Having Had My Bride Stolen, I Just Want to Live Peacefully

It’s the day when Nene-chan teaches me how to cook.

I went to a nearby supermarket to buy things.

I was walking behind Nene-chan with the shopping basket in one hand, looking up more than usual.

Below the field of vision, I could see her black hair, like the ebony, and her red hair, like the apple inside it, shook gently.

It’s a strange feeling to have Nene-chan in the place I always use.

As we approached the onion, Nene-chan stopped.

Then I could see at the end of my vision I was holding one hand at a time in each hand and comparing it.

“This one is heavier, so take this one.”

After several comparisons, she put one in the basket.

“Carrots are thin and shiny here.”

Since then, Nene-chan has carefully selected vegetables.

I was so impressed that I couldn’t help but speak up.

“Oh, that’s how to check vegetables?”

“Yeah. There are different ways to distinguish delicious food, and each kind is different.”

I wonder if the food is ready by choosing even one vegetable.

“Last time I took a random one nearby, so I learned a lot today. Are you good at cooking Nene-chan?”

“Huh, no… What made you think so?”

“I felt like you were used to it.”

“I just remembered what my mom told me yesterday.”

For that reason, I felt like I was choosing without hesitation, but maybe it was just my imagination.

“But brother-in-law, aren’t you looking a little better today? There’s no ingredient in your place.”　

“Oh, really? I’m tall. My line of sight gets higher than others.”　

“No, keep your head down. See how Nene chooses things.”

Even if she says so…

There was a reason why I looked at Nene-chan from the edge of my vision so that I wouldn’t look down.

It’s Nene-chan’s clothes.

Today, she wore a black dress instead of a uniform, leaving her usual choker and earrings intact.

The design is a little wider around the neck and shows her collarbone. It’s still good so far.

The problem is her back. It was roughly open and she had a bold back.

When I came to pick her up, I could only see her front, so I didn’t know, but when we started walking, I noticed it, and immediately looked up and asked, “Isn’t your back sticking out too much?”

“This is normal.”

Without even turning around, Nene-chan returned that response to me.

She must have thought it was annoying for an old man to say this and that about her clothes.

This may be the norm among today’s high school students.

Nene-chan’s back was curved without excess fat, and her snow-white skin was beautiful without a mole.

It was only for a moment that I could see it, but it left a strong impression on me.

Then I hid her back with my body so that no one else could see her, and I tried not to see her as much as I could.

So I was told to look down firmly, but then I looked at Nene-chan’s back as she walked in front of me.

When I was in trouble, I felt a cold sensation on both cheeks and turned my head down.

There was Nene-chan in front of me with her cheeks puffed up.

“Geez, brother-in-law. Take a good look at Nene-chan, okay?”

She was probably upset because I seemed distracted when she was supposed to be teaching me.

“I-I’m sorry. I’m looking at it properly.”

“Yes, please do.”

Nene-chan took her hand off my cheek and smiled softly.

Today’s Nene-chan is extremely mature.

“Brother-in-law prefers beef to pork, right?”

“Aah. I prefer beef.”

“Yes, I like it too.”

Nene-chan picks up a pack of beef and puts it in a basket.

I don’t think there’s a subject.

Well, it comes from the context of the conversation.

“Nene-chan buys things smoothly. It’s your first time at a supermarket, and I think you know where everything is.”

That’s right, Nene-chan explains it to me.

“Every supermarket is thinking of a set of wires and displays that take into account the customer’s movements. It’s counterclockwise from the entrance, vegetables, fruits, meat and fish, ready-made dishes, and bread and milk.”

She paused before continuing.

“The rest are frozen foods, drinks, and sweets, and preserved foods around the inside.”

Can she buy things without hesitation because she knows it?

“I see. Besides, that arrangement stimulates the buying interest while you’re around.”

“As expected of brother-in-law. That sort of thing.”

It’s amazing that she doesn’t buy unnecessary things, and she buys them smoothly.

If she were a high school girl, she would have been able to pick up sweets and juice.

“They’ve got the store set up really well to make you buy more. But if you have that knowledge, you can understand marketing, so you don’t have to worry about anything besides what you need.”

I said it casually, but the air changed slightly at that moment.

“No, I’ll never lose my sight from the beginning, and I don’t need anything but what I need.”

There seemed to be a firm will in her eyes.

I was confused by the sudden change in her tone, but I replied, “Oh, I see.”

I see. I guess Nene-chan is a reasonable and economical person who doesn’t waste money.

◇◆◇

We finished buying what we needed and came back home.

“Come on in.”

“I’m home.”

“Welcome home. Wait, this is my home, so you shouldn’t say I’m home.”

“I made a mistake. Please excuse my intrusion.”

Then we arranged the ingredients we bought in the sink.

I roll up the sleeves of my shirt and start cooking.

“All right. Let’s get on with it.”

“Wait a minute, brother-in-law.”

Nene-chan went to the front door with a clatter, and from there she brought a wrapper and handed it to me.

“Yes, please.”

“This is…”

I opened the wrapper and found an apron.

It was a simple design with plain black and small “I.A” embroidered on the left chest.

“My mom thought it would be more convenient to have an apron.”

“It may be convenient, but… Can I have this?”

My clothes won’t get dirty, and pockets are certainly convenient.

Above all, the feeling of cooking makes me excited, but I wonder if it’s okay to give me this.

“You can accept it without thinking. You’re going to start with the shape, right? You’ll feel better if you put on an apron.”

Nene-chan smiles at me.

I’m surprised that my thoughts seem to have been seen through.

“You’re right, I’m glad to hear that. Please tell mother-in-law thank-you for me.”

“Yes, I’ll tell her.”

When I unfolded my apron to wear it.

“Brother-in-law, I’ll tie the string of your apron.”

Nene-chan went around behind me and tied the string of the apron.

I thanked her with a little shyness.

“T-thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll prepare the food just in case, so please wait a moment.”

Nene-chan took a rubber band from the pouch of her bag and put it in her mouth.

As it is, her hair is put together on the back of her head with the hand, and the rubber band in her mouth is changed into the hand and tied together.

Her ponytail is finished in no time.

The contrast between her black hair and red hair in the inner color, her thin neckline, and her ear piercings were very beautiful.

“Hehe, I have mine, too.”

The next thing Nene-chan took out of her bag was an apron.

Like me, it was plain and simple in black, and there was no embroidery.

I was a little surprised to think that she would wear something with a cute design because she is a girl, but I guess this is fine because Nene-chan looks good in black.

“Hey, brother-in-law. Can you tie my apron string?”

“Aah, sure.”

“Thank you.”

It was only fair, considering she had done it for me earlier.

I suddenly notice today’s Nene-chan’s outfit today after answering.

Nene-chan is wearing a roughly empty dress on her back.

When it comes to tying the string of an apron, I inevitably get a close-up view at a close distance.

Now that I have agreed to it, I can’t help it.

I hold an apron string in my hands behind Nene-chan and make up my mind.

She has a snow-white back and a ponytail, so I can see it even more.

I can’t believe I’m so nervous even though I just tied it up.

After the string is tied tightly, Nene-chan’s back muscles twitch slightly.