What Is Airi’s Delightful Reward?

"As expected, Airi is amazing. Even though she taught me, she's still number one."

"She spent most of her time with Shiori. Next time, we must do better."

"I know~"

The summer final examinations were over and the rankings were announced.

Airi was in first place as usual, and Momose was looking up at the rankings in admiration.

Next to her, Kazuma smiled at Momose and reminded her, but it didn't seem to mean much since Momose just smiled and laughed.

Kazuma and Momose's rankings were above average, and it seemed that there really was a difference between having a study session and not having one.

By the way, Minato's ranking was sixth. It was lower than last time, but it wasn't something he particularly cared about, so he wasn't interested in the ranking.

"Minato-kun, why don't you give Airi a reward?"

"Yeah, I know. I've been thinking about it too, but I can't come up with anything good… Ninomiya isn't greedy nor is she selfish, so to be honest, I'm at a loss."

Since that time, they had started to call each other by their first names, but of course they called each other by their last names outside the house.

No matter how much Kazuma and Momose knew about their situation, they didn't call each other by their first names in front of them. Minato didn't want to say it in front of them, because if he did, they'd definitely give him a hard time.

As for the rewards, Minato was really troubled by the idea. He couldn't put a big gift in his room, and Airi wouldn't be happy with an expensive gift.

To begin with, although the last gift was welcomed in the end, it was met with a cloudy look, so Minato thought it would be better not to give her an accessory.

He knew that he should stop the iris flower, which was the cause of the problem, but he was not sure that his next gift would not touch Airi's landmine as a result of choosing something else.

Then he thought of using food instead of goods, but sadly, Minato didn't know what Airi's favorite food was.

She would always ask Minato what he wanted to eat for dinner, but even on the rare occasion when he said it was fine with what Airi wanted to eat, she would just say nothing in particular.

When Minato made a reluctant face, Momose raised an eyebrow and pondered.

"Hmm, what did you give her for the last midterm?"

"It wasn't an item, it was food."

"What?"

"…Meat, and I even had Ninomiya cook it for me."

"Minato, you… I wouldn't call that a reward."

"I wouldn't either, Minato-kun."

"I know that…"

It was very difficult for Minato to say, but if he didn't, the conversation would not go forward.

Both of them looked at him coldly as if they were withdrawing, but it was entirely Minato's fault, so he took it in stride.

He knew that a gift is only as good as the person who sends it, but to be honest, Minato couldn't come up with a good idea on his own.

Knowing his shame, Minato bowed to them.

"You two have any good ideas?"

"Well, how about a stuffed animal?"

"You think I've got room in my house for that?"

"…I guess it's impossible."

"Right? Besides, I asked her before and she said she didn't like that kind of stuff."

Kazuma looked reluctantly at Minato, perhaps remembering how small his room was.

There was no space to put it, and if Airi didn't want it after hearing about it in advance, there was no need for a stuffed animal.

"I was thinking of clothes and accessories, but since Airi doesn't go out much in the first place, I don't think she'll want any."

"Also, even if I get her something expensive, she said she can't manage it."

"Oh, well then I guess that's out of the question."

She had already said she didn't want clothes, and she wouldn't be happy if he forced her to pick out an outfit.

As for the accessories, he didn't explain in detail to Momose and Kazuma about the fact that he stepped on a mine, but thankfully they didn't pursue any further.

Minato let out a sigh of relief that things hadn't gotten too complicated, and Momose looked at him with a wry smile.

"Then it all comes down to food. Minato-kun, what is Airi's favorite food?"

"…I don't know."

"Eh, it's been three months already. Don't you know at least one thing?"

"Ninomiya always cooks dinner for me in order to make sure it's nutritionally balanced. However, she doesn't crave sweets or the like either, so I honestly don't know."

"…At this point, Minato-kun, won't you be rendered useless without Airi?"

"I do take care of myself, you know. I make breakfast, and sometimes dinner too. But, you see, even if I ask, she really doesn't want anything."

Although Minato was inwardly flustered when Momose glanced at him to see if he was being spoiled, he didn't show it on his face and told her that he was doing his best in his own way.

However, he couldn't deny that Airi was spoiling him. He thought it might be too late for him as Airi was doing almost all the housework, the dinner she made was excellent, and he didn't feel tired even when he was in the same room with her, but he couldn't honestly tell Momose and Kazuma, so Minato kept his mouth shut.

When he shook his head saying he really didn't know, Momose started to be troubled again.

"You said she didn't want anything sweet. Did you ever actually give it to her?"

"No, I stopped at just asking. I don't think she hates it."

"Okay, then let's go with that. Minato-kun, you're off work today, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then I'll tell you a place I recommend!"

"Sorry, that's really helpful."

Having someone to talk to is always nice.

He put his hands together and bowed his head to Momose, who smiled a little bit sadly, which was unusual for her.

"Hey, Minato-kun. Do you care about Airi?" (T/N: Hmm???)

"Of course I do."

Airi was a person that he needed to take care of. He didn't know the reason for Momose's expression, but he didn't hesitate to answer.

When he answered without hesitation, Momose smiled, not her usual cheerful smile, but a fragile one, but one that looked really happy.

"Is that so… Then that's good."

"Welcome back, Minato-san."

He was greeted by Airi with a voice and a smile that sounded like rolling a bell.

It had been a few days since she started calling him by his name, but it still made his heart tingle a little sweetly.

"I'm home."

"You didn't work today, did you have to stop somewhere?"

"Yeah, a quick one."

"I don't mind if you snack, but please eat your dinner, okay?"

"I know."

Since it was later than usual, Airi apparently misunderstood that Minato had taken a detour to get something to eat. She raised her eyebrows just a bit and looked unhappy.

It wasn't that he had taken a detour to eat, but if he denied it, he would have to tell her why he was late.

Although he wished he could divert the conversation, Minato couldn't help but smile, happy that she was being honest about her sulking feelings.

" Mou , what are you laughing at? By the way, what's that…?"

Airi was about to complain about Minato's smiling face, but the white box Minato was holding seemed to catch her eye.

"It's a secret. Do we still have room in the fridge?"

"Yes, we do…"

It would be a shame to tell her now, so Minato kept it to himself, prompting Airi to tilt her head in a cute way.

Minato didn't have any intention of answering, so he went to take a bath as usual. Airi looked at him questioningly, but didn't pursue the matter.

"Congratulations, Airi. You came in first on your final exam."

After dinner, he gave her the contents of the white box he had bought as a reward for Airi. The contents were simply strawberry shortcake and chocolate cake.

He didn't know what kind of food Airi liked, so Minato decided to buy the two for now.

Airi's eyes blinked as she was suddenly handed the cake.

"Um, what's this about?"

"I didn't know what kind of food Airi liked, so I went with something normal. Are you okay with sweets?"

"Yes, yes, I'm fine. Wait, not that. Is this just for me?"

"Yeah, it's a reward for Airi. The last midterm exam reward was a meat dish with no sense of taste, so I tried my best this time. Though, I consulted with Kazuma and Momose about it."

Momose told him about a pastry store that was quite popular in the area.

He immediately went there after school, but it took a long time to buy because there were so many people.

There were also too many female customers and couples, which made him feel extremely awkward, but he didn't mean to sound self-serving to Airi.

When Minato said with a wry smile that he couldn't think of this alone, Airi put her hand over her mouth and laughed elegantly, perhaps remembering the time of the midterm exam.

"I guess it was quite awful. A meat dish as a reward for a girl?"

"…Don't say that. I didn't think so either, and Kazuma and Momose made fun of me a lot."

" Fufu , I guess so, fufu ."

Airi continued to laugh for a while as Minato turned away in embarrassment, wondering what was so funny.

She kept laughing so happily and with such an adoring smile that Minato couldn't help but chuckle along with her.

"Then let's eat together."

Airi, who had finally stopped laughing, said to Minato as if it was natural.

"I bought them both for you, so you can eat them both, okay?"

"I can't eat both right now."

"Then eat it tomorrow. It'll be fine for a couple of days in the fridge, don't be shy."

If she couldn't eat it now, she could eat it tomorrow. There was no need to worry about Minato.

Airi rarely expressed herself, so it would be okay for her to be selfish for once.

When Airi heard Minato's words, she narrowed her eyes and glared at him slightly.

"…This is your reward for me, isn't it?"

"Well, that's right."

"Then it's my choice how I deal with the cake. I'll let Minato-san eat one."

"Is that okay?"

"Yes. It's lonely to eat alone."

"Okay, I'll take one then."

If she smiled softly and asked Minato to eat with her, he couldn't say no.

He waited for Airi to choose one or the other, but she didn't touch it at all and just stared at Minato.

"What's wrong? Aren't you going to eat?"

"No, I'll eat. Which one do you want to eat, Minato-san?"

"Why do you put me first? It's a reward for Airi, so Airi should choose first."

"…Then I'll take your word for it."

When he was in dismay that Airi always put Minato first even in a situation like this, her face broke out in happiness.

Minato didn't think there was anything that would make Airi happy, so he didn't quite understand it.

And so the two of them ate the cake together.

"Thank you for the food. Minato-san, thank you so much. It was delicious."

"Thanks for the food. If you say so, then it was worth the reward."

It was a small price to pay for Minato to go out and buy something if he could see the look of delight on Airi's face.

As Minato breathed a sigh of relief, Airi smiled strangely.

"Now then, it's time for Minato-san's reward."

"…What?"

Minato hadn't done anything to deserve a reward. Why did she suddenly say such a thing?

He looked at Airi questioningly, but she didn't break her smile. Minato had a slight bad feeling about this.

"It's a reward for coming in sixth in your grade and giving me a cake."

"Sixth place is nothing compared to first place. Besides, it'd be weird if it came back to me when it was supposed to be a reward for Airi."

He was in fourth place last time and had dropped to sixth this time, so there should be no reward for him.

And if the reward for Airi was returned to Minato, they would be going round in circles.

Minato made a good argument and Airi's expression changed from smiling to grimacing. A fierce feeling of unpleasantness swelled in her.

"Then shall I ask you for the favor regarding me watching Shiori-san's study in the study session?"

"Now?"

"Yes, you said you would listen to me, right?"

"No, that's–"

"YOU-SAID-YOU-WOULD-LIS-TEN-TO-ME-RIGHT?" (T/N: She said it with a pause every syllable. I don't know how to write it, so bear with this.)

"…Yes."

He did say that, but it felt like a false promise and a half-hearted one.

He tried to argue with her, but Airi's strangely intense smile and words made it impossible for him to say anything.

"So, Minato-san will be receiving a massage now."

–As expected, Airi's grin and nasty smile was bad for Minato's heart.