Volume 1 - CH 23

When I entered Kasahara’s room, it seemed to have a slightly sweet scent, different from my room. I felt a bit strange, but if I made a mistake here, I wouldn’t be able to speak ill of Hayashi’s ex-boyfriend, so I modestly sat down in the corner of the living room.

I had no impressions about Kasahara’s room. I was desperate to remain indifferent, not to form any opinion at all.

“Why are you sitting in the corner like that?”

“Don’t worry about me.”

Right now, I’m blending with the wall. No one talks to a wall, right? So, don’t worry about me. In other words, don’t worry about me.

“You’re doing something strange again.”

“What’s strange? What’s strange?”

“Haha. Your eccentricities weren’t rare back in high school, Yamamoto-kun.”

“Eh, you thought so?”

I was slightly shocked.

The one glaring at me as I hung my head was Hayashi.

“…What?”

“Nothing.”

Hayashi said that and left me curled up in the corner of the room, walking toward the kitchen where Kasahara was. The two enjoyed cooking takoyaki together for a while.

Then, a small table was arranged with a takoyaki maker and ingredients.

“I’m sorry for not helping with the cooking and just curling up in the corner.”

“It’s fine. I also had fun with Megumi.”

“…Well, I do rely on you a lot.”

“Wow, Megumi, you’re such a tsundere.”

“Huh?”

“Kyaa, I got glared at by Megumi.”

Kasahara’s no-damage appeal. What is it? Not just an appeal, it genuinely seems like she took no damage.

“…You’ve got various ingredients here.”

From the classic octopus, to sausages, pickled radish, and even cucumbers, a lot of ingredients were laid out on the table.

“Do you put all of these into the takoyaki?”

“Yes. Right now, Yamamoto-kun, you’re thinking it’s not takoyaki without octopus, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Haha. You’re honest… But don’t you think the opposite? Not knowing what ingredients are in the batter until the last moment, it’s fun not knowing what you’re going to eat.”

“…Ah, yeah. Maybe.”

“Say it clearly. You’re not the type to play with your food, are you?”

Hayashi scolded me.

“You don’t seem to like that sort of thing either.”

“Yeah, well… I wouldn’t be doing this unless it’s with Akari and you.”

“…Megumi.”

Don’t make me cry, you jerk.

Hayashi, who once suffered greatly from domestic violence, is relying on us. Like Kasahara, I too felt a slight warmth in my eyes.

“…I heard words that I couldn’t have heard since high school.”

I said.

She used to dislike me. I was glad to be thought of in that way by her. I meant it in that sense. The reason it didn’t sound like that is nothing but my twisted personality.

“…What?”

It was her usual nonchalant remark, but today Hayashi didn’t scoff or tease me. Instead, she glared at me.

“Nothing.”

As expected, Hayashi didn’t give me an answer.

“Well, shall we start the takoyaki party?”

Like recovering her spirit, Kasahara clapped her hands, and our takoyaki party began.

Playing with food. As Hayashi said, I don’t particularly like it. However, no matter how much the ingredients are swapped out, the basic taste is guaranteed, and I thought I could tolerate it if I considered it as such.

…The only thing I might not be able to tolerate now is…

“Here. Say ‘ahh’.”

“Ahh.”

A while after the takoyaki party started, Kasahara was really feeding Hayashi takoyaki. I thought it was a joke, so I was speechless. Not taken aback. Speechless.

“This isn’t a show.”

“Then don’t do it in front of me.”

“Well, well. You’re just jealous, aren’t you, Yamamoto-kun?”

No, that’s not it.

I was going to reply calmly, but someone acted before I could.

It was Kasahara.

“Here you go.”

“…Yes?”

The takoyaki pierced by a toothpick that Kasahara was holding.

For some reason, that takoyaki was now in front of me.

“Say ‘ahh’.”

“…No, I won’t.”

“Say ‘ahh’.”

…I can’t help it. Because if I don’t eat this, I’ll be considered someone who can’t read the room. Hayashi’s gaze has been unnecessarily sharp since a while ago.

Chomp.

The taste of the sauce on the batter and the cheese spread inside my mouth. It’s genuinely tasty.

“…What is it?”

“Nothing.”

I asked because Hayashi’s gaze was sharp, but as usual, she doesn’t seem to intend to give me an answer.