What is happening before my eyes… Is this reality?
I pinch my cheek as hard as I can.
The pain confirms to me that the scene before me is real. Yes, it hurts. But it lacks a sense of reality.
“Youshin’s house seems to have all the cooking utensils. Well, it’s natural since you don’t live alone. Does your mother usually cook?”
“Ah… yeah. Either my mom or dad… whoever comes home cooks first…”
“Your dad can cook too? That’s amazing. My dad can’t cook at all. He can only make fried rice, I guess?”
“I think my dad is amazing because I hardly cook at all… I can’t even properly cook hamburgers, and I’m not sure if I can make fried rice.”
“Well then, next time, I’ll teach you how to cook. Men who can cook are highly regarded. Mainly by me, though.”
In front of me,Nanami-san, wearing an apron from our house, is cooking in the kitchen. Just the sight of her cooking had a stronger impact on me than the movie I watched today.
The best visuals are flowing before my eyes in real-time.
Is it okay to see such a sight for free? Even movies aren’t free; you have to pay for them… Oh, wait, in a way, I am paying…
No, calm down. Let’s calm down for now.
How did it come to this… Let’s go back in time just a little. Just a little bit.
When Nanami-san said, “Today, I’ll go to Youshin’s house and make dinner!” I couldn’t stop her, and she took my hand and led me to the food section of the shopping mall.
I had no way to stop her, as she was in high spirits… and we arrived at the food section.
“By the way, what were you planning to eat today?”
“Well, I haven’t thought about it at all. There’s a gyoza chain restaurant a short walk from here, so I thought maybe we could have gyoza set there…”
( TLN :Â Gyoza are a type of Chinese dumplings.)
“Gyoza, huh… I actually wanted to let the filling settle… Well, okay, let’s make gyoza. Can you help me wrap them?”
“Uh, sure. If there’s anything I can do…”
Overwhelmed, I agreed to help with the cooking, even though I had never done it before. Well, I thought I could at least wrap gyoza at that time.
“Alright, let’s go shopping… Oh, wait a moment.”
She stopped as she was about to start walking and took out her smartphone. Then, she began contacting someone.
I just watched her exchange without saying anything… She muttered, “Okay,” blushed slightly, and put away her phone.
“Nanami-san, what’s wrong?”
“Hm? I told my mom that I’ll have dinner with Tomomi and the others today, so I won’t need it. I also sent a message to Tomomi and the others…”
She stuck her tongue out like a mischievous child… She must have lied to her parents… I feel sorry for them.
“Okay, let’s go shopping then. Gyoza ingredients… Do you know what we need?”
“Ah, yeah. I should know at least…?”
With a tilted head, she cutely smiled at me as if mocking me…
I’m sorry, but I don’t know at all. Ground meat and chives, maybe… Oh, and garlic?
When we arrived for shopping,She swiftly and skillfully puts the ingredients into the basket without hesitation. Cabbage is also going into the dumplings… I wonder what the seaweed, cabbage, and tomatoes will be used for. Are they also dumpling fillings?
“Oh, this? We need some vegetables to go with the dumplings, so I thought of making a salad and wakame soup. Will you help me?”
“Of course…”
That’s how we gathered the necessary ingredients.
Of course, I paid for everything. She resisted splitting the bill, but I insisted. I had given her extra money, and I felt it would be unfair to make her cook and still pay for her share.
…Mom and Dad, you didn’t gave me extra money expecting this, right?
On the way back to my house… Her words continue to echo in my mind.
“Buying the ingredients for dinner and going home together… It feels like we’re newlyweds, don’t you think?”
Her words were so powerful that they left me speechless. It’s precisely what it means when words fail to come out.
During the walk to my house, she was in a great mood, while I wasn’t exactly calm… But I was happy, and I had a great time.
And that brings us to the present…
I am currently wrapping the dumpling filling that Nanami-san gave me in the dumpling wrappers. She taught me how to wrap the first few, and then I started doing it on my own.
…It’s understandable that I can’t wrap them as well as she does, even though she showed me how.
Nanami-san is now preparing the soup, salad, and side dishes in the kitchen.
I haven’t closely observed my mother cooking, so I don’t know for sure, but I think Nanami-san is quite efficient.
Just like a new bride.
…No, no, I can’t let Nanami-san words from earlier distract me.
Right now, I am a dumpling wrapping machine. Wrap the dumplings mindlessly.
And then, it seems like Nanami-san has finished cooking in the kitchen. She sits in front of me and starts wrapping dumplings together.
Her efficiency is twice… no, maybe three times faster than mine.
Moreover, her dumplings are perfectly shaped. There’s a stark difference between mine and hers. It’s strange, considering that I’m supposed to be the dumpling wrapping machine…
“Nanami-san, you’re amazing.”
“Huh…? What?! Why are you saying that all of a sudden?”
…It seems like my words caught her off guard, and she blushes unnecessarily. One dumpling tears as a sacrifice. Well, it should be fine once we cook it.
“See, there’s a huge difference between my dumplings and yours. You’re really good at cooking, Nanami-san.”
“Ah… I see, that’s what you mean… But even for your first time, you’re doing great, Youshin. My dad sometimes stuffs the filling too much and it spills out or tears because he puts too much strength.”
As we talk and continue wrapping dumplings, before we know it, a mountain of dumplings has piled up.
…Could it be… perhaps…
“We made too much, didn’t we?”
“Yeah, looks like it.”
Looking at the mountain of dumplings that is more than enough for the two of us, we exchange smiles. This quantity seems to be enough for five people… no, maybe even more.
“It’s difficult to buy ingredients for just two people… and, well, I got carried away because I thought it was for you…”
Blushing slightly with both hands clasped together, she seemed to have made all these dumplings for me… I want to eat them all, but it’s definitely too much.
“you can take the leftovers home as a souvenir. It might be good for tomorrow’s lunchbox.”
And… I can’t think of a good excuse when my parents come back. Why would I, who never cooks, suddenly make dumplings? It’s difficult to explain, especially since we’re keeping our relationship a secret.
“Maybe we can just say we had a dumpling party at Emi’s house?”
She is also keeping our relationship a secret from her family, but she has the advantage of having friends who she can rely on in these situations. Well, I don’t have zero friends, but I have very few, and they’re not particularly reliable, especially in situations like this… I can only think of Shibetsu-senpai as someone I can turn to for advice. Oh, that’s right, I promised him that I would ask Nanami-san to cook as a thank you for the clothes… but I helped out this time. Maybe I’ll fulfill that promise another time.
After that, Nanami-san finished wrapping the dumplings and started cooking them one after another. While I had nothing to do, I prepared plates and wiped the table… doing household chores that I usually never do. It really feels like a married couple.
During that time, the perfectly cooked pan-fried dumplings with a crispy bottom were ready. They had a beautiful color and a delicious aroma.
In addition to the dumplings, we had a soup with seaweed and bean vermicelli, a vegetable salad, and a generous amount of grated daikon radish.
“In our house, when we eat dumplings, we put grated daikon radish in the sauce. It makes it refreshing and easier to eat.”
“Oh, I’ve never tried that before.”
We served ourselves rice and sat facing each other. Somehow… sitting face-to-face like this feels like we’re newlyweds, and it’s embarrassing.
“L-Let’s dig in.”
“Yes, enjoy your meal.”
I never imagined that we would have this kind of exchange outside of lunchtime… I didn’t expect it back then.
Nanami-san seems to be thinking the same thing, as her cheeks are slightly flushed.
The dishes she cooked were delicious… and we enjoyed our meal while laughing together.
Having a happy dinner without my parents present was a first-time experience for me, and I felt like crying, but I managed to hold back the tears.
However, when it was time for seconds and I tried to do it myself, it was dangerous. Not only did I want to cry, but I also had an uncontrollable urge to hug her. I managed to control myself, though.
Her back really looked attractive.
After finishing our meal… I didn’t do a good job washing the dishes, so Nanami-san taught me and we cleaned up together. I never knew that tidying up could be so enjoyable…
Time flies during fun moments. It’s already late at night, and it’s time for Nanami-san to go home.
I’m reluctant, but there’s no other way.
“Nanami-san, I’ll walk you home.”
“Huh… that’s not necessary. Really.”
“Considering what happened yesterday, I’m worried. Besides, I can’t just let a girl walk home alone at night.”
Well, I didn’t expect that I would end up escorting Nanami-san from my house… But the thought of her walking alone at night makes me really anxious. So it’s better if we go together.
“…In that case, I’ll take you up on your offer.”
Perhaps Nanami-san also remembered what happened yesterday, as she accepted my suggestion with a hint of unease. I packed the dumplings for souvenirs and made sure I didn’t forget anything. There shouldn’t be any traces of her left at my house either.
With this, even if my parents come back tomorrow, there shouldn’t be any suspicion. Well, even if they find out, it wouldn’t be inconvenient… It’s just that I feel a little embarrassed for some reason…
“Then, please.”
Taking her outstretched hand, I accompany Nanami-san to her house. Of course, I’m the one carrying the souvenir dumplings. I’ve grown enough to show this level of consideration.
During the journey, we talk about the enjoyable things that happened today, discuss where to go next, and even talk about Nanami-san teaching me cooking… There’s no shortage of topics, to say the least.
So, in no time, we arrive at Nanami-san’s house.
It’s a bit regretful, but since we’ve achieved our goal, let’s consider it a success.
Near Nanami-san’s house, the place where we arranged to meet in the morning is completely dark now. But her house is just a stone’s throw away. It should be safe here.
“Nanami-san, see you again tomorrow.”
“Yeah, Youshin… Thanks for today. It was really fun.”
“Yeah… I feel the same…”
Smiling at each other, just as I was about to say that I had a great time… a very large man suddenly appears behind Nanami-san.
He’s as tall as Shiretsu-senpai or even taller… The bulging muscles can be seen even through his clothes. In response to this man’s sudden appearance, I instinctively step forward and position myself between him and Nanami-san.
Is his face colored with anger? He looks quite intimidating.
There’s no way I stand a chance against someone like him… not even a one in a million chance. But I’ve resolved to at least buy some time until Nanami-san enters her house…
Then, that big man opens his mouth.
“Nanami… Who’s this boy?”
“Oh… Dad… Why?”
Dad…
Dad?
Her dad?!
I turn around to look at Nanami-san, and then I looked at the person referred to as dad… Sorry, but he doesn’t resemble her at all.
And then that man… shows me a smile that seems intimidating.
…It seems like my day isn’t over yet.
Interlude : Nanami having a meal
Youshin, I’m glad you helped me so diligently. You’re still enthusiastically eating my cooking. It’s so adorable.
Oh, the rice disappeared in no time… Huh? Are you going to do it yourself? Shall I do it for you?
“How much rice would you like?”
“Oh, um… a bit more, please.”
I thought being a newlywed would be like this… It’s just like the interaction between my parents right now.
…Have we already reached that level?! Uh-oh… I can’t help but smile.