Murakami Yuu took the phone from his ear and put it in his pocket, looking at Kiso Yukina in the distance enthusiastically selecting cooking ingredients, and let out a light breath.
What had to come would come eventually.
Murakami Yuu didn't like lying, especially to people he cared about.
Some thoughts could be kept private, but he wouldn't choose deception on important matters. Being honest with each other was beneficial for both parties. The consequence of lying was having to fabricate even more false things to cover up one lie, which was not only mentally exhausting but would also accelerate the deterioration of their relationship.
So when Eriri called just now, Murakami Yuu naturally chose to honestly tell her what he was currently doing, although the consequence of doing so was bringing forward the scenario he had anticipated.
But what could he do? He couldn't just evade and brush off Eriri with vague words, then choose a moment later when no one would disturb them to spend time alone together, raising her affection in a risk-free situation.
If he did that, forget others - even he himself would think he was tasteless, an irresponsible scumbag of a man without backbone, disgusting to the same degree as phlegm casually spat out.
Each of them has qualities I like. I hold an attitude of appreciation and approval toward this, while hoping to continue walking forward with them, rather than creating false sweet illusions in a short period of time, deceiving them into it to satisfy my own selfish desires. This kind of false, unequal relationship was never what I pursued from the start.
What I hope for is a more peaceful, sustainable relationship that should have a quite wonderful ending in the future.
It's just that the road to this goal is undeniably difficult. They themselves are already formidable mountains to overcome, let alone the additional barrier of parents behind them.
Murakami Yuu pushed the shopping cart toward Kiso Yukina.
Thinking about these things was a bit too early. Right now, he still needed to handle the matter at hand properly.
In a sense, this was the first meeting between Kiso Yukina and Eriri. According to the law that "first impressions are important and will determine how others view you in the future," this meeting was quite important. Both had outgoing personalities that could be called kind to others, so there probably wouldn't be any unexpected developments.
But he still needed to be careful and respond cautiously, without any carelessness.
Having made this decision in his heart, Murakami Yuu came to Kiso Yukina's side. She was holding two packages of meat, comparing them in hesitation.
Earlier, the two had been walking side by side, but when Murakami Yuu's phone rang, Kiso Yukina sensibly quickened her pace and created distance. This thoughtful gesture of proactively leaving to give private space felt very comfortable.
"Take the one on the left. Judging by appearance, the meat on the left looks fresher in color."
Murakami Yuu softly offered his suggestion.
"Mm, then this one it is."
Kiso Yukina placed it in the shopping cart, then came smiling to Murakami Yuu's side, her hand also touching the handle of the cart. The two walked together through the aisle between the shelves, the atmosphere between them like that of a newlywed couple.
"Sorry Yukina, something unexpected came up. The afternoon arrangements might change."
Murakami Yuu didn't beat around the bush, choosing to speak directly.
"It's okay. If Yuu has something to do this afternoon, just go handle it. You don't need to specially accommodate me - I can just go home directly."
Kiso Yukina guessed it was because of that phone call, but she didn't show any negative emotions, still smiling as beautifully as before.
"It's not quite like you said, requiring cancellation. The cooking lesson can proceed normally, it's just that there will be another person coming to the house this afternoon."
"Another person?"
"Mm, someone from our school - Sawamura Spencer Eriri."
"Ah~ I know her. She's a very kind young lady from a wealthy family, the cute girl with golden twin tails. She's a very pretty person."
Kiso Yukina clapped her hands in realization.
"Yes, that's her. I promised her something before, and she just happened to bring it up when she called, so I agreed."
Murakami Yuu thought for a moment and added:
"Don't worry, her matter will be placed after the cooking lesson ends. It won't interfere with our plans."
"I wouldn't mind that..."
Kiso Yukina looked up at Murakami Yuu, then clasped her hands behind her back and pretended to casually look at the products on the shelves. That attitude of being very concerned but too embarrassed to ask was fully observed by Murakami Yuu.
He smiled.
"It's modeling. I promised Eriri I'd be her drawing model."
"Modeling, huh..."
Kiso Yukina laughed, her eyes carrying a playful look as she began to carefully examine Murakami Yuu again.
"Sawamura-san certainly has good taste. If it's Yuu, you'd be the perfect model. Your physique and looks are the best I've ever seen."
Rather than feeling proud from this praise, Murakami Yuu asked back with interest:
"Is Miss Yukina teasing me?"
"Not at all, I'm very serious."
Kiso Yukina even raised her hand preparing to swear solemnly. Murakami Yuu quickly stopped her from raising her hand, feeling somewhat defeated.
"Considering that Sawamura-san will be there today, should we buy more ingredients? After the cooking lesson ends, we can have dinner together."
Kiso Yukina thought of this point.
"Mm, that's true."
"Does Yuu know if Sawamura-san has any food restrictions?"
"I'm not very clear on that. Just buy ingredients according to the original plan, no need to make it so complicated."
"Understood."
...
Calm down. It's not such a big deal. It's just that I happen to be coming to Yuu's house, and Yuu's house happens to have a person called Kiso Yukina, that's all.
Eriri closed her eyes and took a deep breath, standing at Murakami's door and patting her chest several times to ease her nervousness before pressing the doorbell.
"Welcome."
The one who opened the door was Murakami Yuu wearing an apron, the smile on his face making Eriri freeze for a moment.
She quickly recovered and responded, while handing over what she was carrying - not the gift watch she bought, but a box of Japanese sweets as a visiting gift.
The two entered the house.
Eriri sat on the sofa as Murakami Yuu suggested. After that, Kiso Yukina came out from the kitchen carrying cut fruit.
Her tone was warm and friendly, as if the two were close friends of many years.
"Good afternoon, Sawamura-san."
"Good afternoon, Ki... Kiso-san."
But Eriri was somewhat unaccustomed to this familiar attitude from the other party. Though smiling, it was only a perfunctory polite smile.
Since both were famous at school, Murakami Yuu didn't need to specially introduce them to each other.
Murakami Yuu glanced at the time on the wall - past 3 o'clock.
"Eriri, will you stay for dinner?"
"Eh? Dinner together?"
"Mm, we happened to buy quite a bit of food today. But if Eriri needs to go home for dinner, don't force yourself."
"I don't mind, I just feel it might be troublesome..."
Eriri's face was somewhat red.
"It won't be troublesome. Then we'll do as I said."
Murakami Yuu simply and decisively made the decision for her.
During their conversation, Kiso Yukina brought tea for Eriri, turned on the TV for her, and placed the remote control on the coffee table in front of her.
This gesture was thoughtful to the extreme, making Eriri feel somewhat flattered, but unconsciously raising her favorable impression of Kiso Yukina quite a bit.
"Well then, I'm going to teach Yukina cooking now. From preparation to the cooking process to the finished meal will take about two hours. After that we'll have dinner, and after that's done I'll be your model. Is that okay?"
"Mm, that's fine."
Eriri tried hard to appear unfazed, just like the face she showed at school.
But after the two left her and walked toward the kitchen, she secretly watched their backs turned to her, slowly beginning to notice something not quite right.
She had seemed somewhat constrained after entering, but why could Kiso Yukina, who was also a guest like herself, act so familiar? Those various behaviors were simply like... simply like...
Simply like she was the lady of the house, wasn't it?!
As this belated realization exploded in her mind, Eriri slowly froze, her eyes vacant and her expression gradually becoming strange.
That was an expression of doubting reality.
...