Too Many Losing Heroines! - Volume 7 - Chapter 2.4

Intermission: Can't Stop the Nighttime Sweets

A week has passed since Shiratama-san started her probation.

In the club room after school, Yanami, Komari, and temporary member Shiratama are present.

Yanami munched on some Pockys while staring absentmindedly at the club room door.

"Hey, where did Nukumizu-kun go?"

"H-He got called to the i-infirmary."

Komari answered without looking up from her phone.

"Ah, Konuki-sensei again. Nukumizu-kun is the club president, after all~"

Crunch, crunch. Yanami pushed another Pocky into her mouth with her fingers and then offered the box to Shiratama.

"Hey, Shiratama-chan. Want some?"

"Oh, yes. Thank you."

Shiratama, who had been reading a yellowed club magazine, switched to her usual smile.

As she opened a small packet of Pocky from the box, she couldn't hold back a chuckle.

"What's so funny, Shiratama-chan?"

"I just thought that maybe Yanami-senpai and I are a bit similar."

Shiratama nibbled on the Pocky, tilting her head cutely.

"Why? Because we both like salad flavor?"

"That's part of it. But I also always carry snacks with me. Look."

Shiratama took out a bag of adorable soft candies.

Seeing this, Yanami nodded eagerly.

"You get it, Shiratama-chan. Snacks are essential for girls, but guys never understand that. They always say things like you're eating too much-"

As Yanami started to gripe, Shiratama tilted her head slightly.

"Are you talking about Prez?"

"...No, I wasn't talking about Nukumizu-kun."

Yanami denied it with a serious face. Shiratama looked puzzled for a moment but then decided to let it go. She smiled and offered the bag of soft candies.

"Would you like some?"

"Thank you!"

"Komari-senpai, would you like some too?"

"...Ueh? T-Thank you."

A gentle atmosphere settled in the club room.

Yanami munched on a soft candy, nodding repeatedly.

"Snacks are definitely comforting. I can't live without them."

"Yes. I have to eat a lot to keep myself from losing weight, so it's quite a task."

"...Eh?"

Yanami's expression froze.

Shiratama, with an innocent look, tilted her head again.

"Isn't that the same for you, Senpai? If you only eat meals, you'll lose weight, so you always have snacks."

"...Yes."

Yanami nodded in agreement, silencing Komari with a glance when she looked like she wanted to say something, and then she leaned forward with a serious expression.

"...Hey, Shiratama-chan, do you have any tips?"

"Tips? Well, finding time to eat small amounts frequently, I guess."

"And that helps you lose weight?"

"Huh? No, it's a tip for not losing weight."

Yanami fell silent.

Unaware of Yanami's reaction, Shiratama continued talking with a smile.

"Just last night, I ate cake before bed. It's bad for your skin, but I couldn't eat much dinner. Senpai, do you eat anything before bed?"

"I had cup noodles last night, too..."

Yanami's head dropped in defeat as she spoke.

Shiratama clapped her hands together with a bright smile, oblivious to the effect of her words.

"That's amazing! I can't finish cup noodles. Only the boys in the sports clubs can manage those large cup noodles, right?"

"Yeah, you're…right…"

While Yanami's energy seemed to fade like a burnt-out incense stick, Shiratama kept talking as if she were a fish that was finally put into the ocean once again.

Komari, her hands trembling, put on her headphones and started her music player on her phone.

"I've recently been able to finish convenience store bentos, so I might be growing a little too. Do you have any tips for eating a lot, Yanami-senpai?"

"Maybe...just add all the seasoning packets at the start..."

After managing to finish her sentence, Yanami remained slumped, unmoving.

Komari stood up silently, pressing her forehead against the wall.

"Uh, are you two okay…?"

No response.

Baffled by her two senpais, who looked like lifeless corpses, Shiratama opened the old club magazine again-