The Villainess Reika-sama

[129]

"She was my classmate in university. This is Yumiyama Erika-san."

"Hello."

Smiling besides Ichinokura-san, Yumiyama Erika-san was slender like a model. Actually not 'like'. I had seen her in fashion magazines before. She was literally a model.

"What are you having, Erika?"

"I'll just go with a salad. I have a photo shoot soon."

Mao-chan and I had arrived earlier and already ordered, so sitting in front of us now were countless plates.

Mao-chan looked at her own orders, and then looked at Erika-san's salad.

We couldn't exactly waste food that we ordered either, so in front of Erika-san and her tiny salad, Mao-chan and I were forced to awkwardly eat our usual fill of calories.

"I've heard so much about you two from Haruto," she smiled. "He's always talking about how cute his niece and her friend are. And gosh was he right! You really are as cute as a doll~!"

She clapped her hands together in happiness.

"Didn't I tell you? Mao and Reika-san are like adorable little sisters. Just going out to eat with them is enough to do away with all my stress."

Ichinokura-san flashed a smile beside her.

"You're such a gourmand, Haruto~" she replied. "Actually, I've known about Mao for quite a while now, but recently he began telling me about you as well, Reika-san, and I just had to meet you."

I was startled.

"Umm, I apologise for always going out to eat with him. I had no idea he was taken, and did not mean anything by it... If I upset you in any way, I will make up for it."

Uh oh. Don't tell me she had to meet me to stop taking her boyfriend out to play?!

We weren't playing though. We were eating.

Ah! Didn't we go to Taiwan the other day!? Although to be honest it was a one-day trip so you couldn't really call it going on vacation with somebody.

But still! Don't tell me I was in the position of some housewrecker!? Aahh! Reika! Didn't you learn anything after that time with Kasumi-sama!?

'Adultery'...

'Demanding reparations'...

"No! I didn't mean it like that! You didn't do anything to upset me at all!" she exclaimed as she waved her hands in denial. "Actually, I'm really happy that he finally has somebody to eat with, you know?"

...Really?

"You know how much Haruto loves food, don't you? I've been trying to eat out with him as much as I can, but I just can't. But then recently I heard that you and Mao were going places with him and I was just so relieved. Haruto always tells me how much he enjoys his meals with you two, you know?"

I put on a smile and nodded along.

"You're just a small eater, Erika," said Ichinokura-san, "You don't have to force yourself to come with me. And Reika-san, when I first met you you wouldn't even touch the food. I was really worried, you know? But thankfully when we met again at Mao's birthday I found you happily eating away. Erika has never eaten much, and now her job needs it too, but you two are still growing so you need to eat. Oh, what should we get for dessert?"

With that, Ichinokura-san showed the dessert menu to the two of us, even after all of the food──.

We talked about how they first met, or about Erika-san's modelling job, and to be honest it was a nice enough lunch. And there had been no need for me to worry about Taiwan either, because Erika-san had said to me with a smile, "It must have been tiring going to Taiwan. I'm glad the xiaolongbao were good. I've been drinking the tea Haruto got me every day."