After My First Love Who is My Classmate Became My Family, My Childhood Friend Became Really Sweet to Me - Chapter 13

Tsukino’s Kitchen/Together with Hinata-san/Sensei

Before we knew it, it’s already late at night when we finished our preparations for the Holy Night Festival.

I don’t know how much did me and Tsukino helped Hinata with her work, but Hinata seems to be in a good mood after finishing her work.

Usually, I cook for Tsukino’s dinner around this time.

“It’s already this late, huh? It will take a while if I cook for Tsukino’s dinner now.”

“You don’t have to overdo it, you know? I can cook by myself now. Let me cook for Yuto as well.”

“But the only dish Tsukino can cook is meat and potatoes, right? Don’t you get tired of eating it every time?”

“…even though they go so well with rice?”

Tsukino is looking at me strangely. What, did I say something really strange?

“Tsukino is cooking, huh?”

Hinata mumbled.

“Come to think of it, Hinata never had Tsukino’s cooking before, right? Do you want to try it?”

“Eh—yeah, I love to cook myself, so I want to try Tsukino’s cooking.”

“…so, why don’t we cook together, Hinata-san?”

Both me and Hinata are stunned at Tsukino’s words.

“I want to try your cooking too Hinata-san. Yuto always said how good your cooking is, so I always wonder how good Hinata-san’s cooking is.”

“…cooking with Tsukino-chan.”

After all, Hinata still feels awkward towards Tsukino, it seems that there are some hesitation on Hinata’s face.

…but,

“But I’m not a great cook, so I might cause some trouble. Can’t I cook together with you, Hinata-san?”

“…e-eh! No, no it’s fine. Yeah, let’s cook our dinner together Tsukino-chan!”

Hinata quickly nodded at Tsukino’s pampered gaze. Apparently even a goddess is no match to an angel’s request.

A few minutes later, Tsukino who is wearing an apron brought the ingredients from her own apartment

“I ran out of the dark soy sauce that I usually use, so I’ll have to use the light soy sauce today. I usually make it with two tablespoons of dark soy sauce, so I think I’ll use about ten tablespoons of…”

“I-Isn’t that too much Tsukino-chan!? You don’t have to put more soy sauce than usual.”

“…? Why? It won’t taste good if it isn’t salty enough. So I have to put in more than usual.”

“But the light soy sauce is just as salty as the dark one, you know?”

“Eh!?”

With a snap, Tsukino’s body froze as if she is struck by lightning.

“Eh, but there are dark soy sauce and light soy sauce, what is the difference then?”

“They are just different colours. Just by using different types of soy sauce, you can totally change the look of a dish. In fact, light soy sauce is even saltier than dark soy sauce.”

“Why is that? I always thought that dark soy sauce is much saltier than light soy sauce.”

“I thought so when I just started cooking as well, ehehehe. Then, I’ll make a side dish that goes well with Tsukino’s meat and potatoes. Hmm, it will probably be Japanese food, so can you cook the rice for us Tsukino-chan?”

“Nope, I got it.”

I said so to Tsukino who is about to open the rice cooker.

“Oh, Tsukino. Just in case you’re wondering, you’re not supposed to wash rice with detergent.”

“Detergent!?”

My words startled Hinata.

“When I asked Tsukino wash the rice for me once, she used some detergent to wash the rice. She didn’t know how to wash rice then. I remember the rice had some bubbles on it that time.”

“Tsu-Tsukino-chan, you didn’t know that much about cooking?”

“I’ve improved a lot since then. After all, I even had never held a kitchen knife until a while ago.”

Hinata seems stunned at Tsukino’s words, but eventually, Hinata seems determined as if she has made up her mind.

“Yeah, I’ve decided. Hey Tsukino-chan, if you want, I can teach you the recipe for the side dish I’m cooking today. So why don’t we cook it together?”

“Really? But I’m not really good at cooking, I might cause a lot of trouble for Hinata-san.”

“I don’t mind it at all, no one can cook a perfect dish after all. If Tsukino-chan is interested in cooking, then I want to help you as much as I can.”

“…Hinata-san.”

Tsukino is speechless at Hinata’s gentle smile.

“Thank you, can I call you ‘sensei’ in the kitchen from now on?”

“’sensei’ huh? Yeah sure, it might be more fitting than calling me a goddess. …if you want, I can teach you how to cook meat and potatoes with light soy sauce.”

“Is that even possible?”

“The light soy sauce flavour and richness are lighter than the dark one, so it’s better for recipes that bring out the flavour of the ingredients. We also can season it with some ginger and garlic.”

“I didn’t know there are so many ways to cook a single dish… I’m learning a lot sensei.”

I find myself patting my chest in relief while watching the two girls cooking together shoulder-to-shoulder in the kitchen.

Great. Hinata was acting a little bit distant to Tsukino before.

But it’s strange. I can’t believe that my former classmate who is my first love, and my childhood friend who confessed her love to me, are cooking together in front of me.

I think of this as a very happy sight.