CH 54

Today was finally White Day, and the time had come to repay Kaede for everything she had done for me.

Kaede had her part-time job today, and I asked the manager to let me take the day off.

In the meantime, I started preparing to make cookies, just like Chinatsu taught me.

I am nervous. However, my excitement was outweighing my nervousness at the moment.

“Let’s get started…”

Today went better than usual. I made the cookies, praying in my heart that I wouldn’t fail.

“All that’s left is to bake these…”

Just because only baking was left, I should not be relieved, for I did not yet know whether it would be a success or a failure.

After about an hour, when I took them out of the oven, they were sweet and smelled wonderful.

Cocoa, butter, both had a nice color.

Then I heard the front door open with a clunk.

I rushed to the front door and found Kaede standing there with red cheeks.

It was still cold outside, so when she took off her scarf, I could see that even her nose was red.

“Huh? You’re early….”

“Yeah, The manager told me it was okay to go home early today.”

“Well, that’s good…”

“Yes!”

Then, Kaede noticed something and started sniffing around.

She gradually closed in on me.

“I can smell something sweet and good from you, Ren-kun.”

“You can smell that?”

“Yes, I do. I have a good nose.”

Looking at Kaede who was proudly answering, “Like a dog!” I wanted to retort.

“Something, from the living room…”

“T-that’s not true?”

“Why are you hiding so much?”

She stared at me. When I looked away from her, she said “suspicious” and went into the living room.

Then she went to the kitchen and saw the cookies.

“What are these cookies?”

Kaede looked at the cookies curiously.

“They’re cookies for you, For White Day….”

Hearing that, she said “Ah!” She was embarrassed, but smiling.

“T-thank you very much.”

“M-My pleasure.”

“May I try some?”

“I don’t know if it tastes good, but go ahead.”

“Alright then” she said and took a bite. Her eyes sparkled,

“It’s delicious!”

“R-Really?”

“Yes! Yes, it’s true!”

“I-I’m so glad.”

I felt relieved and smiled broadly.

“Why don’t we eat in the kotatsu?”

“Yes, it’s cold.”

I put the cookies on a plate and brought them to the kotatsu.

“Today is White Day, so please make a wish.”

“No! It’s fine. I’ll feel bad”

“You did it for me on Valentine’s day.”

I asked Kaede, so I asked her to request something, but Kaede was very distressed.

Even I knew that she would refuse.

“Then, I want you to hug me tightly.”

“Eh?”

“I-Is that no good?”

Kaede looked at me with upturned eyes. When she looked up at me like that, my body started to feel hot, perhaps because I was in the kotatsu.

“No, it’s fine. Then, Shall we?”

“Y-Yes…”

I hugged her tightly. I hugged Kaede while thinking about how much force to use so that her body would not be hurt.

“Fufu~, I can hear a thumping sound.”

“I-It can’t be helped, you know? It’s embarrassing.”

“Even though I asked for it, my heart is also beating very fast.”

After saying this and hugging each other, neither of us could look each other in the eye.

(Was….it a success?)

I could tell from Kaede’s expression that the White Day gift was a success.

She was smiling a lot.

After that, Kaede fell asleep, perhaps because she was tired, but she slept comfortably with a smile on her face.