Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/2912051597934651646/episodes/2912051597988393522
It was a weekend afternoon. As gentle sunlight streamed in, Hirugami Seika stepped out of her apartment building’s entrance, an eco-bag in hand.
Just as she was about to head out to buy dinner, her mind already on the sale flyers, it happened.
From beyond the automatic doors, she saw a familiar figure walking toward her with a listless gait.
His posture was slightly hunched, and his eyes were calm, as if he had come to terms with everything in the world.
There was no mistake. It was her classmate and neighbor—the boy Seika secretly harbored feelings for—Houtarou Achi.
In his right hand, he was carrying a small plastic bag from a convenience store.
“Oh, Houtaro kun. Just back from shopping?”
When Seika called out cheerfully, Hotaro stopped walking and turned his gaze toward her.
“Yeah. I guess so.”
Just as Hotaro was about to start walking again after his brief reply—
A nasty thud sounded at her feet.
Something had spilled out onto the asphalt through a gap in the flimsy plastic bag he was carrying.
Seika crouched down reflexively and picked it up.
It was a jelly drink in a silver package, with its nutritional information printed in bold letters.
Having a bad feeling, Seika stood up and peered inside Houtarou’s plastic bag.
Inside, there were only a few more of the same jelly drinks and some block-shaped nutritional supplements.
“Wait, what?! Is this all you’re having for dinner!?”
“It’s all the same as long as it goes in my stomach. I don’t have time to eat, so I’ll just make do with this.”
At those unbelievable words, Seika slumped her shoulders in despair and nearly collapsed to her knees.
Just because he had logically refused her yesterday, saying, “Every day is too much,” she never imagined he’d revert to such a starvation-like diet the very next day.
This was simply too extreme.
(If he keeps eating like that, Achi-kun is going to die!)
Inside Seika’s heart, her intense maternal instincts and girlish feelings exploded.
She had to find a way to get him to eat a warm, nutritious meal.
But if she simply said, “I’ll make it for you,” he’d probably brush her off coldly again, saying she was just doing it out of obligation.
Her mind spun round and round, and a flash of inspiration struck Seika.
With this plan, even that nitpicky, cold-shoulder guy wouldn’t be able to complain.
“Hey, Achi-kun! I was just about to go buy some really heavy stuff, like rice and water!”
“Oh, okay. Be careful.”
“So, carry my bags! As payment for your labor, I’ll make dinner for you tonight!”
She grabbed Houtaro’s arm firmly with both hands just as he turned to walk away.
Houtaro turned back and let out a short sigh, looking annoyed.
“I just got home.”
“This isn’t about helping each other—it’s a ‘deal’! It’s payment for labor, so it has nothing to do with other people or obligations, right?”
She pointed her finger at him sharply and declared this in full-on sassy gal mode.
Houtaro blinked slightly, letting his gaze drift into space as if deep in thought.
After a few seconds of silence, he gave a small nod.
“I see. If it’s payment for labor, then I really have no reason to refuse.”
“See? See? Then it’s settled—we’re going to the supermarket!”
Pulling Houtaro’s arm—which had surrendered so easily—Seika set off triumphantly.
Wagging her invisible tail behind her back, she made a silent victory fist pump inside her head.
To him, it might just be the labor of carrying bags, but to Seika, it was essentially a shopping date.
When they arrived at the supermarket, Houtarou truly acted as a bag carrier, following behind her impassively with a shopping basket in one hand.
They walked side by side through the air-conditioned fresh fish and meat sections.
He looked exactly like a newlywed husband completely under his wife’s thumb, and Seika couldn’t stop smiling.
“Pork is on sale today! Let’s make ginger pork to build up our strength!”
“Do whatever you want. I’m just here to carry the bags.”
Despite his brusque attitude, Houtaro carried the sale pork and onions Seika put in the cart without a single complaint.
Seika’s heart fluttered even more at his clumsy kindness.
◇
After finishing their shopping, the two returned to their apartment building.
Stepping out of the elevator, Houtarou took out his room key and inserted it into the doorknob.
A heavy metallic click echoed, and the door swung open inward.
“Here, come in.”
“O-oh, excuse me!”
Prompted by his words, Seika stepped into Houtaro’s room.
At that moment, her heart gave a loud thump.
She had come in on rainy days before, and she had brought him side dishes for his lunch.
But back then, it had been driven by impulse and a motherly instinct.
Now that she was fully aware she was in love with Achi, the fact that she was entering a closed room alone with him weighed heavily on Seika.
Even the simple act of taking off her shoes at the entrance felt awkward and unnatural.
The faint scent of minty shampoo and the distinctive body odor of a boy filled the room.
It was a sterile, bare room, but there was no doubt that this was his private space.
She was standing in the room of the person she liked.
(Oh no, oh no, oh no! I’m so nervous!)
The overly innocent nature hidden beneath her flashy, “gal” facade was screaming in panic.
She could feel her face flushing bright red all the way to the back of her ears.
Seika clutched the grocery bags tightly to her chest and took a deep breath, desperately trying not to let her nervousness show.
“What’s wrong? Don’t just stand there—get cooking already.”
“I-I know! I’ll make it at lightning speed, so Achi-kun, just sit down and wait!”
As if to cover up the tremor in her voice, Seika hurried off to the kitchen as if fleeing.
Her footsteps pattered as she stood in front of the kitchen island and slipped the frilly apron she’d brought with her over her head.
Her hands trembled slightly as she tied the strings at her back.
Glancing surreptitiously into the living room, she saw Houtaro sitting at the coffee table, a freshly bought jelly drink rolled to the edge of the table as he fiddled with his smartphone.
Seeing him so completely relaxed and defenseless, Seika’s heart skipped a beat once again.
As if to shake off her unease, Seika slapped both cheeks hard to psych herself up.
She placed an onion on the cutting board and set the knife to work.
As the satisfying sound of chopping—tap, tap, tap—echoed through the room, Seika’s heart rate finally began to settle.
She poured oil into a frying pan and placed it over the heat.
As she heard the oil sizzle and warm up, she tossed the pork into the pan.
With a loud sizzle, a fragrant aroma rose up instantly.
She then added the onions and poured in a special sauce made from grated ginger, soy sauce, and mirin.
The sweet-and-spicy aroma of the sauce sizzling and caramelizing violently filled the sterile room.
She could see Houtaro, who was in the living room, jerk his head up at the rich scent that seemed to grab him right by the stomach.
Sweet steam rose from the rice cooker, carrying the scent of freshly cooked white rice.
“Here you go! Sorry to keep you waiting! Special Ginger-Fried Pork Set Meal!”
She set the steaming hot plate and a mountain of rice on the table.
Houtaro put down his smartphone and stared intently at the brown feast laid out before him.
Then, with a snap, he broke the disposable chopsticks and immediately brought a piece of the ginger-fried pork to his mouth.
It was a level of enthusiasm that made it hard to believe he’d been planning to get by on just a jelly drink.
He chewed on the pork soaked in sauce, then immediately followed it up with a mouthful of white rice.
The crisp texture of the onions and the refreshing spiciness of the ginger must have been bursting in his mouth.
Watching Hotaro silently and single-mindedly move his chopsticks, Seika leaned forward, propping her chin on both hands.
“How is it? Is it good?”
“…It’s good. It’s way more filling than jelly.”
Though his words were terse, his eyes were clearly brimming with the joy of eating.
The tension in his demeanor suddenly eased, and he returned to looking like a boy his age.
Just seeing his face made Seika’s heart grow warm.
“See! Make sure to chew it well!”
Seika’s eyes sparkled as she silently pumped her fist in triumph.
At the same time, she smirked, having reached a realization.
(If I use a reason like a ‘deal’ or a ‘favor,’ this guy will never say no!)
She had discovered the perfect way to win over this detached, aloof guy.
It’s a sale day, so I need help with the shopping. I made too much side dishes and want to share them.
If I look for them, I can come up with as many excuses as I want.
I just need to list a bunch of legitimate reasons to take care of him, so he doesn’t have a chance to refuse by saying, “I don’t owe you anything.”
I’m going to turn this guy into the happiest, most useless person in the world who can’t live without me.
“Oh, there’s more rice! Don’t hold back—eat as much as you want!”
Watching Houtaro happily tuck into his ginger pork, a carefree smile spreads across Seika’s face.
It’s an over-the-top plan to spoil her cold, aloof neighbor—all orchestrated by a seemingly promiscuous but actually innocent gal.
And that affection grows heavier with each passing day.
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