The Pair At Home
In the evening on the day that my relationship with Yae was exposed; Yae came back as I was preparing dinner at home.
“I’m home”
“Welcome home. The bath is ready, will you be entering first?”
“Nn”
Yae said, and she disappeared into the bathroom after going into her room once. I don’t think anything of it since it is a view I have seen for over ten years, this period of roughly two years, combining with the time when we were in our hometown, but I suppose it is different from the perspective of other guys huh.
Yae came out from the bath while I was thinking about such trifle things. It is great because she is just in time for dinner. By the way, it is Oyakodon¹ today. Eggs were on the cheap.
“Here, bowls”
“Thank you. Also, can you set up the chopsticks and stuff?”
“I already did”
“As expected of Yae”
It helps that she can latch on to my thoughts and act even without me saying anything. It is not as if we constantly understand each other, but I strongly feel that I am glad that we’re childhood friends at times like this.
“I have kept you waiting”
“You didn’t. Also, the laundry is as usual”
“Thank you. Please tell me if you did not turn it on before sleeping”
“Nn, leave it to me”
“Alright then, let’s eat it while it’s hot”
“”Itadakimasu²””
Un, it tastes good as well today huh. But the taste can be slightly stronger huh. Yae just finished exercising after all, I shall add a little bit more soy sauce next time.
“Delicious”
“Thank you. I am thinking of making the taste slightly stronger next time though”
“Kazu-kun can do as he likes; since all of Kazu-kun’s dishes are delicious”
“I am happy to hear that”
Her expressions really are plentiful when she is having her meal huh, it is as though her usual expressionless is a lie. As the one who made the meal, the figure of her eating with all smiles really makes it worth all the effort.
Or should I say; rather than being expressionless, Yae just isn’t very expressive. If you get on good terms with her, she is an open book through her atmosphere and so forth, so it is easy to tell.
But the face of Yae, who was eating in such a manner, returns to her usual face. No, she is casting her eyes down mildly, so she is feeling sad……no, she is reflecting?
“Sorry”
“About what?”
“The lunchbox, I handed it to you in front of everybody. I was careless”
“No, that was my fault. In the first place, it would have been fine if I did not leave the lunchbox behind at home”
“It’s nothing like that. I’m the one at fault”
“That’s not true. I am the one at fault”
“Me”
“It is me”
“……pu, fufu”
“……aha, ahaha”
As we were both claiming the fault to be ours, our eyes met. We stared at each other briefly, but it started feeling silly, and I ended up bursting into laughter unintentionally. At the same time, Yae also placed her hand on her mouth and started laughing softly, so I guess she thought the same thing.
“Haー, in any case, let’s take it as we are both at fault”
“Nn. Sorry”
“I am sorry too. Also, thank you for bringing my lunchbox for me”
“You’re welcome”
It is settled with this huh. No, it feels like I am going to be asked about various things in class again, but it will probably calm down in a week. I have to persevere until then huh.
“Ah, shall we go to school together from tomorrow onwards?”
“Is it okay?”
“Yes. Us living together has been exposed after all, and we will not have to double-check things like whether the door is locked or whether the gas is turned off twice”
“I got it. Let’s go together”
“Yes, let’s go together. Also, let’s talk normally during break time and such. We got to be in the same class after all”
“Nn. Let’s do that”
Having finished our meal, we finished up various things like doing the chores and taking a bath, and studied for the test together. Both of us finished our homework, so we selected and revised the sections that are likely to show up. For having a wide scope, the proficiency test, in turn, covers a lot of fundamental topics, so it is a breeze.
“I guess it is about time to sleep; we have a test tomorrow after all. Good night, Yae”
“Nn, Kazu-kun, good night”
Yae and I say goodnight, and we return to our own room. I dived into my bed after removing my spectacles, and perhaps the exhaustion from afternoon came out, I was immediately struck with drowsiness. It would be great if it calms down more or less tomorrow. Good night.
FOOTNOTE
¹: Literally, ‘parent-and-child rice bowl’. It’s a dish made with chicken and egg.
²: It’s an expression of gratitude before meals
