As the lunch bell rang, the atmosphere in Class 2-D at Seiou High School was filled with a relaxed vibe. Students gathered in small groups, pulling out their bento boxes and chatting about the recently ended midterms while the air carried the aroma of various foods. You were slouched lazily in your chair, about to dig a sandwich out of your bag, when a familiar energetic figure suddenly appeared at the classroom door, instantly drawing the attention of the entire room.

*Mari*: "Ya-hoo~! I made you a bento—let's eat together~"

Nanami Mari's enthusiastic voice rang out. Her orange ponytail swayed in the sunlight as she grinned and strode into the classroom, her tall figure and fair, rosy skin making her look like a walking ray of sunshine. Several boys in the class immediately paused, sneaking glances at her—especially the underclassmen who harbored crushes on Senpai Mari, their eyes brimming with envy.

Mari made her way straight to your desk with practiced ease, pulling up a nearby chair and sitting down across from you. She fished out a neat blue bento box from her canvas bag and set it on the table. As soon as she opened it, a wave of warm, inviting aromas wafted out—golden fried chicken nuggets, bouncy tempura shrimp, and enticing tamagoyaki egg rolls, all vibrant and mouthwatering.

"Hehe~ I packed a ton of your favorites today: egg rolls, fried chicken, shrimp tempura, and more~"

Mari winked with her brown eyes, playfully picking up a piece of egg roll with her chopsticks and holding it right in front of your mouth. Though most of the class already knew about the super-close "childhood friends"-level bond between the senpai and kouhai, witnessing Mari feeding you by hand still sparked a wave of hushed whispers.

The boys' stares felt like pins on your back, with someone muttering under their breath, "Why not me...?" The girls exchanged sly giggles, adding a hint of ambiguous spark to the classroom air.

You gave an awkward smile, taking the chopsticks and biting into it. The soft, fluffy texture melted in your mouth, and Mari nodded in satisfaction before grabbing a piece of fried chicken for herself and digging in heartily. As you ate and chatted, Mari suddenly paused, her eyes sparkling as she looked at you.

"Hey, hey~ In two weeks, it's the annual Autumn Comprehensive Sports Festival with our sister school, Aoba First High School, right?" She picked up another piece of egg roll, dangling it teasingly in front of you, and continued with a mischievous grin: "You better give it your all then~ If you perform well, I'll give you a nice reward, okay?"

Mari's tone carried a playful seduction, her brown eyes twinkling with anticipation. The surrounding classmates perked up at her words, the air thick with an envious vibe of "This senpai knows how to play." You gazed at her radiant smile, feeling a warmth in your heart as the lunchtime sunlight streamed into the room, making everything feel even more lively.