When I Picked Up A Stunningly Gorgeous Downer-Type Beauty In Front Of The Entrance. - Chapter 58: I'll forgive you just for today.

I’ll forgive you just for today.

Clutching my head, I thrust my back towards Sajou-san.

Of course, it wasn’t intentional; it was a result of surprise, attempting to escape in a split second.

From Sajou-san’s perspective, it must have been quite a foolish scene.

Thrusting my back in the hallway, I can’t complain even if I’m kicked.

If it were my little sister, she would undoubtedly kick me away without hesitation.

“Well, whatever,” she said.

Fortunately, she brushed off my odd behavior easily, seeming entirely disinterested. It was almost sad how little concern she showed.

Deciding not to bring up the topic myself, I quietly settled down, gently lowering my raised back end back to the floor and turning around.

I knelt on the floor, waiting for Sajou-san to continue with her “by the way.”

Looking down at me with a questioning expression, she didn’t seem to find anything worth commenting on. It was a relief.

Instead, she said, “I got the part-time job,” succinctly leaving the matter at that before closing the living room door again and disappearing.

She got it?

The part-time job?

That meant she was hired right after the interview, huh?

That was unexpectedly decisive.

I wondered if they were really that short on staff to hire so quickly.

There weren’t many customers when we were there, and it didn’t seem like they were short-handed, but… well, whatever.

Right now, what mattered was that Sajou-san had gotten the job.

It was something to celebrate.

I fluttered my arms in excitement.

When I first heard about her applying for a job, I felt a bit lonely, but hearing that she got it made me genuinely happy.

It was as if the guilt and tension I had just felt had popped like soap bubbles and disappeared.

All that remained in my heart was a warm, spring-like feeling.

Unable to contain myself, I jumped up and ran down the hallway.

“Congratulations, Sajou-san!”

“You’re noisy.”

As I swung open the door with a bang, I was promptly scolded.

Perhaps I had opened it too forcefully; the door bounced back and hit me on the head with a sharp “ouch.”

“…Haa.”

She gave me a look that clearly said I was being foolish, but right now, I didn’t care about that.

“Red rice?”

“Uh… I’ve already had my first period a long time ago, so…”

“Wha…!?”

I staggered at her unexpected remark.

What on earth was she suddenly bringing up?

Fidgeting, I intertwined my fingers nervously, lips trembling.

“Sensitive… delicate topics like that… um, I don’t know how to respond, so please, even if it’s a joke, could you stop?”

“Because you said ‘red rice.'”

I mean, sure, I did.

It’s not like ‘red rice’ is only about the first time. It’s something you serve at celebrations.

Then when asked when else, nothing but the first time came to mind.

Wait? So, was it my fault for bringing up red rice? Is this a harassment case?

“Anyway!”

I raised my voice to deflect.

“…Quiet,” I was scolded, but all I did in response was reflexively apologize with a “Sorry” without reflecting much. Right now, it was time to let the rising tension take over.

“Today’s a party, right?”

I declared with both hands raised, “A par… ty…?” in a voice filled with doubt, as if it were a word I’d just heard for the first time. Deep furrows formed on her forehead, her face clearly saying, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“No, no, a party, yes, a party.

It’s not particularly unusual—”

I wanted to say, but the words didn’t come out.

Come to think of it, has the girl in front of me ever had a party for her birthday, Christmas, or any other event like that?

Considering her family situation, it might be that she hasn’t had those experiences…

Perhaps, buried deep in her memories, she might have had such moments when she was very young.

But ever since her relationship with her mother severed, there likely haven’t been any celebrations. In fact, I believe they struggled even with day-to-day life, let alone celebrating special occasions.

Thinking about this, I suddenly feel an overwhelming urge to celebrate for her.

It may be just for my own satisfaction. But that’s okay.

If I want to do it, then I should, regardless of whether it’s for self-satisfaction or not.

In fact, I will do it.

“So, I was thinking of ordering sushi for oyuhan tonight—”(Oyuhan, cute way of calling ‘dinner’)

“What?”

Just as I took out my phone to open the delivery app, a menacing voice froze my finger mid-push.

When I cautiously looked up, the face that had been nearly expressionless moments ago now clearly showed anger.

W-What’s happening? Did I say something wrong? Was it my attempt to cutely call dinner “oyuhan” that annoyed her?

“I-I won’t use ‘oyuhan’ again, so please forgive me…”

“What are you talking about?”

It seems I misunderstood.

Then, trembling and teary-eyed, I appealed to her, “Why are you angry?” Seeing her lips purse into a pout, initially I didn’t understand what she meant. But as I gazed at her turned-away face, it slowly dawned on me, and naturally, my cheeks relaxed.

“…So, you’re saying you don’t want to eat the food I made?”

“…Huh?”

Sajou-san pursed her lips slightly.

At first, I didn’t understand what she meant.

But as I stared at her, turning away in a sulky manner, the realization dawned on me, and a smile naturally spread across my face.

Is that what she means…?

As I watched, thinking how cute she was, Sajou-san’s lips twisted even more unhappily.

“…Why are you smiling?Forget it. I won’t cook ever again. Order delivery or whatever you want.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tease you, and ordering delivery doesn’t mean I don’t like your cooking. Please, cheer up, Hitori-chan?”

“Y-You’re really…!”

Her face turned bright red as she glared at me sharply.

It seems I’ve made her angry.

But unlike before, when she was scary, now she was like a child trying to show how angry she was, which somehow made me smile.

I reached out to her intending to comfort her.

I thought she might push my hand away, but she didn’t say anything and just kept her hand down. I gently touched her hair, and she silently lowered her head.

She seemed so much like a child.

“Today, let’s make hand-rolled sushi and go all out. How much do you want to eat? And we’ll get some sea urchin too.”

“…If it’s not too expensive.”

She began to say things that made her sound like a housewife, and I chuckled.

I let go of her head that I had been petting.

She remained bowed, not lifting her face.

She seemed frozen in place.

Thinking her battery might have run out, suddenly her hands reached out to both cheeks, making me jump.

With cool, smooth hands like porcelain, she gently stroked my face to confirm its shape — then pinched both cheeks, playing with them softly.

“Wha… what was that all about?”

“Nothing really.”

Even as she said that, she pinched me hard enough to hurt, pulling my cheeks up, down, left, and right.

“I have various… thoughts and things I want to say…”

She lifted her face that had been downturned.

I thought her expression would be full of dissatisfaction, but…

“But today, I’ll let it slide.”

Her smile was so natural that I forgot to breathe for a moment, mesmerized by it.

Her hand gently withdrew.

Though her hand should have been cold, the spots she touched felt strangely warm.

Feeling like I was in a daydream, my consciousness drifted, and then she suddenly spoke up as if remembering something.

“Give me your contact info.”

She wanted it for work emergency contacts, and all I could manage was a hesitant nod.