[clum! '95 #05] The Home Economics Room is a Shelter

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After school in April.

The home economics room, bathed in the setting sun, was filled with the sweet scent of butter and vanilla.

“...I made too much.”

I, Rei Okamoto, sighed softly as I looked at the mountain of madeleines piled up in front of me.

I had baked them to recruit club members, but there were zero visitors.

At this rate, they would just end up being taken home and filling my brother's stomach. He would be happy, but that would be frustrating in its own way.

“Sigh... I wonder if someone could eat these.”

That was when it happened.

The sliding door of the home economics room opened with a hesitant, yet desperate, “clatter...”

“U-um... excuse me! Please hide me!”

The person who tumbled in was that first-year boy I met in the library the other day. The bandage on his nose was gone, but his face was drenched in sweat and he looked absolutely desperate.

“Hayasaka-kun? What’s wrong?”

The person in the home economics room was Okamoto-senpai.

Thank goodness. I felt a little—no, quite a lot—relieved.

“Ah, Okamoto-senpai! Actually, Sano-senpai was chasing me, saying, ‘Today is hellish circuit training!’... My legs are at their limit...”

As I said that, my stomach let out a loud growl. Perhaps it was because the home economics room was filled with the sweet smell.

I turned bright red and clutched my stomach. How embarrassing...!

“Ahaha. It seems you need a shelter. ...Would you like to eat this, if you’d like?”

“Eh, are you sure!?”

Okamoto-senpai offered me a freshly baked madeleine!

A goddess!

I accepted it as if praying and stuffed it into my mouth in one bite.

“Mmm! Delicious! I’m coming back to life!”

“Fufu, I’m glad. I was in trouble because I made too many.”

The moment Okamoto-senpai looked relieved at my reaction.

Heavy footsteps approached from the hallway behind me.

“...So you were here.”

“Eek!”

I let out a scream and tried to crawl under the desk.

However, it wasn't Sano-senpai with a demonic expression who appeared, but the expressionless Jin Oritate-senpai.

I wonder... if that’s a good thing?

Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, Oritate-senpai walked toward Okamoto-senpai.

"O-Oridate-senpai... P-please don't startle me like that."

"...I smelled something good."

Oridate-senpai glanced at me, then walked heavily toward the kitchen counter.

My heart gave a thud.

O-Oridate-kun...!

He's close!

He's so big...!

His overwhelming presence makes me want to instinctively step back.

Oridate-kun stared silently at the mountain of madeleines.

Is he going to get mad? Does he think I'm using the club room without permission?

It is a Cooking Club activity, but I doubt many people know about it. Besides, I'm the only one here.

Just as I was starting to panic, Oridate-kun muttered,

"...Can I eat this?"

"Eh?"

"I'm hungry."

A request so simple it was anticlimactic. I blinked.

I hurriedly offered him a tray with the best-looking madeleine on it.

"P-please...! I don't know if it's to your liking, but..."

"Thanks."

Oridate-kun picked it up with his large hand and popped it into his mouth.

As I watched with bated breath, he chewed slowly and swallowed.

"...Delicious."

A short, but clear statement.

I'm so happy...!

He then reached out himself, saying, "Can I have another?"

"Y-yes! Have as many as you want!"

My face might be even hotter and redder than the oven baking the madeleines.

The guy I thought was scary is eating sweets with his cheeks puffed out like a squirrel.

I never imagined he would eat them like that...!

But that peaceful tea time was shattered by a voice like a storm.

"Found yooooou!!!"

BANG!! The door flew open with great force.

Standing there with hands on her hips was Rikka Sano-senpai, who had been looking for me...!

I'm dead...!

"Hayasaka! You said you were going to the bathroom, but you were just running away! ...Wait, huh?"

Sano-senpai's nose twitched.

Her sharp gaze locked onto me, Oridate-senpai, and the snacks in Okamoto-senpai's hands.

"...What is that? That's not fair, having it all to yourselves!"

"Oh, Sano-san... here, if you'd like..."

"I'll eat it!!"

Sano-senpai instantly deactivated her combat mode, snatched a madeleine from Okamoto-senpai's hand, and took a hearty bite.

"Mmm~! This is super delicious! What is this, Okamoto-san, are you a genius!?"

"Hehehe... thank you."

"Alright, Hayasaka! You're exempt from today's circuit training! In exchange, you'll work hard enough to make up for this madeleine!"

"Yes! Thank you very much!"

Saved...!
Okamoto-senpai really is a goddess!

Even though it's usually spacious, the home economics room felt a little small today. Lively voices were echoing, and it made my heart feel warm.

I'm happy to see the empty plates. I'm sure I have the biggest smile on my face today.

The number of club members didn't increase... but maybe the number of regulars did.

Beside that, Oridate-kun came up next to me as he was leaving.

What is it? Whoa, he's close...!

Oridate-kun whispered into my ear.

"...Make them again."

"!! ...Y-yes!"

My voice cracked, but I managed to nod anyway.

Sano-san teased, "Ah! It's not fair for Oridate-kun to get a head start!" and Hayasaka-kun was flustered as he tried to calm her down.

And so, the cooking club was certified as a "secret supply base" for several members of the basketball team.

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