The Top Idol Next Door Can't Help But Crave My Guilty Pleasure Meals-Chapter 7Volume 1 .2 - Thanks For Walking Me Home

ROUND 7 – Thanks For Walking Me Home 2

“I’ve been calling you for a while now, don’t ignore me!”

Yuzuki was in her school uniform: A brown blazer, a bright red tie, and a black skirt.

No matter how many times I see her, Yuzuki in her high school girl mode is always cute.

“…Sorry. I was lost in thought. Are you heading home?”

“Yeah, I only had classes in the afternoon today. Want to walk home together?”

Without waiting for my response, Yuzuki started walking ahead.

“But we agreed to act like strangers at school.”

“We’re already outside the school. Plus, we’re quite far from the school building, so it should be fine.”

Indeed, there were no school-aged kids in uniforms on the streets and hardly any cars passing by.

“Still, shouldn’t we be cautious of weekly magazines and stuff?”

“It’s a fact that our houses are next to each other and we go to the same school, so they wouldn’t write an article just for that. Unless, of course, we hold hands in public or something.”

“If Yuzuki says so…”

Despite being quite cautious during our secret meeting in the Resource Room, I wonder if there was a change of heart within her.

I slow down my walking pace to align with Yuzuki while keeping a two-person gap between us. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

However, Yuzuki shows a somewhat lonely expression as I try to keep my distance.

“…You could walk a little closer…”

The distance from school to the apartment is about a twenty-five-minute walk.

I had been thinking of buying a bicycle, but with such good fortune, maybe I’ll continue walking to school a bit longer.

On the way home, we engaged in small talk.

We talked about how classes suddenly got harder, how a girl in our class got hit on by a third-year senpai, how I ended up teaching a friend, or how someone increased their workout because another person started cooking for her every day, just like regular friends.

“Ah, there’s a Favoma here.”

It seemed to have just opened, with a ‘Grand Opening’ banner fluttering in the wind.

Favorite Mart, commonly known as ‘Favoma’, is a convenience store chain boasting the second-largest number of stores in the industry.

Their seasonal sweets and hot snacks by the register are highly popular.

Among them, the most popular item is the boneless fried chicken named after the store, ‘FavoChick.’

Since its launch in 2006, it has been loved as Favoma’s signature hot snack.

Jokingly, I made this suggestion.

“Should we grab some after-school snacks like typical high schoolers? I’ll treat you.”

“…Hmm.”

I expected an immediate word of rejection, but Yuzuki is frozen in a strange posture. It seems like she’s using all her resources to think it over.

Maybe if I push a little, she’ll cave?

“It’s a new store, so I bet they have freshly fried, crispy chicken lined up.”

“…Hmm-hmmhh.”

“Yuzuki, you’ve been working hard lately with all the live rehearsals and everything, so I want to reward you. I think you need to build up your energy while you can. Let me pamper you.”

From the side, the sleeve of the uniform is sharply tugged.

“…you’ll treat me?”

“…Mmm.”

Her demeanor reminds me of a grumpy child just woken up.

“Yeah, I’ll buy it for you. Choose whatever you like.”

Yuzuki then spent well over ten minutes staring down the official website’s product list on her smartphone.

In the end, she chose the classic menu item, the ‘FavoChick’.

By the way, I picked the equally classic product, the croquette ‘FavoKoro.’

“Here, be careful not to burn yourself.”

Yuzuki gleefully tears open the wrapper, revealing the crispy chicken.

“T-this is the famous FavoChick…”

Holding the chicken high with both hands, Yuzuki had a look of bliss on her face.

‘The famous FavoChick…’ she says, though her reaction seems a bit too exaggerated.

“…Don’t tell me, is this your first time trying FavoChick?”

“Yeah. There weren’t many convenience stores in my hometown, and since moving to the city, I’ve been avoiding hot snacks, so I’ve always been longing for it…”

Despite her excitement, Yuzuki is reluctant to start eating.

“I-I knew it, eating something this greasy is like a crime for an idol…”

“It’s too late for that now. If you really won’t eat it, then I’ll──”

As I reach out for the FavoChick that Yuzuki is holding, it is swiftly moved out of reach.

When I chuckle smugly, Yuzuki blushes and finally brings the FavoChick to her mouth.

“I know convenience store snacks are a no-go, but…!”

The moment she bites into it, juice spurts out with the force of a fire hose at a fire scene.

“Wow~♥ The juicy thigh meat combined with the crispy coating just explodes with flavor in your mouth~♥ It’s so tender and flavorful. It’s fried chicken, but it’s as easy to eat as if it were steamed chicken♥”

True to her words, half of it quickly disappears into Yuzuki’s stomach.

Speaking of which, I show off the knowledge I just picked up from the internet.

“I saw on a recipe site that there’s this variation called ‘FavoChick Donburi’ or something like that.”

“Wow, I’d love to try that, but the calories must be insane~”

“For example, you could simmer the FavoChick with onions in noodle soup base, and then finish it off with beaten eggs to make it fluffy, kind of like an oyakodon.”

“…gulp-.”

“Or, stir-fry sweet and spicy pork, top it with bite-sized pieces of FavoChick, sprinkle white sesame and shredded perilla for a double punch of rich and refreshing flavors.”

“…gulp- gulp-.”

—Grrrrowl

Updat𝒆d fr𝑜m freewebnøvel.com.

Yuzuki skillfully manages to eat FavoChick while still being hungry.

She holds her stomach and blushes as she bites into the chicken.

Suddenly, I feel an intense gaze on my hand. Yuzuki is staring intently at my hand.

There’s only one bite left of my FavoKoro. I throw the last piece into my mouth.

“Ah───! Thief!”

“No, I simply didn’t give it to you.”

In response, Yuzuki quickly devours the remaining FavoChick in one bite.

“Sigh, it’s over… I wonder how many years it will be before I can eat this again…”

With a look of longing, Yuzuki gazed down at the wrapper in her hands.

There are plenty of other delicious convenience store foods.

Steamed buns, potatoes, cup desserts…

Next time I run into Yuzuki on the way home, which one should I suggest?

☆☆☆