning for me."

Stopping in their tracks as they neared Fuyumi, Shiroe addressed her with a casual tone, "Good morning, Shiroe-senpai." Fuyumi, usually cold towards the brothers, surprised Shiroe with a warm smile. Confused but polite, Shiroe replied, "Oh, good morning too, little Shimizu."

However, the change in Fuyumi's demeanor didn't go unnoticed by Shiroe. In his thoughts, he pondered, "That's strange. She was always cold to us whenever she greeted us with a good morning."

Fuyumi, having greeted Shiroe, turned her attention to Shiriku, her expression shifting to a cold gaze. A smirk played on her face as she greeted him, "Good morning to you too, Shiriku." The sudden change in Fuyumi's tone left Shiriku perplexed.

While Fuyumi maintained her cold demeanor, Shiriku couldn't help but wonder, "What? What's with the change of attitude today?" His internal confusion grew as he observed the contrasting tones in Fuyumi's greetings.

Fuyumi, reveling in her mischievous mood, added, "Quite the lovely morning we're having, isn't it?" Her words carried a teasing undertone, and the smirk on her face hinted at a hidden agenda.

Shiroe, still trying to make sense of the situation, exchanged a puzzled glance with Shiriku. "Something's off today," he muttered under his breath, sensing the unusual atmosphere.

Shiriku, grappling with Fuyumi's unexpected behavior, decided to play it cool. With a raised eyebrow, he responded, "Is it? I hadn't noticed. Just another day, I guess." Despite his attempt at nonchalance, a hint of curiosity and concern lingered in Shiriku's eyes.

Fuyumi, enjoying the ambiguity of the moment, simply shrugged. "Maybe it's just my mood," she remarked cryptically, her gaze lingering on Shiriku.

As Shiroe nudged him and whispered, "Hey, say good morning too," Shiriku complied with a cheerful "Good morning, Fuyumi!" A big smile adorned his face, and he casually put his hand in his pocket, feeling a sense of ease.

Fuyumi, in response to Shiriku's greeting, showcased a warm smile that replaced her earlier cold demeanor. In a surprising shift of tone, she handed out a bento box to Shiriku. Confused, Shiriku questioned, "What's this for?"

With genuine warmth, Fuyumi explained, "It's for you." Shiriku, still puzzled, was about to protest when Shiroe intervened with a mischievous comment, "Wow, my little brother is already receiving his very first bento, and it's from the girl that beat him in the class president election."

Shiriku, internally groaning at his brother's teasing, thought, "Shiroe, what are you doing? That would only make her angry." Despite his brother's interference, Shiriku maintained a polite smile as he looked at Fuyumi, whose vibes had shifted to a more inviting warmth.

Trying to diffuse the situation, Shiriku responded, "Nah, I think I'm good, Fuyumi..." He hesitated, not wanting to accept the bento under the watchful gaze of Shiroe. Fuyumi, however, looked genuinely surprised, her expression transforming into a subtle mix of sadness and disappointment.

In that moment, a complex array of emotions played out between the characters. Shiriku, torn between politeness and avoiding further attention, struggled with the offered bento. Shiroe, mischievously enjoying the scene, added a playful element to the situation. Fuyumi, having expected a different response, now wore a look of genuine disappointment.

Observing Fuyumi's reaction, Shiroe swiftly intervened, chuckling nervously, "Ahaha, excuse us, Little Shimizu." With a hand on Shiriku's neck, Shiroe deftly maneuvered his brother away from Fuyumi, creating a temporary escape from the awkward situation.

Turning away from Fuyumi, Shiroe faced Shiriku with an exasperated expression. "What the heck are you doing?!" he exclaimed, bewildered by Shiriku's refusal of the bento.

Shiriku, genuinely confused, responded, "What? We always eat and order food at the cafeteria with Sachi, Junichi, and Fuyumi, so what's the problem with me not accepting her bento box?"

Shiroe, facepalming in frustration, sighed and turned to Shiriku. "Listen, if a girl gives you something like a bento box, you gotta accept it," he emphasized, trying to convey the importance of the situation.

Shiriku, still puzzled, questioned, "And why's that?" Shiroe, growing increasingly frustrated, shot back, "You watch anime, especially romance! You tell me!"

With a raised eyebrow, Shiriku retorted, "Well, girls who technically make a bento for their friends that are boys are technically the boys they like, but that's only in anime. It's fiction, just like now. Fuyumi might have watched something similar."

Shiroe, still frustrated and sporting a furrowed brow, stared at Shiriku. He urged his brother to accept the bento box like a normal, considerate human being. The tension between the two brothers reflected the comedic struggle of navigating real-life situations based on fictional scenarios.

In the midst of Shiroe's advice, Shiriku's mind wandered into his own thoughts. "Shiroe, you don't know what Fuyumi is like," he mused internally. "I'm pretty sure she's liking this, that warm smile act she did to you just now must be to make a good impression on you. But I know she enjoys this, especially when I look desperate for help. That's why I asked Ayaka for help for this Friday, since those two are so different."

Shiriku, not entirely tuned in to Shiroe's counsel, glanced in Fuyumi's direction for a moment, catching her looking at them. He noticed a momentary expression on her face—biting her lip, quickly replaced by a smile. This unexpected reaction puzzled Shiriku, and he immediately turned around, thinking, "Huh? Was she??" Shiroe's voice snapped him back to the conversation.

Putting both hands on Shiriku's shoulders, Shiroe insisted, "Do you understand?!"

Sighing, Shiriku nodded reluctantly, "I understand." Shiroe, pleased with the acknowledgment, smiled and said, "Good."

Curious about Shiroe's experiences, Shiriku asked, "Hey, does this kind of stuff always happen to you?" Shiroe chuckled, "Yup, once a week."

Amused, Shiriku questioned further, "So in that week, how many bento boxes?" Shiroe grinned and laughed, replying, "About ten, really. Perks of being a Kami."

Shiriku, finding it amusing, commented, "Well, that's annoying. I hope this would only happen today to me, and if this would happen again, I'll hope it'll be just Fuyumi or my other friends." A content smile played on his face.

Shiroe, smiling back, patted Shiriku on the back and said, "Now go, get your bento box." The camaraderie between the brothers, mixed with a touch of humor, lightened the moment.