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CHAPTER 1 – POSTER GIRL AND DARK MATTER
PART 05
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After finding out which class Tsumiki was in from Satou-san, I dashed down the corridor to her classroom.
Sixth period had just ended when I exited the infirmary, so I had a short interval of time before homeroom period began. I had to find Tsumiki and speak to her before then.
“Rekka, how do you intend to convince Nozomuno-san?”
Satsuki, who was right behind me, asked.
After hearing about Tsumiki’s personality from Satou-san, I didn’t think she would be a person who would be easily convinced…
“I’m hoping that you’d help me out with that, Satsuki.”
Turning around, I looked into the face of my childhood friend the magician.
“Me?”
“Yes, basically…”
~~~~~
It turned out that Tsumiki’s classroom was just three doors down from ours.
Normally, I would have knocked on the door before entering, but I didn’t want to bring too much attention to us. As it was break time, everyone was milling in and out of the classrooms, and since we’d just started out at this school a few days ago, I was sure that no one would notice I wasn’t from that class if I walked in like I belonged.
Entering the room, I spotted my target and headed straight towards her.
Noticing my approach, Tsumiki raised an eyebrow.
“……Hm? Who are you?”
Apparently she totally didn’t remember that she almost poisoned me to death just a moment ago.
Well, since I struggled on the brink of life and death for nearly an hour, I guess it technically wasn’t a moment ago… But she was the one who force-fed me her cooking, how could she forget the fact that I’d fainted right before her eyes? …But whatever.
Steeling myself, I answered Tsumiki.
“Erm, I’m Namidare Rekka. I heard that, well…your family’s eatery is facing some trouble, and was wondering if I could be of any help…”
“…Who did you hear that from?”
“From Satou-san.”
“Oh, Sato-chan… Anyway, it’s none of your business, so get lost.”
Grr, how unapproachable.
“B-But listen to me.”
“Shut up. Leave me alone! I’m busy thinking up new recipes.”
You mean you’re busy inventing new poison?
No no, this wasn’t the time to think like that. The fate of this girl lay in my hands.
“Tsumiki, do you still have any of that black bl-… I mean, your culinary creation left?”
“Why are you talking to me like we’re friends? You’re being over-friendly… I still have some, why?”
There, I knew it.
“Let me eat it.”
“Huh?”
Tsumiki, who had appeared totally disinterested and hadn’t even spared me a glance, suddenly turned towards me with a startled expression.
“Even if you think up new recipes, you still need someone to try them out, right?”
“…Well, that’s not a problem.”
“Liar. You had to force me to eat it just now.”
“…Where did you see that?”
“I didn’t see it. I was the one whom you force-fed,” I retorted spitefully.
No, I needed to forget that. I continued on,
“Isn’t it laborious to dash around everyday, forcing people to eat stuff? Don’t you have better things to do?”
“…You’re not wrong.”
Tsumiki seemed to consider something, before pulling out a tupperware container from her bag.
She then opened the lid to reveal the black blob.
“Urgh…!”
“If you’re going to pass out every time you eat, then it’ll still be as laborious, right? I’ll warn you first; all my cooking ends up looking like this.”
“…So you pretty much know that it sucks?”
“Shut up. You’ll make Sato-chan really angry. So, you eating it or not?”
Why was she so awful…? Whatever. Now I just needed to eat that black blob…I think it was entirely appropriate to call it Dark Matter, and not faint from it.
“Alright, give it to me.”
Picking up a piece of Dark Matter with the fork, I brought it to my mouth.
“……!”
I saw Tsumiki take a deep breath from the corner of my eye.
*chew*
“NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNMMMMMMMFFFFFFFF!!”
It was a magical taste that was bitter and spicy and salty and spectacularly slightly sweet and creamy and bursting just a little and bursting a whole lot and making the back of my teeth chatter.
I lost track of rational thought.
Forcing back my tears with all my might, I stole a glance at Satsuki, who was standing beside me.
A single trail of sweat tracked its way down her cheek, but she gave me a nod.
Basically…I’d gotten Satsuki to place an anti-curse spell on me beforehand, and it seemed to be working. I’d asked for a spell that would resuscitate me immediately once I fainted, but Satsuki thought of using a type of defense magic instead.
Thanks to her, I managed not to faint.
The intense taste of the dish exploded within my mouth like a bomb, but with the protection of the anti-curse spell, the damage (?) had been reduced.
“Nnggh……! *cough*……! ……..!”
…It had been reduced, right?
I wasn’t sure what would happen if I spoke honestly…but it really tasted totally disgusting.
If she presented this at Food Champion, it could very well be considered a destructive weapon, and defense troops would surely be mobilized.
But if she didn’t enter the competition, “Nozomiya” would close down, and her “story” would have a bad ending.
I needed to stop that from happening…!
So I couldn’t be defeated by awful-tasting food now!
……*swallow!*
Having finished it all, I panted as I crashed headfirst on to Tsumiki’s desk.
“S-See…!? I didn’t faint…!!”
I was feeling a little light-headed, but I’d managed to pull through. Looks like Satsuki’s anti-curse spell had worked.
Tsumiki’s eyes widened, but her expression remained uncaring.
“…Humph, fine. I’ll let you be my taste tester for the time being.”
Looking down, she extended a hand to me.
“So? What’s your name?”
“I remember introducing myself just now… Anyway, I’m Namidare Rekka, please-!?”
Just as I was about to shake her hand, she suddenly aimed a punch at my head. Losing my balance, I landed on my ass on the floor. Ouch…
“I’m Nozomuno Tsumiki. I’m warning you, you’re only a taste tester. Don’t think that you can go around boasting that you’d managed to get closer to me, or become my friend.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind,” I answered as I nodded weakly.
“Things look grim for you.”
R commented nonchalantly as she floated upside-down in midair, looking down at my dejected form sitting head hung on the floor.