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The pot was simmering.
I nodded once, then turned off the stove and swapped the pot for a frying pan. I oiled the pan, turned the stove back on, and then spun around to face the sink.
"It feels kind of fresh, doesn't it?"
That voice came from Iroha, who was propping her chin on her hand at the dining table.
Today, April 16th, was Iroha's birthday. I had suggested going out to eat, but she said she preferred to stay home, which led to this.
"Well, I've only made it once before, after all."
Iroha's wish was to have my home cooking instead of eating out. She even specified the menu, saying she wanted the omurice I had made sometime before.
I could only envision a future where I subtly messed it up again, just like last time, but I couldn't refuse when she specifically asked for it. Of course, just that would be a bit lonely, so I also made soup, and a generously portioned salad was already prepared.
As I proceeded with the unfamiliar cooking, I suddenly heard a click. I looked towards the sound to see Iroha holding her phone up, pointing it at me.
"I'm asking just in case, but you're not sending that to anyone, are you?"
"Is Komachi-chan not allowed?"
"Of course not! If you're going to use it for material, delete it!"
"Then how about your mother?"
"Hey, how do you even have her contact info? Stop aiming for my weak points!"
Seriously, when did Iroha exchange contact info with her...?
I gave her a glare, but Iroha pretended not to notice and started tapping away on her phone. She really didn't send it, did she...?
"It'll be ready soon."
"Oh, okay~"
Well, even if she sent a photo, it wouldn't cause much damage. I regained my composure and said that, then Iroha got up from her chair and headed towards the refrigerator. I thought she was going to prepare some tea, but in her hand was a bottle and glasses that looked like wine.
"What's that? Did you buy it?"
"No, Nene-san and the others gave it to me as a birthday present."
The bottle she showed me seemed to be sparkling wine.
Alcohol as a gift for a 20th birthday is fitting in a way, as I also received it from Iroha. Well, Iroha seemed to have been drinking before, but a strange magic is at play in this work, where characters instantly become 20 years old or older once they drink alcohol. Who am I even talking to?
"Then, I'll give you mine now too."
It would feel awkward to give her a present after we'd both gotten tipsy from drinking. With that in mind, I decided to postpone serving the food and went to retrieve the present I had hidden in the storage room.
Facing each other across the dining table, I ceremoniously offered her the small box.
"Iroha. Happy Birthday."
"Yes. Thank you."
Iroha accepted it with both hands, giving me a sweet smile that was almost mesmerizing. So cute.
"Can I open it?"
"Go ahead."
After I nodded, Iroha eagerly began to open the box. What emerged was a neat, small box, clearly meant for accessories. From her expression, it was obvious that the design resonated with Iroha.
"This, by any chance..."
"Yeah. It's from the same place as the one you gave me before."
What I gave her was from the same brand as the necklace Iroha had chosen for me previously. Since it's for women, the design is different, but it has a distinctive motif that those who know would recognize. I don't know if Iroha noticed, but a small diamond embedded in the back of the pendant top is a key detail.
"Accessories again, huh?"
I had somewhat anticipated Iroha's reaction. Her Christmas present was also an accessory, and she must have understood its meaning.
"You're really possessive, aren't you?"
"...Is that bad?"
Being teased like this was something I'd already accepted. I clearly remembered when I gave her earrings before, she said that giving accessories was a manifestation of possessiveness.
Shaking her head in response to my murmur, Iroha called out "Senpai" in a soft voice.
"Can you put it on me?"
"Yeah."
I stood up and walked closer to Iroha, then took the necklace out of the box. As I opened the clasp and reached around the back of Iroha's neck, our eyes met at an unusually close distance. I felt a slight flutter in my chest and struggled to fasten it, which made Iroha giggle playfully.
"It's on."
"Yes."
Saying that, I pulled away, and our eyes met again. She gently touched the necklace around her neck, her face adorned with a smile.
"How does it look?"
She gazed up at me with an upward glance, and I felt my chest tighten. That gesture, that expression, all of it was unfair.
"...Mmm."
Before I knew it, I had stolen a kiss from her lips.
Her lips, tilted upwards as if waiting, were sweeter and hotter than usual.
"You're ridiculously cute."
"...That's not a comment on the accessory, you know."
She pointed that out, and I thought, Oh, brother. This wasn't something that could be dismissed with a simple "It suits you," and it was impossible to put into words.
"Anyway, let's eat."
"Right."
Although I clearly said that to deflect, Iroha simply nodded without pursuing it further.
While I was carrying the food, Iroha tried to open the sparkling wine, but ultimately couldn't get the cork out, so I ended up opening it. After that exchange and finishing the meal preparations, I picked up a glass and cleared my throat.
"Alright, then... To Iroha's 20th birthday, cheers!"
"Thank you!"
We lightly clinked our glasses, and I took a sip. The sweet wine didn't seem to pair well with omurice, but it was probably Iroha's preference.
"Well, shall we eat then?" I thought, taking my spoon. ...But Iroha was still looking at me, her hands under the table.
"What's wrong? Not hungry?"
"No. But aren't you forgetting something?"
"Ah, the ketchup."
Come to think of it, I had forgotten about it, thinking I'd put it on at the end.
I got the ketchup from the refrigerator and placed it on the table. However, Iroha still didn't move.
"You're still forgetting something."
That's when it finally dawned on me. This menu was meant to recreate that day.
"Ah... Right."
I picked up the ketchup and squirted a little heart onto Iroha's omurice. But of course, it didn't end there.
"Here."
I scooped some omurice with a spoon and held it out to Iroha. Iroha took a small bite with her delicate lips, then beamed with a satisfied expression.
"As expected, food that Senpai feeds me is truly special."
Iroha said that after swallowing, then opened her mouth like a chick waiting for food. Along with her cuteness, I felt a subtle sensuality, and I was amazed at the richness of my own imagination.
After feeding Iroha another bite, I lowered the spoon.
"Hey, this feels super couple-y, doesn't it?"
"It's fine, we're at home. I'll feed you too."
Saying that, Iroha took a spoonful of my portion and brought it to my mouth. I took a bite of it, chewing as Iroha gazed at me with a smile.
Indeed, food fed to you by your partner is special. ...Though our "couple-y" level had definitely increased.
Watching my slightly conflicted expression, Iroha looked satisfied and took a few sips of the gifted sparkling wine. Today was a celebration. It was probably best to cast my embarrassment aside.
"Don't drink too much."
"I can't promise that."
She reduced the contents of her glass by half, then twirled it around.
Well, for today, I probably shouldn't complain too much.
...There was a time when I thought like that.
* * *
About an hour later.
"Senpaiii, I love you~"
"Listen..."
A while after dinner. As soon as we finished tidying up and sat on the sofa, she was like this.
Her adorable cheeks were flushed, and her tone was incredibly sweet. They say a person's true nature comes out when they're drunk, so perhaps she was quite the clingy type all along.
"Anyway, are you still drinking?"
I had put away the remaining sparkling wine in the fridge during dinner, but it seemed she had taken it out and continued drinking while I was washing the dishes. I had intended to finish it today anyway, but the bottle was almost empty.
"It's fine, isn't it? It's something I received!"
"That's true, but..."
For Iroha, and for me, it was our first birthday spent together as a couple. So I suppose it was understandable that she might drink a bit too much. Howeverâ
"Senpai, let's drink too~"
"No, I'll just... Gulp!?"
Iroha took a mouthful of sparkling wine, then kissed me directly. As she leaned over me, she poured the lukewarm wine into my mouth, and the sweetness sent a tingle through my brain.
"How is it?"
"You, really..."
"How is it?" she asks. How is it? What more does she want to do, dragging me further into this swamp?
"You're not forgetting that I'm drinking too, are you?"
"Of course not."
Iroha said that in her sweet, lingering voice, then pecked my cheek with a "chu." At this point, I could only assume she was doing it on purpose.
"...You're ready, aren't you?"
"That's my line."
Iroha hugged me tightly, then sucked on my neck with a lingering "chuuu." I thought, You're going to leave a hickey, but I was the one who said something provocative.
I embraced Iroha's body and spun around. As I pushed her down onto the sofa, I looked down at her and then covered her lips with mine.
"It's fine."
When I pulled my face away, our lips, wet with saliva, formed a crescent moon. And just like that, I succumbed to Iroha's invitation and stole her lips once more.