The Case of Liking the Most Beautiful Girl in the School Even After Being Told Not to Like Her - Chapter 13 - Apparently, Even The Flawless Girl Can't Cook!

Chapter 13 – Apparently, Even The Flawless Girl Can’t Cook!

“”Traveling together?””

After finishing dinner, Dad and Kaho-san suddenly told me and Mina-san that they were going on a day trip tomorrow.

It’s been about two weeks since we came to live together, and I wonder if they want to spend some time together. Me and Mina-san immediately agreed. We’re high school students now, we can do without our parents for a day or two.

“Y-Yuuto-kun, can you cook?”

I think Mina-san’s been acting strange since we played the pocky game, but I think I’m the same. What were we trying to do? I thought as I remembered that time.

“I can do basic cooking. What about you, Mina-san?”

“O-Of course I can!”

“Is that so? Then, you’ll be the one to prepare lunch…”

“Yes, I’ll take care of it.”

She had a confident look on her face, so I had high hopes. Mina-san seems to be able to do anything, so I guess she can cook as a matter of course.

＊＊＊

—The following Saturday.

“So what is this sweet potato soup?”

I went to the kitchen and there was Mina-san, wearing an apron and cooking. I came here because of an indescribable smell…

“Sweet potato soup? No matter how you look at it, this is curry roux.”

What is she talking about? She looks at me like I’m crazy. Curry roux? Huh? Have I gone crazy?

“Do you want a taste?”

I feel like I’m being asked to taste poison rather than taste food. I was thinking that I would be killed by this curry roux that Mina-san made. It was not something that people could eat.

I thought she was perfect in her studies and sports, but apparently she’s not a good cook.

“No, I don’t. Did you taste it, by the way?”

When I asked her that, she shook her head.

“Well, why don’t you taste it? You made it yourself.”

I suggested this to Mina-san, believing that it would turn out good, since it often looks bad but tastes good.

“Well, you’re certainly right…”

She scooped a little bit of curry roux on a small plate. Then, with a spoon, she put some in her mouth.

“W-What’s this…”

Mina-san was stiff with her spoon as she said so.

What kind of response is this?

Was it bad? Or was it tasty?

I tried to read her facial expressions but I couldn’t figure it out.

“Mina-san, how did it taste?”

When I called out to her, Mina-san gave a wry smile. Then, she muttered.

“Yuuto-kun, it seems I can’t cook by myself…”

You definitely can’t cook.

I know what you said yesterday about being able to cook was just you pretending to look good.

“Okay. I’ll show you how to make the curry, and you can just watch me today.”

“T-Thank you…”

Mina-san and I switched places and I stood in front of the kitchen and decided to make the curry that Mina-san was going to make. Mina-san was watching me cooking and started talking to me.

“Do you cook a lot, Yuuto-kun?”

“Sometimes… When my dad comes home late from work for example. I had the option of buying food, but it’s cheaper to make it myself.”

“I see… Boys who can cook are kind of cool… I thought boys just do stupid things and don’t do anything at home.”

What’s with that prejudice…

“If that’s the impression you have, I’m wondering what your first impression of me is…”

“First impression? Well… Yuuto-kun, I thought you didn’t seem to be interested in anything. Everyone in class saw my appearance and talked to me at least once, but you never talked to me from the time we started school until we met at the back of the school building. People around were talking about how they would benefit from getting to know me, or wanting me to be their girlfriend, but you didn’t seem to be interested…”

What Mina-san said isn’t wrong. I didn’t think anything of Mina Tachikawa, I didn’t even know why people liked her so much. I didn’t know what was so good about her or why she was so popular.

“I also want to know Yuuto-kun’s first impression of me.”

“My first impression of Mina-san? I think I said that before.”

“What? When?”

“When I met you. My first impression of you, Mina-san, was that you had a fake smile and blabbed about things you didn’t want to say… I was watching you, wondering if you weren’t tired of doing it. Well, it got harder and harder to watch.”

“…I shouldn’t have asked…”

Mina-san sighed heavily with a dark look on her face. Well, you’re the one who asked me.

＊＊＊

“Thank you for the food. It was delicious. Yuuto-kun’s meal tasted better than the one we had at the restaurant.”

I thought it was so exaggerated…but I was glad that Mina-san, who had finished eating the curry I made, gave me honest feedback.

“You’re welcome.”

After eating the curry and washing the dishes, I prepared to go outside.

“Are you going somewhere?”

While washing the dishes, Mina-san asked me who was holding a bag.

“I’m working part-time, I’ll be back at 5:00.”

Dad and Kaho-san will be back at 8pm. That means we need to make our own dinner. If I didn’t tell Mina-san first, she might start cooking dinner on her own, so I told her we’ll cook dinner together.

“Okay. Have a good day.”

“I’m off.”

It felt like a strange exchange, but I didn’t feel bad. Just the thought of having someone waiting for me when I get home…it made me want to do my best today.

＊＊＊

After saying have a good day…

I saw Yuuto-kun off and was excited all by myself.

I wish I had been able to say this back then.

No, I have to stop. I shouldn’t be so gloomy…

Let’s go shopping for a change. I’ll check the fridge and buy what we need.

I decided to go to a shopping mall and started getting ready.

I’m going out alone today, so I’ll just wear the same clothes as usual. Speaking of which, what kind of part-time job does Yuuto-kun have? We’ve started living together, but I still don’t know anything about him… All I know is his birthday and that he’s a bit of a meanie… I’ll ask him when he gets back.

＊＊＊

“Ah, Mina.”

When I was wandering around the grocery store alone at the mall, I ran into two of my friends.

“Iori and Chinatsu.”

With a smile as if it was a pleasure to meet them, I called out their names, and Chinatsu took my hand.

“Now that we’ve met, let’s hang out together,0 Mina. I’m going to buy Nagisa’s birthday present now. What about you, Mina?”

“I see, it’s almost Nagisa’s birthday… Yeah, if it’s okay with you two, can I join you?”

I’d really like to be alone at least on my day off, but it’s not like I can say no here…

“Of course! Right, Iori?”

“Yes, but doesn’t Mina have a purpose for being here? You don’t have to force yourself to be with us.”

“Hmm, I’ll just stop by the grocery store on my way home, so it’s fine.”

“Then the three of us should pick Nagisa’s birthday present.”

＊＊＊

When I got back to the house, I stopped in front of the front door and looked at my phone. Yuuto-kun said he would be back at 5 o’clock, didn’t he? It’s just a bit after 5:00, so he might have returned home.

“I’m home.”

I took off my shoes and was about to go up to the house when Yuuto-kun came running from the living room and grabbed me by the shoulders.

“Y-Yuuto-kun!? W-What’s wrong?”

“Have you seen Katayama?”

“Eh, Yuuto-kun’s friend, Katayama-kun?”

He nodded strongly when I asked him. I met my classmates today, but not Katayama-kun.

When I shook my head, Yuuto-kun was relieved.

“Did something happen with Katayama-kun?”

“Actually, Katayama was at the house earlier. But we were just talking at the front door… But if you didn’t see him, then I guess it’s okay… Ah, Mina-san, that hurt, didn’t it? I’m sorry.”

Yuuto-kun hurriedly removed his hands from my shoulders.

“I’m fine. Well then, let’s make dinner.”

“Ah, you’re right.”

We headed to the kitchen and started preparing dinner. At that time, Katayama-kun sent Yuuto-kun a message, but Yuuto-kun didn’t notice it until a few hours later.

“What kind of relationship do Yuuto and Tachikawa have?”