chapter 20

What a nice weather~

When I exit the front door, I look up to see the refres.h.i.+ng blue sky extending to the horizon. Its not just the sky; my heart has also cleared up, which puts in me a good mood. Hiori and Tsubaki have reconciled yesterday, and it feels like a weight has been removed from my mind. I stretch my body, as I breathe the fresh air.

I hope that tomorrow will be clear, too.

Tomorrow is the day of the high school entrance ceremony. I may have experienced it once before, but when I think of the new encounters, the new cla.s.s, and new adolescent days it makes me look forward to them.

Which reminds me, in my past life, the princ.i.p.als speech during the ceremony was so long that I ended up nodding off. I think I headb.u.t.ted the back of the person sitting in front of me, and it turned out a bit rowdy after that. This time, Ill need to focus not to fall asleep.

Hinatsan.

Yahoo

When I hear the sound of the door opening from my neighbors house, Tsubaki suddenly shows up and spots me right away. I wave my hand to her, and her eyes make a gleam as she happily trots over to me. Hmm, shes as cute as a puppy. Its as if I can see her bushy tail.

Good noon, Hinatsan!

Good noon.

She greets me while smiling like an angel. My, shes the very definition of happiness! And thus, I end up feeling happy, too. Like I thought, Tsubaki is the cutest when she smiles. Its the best. Nay, its out of this world!

Hinatsan, are you going out somewhere?

Yup, I was intending to visit Tsubakis home to deliver something.

Eh?

I hand it to her hands while shes still astonished. Its the confectionery recipe books that I borrowed from her the other day.

Thank you for lending them to me. I managed to learn a lot, and it was fun reading them.

Are you sure, returning them already?

Yup. I already noted down the recipes that I liked, and being able to read them once is more than enough for me.

I see. Im glad to know that you enjoyed it.

And, here.

I hand Tsubaki a pouch with a cute character printed on it.

What is this?

Its my new maple cookiesan original recipe that I made using the recipe books as reference. Just consider it as my thanks even though its actually a trial product.

When I make an evil grin, she giggles.

Thank you very much. The confections that Hinatsan makes are delicious. Im looking forward to eating this.

Hehem, it might be a miss this time, you know?

At any rate, this is still a prototype. I did taste it myself. Mother and my sister also gave their pa.s.sing grades, so it should be okay, I think.

Its fine. Id be glad to receive anything Hinatsan makes.

Being told that with such a breathtaking smile is naturally rising the temperature of my face. Kuuh!! Anyone would feel embarra.s.sed if theyre in my situation!

Feeling shy and bashful, I want to turn my face away. But for some reason, I cant avert my eyes from her face. Moreover, I have the feeling that Tsubakis face looks somewhat flushed, too.

W-well, Im glad to know youre happy about it, I think? ahaha.

As a result of my hard struggle to escape from this strange mood, I somehow manage to say those haphazard words. I dont really hate this kind of mood, but I cant get used to it. Should I say, I just dont have the experience. Or maybe, Im just poor at dealing with this situation.

Hinatsan, did you learn to make confectioneries from your mom?

Hm~ I kinda forgot. I think thats the case, probably.

If I remember it right, Mom taught me how to bake cookies at the start. After that, I want to hear her say that its delicious, so I read some books on my own and learned a lot. In the end, it became my hobby.

Now that I think about it, the first confectionery that Mother taught me to make after my reincarnation was baumkuchen. I was only around eight at that time, why did she want me to make something that difficult? Although, Im pretty sure that its all because she wanted to eat them. Because the hurdle was too high, it resulted in a failure.

Um, do you remember Moms story about her childhood friend.. from yesterday?

Yup, the gist of it.

My heart throbs because Im surprised by the sudden topic. I carefully hide my unrest from showing, and I gulp down my saliva as I wait for her next words.

Mom told me a few things about that person. It seems that she liked making confectionery, too.

H-heeh~ Really~?

The more I listened to her story, the more I thought how similar she was to Hinatsan. For example, the way she liked sleeping, or how kind she was.

Eh~ you think~?

Mom said that your characters are quite similar, too.

Tsubaki is speaking so happily. But in contrast, Im having a cold sweat by listening to her. I dont think that shes found out about me, but this feels really awkward. I feel like running away.

Its thanks to that person, that Im now living in this world. and so is Mom.

She had hoped for me to be born. She had protected me. Thats why, I think of her as my special person, as well. If she was still alive, I wish I could give her lots, and lots of my grat.i.tude.

Listening to those words, my heart is gradually filled with warmth.

Im sure, that she heard you.

Do you think so?

Yup, I think shes always watching over you.

After all, I will be here next to you, watching you for the days to come. When youre going through happy times, painful times, fun times, and sad times, too, Ill be there with you. If this feeling isnt happiness, I wonder what is? If G.o.ds really exist in this world I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for letting me meet her again, and for giving me the chance to meet this child.

Hinatsan.

Hm?

The school entrance ceremony will be held tomorrow.

Yeah. The days when I need to wake up early in the morning to attend school are starting soon

I exaggerate my lack of energy, and she looks worried as she makes a fuzzy smile.

Its all right. I will come fetch you every morning so that you wont be late.

W-what a gallant child she is!! But to tell the truth, I want to sleep in until the last moment!

I guess Ill do my best to wake up early.

I really dont want to make her wait when shes going out of her way to fetch me. Besides, Ill end up making her risk being late herself.

Please work hard getting up early.

Yes, Ill give it my best.

Yup, lets do this! ..Then Ill secretly doze off at school!

I hope that we can get into the same cla.s.s.

Yeah, youre right.

After that, we talk about things like what well do tomorrow, about school; then suddenly, a ringtone resounds. It seems to be Tsubakis, as she takes out her cell phone in a fl.u.s.ter and fiddles with it. Hm, it seems to be an email. She stares at the screen for a while, then she starts to beam happily as she swiftly makes a reply before putting her phone away.

An email, from your friend?

No, its from Mom. It appears that her work will finish earlier than usual, so we will be having dinner together.

I see

Yes!

Im relieved to know that they have a favorable relations.h.i.+p as a parent and child. Theyre going to slowly regain the happy family time that they didnt get to spend before.

Um, would you mind joining us for dinner?

Eh?! Dont worry about me, Ill feel bad intruding on you.

Theyve just mended their family ties, so they should spend some time by themselves without some meddling outsider. Itll be boorish of me to join them like that.

Please dont be reserved. Mom also mentioned how she wanted to repay you.

But, Im..

How about you take up on her offer~?

?!

My Mother who never reads the mood has appeared!

It seems that she was listening in our conversation as she pleases.

Listen here, theres no way I can be so inconsiderate.

Actually, Mom and Saki-chan is going to a full-course Chinese dinner.

haah?!

We won the lottery at the supermarketa pair ticket for a Chinese meal! But, since its only for two people, Saki and I will be going!

So cruel! Its so cruel of you to leave me out!

Hey, you dont eat most Chinese foods because you dont like them, right?

Ugh!!

But that doesnt mean that you can just make me stay at home by myself. I-I can eat gyoza at least.

So, Tsubaki-chan, if its alright with you, can I leave Hinata in your care?

Hey, wait-

I understand. Please leave her to me and go out without worries!

Thank you, Tsubaki-chan! Hinata, dont make trouble for her, okay?

The two have a friendly chat while smiling to each other. Somehow, the conversation has moved on beyond me.

haah.

Its not that I dont want to eat dinner at Tsubakis house. Only that, Im having a mixed feeling, which makes it hard for me to accept her invitation. Even if she tells me not to be reserved, I cant help but to feel apologetic and awkward.

I-Ill do my best! Maybe it wont suit your taste, but, um, Ill prepare it with my utmost effort!!

Tsubakis eyes are glittering, filled with motivation. Uuh, after shes shown her enthusiasm, itll be too inhumane for me to refuse. Well, I do want to try eating Tsubakis home cooking. I should give up here.

Then, I will be intruding on you this evening.

Im sorry about this, Tsubaki-chan. Come to our house for a meal next time.

Yes, thank you very much.

With that settled, Mother retreats into our home in good humor. Sheesh, she always does things at her own pace.

Ehehe.

I peer into Tsubakis face, and I see that shes looking really happy. Come to think of it, shes always been eating by herself.

Tsubaki, can I help you prepare the meals?

But, Hinatsan is our guest. I cant have you do that.

Ah, could it be that youre doubting my skills? Despite how I look, Im confident with my cooking.

O-of course thats not the case! I know full well that Hinatsan is good at making confectionery.

Then whats the harm? Itll be more fun to prepare it together than alone. Im sure of it.

Hinatsan all right.

I guess she finally gives her consent. She fixes her gaze on me with a gentle expression on her face. A refres.h.i.+ng breeze flutters her long, beautiful hair, signing the beginning of spring.

Um, if you have the time, want to go shopping for dinner together?

?!! Y-yes! Ah, I, Ill get ready in a moment, so please wait for me!

Just take it easy I need to get ready, too and, shes gone.

The way Tsubaki hurries home makes her cute like a child. My cheeks slacken without me noticing. I need to complete my own preparation before she returns, so I go back home, as well.

After we finish our preparations, Tsubaki and I go out for shopping together.