Chapter 74: Lets Cook Together! |
(TLN) Bonus chapter 2/2. Thank you so much for your support!
“Um, I have obtained permission from my parents, so I thought I would shamelessly take advantage of your kind offer, but… Are you sure it’s alright?”
“Yes, of course! Make yourself at home as if it were your own house!”
Shijouin-san, who spoke hesitantly, received a joyful response from my mother, who had a delighted expression. It seemed like she had taken quite a liking to Shijouin-san, who was both adorable in personality and appearance, and her excitement was like that of a grandmother whose grandchild came to stay over.
(But still, did I hear a faint scream from the phone at the end? Well, it must be my imagination. It has to be.)
Shijouin-san staying overnight at our place was an unexpected and uncontrollable situation. It should be clear that I am not at fault, and Tokimune-san should understand that as well. Yeah.
(However… When I calmly think about Shijouin-san staying at our house, it’s really an unbelievable situation…! Ah, somehow I’m getting excited now…)
I was the one who suggested to my mother to let Shijouin-san stay over. However, the reason I suggested that was due to the common sense and rationality of helping each other in times of disaster, not because I fully understood what it meant.
“Hehehe… It’s great, isn’t it, big brother? It’s a sleepover, a sleep-o-ver! It’s like an event that says, ‘Have a hot night!’ I should treat my sister to a triple scoop of ice cream for bringing up this situation!”
Honestly… He’s making such a vulgar face, as if saying, “The most exciting event has come!” when I’m not calm about this unexpected event.
“Now then, let’s start cooking dinner. Oh!?”
Suddenly, a ringtone echoed from my mother’s cellphone, and upon hearing it, the career woman let out a small scream. Seeing her like that, I could sense what the call was about.
Oh no… Did it happen…?
“Yes, this is Niihama… Ah, yes, we all went home early today due to the heavy rain… What? Whaaat!? Ah, no, yes… Yes… I’ll do my best to finish it and send it by email tomorrow… Yes, understood… I’m sorry, but I have to go now…”
Just as I had expected, my mother hung up the phone with a worn-out expression. It seemed like it was an announcement that kills the privacy of working adults.
“I’m sorry… There’s something about documents that need to be completed by tomorrow from another branch, and I have to start working on them now! So, Shinichiro, I’m really sorry, but…”
“That’s alright. I’ll take care of the cooking, so you focus on your work, Mom.”
“Well, I appreciate your help. You’re truly amazing these days, but honestly, I’m grateful! Well then, Shijouin-san, I’m sorry to leave you so suddenly!”
“Oh, it’s fine. Please take care of your work.”
“Yes, sorry about that! Ugh, I really hate it when the workplace intrudes on family life with just a single phone call!”
I watched as my mother, carrying her laptop, headed towards her room, and I found myself nodding in agreement. It’s unsettling when a work-related phone call comes in while you’re at home.
“Now, I’ll go and make dinner, so Shijouin-san, please watch TV in the living room with Kana.”
“What? I knew that Niihama-kun can cook, but are you saying that you’re making all the dishes for the family?”
“Well, not every time. I don’t dislike cooking, and I want to lessen the burden on my working mother from time to time. Well, I’m aware that it’s a bit unusual for a guy to do that.”
“No, it’s really amazing, and it’s not unusual at all! Papa even said, ‘In the future, the era when men can’t do housework or cooking is almost over, as dual-income households become more common.'”
Oh, I see. Tokimune-san is in his 50s, but… he certainly has a modern sense about that.
“Ah, by the way, I’m a specialist in eating! I can’t even cook a decent fried egg!”
“At the very least, try not to let tea leaves mix into the tea you brew, you silly sister.”
Honestly… She boasts about being popular with guys, but she doesn’t even try to improve her femininity.
“Well, I’ve always been bad at cooking, even as an adult. I guess I’m just physically averse to it…”
“What? Even as an adult?”
“Oh, no, I was talking about myself. Well then, both of you, please relax while I stay in the kitchen.”
While disguising it as a future conversation that slipped out, I headed to the kitchen, leaving the two of them in the living room. Now… What should I make?
“Hmm, well, I only have ordinary ingredients…”
Ideally, I would want to make a visually appealing dish to entertain someone like Shijouin-san, but since I didn’t prepare anything, it seems like it’ll be a very ordinary menu.
“Okra with sesame dressing… Cucumber and wakame seaweed with tuna vinegar… And miso soup with carrots and daikon radish… Oh, do we have Kawahagi fish? The only option for that is simmering it.”
“That sounds great! I love sweet and savory simmered fish with rice!”
“Ah, it’s perfect as a rice companion… Wait, Shijouin-san!?”
When I turned around, there stood Shijouin-san wearing my mother’s apron, with a smile on her face. W-Why is she in the kitchen!?
“W-What’s with that outfit…?”
“I asked Kana-chan and borrowed Mika-san’s apron. I know it’s proper etiquette for a guest to wait patiently, but… well, I really wanted to…”
She really wanted to…?
“I really wanted to cook with you, Nihami-kun.”
“Huh…”
The girl with long, beautiful black hair said that with a dazzling, cheerful smile.
Since I heard that Niihama-kun can cook, I’ve been thinking about it all this time. I thought it would be a wonderful time if we could stand in the kitchen together, cooking and then eating together while having a conversation!”
As Shijouin-san, wearing an apron over my shirt, said that with nonchalance, I blushed like a maiden.
(S-She’s so cute…! N-No, calm down… I’ve experienced Shijouin-san’s natural pure intentions many times before! I need to stop my virgin mind from going all geeky!)
Of course, that’s impossible.
Whether I’m a virgin or not, if a girl I really like says, “I really wanted to cook with you,” I can’t help but feel flustered.
“I have so much fun cooking with Mother and the housekeeper, Fuyumi-san, so I wanted to try it with you, Niihama-kun… Um, was that still bothersome?”
“N-No, not at all! As you can see, our kitchen isn’t as spacious as Shijouin-san’s house, but I’d be extremely happy if you could help!”
“Oh, that’s great! Then please guide me. Since Niihama-kun is the head chef, just give me instructions!”
For some reason, just the fact that we would be in the kitchen together made Shijouin-san show a blooming smile.
(But still… Shijouin-san seems to have no sense of tension about staying overnight at a guy’s house, even though she said she felt guilty about it… Is she getting excited about this situation instead!?)
This isn’t a dating sim, and even if we’re staying overnight, it’s just eating, talking a little, and then sleeping――but in front of this oddly cheerful natural girl, my sense of normalcy was already starting to crumble.
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