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A star is elegant. A star has to be shining with elegance at all times, whether it be at home, at school, or simply eating lunch. That was why, Tsukasa always kept to his routine of finding the best place to eat lunch at school, where there were many great hidden spots to choose from.
For some reason, Tsukasa always grew tired easily, so he had to eat well in order to conserve his energy. He needed energy to keep up at school and practice with everyone.
Most of the time, Tsukasa would have lunch alone. That way, he could find the most elegant spot befitting the image of a star and bask in the grace of his lunch and his environment. There was no need for a star to blend in with normalcy, unless there was someone who was troubled and needed his wise advice.
But today, there were a couple of things he had to discuss with Rui and Nene about their next show, so they ended up having lunch together.
“Fufu, you’re having a big lunch today.”
Tsukasa shot a glare in Rui’s direction, already suspecting that in good old Rui fashion, he would offer up his humble vegetable sandwich for Tsukasa’s fancy stamina-filled lunchbox. But it was then that Tsukasa realized that Rui had nothing on him for lunch.
“...?” Tsukasa gave Rui a questioning look. “Where’s your lunch?”
“Oh, I got too absorbed in drawing out the blueprints for the robots for our next play,” Rui explained. “So I didn’t have time to visit the cafeteria before coming up here.”
“That’s Rui for you…” Nene heaved a sigh as she unwrapped her lunchbox. Compared to Tsukasa’s, Nene’s lunchbox was of a smaller size that was more fitting of the appetite for a girl her size.
“What! You shouldn’t be skipping meals, it’s bad for your health, especially when you’re still growing up!” Tsukasa started. “And Nene, don’t speak of it like it’s normal!”
“Right, right, you’re way too stiff about these things…” Nene mumbled.
Rui only had the same old refreshing smile on his face to make in response, “But, I’m tall and healthy though, aren’t I?”
“Kugh…” Tsukasa winced. “...Still, it’s still not good for your health, and we need you to be in tip-top condition as the director of Wonderlands x Showtime.”
“Fufu, I’ll try to remember next time,” Rui chuckled with amusement evident on his face. “I’m sorry to worry you, Tsukasa-kun.”
“You better remember not to skip meals, ever!” Tsukasa insisted. “...It can’t be helped, I’ll share some of my food with you. Just this once, okay?”
“Oh?” Rui raised his eyebrows eagerly. “I get to eat Tsukasa-kun’s fancy lunch today? Maybe it was a good thing that I forgot to buy food.”
“You… Show some gratitude for my generosity, would you!” Tsukasa yelled again.
“You could have just not offered him anything then…” Nene sighed once again as she took a bite of her omelette roll. “Rui doesn’t get hungry easily and is always full of energy, so you don’t have to make such a fuss about him missing just one meal.”
“It’s still not good,” Tsukasa shook his head. “I can’t let our director get used to such bad habits.”
Tsukasa proceeded to untie the star-patterned cloth that covered his two-tiered lunchbox, and placed both containers onto the checkered picnic mat he had laid out for the three of them to sit on. Both Rui and Nene watched with curiosity as Tsukasa removed the lid off both the containers.
Nene’s reaction was surprise, which was quickly followed by awe, “Geh, that’s a lot of protein and meat…”
“It’s normal for Tsukasa-kun,” Rui remarked. “He really loves meat, after all.”
“Of course! Meat gives you the most stamina and energy, after all!” Tsukasa exclaimed, and handed Rui a packet of wet tissues from his pocket. “Oh, but make sure to wipe your hands before eating. Here.”
As Rui wiped his hands as instructed, Tsukasa noticed Nene had been staring back and forth between her lunchbox and Tsukasa’s, though her gaze on the lunchbox was always brief. It didn’t take him long to realize that Nene probably wanted to try some of his lunchbox, too.
“You dig in too, Nene,” Tsukasa said as he also handed Nene the packet of tissues. “You wouldn’t have enough energy for the day eating just that!”
“...I’m not a stamina monster like you, but…” Nene looked away, and returned her gaze back onto Tsukasa. “If you’re offering, then I’ll take you up on it.”
Nene then pulled a tissue for herself and wiped her fingers through it just like Rui had, but a lot more thoroughly than the latter. Once Tsukasa was satisfied, he gestured to the food in front of him with a big smile.
“Now, feel free to take whichever dish you want, Nene, Rui!”
“Thank you for the food,” Both Rui and Nene reached their hands out for the grilled pork ribs that were in the main dish in the lunchbox.
“Make sure you savour its taste!” Tsukasa told them.
Tsukasa wiped his hands as he watched the two of them chew on his mother’s cooking, and also had his eyes on them the moment their faces beamed in delight.
“What is this?” Nene squeaked out. “I’ve never had anything like this… The saltiness and juiciness of the ribs are all just perfect… The soy and ginger flavour blend with each other so well…”
“I guess you don’t know, Nene - Tsukasa-kun’s mom is truly a skilled cook worthy of praise,” Rui commented. “The balance of the flavours are always just right that it all just explodes in your mouth in perfect harmony. I don’t even notice the taste of the onions in them sometimes.”
Tsukasa’s mouth fell upon hearing the things Nene and Rui had to say.
Seeing them enjoy his mother’s hard work made him happy, but whenever people started discussing the flavour of food with such big smiles on their faces, he couldn’t help but wonder what it tasted like to them.
–-Saki smiled a lot too whenever she ate their mother’s cooking.
It was always strange to him that people could smile so much just from the taste - so sometimes, he wondered if the taste of food would make him as happy as shows did. All he knew was that the texture was soft and that the tenderly-cooked meat melted pleasantly on his tongue, so he just enjoyed her cooking a little more than others.
But there was no point in thinking about it, though. He couldn't remember when, but he had stopped being able to taste food at some point, and he couldn't remember the taste of it back when he still could. So he shouldn’t ask for the impossible.
“--What!? Rui, don’t go picking out another one! And you too Nene!” Tsukasa retorted when he saw the two reach out for yet another dish from the lunchbox.
“I can’t help it, it’s too good…!” Nene pouted. “It’s your fault for offering, Tsukasa!”
“Just a little more is fine, isn’t it, Tsukasa-kun?” Rui gave him a sad look that was clearly forced.
“Gghh, you two…!” Tsukasa pursed his lips. “Would you two just show some appreciation already!!”
At least he still had shows to make him feel the same way.