Volume 6 - CH 3

A few days back…

“I knew it, Arisa’s cooking is the best.”

Yuzuru muttered while eating somen noodles.

Arisa smiled in response.

“…I don’t think there’s much difference in some somen noodles.”

“Rather than the somen, the sauce you make is delicious.”

The somen was store-bought, but the dipping sauce was Arisa’s own, made from katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes) and kombu (kelp).

Compared to the commercially available diluted sauce, the flavor and aroma were slightly different.

That slight difference was what made it so delicious.

“I am glad to hear you say so.”

Yuzuru’s words made Arisa’s face beam.

She went out of her way to make something by hand that she could normally just use a store-bought item.

Naturally, Arisa had her own unique commitment to it, but…

Being praised for it was probably a nice thing to hear.

“However… the season for somen noodles will soon be over, isn’t it?”

“It’s almost September, huh”

Arisa nodded in agreement.

However, it was still very hot in September these days, so it could hardly be called autumn.

It will be another month or more before autumn could be felt.

“And winter will be here before you know it.”

“I’m looking forward to the Hot Pot.”

“…a little too soon for that, don’t you think?”

With the cicadas singing, it was too soon to talk about hot pot, one could say.

“But… I too am looking forward to winter with Yuzuru-san”

“And why is that?”

“…Since it would be the first time for us to spend the winter as lovers.”

Yuzuru and Arisa have been in a romantic relationship since the spring of this year.

Therefore, they have not experienced any winter events that can be called important days for lovers, such as Christmas.

“And then there’s the school trip too.”

“The school trip, huh… I hope we can be in the same group.”

If possible, it is better to share the same room.

Yuzuru had thought that, but no matter how he thought about it, that was not acceptable.

It was a futile hope.

“There are so many fun things to look forward to!”

Arisa smiled happily.

Seeing Arisa like that, Yuzuru also felt happy.

I don’t like winter very much.

Arisa, who said so, was already a thing of the past.

And it was he who was able to make it a thing of the past …because he realized that it was he who was able to make her happy.

“But we must watch out for the cold.”

“I’ll take care of you this time.”

“…If I ask you to wipe the sweat off, will you do it?”

“Eh? That’s… of course…”

Slightly flushed, Arisa nodded.

Was she embarrassed, remembering her own daring behavior?

Or did she imagine Yuzuru’s naked body…?

Probably both.

“Well, it’s best not to catch a cold.”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“I don’t want to catch the flu. Gotta get vaccinated too.”

Without much thought, Yuzuru said…

And Arisa’s expression slightly stiffened.

“Vaccination… you say`?”

“Yes… you do it every year, too, don’t you, Arisa?”

“No… I, um, I don’t get them.”

Yuzuru was a bit surprised by Arisa’s words.

Of course, Yuzuru also understood that there are people who do not get flu shots, but…

He also thought that those who do receive it were the majority.

“Why is that…?　Are you the type that gets sick when you get the shot?”

Actually, Yuzuru was also the type that gets a little dizzy when he gets injections.

Not enough to collapse, but it was not a very good feeling.

“N,no… I wonder?　I haven’t had an injection in a while…”

“Why…?”

“T, that’s …isn’t it scary?”

A little embarrassed, Arisa said so.

Even though you’re a high school sophomore…

Yuzuru couldn’t help but think.

However, Arisa was childish in some ways, such as her dislike of dark places and wasabi.

That part was also adorable.

Yuzuru couldn’t help but laugh.

“…What are you laughing at?”

“No, I just thought it was cute.”

She was a little offended that Yuzuru laughed at her.

Arisa gave a sullen look.

She was cute in that way, too.

It’s adorable, but…

“…I’d like you to take a shot.. if you can.”

“…Eh? Wh-what?”

When Yuzuru mumbled that, Arisa looked a little perturbed.

She probably did not anticipate being told such a thing.

“No, because if Arisa gets sick I might get sick too…”

“That’s… I just have to be careful, right!”

“That’s true, but when you get sick, you get sick… And look, this year is fine, but next year you’ll be taking an exam, right?”

It was important to avoid contracting the flu during the important time of the examinations.

If someone gets the flu on the day of an exam, it would be difficult to recover, and even on other days, it would be hard to get back into good shape.

It would be best to be in good health.

“N, no, but…”

“Can we just try it out?”

“N, no, I don’t want to!　I can’t!”

“…it doesn’t hurt so much these days, does it?”

“It’s a lie!　Of course, it hurts when they stick needles in you!”

“Do you want me to show you that it doesn’t hurt?”

“Absolutely not!”

“You’re in high school now, you should at least get over needles…”

“Aah~, I can’t hear you. I can’t hear you!　I don’t care!”

Arisa covered her ears and ran away from that spot.

In order to persuade her, Yuzuru chased after her…

That was the beginning of their quarrel.

“So that’s how it is…”

“So that’s how it is…”

Now, the two groups of friends who heard Yuzuru and Arisa’s arguments at about the same time…

muttered in unison.

” ” ” ” ” T-this is too silly…” ” ” ” “

TN: Looks like the author gave up on giving titles to these chapters and the volume considering he has given titles to the new ones. Why did I even wait for it… *sigh*