The moment he caught a whiff of that aroma, Yaronora’s eyes lit up instantly, and his fiery red hair began to shimmer as he excitedly grabbed Kuerle’s arm and exclaimed, “Oh my god, we’re so lucky to have a roommate who can cook!”
The school cafeteria did serve decent food, with plenty of delicious and affordable options. However, the problem was that both of them carried the burden of being campus heartthrobs. If they were seen devouring large portions or displaying certain quirky eating habits in the cafeteria, their carefully crafted images would be ruined.
Bringing food back to the dorm was an option, but how could reheated meals compare to freshly cooked delicacies?
But now, with a roommate who could cook, the situation was entirely different! They could simply have their roommate prepare meals, allowing them to dine comfortably in their dorm.
The beds were surrounded by magical runes that, when activated, created a small private space—even if they shared a room, no one could see what was happening inside. Eating there meant no risk of revealing anything that might tarnish their heartthrob status.
It couldn’t get any better than this!
Not just Yaronora, even Kuerle couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy as his keen sense of smell picked up the sweet, fragrant scent. Outsiders wouldn’t know, but despite Kuerle’s tall, imposing figure and heartthrob status, he had a soft spot for desserts—pastries, cookies, and all kinds of sweet treats were his absolute favorites.
Now, with a roommate who could not only cook but also whip up delicious desserts… Kuerle’s smile deepened, his mind already spinning with sly little schemes.
Just then, the sound of the door opening caught their attention. Davist, who had just finished preparing lunch, had already tidied up the kitchen and set the table. When he looked up, he saw two strikingly handsome men walk in—one with flamboyant red hair, the other with golden locks and gentle blue eyes. Their demeanor, attire, and overall presence made it clear they were anything but ordinary. Davist’s ears twitched slightly.
Spotting Davist’s light jade-green hair and soft brown eyes, Yaronora’s eyes sparkled as he let out a low whistle. “Well, well, didn’t expect to actually meet a non-human roommate. An elf? Wait, no—a half-elf, right?”
Davist’s ears flicked again, the tips turning slightly pink. “I’m Davist Androsser, a half-elf,” he replied.
Normally, Yaronora was the type to show off in front of beautiful people (regardless of gender), but this time, Kuerle beat him to the introduction. “I’m Kuerle Anviasser. You can just call me Kuerle. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Davist. I look forward to spending these school years with you.”
Calling someone by their first name upon first meeting might have been overly familiar, but under the mesmerizing gaze of Kuerle’s tranquil, sea-like eyes—and given Davist’s secluded upbringing where everyone was close and trusting—he found himself nodding along in a daze.
“Hello, Kuerle. I, um… it’s nice to meet you too,” Davist murmured, his fair, delicate ears flushing a deeper pink, making him look like an exquisite little dessert that Kuerle desperately wanted to taste.
Yaronora shot his friend a strange look, an inexplicable sense of unease creeping up on him. Shaking his head, he dismissed it as mere imagination and turned his attention back to the delicious spread on the table.
“Since we’re all friends now, I’ll call you Davist too,” Yaronora chimed in. “I’m Yaronora Bethune—just call me Yaronora! By the way, Davist, did you make all these amazing-smelling dishes yourself?”
Davist clasped his hands behind his back, outwardly calm but internally nervous. “Yes. I’m quite skilled in cooking, and since I didn’t know where the dining hall was or how the food tasted, I decided to try cooking in the dorm kitchen.”
Yaronora clapped his hands like an excited seal. “Really? That’s impressive, Davist! So… would it be possible for us to have a taste?”
Davist wasn’t one to be stingy. “Of course. Please, have a seat. Do you need me to fetch extra utensils?”
Yaronora waved a hand. “No need! We brought our own. No trouble at all.” With that, he cheerfully dragged Kuerle to the table, making himself right at home.
Davist exhaled quietly in relief. *Good, these two seem easy to get along with. That’s two-thirds of the battle won. I just hope the last roommate is just as friendly.*
Meanwhile, Yaronora, happily digging into the food, remained blissfully unaware of the murderous glare Kuerle was shooting his way.
Fortunately, Kuerle retained enough self-control not to cause a scene or outright strangle Yaronora for daring to flirt with *his* newfound beauty right in front of him.
*Stay composed. Stay restrained. Must not ruin my perfect image in front of my little sweetheart,* Kuerle reminded himself, grinding his teeth. *As for Yaronora… well, I’ll let him live—for now.*
Since Davist had only prepared lunch for himself, the portions weren’t large. Luckily, Kuerle and Yaronora had already eaten, so they didn’t take much, leaving enough for Davist to fill his small appetite.
Still, Kuerle frowned slightly at Davist’s plate. “Davist, did we take too much? I’m sorry if we left you with so little.” A hint of guilt flickered in his eyes.
Yaronora, snapped out of his food-induced bliss, also looked sheepish. Despite his love for eating, he wasn’t unreasonable.
Davist waved his hands. “No, no, it’s not your fault. I’ve always had a small appetite.”
This wasn’t just polite reassurance—Davist genuinely ate very little. His guardian, the half-elf Anshura, had often lamented his tiny portions.
Before Yaronora could say another word, Kuerle—subtly eyeing Davist’s slender frame—spoke up first. “How about this, Davist? From now on, we’ll provide the ingredients and cover the costs, and you handle the cooking. What do you think?”
“Sure,” Davist agreed without hesitation. It was a great way to bond with his roommates *and* earn some extra money.
Pleased, Kuerle nodded and began discussing meal plans and budgets with Davist, all while maintaining impeccable table manners.
Yaronora glanced between his best friend and their new roommate, a row of question marks popping up in his head.
*Why do I suddenly feel like a third wheel? Is it just me?*
After lunch, Davist hesitated before speaking again. “I… also made some small desserts and cookies. Would you like—” His voice trailed off, his bright eyes dimming slightly.
*They’ll probably think it’s girly. They might even start disliking me for it…* Davist mentally scolded himself for being careless.
Seeing Davist’s expression, Kuerle’s heart ached. The urge to pull him into a hug and shower him with kisses was overwhelming, but he restrained himself—partly because it was their first meeting, and partly because Yaronora’s big mouth would undoubtedly spread rumors.
Not that Kuerle cared about gossip affecting *his* reputation, but he couldn’t bear the thought of Davist suffering from malicious talk. As a regular student, Davist would be far more vulnerable to backlash.
So, for now, Kuerle had to hold back.
But he couldn’t let Davist stay upset. Clearing his throat, he said warmly, “Thank you, Davist. Here’s a little secret—I’ve always been a huge fan of sweets.” He winked subtly, sending a playful glance Davist’s way.
Yaronora’s jaw nearly hit the floor, but Davist perked up immediately, his eyes shining again. “Really? That’s great! I love sweets too! Wait here, Kuerle, I’ll bring some for you to try!”
With that, he hurried off to fetch the desserts.
Kuerle watched him go before turning to Yaronora with a smirk. The moment Davist turned around, though, his expression shifted back to that of a gentle, warm-hearted gentleman.
As Kuerle and Davist happily chatted over desserts, Yaronora—now unintentionally (or perhaps *very* intentionally) ignored—sat in silent existential crisis.
*What even is my life right now?*
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