Chapter 8

"By the way, Yuki-shiro."

"What is it?"

While playing the game, Yuzuki spoke to Airi.

Airi, keeping her eyes on the game screen, replied.

Just a few hours ago, she had barely been able to handle the controls... but now, she had improved to the point where she could play while talking to Yuzuki.

Of course, a big part of that was due to Yuzuki, her opponent, being rather bad at the game.

"Your cooking was delicious. It was absolutely exquisite."

At that moment, the character Airi was controlling made an odd movement.

It seemed she had pressed the wrong button.

"Is that so?"

Airi replied with a flat voice.

...Yuzuki recalled the "shy" Airi who had blushed and been surprised just by being complimented on her cooking.

(...Maybe I can win this way?)

After a string of losses, Yuzuki decided to try a psychological tactic.

"The nikujaga was delicious. The balance of sweetness and saltiness was just right, and it had a great umami and richness. Was it because you used katsuobushi stock?"

"It's the season for new potatoes and onions, after all."

"The miso soup you made was also exquisite. The balance of ingredients and stock was perfect. It's really impressive how you make stock from katsuobushi and konbu. Even with the well-made granulated stock these days, a clumsy person trying to make stock often ends up with something that doesn't taste good... but when a skilled person makes it properly, it's a whole different level. And, this is just my personal preference... oh!"

While thinking of compliments for Airi's cooking, Yuzuki lost focus and was hit by Airi's character's special move, leading to a spectacular defeat.

"Seems like the strategist has fallen into his own trap."

"Did you notice?"

"It was too obvious. Besides, it was too sudden. It was too obviously fake."

That was entirely true.

However, there was one thing that needed to be corrected.

"I did exaggerate, and it might have been a bit flattery, but it was really delicious. The taste was genuine."

"I see. Well, I'm pretty good at cooking, so it shouldn't be bad."

It seemed that the same trick wouldn't work again.

Airi didn't show any particular signs of being flustered by Yuzuki's compliments and maintained her usual smile.

Taking the opportunity, Yuzuki decided to focus the conversation on cooking.

"Do you like cooking?"

"...Not particularly. I'm just used to it. I do cook at home regularly."

"Wow, that's impressive. People who get to eat your cooking must be very happy."

"...Is that so?"

Airi smiled slightly.

It was a different kind of smile, a bit self-mocking and sarcastic, rather than a shy one.

"If someone like Kasegawa-san compliments me, even if it's flattery, it makes me want to cook more."

"It's not flattery. Your cooking was really delicious. I want to eat it again."

"...Is that so?"

Airi then turned to face Yuzuki.

She sat up straight, her back perfectly straight, and looked at Yuzuki with her emerald eyes, which were covered by long lashes.

Yuzuki instinctively straightened his posture as well.

"W-What is it?"

"Then, shall we eat today?"

"Huh?"

"I also had cake, so if you'd like... I can make something. If you don't want to, that's fine too."

It was an unexpected proposal.

Around 5:30 PM.

White rice.

Miso soup with scallions and tofu.

Japanese-style hamburger (with grated daikon, grilled mushrooms, and boiled broccoli as side dishes).

Simmered root vegetables.

Boiled spinach in soy sauce.

Tamagoyaki (rolled omelet).

Cold tofu.

An even more luxurious meal than the one Airi had made for Yuzuki before, with two more dishes.

"By the way... you said you usually make more than four side dishes, right?"

Yuzuki muttered.

Those words were not a lie; she must regularly make more than one soup and three side dishes.

Yuzuki was surprised, but Airi looked as if it was no big deal.

"It's not a big deal. The cold tofu is just tofu I bought and put out."

Even without the cold tofu, there were four side dishes.

To make this many dishes regularly... it must be quite a lot of work, right?

However, Yuzuki didn't say that out loud.

"Sorry for making you prepare such a luxurious and delicious meal."

"It's a thank you for the cake and the game. We'll split the cost of the ingredients, and I'll eat too... so it's not a big deal since I make it regularly."

"No... the cake and the game were thanks for taking care of me. I'd be in trouble if you returned the favor."

Yuzuki smiled wryly.

It felt like everything was getting muddled in this back-and-forth of favors.

"By the way, you usually cook at home, right? ...Does your foster family's dinner get taken care of?"

Yuzuki suddenly wondered.

Airi had already informed her foster parents that she would be having dinner with Yuzuki and would bring some back.

Yuzuki had taken advantage of her kindness, wanting to eat Airi's cooking again, but he was worried that she might get in trouble with her foster parents for doing so.

"If I told them I wanted to serve a home-cooked meal to Kasegawa-san, they said I should capture his heart and stomach. Do you want it that much? The engagement gift."

She smiled slightly, a self-mocking and somewhat mocking smile.

"Regardless of the heart, my stomach is captured."

"You're good at it."

"No, really. I was suffering from Yuki-shiro withdrawal for a while."

"Ridiculous joke. ...Let's eat before it gets cold."

She said this with a disapproving expression and a cold voice.

The atmosphere had cooled before the food did.

Yuzuki clasped his hands together and picked up his chopsticks.

He took a sip of the miso soup first.

"Yeah, it's delicious again."

"I see. Well, I didn't change the method, so it's natural that it tastes the same."

"Being able to consistently produce a good taste is a sign of being a good cook, isn't it?"

"You're exaggerating. If you remember the measurements, it's not a big deal."

Airi replied matter-of-factly.

Yuzuki decided not to add more words, as they might come across as insincere, and focused on enjoying the taste of Airi's cooking.

After eating about half of his meal, Airi asked:

"...Was it that delicious?"

Yuzuki was puzzled by why she was asking this now.

"I already told you that, didn't I?"

"No... you really seemed to enjoy it."

Airi looked at Yuzuki's nearly empty plate and asked calmly.

"Do you want seconds? I still have hamburger, simmered vegetables, and miso soup."

"Sure, I'd like some."

"Okay."

Airi took Yuzuki's empty plate and stood up, heading to the kitchen.

Yuzuki couldn't see her expression, but...

He was confident that she understood his compliments were genuine.

Current Dere Level: 20%

Weak Points: I'll leave it to your imagination.

After all, words and actions are necessary to convey feelings, right?

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