This is not the date I wanted.

……

After school, since Shidou was on duty today, he asked Tohka to go back to the apartment first while he cleaned the classroom.

"It's over...it's getting late."

After closing the classroom door and leaving, Shidou looked out the window. The city and the sky were already coated with a layer of light red.

(The food at home is almost gone, let’s go to the shopping street to replenish some… huh?)

When he reached the school gate, Shidou suddenly found Mengyue waiting for him.

"Hey, Shidou."

After seeing Shidao, Mengyue raised her hand and greeted him.

"Meng Yue, didn't you go back with Ye Jushi and the others?"

"Ah, these two kept asking me about last week's date. I got so annoyed that I just dumped them."

Meng Yue sighed tiredly and asked.

"Is Shidou going home?"

"No, I want to go to the shopping street to buy some food before going back."

"Is that so? Can I go with you?"

"Well, of course."

In this way, the two walked side by side and arrived at the shopping street in silence.

Ever since he knew that Mengyue discovered his stalking yesterday, Shidao always felt a little embarrassed when facing Mengyue. Although he had a lot of things he wanted to ask, he didn't know what to say.

"After school, I saw Yue Dao and Zhen Xing going home together."

However, before Shidao could say anything, Mengyue brought up the matter as if he was chatting with someone on the way.

"Those two? How do you feel?"

Shidou continued with some curiosity.

"Well, we're still in the adjustment period. We're still a little nervous and shy, and it seems we haven't adjusted to the new distance, but the atmosphere seems good. There shouldn't be any problem."

"Really? That's good."

Hearing Meng Yue's words, Shidao couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Mengyue, did you know this a long time ago? That girl named Zhenxing likes Yuedao?"

"Well, I didn't know about this at first. It's just that I felt someone was following me just now, and you, Shidou, gave me a love letter from a junior. The timing was so coincidental, so I thought maybe there was some connection between the two things."

Meng Yue shrugged and said.

In fact, Mengyue only learned the whole story after confirming with Zhenxing during lunch break.

At the beginning, although Zhen Xing found out that Yue Dao had a crush on Meng Yue, she didn't take it seriously, thinking that Meng Yue would reject her directly after he confessed his love to her. She followed Meng Yue just to feel unconvinced and to find out what type of person Yue Dao liked.

However, when Shidao got involved, things started to go wrong.

After learning that Mengyue was going to date Yuedao, Zhenxing's mentality collapsed, and her feelings towards Mengyue gradually changed from unwillingness to hostility. That's why she secretly followed her on the date and took Yuedao's amusement park ticket out of her mind.

"By the way, I just found out after the conversation. Although Zhen Xing looks gorgeous, she is actually very clumsy and matures late. She has been secretly in love with Yue Dao for so many years, but she doesn't know how to express her feelings. She can only tease him in various ways, such as putting makeup on him and secretly applying manicures to attract his attention."

"It's almost on the same level as an elementary school boy who lifts up a girl's skirt."

Shidou complained with a smile. No wonder after all these years, not only did Shinko not notice her feelings, but he thought he was looked down upon.

"Well, adolescence is a time of sentimentality. It is understandable that people do things that seem incredible to others." Meng Yue chuckled, shrugged and said helplessly,

"In fact, Zhen Xing has finally faced up to her feelings recently and planned to confess her feelings to Yue Dao. However, she didn't expect that someone unexpectedly showed up just as she was about to take action."

"……Eh?"

Hearing Meng Yue's words, Shidao seemed to understand something and said awkwardly,

"In other words...if we hadn't intervened, Zhen Xing would have directly confessed to Yue Dao and started dating, without having to go through so much trouble?"

"Well, it's said that hindsight is 20/20. But judging by the results, it's true. Also, it's not 'we', but 'you'..." Meng Yue pointed at Shidao speechlessly and corrected him.

"If someone hadn't gone out of their way to support the love life of a junior, so many things wouldn't have happened. You were so considerate that you even delivered the love letter for him. How kind are you?"

"Well……"

Shidao was speechless for a moment and wanted to explain something, but when he looked at Mengyue, he couldn't say anything.

"Besides, not only did he help deliver the love letter, but he even followed me on my date. Although Sadakyo's behavior is confusing, you're no less capable than me, Shidao."

"I, I was just worried that something might happen to you during the journey, so I was secretly observing you just in case..."

Shidou explained in a panic. But this lame excuse obviously couldn't fool Mengyue.

"After all, Meng Yue, you are also responsible! If you obviously don't like Yue Dao, why did you agree to date him?"

Facing Mengyue's pitying gaze, Shidao's old face turned red, and he retorted a little angrily.

"Didn't you give me the love letter? Well, I don't think it's your turn to criticize me, Shidou. But I do admit that there were some mistakes in what I did."

Sighing helplessly, Mengyue took a few quick steps, turned around and stood in front of Shidao, and asked.

"Or does Shidou not want me to date other boys?"

"This one……"

Hearing Mengyue's words, Shidao was stunned. After thinking for a long time, he turned his head away and muttered softly.

"A little bit... a little bit."

"Yeah, yeah - adolescent children are really complicated... I understand. Since Shidou said so, I will never do such a thing again in the future."

"...I feel like I'm being made to look like an idiot when you say that."

"It's not like you're just a fool, right?"

"Well--"

Looking at Shidou who looked embarrassed, Mengyue sighed, chuckled and urged him.

"Okay, let's end this topic here. Let's buy the ingredients and go home quickly."

PS: I had planned to finish this chapter, but I haven’t finished what I wanted to write, so I’ll put it aside for next time.

Shido Juniors (End)

==============================

"Shidou, is there anything else you want to buy?"

After arriving at the shopping street, Mengyue confirmed with Shidao.

"Well, let me think...fish, meat, and vegetables. I just replenished the rice the day before yesterday, so I don't need to buy any more for now. Speaking of which, the salt and vinegar in the kitchen are almost gone, so I might as well buy some while I can."

Shidou thought for a moment and then answered.

"learn."

After deciding what ingredients to buy, the two began to wander around the shops in the shopping district, looking for affordable and fresh ingredients. Before they knew it, they were carrying more and more bags.

“It’s an incredible amount.”

Looking at the four heavy bags held in Shidou's and her own hands, Mengyue couldn't help but complain.

"Well, there's nothing I can do. After all, there are so many people at home."

Shidou said helplessly.

"That's true. If we consider me, you, Kotori-chan, Yui, Yakuya, Yoshino, and Tohka as four people, not counting Miku who occasionally comes to eat, we need to prepare meals for at least ten people each meal. If you think about it this way, these ingredients will be eaten in two or three days at most."

After thinking for a while, Meng Yue sighed with some shame.

"Well, being able to eat is a blessing." Shidao smiled and shrugged, and asked Mengyue, "What's the matter, Mengyue? If you can't lift it, let me help you?"

"Don't bother, if I really give it to you, your arms will be broken when you get home. Don't tell me you always carry so many bags of groceries home? Don't your neighbors look at you strangely?"

"Well, only when someone helps. I definitely wouldn't buy so much by myself."

Shidou couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

"You're treating me like free labor. Well... I was the one who said we should go back together, and since the stuff isn't that heavy, I'll help you out."

After all, with the strength of the elves, this is not a big deal. Meng Yue was just joking, not really caring.

"But Shidou, you have to prepare meals for everyone every day, don't you feel tired?"

On the way home, Meng Yue asked curiously.

"It's okay. I'm a little tired, but I'm very happy."

Shidou replied in a light-hearted tone.

"Happy? Is it because you like cooking?"

"That's one reason as well. But the main reason is seeing everyone's happy faces while eating."

As he said this, Shidou smiled.

"Tohka's cheerful eating manner, Yoshino's body language showing satisfaction while eating... As a chef, there is probably nothing more gratifying than seeing everyone gathered together happily and enjoying the meal with such happiness on their faces. And even though it's hard work, I also feel that my cooking skills have improved a lot compared to before."

"Throat, is this so..."

After hearing Shidao's answer, Mengyue sighed meaningfully, looked up at the sunset in the distance, as if thinking about something.

"Then I'll be in charge of cooking, too."

Suddenly, Meng Yue spoke like this.

Hearing Mengyue's words, Shidou couldn't help but open his eyes wide in surprise.

"Eh? Mengyue, what do you mean?"

"Just as the name implies, from now on, the two of us will be responsible for everyone's meals. We will take turns cooking. This way, you can have an easier time, right?"

Mengyue shrugged and continued the topic as a matter of course.

"But, this..."

"What's with that expression? Don't you trust my cooking skills? When you weren't free, I also cooked for everyone, and it received unanimous praise."

Meng Yue said unconvinced.

"No, no, I'm not doubting that." Shidou quickly waved his hand and explained, "I'm very happy that Mengyue can come to help. But, Mengyue, you have your own things to do, right? It's not good to take up your time."

"It's okay. I like cooking myself. After hearing you talk about it so happily, I just wanted to try it myself."

Seeing that Shidao was inexplicably polite to her, Meng Yue didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and changed the topic.

"Let me put it another way. I didn't propose this because I wanted to help you share the work. I said this because I wanted to do it myself. So, Shidou, are you going to reject the spirit's request?"

“…That’s too despicable.”

Unexpectedly, Mengyue brought up the privileges of the elves at this time. Shidao was speechless for a moment. After a long time, he could only breathe a sigh of defeat.

Putting the plastic bag in his hand gently on the ground, Shidou took something out of his pocket and handed it to Mengyue.

"Here, Meng Yue."

"what is this?"

"This is the spare key to our house. Without this, it would be inconvenient to go to the kitchen to cook, right?"

"Oh...I suddenly feel the weight of responsibility."

"It's not too late to regret now."

"How is that possible? Do you think I'm someone who would go back on my words?"

In response to Shidao's somewhat provocative words, Mengyue took the bag with her left hand and stretched out her right hand towards Shidao without showing any weakness.

After looking at each other, they couldn't help but smile at each other.

"When I'm not home, everyone is in your care."

"Well, don't worry."

—————————————I am the dividing line for fast-forwarding time————————————

The next morning, Gokawa Shido went to Raizen High School as usual.