Chapter 5

This is the fifth chapter of the first volume and the fifth chapter overall of the More Than a Married Couple, But Not Lovers manga series written by Yūki Kanamaru.

## Summary

It's lunchtime and Jirō is about to eat the bento Akari prepared for him. Sadaharu sees this and immediately expresses how envious he is of how Akari has been treating him.

Akari hears them say her name, so she asks them what they were talking about. Jirō dodges the question and pretends that he and Sadaharu were talking about somebody else. Akari lets it go and asks how the bento was. Jirō initially just says that it's delicious, but Akari is not satisfied with his answer. Jirō starts to comment on how he would have preferred his tamagoyaki sweeter, but Akari is still not satisfied with his feedback.

Back at home, Akari is busy in the kitchen preparing lunch for Minami. Jirō realizes that that is the reason why Akari has been trying her best at cooking. She tells him that since guys usually prefer girls like Shiori who would make good wives, she wanted to practice on her housework. She finishes the tamagoyaki and asks Jirō to have a taste. While Jirō is savoring the tamagoyaki, he thinks of how much it sucks that his fake wife is making a bento for Minami, while his actual crush is Minami's fake wife.

A little while later, Akari wraps up the bento with a heart and dresses up before she goes to Minami's to deliver the lunch she prepared. Jirō thinks of how Akari never dressed up for him but spent so much time preparing to meet Minami. He also noticed that the bento had so many heart shapes which reflected Akari's feelings for Minami.

Akari snaps him out of his thoughts and asks him to wish her "a safe trip." She extends her arms, seemingly asking for a hug. Jirō is suddenly reminded of their first kiss, thinking that Akari must want another kiss before she left. He refuses and tells her to hurry up and go to Minami. However, Akari tells him that she really wants it. Jirō is almost swayed looking at Akari's facial reaction.

They are suddenly interrupted by the doorbell. Jirō hurriedly opens the door and sees Shiori. She's dropping by to deliver some quiche and apple pies that she made. She shares that Minami had requested for them and she ended up making too many. She warns them that Minami preferred them sweet since he liked sweet stuff, so she hoped that it would be okay for them.

Jirō takes a peek at Akari and notices that her face had fallen. He knew her tamagoyaki was not sweet, despite his feedback to make it sweeter. The bento lunch catches Shiori's eye, and she asks if it was for a picnic. Akari doesn't answer, but instead comments at how good the pies looked.

After Shiori left, Jirō tries to cheer Akari up and encourages her to just try again. Unfortunately, Akari still feels dejected. Jirō, tries to cheer her up once more, listing down all the things Akari has going for her. He lets slip that she's very popular and that she's every guy's dream.

He realizes what he's said and tries to explain. However, while he's rambling, he blurts out that Akari is someone who most people would rank at the top of people one would like to do "those things" with. Akari asks if Jirō also wanted to do "those things" with her. He tries to deny it, but Akari calls him a liar. She then crawls on top of him and saddles him between her thighs. She asks him once again if he's ever thought about doing "it" with her.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

Jirō Yakuin
Akari Watanabe
Unnamed Classmate
Marin Hashimotomentioned
Minami Tenjinmentioned
Shiori Sakurazaka
## Chapter Notes

* Akari prepares bento lunches for Jirō to get feedback on her cooking because she plans on preparing the perfect bento for Minami.
* Akari ignores Jirō's suggestions to add sweet foods to the bento, believing that Minami would not eat those kinds of foods.
* Shiori drops by Akari and Jirō's apartment so she can give them some of the baked goodies she made for Minami. Akari learns from Shiori that Minami does in fact enjoy sweet foods.
* Akari feels bad for not being able to make the perfect bento for Minami. Jirō tries to comfort her by telling her that she is every guy's dream girl and that every guy wants to do "those things" with her.
* Akari asks Jirō if he's like every guy who wants to do "that" with her too and attempts to seduce him.