"I didn't know the teacher had such eating habits."
Blake reached out and caught the box rolling on the table. Blake pinched the box with his fingertips and looked down at me, narrowing his eyes.
It made a rattling sound when shaken, and it was a convenient solid nutritional food.
There was a clear look of surprise in his eyes.
"It's understandable to say that going to the cafeteria is troublesome, but if you go to the snack bar, can't you eat something better?"
"Ah, bread or something like that, it will drop crumbs when eating with one hand."
"Don't eat while working."
My excuse was abruptly interrupted. He was quite tough.
But I didn't expect to be questioned about these things like this.
"I didn't expect the teacher to be so disinterested in food. It's probably the same for breakfast and dinner, right?"
"Well, I don't deny it, but I don't eat this every noon."
I usually don't eat in the morning. Whether I eat in the evening depends on the situation.
I eat when I'm hungry and don't eat when I'm not. This is my usual eating habit.
Basically, it's based on feeling, far from a regular eating lifestyle.
But so far, I haven't had any problems because of this.
"I've decided to meddle."
"...?"
Blake put the box in his hand back to its original place and suddenly showed a serious expression.
Blake kept staring at me. I didn't understand the meaning of his expression and words, and tilted my head. He suddenly sighed.
"From now on, I will prepare lunch for the teacher every day."
"Ah? No, no need! No, it's not good."
Hearing his words, I hurriedly shook my head. Blake put his hands on the back of the chair I was sitting on and the table and bent down.
In an instant, the distance closed, and he leaned closer to look at me. I leaned back.
"If you think it's not good, you should eat properly at ordinary times. What if you ruin your health?"
"Well, I know, but..."
"You don't know at all."
"Um, um..."
What he said made sense, and I couldn't refute it.
But I still wanted to find some excuses, and at this moment, he sighed gently in front of me again.
"I think it would be smarter for you to nod and agree without thinking too much."
"Why go to such lengths?"
"That's a stupid question. Of course, it's because I care about you very much, teacher."
"Don't say such embarrassing things so seriously."
Even if it was a joke, I would be troubled by such a reason, and it was even more embarrassing for him to say it seriously.
And why could Blake say sweet words so easily?
Are all young people like this nowadays? I definitely can't do it.
And such lines don't suit me. It will be annoying.
"Teacher?"
Seeing my sudden silence, Blake suddenly frowned.
"Do you think I'm troublesome?"
"No... no, uh."
Blake's eyes flickered uneasily, and I involuntarily shook my head vigorously.
I'm too weak. I have no resistance to this face.
"It's not like that... ah, um..."
And Blake's face could handle anything, but I wasn't used to seeing such a beautiful thing so close to me, and my heart couldn't take it anymore, reaching its limit.
But I couldn't turn my head away, just shifted my gaze a little.
But every time he spoke in front of me and I saw his moving lips, I felt like I was getting deeper into trouble.
"Hey, Blake? That... it's too close."
I said this and couldn't help but push Blake's shoulder.
But for some reason, my hand was caught by him instead, and he casually kissed the tip of my finger.
It was so casual that I didn't even realize what had happened for a moment.
But I reflexively jumped up and raised my hand.
"What, what are you doing!"
I felt a little dizzy, but I hoped it was an illusion.
The heartbeat was so loud that I even felt it was not in my chest but in my ears.
"I didn't quite understand the psychology of wanting to chase after someone who runs away before..."
"But now, I seem to understand a little."
"It's okay if you never understand that kind of thing!"
I couldn't help but say to Blake, who was smiling.
But for my flustered eyes, Blake showed a smile like never before.
His lips slowly curved into an arc, and his eyes had a mischievous childlike expression and a charming light.
"Wait, wait a minute."
Blake's hand stroked my hair like a caress, and his fingertips slid along the outline of my cheek.
This unfamiliar feeling made me feel a kind of irritable feeling different from disgust due to nervousness.
Blake's breath gently brushed against my lips.
Just as I involuntarily closed my eyes because of Blake's breath - as if breaking the atmosphere, the door of the room suddenly opened with a loud bang.
"Ah, sorry. I'm interrupting."
Hearing this voice, I hurriedly opened my eyes and saw Zoe standing at the door, looking surprised.
"Wow!"
When I realized Zoe's presence, I pushed Blake in front of me with all my strength using both hands.
Blake's expression twisted unhappily.
Obviously, only I was relieved.
"Did you do it on purpose?"
Blake began to emit a black negative aura and stared at Zoe as if saying he was very unhappy.
"No, it was an force majeure. If I had known there would be such an interesting development, I would have come back in thirty minutes."
Zoe didn't care about Blake's appearance and shrugged as usual.
She pouted, and Blake snorted lightly, still displeasedly running his fingers through his hair.
"Because it's Zoe."
"Oh, this time I'm fully supportive."
"Who knows."
Zoe closed the door with her hand behind her back and walked towards us, while Blake sat back on the original chair.
Their conversation made me tilt my head for some reason. There was a strange sense of incongruity.
"Zoe just thinks it's fun, right?"
"I won't help if it's not fun. Right, teacher."
I kept staring at them, and suddenly Zoe turned her gaze to me.
When she saw me, her eyes widened in surprise for a moment, and then she smiled.
"The teacher is really slow. Blake, you have to work hard, or it will be very tiring."
"Shut up, mind your own business."
"Well, but it's okay. By the way, I brought this for you."
Zoe happily covered her mouth with her hand and laughed, took something out of the pocket of her suit jacket, and handed it to Blake.
"I brought it for the teacher, but Blake doesn't hate this kind of thing either, right."
"Moon Island Photography Exhibition?"
"Ah, that's it."
I took one from Blake's hand and looked at it carefully.
"Teacher, do you like this person?"
"Well, he doesn't hold many solo exhibitions, so I will go to see it every time he holds one."
This was an invitation to a solo exhibition of a photographer I liked since my student days.
I had no idea about this exhibition recently as I hadn't paid attention at all.
Come to think of it, I remember mentioning this during the club activity time with Zoe and them before. She still remembers it.
I suddenly looked up at Zoe and found that she was waving at the door at some point and left the room.
"Hey, Zoe!"
"Sorry for the interruption. This exhibition ends next weekend, and you two can go together."
With that, she winked and left satisfied.
"That guy is still like a typhoon."
"Really."
I heaved a heavy sigh and looked at the closed door, suddenly feeling a wave of exhaustion hit me. Blake also sighed gently in agreement.
"Is Blake interested in this kind of thing?"
"I quite like it."
I waved the invitation in front of Blake, and he tilted his head slightly, then smiled gently.
But for some reason, his smile made me feel a little uncomfortable.
"Well, is that so."
"Is it over? You suddenly feel down. What's wrong?"
I spoke irritably for some reason, and being pointed out directly by Blake made me feel even more frustrated.
What was this feeling, this nausea rising near my stomach, the anger in my chest, and the feeling that made my nerves irritable.
"Blake."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Teacher? Are you really okay?"
"... Nothing."
I was still very angry.
For some reason, seeing Blake made me more and more irritable.
Faced with my increasingly serious face, Blake was really confused, frowning and looking very troubled.
It would take me a while to realize the meaning of this incredible feeling of anger in my chest.