Source
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0573je/20/
The date rolled around and it was past 1:00 a.m..
I was drinking a beer with something I bought at the shopping district, looking at my phone with the room light off.
I glanced to the side and saw Haku san sleeping on the bed.
Ever since she fell asleep, there hasn’t been any signs of waking up.
…..Maybe she was tired from wearing something other than a suit.
Or maybe the time when the snatcher was caught was really stressful.
[I knew I couldn’t do anything but kill…..!]
I bit my back teeth as I recalled Haku san’s words earlier.
Haku san can help people.
When I imagine the circumstances behind how such a kind person became a murderer, I feel very unbearable.
She said she did not know who her parents were or what country she was born in.
In a previous stream, she said she spent her time begging and was so hungry that she stole a loaf of bread and was almost killed.
Maybe…..or definitely, she had many other miserable experiences.
She must have been beaten, robbed, and trampled in ways that my imagination could never conceive of.
I think she eat like fools because she’s imprinted with the idea that if she doesn’t eat when she can, she’ll die.
…If that’s the case, it feels kind of empty.
I want her to just genuinely enjoy her food without worrying about anything.
“Ah…no. I’m a little drunk.”
I felt sentimental and gulped and pressed my brow.
I took a small deep breath and downed the few remaining beers.
Then I looked at Haku san again.
No matter how many times I look at her, she is still so beautiful that it makes me sigh.
“If she had been born in Japan, her life would have been completely different…”
She was so beautiful and so friendly when she spoke. I’m sure she would have been a popular person in class. She would have worked hard in her studies and sports, and she would have been blessed with a good school and a good job.
But then, she would never have had any contact with a high school graduate like me who has a lot of debt.
Well, that’s fine then.
As long as Haku san is happy, it doesn’t matter.
“…..Is it really okay?”
I asked myself and looked up at the ceiling.
If I hadn’t met Haku san, I would probably still be spending my days just inertially making videos.
Ever since the day she told me how delicious it was, my days have been hectic and fun.
I love her smile.
I like the way she acts like a know-it-all for no reason, the way she clunks around, and the way she doesn’t hold back.
I like the way our time together is comfortable, the way we say goodbye, the way we part ways.
Is it really okay that all of that is gone?
……Ah, I see.
Even though I want Haku san to be happy, I understand why I was confused.
“Haku san……–“
I was about to say.
I slapped my cheek and swallowed the words that were about to come out of my throat.
I’m drunk today.
What am I thinking about? I’m not even a student.
I’m just an idiot for imagining Haku san’s other life on my own, and getting depressed about it on my own.
Ah, I’m so embarrassed.
Stop it, stop it, stop it.
Let’s eat something to sober up.
“I’d like something with a lot of flavor.”
I move to the kitchen and check the contents of the refrigerator.
Take out an onion and quickly cut it into cubes.
Put soy sauce, mirin, sake, sugar, granulated Japanese soup stock, and water in a pot and put the onion in it.
Simmer over medium heat to heat through, add a beaten egg and turn off the heat when the egg is nice and half-cooked.
The egg mixture with onions is ready.
The smell of the mixture of saltiness and sweetness is unbearable.
“Rice rice……um.”
I had originally planned to cook today, so I cooked rice in advance.
Pour the appropriate amount into a bowl and top with the fried food I bought at the shopping street.
Croquettes and karaage..oh, the tempura is also good. It’s refreshing.
Then sprinkle the egg binding I made earlier on top and complete it.
“Let’s dig in—“
“Wow, it looks delicious.”
As I was about to eat standing up in the kitchen, Haku san, who had woken up before I knew it, called out to me.
Her eyes were still half asleep, she was sleeping, and there were drool marks around her mouth, making her look more stupid and cute than usual.
“Good morning, Haku san.”
“…… G-good morning. I’m sorry I got drunk again and caused you trouble. Also, thanks for lending me your bed…….”
“Don’t worry about it. Moreover, do you wanna eat, Haku san?”
“Is that okay?”
“It may taste too strong to eat right after waking up, but if you don’t mind.”
Haku san nodded her head vigorously.
I pull out another bowl, heaping it with rice, fill it with rice, and add some fried food to it.
I poured the same egg mixture over the rice and finished the dish.
“Bon appétit !”
Instead of going to the living room, we stood side by side in the kitchen and ate.
Haku san carefully puts her hands together and shovels her bowl of rice into her mouth.
“Mmm~~~! Yum ! This is so good !”
With the happy expression on her face, I took a bite as well.
Yeah, it’s delicious.
If I do this, I won’t have to worry about fried foods that have been made. The batter soaks up the sweet juices of the onion and egg, and it’s so good that I can’t stop eating it.
The shiso tempura is also a hit.
Mmmm, delicious.
The oil from the karaage and croquettes melts into the batter, making the dish as a whole very rich, and the coolness of the shiso goes perfectly with it.
“What kind of dish is this?”
“I just put leftover food on rice and pour an egg over it, so there is no name for it. I used to buy half-price side dishes from the supermarket and make it all the time.”
“Heh. Then let’s call it Inamidon ! It’s a nice name that shows off Haku san sense !”
You tell yourself that?
……Well, it’s okay. It seems to be Haku san’s style.
“If Inami decides to open a restaurant again, this will definitely be the signature menu. I wonder if it will sell for around 10,000 yen?”
“What kind of ingredients would you use to make a bowl of rice that expensive? I don’t even plan to open a restaurant anymore.”
“Oh, really?”
Haku san said as she tilted her head to the side, the bowl was already empty.
Ah, you’re as fast as ever. I’ll make you another bowl.
“Why don’t you try again after you pay back all your debts? Inami’s food is delicious, and I’m sure it’ll be popular !”
“I’ve learned that I’m not cut out for this, so “…Hmm, I see. That’s a shame. I was wondering if I could help in any way.”
“H-Haku san…..?”
In response to that question, she nodded slightly and looked at me.
After a few seconds of silence, she looked to the left and to the right in an uncomfortable manner.
“I-I’m sorry. Did I make you feel bad? Even though I don’t know anything about the store, I said something selfish. I can’t do anything…”
“That’s not true ! !”
Wow, I’m surprised at my own voice.
What time do you think it is? I should think about the volume of my voice. I’m sure Haku san is surprised too.
“Ah, no, I thought…if Haku san could help me, I might be able to manage something. In fact, the channel management is going well, and the store management is the same way…”
I went on and on with my logic.
No, that’s not true, I shake my head.
“…Also, I just want to do it with Haku san. There’s no one else I’d enjoy being with like this.”
The management, the numbers, and such things are secondary. I don’t care.
This is how I really feel.
Haku san lowers her gaze, fidgets and shakes her body, and occasionally looks at me and blushes.
“……Are you having so much fun with me?”
“Yes.”
I quickly affirmed it.
Haku san’s body trembles and her silver eyes reflect on me.
“Do you want to be with me forever…?”
“Always…depends on your definition, but to the extent that it doesn’t get in Haku san’s way.”
“I’ve never thought of Inami as a hindrance. ……I-I even think it’s okay for us to be together for the rest of our lives.”
She grabbed the sleeve of my clothes and looked up at me.
For the rest of our life—My heart beats furiously at those vague and childish words.
It might be Haku san’s joke, or she might just be saying it without knowing what it means, but I want to take it seriously.
Let’s calm down for a moment.
I take a deep breath, but the blood flow only accelerates.
She just stares at me and doesn’t say a word.
And then, just then.
She releases her hand from her sleeve and immediately grips my index finger.
She intertwines her other fingers as if invading mine, and our hands finally connect.
Sweat soaks through.
We check each other’s sensations.
Both eyes are still staring at me.
I gulped at her passionate gaze and leaned our body closer together.
Unconsciously, I put my free hand around her waist.
Gently, so as not to let it go anywhere.
“Me too……I want to be with you for the rest of my life……”
Before I knew it, this mouth was spitting out those words.
I’m embarrassed, but I don’t feel bad about it. For some reason, I have no regrets.
I twirl and tug my eyes.
Gently, the tips of our noses touch each other.
The breath I feel.
Her shaking eyes.
Her glossy lips.
Suddenly, the kiss that drunken Haku san had given me flashed back to me.
She slipped, she said.
She said so, sadly.
But maybe now it won’t happen.
“…….”
As if accepting something, Haku san’s eyelids dropped.
Her long eyelashes hid her silver eyes, and instead, her slender fingers tightened their grip on my hand. She gripped my hand tighter and pulled it, urging me to do this, that, and the other. I respond by putting more strength into the arm around her waist.
–Brrr, brrr, brrr, brr !
[ [!?] ]
A vibrating sound breaks the silence.
We both simultaneously bounce away from each other, exchanging wry smiles.
“Ah ! I-it’s mine !”
She went back to the living room, picked up her phone, and talked to someone for about ten seconds.
Then she disconnected the call with a snap and said regretfully, [I have to go home…….]
“I’m really sorry for all the trouble I caused you today. Well, see you tomorrow !”
“O-okay. See you tomorrow…….”
She prepared to leave and walked quickly away.
I locked the front door and cracked a poorly crafted smile.
Scratching my head, I crouched there in agony, [Ah～～～～.]
“…..What was I trying to do? N-no, this is not good…!”
Drunk with alcohol, bewitched by the strange atmosphere, and with intense self-loathing for having almost been swept away.
I remembered the look on her face as she waited for me with her eyelids closed, and my heart was shaken like never before.
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