Chapter 40
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I ladle out the miso soup, pile the plate high with an abundance of vegetables, and top it off with a generous serving of grilled eggs and sausages.
The rice, perfectly timed to finish cooking, is fluffed and scooped into bowls with equal generosity.
If we had hard bread, we could simply add some water and steam it briefly to finish preparing the meal. But they unanimously opposed the idea.
We prefer rice over bread. Bread is fine occasionally, but rice is our staple, they insisted.
Without an electric rice cooker, we cook the rice in a regular pot. Fortunately, with a magical tool that allows easy control of the fire, it cooks up nicely without much trouble. The only bothersome part is having to be careful not to let it burn.
But that bit of extra effort is well worth it for the exceptional taste.
When I was in Japan, my grandma would sometimes cook rice in an earthenware pot, so I knew how delicious fire-cooked rice could be.
I think anyone who has cooked rice over a fire during a school field trip or such would understand the true deliciousness of rice.
As I let my inner monologue flow during cooking, the two of them grip their chopsticks and spoons, striking a pose that says, 「Hurry it up!」
「The eggs just need to finish cooking and it’ll be ready, so wait a bit.」
Teasing the two starving beasts, I’m struck again by how, after their long master-disciple relationship, they really do resemble each other.
「Son-in-law! What are you doing? Is it still not ready?」
Unable to wait any longer, she hollers at me.彼女(・・)
「Ahh! Shut up! I told you to stop calling me that!」
Pressured by her yelling and their 「I can’t wait anymore!」 poses, I ended up raising my voice.
「Ichiro, I don’t mind if Ichiro is called son-in-law.」
I’m the one who minds! I think to myself, recalling something that happened several months ago.
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The day I confessed to Sena that I came from another world and had the means to return to my own world – the day I felt our hearts connect.
More specifically, the moment when things got really heated between us, we gazed into each other’s eyes, and it felt like we were about to burn up in a blaze of passion.
「Heeeey! I’m baaack!」
A yell that sounded rather dimwitted rang out, accompanied by the sound of the door slamming open with an excessive 「Wham!」
It was a complete racket.
I understand. At times like these, troublesome matters usually befall me.
I’m a certified expert at dealing with trouble, you see.
No, hahaha.
As I was lamenting how this would undoubtedly become an embarrassing memory if I put it in writing, Sena, who I had been gazing at, turned towards the commotion with a look of utter shock on her face.
Her eyes were wider than I’d ever seen before. Seeing her like that, I snapped my fingers thinking, 「Ah, so she can make a face like that too. Seeing a different expression from usual feels like a win! Score!」
To put it mildly, my brain had completely turned to jelly.
「Sensei!」
「Indeed, Sena, I have returned.」
Sena leapt into Sensei’s arms, completely ignoring me.
Sena sobbed in Sensei’s embrace. I couldn’t find the words to say to her, but seeing them hugging – the sight of a close parent and child – made me hold back my own tears.
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I don’t know the circumstances that led Sensei to leave Sena’s side, or the reasons they were living together.
Some time has passed since the day Sensei returned to the cottage, but up until this moment, as she happily bites into a crispy sausage, I haven’t been able to ask about their situation.
However, I think that’s fine.
When they want to talk, they’ll talk – that’s the kind of relationship Sena and I have.
It’s not that I’m keeping my distance.
I believe in her.
Just as she believes in me.
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Even so, Sensei’s appearance was a sight for sore eyes.
Her black hair is what would be called 「midori no kurokami」 (glossy black hair) in Japan. Long, lustrous, and beautiful black hair reaching down to her waist – it’s a perfect description for her, I thought.
However, if you focus too much on the black hair, it might give the impression of being 「pure」 or 「graceful」 – basically seeming refined.
But that’s only half right and half wrong.
She wears a slightly thin, purple kimono (which I think has some kind of magical buff) in a relaxed manner – and the ample cleavage peeking out is, how should I put it… it’s like it’s saying 「hello^^」 to me.
「What is it, son-in-law? Are you that interested in my chest?」
Sensei asks with a grin, noticing my gaze. The warmth in Sena’s expression drops by about two degrees.
In the first place, few brave souls could answer 「Yes! I am interested in your chest!」 when asked such a question.
「No, I was just thinking what a beautiful kimono it is.」
「Is it only my kimono that’s beautiful?」
I’m not good with these kinds of questions.
If I were to answer, 「Yes! Only the kimono is beautiful!」 I’d be completely reduced to a psychopathic kimono fetishist with no interest in the physical form.
But on the other hand, if I say, 「No, Sensei is beautiful too,」 who knows what Sena, staring intently at me from the side, would think?
Seeing my reaction, Sensei eventually laughs, 「Kufufu,」 and slightly bows her head, saying, 「My apologies, son-in-law. I may have teased you a bit too much.」
Furthermore, she offers an explanation that shows no hint of remorse, 「Your innocence and Sena’s cuteness were just too much to resist.」
If you gave an excuse like that at a press conference, you’d be torn apart on social media in no time! I fume inwardly, but as the mature person I am, I respond,
「I don’t really mind. More importantly, could you two finish eating a bit faster?」
In any case, the two of them, eating at an inhuman speed, devour every last morsel of food.
I let out a sigh.
Right after finishing breakfast, I had to prepare the leftovers for lunch and dinner.
Cooking more food right after eating makes no sense, but it couldn’t be helped.
As soon as I finish preparing the rice, I plan to head into town.
My main objectives for going into town are to search for ingredients and complete my adventurer registration.
I’m also hoping to gather some information from Milan, who works as a guide, or at the guild.
That’s why I was utterly shocked when I heard 「that story.」
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