"Thank you, Ryosuke," Eriri murmurs, burying her face in Hiratsuka Ryosuke's chest. "Thank you for not giving up on someone so useless."
You won't let me fight alone?How cunning, she thinks. You idiot, Ryosuke. Eriri stops crying, and her breathing becomes steady. Her heart, however, is not calm. A flush spreads across her fair, delicate face.
Grumble...
A soft sound suddenly echoes in the room. Eriri buries her face deeper, her cheeks growing redder, and her blue eyes filled with panic. Ryosuke glances at the cold, leftover food in the corner. He realizes Eriri hasn't eaten much since last night. This girl, she has low blood sugar and even fainted at school once. Doesn't she care about her body? He knows that after not eating for a long time, cold food is not a good idea. He has a plan. He gently pushes Eriri away and ruffles her blonde hair.
"Eriri, you need to eat on time," Ryosuke says with concern. "Wait here for a bit. I'll get you something to eat." He picks up the plates of food, unlocks the door, and walks downstairs.
Eriri didn't feel hungry before, but after hearing him say that, her stomach feels empty. Ryosuke can cook? This is the first I've heard of it. She stretches, exposing her smooth, pale stomach. She yawns, and a few tears well up in her eyes. She feels sticky from fighting all night, so she walks to the bathroom. I'll take a shower first. Before she goes, she looks at the mess on her easel, and her eyes grow dim. She holds out her right hand and can see it trembling slightly. She grabs her right wrist with her left hand, steels herself, and soon the sound of water can be heard from the bathroom.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Sawamura Sayuri sees Ryosuke coming down with the leftover food. She's a little curious as to how he got to the second floor since she saw him leave the house. But she doesn't focus on the details; she just wants to know how her daughter is. She walks up to Ryosuke. "Hiratsuka-kun, is Eriri okay?" she asks with concern.
Ryosuke always respects his elders. He stops and smiles slightly. "Auntie Sawamura, don't worry. She's fine now." He then asks, "Where's the kitchen? She hasn't eaten in a while, so she shouldn't have cold food. I want to make her something."
Sayuri feels a huge weight lift off her shoulders. Knowing her daughter is okay, she feels a sense of relief. Her lively eyes twinkle. "Oh? You can cook, Hiratsuka-kun? It's rare for a boy to cook these days. That's a huge plus!"
In the kitchen, Ryosuke finds some live shrimp in the sink and ingredients like green onions and ginger in the fridge. It's not good to eat oily food when you haven't eaten in a long time, so he decides to make a low-fat, high-protein, nutritious shrimp porridge.
Half an hour later, Eriri comes downstairs. She's wearing a simple white nightgown, her blonde hair down, not tied up in her usual twin tails. The scent of food fills her nose. She's like an innocent elf, her steps light as she walks to the kitchen. She meets Ryosuke, who's carrying a bowl of porridge.
"Eriri, come eat something."
At the dinner table, Eriri and Sayuri sit opposite each other, and Ryosuke sits next to Eriri.
"Let's eat!" Eriri says, putting her hands together. She scoops a spoonful of porridge, pouts, and blows on it. Her eyes widen as she tastes it. It's so delicious! It's better than any porridge she's had in any restaurant. Is Ryosuke a great cook, too? It's like she's discovered another amazing secret about him. He seems cold on the outside, but he's actually very caring. Just like the male lead in Toradora!, who has a hidden domestic side.
Eriri uses her left hand to tuck her hair behind her ear, revealing her beautiful, porcelain neck. She blows on the porridge and sips it.
Ryosuke looks at the time and takes off his apron. "Auntie Sawamura, Eriri, I have to go now."
"Huh? You're not staying for a bit, Hiratsuka-kun? The food you made is delicious," Sayuri says, wanting to get to know this caring boy more.
"My sister is waiting for me to come home," Ryosuke explains.
"You're a good boy who cares about your family. You should go. Feel free to come back anytime," Sayuri says with a gentle smile.
As Ryosuke leaves the house, he looks back at Eriri. Although she's smiling, he can see the sadness in her eyes. It's still there. Ryosuke makes a decision in his heart and walks away.
After he leaves, Sayuri looks at her daughter, her eyes full of scrutiny. "Mom... what is it?" Eriri asks, a little scared of her mom's gaze.
"Lili, your partner is a good boy. He's handsome, smart, athletic, a great cook, and so kind and caring," Sayuri says with a playful tone.
Eriri's face flushes, and she looks away. "He's not that great. He always has a cold look on his face, and besides..." she says, her voice getting quieter. She wants to deny it, but she realizes her mom is just stating facts. She shuts her mouth and just keeps drinking her porridge, her face red.
"I'm done!" Eriri hops off her chair, ready to go back to her room, but Sayuri stops her. "Eriri!"
She turns to her mom and sees a worried and pained look on her face. Sayuri walks over and hugs her daughter. "Don't do this again, okay? I was so worried about you," she whispers in her ear.
Eriri hugs her mom back, her eyes softening. "Okay. I'm sorry for making you worry," she whispers.
The next day.
Undead River Bunko Editorial Department.
Hiratsuka Ryosuke sits in the reception room. It's the day he's supposed to meet Yumeno Sakiko. He hasn't forgotten the promise he made to Eriri yesterday. But drawing is a skill that takes a long time to learn. Besides natural talent, it also requires countless hours of practice and dedication. Ryosuke knows nothing about drawing. Even if he were to learn now, he couldn't possibly surpass someone as talented as Eriri, who has been drawing for years. Eriri is a very competitive girl. Ryosuke decides to help her, but not with her drawing skills, as it's a big mistake for an amateur to guide a professional. Her moment of madness yesterday left a deep impression on him. The pressure from Yumeno Sakiko was so great that she couldn't even draw normally. So, the first thing he needs to do is help Eriri overcome her mental block—Yumeno Sakiko. Once she can draw normally again, they can talk about the future.
Know your enemy, and you'll never lose a battle. Befriending your opponent and learning from them is also a way to improve. Yumeno Sakiko... such an emotional shojo mangaka.What kind of person are you, you with your top-tier drawing skills?
Knock, knock, knock.
Ryosuke turns around at the sound of knocking. A tall, emotionless boy walks into the room. He's about 190 cm tall, and his presence is intimidating. The boy stands in front of Ryosuke. He is calm. "Are you Ryou-sensei?" he asks politely. Ryosuke stands up to return the greeting. "I am Ryou. And you are?"
The person bows slightly. Then, in a deep and magnetic voice, he says with great energy, "Nice to meet you. My name is Nozaki Umetaro, but you can also call me—Yumeno Sakiko."