“Ahh. That was a nice sleep… and it’s already noon. I’m starving.”

Yesterday was a mess. Well, it was fine until the movie, but then came the rest of it. 

They recommended books to each other at the library, and after making a lot of noise, they decided to borrow ten books each. The two of them then said “Take them!” to me and I carried the luggage to Ryoko’s house via the apartment where Kiryu and I were going to live. Twenty books are pretty heavy, you know? I thought my arms would be torn to shreds.

“Do we have anything to eat?”

After lunch, I’m going to start packing my things. Hmm, should I at least pack some clothes and shoes? I also have a set of furniture over there… is there anything else I need? Well, if I’m missing something, I can just go back and get it. It’s not that far away anyway.

“Mm?”

The phone on my desk vibrated. I looked at the display and saw the name of one of two who forced me to endure hard labor yesterday.

“Hello?”

“Hello, it’s me.”

“Is it the “it’s me” scam?”(E/N: Refer to the previous chaps, iirc kiryu joked about the mc being a scammer once he said the word ‘It’s me’ so yeah.)

“The name should appear on the display. It’s Kiryu.”

“I know. What’s up?”

“I was wondering what time you are coming here today.”

“Uh… Well, I guess that I will be there at about six. I haven’t packed yet.”

“You’re not done packing? Can you make it in time?”

“My luggage itself is just daily necessities, like clothes and shoes. And it’s not too far away. I’ll be back to pick up other things I need as soon after I arrive”

“Well, that might be a wise decision.You don’t have to carry everything at once.”

“Yeah. To begin with, I had to carry a lot of luggage yesterday. My arms hurt, and I can’t carry a lot.”

“Weak.”

“You know, twenty books is a lot, It weighs a ton.”

The library staff was kind enough to lend me a paper bag, but the bottom of the bag was starting to tear. Furthermore, it was heavier because all the books they borrowed were hard covers. 

“I know. I’m sorry, it’s true that you helped me. It’s hard for me to carry that much back home anyway.”

“Oh, you’re going to read all of them?”

“Of course. I wouldn’t have borrowed it otherwise.”

“Ryoko and you read an awful lot, don’t you? I genuinely respect that.”

‘Well, reading is my hobby. It’s a good hobby, reading. Why don’t you also do it?”

“It certainly sounds noble.”

“Not really. It doesn’t cost much to go to the library and you don’t move around much so you don’t get hungry either. It’s economical because you can spend a reasonable amount of time without wasting money.”

“…”

Is reading even a hobby in that sense?

“Of course, it also satisfies my thirst for knowledge, doesn’t it?”

“It feels terrible, though.”

Suddenly reading became a hobby that was nothing but noble.

“Well, I don’t think it has to be noble. I like reading for many reasons.”

“I see.”

Hobbies are different for everyone. Each person’s stance on his or her hobby is also different.

“So? What’s going on?”

“Oh, I forgot all about it. I was wondering what we’re going to do for dinner.”

“Ah well, six is a tricky time.”

It’s too early for me to eat dinner at home and it’s too much trouble to cook.

“What do you want to do? Do you want to take delivery? Or, if you don’t mind, I’ll buy a convenience store lunch.”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

“No?”

You mean you’re gonna go get some food? Then I—-

“I’m going to make it!”

—…

“No,why?”

“As a thanks for yesterday’s help. I got you to carry my books for me.”

“Making me eat poison cooking on top of carrying yesterday’s books? What kind of punishment game is this? Do you hate me or something?”

“Well now you are less likable. What’s with the poison cooking anyway?!”

“I’m sure you could tell from the way you held the knife the other day. Do you think you can cook for other people at that level?”

“You’re so rude. Everyone starts out as a beginner, you know?”

“Even a beginner would know how to hold a knife.”

Didn’t you have cooking classes or something, seriously.

“Don’t worry. I’ve been practicing what I can do. In fact, I’ve been itching to show it off.”

“…”

“Hey, why are you silent?”

“In all ages and cultures, it’s a given that a dish that is presented with confidence by a bad cook is a failure.”

“I don’t know what that saying is. Never heard of it before.”

That’s mainly a quote in the anime and manga community.

“Don’t worry. I don’t make mistakes when I cook for people. I’ve practiced properly.”

“No, just because you’ve practiced… By the way, have you tasted it?”

“Excuse me. Of course I tasted it. Even my father approved saying “It’s delicious!””

“…”

Kiryu’s father is ‘that’ father, right? Even if he were to peel off his white eyes, he’d still say it’s delicious, so his credibility is close to zero. (T/N: The “peel off his white eyes” is a Japanese expression for fainting.)

“It’s okay, don’t worry too much. I’ll cook the rice properly this time.”

“Why don’t you machine wash it?”

“I won’t. Of course, not with detergent either.  I will wash them gently and soak them in water for about 30 minutes before cooking. Of course, I use cold water from the refrigerator, so don’t worry.”

“Huh? Thirty minutes in the water?”

“The rice will be fluffier if it is soaked thoroughly in water, because it will be moistened to the core, right?”

“And for cold water chilled in the fridge?”

“If you cook it in cold water, the rice will be tighter and the texture will be better. “

“Really?”

I didn’t know that. Seriously now?

“I even practiced a few times at home. I was surprised that one way of cooking rice can change the taste so much. I didn’t know that until my housekeeper told me. It’s amazing.”

“No, it’s true that the way rice is cooked changes the taste of it but… Eh, seriously?

Because just a week ago, she was trying to wash rice in the washing machine, and when it came to knives, she looked like a freakin’ murderer, you know?

“You’ve studied.”

“You said it yourself, didn’t you? It’s better to be able to do it than not to be able to.”

You say that like it’s nothing, but that’s a lot of effort you know?

“You’re amazing. Well I knew that you were.”

“Oh, you’re right, it still costs money. My father says I can spend as much as I want, but I’m a little cautious about spending an inexhaustible amount of money.

“That doesn’t sound like the words of an Ojou-sama.”

“Ara~? Do you prefer if I spent money lavishly while laughing loudly?”

“No, I don’t think so. I mean, it’s okay if you don’t like it. It’s all about the money and body, isn’t it?”

‘You aren’t wrong, but the way you say it is terrible.”

“After I said it, I thought, “Oh, that’s not what I meant”. See? It’s important, isn’t it, the way you say it?”

“I think you’re right. It’s better to think a little about how to say it, maybe with more “elegance”.”

“I’m not really an “elegant” person though. Well, I understand anyway. I’ll be there at six?”

“Alright. I’ll make sure it’ll be ready by then.”

“What about stomach medicine?”

“Unnecessary… is what I’d like to say, but please bring it with you just in case. Come to think of it, we haven’t bought any medicine at all.”

“Do you want me to get something? Isn’t it better to have some cold medicine or at least some cooling sheets?” 

‘Well…. Then, I’d like you to bring some cold medicine, a cool sheet, and a thermometer.”

“You have a cold?”

“You never know when you’re going to need it. I’ll be waiting for you at 6:00. Look forward to it.”

“Alright. I’ll be on time.”(E/N: Such casual conversation of married couples, ahhh when will I experience this? The earliest will probably be in a decade, worst case I probably won’t wahhh.)

With these final words, I hung up the phone. I wonder? I think the thought of a “beautiful girl’s home-cooked meal” awaiting me made me feel a little excited. I put my hand on the dresser to get ready so I wouldn’t be late.

“Wait. Hold up.”

When you think about it, it’s the rice cooker that cooks the rice, right?

“It doesn’t matter how good a cook you are, does it?”

Although she may have knowledge, knowledge does not necessarily mean she can cook well.

“Am I going to be safe?”

A sliver of uneasiness. Cursing my carelessness for responding so casually, I slumped my shoulders and opened the dresser drawer.

I wonder if I’ll be alive tomorrow.

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like