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 49-50

Chapter 49: Feeding

“See you later, Takeru-kun.”

With a childlike smile, Hinata-san saw me off as I left the Sunflower General Store.

“…This has become even more troublesome…”

Dealing with Kurose-san, someone who even Naoto-san struggles with, leaves me with very few options.

I have to balance both household chores and studies, on top of handling Kurose-san’s issues.

Of course, in the end, it’s none of my business. I have no obligation.

Besides, I’m not a psychological counselor. There’s no way I can do anything about Kurose-san.

“M-Motobu-san…”

It was dusk, on the way home, at that park.

The same park where Kurose-san almost killed me.

It was close to the route from the Sunflower General Store, and I found Kurose-san sitting on a bench, looking small and forlorn.

“U-um…”

She looked like an abandoned kitten.

Seeing her like that made me feel guilty.

Maybe I gave her the impression that I ratted her out to Naoto-san.

I’m not sure if Kurose-san knew I was acquainted with Naoto-san, but considering she had set up transmitters and bugs, it wouldn’t be surprising if she knew.

No, but from the expression she had when we met earlier in the study, it didn’t seem like she knew we were acquainted.

With someone like Naoto-san, who even has hidden passageways in his study, it wouldn’t be surprising if he had some way to neutralize bugs. That person really is capable of anything.

Anyway, right now, I have to figure out what to do about this dejected Kurose-san.

“Kurose-san.”

“…Yes?”

“Let’s cancel the weekly cooking arrangement.”

“….”

“In exchange, please come over to my place for dinner every day.”

“…W-what?”

Confusion spread across Kurose-san’s listless eyes.

“Um… well…”

I don’t really know how to deal with someone like Kurose-san, who has no family.

But I don’t think the current situation will improve just because Naoto-san asked me to help.

Even so, there’s not much I can actually do.

“Do you dislike the idea?”

“No… um, is it really okay?”

This is coming from someone who’s been stalking and bugging me, yet she’s confused about this?

I really don’t understand the logic behind Kurose-san’s thoughts.

“Yes. Naoto-san also asked me to look after you.”

“Does this mean… I can greet Chika-san and Manoka-san at your home?!”

“You’ve misunderstood a bit, but yes, you can come to my place and have dinner with us.”

“I’m so happy!”

Kurose-san grasped my hands tightly, her eyes glistening with joy.

And she casually brought up Chika and Manoka-san’s names. I’m probably not wrong in thinking that the fear I felt in the park that day, of more harm coming, wasn’t misplaced.

There was definitely a possibility of things going that way if I made the wrong choices…

Given how awkward our conversations have been, it’s amazing things didn’t go in that direction.

“If I get to eat your cooking every day, Motobu-san, I might die from happiness!”

“No, it’d be a problem if you died.”

“C-could that be…?”

“No, it’s just that it would be a hassle for me.”

“Such a cold response!”

She suddenly perked up.

People say the weather in the mountains changes quickly, but that’s nothing compared to how fast Kurose-san’s mood swings.

“But I’m really happy that I get to eat your cooking every day, Motobu-san. It feels like I’m your wife.”

“A yandere wife would be a bit much.”

I’d definitely get stabbed.

If I were to sleep in the same room as her, it would likely end in a funeral the next morning.

Well, it’s not like Kurose-san is in love with me; she’s just dependent on me.

At the moment, I’m the only one who can cook something she enjoys, but if someone else could do that, she’d likely transfer her affection to them instead of me.

Like Amatsuka, Kurose-san is a flower beyond my reach.

And I’m just a background character.

As long as Kurose-san is dependent on me, she won’t betray me.

So, I can be at ease and treat her as a friend.

We live in different worlds, after all.

Right now, Kurose-san just happens to be in the same place as me.

“If you’re going to come every day, should you buy a bicycle or something?”

“I’ll leave that up to you, so it’s easier to commute.”

“I’ll buy one tomorrow! One of the parents of the members of the Tsukishita Group runs a bicycle shop.”

“Ah, the vigilante group.”

“That’s right!”

I’ll have to work hard to feed her and not get stabbed.

I’ve taken on more responsibilities, but at least it seems a little better than the sunset I saw the other day.

—

Chapter 50: If You Have Time to Pick a Fight, Buy Some Bargains Instead

“Motobu-kun, are you stopping by the supermarket today?”

It was after class, in the afternoon.

Amatsuka-san, who had run up to me in the hallway, called out.

“Yes. Lettuce is on sale today.”

“I see.”

Apparently, Amatsuka-san also needed to do some shopping, so we walked down the hallway together.

I had told Kurose-san to come by after 6 p.m., around dinner time, so I had already gone home. Maybe because she gets to eat home-cooked meals every day, she was in a good mood and didn’t cling to me today, which was a relief.

“By the way, I’d like to treat you to something as thanks for taking care of me the other day, so if you could tell me your favorite food and a convenient day…”
“I found youuuuu!!”

“!!”

Suddenly, a female student with a demonic expression came charging at us from behind.

She had long, bright red hair tied into a ponytail, but it looked like it was thrashing about wildly, reflecting her turbulent mood.

She was wearing her school uniform and an apron. Her face was well-formed, so she’d probably be beautiful if she weren’t yelling like this… but it’s terrifying to meet someone for the first time in such a manner.

…

She stopped right in front of me and Amatsuka-san, out of breath after exclaiming that she had found us, so she must know one of us. Unfortunately, I don’t know this person.

Amatsuka-san, who was standing beside me with the same blank expression, didn’t seem to know her either. What could this be about? Since Amatsuka-san, who knows so many people, doesn’t recognize her, she might be an upperclassman.

“Um, do you need something?”

“Takeru Motobu… you… join the cooking club…”

“Sorry. I’m going shopping, so that’s not possible.”

“You won’t escape!!”

As I tried to shake her off and run, she grabbed my wrist and glared at me.

… Even if I were interested in the cooking club, I definitely wouldn’t want to join under these circumstances. Not that I ever intended to join anyway.

Another person, looking exhausted, ran up from behind the red-haired girl. This is becoming more troublesome by the minute.

“Takeru Motobu, I’m scouting you for the cooking club!”

“No, I already said I don’t want to.”

Amatsuka-san looked confused.

I was frustrated that I couldn’t go buy the discounted lettuce.

The red-haired club president seemed anxious.

“You’re good at cooking, right? Join us. Just do it.”

“…You can’t expect me to be happy to join just because you say so.”

“Um, excuse me, what’s your name?”

Amatsuka-san, trying to help, asked for her name, probably to ease the situation. Yes, exactly. Who are you, anyway?

“I’m Ruaiko Tomitsugu, a second-year and the president of the cooking club.”

Tomitsugu-senpai folded her arms and introduced herself in a haughty manner.

I already felt she was the type I didn’t get along with, and then she grabbed my wrist again and started pulling me.

“Well, now that introductions are out of the way, let’s go.”

“No, I said I’m not going.”

“Um, Motobu-kun doesn’t want to go.”

“Oh, right. You’re Amatsuka-san, aren’t you? You should join the cooking club too.”

“Uh, no, um…”

“Why are you so desperate to get us to join?”

Her approach is clearly too aggressive for a first meeting.

I’m guessing it’s because the cooking club is in danger of being shut down, so she’s trying to recruit new members.

“Both Amatsuka-san and I have household chores to do. Cooking is part of those chores. Our cooking skills naturally improve even without joining the cooking club, so there’s no benefit for us in joining.”

I quickly dismissed any potential benefits of joining the club.

Meanwhile, the lettuce might be selling out. I want this to be over as soon as possible.

“Half-hearted cooking isn’t real cooking. I’ll teach you what real cooking is.”

Tomitsugu-senpai, becoming more serious, tightened her grip on my wrist.

“Motobu-kun doesn’t make half-hearted dishes.”

Amatsuka-san, who had taken my other hand, quietly murmured.

Hearing her words, Tomitsugu-senpai stopped in her tracks.

The two of them glared at each other, and I, stuck between them, felt like I was going to throw up.

How did this even happen…

“Fine, then. Let’s have a cooking showdown. If you win, I’ll give up on recruiting you. But if I win, you’ll join the club.”

“Alright. As Motobu-kun’s apprentice, I can’t afford to lose.”

“Apprentice, huh…”

Um, Amatsuka-san. Can you stop making decisions on your own…

The lettuce…

And can you please realize that challenging us to a cooking battle, where we have to win to avoid joining, is even more troublesome than the average thug would suggest?

“Motobu-kun. Let’s do our best!”

Amatsuka-san clenched her fists tightly, brimming with enthusiasm for some reason.

At times like this, a background character like me can’t resist the tide. So I’ll try to reason my way out.

But it seems I won’t be able to go home until I win the fight Amatsuka-san picked.

“…Sigh. Fine.”

If it’s come to this, I have no choice but to do it.

“Amatsuka-san, let’s finish this quickly and then go buy lettuce.”

“Sure! …But how badly do you want to buy that lettuce, Motobu-kun?!”

Of course, the lettuce takes priority over club activities.

Vegetables are expensive, you know?

“I’ll show you what a dedicated househusband can do, Tomitsugu-senpai.”

“Hmph. Big talk.”

Tomitsugu-senpai sneered, looking down at me.

I may be a background character, but I’m a dedicated househusband.

It would be a mistake to underestimate me.

“Let’s go, then.”

With that, we headed to the cooking room.