Leaving his classroom, he strode down the hallways as a tired, encompassed yawn hung on his lips. Matatagi was never well at keeping his prime focus on in classes, and it was even worse when a certain someone stuck out in his mind; damn you. Ever since he got home last night from your place, your bellowing words echoed through his head like a drum...he couldn't rid himself of the thought of you.
"Matatagi-kun!"
Halting in his steps, and pivoting on his foot, he turned to you who was scampering hurriedly down the hall and towards him. "You came today," he confirmed as you got closer to his frame.
Nodding your head, slightly out of breath, you held up a clothed bento box and urged it towards him. He gave you an exasperated expression of confusion, eyebrows furrowing together to further display that emotion. "I wanted to thank you for coming to see me yesterday, so I made you this," you whispered, feeling your cheeks grow pink.
"I didn't do much," he started before swiping it from your hands anyway. You shook your head at his statement, it had been a long time since someone portrayed so much concern over you being missing from school for a couple of days, so you felt inclined to prepare a lunch for him!
"That's okay ... So, do you have any plans for lunch? We could eat on the stairs by the rooftop," you suggested, discreetly praying in your head he'd agree.
Matatagi was planning on running laps, or something else to distract him during the lunch break. For him...receiving something like this, and from you of all people, was something he never experienced. He didn't even eat much at lunch, but judging by the size...you packed quite a bit. "Okay. Let's go."
As he tentatively unwrapped the [f/c] cloth from around the compartmental box, your glossed [e/c] orbs stayed riveted at the movements of his hands, drinking in the detail and mannerism as he unravels the delectable food waiting inside for him. Matatagi lifted the lid and set it aside beside him as he glanced at what was hidden with the girly confines... it actually looked really good! What a surprise. Two neatly aligned rice balls with accents of seaweed for eyes, and mouths; little garnishes of fish for eyebrows and rather unsightly protrusions of lettuce stuck from the top of the balls, starkly contrasting the white with their bright, evergreen leaves.
...Wait, was that suppose to be you and him?
Asides from the rice balls you obviously took extra care in making, there was a compliment of fried shrimp and octopus shaped hot-dogs; man, you really went all out in preparing this!
"Go on, dig in!" you exclaimed in spite of his incertitude to assure him it was fine, and that he should hurry up and take a bite before you change your mind. Matatagi shook off that hesitation as he heard your words, and took the chopsticks from your dainty fingers before doing as he was told and taking a piece of fried shrimp.
He chewed, slowly, every inkling of flavor peeling itself from the shrimp the more he chewed and savored it. After a few bites, his features had completely melted into a mixture of surprise and awe; "This is delicious!" It tasted nothing like the packaged type he bought over at the convenience store, this was much more real, more fresh, and it held a spring of taste that couldn't be compared to the cheapness of the ones at home.
He wished he could share this with Yuuta and Shun! That thought was high in his head, as a grin split out onto his face - he had to admit he was happy he accepted to eat lunch with you.
You clapped your hands together, elated that he enjoyed the lunch you slaved over for hours last night after he left. Watching him continue to stuff his face with the aforementioned lunch you made filled you with an astounding amount of delight, this was the first time someone other than you tasted something you cooked, and it was an absolute bonus if he relished it!
"What about you, [Last Name]? Aren't you going to eat?" he suddenly questioned, voice cutely muffled by the rice ball currently lodged in his mouth as he ate, ate, and ate.
Noticing spare grains of rice collecting on his cheeks, you pulled out a handkerchief from your uniform pocket and brought it over to Matatagi's face and wiped off the remnants for him. His face twisted in a grimace as you chuckled from his expression, "Don't worry about me. I'm not hungry!" you shrugged off his concern, forcing it out of the topic as he finally gained the strength to swat your hand away.
He can take care of himself, thank you.
"As I thought, you don't eat much at all for lunch, don't you?" you murmured under your breath, it must be tough on him; barely eating anything, and then enduring harsh hours of strict, and grueling training every day.
"Says you. You only packed me a lunch, I won't stand for it if I'm eating and you're not. Got that?" his tone was stricter than earlier, and he genuinely sounded perturbed at the fact; maybe all those years of taking care of his brother's were catching up to him, and he wanted to make sure you were fed too.
With the chopsticks you gave to him, he picked up the last remaining piece of shrimp and held it up to your mouth, ah he was going to feed it to you...! Somehow, despite not feeling the want to eat, a smile curved on your lips and you happily ate the piece given to you.
a/n; I'm very hungry after writing this chapter. I want riiiice~! Also I'm sorry I haven't been replying to reviews(I always feel so bad when I don't—), but I'm reading them and suuuper grateful for everything you said! (*q*) Thank you all, and I hope this chapter was to your liking! Next chapter will definitely be the start of ~something~ stay tuned!
inazuma eleven go (galaxy) © level-5