It’s almost noon, and the preparations for hosting our guests are nearly complete. The two who left for their daily routine (+Mika) have long since returned, and Sensei and Mika are outside again tinkering with something, continuing whatever they were doing the other day.
「Ichiro.」
Sena calls my name from behind.
「What is it?」
I ask, turning around.
「That girl is in a more precarious state than you think.」
Sena’s gaze is directed outside the cabin—toward Mika. As I hesitate about how to respond, Sena tells me:
「There’s only so much Sensei and I can do. In the end, the only one who can help her is you, Ichiro.」
「Only me…?」
「…maybe.」
「Maybe, huh?」
「That’s right. Maybe.」
Sena smiles softly. It’s an expression I would never have seen when we first met.
「I’m always cheering for you. So don’t feel pressured—just be there for that girl.」
◯◯◯
While arranging the prepared dishes and tableware, I ask Sena to call in the two outside when the timing seems right.
「Woooaaah! This is it! This!」
Sensei exclaims with delight upon seeing the food laid out on the table. Being praised feels genuinely good. I love Sensei.
「Everyone sit down quickly.」
The voice belongs to Sena. True to her words, she’s already seated, holding her chopsticks in the 「everyone hurry up and sit down」 pose. Following her commanding presence, the rest of us hurriedly take our seats. Then Sensei, sitting across from me, gives me a meaningful wink.
I feel like Sensei is saying something in my mind. What’s that? 「Son-in-law, since this is a special feast, please say a few words」? I couldn’t tell if it was an auditory hallucination or telepathy, but judging from Sensei’s 「heh heh」 laugh, the latter seemed more likely. Really, what a waste of her abilities.
「Then, a few words from me. Sensei, Mika, I know it must have been a difficult journey. That’s why today, I want you to relax and enjoy yourselves without holding back. Let’s toast to your safe return and to honor your hard work.」
Everyone’s glass is filled with their preferred drink. We all raise our glasses, and with that signal, our first meal together as a foursome in a long time begins.
The meat-lovers, Sena and Sensei, are naturally stuffing their faces with various meat dishes including fried meats and skewers. Mika doesn’t seem to have much appetite, but as Sensei encourages her, she slowly eats the pot-au-feu-like soup, stuffed cabbage, and potato salad I prepared especially for her.
During the meal, most of the conversation is between Sensei and me. Sena occasionally chimes in but is mostly listening, and Mika only responds when Sensei prompts her with 「Isn’t that right?」
Even though Mika isn’t in good shape, the overall atmosphere of the dinner isn’t bad. Still, I’m worried. Mika doesn’t show her pain, even when she’s suffering. When we first met, she was always expressionless, as if her heart had frozen over. It’s not that Mika, sitting across from me right now, is expressionless. I’m just concerned that she’s good at hiding her pain and might be bottling it up inside, possibly beyond her breaking point.
Despite a few unexpected moments—like having to quickly refill empty plates due to the two meat-lovers’ greater-than-anticipated appetites—the meal progresses smoothly.
「I’ll check on the pot.」
Finding the right moment, I step away from the table.
◯◯◯
I bring the freshly baked, piping hot apple pie to the table and slice it. The crisp sound as the knife cuts through reveals its perfect texture. The baking is flawless. I prepared the apples with plenty of sugar, citrus, and rum, and used an obscene amount of butter in the dough. Especially with sugar and butter, using what seems like 「What?! This much?! I’ll die! I’ll literally die from using this much!!」 is actually the best approach. After dividing it into four pieces and placing them on new plates, I set them in front of everyone. This apple pie should be absolutely perfect, not just in its crispy texture but also in taste.
「Let’s eat while it’s hot.」
I lightly encourage them. But no one touches their pie. Sena’s gaze, and then Sensei’s gaze, are fixed on Mika. Mika is looking down, and I can’t see her expression. After a few seconds like this, Mika raises her face and looks straight at me.
「Ichiro, could you please listen to what I have to say?」
Mika asks me, as if summoning all her courage.
If you enjoy it and wish to see more, please consider giving it a 5-star rating for the series on NU. Click Here.
Check out my Patreon for early access to upcoming updates. Patreon Link
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Chapter 299
◯◯◯
It’s almost noon, and the preparations for hosting our guests are nearly complete.
The two who left for their daily routine (+Mika) have long since returned, and Sensei and Mika are outside again tinkering with something, continuing whatever they were doing the other day.
「Ichiro.」
Sena calls my name from behind.
「What is it?」
I ask, turning around.
「That girl is in a more precarious state than you think.」
Sena’s gaze is directed outside the cabin—toward Mika.
As I hesitate about how to respond, Sena tells me:
「There’s only so much Sensei and I can do. In the end, the only one who can help her is you, Ichiro.」
「Only me…?」
「…maybe.」
「Maybe, huh?」
「That’s right. Maybe.」
Sena smiles softly.
It’s an expression I would never have seen when we first met.
「I’m always cheering for you. So don’t feel pressured—just be there for that girl.」
◯◯◯
While arranging the prepared dishes and tableware, I ask Sena to call in the two outside when the timing seems right.
「Woooaaah! This is it! This!」
Sensei exclaims with delight upon seeing the food laid out on the table.
Being praised feels genuinely good. I love Sensei.
「Everyone sit down quickly.」
The voice belongs to Sena. True to her words, she’s already seated, holding her chopsticks in the 「everyone hurry up and sit down」 pose.
Following her commanding presence, the rest of us hurriedly take our seats.
Then Sensei, sitting across from me, gives me a meaningful wink.
I feel like Sensei is saying something in my mind.
What’s that? 「Son-in-law, since this is a special feast, please say a few words」?
I couldn’t tell if it was an auditory hallucination or telepathy, but judging from Sensei’s 「heh heh」 laugh, the latter seemed more likely. Really, what a waste of her abilities.
「Then, a few words from me. Sensei, Mika, I know it must have been a difficult journey. That’s why today, I want you to relax and enjoy yourselves without holding back. Let’s toast to your safe return and to honor your hard work.」
Everyone’s glass is filled with their preferred drink.
We all raise our glasses, and with that signal, our first meal together as a foursome in a long time begins.
The meat-lovers, Sena and Sensei, are naturally stuffing their faces with various meat dishes including fried meats and skewers. Mika doesn’t seem to have much appetite, but as Sensei encourages her, she slowly eats the pot-au-feu-like soup, stuffed cabbage, and potato salad I prepared especially for her.
During the meal, most of the conversation is between Sensei and me. Sena occasionally chimes in but is mostly listening, and Mika only responds when Sensei prompts her with 「Isn’t that right?」
Even though Mika isn’t in good shape, the overall atmosphere of the dinner isn’t bad. Still, I’m worried. Mika doesn’t show her pain, even when she’s suffering. When we first met, she was always expressionless, as if her heart had frozen over.
It’s not that Mika, sitting across from me right now, is expressionless. I’m just concerned that she’s good at hiding her pain and might be bottling it up inside, possibly beyond her breaking point.
Despite a few unexpected moments—like having to quickly refill empty plates due to the two meat-lovers’ greater-than-anticipated appetites—the meal progresses smoothly.
「I’ll check on the pot.」
Finding the right moment, I step away from the table.
◯◯◯
I bring the freshly baked, piping hot apple pie to the table and slice it. The crisp sound as the knife cuts through reveals its perfect texture. The baking is flawless.
I prepared the apples with plenty of sugar, citrus, and rum, and used an obscene amount of butter in the dough. Especially with sugar and butter, using what seems like 「What?! This much?! I’ll die! I’ll literally die from using this much!!」 is actually the best approach.
After dividing it into four pieces and placing them on new plates, I set them in front of everyone. This apple pie should be absolutely perfect, not just in its crispy texture but also in taste.
「Let’s eat while it’s hot.」
I lightly encourage them. But no one touches their pie.
Sena’s gaze, and then Sensei’s gaze, are fixed on Mika.
Mika is looking down, and I can’t see her expression.
After a few seconds like this, Mika raises her face and looks straight at me.
「Ichiro, could you please listen to what I have to say?」
Mika asks me, as if summoning all her courage.
If you enjoy it and wish to see more, please consider giving it a 5-star rating for the series on NU. Click Here.
Check out my Patreon for early access to upcoming updates. Patreon Link
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