Crossover: After deciding to give up, i became popular

"Freshwater eel or saltwater eel? Which one should I choose…"

Standing in front of the freezer section, Natsukawa Kanade deliberated over his dinner choice.

It was early summer, and various fish had started appearing in stores.

Seafood sushi and sashimi were staples for summer in Japan, but Kanade preferred meals accompanied by rice. That made unagi donburi—eel rice bowl—his first choice.

Biting into tender, rich eel atop fluffy rice, paired with a bowl of freshly made fish soup, sounded like the ultimate indulgence.

"Freshwater eel it is, then," he decided, nodding to himself.

Lunch hadn't been the most enjoyable experience. While the food was undeniably excellent, bad company had made it feel like eating bland, unappetizing fare.

To soothe his unsettled stomach, he resolved to have a meal he could fully savor that evening.

"Instant noodles, bread, toilet paper… Oh, and the most important part—seasoning," he murmured, reviewing his mental checklist.

The instant noodles and bread were for emergencies. Living alone required keeping basic supplies well-stocked. The seasoning, however, was for tonight's main course.

Soy sauce, mirin, and honey could be mixed in precise ratios to create a rich, savory glaze. Whether for eel or other dishes, it was a personal favorite.

While pre-made sauces were available, Kanade preferred crafting his own.

Many eel restaurants took pride in their secret, house-made sauces, often passed down for generations. Kanade wasn't aiming for anything that ambitious but enjoyed adjusting the flavors to his liking. After all, he didn't like overly sweet sauces.

"What else do I need…"

"Good afternoon, Natsukawa-kun," came a soft, lilting voice that pulled his focus away from shopping.

Though he hadn't seen the speaker yet, he already knew who it was.

"Good afternoon, Katou."

Turning around, he saw Katou Megumi standing nearby, her body slightly tilted forward as she carried a shopping basket on her arm. The scene froze like a frame in a movie—Katou delicately tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, her expression as serene as ever, yet exuding a gentle warmth.

"Buying snacks?" Kanade teased.

"Running errands for my mom."

Katou lifted her basket slightly, revealing bottles of cooking condiments, a bottle of green tea, and a pack of Pocky.

"You actually do have snacks," Kanade said, surprised.

He'd only been joking, but it seemed his guess was spot on. Perhaps today was a lucky day.

"…" Katou didn't respond verbally, but her gaze seemed to say, 'I am a girl, after all.'

"Too many snacks will make you gain weight," Kanade said, turning away as if he hadn't noticed her subtle expression.

"It's fine. I have someone to help me finish them," Katou replied lightly, unfazed by Kanade's remark.

"I thought you'd say something like, 'Talking about a girl's weight will make her dislike you,' or something along those lines."

"Would you prefer I said that, Natsukawa-kun?"

"Not really. It just feels more… textbook."

"But I'm not that kind of textbook character," Katou replied matter-of-factly.

"That's okay. Katou is already charming without trying to fit a stereotype," Kanade said casually as he resumed browsing.

"You know eating too much instant ramen isn't good for you, right, Natsukawa-kun?" Katou's gaze turned slightly reproachful.

Living alone often invited concern over one's dietary habits.

"You misunderstand," Kanade replied, feeling slightly guilty. "The ramen is just for emergencies—when I don't have time to cook. I've been eating proper meals every day… lately."

It wasn't exactly a lie. Ever since stepping down as student council president, he'd had more time to cook proper meals.

"Really? You should take responsibility for your own health, Natsukawa-kun," Katou said, her expression skeptical.

Still, seeing the fresh ingredients in his basket, she decided to let the matter drop.

"Is tonight's dinner eel rice?"

"Yeah. What about you, Katou?"

"We're having curry tonight, though I'd prefer something else," she admitted.

"Like what?"

"Something like eel rice, maybe?"

"A summer classic," Kanade agreed with a nod.

"Have you ever made eel rice yourself, Katou?" he asked curiously.

While cooking classes were a staple in Japanese schools, they often provided only basic training. Advanced culinary skills weren't part of the standard curriculum.

"Never tried," Katou admitted, tilting her head slightly. "Are you good at it, Natsukawa-kun?"

"Decent, I guess," Kanade replied, modestly. "Good enough to be edible, at least."

"Overly modest humility is a form of arrogance, you know," Katou quipped with a slight smile.

In traditional Japanese households, women were often seen as the primary cooks. While this dynamic was slowly shifting, a man with solid cooking skills but no intention of becoming a chef was still a rarity.

"I'm not lying!" Kanade said, half-laughing.

Most of his culinary knowledge had come from observing Shiina Mahiru. Compared to her skill, his cooking was amateur at best. His original intent had been to surprise her one day with his cooking—a plan that had ultimately gone unfulfilled.

Ironically, the culinary skills he honed ended up serving another girl instead.

"It's hard to believe…" Katou said, her tone teasing and knowing.

Kanade immediately caught her drift. He'd seen that calculating look countless times on Fujiwara Chika's face when she was scheming for food.

"If you don't believe me, why not taste it for yourself?"

"Are you sure it won't trouble you, Natsukawa-kun?"

"Not at all. It's just one more serving," he replied, shaking his head.

Cooking for friends was as enjoyable as savoring good food alone.

"How about tomorrow? Do you have time during lunch?"

"I do." Seeing their plan set so smoothly, Katou simply added, "I'll look forward to it, then."

"Just don't complain if it's terrible," Kanade joked.

"If it's that bad, I'll leave it all to you to finish," Katou replied with mock seriousness.

"Wow, going for that move, huh? Guess I'll have to put my all into it," Kanade said with a laugh.

On a whim, he added a pack of curry blocks and some beef to his cart. Inspired by the conversation, he decided to change his dinner plans. Curry rice it was.

After they paid for their groceries, the two naturally walked out together.

As friends, there was no need for formalities. Having run into each other by chance, and with neither of them in a rush, it felt natural to stroll together.

"I'll take that," Kanade said, reaching for Katou's shopping bag.

She nodded but paused before handing it over.

"Wait a second," she said, pulling a pack of Pocky from the bag before passing it to him.

　　"Are you going to eat that now? Aren't you worried it'll ruin your appetite for dinner?"

"It's fine. Mom won't be mad," Katou Megumi replied.

"The fact that you're saying that means you're already planning to test her patience," Kanade chuckled. "Cherish your mom's cooking a little more, okay?"

Spending time with Katou always left Kanade feeling relaxed. To him, she felt like the quintessential childhood friend, a girl next door whose presence invited lighthearted banter.

"Natsukawa-kun, ahhh—"

"What?" Kanade turned his head, confused.

Before he realized it, a long Pocky stick had been gently pushed into his mouth.

"Mm…" Kanade frowned slightly—not out of irritation but surprise at the Pocky's unexpected flavor.

"Bitter?"

"Yeah, apparently it's a new flavor," Katou explained, taking a stick for herself.

"Mm…" Her reaction mirrored his exactly.

"If you don't like it, you don't have to eat it," Kanade suggested.

While he could tolerate the bitterness, there was no reason for Katou to force herself.

"It's fine. I need to get used to it," she said, shaking her head.

Kanade sighed internally. Teenage girls' thoughts were truly beyond his comprehension.

"Here, take this," Kanade said, suddenly remembering a small stash in his pocket. He set down his grocery bags and began rummaging around.

"Hm?"

"Fruit candy. Random flavors," he explained, holding up a small handful. "There's no bitter one, but I already ate the spicy one earlier."

"If the bitterness gets too much, this should help balance it out a little."

That was his own trick—popping a candy into his mouth after an especially bitter cup of coffee. While it didn't always work perfectly, it usually helped smooth things over.

Katou accepted the candy with a nod but didn't unwrap it.

Kanade didn't press further, figuring she might want to push through the bitter taste as a personal challenge.

"Mom, hurry up! We're gonna miss the cartoon!"

"Slow down! You'll trip!"

Trouble often struck when least expected. Before Kanade could warn her, a little girl turned her head to call out to her mom and collided with him at full speed.

The girl wasn't hurt—just a bit dizzy—but Kanade's stomach bore the brunt of her rocket-like headbutt, leaving him momentarily winded.

"You shouldn't run like that in public," Kanade said, crouching down with a stern expression. "What if you hit a car instead of me?"

"I'm sorry, big brother. I won't do it again…" The little girl's eyes filled with tears as she hung her head in remorse.

"It's okay," Kanade said, his tone softening as he patted her head. Seeing her obedient demeanor, he pulled out a piece of candy from his pocket.

"Here, but you have to promise not to do it again, okay?"

"Okay," the girl nodded, visibly cheered up. But her hesitation made Kanade curious.

"What's wrong? Something else on your mind?"

"Big brother, are you… a masochist? Why else would you give me candy after I hurt you? I'm grateful, but I won't hit you again," she said earnestly.

"…" Kanade stared blankly, speechless.

Kids these days are terrifying. How do they even know words like 'masochist'?!

"I'm so sorry for the trouble!" the girl's flustered mom finally arrived, bowing repeatedly as she grabbed her daughter's hand.

Kanade waved off her apologies. "It's no big deal."

Once they left, Katou finally broke her silence.

"Natsukawa-kun, do you like kids?"

"Not particularly. Why do you ask?"

"You seem very patient with them," Katou noted.

"They're just kids. As long as they're not outright brats, a little patience doesn't hurt," he explained.

"I see…" Katou murmured thoughtfully.

"Natsukawa-kun, could you hold out your hand?"

"Why?" Though puzzled, Kanade complied.

A moment later, something small and familiar landed in his palm—the candy he'd given Katou earlier.

"Huh? Why are you giving it back?" Kanade began to ask, but Katou cut him off with a serious look.

"Natsukawa-kun, sometimes it's better not to ask girls too many questions," she said firmly.

"Uh… got it," Kanade replied, resigned.

Just moments ago, Katou had been the approachable, easygoing girl next door. Now, she'd transformed into the moody, rebellious little sister type.

Teenage girls' thoughts? Kanade sighed internally. I'll never figure them out in this lifetime.