Chapter 97: It’s Too Sweet

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In Steele many different types of rooms exist, one of which is the cooking practice room. It was created with the idea of “let’s try making food with the destructive flavor of magic potions!”

Unfortunately, all the potion ingredients were far from normal, and their taste was just as dreadful. While potions could be finished in one gulp, food had to be eaten for minutes, which only prolonged the pain.

Because of this, the place wasn’t used much. Occasionally, students gathered to make regular food or use it for experiments.

Into such a place walked Sugar and Ian, who had bought a large amount of ingredients.

“It’s cleaner than I expected…”

“There are tools, an oven… It seems like everything we need is here.”

Even if something was missing, magic could solve most of it. But that would lack charm.

Sugar rolled up her sleeves and put on an apron. Ian, taking off her suit jacket, looked at her.

The apron covered Sugar’s shorts, making it look like she wasn’t wearing anything underneath. It made her look like someone only wearing stockings as pants.

“Wow…”

“Why are you making such strange noises…”

‘There are only perverts around me.’

A sexual harasser, a cross-dresser with an interest in adult stories, and a gay guy.

Sugar, tying her scarf tightly, moved the scale with a disgruntled expression.

“By the way, Sugar… do you know how to cook? I’ve never seen you cook in the cathedral.”

“Ha… Ian, cooking isn’t something difficult.”

Ian thought about Sugar’s usual behavior. She wasn’t good at studying, but she was sharp in her own way. Still, her reckless tendencies worried her.

Like putting salt instead of sugar or ignoring the recipe with a “Who dares to teach me!?” attitude.

In romance novels, sometimes the female protagonist cooks, so although Ian had never tried cooking herself she knew enough to avoid dangerous mistakes.

Sometimes, these novels featured characters creating substances that should never exist due to disastrous cooking skills.

Ian eyed Sugar suspiciously.

“Sugar 100 … butter 30… Ah, Ian! I’ll write this down and give you the scale. Just a sec.”

She was carefully measuring the ingredients.

“Place the bowl of eggs over warm water and heat it… 100 degrees!? Wait, the weight is in grams, but the temperature is in Fahrenheit! Who wrote this recipe…!”

She was following the recipe faithfully.

“Put it in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes… Hehe… It’s my first time. I hope it turns out well.”

She was very diligent.

Squatting down and cradling the bowls with her hands, Sugar peered into the oven, and Ian grabbed her chest.

Riley, this guy. He’s going to take a woman like this?

The soft pink cheeks smeared with batter, Sugar smiling gently…

Ian, who had spent a long time with Sugar in the cathedral, thought of her like a younger sister. She would get upset and scold her when she did something ridiculous, but she cared for her deeply.

“Sigh… Sugar. I hope you’re happy.”

“Huh? Out of nowhere?”

“I saw the future.”

“Uh… you can see the future, Ian?”

“You’re sometimes so stupid, Sugar.”

“Why are you saying that all of a sudden? Just stop talking and help me make this.”

Sugar hurried over and stood beside Ian.

“Ian, you’re making snacks too, right? I’ll help. But who are you making them for?”

“For my friends, I guess. Not many though… Ah, wait, that’s right, Riley—”

“Hmm? Riley, why? Are you not going to give him any? You have to. If I get something and Riley doesn’t, he’ll sulk.”

“… Sugar.”

Ian’s eyes became moist.

‘She’s grown up. Just yesterday, I was thinking she’d get into trouble one day. I even planned what to write in a petition in case she ended up in prison.’

Ian, feeling emotional, patted Sugar’s head. Sugar smiled and opened her mouth.

“By the way, Ian. I should tell you this, just in case…”

Her voice tone remained the same, but suddenly the atmosphere became tense.

“Be careful not to make it feel ‘special.’”

She looked at her without a smile in her eyes.

Ian slammed her hand on Sugar’s head.

“Stop being so cautious! Stop trying to find fault with everything!”

“Ah! Why! I’m just saying!”

“Who doesn’t know you’re Riley’s girlfriend? The janitor to the president of the whole school probably knows too!”

“I-I’m not his girlfriend! Who’s mistaken like that?”

Ian just sighed.

Before long, the oven timer went off with a “ding.”

***************

‘Riley… Are you free tonight?’

Sugar, who usually carried a sweet scent, now had an even stronger sweet fragrance as she asked this question. After disappearing to do something secretly with Ian, she appeared suddenly and asked him this.

What is she planning this time? Honestly, he was nervous. Even though Ian was with her, sometimes Sugar had these unpredictable thoughts.

‘Hmm? Hmm? Are you free?’

Of course, Riley’s heart moved at Sugar’s shy tone, and he answered.

When Riley arrived at the meeting spot, he crossed his arms and frowned. It was an isolated spot next to the greenhouse—an old hiding place.

As he sat down, he felt the familiar magic presence and turned to see Sugar coming toward him, holding a box.

But something seemed off.

She was wearing a pure white apron, and for a second, Riley thought she wasn’t wearing anything on the bottom.

“What’s with the apron?”

“I’m a mom now.”

“Huh.”

Her scarf, which she had been wearing all day, was nowhere to be seen. Her neck was now bare and colored in a reddish hue.

Riley squinted his eyes.

Sugar glanced at him, pretending not to notice, and stood in front of him.

“Now that I think about it… we didn’t throw a proper party when you came back. You came back so suddenly.”

“So?”

“I made a gift for you, just for you.”

She placed the box on the table and opened the lid.

Soon, a pale ivory-colored cake appeared, decorated with tiny strawberries.

“Ta-da! How is it?”

“What’s in it? Sleeping pills, hallucinogenic mushrooms, hypnosis—”

“Hey! I made it with normal ingredients!”

His first reaction was to doubt it. Upset, Sugar hopped up and down.

“Calm down. I was joking.”

“…”

Sugar, with a face full of complaints, handed him a fork. Riley took it quietly.

He had been whispering plans in his mind, but now he realized she was doing this cute thing instead.

“Thanks for the cake,” Riley said, taking a small bite of the cake.

“… How is it?”

Sugar, pretending to be disinterested, came over and peeked at Riley.

“It’s sweet.”

“It’s cake, so it’s supposed to be sweet.”

“It’s too sweet.”

“It’s not bad…?”

“No.”

“What’s the deal…”

“Come here. Let’s eat together.”

“What?”

Sugar twisted her body, turning her gaze away. The distance between them was only two steps now. She hadn’t let Riley get too close lately.

“Won’t come? You used to come first and hug me.”

“That’s… lately, Riley. Whenever you hug me, you touch my waist or stomach… That’s… not okay…”

“I do it because you like it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You always press close to me and beg me to do more.”

Sugar began to fidget. Grinding her teeth, she muttered to herself.

“When… did I ever… do that…”

“Fine. I’ll let you go this time. I won’t touch you. Now come here.”

Blushing, Sugar cautiously came closer and sat on Riley’s lap with force.

“Here.”

Riley offered a piece of cake, and Sugar opened her mouth to take a bite.

“… It’s sweet.”

“See? I told you. It’s good, though. Who made this?”

“Me of course”

Their left hands were tightly clasped. Riley held the fork in his right hand, and Sugar’s right hand held the edge of her apron.

“Strawberry. Give me a strawberry.”

“You ate it all.”

Turning his head, Riley became irritated. They ended up facing each other, and Riley’s view was filled with Sugar. Suddenly, he remembered something he had been curious about earlier.

“Your scarf. Why aren’t you wearing it?”

“… Anyway, you’re the only one who will see this.”

“… ”

“And Riley, you like checking things, right? This is your time, so…”

How did he grow up to be such a pervert? Sugar muttered to herself. Still, she decided to show herself in the hopes of accepting his preferences. She didn’t mind exposing herself to the one who left the marks, even if others wouldn’t know.

Riley then put down his fork and hugged Sugar tightly with all his strength.

“Ugh!”

Sugar, startled, tried to pull away, but Riley held her tightly and didn’t let go.

This feels bad. Really bad. Sugar, flustered, kept glancing around. Lately, this man kept crossing boundaries. In situations like this, something like… that… would definitely happen.

“Sugar.”

“…!”

Her heart raced at the voice close to her ear. Her body tensed up, and she braced herself. The events from the weekend flashed by like a panorama.

She breathed out sharply. The voice and the actions from her ear were like a stamp on her mind, and her breath instinctively grew uneven.

‘What should I do? Reject him? No, wait. I should accept it, right? But isn’t this a bit too indulgent? But if Riley wants it, maybe this much… I’ve already tolerated this a few times.’

Her mind was a mess, answering herself.

But Riley, as if mocking Sugar, said just one thing and then let go.

“Thank you.”

He immediately moved away.

So, this is the end.

The breath, the presence, all faded away. He didn’t touch her waist or belly. It was a refreshingly distant attitude, nothing clingy about it.

‘…Eh?’

‘What’s going on?’

‘You’re not going to do it…?’

‘No, wait, wait a second.’

‘Not going to do it, you say?’

‘What am I thinking? What was I expecting?’

‘Am I, perhaps, feeling regret?’

‘Eeeeh, no way.’

“Aah, ugh, haha…”

Sugar started making sounds, as if something was broken.

“What’s going on? Why are you acting like this?”

Riley was only confused. He felt like he’d been bothering her too much lately. What she did today was so cute that he held back for her. But now, hearing such strange sounds, it felt uncomfortable.

“Ha… That can’t be it…”

“Did you take something? Why are you acting like this?”

“If we’re going to point out problems, it’s not me, it’s Riley…”

“Am I really going crazy…”

Even while speaking like that, Riley changed his posture and sat facing Sugar, hugging her tightly. He was trying to calm down the suddenly offbeat Sugar. He was worried about her, who still had bandages on her arms and legs from the injuries she had gotten over the weekend.

Sugar muttered weakly in response.

“It’s nothing… nothing at all. Don’t worry.”

Riley’s large hand patted her back.

It was a playful gesture and skinship with that man. It was a little suggestive, but they were close enough to overlook it. It was just a simple act because they both enjoyed the other’s reaction.

For her to want more of it… she wouldn’t be that kind of person.

‘What, am I a pervert?’

“It’s just… the cake was too sweet.”

“You made it yourself? But you like sweet things anyway.”

“I should stop eating sweet things for my health…”

“How old are you, anyway…”

As they continued talking, Riley’s hand as if out of habit, moved to Sugar’s waist.

Accepting the touch, Sugar pressed her body closer to him.

Feeling nostalgic as she squirmed, Riley picked up a strawberry and fed it to her.

“Here. Is it a little less sweet now?”

“It’s sweeter, you fool…”

Her lips, which pouted in displeasure, were red and moist exuding the scent of fruit.