Ch.127Chapter 20. Request (2)

Prejudice is truly frightening.

I had this image of Kagami as someone somewhat gloomy.

She helped me a lot. The fact that Koko and I are properly attending school now is thanks to Kagami and her connections.

Even the fact that we weren’t kicked out of this house… well, I can’t argue that it’s thanks to Kagami.

But still, she was a bit different.

Her impression was quite different from Yuka, who would look happy and pleased when helping me.

She usually didn’t visit unless she had something to tell me.

Looking back now, she might have been considerate of me, but since I was someone who doubted everything in the world and was unusually sensitive due to constantly being hungry, I couldn’t interpret it positively.

No, I did think it was fortunate… but the moment you think it’s fortunate that someone doesn’t come around, “good impression” is already out.

But now, hmm.

I’m a bit confused.

“What’s all that?”

I asked Kagami as she rustled around, taking out various things and placing them on the table. She shrugged her shoulders.

“Food.”

“I know that, but…”

Inside were packaged ingredients that looked freshly bought from the supermarket, as well as snacks and candies.

It looked like she had just grabbed whatever caught her eye, not knowing what we liked.

“Woo?”

Seeing the packaged snacks among the items, Koko glanced at us.

Her impression of Kagami seems to have improved a lot since the beginning, but she still seems to be somewhat cautious.

I looked at Kagami.

Kagami hesitated a bit, picked up a snack package, and awkwardly handed it to me.

Wait, why is she giving it to me?

Maybe she thought Koko would refuse if she gave it directly?

…Since it would seem a bit odd if I refused here, I took the potato chip bag from her hand and passed it to Koko.

“Wah!”

Koko excitedly accepted the snack.

If Koko were an ordinary child, I would have told her to eat moderately before dinner, but I’ve never seen Koko leave any food in front of her, regardless of type.

Kagami made a face that seemed to wonder if this was okay, but seeing my nonchalant expression, she went back to what she was doing.

“So…”

Still not used to this side of Kagami, I spoke with a somewhat uncertain expression.

“Are you planning to cook with this?”

“…Would it have been better to send money instead?”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

I suddenly wondered which would have been better.

To be honest, yes, giving money would have been much less warm and less awkward.

But at the same time, I didn’t think this situation was bad either.

After all, feeling awkward and feeling bad aren’t always synonymous.

I decided to stop asking “why.” Kagami herself looked confused, and I didn’t think asking more would get me a detailed answer.

“So… what were you planning to cook?”

“…”

As I looked down at the ingredients and asked, Kagami fell silent.

I waited about 10 seconds, but when no answer came, I asked in a careful voice so as not to hurt Kagami’s feelings.

“Did you have any idea what to cook?”

“…”

There was no answer.

I scratched my head.

Somehow, Kagami looked like she wanted to do something but couldn’t quite bring herself to do it.

*

Fortunately, there was something we could make with the ingredients Kagami had bought without much thought.

A hot pot.

I’m not sure if I should call it Japanese-style or just a mixed stew, but anyway, we added water, prepared the meat, mushrooms, and vegetables Kagami had bought, brought it to a boil, added a bit of miso paste, adjusted the seasoning, and it turned into a decent hot pot.

Contrary to my concerns, Kagami did know how to prepare ingredients.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t cook; it seemed she had come here impulsively and really hadn’t thought anything through.

So, this is just my guess, but I think Kagami bought the ingredients thinking of “something for the family to eat together”?

Koko was already excited by the smell of the cooking meat. She was leaning on the table, sticking her face out and sniffing the aroma.

“Looks like the cooking worked out somehow.”

When I said that, Kagami nodded.

I scooped rice from the electric rice cooker, placed a bowl in front of everyone, and glanced around a bit nervously.

…What should I do?

Normally, I’m not the type to say things like “thank you for the meal.” I’ve tried to imitate it a few times since coming here, but it hasn’t really stuck.

Of course, when eating at Yuka’s place, I did follow what her family did.

Kagami and I cautiously reached for our chopsticks while watching each other.

And without anyone going first, we both started eating.

“…This is delicious.”

I muttered without realizing it.

I don’t know if it’s because hunger is the best sauce, or if the dish really turned out well.

Well, since Koko was eating the meat with a very satisfied expression, I guess it didn’t matter either way.

“…”

Kagami ate her rice without saying anything.

I stared at her for a while, then spoke up.

“Do you usually eat alone?”

At my words, Kagami’s chopsticks paused. She could have answered while eating, though.

“…Usually, yes.”

“What about cooking?”

“Someone else cooks for me. I’ve learned the basics of cooking, though.”

“I see.”

Well, she did handle the ingredients decently, but she often looked confused throughout the cooking process.

“So… people from the Order?”

“Yes. I’m… in quite a high position, you know? You don’t actually think that the floor above that bar is my real home, do you?”

Kagami’s attitude briefly returned to the Kagami I knew, which was reassuring. Phew, it seems she hasn’t completely changed.

“I know that, of course.”

But when I answered like that, Kagami was silent again for a while. Was she comparing her “home” to this place?

Still, the awkwardness had diminished a lot, probably because we were eating together. At least Koko was eating without paying any attention to Kagami.

“…The things in here, were they really…?”

This time, Kagami cautiously asked.

She seemed to be trying to continue the conversation.

It was a careful demeanor, quite far from the straightforward attitude Kagami had shown initially.

“Most of them were given by Yuka.”

I nodded.

“But a few weren’t. I got the electric rice cooker and the fan from the storage room at my part-time job.”

At my answer, Kagami seemed lost in thought for a moment.

“…When you first woke up, you must have had nothing…”

“I just lived. You saw it yourself.”

At my words, Kagami closed her mouth.

Oh, did that sound accusatory? I was just stating a fact.

“…The homeroom teacher brought a blanket, so I lived with that for a while.”

“I see…”

Kagami closed her mouth again.

We continued our meal for a while longer.

Ugh, the atmosphere has become heavy again. It’s not so burdensome that I can’t taste the food, but still.

“I’ll prepare winter items for you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Like a kotatsu.”

Yes, I heard that earlier.

And it would be nice to have one.

As I’ve grown older, I don’t see them as often, and since coming here, I’ve hardly seen them for various reasons, but I still think I like manga and animation. As proof, I’ve been making good use of the gaming console Yuka gave me.

So, I do have certain “dreams” or ideals.

I’m not extremely immersed in Japanese culture, but in slice-of-life shows, don’t they often have scenes of people sitting in a kotatsu, peeling tangerines?

Any otaku would want to try that at least once. It might compete for first or second place with hot springs.

…No, first place is always set. Come to think of it, is it next month? If I’m going to die anyway, it might not be bad to try it once.

Anyway, dreams aside, I think we’ll need one soon. There must be a reason why such heating devices are considered essential in Japan. It’s the same principle as how electric heating pads or boiler-heated floors are considered essential in Korean homes.

It would be a bit unfortunate to freeze to death before the prophecy is fulfilled, right?

“…Alright.”

Just like when she came in earlier, I nodded.

After sharing a meal, I have no intention of refusing.

No, more than that, it would be a bit odd to be stubborn now after having slept above Kagami’s workplace.

At least, I can take comfort in the fact that I nodded much more naturally than when I nodded as she came in earlier.

Kagami looked at me and smiled awkwardly.

It was still extremely awkward. In a way, it was almost eerie.

But still, it was slightly more natural than before.

“…”

Feeling an emotion that’s hard to put into words, I moved my chopsticks.

I still can’t fully trust her. Honestly, I don’t understand why Kagami is acting this way. Has she changed her strategy for approaching me?

If so, this would be an excellent strategy.

“Eat a lot, Koko.”

“Woo? Wah!”

Feeling awkward and somewhat itchy, I called out to Koko, who shouted happily in response.

…Yes, that’s good.

I can’t be rude to someone who’s being nice to Koko.

We ate the hot pot until the bottom was clearly visible. Kagami stared blankly at the empty pot for a while.

I really can’t tell what she’s thinking.

*

“So… um.”

After finishing the meal and washing the dishes.

Standing at the entrance, Kagami and I were wondering what to say.

I can only know what’s in my head, but I’m certain Kagami feels the same way. Her expression was much more complex than when we first met in front of our house.

Damn, it’s more awkward than when she first came in.

After hesitating for a while,

“Do you want to stay over?”

I asked out of courtesy.

“Ah, well.”

Only after hearing that did Kagami seem to find what to say.

“I’m sorry, but I have something to do.”

I wanted to believe her, but honestly, it sounded like an excuse she made up to escape this situation somehow.

Well, I was grateful anyway.

It probably would have felt much more awkward if she had said she’d stay.

“Then… um, goodbye.”

Not knowing how to say the final farewell, I said that and waved my hand slightly.

She was outwardly an older woman than me, but I’ve been speaking informally to her all along, so it’s not easy to switch to formal speech now.

Honestly, isn’t this better for Kagami too?

“…I’ll be going then. The kotatsu will probably arrive soon.”

I nodded.

Looking to the side, Koko was tilting her head, watching Kagami.

She also seems to have an expression of not knowing how to say goodbye.

Seeing Koko and me like this, Kagami gave a bitter smile.

Then she turned around and walked away.

She didn’t look back as she left.

Although she didn’t look back, it somehow felt like the polite thing to do was to watch her until she turned the corner, so Koko and I kept watching her retreating figure.

Only after she completely disappeared did Koko and I go back inside.

“Meow.”

“…Well, I couldn’t help it.”

As Kuro meowed in what seemed like a teasing way, I said that while vigorously petting his head.

I’m not sure what he was teasing me about, though.

“Woo?”

When Koko looked at me and tilted her head, I vigorously petted her head too.

“Wah!”

Koko shouted happily.

I was glad that at least Koko remained the same.

*

“I’m really sorry, Senior Kotone!”

“…Huh?”

Monday.

After school, when I met Shii as usual, she apologized loudly out of nowhere.

The word “Why?” was about to escape my lips when I remembered that Shii hadn’t been able to come to our club exhibition.

And right after that, I could guess the reason.

“Because of Nakahara and Hagiwara?”

At my words, Shii opened her eyes wide and straightened her back.

“How did you know…?”

“Because there’s no other reason.”

That’s right.

It was the school festival, after all.

While not as good as an amusement park, there was a haunted house, places to eat and chat, and surprisingly, some secluded spots.

In other words, it was a place where couples could enjoy a nice date if they wanted to.

The two heroines aiming for the protagonist wouldn’t miss such an opportunity. Not only the overtly carnivorous Hagiwara but also the childhood friend Nakahara, who is surprisingly bold.

And Shii would have wanted to separate them somehow. At the very least, she would have wanted to keep an eye on them.

I tried to recall how the original story went.

As is common in light novel daily life side stories, service scenes are naturally included. Hagiwara and Nakahara would have clung to the protagonist from both sides, pressing their bodies against his arms.

It’s called “pressing,” but they probably wedged his arms between their breasts.

As works competed with each other, the level has now reached the point where even in shounen manga, there are scenes that are precariously semi-erotic, but 20 years ago, such innocent scenes were more common.

Besides, do you know? In that era, many harem stories ended without the protagonist choosing anyone, just leaving possibilities open. A harem ending was essentially a route only found in eroge.

Even in eroge, they’d call it “good ending” and “true ending,” saying a happy ending isn’t about sex—

…

Well, that doesn’t matter now.

If I had a bit more peace of mind, our room would probably be filled with merchandise from popular manga and anime of this era by now, but I didn’t have that luxury at the moment.

“…That’s okay.”

“What?”

My words seemed to hurt Shii a bit, so I quickly added,

“I still have the anthology, and the exhibition items are still there.”

That’s right. The exhibition items were awkwardly large, so I didn’t have the space to bring them home right away.

So we just gathered them and placed them next to the bookshelf. They might be useful as reference for juniors next year during the cultural festival, if any join.

“So, I can show them to you anytime.”

“Wah!”

Koko, who was beside me, also raised both arms and shouted.

“R-really?”

At my words, Shii blinked.

I nodded.

“Since it’s written down, it won’t disappear. Not many people visited the Literary Arts Club anyway, so we can create a similar atmosphere whenever you come.”

“Won’t I be a nuisance if I come?”

“The seniors would be happy.”

During the last training camp, Shii was the second most popular after Koko. She wasn’t childlike like Koko, but she had a relatively small and cute appearance, was actually young, and worked very hard, which gave her a good image.

…

Wait, relatively small?

Looking again, Shii seems taller than me.

“Senior?”

“…It’s nothing. Shall we go to work?”

“Yes!”

At my words, Shii’s face brightened again.

Anyway.

Having such a sister and still making her suffer emotionally, Sasaki is truly a sinful guy.

Well, it’s not entirely Sasaki’s fault, but still.

*

The café has gained one more worker.

Of course, I’m talking about Miki.

It seems she still hasn’t gone to meet her parents.

Her relationship with her parents had already deteriorated from the moment she went to juvenile detention, and in the meantime, Miki had earned a surprisingly substantial amount of money.

Most of it went to paying off debts that had somehow accumulated at her age, but there was still quite a bit left.

It wasn’t just accumulated because she “had nothing to spend it on.”

If she talks about that money, her parents might get upset again. Perhaps Miki’s parents, like the café owner, are as strict as Sasaki’s father.

And if that’s the case, I can roughly see how things turned out.

Well, I don’t bring up such topics in front of her. I just listened silently without commenting.

“Welcome~ Master~”

Miki’s relaxed greeting expression looks even more relaxed and brighter than when she was at the bar.

So, there’s no need to dig up such past issues.

Miki, who has started living in this building, is working without pay. The owner said there was no need for that, but Miki insisted that she couldn’t hold her head up otherwise.

Perhaps she was inspired by seeing Shii and me already working part-time.

Working is a good thing. Moving your body and seeing various types of people is good for mental health.

“Hello~”

Miki, who was already working, saw us, smiled brightly, and waved.

We smiled and waved back.

Miki, who was just taking a customer’s order and heading to the cash register, came closer to me.

“Hey~ I’ve been thinking~”

“Yes.”

Shii also stopped with me, and I gestured with my eyes toward the changing room. Shii quickly went to change.

“I also want to go to high school~”

“…”

“I might not be able to go to a good place like Hanakawa~ But I still want to be like everyone else~”

“Miki, you’ll do well.”

At my words, Miki nodded with a bright smile.

“I just wanted to say that~ It’s a thought that came to me when I saw you, and I really wanted to tell you~”

After saying that, Miki smiled brightly again, turned around, and ran off.

I stared blankly at Miki’s retreating figure, then turned my gaze toward the owner.

The owner, who had been watching us with a smile, hurriedly turned away.

I noticed his eyes were a bit sparkly, but I decided to pretend I didn’t see it.