I'll Take Nanase-san, Who Is Small And Adorable, Away From Her Cheating And Clueless Ex And Make Her Happy. - Chapter 5: Nanase-san Ended Up Coming To My House.

Nanase-san Ended Up Coming To My House.

(How did it come to this…?)

I found myself chopping vegetables, repeating the same question to myself for what felt like the hundredth time today.

In the familiar kitchen of my home, which stayed clean thanks to the care my mother and I put into maintaining it, stood someone I wasn’t used to seeing there.

Glancing to the side, I saw Nanase-san peeling potatoes with a peeler. Cooking side by side with someone as petite as her made me quietly panic.

“Oh, sorry! I said I’d cook, but I ended up leaving the main part to you, Ogami-kun!”

“No, no, just having your help is more than enough.”

In reality, today’s meal prep was going much more smoothly than usual. The extra pair of hands made a difference, but more importantly, Nanase-san was helping with the tedious prep work, which was a huge relief.

As I thought we might finish early at this pace, Nanase-san spoke up.

“I’m done peeling the potatoes! What should I do next?”

“Uh… could you grab a pot for me? And if you could break up the curry roux, that would really help.”

“Got it! A pot, a pot…!”

As I watched her open the cupboard under the stove in search of a pot, I kept cutting the potatoes she had peeled. I cut them into slightly larger pieces so they wouldn’t melt too much once we started cooking. After tossing them into a bowl, I did a final check of all the ingredients.

“Wow! You’ve already cut everything? You’re really efficient!”

“I’ve been doing this for years. It’s just practice.”

I had been helping out at home since middle school. While I wouldn’t claim to be a professional, I was definitely used to cooking at this level.

Nanase-san, though a bit unsure with her hands, was doing a great job supporting me. Thanks to her help, I was having a much easier time than usual, and I was truly grateful.

She even pulled out a large, sturdy pot, and I started to wonder if she had some cooking experience herself. With that thought in mind, I began tossing the ingredients into the pot, one after another.

“Ogami-kun, your family makes chicken curry, huh? I love how the big chunks of meat make it taste so good!”

“Yeah, well… beef is too expensive for us to afford, so it’s usually pork or chicken.”

…My father isn’t around. He passed away a long time ago in an accident.

Since then, my mother has been supporting my siblings and me all on her own, juggling both work and household chores.

Watching her manage everything made me decide back in middle school to quit basketball. I figured that by helping with chores or taking on part-time jobs, I could ease some of her burden. Plus, participating in club activities can be expensive.

Considering my younger brothers will be facing exams soon, it’s best to reduce any financial strain on our family where possible.

With those thoughts running through my head, I kept cooking—adding water to the pot, bringing it to a boil, skimming off the scum that rose to the surface. Once the time was right, I added the curry roux.

As the roux that Nanase-san had broken up started melting, the kitchen began to fill with the rich aroma of curry, creating an atmosphere that signaled the meal was nearly ready.

“Wow, that smells amazing… I’m getting hungry!”

“Now we just need to simmer it on low heat until it’s done. Sorry to ask, but could you stir the pot occasionally and keep an eye on it for me?”

“Of course! Leave it to me!”

Handing the ladle to Nanase-san, who proudly puffed out her chest, I entrusted her with the task of watching the pot. I briefly thought about getting a step stool, but she wasn’t that short—she could easily see into the pot without any trouble.

Feeling thankful for the help, I turned to the rice cooker and pressed the switch.

“I made a little extra rice—do you think that’ll be enough?”

“I know what you mean. You always end up eating more rice on curry days.”

“Yeah, there’s that, but I also made extra because you’re here. Maybe I should’ve cooked even more rice.”

“Huh…? Y-you made enough for me too?”

“Yeah. You should stay and eat with us. I’m sure my family would be happy to have you.”

I added, though with a slight jab, “They can be a bit of a handful sometimes.”

It didn’t feel right to just have her help with the cooking and then send her off once it was done. That would leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Even if she couldn’t stay, it was curry—leftovers wouldn’t be a problem. So, out of gratitude, I extended the dinner invitation.

“But if it’s inconvenient for you, please don’t feel obligated. Your parents might worry…”

“No, it’s fine! My parents both work, so they’re often not home. They won’t be back today either, so I’d love to join you! Thank you!”

Nanase-san accepted the invitation with a smile. Feeling relieved, I smiled back, hoping she’d enjoy the evening.

Just as I was feeling good about the situation, I heard the sound of the front door opening and footsteps approaching. The number of footsteps was more than I expected… Thinking my younger brothers must have returned all at once, I turned to see someone completely unexpected.

“Sorry, Yuusuke! I said I’d be late, but plans changed and I finished work early! Sorry for coming back so—huh!?”

“Uh, um… n-nice to meet you…”

Standing in the doorway was my mom, who had returned home early. She had barely started apologizing for her early return when she froze, her eyes locking on Nanase-san, who was stirring the curry in the kitchen.

With a mechanical, creaking motion, like a rusty machine, my mom slowly turned her head toward me, then back to Nanase-san. After processing the situation, she suddenly whipped around and shouted at the top of her lungs.

“Masato! Taiga! Yuusuke brought a girl home! Call the police!!”

“W-wait, why!?”