After My First Love Who is My Classmate Became My Family, My Childhood Friend Became Really Sweet to Me - Chapter 16

Older Sister/Mushrooms au Gratin/On This Weekend

About a week had passed since Tsukino confessed her feelings to me.

I promised Tsukino that I won’t refuse any of Tsukino’s request, but my life hasn’t changed much since then.

If there is a change in my routine that would be I have been cooking dinner at Tsukino’s house every day lately.

So, the time that I see Hinata after school most is when I finished cooking dinner at Tsukino’s and went back home.

“I’m home.”

“Oh, welcome back. Thanks for cooking for Tsukino.”

When I came home, Hinata who was wearing an apron showed up and greet me.

…it still bothers me, probably it’s because I’m not used to be greeted when I come home. Before I start to live on my own, I was the one who always greet my father when he comes home.

On the other hand, every time Hinata says ‘welcome home’ to me, she always smiles softly. It’s as if she’s so happy to say those words.

“I’m sure it’s hard for you to cook Tsukino-chan’s dinner right after school. If you want, I can cook Tsukino’s dinner too.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m doing this for Tsukino because I want to.”

“Ah… I know how you feel. After all Yuto is Tsukino-chan’s caretaker, right? It’ll be a little while before dinner is ready, so why don’t you take a bath in the meantime?”

“Eh? The bath is ready!? Hinata prepared both the bath and dinner by herself…?”

“I’ve been living like this since I was in middle school. It’s not a big deal once you get used to it.”

“I-I see. Then I guess I’ll go in the bath first…”

As I entered the bathroom and got into the bathtub, my body felt really warm and I let out a relaxed sigh. it was going to turn into winter soon and the weather was colder than I expected. So, it felt really good to take a bath in hot water.

“So, this is what heaven is like.”

Before I live with Hinata, I had to pour hot water into the bathtub every time I wanted to take a bath. I’m almost afraid that I’ll be getting too used of Hinata preparing my bath.

In fact, I think my standard of living has improved significantly since I started living with Hinata.

When I was living alone, I used to take showers when I was busy with student council meetings and homework, I often to skip my laundry as well. But since I live with Hinata, I can soak in the bathtub every day, she even takes care of our laundry every day as well.

To tell the truth, living with Hinata is so comfortable that I am worried I might not be able to live without her anymore.

Hinata said I am Tsukino’s caretaker, but I think Hinata takes care of me better than I take care of Tsukino…

When I came out of the bath, Hinata had finished cooking our dinner. The main dish was mushroom au gratin.

“Wow, you cooked gratin today. That’s really impressive.”

“In fall, shiitake and maitake mushrooms are really cheap. Besides, it’s getting colder, so I thought it would be better to cook something warm for us.”

The gratin was perfect, she even used seasonal ingredients in it.

“I think I should help out with the housework or something. I feel bad having Hinata to do all the work.”

“I don’t mind it at all. I’m happy when someone smiles and said thanks to me. I honestly love to take care of Yuto.”

That’s right, Hinata was that kind of girl.

She wants to be a help for everybody. Because she is a girl who genuinely wish to help everybody, she has become the student council president so that she can support and help everybody in school.

Hmm… But I wish I could do something for Hinata too.

After we finished our meal, Hinata stood in the kitchen doing the dishes. I assume Hinata wants to do all of our cooking. She was really stubborn when I told her I want to help her to do the dishes.

As I was looking at Hinata who is washing the dishes at the kitchen, an idea pops in my head.

That’s right. I can at least do that for Hinata.

“Hey, Hinata. I was wondering if you’d like to buy a dishwasher?”

Hinata looked back at me with a puzzled look on her face.

“Since Hinata does all the cooking, I think the dishwasher could at least do the dishes for us. That would save so much time, wouldn’t it?”

“Dishwasher…? Uh, no, no, it’s fine. You don’t have to go out of your way to buy me a dishwasher.”

“Hinata, right now you’re washing dishes before you go to school. I want you to imagine if you had a dishwasher, you’d just put all of our dishes inside they would be all clean when we got home.”

“Just put them in and they will be clean and shiny…!”

Come on, just say yes.

“Besides, I have some extra earnings, I can afford some appliances.”

The 30,000 yen that I receive from Tsukino’s parents in exchange of cooking for her every month is a quite bit of money. There’s some money left every month even after spending them on our food. So, I’ve been saving them for the past six months. I don’t think it would be a reckless purchase to buy a dish washer to help Hinata.

“I was thinking what should I do with that money. But if I can use that money to lighten up Hinata’s housework I’ll be really happy.”

“…for me?”

When Hinata said it in a small voice, a bashful smile appeared on her face.

“I-I see. I’ll take your suggestion then. Hehehe… A dishwasher.”

“Then let’s go buy it on this weekend.  Hmm, let’s see, if we want to buy an appliance as big as a dishwasher, we’ll have to take the train to the city center and—”

Suddenly, I realized something.

I have done some grocery shopping with Hinata on our way home from school.

But this is the first time for me to go out somewhere with Hinata on a holiday, just the two of us.