Chapter 10

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Series: A Love That Lurks at the Dining Table

Previous chapter

After I finished chopping up the green onions, I looked up from the cutting board.

I saw Hino-kun sitting on the sofa, passionately studying something in a magazine.

It had been a week since summer vacation started. I have been going to Hino-kun’s house every single day to make lunch and dinner.

The first morning of summer vacation, after he invited me to his house, he sent a message saying, “I’ll be busy tomorrow morning, but I’ll be back in the afternoon with cake.” And that general atmosphere continued without break since then.

I went to his house in the morning, and then we watched dramas or movies together, then we ate lunch and did summer homework together, before finally eating dinner, day after day.

And today too, I was making dinner at his house.

Today, I was making Chinese food. Mabo cabbage shao mai, broccoli and enoki mushrooms with red bean paste, namul with sesame sauce, miso soup with oyster eggs, and apricot-flavored tofu.

I added the chopped green onions, seasame oil and ginger to a frying pan and began cooking.

When the time was right, I added the bean sauce and threw in the eggplant. The tangy aroma of the heated leek, ginger, and bean sauce rose up at once with the white steam.

Then after frying for a bit, I turned it down and simmered it before I put the contents on a large plate to let it cool.

That completed the bean paste. It was simple, but since it wasn’t the main dish, it was better to be simple.

I had to prepare the outside while it was cooling.

I cut the cabbage into strips, wrapped it, and cooked it in the microwave for a little bit. It will be steamed again later, so I didn’t want to change the texture too much.

I soaked the cabbage in ice water so it wouldn’t cook with residual heat.

Next was the main meat filling. I put minced meat, cut onions, bamboo shoots, and the chilled mapo bean paste in a pot. I mixed it well before adding a bit of soy sauce. Then I added salt and pepper to taste, finishing the filling.

I wrapped it in the drained cabbage to make shao mai. I stuffed the shao mai into the steamer and was planning on lighting the stove once it was finished, before I noticed Hino-kun had a gloomy expression.

“Is something wrong, Hino-kun…? Does your stomach hurt? Heat stroke?”

“Ahaha, you never change, Igarashi-san…”

He laughed, but he was pale. I quickly washed my hands and got close to him. He weakly closed his eyes and said, “I was actually worried about something, well, I’m stuck at work.”

“You’re worried about work…?”

If that was the case, then I didn’t think I would be helpful.

If he was feeling sick, I could find a hospital or do other things to help him, but if it was about his job, I couldn’t help at all. I could just listen to him, but would that help at all?

While I was worrying about what to do, he put his magazine on the table. On the page was a romantic special feature with a list of date spots and pictures.

“The drama is romance, but… Since I’ve never been in a relationship before, I don’t really understand it.”

“Eh–“

I completely missed Hino-kun’s words after his explosive declaration. He’s never dated anyone before?

I wondered if it was like… because he was so busy with work, he never had time for a relationship?

Or maybe it could be that he was too cool that no one got close… no way. He was always surrounded by people. Or maybe he has been in love with someone for a long time…? But looking at how calm he was, it didn’t seem like it.

“I’m a newbie at acting, and I can’t just meet someone to play the other role and practice with them, right? It would get uploaded to the internet in a second.”

“I see…”

Could they meet at work to practice there without rumors spreading? Doesn’t filming a drama usually involve practice…?

While I was stuck theorizing and he was brooding over what would be good, he turned to me with a bright voice.

“I know! Igarashi-san, could you go out with me for practice?”

“Eh?”

“You can be my practice partner! I feel like I can perform well if it’s with you! Because we’re always together!”

I can be his practice partner…?

“No way, that’s impossible. I’m a huge amateur. I can’t. I’ve never dated anyone before, and I haven’t even had a crush before…!”

“It’s fine if you just stand there. I just need someone there while I think. I will pay you properly. …Please?”

I shook my head and before I knew it, Hino-kun was standing up. I gripped my wrist apologetically and looked up at him.

“I’m begging you. Igarashi-san… please?”

My chest squeezed at his childish, pleading eyes.

…I wanted to help him. I’ve always been making food, but he’s always been giving me an unreasonable amount of money…

“I don’t need money, but… Um, I really can’t do anything other than stand there, but is that okay…? Probably… No, I definitely think a mannequin would be better. Oh, y-you can take the money you would have paid me with to get a ma–“

“No. It’s fine. If you’re by my side, I don’t need anything else. Rather, anything else would be a nuisance.”

I stopped myself from letting the words sink in. If I did, then I might misunderstand him.

Stop. There was no meaning behind Hino-kun’s words just now.

It was like, if he had a microwave, he didn’t need another one! It would be fine if he just had one microwave starting from tomorrow! It was the same way I was when I was on a roll. He didn’t mean anything by it.

“Then stand over there.”

After I steadied my breathing, Hino-kun urged me in front of the mirror. When I stood in front of the large mirror, he stood behind me and touched my shoulder.

“For practice, is it okay if I touch your arms and hands…?”

“G- go- go ahead.”

“Thanks.”

His low whisper at such close range made my shoulders jump. I could smell soft, herbal soup. That was probably – definitely – Hino-kun’s scent. We were so close that I could smell him. Wasn’t this a ba–

“I love you. Stay by my side forever.”

His sweet voice made me want to jump away. I couldn’t turn around once I felt his breath on my neck. I fearfully looked in the mirror to see Hino-kun hugging me from behind. When I tried to move and shrink away, he applied pressure on my captured wrist and narrowed the distance.

“…Hey, Igarashi-san. Was it true when you said you haven’t liked any guys before now?”

“E-eh, Hi-Hino-kun?”

Was this acting practice? Why would he ask me that…?

His eyes stared straight at mine through the mirror as he gripped my wrist when I tried to move. It didn’t seem like he was joking, so I nodded multiple times.

“Really?”

“Yes. More like, um, I never had any interest, all I cared about was making delicious food–“

“Hmmm…”

I squeezed my eyes shut as Hino-kun slowly entwined his fingers with mine. He rested his chin on my shoulder and I couldn’t move anymore. His lips touched my neck slightly. We stayed like that for what felt like an eternity.

“Then what’s your type? What kind of person do you want to go out with?”

He asked me in rapid succession. I never thought about that before, so I didn’t know. I watched TV and read magazines for cooking, but never for my favorite actors. I barely knew any of their names.

“I-I don’t have any…”

“Then, do you want to marry someone? Who would you want to marry?”

“I-I don’t know.”

I couldn’t tell if Hino-kun was convinced by my answers or not. He hummed with a low voice.

“…I also don’t know whether to handcuff you here or something.”

“Eh…? Woah–“

My eyes shot open at his shocking statement, only to see his face much closer than I ever would have imagined. I took a step back, but he wrapped an arm around my waist and brought me closer.

“Um, Hi-Hino-kun?”

“I think lovers should be this close to each other.”

I could see Hino-kun’s expression from much closer than ever before. His eyes were dark and felt like they were sucking me in. I could see the details of his skin, but when I tried to turn away, he gripped my hand and made it difficult to move.

“You have pretty long eyelashes, Igarashi-san.”

“Y-you too, H-Hino-kun.”

“Really? Want to compare?”

“C-compare!?”

“I’m sure you understand… We need to get closer for that.”

His face got even closer, to the point where our noses were almost touching. When I looked away this time, he moved his arm around my waist to my back, as if hugging me from the front.

“I can’t practice if you turn away.”

“O-okay.”

I thought my heart was going to stop, but I did my best to look Hino-kun in the eye.

This was work. It wasn’t the time to be overwhelmed. I had to be helpful to him.

“Thanks, Igarashi-san…”

That smile felt completely different from when he ate my bentos. I didn’t know what to do. My chest hurt. I wonder, how much time has passed like this?

“Your face is completely red…”

“Eh, b-because I’m nervous so m-my heart is squeezed right now, like I’m going to die.”

“Isn’t that the feeling of love?”

“W-what?”

“I’ve read in a couple of books that when you’re in front of the person you like, your heart beats fast and your face gets hot. So what about now? What are you feeling, Igarashi-san? Am I making your heart beat fast?”

“I-I don’t know. This could just be me being embarrassed from being seen so close and not from l-liking,” I let out with a shaking voice.

Hino-kun narrowed his eyes. Finally, he backed away from me and tapped my shoulder.

“Alright… This is it. Thanks. Thanks to you, I feel like I can do my best at work.”

“Y-you’re welcome…”

My face was too warm. I walked away from Hino-kun and took a deep breath, feeling relieved at the fresh air. I was so nervous that I was holding my breath. The cool air was refreshing.

While I repeated deep breathing for a while, he started cleaning up the table. Then he turned to me.

“Let’s go to the aquarium next time.”

“Eh?”

“I want to practice acting more, like today.”

Hino-kun was looking at me with pleading eyes.

Oh no. I was about to die just now, and I couldn’t help him like that.

“No? Igarashi-san. Do you… hate going out with me?”

I thought about declining him, but I would feel too guilty declining him when he was looking at me like that. I found that I couldn’t respond when the kitchen timer rang with remarkable timing.

“Oh, the sh-shao mai is done so, bye–“

I raised my hand and rushed into the kitchen. That was bad. That was seriously bad. I should think about food to calm down.

I opened the steamer to release my tension, the smell of spices escaping with the steam. The cabbage was bright and I expected it to be crunchy.

When I took one and cut it with chopsticks, the thick meat sauce overflowed with the aroma of mapo. Good. That was what I wanted. It looked delicious. It made me calm down. It looked delicious. I could do this. It’s okay.

I served the shao mai on a plate and also served the garnish.

For the broccoli and enoki mushrooms with red bean paste, I adjusted the salt content so that the flavor would not be too strong, and the red bean paste was flavored with sweet vinegar so that it would be refreshing to eat.

I added spinach, carrots, bean sprouts, and green peppers to a store-bought sesame sauce. Then I added additional ground sesame seeds to the sauce.

The green peppers shouldn’t be too bitter. I cut them into slices before thoroughly boiling them.

I used kombu to make miso soup with shredded daikon and oyster roe with crab fish paste, and agar to harden the apricot flavored tofu.

The use of agar made it more elastic and smooth, instead of the thick texture of gelatin, but it was sure to reduce calories.

I made extra namul and tofu and put it in the fridge so Hino-kun could eat it later. Good. Everything was fine. Everything will be fine.

I made sure to double-check everything before I nodded strongly.

“Hino-kun, it’s…”

A hand from my side deftly grabbed the plate I was about to carry into the dining room.

My mind was filled with a strange, soft feeling when I caught the smell of herbs.

“I’ll carry the food. I can’t just wash the dishes.”

He carried dinner into the dining room with light steps, not taking any notice of how stunned I was.

Watching his back caused my hands to lose strength and I fought to not slump over.

This was bad.

This was really bad.

I probably looked ridiculous right now.

Hino-kun’s scent felt far, far stronger than the scent of delicious food.

◇

I walked through the shopping district filled with closed stores, the evening sun behind me.

It was a week after I helped Hino-kun with his job… a week after my heart was about to stop. I was walking through the lonely shopping district because it was Obon.

Hino-kun was busy with work since this morning, so I went out shopping. But I was met with closed doors and banners put up. The shopping district had a bit of a lonely atmosphere.

Even the cicada cries sounded quieter than before.

But not all the stores were closed. Among the open stores, I was able to buy some canned food cheaper than what it would have been at the supermarket. I readjusted my grip on the heavy bags and took a look around my surroundings.

The sky was dyed red and even though there were usually people out buying ingredients for dinner and children playing on their way home, today there was barely anyone. To the point that I couldn’t even hear footsteps.

The speakers that were usually playing fun pop music were playing sad sounding classical tunes, making it feel like I stepped into a different world.

The shopping district I was normally so familiar with gave me an uneasy feeling as I looked around. Then, my phone began vibrating in my pocket.

I saw Hino-kun’s name as I looked at my screen. After briefly wondering why he was calling, I clicked the answer button. His voice was lower than usual.

“Igarashi-san?”

“Y-yeah. That’s me.”

“Hahaha, good. I was walking home from work when I thought I wanted to hear your voice.”

Please don’t say something like that. My heart squeezed. Maybe it was something he learned in showbiz. It was bad for my heart…

“O-okay?”

“Hehe. Hey, Igarashi-san. Could you look behind you for a second?”

“Behind me?”

“Yep. Huuuurry up.”

I quickly turned around to see Hino-kun standing a distance away, holding his phone to his ear like I was. He was smiling without a disguise. What was he doing here?

“I found you.”

Hino-kun slowly walked forward until he was right in front of me. He pocketed his phone before grabbing my bags of canned food.

“You’re going home, right? I’ll carry your bags. It looks heavy.”

Hino-kun started walking without waiting for my response. I chased after him with no idea what was going on.

◇

“S-sit here, I’ll pour tea right away,” I said to Hino-kun in my living room before running to the kitchen.

He never let go of the bags on the way here, saying, “I want to thank you for everything you do, so let me do this at least.”

And since he ended up carrying them all the way to my house, I invited him inside for some tea.

Suddenly Hino-kun was in my living room, which I have only been in in the morning and at night lately. It was a strange feeling. He sat down on the sofa and looked around the room. Lined on the walls were souvenirs from the places my parents traveled to overseas. Stuff like strange plush dolls with some sort of motif on them, and wooden talismans. He must have been curious because it had such a unique atmosphere.

While I was pouring tea, I asked him the question that had been bothering me.

“Hey, Hino-kun. Why were you in the shopping district?”

“My photoshoot was nearby. I’ve been to the shopping district before and when I heard that music through the phone, I did a little searching and found you.”

“I see…”

I took a barley tea pot out of the fridge and poured it into a glass. The shining brown liquid rippled as I handed it to Hino-kun, who took it with a smile and a, “Thanks,” before drinking it.

I checked the time to see that it was exactly 3:30 PM. It was too soon for dinner. But it was after work for him, so there was a chance Hino-kun was hungry. Maybe I could… ask him if he wanted a late snack? That way I could also pay him back for carrying my bags.

“Um, uh. Are you hungry, Hino-kun? If you wanted, could we have a snack together?” I nervously asked him.

“Really?” He asked, his eyes bright. It made me really happy to see him so delighted before I even made it.

“Of course. I’ll make it right now.”

When I started making the snacks, I heard some mail drop into the mailbox in the entrance.

Our house’s mailbox was relatively loud, so I thought about getting it replaced… but since my parents were overseas, I was stuck with this one.

I checked the mailbox after saying something to Hino-kun and found a letter notifying of an inspection from the water company.

It seemed like the water will be shut off for a bit for the annual inspection.

It was fine since they didn’t have to enter the house, but I wouldn’t be able to use water. …Or so that was written there.

“…Wait.”

But, that’s weird. The inspection should have taken place the day my parents left to go overseas.

A person from the water company even stopped by. He was wearing a hat so I couldn’t really see his face, but he had a uniform and was holding a toolbox.

He was a kind person who even mentioned that I could go help my parents because he knew they needed to hurry to leave.

But written here was a notice for a yearly inspection. Why would they have another inspection so soon…?

“What’s wrong?”

“Wah–“

I turned my head to see the Hino-kun had moved next to me at some point. “Is that a postcard?” He asked, staring at the notice with a tilted head.

“I was wondering why there’s another inspection even though they already came in the spring. Even though it says annual…”

“I see. Did they enter your house in the spring?”

“Yeah. It looked like they were checking everything…”

“Then maybe that’s the difference. It says here that they’ll shut off your water, but that didn’t happen in the spring, right?”

“Yeah. I could use water.”

“Then it was an inspection of individual equipment. But there are people who wear disquises to break into people’s houses, so be careful from now on.”

“Eh, really…?”

I was with my parents at that time, but it might have been dangerous if I was alone. The bankbook in my house or anything else might have been stolen…

“If there was already an inspection in the spring, then the next one they would have to shut off the water. Though, it might be bad if they have to come again in the fall. But I also had a water inspection in the spring, and nothing was stolen from you, right?”

It was true that nothing was stolen, so he was probably right. My nervousness from before disappeared.

After I thanked him, he said “Sorry, but do you mind if I use your restroom?” and turned in the direction of the bathroom.

“Sure, go ahead. I’ll go make the snacks right away,” I said and headed to the kitchen.

It was when I was washing my hands to start making our snacks that I realized something important.

I never told Hino-kun where our restroom was.

I quickly left the kitchen and saw that the slippers I lent him were lined up outside the bathroom door. I quickly turned on my heel.

……What?

I wondered why Hino-kun knew where the restroom was.

He headed in the right direction, but the door shouldn’t have been that easy to understand.

My dad chose it because he didn’t want it to be easily seen, but it was always causing trouble to guests because they didn’t know where to go.

Well, it’s fine. I think I’ve seen “It’s order made!” for something like it before.

I returned to the kitchen, mood restored.

◇

I cracked an egg and added the contents to a bowl, mixing in milk, sugar and matcha.

When the liquid was completely mixed without any lumps, I finished the liquid part of today’s snack – matcha french toast.

I could make it with breakfast bread or french bread, but I needed to reduce the calories. I walked to the shelf with all our dried food and pulled out a bag of yaki-fu, the star of the meal.

Today I would use yaki-fu instead of bread to make the french toast.

I dipped the yaki-fu in the french toast mixture and held it down for a while with chopsticks. When I lifted it up, the pale color was dyed a beautiful matcha color.

“Alright, I finished soaking it.”

I heated the frying pan to even out the oil and added just a little bit of the french toast mixture. After setting the time, I carefully lined up the yaki-fu.

I waited for them to get golden before I turned it over. It was finished when both sides were a beautiful golden color.

I carefully laid out it out on a plate and poured on a little dark honey. I added some kinako on top and added adzuki beans and soy milk vanilla ice cream I prepared in advance.

“Oh, finished?”

My heart jumped at that voice. Hino-kun had appeared next to me since who-knows-when and he rested his chin on my shoulder.

I had no idea when he got next to me. My parents often warned me to be careful since I got so focused when cooking, but I haven’t up to now.

“You’ve served it just like a restaurant would! It’d be a waste to ruin it… But it would also be a waste if I took a picture and it got cold. Or the ice cream melted. I wonder if I should take a video…?”

“I-I can make this again. I’ll try my hardest to serve it like this next time too.”

“Yay! Mind if I carry it?”

“Please… Thanks.”

“Leave it to me,” Hino-kun said and carried the french toast to the dining room table. We sat across from each other, brought our hands together, and he started digging in with a wide smile.

“The warmth and the coolness are so good! You’re amazing, Igarashi-san…! The ice cream fits perfectly,” Hino-kun said without pausing.

Above all, he seems to like it. He’s eating like he truly finds it delicious. I almost couldn’t believe that time I saw him eating in the cafeteria.

“This adzuki ice cream is also super delicious. Igarashi-san, I remember you made and left that… raspberry and yogurt sorbet in my house.”

“Oh, you’ve already eaten that.”

Lately I’ve been trying my best to get him the most nutrition possible, so I made him some fruit ice cream.

Summer was the perfect season for it and although he ate a lot, it was better to have some nutritional snacks.

“That was also delicious… The taste after taking a bath is completely different. I didn’t feel my baths were useful for anything than washing, but now I look forward to eating your ice cream afterwards. Thank you so much.”

“No problem. I’m just happy you’re happy. I’ll make it again. What flavor are you hoping for?”

“Hmm, I don’t know. I love everything that you make… Haha, I really can’t live without you.”

I thought that Hino-kun was sly. But it was because he was too good at communicating. If I didn’t think that, my chest would start aching.

When I grabbed my cup to calm down, he started talking in a matter-of-fact way.

“If you hate me, then you can kill me.”

“Eh…”

“I said it before, didn’t I? I was being serious then.”

Time seemed to stop when I locked eyes with him.

It was those eyes again. Dark eyes that seemed to swallow me. Looking in those eyes made me even wonder where I was.

I turned away in shock, but he laughed and said, “Don’t look away. You need to look at me properly.”

Hino-kun stuck his tongue out in mischief before he resumed eating his french toast. I was still confused about his change, but resumed moving my fork as well.

◇

After we finished our snacks, Hino-kun set down his fork and brought his hands together with satisfaction.

“Thank you for the meal, Igarashi-san. This also tasted amazing. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You really, truly are the best. It’s amazing how you can even make delicious snacks. I never cared about sweets before this, but after having your snacks, I love sweets.”

Hino-kun didn’t like sweets that much before…

So, I was able to expand his food palette. I was so glad. While I felt both relieved and happy, I saw Hino-kun put his hand in his pocket like he just remembered something.

“Hey, do you have time tomorrow?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then, let’s go here together?”

He took out tickets for an aquarium.

I couldn’t refuse after I just said I had time. While I was lost on what to say, he looked at me with pleading eyes.

“What’s wrong? All you have to do is go with me.”

“Um…”

“Please. The only girl I’m close to is you. I can’t go alone, I don’t have any sisters, and I don’t even have any female relatives. …And I only want to ask you. It’s my first drama and I really want to succeed… Please…!” He said and bowed. I tried to get him to straighten in a panic.

He was saying this because of his drama. I had no excuse to refuse because of a little shame and my heart beating like mad.

“Okay. I got it. Let’s go. Let’s go together.”

“You promise?”

Hino-kun’s slightly monotone voice seemed to echo. He didn’t seem like he was going to raise his head. Although the slightly different atmosphere confused me, I reassured him with a, “I promise.”

“Thanks, Igarashi-san.”

He instantly raised his head. What should have been an anxious expression on his part was replaced with a peaceful one. I nodded slightly, having the strange feeling that I caused something irreversible because of his sudden change.

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