Actually, the Hungry Gyaru Who Eats a Lot Was Being Cheated On, so I Decided to Win Her Heart (And Stomach) From Her Jerk Boyfriend - 74

Chapter 74: To the Family Who Returned Just Before We Missed Each Other

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

Shizuku stared at me in stunned silence. Only a few seconds passed, but the silence felt several times longer. Then, as if squeezing the words out, she said to me.

“Suou-kun, does that mean…?”

“I haven’t looked into it yet, but if you’re okay with it… Would you like to go to a festival or something? Just the two of us.”

“I’ll go!!”

She answered instantly. Leaning in close to me, Shizuku broke into a radiant, full smile.

“…But what’s up with you, Suou-kun, asking me out on a date?”

“A date… I mean, I guess it is a date.”

We were going out together, just the two of us. There was no point in denying that. That said, actually putting it into words was a little embarrassing.

“Well, there are a few reasons, but we never properly followed up on that, right? Our plan to go somewhere together, I mean.”

The promise we made last month on the way home from the pool. I had been meaning to fulfill it for a while. Maybe now was finally the right time.

“Ah…”

Blinking as if caught off guard, Shizuku lowered her gaze, her lips curving softly.

“…You really remembered.”

“Of course I did. …Though I’d rather pass on the pool or the beach for now.”

“Yeah, that’ll have to wait until next year at the earliest. With the way you swim, Suou-kun, you’re not gonna improve that easily.”

“That comment was unnecessary.”

“Ahaha, sorry, sorry. But look at it this way. You’ve got nowhere to go but up. That’s pretty positive, right?”

She let out a small laugh.

“…So then, once we finish cleaning up here, let’s look for a festival that’s still going on.”

“You don’t have to go that far. I’m the one who asked, so I’ll find one.”

“No way. Stuff like this is faster if we search together. And if we’re both there, we won’t have to double-check everything later.”

“…Well, you’ve got a point.”

She wasn’t wrong. Actually, thinking about it, that was the more rational way to do it.

“Then can I count on your help?”

“Of course! Leave it to me!”

＊　＊　＊

After we decided which festival to go to and I walked Shizuku to the station, I headed back home. At the edge of the entryway, I saw a familiar pair of pumps neatly lined up. When I stepped into the living room, there she was—just as expected—Mom.

“Oh my, Gakkun. Welcome home.”

“I’m home. You just got back too, Mom?”

“Yes, just a little while ago.”

I keep barely missing each other all day today. 

I thought that as I glanced at her sitting on the sofa, still in her suit, and headed to the kitchen.

“I’ll get dinner ready, so hang on a minute.”

“Thank you. Sorry to have you do that right after getting home.”

“It’s nothing compared to the unreasonable stuff Sis throws at me.”

I said that and immediately started preparing dinner. As I plated the salad and reheated the leftover curry, Mom—now changed into home clothes—spoke to me over the counter.

“By the way, Gakkun, I hear you’re going to a festival with Shizuku-chan this weekend?”

“—Pfft.”

I nearly choked.

“…How do you already know?”

“Chi-chan told me earlier. She said you two were happily making plans to go to a festival together.”

“I see. So that’s how.”

Well, I hadn’t exactly told anyone to keep it secret, so it was fine. Either way, Mom would’ve found out eventually through Shizuku or Sis. The reason Ichika wasn’t around right now was probably because she was in the bath.

“But really, I see. Gakkun’s finally at that age. To be honest, I always thought you’d never have any connection to that sort of thing, so I’m relieved.”

“Hey. That’s not something your own parents should say.”

It was undeniably true, though. When I shot back at her, Mom smiled gently.

“Anyway, I want to see Shizuku-chan too.”

“You just saw her last week.”

“You don’t understand. When a girl is that cute, you want to see her every day. I’m a little jealous of you, Gakkun.”

“It’s not like I see her every day either.”

Shizuku had her own plans, and if I had a part-time job until late, it wasn’t possible anyway.

Even so, compared to most people, I probably do see her a lot.

Muttering that to myself, I served the reheated curry onto a plate and set it on the table with the salad.

“Here.”

“Thank you,” Mom said softly.

“Thanks for the meal.”

She put her hands together and then took a bite of the curry I had made, her eyes narrowing with a pleased smile.

“Mmm, delicious. You were already good, but you’ve gotten even better.”

“Really? I don’t think it’s any different from before. I mean, this is just a simple dish.”

“Even so. You’re paying more attention to the little details than before, aren’t you? I can tell. I wonder if that’s because you’ve started cooking for Shizuku-chan.”

“That’s… yeah, maybe.”

I couldn’t deny it. It wasn’t like I hadn’t thought about the people eating my food before, but since I started cooking for Shizuku, that feeling had definitely grown stronger. Maybe Mom could taste that change.

Cooking for someone’s sake, huh.

I ruffled my hair and pinched the tips of it between my fingers. Naturally reaching a decision, I turned to Mom.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I want to ask you—”

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー