Chapter 338 Two People Enjoying Dinner
"Hachiman-kun, please enjoy."
Hachiman looked down; on the small dining table, four dishes and a soup were neatly arranged. The fragrant miso soup emitted curls of steam, the golden pan-fried fish was slightly charred at the edges, the emerald green lettuce salad was drizzled with a light dressing, and there was a bowl of steaming brown rice. It looked very appetizing.
He picked up his chopsticks, a soft smile in his eyes, and said softly, "I'm digging in!"
Ichinose Honami did not pick up her chopsticks. She simply rested her chin on her hand, her eyes curving as she gazed at his profile while he ate. These dishes were the result of several days of secret observation, noting the flavors Hachiman favored by taking a few extra bites during every meal, and then meticulously prepared.
"How does it taste?" Seeing him eating seriously, Honami couldn't help but speak softly, her voice carrying a trace of undetectable nervousness. "Can you taste a bit of the warmth of home?"
"It's delicious.
Honami, you're full of 'feminine power'!" Hachiman offered his praise without hesitation.
After the meal, Hachiman put down his chopsticks and instinctively stood up to clear the dishes. Just as he stood straight, a warm, soft hand lightly pressed down on his shoulder. The gentle force, carrying an undeniable consideration, softly persuaded him back into his seat.
"Hachiman-kun just needs to sit peacefully." Honami blinked, her eyes shimmering with a lively light, her tone carrying a bit of soft, coquettish charm. "Just leave these chores to me."
Hachiman scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. "This is quite embarrassing. You're always taking care of me while I do nothing; it's too rude." He was accustomed to being alone and was never good at simply enjoying being cared for by others. He always felt he should do something to be worthy of such tenderness.
Honami curled her lips into a shallow smile, the mirth in her eyes deepening, her tone light and gentle: "Don't be in such a hurry. There will be small things I'll need Hachiman-kun's help with later, and you're not allowed to decline then."
With that, she turned, picked up the dishes, and walked toward the kitchen. The light-colored apron tied around her waist fluttered slightly. A faint scent of gardenia drifted as she moved, floating past Hachiman's nose—clean and pleasant.
Hachiman sat in place, his eyes involuntarily following her figure. The warm yellow light fell on Honami's busy back, making her silhouette look soft and gentle. The stray hairs by her temples swayed slightly, steamed by the heat of the kitchen. Hachiman watched quietly, reflecting inwardly: from childhood to now, very few people had treated him with such heart,
willing to remember his preferences and willing to be good to him without reservation. This debt of kindness, he feared, would take a lifetime to repay.
Before long, Honami finished tidying the kitchen. She wiped the water droplets from her hands and took the initiative to walk to Hachiman's room. She helped him organize his scattered books and put away cluttered sundries, her movements practiced and natural. She even carefully wiped the dust off the tabletop.
Hachiman sat nearby watching. Seeing thin beads of sweat on her forehead and her cheeks flushed a light red from the busyness, he quickly stood up to stop her: "Honami, that's enough hard work. Sit down and rest quickly; I can handle the rest myself."
"Okay~" Honami followed his suggestion and stopped, walking to the bed to sit down. The distance between the two quietly closed. The sweet scent of gardenia on her became exceptionally clear, lingering at his nose, remarkably healing.
She gently rubbed her aching shoulder, her brow furrowing slightly, and spoke in a soft voice: "After tidying for so long and sitting for a while, my shoulder is a bit stiff. Could I trouble Hachiman-kun to rub it for me? Just a few gentle rubs will do."
Hachiman quickly agreed. He was a bit nervous and expectant as he walked softly behind Honami. His fingertips fell carefully onto her shoulder. He kept his strength exceptionally gentle and soothing, concentrating solely on helping her relax her aching muscles. He didn't dare make a single out-of-place movement, and even his breathing lightened significantly, for fear of disturbing this peaceful atmosphere.
"Hachiman-kun's technique is so gentle." Honami laughed softly, her tone carrying a bit of playfulness, her eyes flashing with a lively light. "You wouldn't happen to help other classmates relax often, would you? Otherwise, how could your technique be so good?"
"Don't talk nonsense, there's no such thing." Hachiman hurriedly retorted, but there wasn't a hint of impatience in his heart. He only cared about the feelings of the person before him, fearing he might use too much force and hurt her, or break this rare, warm atmosphere.
After rubbing for a while, Honami said softly again: "My lower back is also a bit stiff. Could you help me rub my back as well? Sorry to trouble you, Hachiman-kun."
As she spoke, she gently adjusted her sitting position, leaning peacefully against the headboard to relax her body. Her spine was held straight, and she maintained a proper distance throughout. It was purely a request for help without a hint of ambiguous suggestion. Hachiman also focused only on soothing her aches, his heart full of pure concern without any stray thoughts.
The two chatted about light, casual topics while he rubbed her shoulders and back—from interesting stories at school to their respective preferences, and then to small expectations for the future. The room was very quiet, with only the sound of their gentle conversation, full of comfort and warmth.
As Hachiman rubbed her back and listened to her soft words, he felt exceptionally steady. He couldn't help but joke softly: "In the end, am I really helping you out, or are you specifically looking for a chance to cling to me? You could clearly rest on your own, yet you insist on asking for my help."
Honami burst into laughter, her curving eyes looking exceptionally cute. Her tone carried a bit of coquettish and pure self-will: "Being so analytical is so boring~ Being able to have Hachiman-kun help me is a small happiness of mine to begin with. Besides, when Hachiman-kun helps me, I feel particularly at peace."
Hachiman originally wanted to retort with a mock-serious expression, but seeing her lively, pure, and smiling face, all his retorts were swallowed back down. Ultimately, his heart softened, and the pressure in his fingertips became even gentler. He only thought of soothing her fatigue to make her a bit more relaxed. Looking at the soft crown of her head, he thought silently that someone as cute and gentle as her was truly impossible to refuse.
Honami leaned against the headboard and muttered softly: "Other classmates say that boys care a lot about these small details. For example, regarding things like rubbing a girl's shoulders, they might find it troublesome or very embarrassing..."
"Those are all one-sided thoughts." Hachiman's voice was exceptionally soft, his tone serious and sincere. "Sincere interaction depends on the intent; it's never about these surface details. If it's a person one cares about, helping with these things only makes one feel happy—not troubled, and certainly not embarrassed."
During their idle chat, Hachiman deliberately touched her shoulder lightly to tease her. The force was very light, just a small joke, causing Honami to give a soft cry. Her cheeks instantly flushed a light red, like a ripe apple. She turned her head and looked at Hachiman reproachfully, but there was no anger in her eyes—only full, charming innocence.
"You're clearly teasing people on purpose!" Honami's voice was soft, carrying a bit of grievance and a bit of coquettishness. The flush on her cheeks deepened.
"Now you know how to be shy?" A shallow smile was hidden in Hachiman's eyes. It was a rare moment where he shed his usual distance and awkwardness, showing a gentle and relaxed side. "A clean, simple appearance is exceptionally cute to begin with. Just like light tea or warm wine, there's no need for deliberate flattery or pretense. Interacting plainly is the most heart-warming and the rarest thing."
Honami scratched her head in embarrassment, her cheeks still red and her eyes slightly evasive. She said softly: "I don't understand these literary metaphors, but I know Hachiman-kun is praising me, and that's enough."
Hachiman looked at her charmingly innocent appearance and felt a stir in his heart. He looked at her seriously, setting aside all the joking. He candidly spoke his mind: "Then I'll say it bluntly—my personality is awkward, I love to tease people, I'm not good at expressing myself,
and I'm far from perfect. Sometimes I can be very stubborn. Would you mind? Would you think I'm too much trouble and want to avoid me?"
This was the first time he had dropped all pretenses and distance, laying all his imperfect little quirks candidly before her. His tone carried a trace of undetectable tension and trepidation; he was afraid his awkwardness would push away the only person who had ever been this gentle to him.
"Of course not." Honami's eyes were exceptionally firm without the slightest hesitation. She leaned in a bit closer, looking seriously into Hachiman's eyes, and spoke word by word: "Even if Hachiman-kun is awkward and loves to make trouble, even if you're not good at expressing yourself, I've always liked you. What I like is the real Hachiman-kun—not a perfect illusion, but the you who can be awkward and tease people, yet can also treat others with gentleness."
Hachiman's heart jolted, as if something had gently knocked against the softest place in his soul. His eyes felt slightly hot. He froze for a moment before saying softly: "Does this count as a serious confession? Being told to my face that I love to tease people is a bit subtle, but... I'm very happy."
Honami stopped her playful mischief, and the smile on her face became gentle and serious. She sat down lightly against Hachiman's arm, without excessive intimacy, just leaning quietly as if she had found a harbor to rely on. Her tone was soft and steady: "I'm serious. I'm not joking."
The two sat side by side. Their breath brushed past as they spoke softly, and stray strands of hair occasionally touched each other's arms. The atmosphere was full of sweetness and warmth—pure and beautiful, without any ambiguous impurity.
"Hachiman-kun will stay with me forever, right?" Honami looked up at him, her eyes clear and bright. Hidden in them was a careful expectation and a small amount of unease, for fear he might refuse. Then, with a hint of possessiveness, she lightly tugged on Hachiman's sleeve and acted coquettishly: "In the future, you have to look at me more and stay with me. Don't ignore me, and don't avoid me."
A shallow flush rose in her eyes. Her tone was serious yet a bit "tsundere," without any concealment. Her heart was full of straightforward favoritism, and that pure love was written clearly in her eyes, impossible to ignore.
Hachiman looked at her expectant and proud expression, his heart full of softness. All his awkwardness and trepidation vanished. He nodded gently, his voice soft enough to drip water, as he replied softly: "Okay. I will always stay with you. I won't ignore you, and I won't avoid you."
Hearing his response, Honami immediately broke into a brilliant smile, her eyes curving like they were filled with starlight. She leaned a bit closer to him, her arm still just brushing against
his. There was no excessive intimacy, yet she firmly received this mutual heartbeat. Her eyes were full of joy and peace.
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