Chapter 17

The next day dawned with the sun peeking out from behind the clouds, a rare clear day.

Yuki arrived at school a little early and sat at her desk, basking in the morning sunlight streaming through the window, lost in a daze.

When the serotonin levels in her brain spiked, making her feel happy and carefree, the unfinished prep work, homework, and Keitaro’s presence, who would tap her cheeks and say, "Hey, are you alive?" all seemed trivial.

This was why the window seat was so great. It was really great.

As Yuki was getting lost in her own happiness, a loud noise came from the neighboring desk, breaking the silence.

"Good morning. Hehe, what were you looking at just now?"

Eri came over with a beaming, energetic smile. Yuki replied, "Good morning," and Eri nodded and sat down.

"I put your umbrella in the umbrella stand. It was so sunny today, I felt embarrassed carrying it."

"Oh, right. Sorry, I didn’t think about that."

"Well, it’s fine... I guess..."

Eri’s enthusiasm seemed a bit dampened, but Yuki also needed to prepare for the rain starting tomorrow and had to take the umbrella home.

Yesterday, lending the umbrella was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but she soon realized it could lead to some complications.

(Well, it’s all good.)

However, she quickly regained her composure. Eri, who had calmed down, then reached into her bag and pulled out a Tupperware container, saying, "Here, this is for you."

When Yuki took it, it felt lighter than expected.

"What is it?"

"Thanks for yesterday."

Eri said this with a smile, so Yuki opened the lid a little to see inside.

It was filled with round, wheat-colored objects.

"Are these... cookies?"

"Yep. Homemade cookies by Eri. How does that make you feel?"

Eri gave her a characteristic head-tilt smile. Yesterday, their conversation had ended abruptly, so this was completely unexpected.

It wasn’t a bento, but homemade cookies were something she hadn’t received in years. Imagining how Rina would react, Yuki couldn’t help but smile.

"Thank you, I’m really happy."

"Ah... y-yes. You’re welcome."

"Can I give some to my sister?"

Eri, who seemed a bit taken aback, smiled and said,

"Yuki-kun cares about his sister, huh?"

"I guess so. I think it’s normal, though."

"Is it? But I think it’s really nice... Do you have any siblings?"

When Yuki asked this, Eri froze, just like before.

After a moment, she seemed to snap out of it and said,

"I have an older sister... But really, calling me by my first name..."

"Ah, sorry. But isn’t it a bit cumbersome to add -san or -chan?"

"Is that the only reason?"

"Well, we’re not strangers anymore... I’ll add it if you prefer not to be called by your first name."

"N-no, it’s fine. I don’t mind... What’s the big deal about being called by my first name?"

Just a moment ago, Eri had been very forward, but maybe it was better not to point that out.

"But you’re not blushing today?"

"Hmph, once you’ve experienced a technique, it doesn’t work a second time. So the same trick won’t work. Eri Mark Two."

"Isn’t that some kind of monster?"

"Don’t call me a monster."

"Besides, you’re not blushing," Yuki said, and Eri turned away.

Her face wasn’t red, but her ears seemed to be a bit flushed.

After school, Yuki handed the cookies to Rina, who was lying on the sofa in just her underwear and a T-shirt.

Rina, who had been slouching, perked up and started jumping around with the Tupperware.

It was a strange, almost ritualistic movement.

"That’s great. I didn’t make them, though."

"Then who did?"

"The person next to me."

"Wow, the person next to you is amazing! I should talk to the person next to me next time."

"Hey, that’s a good idea."

"But I always ignore them..."

"Hey."

Rina stuck out her tongue and tilted her head cutely, but this wasn’t something that could be brushed off with a "hehe."

"These are so good! So good!"

Rina immediately took out a cookie and started munching on it.

She showed Yuki the bitten part with sparkling eyes.

"Good! Good! Look, there’s chocolate in it!"

"Got it, eat quietly."

"Yuki, don’t be shy, have some too! Here!"

It seemed the ownership had already transferred completely to Rina.

Yuki took some cookies from Rina and joined in the feast.

"Wow, they’re so rich."

"Right? Right?"

The flavor was deep and complex, different from store-bought cookies.

"Smooth but not cloying."

"Elegant and refined."

"A once-in-a-decade treat."

"Rich and intense."

The two, who were not good at writing reports, kept muttering as they took cookies from the Tupperware one after another, and before they knew it, they had finished them all.

Rina, who had collected even the small crumbs left in the Tupperware, suddenly turned to Yuki.

"I’m so moved! I want to make cookies too!"

As expected, it had started.

"Sure, but it’s a lot of work afterward."

"But I want to return the favor. Then what should I... hehe."

"Of course, you’re planning to return the favor for the favor."

"Thus, the perpetual motion machine is complete."

"Do you even understand what that means? This was the return favor in the first place."

Rina, who had been reluctant, suddenly rushed out of the living room and came back with a pink notebook and a pen set from her room. She started writing something on the table.

After a while, she handed a piece of the memo to Yuki.

"From Rina. The cookies were super, super delicious. To put it mildly, they were divine. God. YEAH! GOOOO! YAHOOOOO!!"

The text was outlined in colorful lines. In the corner, there were small drawings of cakes and donuts, as if demanding more.

"What are you searching for?"

"Tomorrow, give this to her. My sister was very satisfied."

"What kind of character is that?"

"Grateful."

The next day, Yuki handed Eri the memo as soon as she arrived at school.

Eri smiled and said, "Hehe, so cute," as she looked at the memo for a while before carefully putting it in a clear file.

"Yuki, did you eat the cookies?"

"I did, they were really delicious. You’re really good at cooking, Eri."

"Well, yeah. I’ve been doing it since I was pretty young."

Eri puffed out her chest proudly. When Yuki sincerely said, "You’re amazing," Eri noticed and made her usual sly smile.

"Hey, maybe Yuki is weak for domestic types..."

"That’s nice. I’m not good at cooking... I really admire people who can do that well."

"S-so...? What...?"

"Exactly."

Yuki nodded, and Eri suddenly covered her mouth with her hand.

"Is something wrong?"

"Huh? Oh, I just yawned..."

Eri didn’t let go of her hand for a while. For some reason, she seemed very sleepy.

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