Episode 12 – Little Devil Cooking
Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818093094240830071
“Please, come in.”
I showed her into the living room. I tried to take her luggage, but she insisted that injured people should rest and wouldn’t let me.
“I’ll make lunch right away. I’ll use the kitchen.”
Shiramine headed for the kitchen as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She did it so smoothly that I was more surprised than confused. Still, if she was going to cook for us, I was grateful.
“Can I help you with anything?”
Only my sister and I use the kitchen in our house. Well, that’s because there are only two of us living here, but thanks to my parents leaving us many things behind, we have a lot of tableware and cooking utensils.
“No, don’t worry about it. I told you, didn’t I? I’m good at cooking.”
Shiramine continued to ask me questions.
“What would you like? Demi-glace omelet rice? Or the classic ketchup? Or maybe we could try white sauce?”
Isn’t she misunderstand? Cooking is the act of preparing food using various cooking methods. Cooking does not equal making omelet rice.
“You can tell me what you like, okay?”
Shiramine puts on a white apron that she took out from nowhere and turns around proudly.
She’s cute. That’s all there is to it. but…
“Um, is there anything else?”
That said, it’s not strange to want to eat something else since I’ve been eating omelet rice every day for the past few days.
“Muu… Senpai, are you tired of me?”
“Eh, I didn’t say that…”
“After devouring me like that, playing with me, and then just throwing me away when you’re done… That’s cruel, too cruel.”
I did devour it. The omelet rice, that is. But I didn’t play with her. After all, that would be bad manners.
“Actually, people grow through failure. So, let’s try something other than omelet rice. Even if you fail, I’ll eat it.”
“But… I might not be able to do it well.”
She held the spatula and looked down anxiously. She was a little curious about how to use it when making omelet rice.
Still.
“You can do it. Did you know? Omelet rice is harder to make than curry.”
You cut the ingredients, put them in a pot of boiling water with the roux, and that’s it. Except for a few minor details, that’s all there is to making curry.
Omurice is definitely a step or two above that, since you have to cook the eggs and ketchup rice separately.
“…Do you like curry, senpai?”
Shiramine glanced at me repeatedly, as if trying to read my expression.
“Of course. I love it.”
“I’ll make it!”
Shiramine’s expression brightened instantly. Well, if it’s curry, I’ll probably use that kind of ladle.
“Then let’s make it together.”
“No, I told you, please just rest.”
“Eh?”
I’m not particularly fond of cooking, but it’s better than sitting around doing nothing. Besides, it might be inconvenient for her to use my kitchen.
As I was thinking this, Shiramine pursed her lips and said, “But…”
“…If you really want to do something, then…”
“What?”
“P-Please stay by my side…”
“What? I don’t mind, but is that all you want?”
So you want me to stand next to you and guide you through making curry?
“Myy… You’re so insensitive, aren’t you?”
“Huh? Me?”
No way. I’m friend A, right? There’s no one better than me at picking up on things.
“Actually, are you okay? Your face is red.”
“…Tch.”
“What, did you just click your tongue?”
“Maybe it’s just your imagination, Senpai. Come on, Senpai. Let’s make some curry.”
“Oh, sure.”
Once I taught her how to use a knife and cook, Shiramine picked it up very easily. In fact, she’s probably much better at it than I am.
“Do you cook a lot, Shiramine-san?”
“Yes. My parents asked me to live on my own starting this year, so they taught me a lot.”
Despite that, I thought it was a bit of a waste that he only ever made omelet rice. I’m sure Shiramine can make anything. So why…
“But I don’t really like cooking for myself.”
With the sound of a knife tapping on a cutting board, Shiramine said with a somewhat sad look in her eyes.
“Why?”
I didn’t know if I should pry, so I could only ask her that question.
“Because I know how the food I make tastes. So even if I make something, I think, ‘Well, it’s just like this,’ and it makes me feel a little lonely.”
Contrary to her words, Shiramine smiled softly, and seeing her made my heart ache.
“…I see.”
There was no correct answer to that statement. I felt that saying something convenient like, “That’s not true,” or pretending to be understanding would be no different.
“I’m probably blessed. I have kind parents who let me do what I want to do. …They can’t oppose anything I say I want to do.”
There must be some reason for that. Surely.
But I couldn’t bring myself to pry into it. Because, after all, I was just Friend A.
Even if I stuck my nose in halfway, there was no way I could solve it.
“…Alright, the ingredients are ready. I guess it’s time to put them in the pot.”
I opened the cupboard, trying to cover up my feelings.
There was a row of dishes lined up inside. There were five flat plates, so that was fine.
“Here you go, senpai”
Normally, it takes the longest to simmer the curry in a pot and bring out the flavor of the vegetables. But in our house…
“That’s amazing. I didn’t know you had a pressure cooker.”
Shiramine seemed impressed when she saw the unusual pot with a lid that I took out.
“My mother loves cooking, so she bought it.”
I lightly stir-fried the chopped vegetables and meat, then put them in the pressure cooker filled with water. After that, I turned on the heat, simmered it for a while, skimmed off the scum, added the roux, and it was done.
“…Alright, just wait a little longer and it’ll be done.”
After simmering it on low heat for about ten minutes, the curry was ready. I think I had some frozen white rice.
“You can cook, too, senpai.”
When I placed two plates of curry on the living room table, Shiramine sat down and pursed her lips.
“Well, I guess it’s because I live with my sister. I just noticed that I’m pretty good at it.”
I don’t have any particular hobbies, and now that I’ve quit soccer, I have a lot of free time.
“Or rather, I don’t want my sister to cook as much as possible.”
My sister’s cooking is so bad that it can’t even be called cooking anymore.
The other day, she was trying to add a lot of expired yogurt to stir-fried vegetables, saying that she wanted to make them richer.
“Then, I’ll serve the curry.”
After serving curry for two, Shiramine put her hands together, bowed slightly, and then picked up her spoon.
Lately, maybe because we’ve become closer, she’s been speaking more bluntly, but she still maintains proper etiquette.
“Let’s eat.”
She lifted the spoon before the curry got cold. …I’ve been using spoons a lot lately.
Just as I thought that, the intercom rang.
“…Who is it, in the middle of the day?”
It was past noon. Maybe my sister had bought something online or something.
“Senpai. I’ll answer it.”
“Eh, no, that’s too much trouble.”
I stopped Shiramine, who had stood up, and headed for the front door. If it was a delivery, it would be a bit of a hassle.
“Go ahead and eat.”
“…Muu, okay.”
And so, I headed toward the entrance… but the visitor was none other than…
“Hey, Hayami Ren. I’m glad to hear you’re okay.”
“…Eh, yeah. Thanks.”
Carrying a flashy fruit basket, it was the student council president, Sanada Tsubaki , dressed in her school uniform.
Shiramine and the president, they’re both so nosy…
“We were just about to have lunch. Would you like to join us, President?”
Well, for now… I have no choice but to say
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