Yukino Yukinoshita had assumed Kotomi Izumi would agree, so when Kotomi turned her down, she couldn't help freezing for a moment.
"Why?"
Yukino Yukinoshita asked the question almost reflexively, but the instant the words left her mouth, even she felt the question sounded ridiculous. She wasn't Kotomi's girlfriend right now. Even though she had already conveyed her feelings to Kotomi, she still hadn't received an answer from her.
Until Kotomi gave her a response, their relationship would probably remain that of friends. Even though Yukino didn't want her relationship with Kotomi to remain at friendship forever...
To be frank, the reason Yukino Yukinoshita had chosen to invite Kotomi to her home this Sunday wasn't only because she wanted to cook for her. There was another reason as well. She wanted to ask Kotomi once more whether she could give her an answer to her feelings.
Yukino had assumed Kotomi would be free because, during one of their previous conversations, Kotomi had said she rarely made plans on her days off and usually stayed home playing games. So before inviting her, Yukino had always believed Kotomi would be free this Sunday.
Unexpectedly, Kotomi wasn't free at all, and she had refused quite decisively.
If she could, Yukino Yukinoshita really wanted to take back what she had just said.
But reality wasn't a messaging app. There was no feature that let you retract a message within two minutes.
After taking a look at the expression on Yukino Yukinoshita's face, Kotomi Izumi didn't know exactly what Yukino was thinking, but she could already guess that Yukino was regretting what she had just asked and was even indulging in the fantasy of somehow taking those words back.
Kotomi Izumi didn't take it to heart. She could also understand why Yukino Yukinoshita had been so certain Kotomi would be free when she invited her just now.
That was because, some time ago, when Kotomi had been chatting with Yukino Yukinoshita, she had personally told her:
"On Saturdays and Sundays, I prefer staying at home. I don't go anywhere. I just stay in my bedroom, read novels and manga, and play games. It's not that I especially love doing those things. It's just that having a full weekend off is rare, so I prefer spending my own time lazily at home."
When Kotomi Izumi had said that to Yukino Yukinoshita, she had actually been trying to hint at something: Under normal circumstances, I'm free on Saturdays and Sundays.
Yukino must have understood that too, which was why she had invited me so confidently just now. But how was I supposed to know Yukino would invite me at a time like this? It's really just a coincidence. Not long ago, I already promised Iroha that I'd spend this Sunday with her. And then, in less than a day, I started getting all kinds of invitations from other girls, forcing me to turn them down one by one... Kotomi Izumi thought to herself.
At that thought, Kotomi Izumi felt a little irritated.
That irritation wasn't directed at Yukino, nor was it directed at any of the other girls who had invited her. Kotomi Izumi simply felt an inexplicable sense of frustration at the coincidence happening at this particular time.
People were sometimes just like that. Nothing unpleasant had even happened, yet they could sit blankly in front of a computer desk and gradually become more and more irritated. They wanted to scream, smash things, vent through all kinds of violent means, or even kill someone.
What exactly caused it? It was difficult for anyone to give a completely correct explanation. The only relatively reasonable explanation was that real life was just fucking stupid. Even if someone bothered nobody and only wanted to live quietly on their own, pressure would still come from every direction. Bit by bit, that pressure accumulated inside them, and once it reached a certain point, they would want to vent through all kinds of violent means.
The irritation Kotomi Izumi felt right now was exactly that kind of irritation.
She didn't even know where this accumulated pressure in her heart had come from, or why it had built up in the first place.
Could it have accumulated because of the frequent outbreaks of romantic carnage around her?
Kotomi Izumi scratched her hair. Unable to come up with a proper answer, she decided to answer Yukino's earlier question first.
"I'm a little busy this Sunday, and it's something I decided on a long time ago, so naturally I can't back out of it... So, sorry, Yukino. When I have time later, I'll definitely visit your house and try your cooking."
Kotomi Izumi didn't explain what she was busy with, so naturally Yukino Yukinoshita was very curious. But after hesitating for a moment, she ultimately decided not to pry any further.
She knew very well that if Kotomi had wanted to tell her, she would have simply said it just now. Why would she wait for Yukino to ask?
There was only one reason she hadn't said it directly—Kotomi didn't want to tell her.
As for whether Kotomi specifically didn't want to tell her, or whether she didn't want to tell anyone at all, Yukino Yukinoshita was certainly curious. But she also knew very well that even if she asked, she might not get the real answer from Kotomi.
So she didn't press the matter any further and could only hope that Kotomi would tell her one day in the future.
"Mm, so that's how it is. All right, then. It's a little unfortunate, but it can't be helped. Kotomi, when you have time in the future, you have to tell me, okay? I'm quite confident in my cooking, so I've always wanted you to try it. If my cooking can consistently earn your approval, then that means my skills have truly reached perfection."
Kotomi Izumi nodded and agreed, but after hearing everything Yukino Yukinoshita had said, she still couldn't resist asking curiously:
"Why does my approval determine whether your cooking has reached perfection?"
Facing Kotomi Izumi's question, Yukino Yukinoshita answered in a tone that seemed to carry a faint smile.
"Because you're a little foodie. I once read in a food magazine that 'every big eater who loves food is a natural-born gourmet.'"
Kotomi Izumi was stunned for a moment after hearing that. Then she reacted and deliberately put on an annoyed expression as she said with a smile:
"Oh, I see. After all that, what you're really trying to say is that I'm a glutton with a huge appetite!"
"I only said you're a little foodie. I never directly said you're a glutton with a huge appetite. You're the one who interpreted it that way."
Yukino Yukinoshita said with a soft laugh.
However, before Yukino could finish speaking, she noticed Kotomi's gentle, smiling gaze.
The main reason was that Kotomi's gaze was simply too intense. When it fell upon Yukino's icy-beauty-like face, she could feel her cheeks growing faintly hot. While feeling embarrassed, Yukino also became curious. Why was Kotomi looking at her like that?
Very quickly, one possibility appeared in Yukino's mind.
D-Don't tell me... Kotomi wants to respond to my feelings right here, right now?!
Once that possibility appeared, the more Yukino Yukinoshita thought about it, the more plausible it seemed, and her cheeks gradually grew hotter and hotter.
In the end, under the combined influence of embarrassment and curiosity, Yukino Yukinoshita still mustered her courage and slowly asked:
"Kotomi, is there something on my face? You've been staring at me..."
Faced with Yukino's question, Kotomi Izumi didn't show even the slightest embarrassment. Instead, she smiled calmly, as though it were only natural.
"Nothing. I just think you're really cute, so I wanted to look at you a little longer."
Bang!
At that very moment, Yukino Yukinoshita felt as though something had exploded in her mind like fireworks, accompanied by an imaginary bang ringing in her ears. Her overwhelming excitement instantly dyed her pretty face bright red. For once, the girl who was usually so sharp-tongued couldn't even figure out how to speak.
Even her words became halting and broken.
"W-What are you saying? There's nothing cute about me..."
Kotomi Izumi looked at the slightly nervous Yukino Yukinoshita with a smile and slowly spoke in a gentle voice.
"If we're talking about looks, then from the very first moment I met you, I thought you were cute.
If we're talking about personality, then all I can say is that I really did complain about you in my head all the time before. I thought there was nothing cute about your personality at all. But I have to admit that your personality has become a little cuter now.
For example, just now, I couldn't help having one thought pop into my head—Yukino's personality is really cute now."
Kotomi Izumi probably had no idea just how devastatingly powerful such casually spoken words could be.
Those words instantly transformed Yukino Yukinoshita from merely somewhat embarrassed into utterly mortified with shyness.
"I-I-I-I-I-I..."
Yukino Yukinoshita, who was usually so calm, completely froze after hearing Kotomi say that. Then, as though she had forgotten how to speak altogether, she kept repeating the word "I."
Seeing Yukino Yukinoshita's reaction, Kotomi Izumi couldn't help tugging helplessly at the corner of her mouth. She had originally only intended to close the distance between herself and Yukino a little, but apparently she had gone somewhat overboard.
Or perhaps it wasn't that she'd gone overboard, but that Yukino's defenses were simply too weak?
Kotomi Izumi had originally wanted to say something more, but at that exact moment, Megumi Kato and Yui returned. Although the two of them didn't know about each other, they were both Kotomi's girlfriends. With her powerful instinct for self-preservation, Kotomi Izumi certainly didn't have the courage to keep teasing Yukino in front of her official girlfriends.
At least, Kotomi Izumi didn't have that kind of courage right now.
When she saw Yui and Megumi return, Yukino Yukinoshita also turned around and laid her head down on the desk, pretending to sleep because she didn't want Yui to see the flush on her cheeks.
Yukino Yukinoshita knew very well that Yui was dating Kotomi, and that was precisely why she didn't dare let Yui see how red her cheeks were. She was afraid that once Yui noticed, she would curiously ask why Yukino was blushing.
How was she supposed to answer then? Tell the truth and say, Kotomi flirted with me?
Yukino Yukinoshita didn't know what consequences saying that would bring, but she was certain of one thing. If she really said it, her friendship with Yui would shatter on the spot.
So for now, she could only do what she was doing now, pretending to sleep with her head down on the desk so Yui wouldn't see her blushing face.
Seeing how quickly Yukino Yukinoshita reacted, Kotomi Izumi couldn't help letting out a sigh of relief. When Yui and Megumi came back just now, Kotomi had been worrying about how she would explain things if they saw Yukino blushing.
Now that Yukino had simply turned around and laid her head on the desk to sleep, she had saved Kotomi quite a lot of trouble.
The only thing Kotomi Izumi didn't understand was that Yukino shouldn't know about her relationships with Yui and Megumi, right? So why had she reacted so quickly?
Could it simply be because she's thin-skinned and embarrassed, and doesn't want Yui and Megumi to see her blushing?
Kotomi Izumi guessed inwardly.
"Kotomi, your Pepsi."
After returning to her seat, Megumi Kato handed the Pepsi in her hand to Kotomi Izumi and asked curiously:
"What's wrong with Yukino? Is she feeling unwell?"
"Yukinon, are you feeling sick?" As Yukino Yukinoshita's deskmate, Yui Yuigahama also asked with concern.
Thinking about how Yukino Yukinoshita was still so embarrassed that her speech would probably come out stammering, Kotomi Izumi answered first so Yui and Megumi wouldn't notice anything strange.
"When you two went out to buy drinks just now, Yukino and I chatted for a while about Yasunari Kawabata's novels. Halfway through, Yukino stretched and said she was a little sleepy and wanted to take a short nap. She even asked me to remember to wake her when the bell for class rings."
Kotomi Izumi had become so used to lying that casually fabricating a reasonable excuse took no effort at all. She didn't even need to deliberately adjust her tone. The casual way she said it sounded completely natural.
After hearing that, Yui Yuigahama and Megumi Kato naturally didn't think much of it and both believed Kotomi's explanation.
The rest of the morning passed quickly.
It wasn't until the bell rang at the end of fourth period that Kotomi Izumi suddenly realized she had spent the entire morning engrossed in a TV drama and had completely forgotten about going to the school store early to buy lunch.
After glancing at the corridor outside the classroom, Kotomi Izumi's heart sank. Even if she ran to the school store at top speed now, she might not make it there within five minutes. And even if she did get there, she would still have to line up. By the time it was her turn, her favorite yakisoba bread might already be sold out.
At that thought, Kotomi Izumi leaned against the wall in disappointment and murmured mournfully,
"Ugh... yakisoba bread, my yakisoba bread. I was planning to have yakisoba bread and Pepsi for lunch."
Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help retorting, "That's what you get for not paying attention to anything all morning and putting all your focus on that TV drama."
After saying that, Yukino Yukinoshita took out a pale blue bento box printed with a little penguin and placed it on Kotomi Izumi's desk. Trying hard to sound unconcerned, she said evenly,
"Don't misunderstand. I didn't make this especially for you. I just accidentally made an extra portion when I was preparing my bento this morning. The main dish is omurice. Normally, two eggs would have been enough for my portion, but I accidentally cracked two extra eggs this morning. It would've been a waste to make only one serving, so I made an extra one. If you don't mind it, you can have it."
—
—
40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:
Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven