Come lunchtime, Midori made a full spread of okonomiyaki, takoyaki, soup and some yakisoba on her table . Dan, as usual made his way towards the food .

He is really thinking hard how to repay this everyday kindness .

"Wow! This looks different . " He scanned the lunch spread .

"My mom is not from this country . This is common food in her native land . " She replied nonchalantly .

The only thing that Dan brings for lunch nowadays are his own pair of chopsticks .

The head butler back at home had asked him about it . He casually lied that he buys food at the canteen but refused to eat with the utensils provided, hence he packs his own . He does not want to alert anyone in their household of his involvement, well sort of, with a girl since this will garner unlimited teasing from his mother and older sister and ridiculous praises of being a man from his father . Besides, they are only eating lunch together . It's not like she is his girlfriend anyway . Well that was his thought process to convince himself that the lie was for the greater good .

As they were finis.h.i.+ng their meal, Dan complimented the dish again .

Midori smiled ever so slightly . "I missed having these flavors so I had our cook help me make these . "

"Oh! You're cooking is pretty good!" He contemplated for a bit . "But didn't you have to wake up really early for this? Is that why you were not on your game face a while ago in cla.s.s?"

Dan is actually quite sensitive when it comes to her .

He could sense the different feelings from their cla.s.smates whenever the two of them goes through a friendly compet.i.tion . He knows that he is good academically and that she is no match for him . However, he is also aware that she has built a reputation in cla.s.s so he cannot help but be bothered by the sneers she was getting from some cla.s.smates .

He would want to keep seeing her confidence . He admires her looks and personality . He does not want her to be discouraged, thus he tries to give her face .

Midori was shocked by his statement . She shook her head .

"No . It's fine . I told you . I had some help . Also, back in cla.s.s, you were just great . That's all . " She said honestly with a shy smile .

Dan was not convinced though . He thought she is a little upset . He furrowed his brows and thought of how to make it up to her .

"How about we go to the newly opened café two blocks away after cla.s.s? It will be my treat . " He again flashes his smile .

Her eyes widened in disbelief . 'He's asking me out?! No way! Maybe he just felt guilty beating me on a question in cla.s.s . . ?" It was she that furrowed her brows then .

"Unless, you already had plans? I actually would like to take this as an opportunity to pay back all the lunches I had for free . Well, not in an all out, one-time thing, but at least gradually . Let me make it up? Your food is always so great and I don't know how to cook . It would be a shame if I just ask anyone to do it for me . " He felt like he was ranting in the end .

Midori pursed her lips then looked at him apologetically .

"Sorry . Not this time . I have cheerdance practice today . Actually, it will go on through the following weeks . We need the 2-hour practice after cla.s.s to master the routine . Maybe you can pay me back for the food some other time . "

"Oh, is that so . . . " Then he shot her a look, realizing something . "Then, you have to wake up early and go home late?" He frowned with a pout . "Sorry for eating your food . "

Midori let out a cheerful laugh . "It's fine . They know that I have been sharing my lunch . " She looked at him amusingly . "If it bothers you so much, I will not help in the kitchen anymore, at least for the time being . " She giggled .

He looked at her eyes . They were honest . He felt attracted to them .

"Uhmm, do you also go for practices over the weekend?"

"No . Why?" She was again taken aback by the question . It seemed he was not giving up on the café idea .

Dan fell silent . He was debating with himself whether to ask her out or not .

He was not sure of his feelings towards her . Sure, he admires her, but will going out on a weekend be taking it too far . He definitely would miss the lunch if they become awkward after this . But he is quite interested in her, but is it enough interest?

He decided to take his chance .

"Uhm, can I treat you this weekend instead?" He still used the payback card .