After My First Love Who is My Classmate Became My Family, My Childhood Friend Became Really Sweet to Me - Chapter 14
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- After My First Love Who is My Classmate Became My Family, My Childhood Friend Became Really Sweet to Me
- Chapter 14 - First Time Cooking/You Did Your Best/Taking Care of a Childhood Friend
First Time Cooking/You Did Your Best/Taking Care of a Childhood Friend
A few minutes later, Tsukino was unusually nervous. She sat in front on the meat sauce pasta which we had just made on the table.
If everyone at the student council can see what I see right now, they would be in shock.
“What are you worried about? You don’t have to be so nervous you know?”
“Eh…!”
Without hesitation, I picked up the pasta with my fork and started eating them.
Then I smiled at Tsukino who looked at me in astonishment.
“Hmm, its delicious. Tsukino’s pasta is delicious.”
“…a-are you okay? Does your stomach hurt?”
“Not at all, it really is delicious, you’re cooking it right. If you don’t believe me, just try it yourself. Maybe you’ll surprise yourself.”
“…uh, okay then.”
Tsukino ate the pasta in hesitation.
Her face was as same as her usual expressionless face, but I can tell by the atmosphere that she was really happy with her pasta. Maybe its because I’m her childhood friend that I could tell what she was feeling just by the atmosphere around her.
“It’s really delicious. Did I really make this pasta?”
“Now you can do more than pouring hot water into an instant ramen cup.”
“…I think I will freeze some of this pasta for memorial.”
Flattery aside, the pasta that Tsukino made was indeed delicious. Probably as good as mine.
“I guess it was a good idea for someone who just started to learn cooking like you to cook a simple dish like pasta after all. Speaking of which, why did Tsukino tried to cook a complicated dish like meat and potatoes first? Do you have some special reason?”
“…I wanted to learn how to cook homemade food. I thought if I could cook homemade food, Yuto would notice me, even just a little.”
I dropped my fork as soon as she finished her sentence.
“Notice? Me? Tsukino wants me to notice her?”
“Well, Yuto had always taken care of me, so I thought if I at least learn how to cook homemade food by myself, it will lighten up his burden, even just a little.”
Perhaps that’s why Tsukino suddenly said she wanted to cook by herself?
“I don’t understand, I’ve never thought of Tsukino as a burden. We’ve been together for so long, when one of us got in trouble, we will surely help each other without a second thought.”
“But since I was little, Yuto has always protected me, you know?”
Tsukino looked at me with somewhat nostalgic eyes.
“Do you remember? When we were in elementary school, I said I wanted to learn how to cook. I wanted to surprise my parents. So, Yuto helped me and we tried to cook in secret.”
“Yeah, I remember it clearly. I think that’s why Tsukino, isn’t good at cooking.”
How could I forget about it? It’s funny to think about what we did back then, but it was a really big deal at the time.
“When Tsukino tried to use the kitchen knife, she accidentally cut her finger and cried a lot. When Tsukino’s father heard about this, he left work early, and I was severely scolded by my father for doing something dangerous like that.”
“I cried a lot at that time because it really hurts, but what I remember the most is… Yuto was there for me.”
“…me?”
“Yuto put a bandage on my finger while I was crying. You were the one who called and told my father about it and held my hand until I stopped crying.”
“Well, that’s natural for me to do. Tsukino was injured.”
“I was able to stop crying at that time because Yuto was there for me. Even though Yuto was still in elementary school, he was much stronger than I was.”
Tsukino smiles softly.
“Yuto always said that you will be like your mother and be kinder than anyone else.”
At that time, I just lost my mother who is the kindest person in this world. Maybe because of it, I always wanted to be like her, to be the kindest person.
That is why I could not leave Tsukino alone. Tsukino is as free as a cat, she looks so dangerous that if I took my eyes off of her, she might go off into the distance.
“Yuto has been so dependable since we were kids, and just being next to him makes me feel really comfortable and calm… But recently I’ve realized that I don’t want our relationship to remain just like that.”
“Could it be that you don’t want me to take care of you anymore?”
“No, that’s not true. I want to continue to be pampered and spoiled by Yuto. Only Yuto is allowed to take care of me.”
I see. I feel a little embarrassed when she said it so clearly.
“I can’t really explain how I feel, but I really wanted to change, you know? I was able to cook like this because Yuto helped me. Well, I have a favor to ask of you, Yuto.”
She stared at me mysteriously.
“I want to be praised for being able to cook properly for the first time. …I want to be praised by Yuto, not by anyone else.”
She said it in a serious tone.
I’ve known Tsukino since she was a little girl, she is not a good cook. But somehow, she overcame it. She was serious when she said that she wanted to change.
If Tsukino wanted me to praise her, then I will gladly do it. There was not a single reason not to praise her.
I am Tsukino’s childhood friend. I’d like to at least acknowledge Tsukino’s efforts.
I placed my fork down on my plate, stood up and sat down next to Tsukino.
“Yu-Yuto?”
Apparently, she wasn’t expecting me to sit next to her, she lets out a voice filled with confusion.
I gently patted Tsukino’s head.
“Great work, Tsukino.”
A few days ago, I just said that we are not kids anymore and should stop petting each other heads, but now I find myself petting Tsukino’s head like this.
I was worried that Tsukino might get angry becuase she was treated like a child like that.
But instead, Tsukino didn’t say anything. She just stared at me with her eyes shaking slightly.
Then, Tsukino’s lips moved slowly.
“——-”
“…eh?”
Her voice was too small to be heard clearly.
But if I am not mistaken, Tsukino said something like…
“I like you—I’ve liked you for a long time.”