Chapter 29: The Man who’s unconsciously flirting
It was decided that the two men would clean up after dinner. Kaede and Otsuki-san told us to take it easy, but we felt bad asking them to clean up after making chocolate for us as well as cooking.
“The Sukiyaki was delicious. I knew from your bento that you’re a really good cook, Hitotsuba-san.”
“Yes, I guess so. To be honest, it’s even beyond the level of taste you get at home. I really think you could open a restaurant. But, except for one thing.”
As I washed the dishes alongside Shinji, I thought back to the first time Kaede cooked dinner for us. That day, she made a stewed Hamburg steak (Footnote: It’s not the meat on a hamburger; it’s the Japanese version of a Salisbury steak, simmered in a sauce.) as I had requested, and I was impressed with the taste, but how it was served on the table…
“Back then, you put the whole pan on the table! Are you kidding me? Couldn’t you have used a plate or something?”
“Yes, that’s right. Isn’t it quite a surprise? I was thinking that Kaede would have arranged the food perfectly today, so I was astonished that she just dumped everything into the whole pot on the table.”
At that time, I remembered Miyamoto-san’s words.
‘Kaede-sama’s cooking is a bit peculiar, but I can guarantee the taste.’
It wasn’t the cooking that was quirky, though, but the serving! If Miyamoto-san was aware of it, why didn’t he just point it out! It was quite hard to explain to Kaede back then, who had brought the whole pan with a smug look on her face as if it was the natural thing to do! Kaede’s words at that time also surprised me.
‘I think it’s a good idea because it reduces the number of dishes to wash, right?’
“Ahahaha! That’s impressive of Hitotsuba-san! While you’re right, that doesn’t mean you should serve it like that!”
“I know! I’m sure Shinji thinks so too! But Kaede’s puzzled face made me wonder if I was actually wrong. It was hard for me to question myself about it…”
But with my tearful persuasion, Kaede has learned to serve it correctly! Every now and then she has the urge to bring the whole pan or pot, but she’s doing her best to resist, and at this rate, the urge might naturally disappear.
“Oh my God! Yuya-kun, please don’t reveal such embarrassing things without permission! Higure-kun laughed at me! Oh, you’re also laughing too much, Akiho-chan!”
How could I not talk about this when the two of them were there? I had been preoccupied with the hugging photo, but Kaede’s “serving the whole pan” was just a golden story to share. How could I not talk about it?
“Hey Yoshi! Do you have any pictures of that? That was the first time Kaede-chan served Yoshi a home-cooked meal, right? Didn’t you take at least one picture?”
I’m glad you asked, Otsuki-san! I’ve got a good shot of Kaede! Look at this smug face of hers! There were times when she puffed out her chest with pride, and other times when she was embarrassed and smiled shyly after having my picture taken so many times and all of the Kaede’s are extremely cute, aren’t they? Here, this one’s my favorite.
“Ah… yeah, that’s a good shot. It really is, but…”
“All the photos are focused on Hitotsuba-san, and the food is totally an afterthought present in them. Yuya, can you please stop being so naturally flirtatious with Hitotsuba-san?”
“Ugh…, Yuya-kun, you baka… you said it was a secret between the two of us…”
It’s also very cute after this picture! It’s funny how she served the whole pan. At the restaurant, the food was served properly on a plate. That was why it was really strange to serve the whole pan. I even said to her ‘If you don’t want to wash the dishes, I’ll do them for you’. It was so great to see her with her face reddened and embarrassed after I had explained everything to her! What do you think, Shinji?
“Hahahaha… Yes, you’re right. It seems that Hitotsuba-san is not the same person as she is at school.”
That’s right, that’s right. The dignified Kaede at school was beautiful and cool, but it was also cute to see her with a pouty face like this. Hey, why are you looking away and smiling bitterly?
“Oh, Yuya. I understand that you want to boast about the cute side of your girlfriend that only you know, but why don’t you give her a break? Look at Hitotsuba-san. I think she’s about to boil over and collapse.”
When Shinji asked me to look at Kaede, she looked so red that I thought steam was emerging out of her face. Her shoulders were trembling as well.
“Ugh…, Akiho-chan. Yuya-kun is… Yuya-kun is…!”
“Alright, alright. It’s okay, it’s okay, Kaede-chan. It’s hard to have a boyfriend who’s unconsciously flirting.”
Huh? I’m not trying to flirt, okay!? I’m just trying to let you two know how cute Kaede is at home, you know!?
“Unconsciously flirting is quite tough for others, Yuya.”
Shinji, not you too!
“Yes, yes. I can understand that Yoshi really loves Kaede. Let’s move on to today’s main topic!”
After Otsuki-san’s words, Kaede was pulled back to reality, pointed at me and declared.
“Now it’s Yuya-kun’s turn to be thrilled! Please accept my loving Valentine’s Day chocolate!”
At last, Kaede’s handmade chocolates were presented.
And even with her presented reddish face, Kaede looked very cute.
Chapter 29: The Man who’s unconsciously flirting
It was decided that the two men would clean up after dinner. Kaede and Otsuki-san told us to take it easy, but we felt bad asking them to clean up after making chocolate for us as well as cooking.
“The Sukiyaki was delicious. I knew from your bento that you’re a really good cook, Hitotsuba-san.”
“Yes, I guess so. To be honest, it’s even beyond the level of taste you get at home. I really think you could open a restaurant. But, except for one thing.”
As I washed the dishes alongside Shinji, I thought back to the first time Kaede cooked dinner for us. That day, she made a stewed Hamburg steak (Footnote: It’s not the meat on a hamburger; it’s the Japanese version of a Salisbury steak, simmered in a sauce.) as I had requested, and I was impressed with the taste, but how it was served on the table…
“Back then, you put the whole pan on the table! Are you kidding me? Couldn’t you have used a plate or something?”
“Yes, that’s right. Isn’t it quite a surprise? I was thinking that Kaede would have arranged the food perfectly today, so I was astonished that she just dumped everything into the whole pot on the table.”
At that time, I remembered Miyamoto-san’s words.
‘Kaede-sama’s cooking is a bit peculiar, but I can guarantee the taste.’
It wasn’t the cooking that was quirky, though, but the serving! If Miyamoto-san was aware of it, why didn’t he just point it out! It was quite hard to explain to Kaede back then, who had brought the whole pan with a smug look on her face as if it was the natural thing to do! Kaede’s words at that time also surprised me.
‘I think it’s a good idea because it reduces the number of dishes to wash, right?’
“Ahahaha! That’s impressive of Hitotsuba-san! While you’re right, that doesn’t mean you should serve it like that!”
“I know! I’m sure Shinji thinks so too! But Kaede’s puzzled face made me wonder if I was actually wrong. It was hard for me to question myself about it…”
But with my tearful persuasion, Kaede has learned to serve it correctly! Every now and then she has the urge to bring the whole pan or pot, but she’s doing her best to resist, and at this rate, the urge might naturally disappear.
“Oh my God! Yuya-kun, please don’t reveal such embarrassing things without permission! Higure-kun laughed at me! Oh, you’re also laughing too much, Akiho-chan!”
How could I not talk about this when the two of them were there? I had been preoccupied with the hugging photo, but Kaede’s “serving the whole pan” was just a golden story to share. How could I not talk about it?
“Hey Yoshi! Do you have any pictures of that? That was the first time Kaede-chan served Yoshi a home-cooked meal, right? Didn’t you take at least one picture?”
I’m glad you asked, Otsuki-san! I’ve got a good shot of Kaede! Look at this smug face of hers! There were times when she puffed out her chest with pride, and other times when she was embarrassed and smiled shyly after having my picture taken so many times and all of the Kaede’s are extremely cute, aren’t they? Here, this one’s my favorite.
“Ah… yeah, that’s a good shot. It really is, but…”
“All the photos are focused on Hitotsuba-san, and the food is totally an afterthought present in them. Yuya, can you please stop being so naturally flirtatious with Hitotsuba-san?”
“Ugh…, Yuya-kun, you baka… you said it was a secret between the two of us…”
It’s also very cute after this picture! It’s funny how she served the whole pan. At the restaurant, the food was served properly on a plate. That was why it was really strange to serve the whole pan. I even said to her ‘If you don’t want to wash the dishes, I’ll do them for you’. It was so great to see her with her face reddened and embarrassed after I had explained everything to her! What do you think, Shinji?
“Hahahaha… Yes, you’re right. It seems that Hitotsuba-san is not the same person as she is at school.”
That’s right, that’s right. The dignified Kaede at school was beautiful and cool, but it was also cute to see her with a pouty face like this. Hey, why are you looking away and smiling bitterly?
“Oh, Yuya. I understand that you want to boast about the cute side of your girlfriend that only you know, but why don’t you give her a break? Look at Hitotsuba-san. I think she’s about to boil over and collapse.”
When Shinji asked me to look at Kaede, she looked so red that I thought steam was emerging out of her face. Her shoulders were trembling as well.
“Ugh…, Akiho-chan. Yuya-kun is… Yuya-kun is…!”
“Alright, alright. It’s okay, it’s okay, Kaede-chan. It’s hard to have a boyfriend who’s unconsciously flirting.”
Huh? I’m not trying to flirt, okay!? I’m just trying to let you two know how cute Kaede is at home, you know!?
“Unconsciously flirting is quite tough for others, Yuya.”
Shinji, not you too!
“Yes, yes. I can understand that Yoshi really loves Kaede. Let’s move on to today’s main topic!”
After Otsuki-san’s words, Kaede was pulled back to reality, pointed at me and declared.
“Now it’s Yuya-kun’s turn to be thrilled! Please accept my loving Valentine’s Day chocolate!”
At last, Kaede’s handmade chocolates were presented.
And even with her presented reddish face, Kaede looked very cute.
