Chapter 64

Since Arisa had gone to the trouble of making it, Yugen decided to try the pumpkin pudding right away.

He inserted the spoon into the cup.

It seemed to be of the firmer type.

When he put it in his mouth, the rich taste of eggs and the flavor and sweetness of pumpkin spread throughout his mouth.

The texture was also good.

When he ate it with the caramel sauce at the bottom, the bitterness and sweetness added a different flavor.

"How is it?"

"Yeah, it's delicious. Just like the cake before, you're good at making sweets, aren't you?"

When Yugen praised her, Arisa shook her head shyly.

"Not really. I do make things occasionally with leftover flour, eggs, and milk, so I might be a bit better than others. ...But I think anyone can make it easily if they follow the recipe."

"I think it's because your cooking skills are high... …"

Here, a question arose.

Can Arisa cook anything? Is there anything she's not good at?

"Do you have any dishes you're not good at? I mean, in terms of making them?"

"Well, ...I'm not good at Chinese food. It seems difficult."

"...Now that you mention it, I don't really remember eating much of your Chinese food."

When a good cook like Arisa says she's not good at something, it probably means she's still better than most people.

However, it seems she doesn't have much confidence. Generally, what Arisa makes is Japanese food, or Western dishes like croquettes, shrimp tempura, and omurice.

She might have never made Chinese food before.

"Unlike katsuobushi or konbu dashi, Chinese flavors rely on umami seasonings."

"Arisa, you're against using those, right?"

Incidentally, Yugen grew up with his mother's "Ajinomoto," so he has no resistance to it.

Of course, he prefers Arisa's seasoning.

"Not at all, I use them depending on the situation. It's just... I feel like I've lost. It's humiliating."

"…I see."

He didn't understand at all.

What exactly did she feel she had lost to?

Chinese cuisine as a culture?

Or to the seasoning?

What would Arisa gain by winning?

He had these questions but didn't voice them.

"Also, I feel like the heat isn't enough. I've never been able to get the right flavor in fried rice."

"Fried rice... Well, it's a deep dish."

Yugen has made fried rice a few times.

Peperroni and fried rice are simple but deep dishes... and many people are quite particular about them.

"Speaking of Chinese food, Aya is good at it."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I've been treated to her cooking a few times, and it was delicious. She learned from a Chinese chef she knows."

Aya, despite appearances, is a good cook.

She's especially good at Chinese food and is quite particular about nurturing her wok.

"…Would she teach me if I asked?"

"I think she'd be happy to teach you."

She'd probably teach you with a smug look on her face.

"Then I'll ask her. ...I'll try my best to treat you to delicious Chinese food."

"I'm looking forward to it. Your cooking is something I look forward to every week."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'd like to eat it every day."

If he could eat Arisa's cooking every day, it would be very happy.

The people of the Amakusa family should realize how fortunate they are.

"…Every day? Then, should I make it?"

"Eh?"

Yugen's eyes widened at Arisa's suggestion.

It was a dream come true. If she made it every day, there would be nothing better...

"Every day, come here?"

"Well, that's a bit too much... So, I thought I'd make a bento box."

"Bento box!?"

Being made a bento box every day by a cute girl is a very happy situation for a man.

"...But, isn't that a lot of work?"

"I make my own bento box every morning, so it's the same amount of work. Oh, but please pay for the ingredients."

"Is it okay to just pay for the ingredients?"

Even if the work is the same, the amount of work increases.

Yugen felt it was unfair not to pay Arisa for her "labor," but...

"Don't worry. You've done a lot for me, like paying for my coat and other things. Besides... I want to make it for you, Yugen."

Arisa said this with a slight blush.

Since she said she wanted to make it, it felt disrespectful to insist on paying for her "labor."

"Then, I'll take you up on your offer. ...I'll find a way to thank you next time."

"I don't really need thanks..."

"I want to thank you. Can I say that?"

When Yugen said this, Arisa smiled wryly and nodded slightly.

While they were talking, Yugen finished the pudding.

He decided to eat the cake as well, so he took the box out of the refrigerator and put it on a plate.

"This is in return for the pudding."

"Thank you."

Arisa stared at the cake.

Then she looked up at Yugen.

"What's wrong?"

"Well, I just realized... I didn't say the standard Halloween phrase or the usual line."

The standard phrase.

In other words, "Trick or treat?"

"Speaking of which, you're not even in costume. ...I'm not sure if there's a point to it."

While Yugen said this with a wry smile, Arisa took something out of a paper bag.

It was two types of headbands.

One had cat ears, and the other had dog ears.

"...You were well-prepared."

"I got them from Aya."

"I see."

Aya probably said something like, "Why don't you have a Halloween party with Yuzuru?" and forced the cosplay items on Arisa.

"Yugen, you're a dog person, right? Here, take the dog ears."

"...Thanks."

Yugen put on the dog ears.

Then he asked Arisa.

"How do I look?"

"...Hehe, they suit you."

"You just laughed, didn't you?"

"I didn't laugh."

"...Alright. Since I put them on, you should too."

Yugen encouraged Arisa to put on the cat ears, which she hesitated to do.

After a moment of hesitation, she put the headband on her head, lowered her eyes shyly, and blushed slightly as she asked Yugen.

"...How do I look?"

"Cute..."

Unlike Yugen, the cat ears suited Arisa very well.

Considering her personality, dog ears might have suited her better, but she still looked adorable.

"R-Really... Yugen?"

Arisa turned to Yugen.

Her face turned bright red, and she cleared her throat before mimicking a cat, bending her wrists.

"If you don't give me a treat... I'll play a trick, nya."

"..."

Arisa, with a face as red as a boiled shrimp, grabbed Yugen's shoulder and shook him violently.

On the other hand, Yugen, overwhelmed by Arisa's cuteness, covered his face with one hand, feeling his face heat up with excitement and embarrassment.

"...If I give you the pudding back, will you not play a trick?"

"Of course not! Besides, how do you plan to give it back!?"

Arisa continued to punch Yugen's body with her fists.

Arisa, let's have some fun

If you want to be tricked or trick, bookmark, and rate (change the stars below the table of contents to ★★★★★), and Yugen might do it for you someday.

...

True Dere Level: 55% → 60%

If you're looking forward to and expecting the dere level to increase, please bookmark and rate (change the stars below the table of contents to ★★★★★).