Tsun'na Megami-sama to Darenimoienai Himitsu no Kankei Chapter 5
Some time had passed.
After making sure Yukimiya had calmed down, I slowly made my way back to the apartment.
Normally, I would have gotten there much sooner, but this time, it took me twice as long.
Yukimiya’s face still didn’t look good. Or rather, it seemed to have gotten worse.
“Err… Yukimiya, what about dinner?”
“...No need. I don’t feel like eating… today, I just want to go straight to sleep.”
“I-I see…”
“...Sorry. But for now, I’d really appreciate it if you could leave me alone. …Good night, Yatsuhashi-kun.”
“...Ah, good night.”
There was nothing more I could say to her. If she wanted to be left alone, anything I did would only make things worse.
But… was this really okay? Leaving her alone like this.
This was the first time I had seen Yukimiya like this. Maybe it would be better if someone stayed by her side.
A lot of thoughts swirled in my head, but it was hard to say if any of them were good ideas.
With her face still pale, Yukimiya staggered back toward her apartment room.
“Yukimiya!”
“...What?”
Just before the door closed, she turned to look at me—her eyes dull and empty, as if all the light had been drained from them.
“It’s nothing… Just, if anything happens, call me right away. If it’s something I can do, I’ll do it.”
“...Alright. I’ll remember that.”
And with those words, the door closed.
She herself probably didn’t think much of it, but for some reason… that closed door felt like it was pushing me away.
There was nothing I could do now.
I felt frustrated at my own helplessness, but I had no choice but to return to my own room.
After putting all the groceries in the fridge, I simply had the sashimi I bought and some rice I had already cooked for dinner. I didn’t have the will or energy to start making nikujaga now.
I ate while scrolling through my phone, though my thoughts kept drifting to Yukimiya.
Or rather, it had been a while since I last had dinner alone. For the past few days, I’d always had dinner together with her.
“...It feels tasteless.”
The sashimi itself was good. But there’s a difference between eating alone and sharing the table with Yukimiya. No matter how much I grumbled, she would always eat my cooking with such appetite.
Up until now, eating alone was normal for me… so I never thought I’d feel lonely because of it.
I just kept repeating the motion of putting sashimi and rice into my mouth until my stomach was full, then ended the meal just like that.
Yukimiya’s problems had nothing to do with me. No matter how many times I told myself that, I still couldn’t stop thinking about her. I didn’t even have much of an appetite.
Whether I was washing dishes, studying, reading manga, or a light novel… I found myself more focused on wondering how she was doing.
Was she really planning not to eat? Maybe I should bring her something.
Fortunately, I still had some of the meat she liked. Making nikujaga would take too long, so maybe I should quickly stir-fry it with some vegetables and bring it to her… Ah, but she did say she wanted to be left alone today.
“Sigh… Why am I stressing out over Yukimiya?”
Even if we’ve been helping each other, it’s only been about a week since we met. If she has family problems, getting involved would be a huge mistake.
…She also said she didn’t want other people meddling in her affairs. If I tried to force her to feel better, it would be the same as butting into her family matters.
In that case, I just need to keep being the guy she usually yells at.
That’s the right distance for me and Yukimiya.
She might not be feeling well now, but she’ll probably be back to normal tomorrow. If that happens, I’ll teach her how to make nikujaga then.
…Before that, I should make my own share of nikujaga too. If she ruins all the ingredients, that would be a real problem.
Taking out the ingredients I had put in the fridge earlier, I began preparing everything.
◈ ⟡ ◈
“Hazukichi, what did you do to Hyouka-chan?”
At the start of the week. As usual, while I was letting Junya copy my homework, Kurotsuki suddenly came over and asked me that.
Since then, I hadn’t seen Yukimiya. I didn’t know how bad her condition was, how far I should get involved, or even whether I should face her at all.
Even so, Kurotsuki’s words told me that she was still feeling down.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Really?”
“Why would I lie?”
"That's weird. I was sure Hazukichi made Hyouka-chan angry."
Hey!? Hold on a second. Just because Yukimiya’s acting strange, you’re assuming I made her mad? That’s seriously rude, you know?
Kurotsuki still looked half-suspicious, narrowing her eyes at me. Why did she think I was the cause?
Seriously, I didn’t do anything. This was all because of that phone call… Yeah, Yukimiya’s stepmother was the one at fault here.
But if I said that, it would just create a whole new problem. I had to avoid that.
“…If you’re saying she’s angry, then maybe she’s in a bad mood?”
“More like… she looks sad. No matter who tries to talk to her, she gives them a cold response.”
“But Yukimiya being cold is normal, right?”
“Not really. She’s usually friendly.”
Which part of her is friendly? I’ve seen her talk with the other girls before, but she never once seemed friendly to me.
“Auu, auu, auu… I’m worried.”
Kurotsuki sat in the seat in front of me and rested her head on my desk.
Well, to her, Yukimiya was an important friend… of course she’d be worried.
“I get that you’re worried, but if she’s not telling you anything, there’s no point in asking me. Wouldn’t it be better to just leave her alone for now?”
“If I could do that, it wouldn’t be this hard. But as her friend, I can’t just stand by and watch when she’s sad.”
Is that so? when Junya feels down, I just leave him alone. Then eventually, he ends up saying, ‘Pay attention to me!’
But Yukimiya… is she really that depressed? It’s already been two days… Is she eating properly? I’m worried she’s gone back to just eating junk food again.
No matter how you look at it, the cause of Yukimiya’s sadness was that phone call.
The relationship between a stepmother and her stepdaughter… it was more complicated than I imagined.
There’s no way I could interfere in the family matters of someone I only knew this little about.
...............
“…Hey, Kurotsuki. Can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Let’s say there’s a classmate you only greet in passing, but one day they look really down and you don’t know why… What would you do?”
“Huh? A classmate I only greet, huh~”
Kurotsuki propped her chin on her hand, staring out the window.
Maybe she was imagining the scenario, because she stayed quiet for a few minutes. Then she shrugged and smiled.
“I’d probably help however I could.”
“…Even if it’s someone you’re not close to?”
“Yeah. Because they’re feeling down, right? In that case, if there’s anything I can do, I’d want to try and help.”
“…That’s really just like you, Kurotsuki.”
“Right? Especially if it’s Hyouka-chan, I’d really want to do something for her…!”
Kurotsuki rested her head on the desk again.
That’s right… Yocchan has always been like that.
Shy, negative-minded, afraid of being the center of attention… But because of that, she’s incredibly sensitive to the feelings of others and can’t just leave them when they’re down. She’ll help them however she can.
Even if her looks and personality have grown, that part of her hasn’t changed.
Yocchan is still Yocchan.
“Thanks. That really helps.”
“Huh…? You’re welcome?”
Not understanding, Kurotsuki tilted her head in confusion.
Help however I can, huh… Even if I’d made up my mind, the real question was how?
This was a family matter… and on top of that, it was complicated. If I messed up, I might never be able to talk to Yukimiya again.
We’d only just started opening up to each other. I couldn’t afford to make the wrong move now.
For now, maybe I could make her dinner. I’d make karaage—her favorite. Even if she was feeling down and had no appetite, she’d probably eat if it was her favorite food.
…Oh, right.
“Kurotsuki. If you want to help her, just buy Yukimiya some snacks from the convenience store. She likes snacks.”
“Really? That’s unexpected!”
Well, normally you wouldn’t imagine Yukimiya eating cheap convenience store snacks. I probably wouldn’t believe it either if I hadn’t seen her messy room for myself.
“…Eh? Wait, Hazukichi. How do you know what Hyouka-chan likes? Since when did you two get that close?”
…Ah!
“I-It’s not… Err, remember that friendship event we had? She mentioned it then. Haha…”
“Ah, I see. So you two even talked about stuff like that. She’s never told me things like that~”
Why is she glaring at me now?
“You like family-sized snacks yourself, don’t you?”
“Eh, how do you know? Did I tell you before?”
“You used to like them, right? Guess that hasn’t changed either.”
“Ehehe. That’s the one thing I just can’t give up~”
As she shyly scratched her cheek, the bell signaling the start of class rang.
“Well, I’d better get going. Hazukichi, thanks for the valuable info!”
“Sure. Treat me to juice next time.”
“Aye aye, captain!”
Hopping out of her seat, Kurotsuki left the classroom with her usual energy.
From the very start of the morning, Kurotsuki had been like a whirlwind.
◈ ⟡ ◈
“Haa... I’m so tired...”
I went shopping to make karaage for Yukimiya, but it took longer than I expected. Those housewives aiming for the flash sale can’t be underestimated.
But today, I managed to get all the ingredients I needed. With this, I can make delicious karaage and give it to Yukimiya... huh?
“Who... is that...?”
In front of Yukimiya’s apartment door stood a man I didn’t recognize.
He was slim and tall, wearing a neat suit, his hair perfectly styled with wax. That wasn’t just any suit from the store—it looked tailored to fit his body perfectly, a custom order. Even I, who don’t know much about suits, could sense the luxurious impression it gave.
Behind his silver-framed glasses, his sharp gaze was visible. His polished black leather shoes. On his wrist, a famous brand watch named Alpha.
He looked like an elite office worker or a successful adult. Clearly, he belonged to a completely different world than mine.
What’s someone like him doing at Yukimiya’s place...? He didn’t seem like a door-to-door salesman either...
“Hyouka, open up.”
[ No. Just go home...! ]
“Stop that attitude.”
…Hyouka? That means Yukimiya, right?
He didn’t seem drunk or anything, but he was talking to Yukimiya through the intercom.
They were both so focused on their conversation that their voices got louder. They should be more considerate of the time. Also, I felt awkward about stepping inside. I didn’t have the courage to ignore their argument and enter.
“Apologies for the interruption. May I ask what you need from Yukimiya?”
“…Sorry for disturbing you so late. But this is a family matter, between me and my daughter. And… who are you? You’re the kid who talked to me before, right?”
…Family? Daughter? Talked to me before?
................Ah!
Is this the guy who was following Yukimiya that time, the stalker!?
So, he’s… Yukimiya’s father!?
Oh man. I didn’t know, but I’d assumed he was a stalker.
Anyway, I had to introduce myself.
“…Nice to meet you. My name is Yatsuhashi Hazuki. I’m Yukimiya Hyouka’s neighbor… and also the student council president at the same school.”
“…Student council president? But I heard my daughter is also the student council president at Shiramine High, even after it merged with another school...”
“Yes. Before joining Shiramine, I was the student council president at my old school. Until my term ended, I was required to work with Hyouka-san as fellow presidents to build rapport among students.”
Hmm… For me, that was a pretty good introduction.
This type of person… seems to have a high social status, and since he’s Yukimiya’s father, he clearly values titles and etiquette.
As expected, when I explained in a formal tone that I was also a student council president, Yukimiya’s father seemed to lower his guard a bit.
“I apologize for suddenly talking to you that day. But you seemed to be following Hyouka-san, and as a fellow student at the same school, I felt I couldn’t ignore it and decided to speak with you.”
“…Hmm. Indeed, my behavior earlier may have looked suspicious. That was because I was overly concerned about my daughter. Your decision was not wrong. I apologize for causing you to misunderstand.”
Hoo… good. He’s someone you can talk to properly… but why are he and Yukimiya arguing in the hallway like this?
Yukimiya’s father stood tall in front of me and put his hands in his pockets.
“Sorry for the late introduction. My name is Yukimiya Korekiyo, father of Hyouka and CEO of Yukimiya Co., Ltd.”
He handed me his business card.
Yukimiya Co., Ltd…. Eh, isn’t that the big IT company that often appears in TV ads?
I suspected Yukimiya was from a wealthy family, but turns out she really is the daughter of a CEO… seriously?
“Th-thank you for the polite introduction. So, Yukimiya-san. It’s already late at night, so talking in the corridor like this is a bit…”
“Hmm, true… But my daughter won’t let me inside her apartment.”
…Could it be that Yukimiya not only has problems with her stepmother but also with her biological father? Haa… What a complicated family. But if this keeps up, they’ll be disturbing the neighbors…
As I thought that, suddenly Yukimiya’s apartment door opened. Although the chain lock was still on, Yukimiya peeked out hesitantly.
“Hyouka…”
“……”
With her head lowered shyly, Yukimiya and her father both stood with expressionless faces. Should I be here? I missed the moment to leave.
“Hyouka, let me in.”
“...No.”
“Hyouka.”
“No. Go away.”
Oh… I see. They’ve been arguing like this all along. If this continues, the other neighbors will misunderstand...
“Well, let’s calm down. It’s late, so how about we talk again some other time…!”
As I tried to step between them, Yukimiya’s father gave me a sharp glare. Scary. His gaze was too intense for a middle-aged man. Maybe it’s normal for a CEO of a big company, but I couldn’t back down now. Especially since this was bothering the neighbors, and I lived right next door.
“If you keep arguing like this, the neighbors will get suspicious. If someone reports this to the police, it won’t be good for your reputation or Hyouka-san’s, right?”
“……Hmm. Are you trying to threaten me?”
“Just social consideration.”
“……You’re quite interesting.”
If you think I’m interesting, laugh a little. Both father and daughter wore sharp expressions… though they didn’t get along, they oddly looked very similar in some ways.
Yukimiya’s father glanced at me briefly, then relaxed his shoulders and turned around.
“I’ll come again next Sunday morning. You can’t run away until then.”
Leaving those words, he walked straight away without looking back.
I stood straight until he disappeared… finally, I could breathe a sigh of relief.
Haa~ … Why do I have to feel emotionally drained before going to bed? Even though I just showered and felt relaxed.
“Hey Yukimiya, are you okay?”
“…………”
No answer. Seems like she’s not okay. Well, it’s understandable. Anyone would feel stressed after going through something like that.
“Before talking to your dad, want to talk to me for a bit?”
“……Come in.”
Wow. Looks like she really let me in. Does this mean she trusts me a little?
Invited by Yukimiya who unlatched the door chain, I stepped inside. Cat-themed items were still piled in the corner of the living room, still not taken out of their bags.
Yukimiya sat in the living room chair, head lowered with a sad expression.
“Ah… sorry for interrupting at such a strange time.”
“No… you saved me. Thank you.”
…She really looked exhausted. No wonder.
But still, who would’ve thought the old 'stalker' guy was Yukimiya’s father… I was truly surprised.
I sat across from Yukimiya, and we faced each other silently.
Although I said I wanted to talk, I didn’t know where to start. There were many things I wanted to ask, but I didn’t know how to begin.
While I carefully chose my words in my mind, Yukimiya slowly spoke.
“…You might already know, but that man earlier was my father. My biological father.”
“Ah, yeah…”
I didn’t expect Yukimiya to talk about that.
She once said she didn’t want others to get involved in her family affairs… maybe she really felt pressured.
The fact that she emphasized ‘biological’ meant that her mother was no longer with them.
Whether they were divorced or something else…
Bad thoughts crossed my mind, but I stopped when I heard Yukimiya’s next words.
“As you can see, our relationship isn’t good, or rather… I’m a little uncomfortable with my father.”
“Surprising. Is there something you don’t like about him, Yukimiya?”
“He always looks cold, so it’s hard to tell what he’s thinking… Although, I remember he used to smile more often.”
Even Yukimiya said she couldn’t understand what that man was thinking.
From my point of view, I also don’t know what Yukimiya is thinking. Does she feel something similar?
“Err… Why does he keep coming? If you treat him so badly, I thought your father would realize he’s not welcome.”
“Because it’s… one of the conditions so I can live alone.”
“Condition?”
“Yeah… to live my daily life properly. That’s the minimum condition.”
…Eh?
“Living daily life properly, in other words, being able to clean and cook?”
“Yes. Every two months, my father or stepmother comes for an inspection.”
“Stepmother… So, the reason you looked scared when you got that call…”
“That’s part of it, but… she doesn’t seem to like me. I’m treated harshly every day, her words are sharp and hurtful… Living at that house is really hard. …That’s why I asked my father to let me live alone. I’d rather live alone than with them. I’d even humble myself as low as possible for that. And I never want to go back to that place.”
Yukimiya’s eyes showed a color of rejection.
The situation was different, but it was the same for me.
My parents only cared about work and never paid attention to me. On the other hand, Yukimiya’s parents seemed to lack love for her. That’s why she wants to live alone… I really understand how she feels.
“I started living alone in February this year. So today was the first inspection.”
“I see… Wait, so if I never help you, they’ll see the messy situation, right? Then why do you let it stay uncleaned?”
“I planned to hire a housekeeper the day before to clean and cook. If they ask her to make food during the inspection, I just need to reheat it. So with that, I don’t have to cook from scratch in front of my father.
That’s a very sneaky move. She really is cunning, this girl.
Besides, don’t use your money for things like that. Also, if you just reheat prepared food, your cheating will be found out immediately. Are you smart or just dumb?
I felt a headache hearing Yukimiya’s words and rubbed my temples. Seriously, this girl…
“Hah… Well, at least your apartment is clean, that’s pretty good… But how about the food? Your father’s coming again next Sunday.”
“Uh… Y-Yatsuhashi-kun. I have a request—”
“I refuse.”
“I haven’t said anything yet.”
“I can guess. You want me to cook for you, right? I refuse.”
Seeing my flat refusal, Yukimiya fell silent with an extremely sad expression.
Sorry, Yukimiya. This is something you have to accept as your own responsibility.
“But that doesn’t mean I won’t help at all. If you want, I can teach you how to cook properly. What do you want to make?”
“Cooking… ah…! …ni… …ja…”
She seemed to want something, but Yukimiya muttered very softly.
“What is it?”
“…Ni…ku, ja…”
“Nikujaga?”
Yukimiya nodded firmly.
Indeed, nikujaga takes some effort.
It might be a bit difficult for Yukimiya right now… but it’s definitely worth trying.
“Alright. Tomorrow I’ll teach you how to make it.”
“Y-yeah!”
Snorting, she looked really motivated.
“For now, let’s focus on making nikujaga… Yukimiya, did you eat well yesterday and today?”
“…If it’s from convenience store, then…”
She averted her eyes awkwardly. In front of us were convenience store ready meals, and a large amount of candy she bought.
“Haa… You…”
“But there’s no other choice. Everyone gets hungry, right? …Stress shopping and overeating are normal, right?”
“I understand how you feel, but if you want to eat, just tell me. I’ll make anything you ask for. It’d be a shame if the healthy lifestyle you’d been keeping got ruined, right?”
“……Sorry……”
Oh, she was honest enough. Maybe she was still mentally stressed. She still looked a bit down… Well, if she already feels regret, then there’s no need to make a fuss.
“……Are you hungry?”
“Eh, not at all…”
“You just have to be honest. ……You’re hungry, aren’t you?”
“Uh…”
Yukimiya was silent, but right after that, a rumbling sound like thunder came from her stomach.
“……I’m hungry.”
“Good that you’re honest. I’ll make karaage for you.”
“……Really?”
“I already bought the ingredients thinking of making it for you. It’d be a waste if you don’t eat it.”
“……Well, since there’s no other choice… I guess I have to eat it.”
Yeah, yeah, she should be a little more honest about this.
Well, maybe this is part of Yukimiya’s charm… I can take it as a plus.
◈ ⟡ ◈
A week had passed since then.
During that time, my hard work teaching her seriously had paid off; I felt she had improved quite a bit in making nikujaga.
However, one worry still remained.
This time, the assumption was that Yukimiya would cook on her own. But, in reality, I had never actually let her cook by herself before.
I felt worried... very worried.
Because we went shopping for ingredients the day before, her fridge was full of items for nikujaga. In fact, since we had eaten nikujaga almost every night this past week, I was starting to feel sick just by looking at the ingredients.
Anyway, this was the first time I’d seen Yukimiya’s fridge stocked with so many ingredients.
“Yukimiya, are you okay?”
“I-I-I’m f-f-fine...!”
Not fine at all. When Yukimiya started to get nervous, I got nervous too. I was really beginning to worry.
Feeling nervous alongside Yukimiya, we did the final check by cleaning the room and decorating it with the cat-themed items we’d recently bought.
The room that had been dull and quiet now looked more colorful with cat-themed goods in every corner.
“Wow... seeing it now, this really looks like a girl’s room!”
“How rude. It’s been a girl’s room from the start.”
“Maybe so, but that’s not what I mean.”
If someone called a gloomy place like that a girl’s room, no one would believe it. They’d probably think it was the room of a minimalist maniac.
Looking at the cat-shaped clock on the shelf, the time was almost ten o’clock.
Everything was ready. Now we just had to wait for her father to come.
“Want some coffee? Come on, let’s take a little break.”
“I-I don’t have time to rest.”
“That’s exactly why we need to make time to rest. Come on, sit here.”
I invited Yukimiya to sit down, then made coffee and brought it to the living room.
Actually, I wanted to try coffee made from freshly ground beans, but I was afraid it’d be too much trouble. Besides, both Yukimiya and I liked instant coffee from this brand, so this was fine.
The aroma of coffee has a relaxing effect. Besides that, as you know, it can help keep us alert. Let’s relax until your dad arrives.
“…Thank you.”
Yukimiya took the cup and deeply inhaled the coffee’s aroma.
Yeah, it smelled good. I liked the roasted scent even more than drinking it.
Maybe Yukimiya felt the same way; she inhaled the aroma and slowly exhaled.
...But her hands were still trembling. She was really nervous.
“Are you really scared of your father?”
“It’s not that. Like I said before, it’s not fear, but I feel awkward. Before I asked for permission to live on my own, we hadn’t spoken properly for seven years.”
“Seven years...”
So since Yukimiya was about ten years old.
It’s natural to feel awkward if you haven’t spoken for that long.
“Dad remarried my stepmother around that time. My stepmother was my dad’s former secretary.”
Wow, that made the situation even more complicated. It must be really awkward.
“That stepmother, she doesn’t like you, right?”
“Yes. She’s very strict about disciplining me. She never cooks. She never takes care of the house. Everything is left to the maid. But she always interferes with etiquette, movements, posture… I’m constantly pressured. She says it’s all for my own good, to inherit the company… Honestly, I’m sick of it.”
Being pressured every day, huh? That… must be tough.
When it comes to a company as big as Yukimiya Co., Ltd., she probably has to deal not only with people inside the company but also outsiders.
She’s expected not to make careless statements or act in an unrefined manner. That’s why her stepmother is so strict about her upbringing...
I understood her feelings and reasons, but if Yukimiya’s own thoughts didn’t stick, it wouldn’t mean anything. The story would be different if Yukimiya really wanted to carry on the company, but if not… it would be nothing more than bullying.
“I really hate it... At the end of last year, I reached my limit and directly spoke to my dad. I asked for permission to live alone as part of learning to live in society. Although the real reason was that I just wanted to run away. Haa, you… you’re probably going to laugh at my behavior and attitude, right?”
“No, not at all.”
When I answered honestly, Yukimiya looked at me with surprised eyes.
What, what? You look scary.
“...You won’t laugh at me?”
“Yeah, umm. If I were in the same situation, I’d run away too.”
“But I’ve been bad to you before…”
“What does that matter? Whether you’ve been bad or not, you’re still Yukimiya Hyouka.”
What are you worried about? I won’t laugh at you.
“More than that, I want to praise you.”
“...Praise me? Me, who ran away...?”
In a voice barely audible, Yukimiya muttered.
“Both men and women, adults and children… anyone can feel despair. But Yukimiya, you can rise again and move forward. That’s not something just anyone can do. I really respect a girl named Yukimiya Hyouka. I can firmly say that she is the strongest girl I’ve ever seen. …Just with that, you can be proud of yourself.”
“.......”
That was how I truly felt. Words from the bottom of my heart.
If I had to hear harsh words every day like that, I’d either rebel or become depressed and shut myself away.
Letting everything be too loose is bad, but being too strict in upbringing isn’t good either.
Yukimiya had also lived a hard life. Maybe, we were quite similar, me—Eh!?
“Wait, Yukimiya, tears! Your tears!”
“...Eh...? Ah...”
Yukimiya, still expressionless… shed tears.
She slowly wiped her tears as I panicked and handed her a tissue.
"Sorry. Did I interfere too much...?"
"N-no. You did interfere, but... it didn’t make me upset at all."
Hearing that, I felt a little relieved.
I was still confused about why she suddenly cried...? Honestly, I don’t understand a woman’s heart.
After waiting a moment, Yukimiya, with slightly red eyes, looked directly at me.
"It’s okay now. My heart feels much lighter."
"Really? Well, you were stressed. It’s natural to cry."
"You’re the one who made me cry, you know! Being made to cry by you is the biggest defeat of my life."
"I didn’t even do anything."
"......Idiot!"
Huh? Damn. I really don’t like this person.
I looked away from Yukimiya, who was smiling while grumbling, and took a sip of my coffee.
Sipping my coffee, I averted my gaze from Yukimiya, who was grinning and continuing to tease me.
Then, at that moment, the doorbell rang.
When I looked at Yukimiya, the tension from before seemed to have vanished, and she looked relaxed. It seemed she was okay now.
Without a word, we nodded at each other. Yukimiya stood up to greet the visitor.
"Yeah... I’ll open it now."
She spoke through the intercom and today obediently opened the door.
Her father looked surprised, staring with a confused expression.
That face, really similar. Just as expected from a parent and child.
"...Sorry to bother you. ...Eh? You’re Yatsuhashi-san, right? Why are you in my daughter’s apartment?"
"Good morning. Actually..."
"Yatsuhashi-kun, wait. Let me explain."
Yukimiya took a deep breath, then looked into her father’s eyes.
"He is my teacher. He teaches me everything about housework. He’s a very important person to me. And today, he’ll be joining us, so that’s okay, right?"
"An important person?"
Her father’s eyes turned toward me.
This, this, this, Yukimiya, what are you saying!? That could cause a misunderstanding...!
But without being able to interrupt, I could only smile awkwardly.
But that doesn’t matter anymore now.
"I see.… So, let me come in."
Eh, that’s it? I thought he would scold more about what it means for a man and woman to be in the same room, or something harsher.
Taking off his shoes and entering the room, Yukimiya’s father looked around the kitchen.
"Hmm... Everything looks clean."
"Eh, yeah. We just cleaned it."
Yukimiya, lying is not good. This place looks clean because it’s barely used.
Then he checked the bathroom and toilet, then finally entered the living room.
Upon entering the living room, her father’s eyes opened wide...
"Is this... nyanko?"
"Yup, nyanko!"
Nyanko, huh? He called it that even though he’s an adult.
Maybe this family has a special way of speaking, though it’s still quite surprising.
Yukimiya’s father lifted a cat doll from the living room shelf.
"Feels nostalgic... Your mother liked nyanko too, right?"
"...Yeah."
Yukimiya looked sad too... but nodded with a gentle expression.
Mother, huh? In this case, it seemed they were talking about her biological mother, because it’s hard to imagine Yukimiya liking something her disliked stepmother liked.
Her father also seemed to be recalling those times; his eyes looked very soft.
"…I understand the condition of this room. It seems you keep it well cleaned."
"Yes. Of course."
Even though she actually planned to leave everything to the housekeeper. How could she look proud like that now?
After checking the whole room, her father sighed in relief (without Yukimiya noticing). As if he felt at ease.
"Alright, next show me your cooking skills."
"…Yes. Please sit and wait a moment. Yatsuhashi-kun too. …I’ll try by myself."
"…Ah. Good luck!"
Yukimiya nodded enthusiastically, put on an apron, and went to the kitchen.
Her father and I sat facing each other in two chairs.
We were served coffee that had been prepared earlier.
Now, the question... how do I feel right now?
The answer: awkward.
Because, of course. Being alone with Yukimiya’s father, it’s impossible for me not to feel awkward.
Should I start talking first? Or stay silent?
I didn’t know. Someone, please tell me!
"Yatsuhashi-san."
"Ah... yes...?"
Unexpectedly, Yukimiya’s father was the one to start the conversation.
He set down his coffee cup and let out a soft sigh while smiling faintly.
"No need to be tense. I just want to chat a bit with you."
"Ah, I see..."
I felt a little calmer, then he began speaking in a low voice.
"You must have heard about our family situation."
"Yes, more or less..."
"That’s enough. ...I remarried. My partner was once my secretary. My daughter’s biological mother died twelve years ago."
"...I see. I don’t know what to say..."
"That’s the past. No need to dwell on it."
He seemed to have accepted it. He only showed a little sad expression.
Separated by death. I thought so, and it turned out I was right.
"At that time, I had just started my business and never cared for a child before. I always left everything to my late wife. But I still tried to interact with my daughter as much as possible."
...Ah, I remember Yukimiya once said her father used to smile more often. And now, he was reflecting on those past times... speaking with a voice full of sadness.
"The business started to grow, and a lot of money came in. Everything was going well... but that happiness didn’t last long. ...The child’s mother died in an accident."
"So... s-so it was like that..."
The peak of happiness and the bottom of sorrow came all at once. A chaotic situation I couldn’t imagine.
"My wife passed away... but I couldn’t leave this business running. So, I hired a housekeeper, and left the housework and child care to her..."
Yukimiya’s father stopped talking and smiled bitterly, as if saying what he did was a mistake and foolishness.
"The way I say it is... very cunning. ...Actually, I was just running away. Using work as an excuse, from household matters, from my daughter’s presence."
"I understand how you feel..."
"Thank you. ...My current wife, who was once my secretary, has supported me a lot while I was drowning in work. There is no lie in my feelings for my deceased wife. I can still say I loved her... but time is cruel. I became interested in her, and then we got married."
After speaking, he took a sip of coffee.
So much has happened in Yukimiya’s family. Honestly, I didn’t know how to react.
This was too heavy to hear for a high school student. However... there was one thing I was curious about.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Yukimiya’s father and I barely knew each other since our first meeting a week ago. We weren’t close enough friends to share personal matters like this.
Moreover, if my guess was correct, his first impression of me should have been very bad, considering I once mistook him for a stalker.
I felt distracted when people talked about things like this. How should I react?
Once again looking puzzled, he crossed his arms and covered his mouth with his hand.
"Hmm. Why... why, I wonder? I’m curious too."
"I don’t know."
"Reasons and motives... hard to express in words. Somehow... a hunch... no, conviction? Hmm, I feel this word fits best."
...What was he mumbling...?
When I tilted my head, Yukimiya’s father looked at me intently and smiled.
Like looking at his own child... he made that face.
"My daughter trusts you. She believes in you. Therefore, I also trust you and speak to you. With conviction, I feel you are a good person. ...That’s the reason."
Sincerely. Those were words formed without falsehood.
Unconsciously, I swallowed the saliva stuck in my throat.
"I-I’m not worthy of Hyouka-san’s trust..."
"Only Yatsuhashi-san thinks so. That child trusts you. No doubt about it."
I didn’t think Yukimiya trusted me. Besides, I couldn’t imagine her easily trusting anyone.
But... her father trusted me, he even told me all this.
So I had to repay that.
I straightened up and looked her father in the eyes directly; he nodded with satisfaction.
"Yatsuhashi-san. Please take care of my daughter from now on."
"...Understood, leave everything to me!"
Of course, as her housework teacher. I knew what he really meant was no more than that.
As the conversation with him deepened, time had unknowingly passed quite a while.
The cat clock chimed—meow, signaling exactly twelve o’clock.
And at that moment, Yukimiya came carrying a large bowl full of nikujaga.
"S-sorry to keep you waiting...!"
Yukimiya still seemed nervous; her movements looked very awkward.
Besides the nikujaga, she also brought rice.
Really like a mountain. If I compare it, it’s like a pile of rice in Japanese folktales.
Oi, oi, seriously? Are we supposed to eat this much? Even her father surely can’t eat this much.
I glanced at her father. He... stared at the nikujaga with nostalgic eyes.
"Nikujaga, huh..."
"Yes. ...Don’t you like it?"
"No... it’s my favorite food."
"...I see."
...........
Hmm, awkward.
Earlier when I talked with him, the atmosphere felt warm and friendly, but... it turned out these two really didn’t get along.
Not that they disliked each other, more precisely Yukimiya felt awkward around her father, and her father didn’t know how to act.
Yukimiya’s father folded his hands in front of the large serving of nikujaga and rice placed before us.
"Enjoy your meal."
"P-please."
He greeted us and started picking up potatoes with chopsticks.
Then... put them in his mouth.
He closed his eyes and chewed with feeling.
Mog, mog, mog...
Then suddenly, for some reason, he opened his eyes wide.
"...Sweet..."
"Huh? No way..."
Yukimiya also tasted a bit, then frowned.
Alright, me too. ...Ugh, it’s so sweet...!
Somehow, it tasted too sweet like there was too much sugar and mirin. How badly did you mess up the measurements to make it this sweet? Did you even check the recipe notes?
"Y-Yukimiya, did you taste it...!?"
"Ah... I forgot..."
What an idiot! I always tell you to taste it first...! Like this, you’ll be judged as someone who can’t manage housework properly. If that happens, Yukimiya will be forced back to the house she doesn’t want to live in...!
"Ah, this is, Yukimiya-san’s father. Actually...!"
".........."
"Eh...? Father...?"
Her father silently swallowed and then put meat and chewed rice. Like someone who hadn’t eaten for days, Yukimiya and I were shocked seeing how eagerly he ate.
"...Nikujaga, that’s my favorite dish. Hyouka. Because this was the first dish your mother made for me."
"Mother...?"
At that moment, maybe hearing it for the first time, Yukimiya’s eyes widened and looked at the nikujaga.
Her father kept chewing, bite after bite, then swallowed.
"...That sweetness, and her too... I will never forget... I can’t possibly forget..."
Ah... tears...
Maybe because those past memories returned to his chest, Yukimiya’s father sobbed.
Even though he was an adult, even though he was a man, even though he was a parent... none of that mattered.
Just as an ordinary human, he shed tears over that memory.
He kept picking up nikujaga with his chopsticks, even forgetting to wipe his tears.
Without looking left or right, with all his heart, the way he ate the nikujaga and rice... somehow, felt very beautiful.
Maybe because it was the first time Yukimiya saw her father like this, she was frozen.
"Yukimiya, are you okay?"
"...Eh, yes. ...Did mother... make the same mistake..."
It seemed Yukimiya hadn’t expected that she would make the same mistake; she couldn’t say anything else and just kept looking at her father and the nikujaga.
In this situation, I probably shouldn’t be sitting here... right?
"Yukimiya, sit here."
"Eh, but..."
"It’s okay."
I stood up from my seat and asked Yukimiya to sit in front of her father.
Yukimiya looked at me nervously, but I nodded as if assuring her it was alright.
"Yukimiya, eat. You know what I mean, right?”
"...Yes. ...Thank you."
Yukimiya put her hands together in front of the nikujaga.
After one bite, two bites... tears began to flow from her eyes as well.
With a runny nose, she kept stuffing her cheeks with meat and potatoes, then continued to take rice.
This wasn’t the elegant way she usually showed me, nor the way her stepmother taught her. But it wasn’t rude either; she ate heartily and with all her soul.
Eating like this... is also good, isn’t it?
Just for now—this was a real family, and no one could interfere.
◈ ⟡ ◈
"Earlier, we showed something not very pleasant to look at."
"Yatsuhashi-kun, sorry..."
The two who had finished everything perfectly bowed their heads.
On this side, they really looked alike.
Shaking my head, I handed a wet towel to the two whose eyes were swollen from crying.
"I don’t mind at all, so it’s okay. Seeing you both eat heartily, I feel satisfied too."
"I’d really appreciate it if you say that."
Yukimiya’s father, having cleaned around his mouth, checked the time and stood up.
"I’ve stayed long enough. It’s time for me to leave now."
"Eh?"
Yukimiya looked confused, glancing back and forth between me and her father. I did the same, looking between Yukimiya and her dad.
Does this mean… she passed…?
Yukimiya’s father hurried to the entrance, putting on his leather shoes.
Without saying a word, it was too quiet. What is the real result?
If I let him leave like this, I’ll be too curious and won’t be able to sleep well tonight.
"Err… Yukimiya’s father-san."
"…Yatsuhashi-san, just call me Korekiyo. Or maybe ‘dad.’"
"Eh. Ah, so Korekiyo-san."
"…What is it?"
Why did he look so disappointed?
And again, what did he mean by 'dad'?
…If I dig too deep, it seems it will just get more complicated. So, let’s just ignore it.
"Err… You came to Hyouka-san’s apartment to check if she can live on her own, right? What do you think? Did she do well?"
"…Let me explain it to Minori."
With that, Korekiyo-san left the room.
The two of us left behind—Yukimiya and I—looked at each other with confused expressions.
…This means…?
"It means she passed, right?"
"Ah, maybe."
Minori, that must be Yukimiya’s stepmother.
In fact, he didn’t say much and just said ‘let me explain it’… well, I guess that means he agrees she passed.
"Good for you, Yukimiya. That means you can keep living alone."
"Yeah, yeah. …That means… Haa~"
Whether from relief or something else, Yukimiya slumped down in the corridor.
I understand how she feels. Even I, who am not involved, was really tense.
…Well, somehow, in the end, I feel like I got involved unintentionally.
"Besides, I really panicked because you didn’t try tasting the food, especially at such a crucial moment."
"Uhh… I couldn’t hold back. I had to finish it… and I was in a hurry."
"Haa… well, even if there was a mistake, the result is still satisfying. Even unintentionally, it turned out just like Korekiyo-san’s precious memory."
But I wonder how much sugar and mirin I’d have to use to make it that sweet?
I guess I still have to accompany her for a while.
For some reason, Korekiyo-san also asked me to take care of Yukimiya.
"Can you stand?"
"…I don’t think so. Can you help me?"
"Eh?"
"What is it?"
"Nothing, nothing…"
Help… help with my hand, right?
No, no, no. Yeah, I understand. I know very well you’re still not fully calm.
But, I hope you understand how I feel.
In my whole life, I’ve never really touched a girl’s skin properly, let alone her hand—I’m just a high school boy.
But I also can’t just leave her like that.
Guh, uhh… ahhhh…!
"Alright, there’s no other choice… here."
Hesitantly, I extended my hand.
Ugh, I never thought I’d hold a girl’s hand in a place like this…!
…Though technically, it can’t really be called holding hands. But… well, emotionally, it’s like that.
"Thank you… ah!"
When Yukimiya tried to take my hand, she slightly turned her face away awkwardly.
What is she doing? Didn’t you ask for my help?
"Yukimiya?"
"…It’s okay. Thank you."
Gently gripping my hand, Yukimiya slowly stood up.
Ugh! It’s soft, very gentle…!
And it turns out her hand is smaller than I thought, it even feels like it might break if I grip too hard.
I accompanied Yukimiya into the living room and slowly sat her down on a chair.
"Are you okay? Need a drink?"
"…Yes. There’s a bottle of tea in the fridge, please get it."
"Alright."
Hands… mustn’t wash them yet… no, no, no. What am I thinking? Am I some kind of pervert?
Shaking my head to clear the bad thoughts from my mind, I took the bottle from inside the fridge.
"Here. I got one too."
"Yes, please."
I sat down across from Yukimiya and sighed, enjoying the tea.
…But still, I didn’t expect Yukimiya to cry… that was a bit surprising, but I felt like I just saw a new side of her.
Maybe Yukimiya thought the same, she looked restless and avoided looking at me.
Honestly, I also felt awkward for touching Yukimiya… but staying silent like this would only make the atmosphere more awkward.
Uhm… ah…
"I was a little surprised. From Yukimiya’s story, I thought Korekiyo-san would be harder to approach."
"Me too. …It was the first time I saw my dad cry like that."
"Korekiyo-san does look like the kind of person who wouldn’t cry in front of others."
"In fact, he hardly talks."
Before the meal was served, he actually talked quite a bit… but for Korekiyo-san’s sake, I’ll keep that to myself.
Still, I didn’t expect Korekiyo-san to have such a past. He couldn’t accept the fact that his wife died and ended up drowning himself in work, which worsened his relationship with Yukimiya.
Maybe it’s a very unfortunate vicious circle. But I can also understand Korekiyo-san’s feelings.
If I were in the same position… which would I choose as the right answer?
…And, why exactly did Korekiyo-san tell me about his past, I still don’t understand. What is he really thinking?
While I was still lost in thought with questions unanswered, Yukimiya sighed softly.
"Eh, um, Yatsuhashi-kun. …Please don’t tell anyone that I cried like that."
"What?"
"I don’t want people at school to know I cried in front of others. You know, I’m the type who…"
Ah… I see. Yukimiya at school really looks tough, cooler than cute. She has a clean, cold image.
If people found out she cried in front of others, it might ruin that image.
"I don’t think it matters if people know. That way, maybe everyone will feel closer to you. Maybe you’ll even get more friends."
"I don’t need friends. One or two people I can trust is enough."
Yukimiya looked at me and smiled slightly.
Trust… Ah, right, Korekiyo-san said that too. He said Yukimiya trusts me. …Is that true?
"Hey, Yukimiya, do you trust me?"
"No. If I trusted you, I wouldn’t warn you like this."
Korekiyo-san, your guess was wrong.
Wait… don’t trust? After everything that happened? We even often visit each other’s rooms like friends. If there was no trust, we couldn’t have this kind of relationship, especially between a boy and a girl.
Well, whatever. I’d have a hard time if she trusted me too much. Also, there’s the chance I might turn into a wolf because of some weird momentum.
But at least, I hope she can trust me a little…
As I thought that, Yukimiya smiled softly.
"I don’t trust you. But, I believe in you."
"…What’s the difference?"
"Who knows. Figure it out yourself."
There’s no way I can find the answer with a dumb head like mine! Hey, don’t grin!
After that conversation, the awkwardness between us disappeared, and Yukimiya looked at me directly.
"More than that, I have a request for Yatsuhashi-kun, someone I believe in."
"Hee… What is it? Say anything to this Yatsuhashi you believe in."
"Your talk is annoying."
"Hey!"
"Just kidding."
Your joke… Ugh! Enough.
"So, what is it?"
"…I want you to teach me how to make nikujaga again. Please."
"Eh, nikujaga? But you almost got it, right? As long as you taste it properly..."
However, Yukimiya shook her head.
…No, not me. It seems she’s not really looking at me.
Apart from me, she seems to be thinking about something from the past…
"Because this dish connects me and my mother, an important memory… I want to remember it well. I want to be able to make it without looking at the recipe."
"…I understand. I’ll help as much as I can. But, do you remember the taste of your mom’s nikujaga? If we do it the usual way, it’ll just be the normal nikujaga I taught you."
“It’s fine—I remember. I’ll figure it out by adjusting the taste bit by bit.”
I don’t know how many times already, but I’ve eaten this every day for a week now, and I don’t know how much longer it will go on.
However, Yukimiya’s serious gaze… I can’t ignore it.
"…Alright, I’ll help you until we find it."
"Fufu, yes. …Thank you, Yatsuhashi-kun."
"...........!"
…I was surprised… How should I put it, it turns out Yukimiya can smile like that too.
The smile she showed until now can’t compare to this.
Like a moment trapped in a photo, she smiled so gracefully, like a true goddess, it felt unreal. My whole body felt warm, and my mind along with all my senses seemed numb.
Unintentionally, I was enchanted by her charm, the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen…
Turning my face away, I let the bitterness of the tea distract me from these feelings.
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