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 67

“It’s overrr~”

The finals were finally over, and despite being exhausted, Amatsuka-san was walking beside me.

The rainy season had passed, and summer was just around the corner.

“By the way, Amatsuka-san, don’t you ever go out with your friends during the break after tests?”

“Well, I’ve got housework to do, you know?”

“That’s true. You do tend to clean places you usually don’t get to when you have the time.”

Amatsuka-san was the lively center of the class. Still, it’s quite impressive that she maintains her top position in the school’s social hierarchy without any social interactions outside of school.

“But maybe I’ll hang out during summer vacation. I want to wear a swimsuit too.”

“You seem like the type who wouldn’t feel out of place shouting, ‘It’s the sea!!’ at the beach, Amatsuka-san.”

“Shouting is allowed at the beach, Motobu-kun.”

“I never get excited at the beach, so I wouldn’t know.”

“Oh, right. You’re from Okinawa.”

“Yeah.”

Not exactly a city like Naha, but not as rural as Yanbaru either. A decently convenient place if you had a car.

“My old house had a view of the sea, and the beach was just a two-kilometer walk away. I enjoyed watching the ocean.”

“Isn’t the ocean something you should dive into?”

“It’s sticky, salty, and the sand is hot, so I don’t particularly enjoy it.”

“Boys don’t really care about wearing swimsuits! So that’s how it is, huh?”

Since moving to Tokyo, I haven’t had many chances to see the sea. But I didn’t really miss it, mostly because I was preoccupied with daily chores and studies.

“But girls really seem to love wearing swimsuits. Manoka-san buys a new one every year, and even Chika always ends up getting one.”

Manoka-san even barges into my room wearing her new swimsuit, demanding comments with awkward poses.

“Girls like cute things, after all. And every year, there are new, adorable swimsuits. Of course, girls want them. Plus, they want someone special to see them.”

“…It’s strange. Even though swimsuits are no different from underwear in terms of coverage, why do they think that way? I’m not sure if I should be asking this, but Amatsuka-san, don’t you feel embarrassed wearing that?”

Unlike regular clothes, swimsuits are extremely revealing. They emphasize the chest and waist. I can’t understand why someone would want to show off that much skin in front of someone they like, especially in a place filled with people they don’t care about.

“Motobu-kun, please don’t talk about that so calmly… It’s embarrassing. B-But if a girl gives up on trying to look good in a swimsuit, she’ll lose something important…”

“…I-I see. So, swimsuits are the result of a girl’s hard work. I apologize.”

There’s something more than just logic and profit at play. Chika and Manoka-san, for instance, both know how to value their emotions. That’s why they can be so kind and, at the same time, so strict.

Boys are often considered immature, even as they grow older, while girls continuously strive to stay true to their femininity.

“A-And besides, I also have someone I want to see me, so I have to try my best this year.”

“Good luck.”

“Yeah! I’ll do my best!”

Amatsuka-san clenched her fists, showing her determination. It seems like girls have strong resolutions.

“I’ll be going back to Okinawa this year, so maybe I should buy a swimsuit too.”

“Motobu-kun, you’re going to Okinawa?!”

“Yeah, well, I go to visit my family’s graves every year, but last year I couldn’t go because of exams. This year, I’ll definitely go.”

As always, Manoka-san would likely drag me to the sea, only to push me into the water. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to have a swimsuit on, so I wouldn’t end up ruining my regular clothes with seawater. Getting thrown into the sea wearing an outfit I liked would be a problem.

“Motobu-kun, I, um… I kind of want to go to Okinawa too…”

“Well, I can’t cover your travel expenses.”

“I’ll ask my mom!”

“It might work if you have a guardian with you.”

“…But she’s probably busy with work, given her position.”

Amatsuka-san slumped her shoulders, looking very disappointed. She must really want to go to Okinawa.

“I can ask Manoka-san. As a thank-you for taking care of me, I could cook some Okinawan dishes for her, and it might help settle my debt.”

“Really?!”

Amatsuka-san grabbed my hand, her eyes shining with excitement. She was too close. This face at this distance was dangerous. It wasn’t good for my heart.

“I’m just going to ask. If something happens to you, I wouldn’t be able to take responsibility.”

“Y-You’re right. Yeah… But I’d be so happy if I could go. I want to see your hometown, Motobu-kun.”

“There’s nothing special about my hometown.”

My hometown is by the ocean, but it’s the opposite of a resort. The tides make it less than beautiful.

“I want to see a big shark or something.”

“You mean a whale shark? It’s quite far from my hometown, so I’m not sure if we could go see one. And there are no trains in Okinawa.”

“Oh, right. Okinawa doesn’t have any trains… I was hoping we could go on a date together…”

Amatsuka-san mumbled something, but I didn’t quite catch where she wanted to go. She probably doesn’t realize how tricky Okinawa’s transportation system can be.

“The buses in Okinawa aren’t exactly reliable, in terms of timing and management.”

“I-I’ll manage with buses.”

“…I don’t think Tokyo-born Amatsuka-san could handle Okinawa’s buses. I don’t even know where you want to go.”

Buses might arrive earlier or later than scheduled. The unique geography and U.S. military bases in Okinawa make it impossible for buses to run on time.

Cars are also a hassle with Y-plate vehicles, fighter jets are noisy, and there isn’t much of a tropical vibe. It’s not as great as it sounds.

“But it would be nice if you could go.”

“Yeah. I’m going to work super hard this year. And I really want to eat Motobu-kun’s Okinawan cooking.”

It would be troublesome if she had such high expectations, but it didn’t feel bad. I decided to put a little extra effort into my shopping today to impress Manoka-san. With that thought, I entered the supermarket.