Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/2912051597934651646/episodes/2912051599449206425
In the end, since Seika’s room next door was equipped with a proper sukiyaki pot and a portable gas stove, the two of them decided to move there.
Houtarou hesitated a little at the idea of going into the room of a high school girl his age, but he was essentially persuaded by Seika’s persistent urging.
Seika skipped into the kitchen, full of excitement, and began laying out the green onions, grilled tofu, and beautifully marbled beef she’d bought from the supermarket.
Just as she finished putting on her apron, humming to herself and wagging her invisible tail, a figure approached her from behind.
“I’ll help too.”
“Eek!?”
At the sound of Houtarou’s voice right beside her, Seika’s shoulders jerked and she let out a startled squeal.
Turning around in surprise, she saw Houtarou, his sleeves rolled up, already washed up and ready to go.
(Standing in the kitchen together… that’s totally like a newlywed couple, isn’t it!)
A fanfare blared loudly in Seika’s mind.
Her 530,000-IQ brain instantly turned pink, and she began to run wild with visions of a super-sweet newlywed life: herself in an apron and him smiling beside her.
“It’s just not right to make you cook everything all by yourself. Besides, we should eat soon.”
Houtarou listed what seemed like perfectly reasonable reasons, but none of it registered with Seika, whose mind was already floating on cloud nine.
(Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no! Working together with Achi-kun. Isn’t this basically a proposal!?)
She had unilaterally pushed past her limits and was writhing in ecstasy with the kind of excitement you’d expect from a hardcore otaku.
Stared at by Houtarou’s calm eyes, Seika’s face gradually melted into a slack, dazed expression.
“Hehehe. Well then, I guess I’ll just have to ask you to do it for me, hehehe.”
“……You really have a creepy laugh.”
Houtarou shot her a cold, repulsed look, but to Seika right now, even that felt like a reward.
“It’s fine, it’s fine! Achi-kun, slice that leek on the diagonal over there! I’ll cut the tofu!”
Seika handed him the knife, and the two of them stood side by side at the cutting board.
They were so close their shoulders almost touched. The faint scent of his shampoo mingled with the pungent smell of the green onions.
Tap, tap, tap. The sound of two knives hitting the cutting board echoed pleasantly through the kitchen.
“Is the green onion okay like this?”
“Yep, perfect! Just like I expected from Achi-kun—you’re so efficient nyo!”
“Stop with that weird way of ending your sentences.”
Even as she received his cold retort, the corners of Seika’s mouth remained turned up.
She kept stealing glances at his serious profile out of the corner of her eye, letting out an eerie “hehehe” laugh.
Together, they chopped vegetables and tofu, working side by side to prepare the hot pot.
Just that simple task felt incredibly precious, and it was the happiest time ever.
She never wanted to let go of this warm space she shared with him.
“…What are you grinning about? It’s dangerous, so watch your hands.”
“Y-Yes! Hehehe…”
Beside Houtarou, who sighed in exasperation, the innocent gal continued preparing the sukiyaki with a slovenly expression plastered on her face the whole time.
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