Hmm, I'm still having trouble deciding if I want to buy them. What do you think, Shizuko?

Are you talking about the socks with the little birds printed on them?

That's right.

I think it might be cute if you paired those with that yellow dress you have.

I knew it! All right, I'll buy 'em!

But before you do, do you mind if I look around here one more time?

I'm having pancakes after this, so I wanna move around a little more to get good and hungry!

And that's because you're trying to eat two whole meals to do food reviews, of course.

Hey, I wanna get a lot of food reviews in the pamphlet, that's all!

Everybody loves food reviews, don't they? Don't you wanna know what mine will be like?

Do people love them, though?

Are you for real? I've always loved them! They even show up in manga and stuff.

You've mentioned that before, Kasumi. Remember the first time we went to the cafeteria together?

[Fade in/out.]

Whoa, it's so big! And swanky! So this is Nijigasaki's cafeteria, huh.

Check it out, Shizuko! There are so many things on the menu!

Jambalaya? Laksa? What kind of food is this?

Ack! I can't choose just one with so many options!

Hehe. You look like you're having a blast, Kasumi.

I mean, I've never been here before!

I ate school lunches in the classroom till middle school, and I had only seen school cafeterias in manga and TV shows.

That's why I've always wanted to go to one. I'm so glad I'm going to a school that has a cafeteria like this!

Hmm… Since this is our first time here, we should mark it by choosing the best thing possible…

Ooh, I'm getting this.

Huh?! You already decided?!

Yep. The kama-age sardine bowl. Sounds yummy, doesn't it?

Maybe I should get that too… Oh, but the fried chicken with vinegar and tartar sauce looks good too…

The seasonal Italian seafood dish sounds fancy, and the hamburger steak meal is bound to be absolutely delicious too… Ugh!

Don't worry. Take your time. I'll go find us a place to sit.

Wait, wait! You know you can take more time choosing something too, right?!

This is your first time at a school cafeteria too, isn't it?!

Yes, but… Hmm, I'm good with the kama-age sardine bowl, I think.

I see…

Nnngh, what should I pick? There's also the limited-time-only weekly special, and the monthly one too…

Aha!

Th-This is the one!

[Fade in/out.]

And in the end, you chose from the “Secret Special Challenge Menu.”

Oh yeah, that did happen.

I can still remember it. Those super spicy noodles…

I couldn't stop sweating after just one bite.

Yeah, that's the one. It made my tongue extra tingly after I drank some water.

I never would've finished it if you didn't help me, Shizuko.

Well, I had to help out a little after you said you couldn't leave anything on the plate for your first meal in the cafeteria.

Oh, right… Why was that your first time in the cafeteria, anyway?

Huh?

I mean, at that point, we had been going to school for a while, right? If you wanted to go so bad, how come you didn't go sooner?

Oh, well… Y'know. I had to hype myself up for it and such… Something like that.

Hmm. So you just happened to be ready on the day I didn't bring my lunch, and you just happened to invite me?

Oh, no, that was…

Or perhaps you waited for a day when I didn't bring my lunch?

You obviously already have it all figured out, Shizuko! What's wrong with waiting for you, anyway?

I wanted my first trip to the cafeteria to be special in as many ways as possible!

*Giggle* Sorry, sorry.

I also learned to appreciate the school cafeteria thanks to your invitation.

Now I'm tempted to try the Secret Special Challenge Menu again!