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 75-76

Chapter 75: Unstoppable Calls

For some reason, Naoto-san and Hinata-san had joined us, making our shopping trip even livelier.

“So, why did you come all the way to Okinawa?”

“Hinata insisted on coming. Apparently, she overheard Touka, who’s been helping out with her part-time job a lot lately, saying she was going to Okinawa.”

“I see.”

Amatsuka-san and Hinata-san dragged Kurose-san along as they excitedly moved through the store. Watching those three, we continued our shopping steadily.

“Naoto-san, hasn’t your phone been vibrating for a while now?”

“It’s vibrating. Actually, it’s been vibrating the whole time. And so have I…”

“Naoto-san, you get that scared, huh?”

“Yeah…There are things in this world that are just terrifying…I really don’t want to answer this call.”

“I think it would be better if you did, though.”

“Takeru-kun, you’re pretty cruel too, huh?”

Naoto-san let out a small laugh as he pulled out his phone. His hand was trembling. The screen showed “Editor-in-Chief.”

…It was one of those dreaded calls from his editor. So, this really happens, huh?

Naoto-san took a deep breath and answered the call. Instantly, the angry shouting was loud enough for me to hear it, even though he didn’t have it on speaker.

“Naoto!! Where are you?! What’s this ‘I’m going on a journey, don’t look for me’ nonsense?! Are you kidding me?!”

“It’s, you know, a self-discovery journey?”

“You’re always wandering around, and now you’re saying that? I’m going to knock you out!”

“C’mon, we’re childhood friends, give me a break.”

“Even with a break, there’s only one week until the final deadline! You’d better finish that manuscript today, or do you know how long the revisions will take?”

“Chinatsu-chan! I’m sorry! I was the one who told Naoto-kun that I wanted to go to Okinawa. That’s why he brought me along.”

“Hinata-chan…I see.”

As soon as Hinata-san, who had rushed over, spoke to the editor, her tone softened immediately…Who is Hinata-san, really? Her cuteness instantly silenced the fearsome editor, who even Naoto-san was terrified of.

“We’ll be back in two or three days, so I’ll buy you a souvenir, Chinatsu-chan.”

“Thank you, Hinata-chan.”

The conversation went from angry shouting to a warm, peaceful exchange. Hinata-san is truly something else.

“I’ll forgive you for Hinata-chan’s sake, Naoto, but when you get back, you’re going straight to the office. You’re turning yourself in to the editorial department.”

“Y-Yes.”

“And don’t forget the souvenirs for the whole editorial team, okay?”

“Understood…”

Naoto-san put his phone back in his pocket, looking completely drained. It was amusing to see such a human side of him, so different from his usual carefree attitude.

Even Kurose-san, who was quietly giggling behind me, seemed to be enjoying herself. It was surprising to see her laugh like that.

“Well, I don’t really get it, but for now, let’s enjoy our trip to Okinawa, Naoto-san!”

Amatsuka-san tried to cheer up Naoto-san, who was looking a bit down. It must be tough for freelancers to deal with work calls and messages during their vacation, I thought, as if it were someone else’s problem.

“Y-Yeah, you’re right. We’re in Okinawa, after all.”

Naoto-san…He’s really going through it. His eyes look so dead. Living is hard, isn’t it?

“Naoto-kun, I want to buy fireworks.”

“Oh, sure. Buy as much as you want, Hinata.”

Hinata-san cheerfully added fireworks to the basket that Naoto-san was holding. She’s really laid-back.

“Hinata-san is too cute.”

“You can really feel Naoto-san’s love for Hinata-san.”

“She’s my wife, after all…”

“Oh, Naoto-san’s staring off into the distance.”

“I need to secretly take a picture so Naoto-san gets in even more trouble later.”

“Kurose-san, can you stop casually taking secret photos?”

Hinata-san was now carrying a large bundle of fireworks, smiling innocently, while Naoto-san watched her with a somewhat sad smile.

“But you know, this kind of thing…It’s really nice, I think,” Amatsuka-san said, gazing at Naoto-san and Hinata-san with a gentle smile.

“Specifically?”

“This kind of thing is one of the good parts of marriage, isn’t it? I kind of admire it.”

It seemed like Amatsuka-san was longing for the warmth of a loving family.

I couldn’t imagine that for myself. Someone who might be by my side someday…It didn’t seem like such a day would ever come for me.

But still, I thought, wouldn’t it be nice if it did?

—

Chapter 76: Women’s Battle

“Why can’t I go into the ocean?!”

Tomitsugu-senpai was furious. Her anger, which would have been called “super mad” back in the day, was shaking even her proud chest.

“It’s because Obon hasn’t ended yet.”

“I don’t care about Okinawa’s Obon! The ocean is right here, and it’s so beautiful!”

The day after we arrived, Tomitsugu-senpai came to our place, fully prepared to jump into the ocean, already in her swimsuit.

“Ta-ke-ru. Who’s that girl?”

“A senior from the cooking club. She wants to go swimming.”

“You can’t swim during Obon. You’ll be taken away.”

“By what?”

“Ghosts? Probably.”

During Obon, ancestors and the deceased return. In Okinawa, it’s especially about the traditional Obon, and the exact timing varies by region. But at the very least, the Motobu family follows the traditional Obon dates on the calendar to welcome the spirits of our ancestors.

The reason you’re not supposed to go into the ocean during this time is that it’s said that people who have no home to return to might take the living with them.

Well, there are similar superstitions on the mainland, so I get where it’s coming from, but…

“Tomitsugu-senpai, the cooking club is here for training camp, right?”

“And what of it?”

“Well, well, Tomitsugu-senpai. We haven’t gone into the ocean yet either, but we can all swim on the last day, right? So, let’s focus on the camp for now, okay? Yeah.”

Amatsuka-san was trying to mediate as our argument began to heat up. With her charisma, she somehow managed to calm things down, but honestly, if things went wrong, Tomitsugu-senpai might end up drowning. Having someone I know die in my hometown would be a real problem.

“Well, as the student council, that’s our main focus, so it’s fine.”

“Suzu-chan, saying that while holding a float in your swimsuit doesn’t make you very convincing.”

“Keito is wearing a swimsuit underneath too!!”

Takakuchi, the student council president, and Nakamichi, the vice president, who came to Okinawa under the pretense of supervising the cooking club, really looked like a child and their guardian.

“Tomitsugu-senpai, we have a barbecue planned for today in the yard. How about we have a competition to see who can grill the best?”

“I don’t care! I want the ocean!”

“Now, now.”

Other cooking club members, Member No. 1 and No. 2, were also trying to calm down Tomitsugu-senpai’s tantrum. I get it, dealing with a boss who’s being selfish is tough.

“Is that it? Tomitsugu-senpai, are you afraid you’ll lose even in a simple grilling competition? It can’t be helped, I suppose.”

“Growl…”

Uh-oh, her anger’s leaking into her voice…It’s scary when a haughty beauty gets mad.

But I won’t back down. I have to make sure this Obon ends without any trouble.

“Oh, what’s this, Takeru-kun? A fight?”

“Fighting’s not good. Let’s all get along, okay?”

“Who are these people? A handsome guy and a middle schooler?”

“Naoto-kun, do I really look that young? I’m old enough to drink now, you know?”

The noise had drawn Naoto-san and Hinata-san into the commotion. Though, with Naoto-san, it seemed like he was jumping in to avoid facing reality.

“You definitely look like a middle schooler. You’re a loli.”

“M-My chest, well, it’ll get bigger eventually!”

“Hinata, small is fine too.”

“Naoto-san, are you playing around? Stop stirring things up, please.”

Over on the other side, the cooking club advisor was greeting Manoka-san and the others, while this side was getting heated for some reason…

“It’s okay, Hinata-san! I’m sure they’ll grow!”

“Miu-chan…Miu-chan, yours are big…It’s not fair.”

Amatsuka-san tried to comfort Hinata-san by hugging her, but Hinata-san, nearly in tears, ended up pressed against Amatsuka-san’s chest, like a domino effect.

“Motobu, we’re ready on our end. Should we go ahead and start?”

Miaki, who had brought Mikon along, appeared. Now a real loli was here, and Hinata-san was comparing their chests. Please, don’t compete with an elementary school girl…

“Motobu-kun, things seem rough for you. Should we start grilling the meat ourselves?”

The argument had dragged on even Takakuchi, turning the Motobu family’s yard into a battlefield. The busty faction and the flat-chested faction intensified their battle. It seemed even Amatsuka-san couldn’t settle this one.

Seriously, how can they get into a chest-measuring contest when they’ve just met? It’s probably Tomitsugu-senpai’s fault, though.

“…Well then, when the battle of the women is over, please come and have some meat.”

Men shouldn’t get involved in discussions about breasts or periods. That’s a lesson I’ve learned from having a younger sister and cousins.

The battle between women is terrifying…No, seriously, it’s really scary.