Chapter 50: Koizumi-san Only Wants Noodles
With comments about her age and a tiny belly, Shunsuke kept hitting sore spots, pushing even the mild-mannered Mrs. Izumi to her limits.
After a moment, Marin hesitated, "Senpai, isn't that… sexual harassment?"
Shunsuke's eyes widened. "Kitagawa-san, how could you say that! Don't you appreciate Tawara Hiryuu- sensei mature women characters? Are you even a true otaku?"
Faced with this "accusation," Marin fell silent. She wanted to say she didn't care for Tawara Hiryuu-sensei's style and preferred more loli-like characters. However, still holding onto the idea of otaku unity, she bit her tongue.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Izumi, the subject of it all, looked on the verge of tears. "Shun-kun, I'm not that chubby! Look, even when I pinch, my belly is barely anything!"
"The point isn't your belly!" Marin gasped.
Shunsuke, arms crossed, simply nodded. Most of Mrs. Izumi's weight was in all the "right" places, and her belly was indeed minimal—hardly matching Tawara Hiryuu's mature style. He was just trying to comfort her, and as long as she got the message, it was fine.
If Marin had known what he was really thinking, she'd no doubt have had some sharp words.
"Not that you need it, but if you're serious about dieting, Mrs. Izumi, maybe ask Koizumi-san for tips," Shunsuke suggested, pointing to Koizumi, who was quietly eating her dry noodles. "She definitely eats more than Kitagawa-san."
"Ugh, Senpai, don't use me as the standard!" Marin protested. "It's embarrassing for a girl to be known for her appetite!"
"Sorry, I didn't think you'd mind," Shunsuke replied, inwardly realizing he still didn't fully understand girls.
Koizumi looked up, a bit bewildered. "I actually eat quite small portions."
Eriri glanced at her own bowl, then at Koizumi's, feeling a twinge of jealousy. Why were all these newcomers so effortlessly humble? I was here first!
Upon learning that Koizumi practically lived on ramen yet never gained an ounce, Mrs. Izumi's eyes filled with envy.
"Koizumi, what's your workout routine?"
Koizumi shook her head. "I'm not very good at exercising."
Which meant she hardly worked out at all.
"A natural-born enemy!" Mrs. Izumi groaned.
Compared to Marin, who frequently exercised and controlled her diet, Mrs. Izumi could somewhat accept her own lot. But seeing Koizumi eat whatever she wanted without gaining weight made her green with envy.
Eriri and Marin felt the same way.
"An enemy of the people!"
Seeing the three's exaggerated reactions, Koizumi felt a bit wronged. I barely eat at all, so isn't it normal not to gain weight?
At this point, Shunsuke put down his chopsticks. "I'm full. Kitagawa-san, don't stop on my account—keep eating! Otherwise, people will think I didn't host you properly."
In reality, Shunsuke was only half-full. He'd underestimated the appetites of these two "big eaters." Judging by Koizumi's pace, it seemed she hadn't even shown her true capacity. With that, he offered up his own portion.
"Are you really done, Shun-kun?" Mrs. Izumi asked, curious.
Everyone turned their attention to him, while Koizumi, looking left and right, continued happily devouring her noodles, fully embracing her role as an unstoppable noodle-eating machine.
"Yeah, after being in the kitchen for a while, I don't have much of an appetite," Shunsuke replied.
Marin scratched her head. "I think I read online that chefs don't usually eat much. Well, in that case, I won't hold back."
"Please, go ahead. No point in letting it go to waste."
Thus, the group of kitchen outsiders fell for his casual excuse.
…
"I'll wash the dishes," Marin volunteered with surprising enthusiasm after the meal, gathering the dishes to help out.
"Oh, no need for that, Kitagawa-san. You're a guest—leave it to me." Eriri smiled, trying to stop her.
"Oh, but Eriri-senpai, aren't you also a guest?" Marin countered with a grin. "Besides, this is Izumi-sensei's home, so it's only natural for me to help out as her junior."
"Well, as her disciple, it should be my responsibility."
"We're all here because of sensei, so there's no hierarchy between us."
"Well, since you're both so eager, I'll leave it to you two," Shunsuke said, setting the dishes in the sink before stepping away.
"…"
"…"
The two "volunteers" fell silent as they processed what had just happened.
"Ha, ba~ka!" Sagiri snickered, watching their stunned expressions with a look of satisfaction.
...
"Kitagawa-san, how are your skills with making cosplay costumes?"
Shunsuke, not an emotionless monster, wanted to give back to Marin for her enthusiasm, showing her that his actions were effective.
"Ah, well, I wouldn't say they're very good," Marin hesitated, scratching her head in embarrassment.
"Not very good? How good is that?" Shunsuke seemed to have missed her underlying message.
"Well, I guess they're just average," Marin admitted, clearly reluctant.
"Average?"
"I'm sorry, I exaggerated. I didn't want to embarrass myself. I've just started learning how to make clothes," Marin sighed, lying her upper body on the table in resignation.
"So, you'll have to wait until the store sells Shizuku's outfit, huh?"
"Definitely not! I'll be waiting forever at that rate. I won't give up—I'll make all the costumes myself as soon as possible!"
"Well, at this rate, you might as well be waiting forever too," Shunsuke mercilessly shattered her fantasy, but then offered her hope. "Send me the reference pictures and details, and I'll make it for you. We can get it done this month."
With the "Star Platinum" helping out, even if there was no foundation, a bit of handiwork would be no challenge.
"Senpai!"
Marin, deeply moved, threw her arms around him, grateful not only because Shunsuke was willing to help, but also because her efforts were finally being acknowledged.
"When did you learn to make clothes, Shunsuke?" Eriri, who had been watching, suddenly asked.
"I already knew before. It's normal for you not to know, Eriri," Shunsuke replied casually.
—A few days ago was also "before," I didn't lie.
Shunsuke silently added in his mind.
"Really?" Eriri seemed a bit skeptical, but when she remembered Shunsuke's usual tone, saying, "It's normal for you not to know," she wavered, feeling a spark of irritation.
Why does he think I don't pay attention to him?!
Shunsuke, completely oblivious to Eriri's thoughts, would've probably commented if he had known, "You girls really do have a lot of drama."
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