Chapter 033

She handed me the bento, she bought with her... I took it from her, without saying or asking anything... But still why she is giving me, the bento for tomorrow, today... Hmm...

I think because of the rumor, just a few days ago...

She was looking exhausted on that day, when we met even though for just some minutes, I asked about how her class's condition is... And she told me that her classmates kept pestering her about what kind of relationship she has with me... What a bunch of gossipers, they just show interest in anything, I mean literally anything, and then gossips about it all over the school...

She also added, that some of them that we are just hiding our relationship; some warned her to get away from me, or asked if I was blackmailing her... Huh, what's with their minds and reasoning...? Can Shiina-san have no rights, to approach anyone by herself...? She then added something, which could make me realize how much famous I am, in this school... She told me some of my 'nicknames', which are being used by most of the students, the most famous, and which quite surprised me, is 'Womanizer'...

Good Grief... I mean it's not like I have a relationships with their mother or sister, so how can they so sure to call me that...

...

So, that's why she is giving me lunch box, a day before... As if she has to provide me tomorrow, then there is a chance of someone seeing us, maybe it's one of my heroines, so it's better for both of us...

"Thank you, Angel-san..."

"You.. Don't ever call me that..."

When I called her 'angel', she showed me an angry expression and told me that don't ever call her that... Hmm, is she not enjoying her school life...? I mean, she is very famous in our school, almost every teacher must have heard of her, as she is one of the students who have scored perfect score in entrance exam as well as last month's exam...

"I see... Well how about 'Mahiru-chan', hmm?"

"No way..."

I thought of making a joke with her, but she seems the type to take jokes personally... Well it's not her fault, anyone who heard a joke from me, thinks like that, as I just say it with a straight face...

"Okay, okay Shiina-san..."

"Well, now we are even, right?"

"Yes..."

"Good, then I shall take – W-what a-are y-you doing?"

As she was going to say that she is leaving, I immediately grabbed her hand and pulled her in my apartment... Because I heard a clack sound, which is coming from the direction where Yukinoshita's apartment is, I think the sound is of unlocking the door... It's better to not let her see us, because if she then I think I will gain more nicknames and my reputation will hurt again...

"K-kaneki-san... W-what a-are y-you doing?"

I heard Shiina-san, who looked confused and terrified, by my sudden movements... My hands are on her both shoulders, her back of the head is touching my chest and she is shivering a little... So I immediately removed my hands, and then slowly walked and stand in front of her, to see her expression... She has a little tint on her face; her one eyebrow rose showing how much she is surprised...

After sighing a little, I explained her why I have to do all this...

"I see... But even though, you could have just told me, you don't need to grab my hand and shoulders like that..."

"Well, my bad... It's just that I don't want to hear any more rumors about you, Shiina-san..."

"What about you, are you okay with your 'nicknames'...?"

"Hmm, yes I am okay with it... I am more worry about you, Shiina-san..."

"You... Don't have to worry about me... Baka"

[MAHIRU SHIINA: +10 AFFECTION POINTS]

...

Although I didn't clearly hear the last word, but I think she didn't anything wrong, right...? As I just gained some affection from her... After some minutes passed, I quickly take a peek outside the door, to see that there is not a single person outside...

So, I immediately told this to the silent Shiina-san, who is sitting at the couch, where just a few minutes I and Shikimori-san were sitting and being all l-lovey-d-dovey... It was embarrassing, a little bit...

Shiina-san nodded her head, and just as she was going to leave... I called out to her, as my mind just kicked a good idea...

"Shiina-san..."

"Now, what is it?"

"Can you teach me, how to cook?"

"Huh... Why?"

"Well as you have already noticed that my kitchen is all clean and neat, just as a 'new' kitchen would look like... It's because I don't know how to cook..."

"Now that you mention it, that's true... But what does it have to do, with me?"

"Well, well... I will pay you the price, just say --"

"What are you...? How can you...?"

Hmm... What? Did I say something weird, huh? Why does she have an expression on her face that says, 'you are unbelievable', 'you really are just the rumours say'...?

"You...But why do you think I will take money for just teaching you how to cook..."

She really is an 'ANGEL', huh... She will teach me for 'free' that will be great but still... Still, I have to do something for her; I can't take anything for free from anyone even if that person is my heroine...

"Okay, then tell me what you want in exchange for teaching me?"

"Nothing... It will be for my own satisfaction..."

"I see..."

"..."

"..."

...

Next day.

I woke up, just a little early in the morning... Dressed up... Heated the bento, Shiina Mahiru provided me yesterday... Packed all the necessary books or things, inside the school bag along with the bento... Grabbed a toast and just a glass of milk, for the breakfast...

Then, I walked to the door, unlocked it and just as I was going to put my feet outside... I noticed a presence to my right, against the wall... She is standing there; her green-blue eyes are gazing in the direction where, the apartment of Shiina-san is... Her pink hairs are tied in ponytail; some of her bangs are on her forehead, maybe due to the windy weather... She is holding her school bag in one hand, and a paper bag in other... What is that?

"Good Morning, Shikimori-san..."

I greeted her, which make her shiver a little as she was lost in her thought... Then she turned her head in my direction, she stared at me for few seconds until her face developed a smile on her face...

"Good Morning, Kaneki-san..."

"Hmm... So, had anything happened which brought, the 'cute' Shikimori-san, to come here...?"

"N-nothing... Actually, I was just wondering, that maybe w-we should walk together to the --"

"Okay... Let's go..."

"Yes"

Upon agreeing her request of walking together to the bus stop, she showed me a beautiful smile on her cute face... Then we began to descend the stairs, everything was the same, we are walking and having some distance between in doing so... Until, Shikimori-san did this...

We successfully left the building, we didn't said anything but I think Shikimori-san is behaving differently... She is continuously looking at my hand, from the moment we decided to walk together. Before today, her gaze always is in front but today... Does she want to h-hold hands?

[KEKEKE]

"...." I don't know why but the A.S. seems to enjoying something... I think it's best if I don't ask about it –

...

"Hmm"

As I was lost in the thought, my hands got in contact with Shikimori-san's hand... No, I think she definitely brought her hand near my hand, so that she could get hold of it, right...

Hmm, it's lewd right?

"Um, Kaneki-san?"

"Yes..."

"Can we hold hands?"

"Hmm... Okay, do as you wish..."

Upon hearing my response, Shikimori-san quickly holds my right hand and intertwined her fingers with mine...

W-what is she doing? I just gave her permission to hold hands, not to do this kind of thing...

Hmm... So, this is how a girl's hand feels, huh... It's soft but there is some roughness in it, maybe because Shikimori-san plays volleyball; it's small; and the sensation, it gives is good which would make any man to hold it on forever...

I think I am showing no expression as usual, so I turned my head and noticed Shikimori-san's expression... She is looking down; has a red tomato face; small smile on her face and her body is shivering a little...

We stood there for 1 more minute, and just as we are going to leave for the bus... We heard a small voice coming from our back... It's a voice, you don't hear every day; it's the voice, many people wanted to hear, even for one time...

What am I going to do now, huh...?

"kaneki-san?"

It's none other than, my [QUIET BEAUTY], Shouko Komi... Good Grief, what a great timing...