Chapter 14: Chapter 14
After successfully inviting them, Lin Yi took out the bento he had prepared.
"Ran, Sonoko... here's the bento I made for you."
He placed the two bentos in front of them, with an impassive face but a slight fluctuation in his expression.
The two bentos greatly surprised Ran and Sonoko.
They had never eaten a bento made by another boy before. In Japanese culture, preparing bentos is generally seen as a girl's task—boys never do it!
"No... it wasn't necessary. I'm sorry for the trouble."
When they didn't respond, Lin Yi quickly tried to take back the bentos, pretending to be indifferent.
"Of course not! We're just a bit surprised..."
Sonoko reacted, grabbing the bento to prevent Lin Yi from taking it back, and she also took the bento for Ran.
"I didn't expect you to know how to cook too, Lin Yi."
Sonoko looked at him in surprise.
Lin Yi diverted his gaze, looking shy. "When you live alone, you get used to it..."
"That's already pretty impressive."
Sonoko praised him and said, "Then let me open it and see how the bento is."
"It's just a regular meal; don't expect too much," Lin Yi warned.
When she opened the bento, no heavenly light shone, nor were there any cute patterns to impress; it was just fairly ordinary food.
Despite this, Sonoko was not disappointed; for her, the fact that a boy could cook was already admirable, so she wasn't going to be picky.
Moreover, what mattered was not the taste of the food but who prepared it!
"Then, I'll start eating."
Sonoko clasped her hands in gratitude and took a bite.
After tasting a mouthful of rice with the vegetables, Sonoko was stunned as if struck by lightning.
For a moment, she felt as if she were sailing in a sea of rice.
This reminded her of those days running under the sunset, that youth that was fading... Well, maybe that's a bit exaggerated.
Sonoko only felt it was soft and sticky, with a sweet flavor that melted in her mouth, and the meat was neither salty nor sweet, with just the right tenderness. Although it couldn't compare to star chefs, it could compete with restaurants outside.
In conclusion: it was on par with the food Ran prepared.
This made Sonoko look at Lin Yi more closely. She couldn't believe his culinary skills were so good; combined with his appearance, the food seemed even more delicious.
"Wow, it's even more delicious than I imagined!" Sonoko exclaimed.
And who is Sonoko?
A carefree high school student?
No, she is the daughter of the Suzuki conglomerate. What delicacies and treats has she not tasted in this world?
It's already surprising to get her to give a rating of "delicious."
"Really?" Ran, hearing Sonoko's praise, couldn't wait any longer and began to eat eagerly.
After tasting a bite, Ran's eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked at Lin Yi.
"It's true... Lin Yi, you cook often, right?"
"I used to work in a kitchen…"
Lin Yi didn't say it was his first time cooking, for fear of scaring them. If they thought he was bragging, it would be more of a loss than a gain.
"Then you should try my bento too."
Sonoko took out her bento, and upon opening the lid, a luxurious fragrance spread through the air.
What kind of bento is this?!
The marbled texture of the steak looks so beautiful; it must be five-star quality!
And those little black balls? Could they be the famous caviar? How luxurious!
Why is the rice twice the size of normal?! And it's crystal clear; what a trick!
Just by looking at this bento, you can tell how delicious it is.
Lin Yi tried a piece of the steak… When he bit into it, the meat's juices burst forth.
It was so delicious that Lin Yi found no words to describe it—a true delight!
"Come, try mine too."
Ran generously offered her bento, as she had prepared two and couldn't eat that much.
Ran's bento was simple yet adorable, with a touch of sweetness and a hint of mischief, and her thoughts could be felt in it... Well, that might be a stretch.
In summary, Ran's bento followed an adorable theme.
Do you see the little rabbit head made of rice? It makes me want to add some chili and turn it into spicy rabbit…
Lin Yi tasted Ran's bento, and the flavor was very familiar, like homemade food.
This bento was made with care; otherwise, it wouldn't have those cute details.
This kind of homemade food is very common, but you could eat it a thousand times without getting tired!
After trying this bento, Lin Yi felt even more determined to take Ran home.