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 22-23

Chapter 22: Cost Performance

It’s the Golden Week holiday, and even though I’m busy with housework and studying, I still found time to make fondant au chocolat, which Momohara taught me.

“It smells good.”

“A classmate taught me. We’ll have it after dinner.”

“Looks delicious. Is it gâteau au chocolat?”

“No, it’s fondant au chocolat.”

“The one that’s melty inside?”

“That’s right.”

“Ooh, it’ll look great on social media.”

“I’m home!”

Manoka-san came home just in time for dinner. I reheated the meal that was already prepared.

“Takeru-kun!!”

“Please don’t hug me the moment you get home. Go take off your makeup first.”

“Just five more minutes! I need to recharge with some Takeru-kun essence…”

“Chika, help me peel her off.”

“Okay~.”

“Oh no… my Takeru-kun essence…”

No matter how many times I tell my cousin it’s dangerous to be around the stove, she doesn’t listen. It’s really troubling.

“While the food’s warming up, I’ll upload a picture to Instagram.”

I made a cut in my fondant au chocolat, letting the chocolate ooze out for the photo. I usually only post pictures of meals, but I think I’ll start sharing desserts as well.

“Takeru”

“Wait.”

“Woof.”

I stopped Manoka-san, who was creeping up from behind, and handed her the food. It’s hard to let her serve herself when she just got back from work. However, it’s also troublesome when she keeps trying to hug me nonstop.

“Let’s eat.”

As I watched the two of them put their hands together in a gesture of thanks before they started eating, I picked up my chopsticks too. The quality of today’s meal is as good as always.

“The flavor really sinks in.”

“…Mano-nee is becoming more like an old man…”

Manoka-san devoured the food one dish after another, beer in hand. As the one who cooked, I’m glad she enjoys it so much, but I can’t help but notice she’s becoming more and more like an old man.

“Mano-nee, don’t you have anyone you want to marry?”

“Takeru-kun, Chii-chan’s talking like she’s my mom~.”

“A mother worries, you know?”

“…When a middle schooler worries about you…”

Manoka-san, who had slumped down in despair, took another swig of beer.

“It’s fine. I’ll just marry Takeru-kun.”

“If that’s the case, then I’m relieved. Oh, but my brother already has Miu-san.”

“Who’s that woman?! I don’t know her!!”

“Chika, it’s not like Amatsuka-san and I have that kind of relationship.”

Chika’s teasing is getting out of hand… Even with Miaki-san, there’s no way I could ever be more than friends with Amatsuka-san. We’re just not compatible.

“K-Takeru-kun… You said you’d marry me, right?”

“When did I say that?”

“Um, it was when I was in the sixth grade, so… um…”

“That was a long time ago.”

“Back then, you were… four?”

“Yeah, it’s way past the statute of limitations.”

“I’ve been holding on to those words all this time…”

I don’t remember saying that at all. Even if I did, that wouldn’t count as an engagement. Who takes a four-year-old’s words seriously… It’s just a common childhood promise.

“Takeru-kun, don’t abandon me… I’ve decided you’ll be my first…”

“Okay, okay, calm down, Manoka-san. There’s fondant au chocolat here.”

“Fondant au chocolat!! I want it!”

Crying and sniffling, Manoka-san quickly finished her meal and eagerly dug into the fondant au chocolat.

Seeing her happily eat, despite the tears and runny nose, I can say that this dessert was a success.

“I’ll eat mine too.”

For the first time, I gathered all the ingredients for this dessert myself, but it wasn’t very cost-effective. If you just want something sweet, buying a store-bought chocolate mint ice cream is much cheaper.

“Takeru-kun, I want seconds!”

“Mano-nee, you’ll get fat~.”

“It’s okay!”

“…Oh right, everything goes to your chest, that mysterious system…”

In the future, I should consider making more cost-effective desserts. However, I’m not as passionate about baking as Momohara, so there’s no rush.

“Hey! How could you take mine!”

“It’s delicious!”

“Brother! Mano-nee took my fondant au chocolat!”

“Manoka-san.”

“Takeru-kun, I love you.”

“Sorry, Chika.”

“You traitor?!”

If it makes my cheerful family happy, I’ll make it again. For now, this is enough.

—

Chapter 23: A Picnic Just for the Two of Us (1)

“It’s such a nice day! This weather is amazing!!”

After finishing the class get-together on the first day of Golden Week, it’s now time for an outing with Amatsuka-san. I thought she was just being polite, so I spent the day studying, but then she told me we were going on the third day of Golden Week, and now here we are.

“I’m really a sun goddess, you know, I swear.”

“If that’s true, maybe you should avoid deserts.”

“No way, I’d die without WiFi in the desert.”

“Even with WiFi, you’d still die.”

Amatsuka-san is wearing a red silhouette sweatshirt, a pair of shorts, and a cap. Her oversized hoodie barely shows her shorts, making it feel a bit mischievous, like she’s wearing her boyfriend’s t-shirt. Her legs, white and almost transparent, are healthy, and her knees are cute.

“By the way, Amatsuka-san, where are we going today?”

I hadn’t made any plans because I thought she was just being polite. She said on the phone that she knew a good spot, so I left it to her, and we’ve been on the train for an hour.

“We’re going to see the cherry blossoms.”

“But haven’t the cherry blossoms already fallen around here?”

“Well, there’s a place where they haven’t.”

Amatsuka-san walked ahead, smiling confidently. We both brought our own lunch boxes, but at this time of year, the only place where cherry blossoms are still blooming would be Hokkaido (according to Hinata-san).

“I’ve heard of cherry blossoms that bloom in the fall, but I didn’t know there were any still blooming in Tokyo.”

“Of course, you wouldn’t.”

With a slightly mysterious smile, Amatsuka-san walked lightly, as if dancing on air. I couldn’t understand why she seemed to be enjoying herself so much.

For students, picnics and field trips are usually group activities. Since I’m not great at group activities, I don’t have any good memories of picnics or field trips.

“I’ve only been there once before, but it’s a really peaceful place. I think you’ll like it, too, Motobu-kun.”

As Amatsuka-san hummed a tune while walking, I felt as if cherry blossoms were fluttering around her. Though she was within reach, she felt like she was in a different world.

I started to think that maybe this world is different from the one I know. I realized once again how mysterious she is.

“Even so, this place is pretty far from civilization.”

“Yeah, it’s hard to believe this is Tokyo.”

While Tokyo has some rural areas, this place feels too mysterious to be called rural.

“Inside this forest.”

“Is this a path to another world?”

“It’s not quite another world.”

Everything about this place felt out of place. While residential areas were still visible, entering this place alone would take some courage.

“It’s okay.”

Amatsuka-san smiled, took my hand, and started walking. I was surprised by the suddenness of it, but I walked along with her.

“I came here when I was really young, and I was a bit scared back then.”

“Should I have said, ‘I’m not scared at all!’?”

“Hehe, that would have turned it into a comedy skit.”

The chirping of birds made me feel like they were welcoming us. The strange atmosphere at the entrance was replaced by a calm and peaceful one that was soothing just to be in.

“We’re here.”

“…This is it?”

In the middle of the forest, there was an open space. Sunlight filtered through the trees, and fish swayed in a pond. A small shrine stood nearby, with beautiful cherry blossoms in bloom next to it.

“…I didn’t know a place like this existed.”

“It’s my mom and dad’s secret cherry tree.”

Holding hands, we walked to the front of the shrine. Amatsuka-san clasped her hands together in prayer, so I followed her lead and did the same.

“Let’s spread out the picnic sheet.”

“Okay.”

We spread out the picnic sheet Amatsuka-san had brought, placed our belongings on it, and quickly took out our lunch boxes.

“Before we eat, let’s offer some to the shrine.”

“Okay.”

I didn’t know what this shrine was for. Amatsuka-san probably didn’t either. But for some reason, I felt at ease seeing her pray without hesitation.

We placed our offerings in front of the shrine, and after exchanging a smile, we swapped lunch boxes.

“Since it’s a picnic, I figured our lunch would be the same.”

“Sandwiches are the safe and classic choice, after all.”

“If our lunches are this similar, I don’t think I can beat you, Sensei.”

“Then, let’s see how Amatsuka-san’s sandwiches taste.”

The taste was simply delicious. There was no need for stomach medicine this time.

“I also brought some tea.”

“Thank you.”

“Why do Sensei’s sandwiches taste so good? What’s different?”

“Amatsuka-san, you didn’t spread butter on the bread, did you?”

“Do you spread butter on sandwiches?”

“You spread butter to prevent the bread from soaking up the moisture from the lettuce or tomatoes. Margarine works too.”

“…I thought sandwiches were just about putting things between the bread.”

“I also made some rusks with the leftover bread crusts. Let’s eat them after the sandwiches.”

“I ate all my bread crusts along the way.”

“As long as you didn’t throw them away, that’s fine.”

Cherry blossoms and lunch. Having this place all to ourselves felt like a luxurious treat. Even though we were having simple, casual conversations, it was a very comfortable time.

“You know, this kind of thing is nice once in a while.”

“Yes, it’s something you don’t often experience in Tokyo.”

As we chewed our sandwiches, we gazed at the cherry blossoms. The silence during our chewing was filled with the lively yet peaceful sound of birds chirping, making the moment all the more serene.