Volume 1 - CH 46

“There are only three!”

When we arrived at the pastry store, there were three cut cakes in three different varieties in front of us.

Himekawa-san, you said “only three”, but are you going to eat them all yourself?

Well, I’ll just buy all of them for now. If there are any leftovers, I’ll eat them too.

“I’m sorry. Please give me all the remaining cakes.”

“Thank you very much. Since it’s the last one, I’ll give you a little extra.”

The waitress put the cake and some cookies in a bag.

There are fortunes in having too much of something. I was lucky.

Himekawa took the bag containing the cake and started walking away with a big smile on her face.

“I’m looking forward to it! All three looked delicious!”

You’re going to eat them all, aren’t you? Are you not counting my portion?

I don’t really need a cake or anything. I don’t have that much of a sweet tooth.

“Let’s prepare as soon as we get home!”

“Prepare? Prepare what?”

“We need to cut all the cakes in half and make some tea!　Do you prefer coffee, Tendo-kun?”

“I’ll have tea or coffee, whichever suits Himekawa. What do you mean, half a cake?/”

“Three cakes, each halved vertically, to be shared between the two of us. You want to eat all kinds, don’t you?”

“I see. Half. Well, half, half the calories, and good for Himekawa, too.”

I replied to Himekawa with a slight smirk on my face.

Half? I can’t do it alone, but we can do it together.

“Well, that may be so, but if you eat, you should exercise and burn it off!”

Himekawa’s cheeks are a bit red. If this were the real Himekawa, hanging out with her at school might be easier.

But the Himekawa at school is difficult to get to know. She has an aura of a young lady or she seems cold.

Well, it’s okay with me because I feel more comfortable talking to her this way.

—ratata—ratata—ratata

“I’m home.”

“Welcome home.”

I unlock the front door and go inside first.

After I greet her when we get home, Himekawa comes up behind me and says, “Welcome home.”

I’m getting more and more used to this exchange.

We exchanged a few glances and smiled at each other.

“Well, have you eaten dinner yet?

“No, I had a short part-time job today, so I haven’t eaten yet.”

“Want something light to eat? We can eat the cake later.”

These are the conversations that take place as we take off our shoes at the front door.

It should be a conversation between a caretaker and a tenant, but I feel a little uncomfortable.

I wonder if this is how my grandmother interacted with everyone in the boarding house.

“If it’s not too much trouble, could you do it for me?”

“Yes, I would. Then, don’t put the cake in the refrigerator.”

I took the bag containing the cake from Himekawa and went straight to the kitchen.

I put the box with the cake in the fridge and put out the pasta noodles and salad I made earlier.

There is no pasta sauce in the fridge. I used it all up.

I reheated the pasta in an appropriate manner and put it on the table.

A little while later, Himekawa comes into the dining room.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Himekawa’s loungewear is a slightly larger dress.

The loose-fitting dress puts her in a relaxed mood.

“See, it’s just right. After you eat that, let’s have some cake.”

In front of Himekawa’s eyes is a salad pasta.

It is a salad mixed with leftover pasta noodles and dressed with a dressing.

I’m going to fight with the cake now, so I’ve tried to keep it low in calories.

“It looks delicious… Itadakimasu”

She takes a fork in one hand, spins it around a few times, and brings the pasta to her mouth.

A smile breaks out on Himekawa’s face.

I watched her smile and for some reason, I felt happy.

Himekawa smiles as she eats the meal I prepared.

Am I the only one who feels more comfortable in this atmosphere than before?

Two people are better than one. I wonder if Himekawa feels something the same way.

Suddenly a cloud came over Himekawa’s face.

She had been eating with a smile on her face earlier, but suddenly she puts the fork she was holding down on the table.

There is still some pasta left on the plate, but Himekawa hides both hands under the table.

“It’s delicious.”

“That’s good. Was it too much?”

“No, that’s not the case…”

“What’s the matter? Don’t be afraid to tell me.”

Was it bad, was the noodle too hard, or was the dressing not right?

I can think of a lot of things.

I see! As a chef, I should understand the tastes of those who eat!

I didn’t study hard enough!　Himekawa must have had a favorite dressing or something!

“Tendo-kun, were you always a good cook?”

Whoa, an unexpected question.

I never expected to be asked such a question.

“Hmmm, maybe a little before I lived on my own. My mother taught me during spring break of my junior year. We cooked together and ate together. Is that all?”

“So it’s with your mother…”

I think it’s best not to talk about my mother in front of Himekawa.

I probably shouldn’t talk too much about my mother in front of Himekawa.

Unless Himekawa talks to me about her mother, I’ll refrain from talking about it.

It’s a delicate matter.

“If Himekawa cooks with me, she’ll learn to cook as well as I do.”

A little smile returned to Himekawa’s face.

Perhaps she wants to improve her cooking skills?

If so, there’s no problem if she cooks with me and becomes as good as me.

Himekawa has a good memory. I’m sure she’ll be better than me in no time.

“That’s right. Let’s cook together.”

Himekawa puts her hand on her fork again.

For some reason, she is staring at the plate and her fork is turning faster than before.

I can only see Himekawa’s head.

Why is she hiding her face from me? You don’t want me to see you eat?

“I remember now. The manager told me it was for Tendo-kun.”

Himekawa suddenly looks up. Then, a piece of paper was handed to me.

If it’s a normal message it should come to my phone, so it’s a message other than that.

What on earth is this?

I fearfully began to open the paper I had received.