Volume 1 - CH 2.4

Cooking Class with Shimizu-san 4

“Next, onions…”

Shimizu-san’s expression was somewhat uneasy.

“Now that the cabbage is done, the onions will be fine too.”

I had already cut the carrots and pork ribs, so our work would be finished when the onions were cut.

“Then I’ll cut them.”

Right, I didn’t tell her earlier, but I should teach her how to adjust her hand when she uses a knife.

“Shimizu-san, do you know what a cat’s paw is? “

“Cat’s paw?”

“When you use a knife, the hand that is holding onto the food should be shaped like a cat’s paw so that you don’t accidentally cut yourself.”

“What shape should a cat’s paw look like? “

Of course, the fingers should be lightly folded, but I think it’s hard to convey the idea just by saying it to her. I made my left hand into a cat’s paw and held it out in front of Shimizu-san.

“This is the cat’s paw. Shimizu-san, try it too.”

Shimizu-san looked at my hand and made her left hand into a cat’s paw with a stiff movement.

“Like this?”

To see the shape of her own hand, Shimizu-san seems to be posing like a cat instead because she puts her cat’s paw next to her face. I think she is completely unaware of it, but I don’t want to say anything about it because she might get angry if I do.

“Hey, is this wrong?”

“Uh, no, that’s okay.”

I reply hurriedly. I hope my thoughts didn’t get across to her.

“Be careful when you cut it. And don’t forget the cat’s paw.”

“Yes!”

Shimizu-san’s knife was lowered to the halved onion.

“I’ll cut it, is that okay?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. But you might want to reposition the cat’s hand slightly to make it safer for you.”

“Where should I put my hand?”

I don’t think she can understand it if I tell her to put the tip of her folded middle and index finger of her left hand on the belly of the knife. I don’t know how to describe it. Maybe it would be faster to show it to her directly.

“I’m going to cut some onions, so can you watch me? “

“Yes.”

*  *  *

Then I tried several times to explain to Shimizu-san how to cut the onions, but she did not completely understand it.

“What to do――”

“I kind of know I’m wrong, but I don’t know what the right answer is…”

Words are difficult. I think she can’t get the message just by looking at me. Then the only way left is to actually experience it.

“Shimizu-san, let me touch your hand for a moment…”

Before I could finish, Shimizu-san quickly put down the knife and pulled her hands away.

“Y-you, what are you trying to do to me?”

“I was going to hold Shimizu-san’s hand to show you where to put your cat’s paw. Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”

I didn’t really mind touching others, but I guess there are many people who don’t like to be touched by others. Shimizu-san, I apologize.

“It’s not that I dislike it… “

Shimizu-san seemed to have said something, but I couldn’t catch her low voice.

“…fine.”

“Shimizu-san? “

“I said it’s fine. So touch my hand and teach me.”

“Are you sure? “

“I’m not going to repeat myself. Just show me how to do it now.”

Shimizu-san is much more innocent than I thought. If you say so, I’ll not hesitate.

“I get it. If Shimizu-san is okay with it, then I’ll do that.”

I moved quickly behind Shimizu-san.

“Shimizu-san, I’ll touch you.”

“Bring it on!”

I slowly put my hand on top of Shimizu-san’s hand.

“Hyaaah――”

I heard an unexpected scream, and the eyes of the group members were immediately drawn to us.

“… I’m not for show.”

Shimizu-san glares at the other group members around us. With her voice as a trigger, everyone’s gazes quickly scattered. It seems that they are going to pretend that they did not hear her scream earlier.

“Are you okay? Shimizu-san, are you sure you’re not overexerting yourself? “

“No problem. I was just caught off guard earlier. I’m not going to let my guard down again.”

“All right. I’ll do it again.”

I don’t think I can catch her off guard if I touched her after I said I would touch her, but if she says so, I guess that’s how it is. I touched Shimizu-san’s hand again, but there was no scream this time.

“…So what do you want me to do? “

Shimizu-san’s voice was a little quieter than before for some reason. I can’t see her expression because I was behind Shimizu-san, but I wonder if it is my imagination that her ears seem to be tinted a little vermilion.

“Take the knife. Then put the knife on the part of the onion you want to cut.”

“Okay.”

Shimizu-san placed the knife on the part she was going to cut next, as I instructed.

“Then, put your hand here.”

I moved Shimizu-san’s left hand over the onion.

“Okay. Let’s cut it then.”

“If my hand is in the way, should I let go? “

“…keep it this way.”

With that, Shimizu-san lowered the blade of her knife and successfully cut the onion.

“That’s good. Do you know what to do next? “

“The knife is there, so my left hand is here?”

Shimizu-san moves her left hand along with mine.

“Yes. I think that’s good. Once you know that, I think you’re good to go.”

“…not a hindrance…”

“What? “

“I said it’s not a hindrance, so just leave it as it is.”

“Uh, okay? I understand.”

I’m unsure how Shimizu-san feels, but she may still have some anxiety about using the knife. I have decided to continue assisting her until Shimizu-san says she no longer needs it.

“I guess I’ll keep doing this.”

“Yes, here I go.”

Her voice sounded a little happy. With that voice, the knife started to move.

“Is this okay?”

“Yep. That’s fine.”

Shimizu-san checks with me as she proceeds with the work little by little. While she was stopping the knife, I suddenly looked at Shimizu-san’s ear, which was as red as a tomato.

“Shimizu-san, are you okay? Your ears are red.”

“Huh? It’s not red! “

“No, It’s red. I don’t have a mirror, so I can’t show you now.”

“Uh, that’s because…”

Despite being so close, Shimizu-san’s whisper didn’t reach my ears.

“Anyway, I’m fine! Come on, we’re late, so let’s do this quickly.”

“It’s fine if Shimizu-san is okay. Let’s resume our work then.”

In the end, my hand did not leave Shimizu-san’s until we finished cutting the onions.

* * *

“Shimizu-san, I’m glad our stir-fried meat and vegetables tasted good.”

During the lunch break after the cooking class, we ate the stir-fried meat and vegetables we had prepared. After Shimizu-san and I cut the ingredients, the rest of the group members did a good job of stir-frying and seasoning the meat and vegetables, and the stir-fry turned out fine.

“Well, I guess it’s pretty good.”

Shimizu-san, eating next to me, seemed satisfied with the stir-fried meat and vegetable quality.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“…Hondō, can I ask you one thing?”

Shimizu-san, who had finished her stir-fry, turned her face toward me.

“What is it? “

“How was it cooking with me? “

I wondered what she meant by this question, then I looked at Shimizu-san’s face again, and there was a subtle sign of anxiety on her face. Perhaps Shimizu-san felt that she had not been of any help? How should I answer her and get rid of her anxiety?

“To be honest, I was quite scared at first. I was afraid that Shimizu-san might hurt herself.”

“Ughh.”

Shimizu-san turned her eyes away from me as if she had something on her mind.

“But I was happy that Shimizu-san cooked with me until the end.”

Shimizu-san turns her head toward me, and our eyes meet.

“Shimizu-san worked very hard, and it was a lot of fun working with you. If you don’t mind, will you cook with me again during the next cooking class? “

I ended up saying out loud everything I was thinking. I wonder what Shimizu-san thinks about it. After waiting for about 10 seconds, Shimizu-san opened her mouth.

“If…”

“If? “

“If you insist that much, we can do it together again next time.”

“Fufu-ahaha.”

“W-why are you laughing!”

Oh, gosh. I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

“No, I was afraid you’d say no. Well, I’m looking forward to the next time, Shimizu-san.”

“O-okay. It can’t be helped. “

Shimizu-san replied while crossing her arms. I think I was looking forward to the next cooking lesson a little more than usual.