Author's Note: In one episode of the anime, Kaoru took Natsue for a bicycle ride (he rode a bicycle while she sat in a sidecar attached to it) and introduced her to "commoner" lunch. This chapter expands on that.
Chapter 2: Store-Bought Bento
The citizens of Awayuki Town (formerly Hojo Town) never understood what Natsue Awayuki née Hojo saw on drunkard novelist Kaoru Awayuki. Now they were even more shocked upon seeing Kaoru Awayuki riding a bicycle with Natsue at a sidecar. Their minds couldn't understand Natsue Awayuki going anywhere on something other than a limousine, a helicopter or an airplane.
'Where is that Gold Digger taking lady Natsue?' One of them thought.
Kaoru Awayuki took his wife to a store. Actually, he entered the store while she waited outside. Natsue was secretly embarrassed at being seen like that by onlookers but refused to say anything since they wouldn't say anything to her face.
"Dad, what is Mrs. Awayuki…" A kid started asking until her Dad interrupted her.
"This is none of our business." He whispered to her. "Especially because she's powerful enough to get us in trouble if we meddle."
Inside the shop, the shopkeeper was upset at seeing Kaoru Awayuki. 'Great.' She sarcastically thought. 'The lowlife drunkard who married Lady Hojo to get her money enters my shop and I have to treat him respectfully. I hate doing that for those parasites.' "Welcome to Awayuki Convenience Store, Awayuki-sama." She cheerfully said while putting an effort to say 'sama' without gritting her teeth. "May I help you?"
"Yes." Kaoru happily replied. "I'd like to buy a pair of bentos."
'Probably wouldn't be able to afford even one bento without his wife's money.' She thought with disdain. "What would you like in those bentos, Sir?" She asked while hiding how much she hated him. Unlike the students who openly expressed their disdain towards Himeno, those who hated her Dad avoided showing it to him out of fear of what he'd make Natsue do to them. After Kaoru explained the (rather cheap) lunches he wanted, the shopkeeper efficiently complied. 'He probably wants to give Lady Hojo the impression he doesn't want her money.' She thought. "Would you like anything to drink, Sir?" She asked with a fake smile. 'He'll probably ask for the strongest alcohol we have. The death of Lady Hojo's previous husband did more to her mind than I thought if she agreed to marry this drunkard.' After Kaoru paid for the lunch and left the store, the shopkeeper was glad for no longer having to put up with him. 'At least I don't work at the place the Gold Digger's daughter is said to buy double scoops of powdered green tea kimchee unfermented, soybean yogurt, with lots of chocolate chips. I know new money people tend to be extravagant but there's a difference between extravagant and disgusting. Was she too poor to afford taste buds?'
At the park where Kaoru and Natsue were enjoying their meal, several random people were secretly wondering why she wasn't simply at home enjoying fancy food made by her servants or at some first class restaurant.
End chapter.