A Story About a Blonde Gal Angel Who Excessively Praises My Cooking. After Asking Me to Teach Her How to Cook, Feelings of Mutual Love Began to Grow

Chapter 100: Summer Festival

“Thank you for waiting!”

Once Amatsuka started helping, things became incredibly busy.

In an instant, Amatsuka became the poster girl, and her smile drew in more and more customers.

I focused on making yakisoba while Amatsuka assisted with the cooking, selling, and customer service.

Amatsuka swiftly handled yakisoba after yakisoba, so no matter how much I made, it was never enough. Even so, she managed the ingredients without missing a beat.

When did she become so capable? She grasped my cooking routine perfectly and worked around it.

When I usually taught her how to cook, she didn’t move like this. Without me noticing, Amatsuka kept growing and improving.

“It’s finally calming down.”

“Yeah, I haven’t gone all out like this in a while.”

“You were really focused, Motobu-kun.”

We both smiled, sweat beading on our foreheads.

The festival was almost over. In a few more minutes, the fireworks would go off, marking the finale.

“When was the last time you went all out?”

“Since I made fried rice for the student council president.”

“Huh, fried rice? What’s that? I don’t know about that.”

“Now that you mention it, Amatsuka, you weren’t there that time.”

If I remember correctly, Amatsuka got called away by Senpai Tomitsu, so I ended up cooking with the leftovers to clear up the ghost club member rumors. Well, I really was a ghost member, though…

“That sounds delicious…Motobu-kun’s serious fried rice. I want to try it too.”

“I’ll treat you to it sometime.”

“Yeah! By the way, weren’t you serious during the cooking showdown with Senpai Tomitsu?”

“Well, I was just supporting you that time, Amatsuka.”

I put all my effort into that fried rice to shut up that bratty little council president, Chairperson Takuchi. This time, I had to go all out, or the flow would’ve been messed up. I couldn’t let Amatsuka’s support go to waste.

“The fireworks are about to start.”

“Yeah.”

We began cleaning up whatever we could. The few remaining portions of yakisoba could be taken home later.

Amatsuka helped with the cleanup too, and we finished almost immediately.

“The fireworks have started.”

The fireworks looked oddly fresh, seen from behind the food stall. Maybe it was because Amatsuka was standing beside me.

“They’re beautiful.”

“Yes, they are.”

Even when unpleasant things happen, just watching the fireworks like this helps me feel peaceful. Not too long ago, I wouldn’t have been able to feel this way. I used to only look down.

“I feel like, ever since I met you, Amatsuka, I’ve had a few more chances to look up.”

“Is that so?”

There was a time when Amatsuka and I walked in the rain, and I saw a rainbow reflected in a puddle. That was the first time I looked up at the sky in a while.

As the fireworks continued to bloom in the night sky, I found myself wondering what Amatsuka and I would end up seeing together next.

“I think I’m probably the same as you, Motobu-kun. I could see it, but it wasn’t special. But now it shines, and that’s why I was able to find it, and I think that’s why I was able to teach you.”

Amatsuka turned away from the fireworks and looked at me. Her gentle smile made her appear even more vibrant and radiant.

“I don’t have much to teach you, Motobu-kun, but if I was able to give back even a little, then I’m glad.”

“I’ve already received plenty.”

It was a relationship where I only taught her how to cook. But soon, there might not be anything left to teach. I wasn’t a master chef or anything.

I wished this relationship could last forever. I felt like I could keep dreaming.

“They’re over.”

With a hint of longing, Amatsuka gazed at the now quiet night sky. She let down her tied-up hair. For some reason, even that small gesture seemed so graceful.

“Let’s go home.”

“Yeah.”

And so, our summer festival came to an end.

—

Chapter 101: Fever

“Um, Manoka-san…”

“…What?”

“Could you please let go of me now?”

“No.”

Summer break was almost over. And right now, I was sitting on the sofa with Manoka-san clinging to me.

“…Someone? Left me behind? And went home with Amatsuka-chan? So now I’m all alone~. I’m hungover, and my head hurts, so I can’t hear Takeru-kun’s voice.”

I had left Manoka-san behind. And now, the next day, I was being clung to like a stuffed animal by a very grumpy and hungover Manoka-san (who reeked of alcohol).

It felt more like I was being restrained rather than simply hugged.

“Uh, um, I’m really sorry.”

“Not enough feelings. Unless you give me a deep kiss, I won’t be convinced.”

“Are you a demon?”

“You’d rather be with Amatsuka-chan than with a hungover, smelly cousin, right? You don’t want to deal with a troublesome woman like me, do you? But I’m not letting go~. Because I’m a troublesome, smelly woman~.”

What’s scary is that she’s saying this with almost no expression because of her hangover. Her good looks make her lack of expression even scarier.

“I have the day off work today, so I’m staying like this all day. I won’t forgive you.”

“What about the bathroom…?”

“…I’ll wet myself.”

“On the sofa you bought with your bonus?”

“…I’ll let it all out, anyway.”

She’s being stubborn…

“What will you do when you’re hungry?”

“I’ll eat you, Takeru-kun.”

“I don’t think I’ll taste very good.”

“If there’s love, it’ll be fine.”

“…You can eat me out of love?”

“I’ll start with your fingers.”

“…You’re saying that like you’re talking about fries.”

“My drink will be your blood. And I’m a hungover vampire.”

“…Your pale face from the hangover makes that disturbingly realistic.”

This is bad. She’s so troublesome…

But the one at fault is me.

I’m the one who forgot our promise to go home together and left with Amatsuka. So, I have no choice but to get her to forgive me.

“…How about I make you some food that’s good for a hangover? Please forgive me…”

“That’s that. Forgiving you is another matter.”

Instead, she hugged me even tighter, burying my face in her chest. Manoka-san refused to let go, no matter what.

Even though the air conditioner was on in the living room, I could feel my face getting hotter.

Manoka-san’s behavior in moments like this is truly difficult to handle.

“I was lonely, so no.”

“…I’m sorry…”

Usually, Chika would somehow save me in situations like this. But today, she was out with friends, so waiting for her help was hopeless.

Instead of being freed from Manoka-san’s grip, she pressed herself against me even more and pushed me down, making the soft armrest of the sofa serve as my pillow.

“…I wanted to watch the fireworks with you, Takeru-kun.”

“I was busy making yakisoba…”

Manoka-san’s hand slowly caressed my thigh. Her thin, pale fingers reminded me that she was a woman.

“Takeru-kun…”

She whispered in my ear, her hand moving from my thigh up to my chest in a seductive manner. Despite the smell of alcohol, I could feel my ability to think clearly slipping away.

“…Takeru-kun…”

She gently touched my cheek, making me look at her. Our eyes met at a dangerously close distance.

She rubbed her forehead against mine, and our noses touched as well.

I could feel my reason melting away. It was like sinking into a bottomless swamp.

This was something I had been avoiding all along. Because we were family.

“Takeru-kun.”

“…Manoka-san…”

We looked into each other’s eyes, only murmuring each other’s names. That alone made me feel as if I had already accepted it.

Our lips were less than a few centimeters apart. I had been trying so hard to avoid this.

Because if it came to this, I felt like I wouldn’t be able to go back. A man can’t win against a woman.

If I accepted it, I’m sure it would be easier. I’m sure there would be pleasure, too.

After my parents and grandmother passed away, Manoka-san was always by my side. If I accepted her feelings…