CH 32

“Let’s see, eggs, …. milk, …”

Like that, I was shopping without knowing much, but my eyes stopped on something.

“Cup noodles… Side dishes…”

After all, the things I liked caught my eye. And I was about to put them in my shopping cart, thinking that there was no friend who was so easy, simple, and inexpensive, for someone who lived alone but I decided to cook for myself today, so I quietly put them back where I found them.

After that, I placed a few more things I needed in my basket, paid the bill, and went home a little slower.

Coming to the supermarket and going home by myself was almost unthinkable for me before, so it was a bit refreshing.

It was already evening, and I was heading home with my bulging eco-bag in hand.

“It’s tough just to go shopping.”

I let out a sigh, but washed my hands properly and then stood in the kitchen.

I took out the contents of the eco-bag and put it on the table.

(Now then… let’s make….)

With that said, I added ketchup to the rice, mixed it in, and the ketchup rice was ready, then added the fried sausage to it and the rice was done.

Next, I cracked an egg and put it in a bowl, stirred it with chopsticks, heated it in a frying pan, and placed the slightly hardened egg on top of the ketchup rice, completing the instant omu-rice for men.

I wanted Kaede to see it, too, because it was a good result.

“This is surprisingly good.”

I tried it and found it to be even better than I had expected, so I decided to cook it better next time and treat Kaede to it as well.

Next, I thought about preparing a bath… but I chose the easy way out, thinking that just a shower would be enough for today.

It was after 9:00 p.m. and I was drying my hair after taking a shower when I received a call on my phone.

(Who is it at this hour?….)

I looked at my phone and saw that it was from Chinatsu. I thought that she was calling to tease me, so I ignored the call once, but it came again, so I had no choice but to pick up the phone.

—Yes, hello?

I answered the phone in a slightly bad mood.

Then, from the other side of my phone, instead of Chinatsu’s innocent and cheerful voice that seemed to teasing me, I heard….

–Ah, I’m sorry, is it fine right now?

–Eh? Kaede?

I was so taken aback that my mouth was left hanging open.

–But why did you suddenly….

—There’s… no reason

—It’s a lie, if you borrowed Chinatsu’s cell phone and called me, there must be a reason….

–Well, can’t I just call…. because I wanted to hear your voice?

Hearing this, I found my face relaxing, the heat concentrating on my face, and most importantly, Kaede’s voice over the phone was refreshing, and I could further imagine what kind of expression she was wearing now, and so on.

I thought that she was probably blushing just as much as I was right now.

After that, we chit-chatted a bit.

–I made an omelette rice, and it turned out pretty good

–Fufu, You did a good job cooking! That’s great

–Yeah

–I have high hopes then, okay?

–Leave it to me

And finally, I said, ‘Good night,’ and ended the call. I had been on the phone for more than half an hour.

But it felt like only five minutes. That’s how fast time seemed to pass when talking to Kaede.

My face was still hot and my heart was racing.

“It’s winter, but should I turn on the … air conditioning?”

I was staring at the air conditioner button as I said that.