Tokyo's Phantom Thief

On his first official day at Shujin Academy, Asakura Rinto truly acted the part of a model student.

In fact, this was practically the first time he had ever attended school properly, at least as far back as his memories went.

He understood the general concept of schooling, of course, but actually experiencing it was something else entirely—fresh and intriguing.

Though he was familiar with much of the material instinctively, he'd never systematically studied it, making even skimming through textbooks strangely fascinating. He found himself flipping pages eagerly even during breaks.

And despite his usual social anxiety, Rinto actively raised his hand in class, surprising even Takamaki Ann, who sat just in front of him.

"You really are an honor student, aren't you, Rinto… You actually enjoy studying?" she whispered in astonishment during a break, spinning around to rest her chin on his desk.

In Ann's eyes, Rinto was like an endless treasure box filled with surprises; no matter how much she dug, there always seemed to be more.

"Well, learning new things is fun, isn't it?" Rinto replied, eyes still glued to the textbook, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

"I actually like school. It feels like another world, isolated from the outside. Where else could you regularly gather this many people your own age?"

"But obviously, exams suck," he quickly added.

Ann nodded enthusiastically, deeply agreeing, "Exactly! Exams are the worst!"

Learning something new was exciting. But if you were forced to meet quotas, that became work.

And who enjoyed work? Nobody sane!

Interests were best kept as interests. Even being a Phantom Thief shouldn't become stressful drudgery—he was determined not to let it turn into a chore.

The morning flew by quickly, and soon it was time for the first lunch break of Rinto's high school life.

The moment the bell rang, Rinto stood up decisively and headed toward the door.

Ann quickly scrambled after him, calling out eagerly:

"Hey, Rinto, wait up! Where are you going? Let's find somewhere to talk properly, okay?"

"Yeah, just give me a minute."

Rinto's gaze was focused, sharp as if preparing for battle.

Ann asked cautiously, "Is something important happening? Like, enemies or something?"

"Nope."

He immediately shook his head firmly.

"I'm going to the cafeteria to buy bread. I saw it on TV once—at school, lunch is a battlefield! Whoever snatches the limited-edition cafeteria bread first wins at high school life!"

"—Are you an elementary-schooler?!" Ann burst out instinctively, smacking him lightly on the butt without thinking.

Realizing immediately how inappropriate the gesture was, she quickly stammered an apology:

"Ah! Sorry, Rinto! It's just a habit—I always do stuff like that with Shiho. Anyway, your butt's surprisingly firm, you know? Very… nice elasticity!"

"…Ann."

Rinto stopped suddenly, looking her directly in the eye with startling seriousness.

Ann's heart skipped a beat as she quickly straightened, suddenly nervous.

Then Rinto, still completely deadpan… flashed a thumbs-up:

"No problem at all! This kind of casual physical comedy is exactly how teenagers should interact. Smack me whenever you feel like it. Oh, and ideally, smack me with a paper fan too—I've always dreamed of getting that kind of anime-style retort."

"—Again, are you an elementary-schooler!?"

Ann never imagined the dashing Silver Knight of the other world would turn out this ridiculous in everyday life.

But honestly… he really was adorable.

She couldn't help herself—moments later, she was doubled over with laughter, clutching her sides and leaning against the wall.

Thanks to Kamoshida's leave of absence—supposedly due to poor health—Ann was in an incredibly good mood today. All her stress had evaporated completely.

Thus, she eagerly joined Rinto's silliness, running together to the school store to buy chocolate-filled spiral bread—something she would never normally consider.

Sitting in the courtyard afterward, chatting over lunch, Rinto asked casually:

"You and Shiho are so close. Don't you usually eat together?"

Licking chocolate off her fingers, Ann replied breezily, "Shiho's mom makes her lunch boxes, so she usually eats with classmates."

It was the kind of experience someone who lived alone like Ann could never truly understand.

Growing up with parents who favored a Western-style upbringing and spent most of their time working overseas, Ann had never tasted a homemade lunch from her parents. Cooking was an entirely foreign world to her.

Right now, she was still puzzling over which end of her chocolate-filled spiral bread was the head—the thin side or the thick side.

Every bite sent chocolate cream spilling onto her fingers, forcing her to keep licking them clean.

It made for a strangely suggestive sight.

Watching Ann battle valiantly against a single piece of bread, chocolate smeared on her fingers and mouth, Rinto finally couldn't help himself:

"You know… How about I start making lunch boxes for you?"

"...Huh?" Ann blinked blankly.

Rinto casually explained:

"I was already planning to start bringing my own lunches once my routine settled down anyway. I cook every day, especially since I prepare breakfast for my roommate. Since I'm already at it, making lunch too just makes financial sense."

"And if I'm already making one, adding another is no trouble at all. You're not a huge eater, are you? You know, like someone who can finish a whole bucket of fried chicken by herself?"

Ann pouted indignantly, "Rude! Look at my waist! Where would all that chicken even go?"

This guy really is completely different from my first impression… Ann found herself increasingly bewildered.

He had an oddly airheaded side and completely lacked normal boundaries around girls, casually tossing out lines that could easily be misunderstood.

But she could feel his sincerity clearly—it really was just a purely kind gesture.

It made Ann realize something important: Rinto genuinely was a good guy… and the kind that attracted girls effortlessly.

She muttered softly under her breath, "No wonder Shiho fell so quickly. And those gymnast twins, too… The more earnest the girl, the weaker they are to guys like this…"

Rinto tilted his head, puzzled. "What was that, Ann? I couldn't hear you clearly."

Ann sighed dramatically, then lightly chopped Rinto on the forehead in a playful retort.

He'd told her before that he'd been busy as a Phantom Thief in the past, never really experiencing school life.

Even though he appeared serious and put-together, he clearly lacked ordinary interactions with peers.

That made Ann feel a bit sympathetic… but at the same time, she kind of liked it this way.

Being around him was easy.

Relaxing and comfortable, just like being with Shiho—she could let her guard down completely.

It was almost like having another best friend... Rinto was practically one of her girlfriends!

Seeing it that way, Ann's heart brightened instantly.

"Okay, then—I'll happily leave my lunches to you, Captain Rinto~! If you're making lunch, make me one too!"

"Oh, but I insist on paying for ingredients—no arguing. I'll even cover yours as payment for your labor. Deal? If you refuse, then forget it."

Rinto considered it, then nodded slowly, "…Alright."

Though he felt a little embarrassed taking money, Ann's determined stare made it clear she wasn't backing down.

So that became their very first deal—an exchange of mutual benefit through homemade lunches.

Not bad at all.