Chapter 86: Liking “On” You

1+1=0.1.

Cooperation ended up like this, sure enough.

Yuigahama was clumsy. Other than getting in the way, she couldn’t do anything properly.

He should have realized this long ago. He should have realized it when he ate those cookies she made herself—

Yuigahama was a kitchen moron! No, just a moron!

Leaving out the unnecessary words “kitchen” made it much more accurate and fitting.

…

“Yuigahama, just sit over there.”

Himekoji finally couldn’t take it anymore.

“Ah, hah… Okay.”

Yuigahama scratched her head sheepishly, seeming to realize she was just causing trouble.

So she obediently listened to Himekoji, pulling over a chair and sitting down to the side.

The girl propped her elbows on her knees, cupping her chin and watching him quietly.

After that, Himekoji ignored her, focusing only on his own task.

The cooking class was making a cake.

He separated the egg yolks from the whites, added sugar and milk, and whisked it all together.

Thanks to his “Housekeeping Gigolo” skills, although this was Himekoji’s first time making a cake, he managed it pretty well with good form.

“Look, Akito, you’re really trying hard.”

Yuigahama stared blankly for quite a while, then suddenly blinked and said this.

Next, as if she had kept her chin-propping pose for too long without moving and wanted to stretch, she let out an “Mmmm” sound, leaning back to stretch her body.

His immediate tasks being finished, with only putting the half-finished cake into the oven next, Himekoji – now unoccupied – was drawn by the girl’s movements beside him.

Yuigahama’s sigh sounded thoughtful, but more than that! If she leaned back like that wearing just a T-shirt, her chest and navel were pretty noticeable!

Himekoji quickly looked away, giving a dry laugh:

“Trying hard… to do perverted things?”

“…I knew you’d say that!”

Yuigahama, previously leaning back, suddenly snapped up like a spring, straightening sharply. The wooden chair creaked. The girl looked at Himekoji, puffing out her cheeks with slight annoyance.

“Huh? You guessed that too?”

Himekoji shook his head slightly, not particularly bothered.

“That’s because, you see, Akito always insists on weird things, so it’s easy to tell just by looking.”

Easy to tell, just by looking?

Himekoji’s hand, moving to open the oven, paused abruptly.

He stayed frozen for a while, then seemed to snap out of it.

His lips moved slightly, his gaze falling:

“So… you were watching me…”

His voice was inexplicably much softer than usual.

Squeak!

The wooden chair made this sudden noise.

Himekoji instinctively turned to find Yuigahama partially standing up in a fluster, waving her hands in front of her chest.

“Ah, no no no! That didn’t count! I didn’t! I look away a lot!”

“Ah? Oh… alright…” They fell into silence. Until the cake came out. As if trying to break the slightly awkward silence, Yuigahama rushed forward, offering to cut the cake in half.

“Hey!”

With an unnecessary yell, the girl tore the cake in two with her bare hands.

Wait, she just used her hands? Wasn’t there a knife?

Well, though he didn’t mind, really.

Himekoji took the piece Yuigahama offered him, shook his head briefly, and stopped worrying about it.

“Soooo yummy!”

Yuigahama gobbled down large bites, not caring that cream smeared her face, thoroughly enjoying herself. Probably a big fan of sweets, her expression was one of pure satisfaction. Seeing that look, Himekoji felt some anticipation too. He gently put a piece in his mouth and took a bite. Soft, smooth, with a light buttery scent – amazing texture! Himekoji ate even slower than Yuigahama. When he finished, the girl was quietly wiping cream from the corner of her mouth with a napkin. Her lips glistened, sparkling brightly under the sunlight. Himekoji found himself hastily looking away. “Thanks for the treat!” The sweet snack seemed to put the girl in an excellent mood. Her face flushed, she clasped her hands together, thanking Himekoji. “What treat? It’s just a cooking class.” “To return the favor, let me treat you next time, Akito!” The girl tilted her face up slightly, looking at Himekoji Akito with a gaze that seemed a tad nervous and expectant, traveling from below upwards. “Ah… ah, no need.” Himekoji replied vaguely. “Eh? Like that… It makes me think you dislike me.” Well then, do think that. If it were the old Himekoji, he would definitely have answered that way. But today, as if guided by some spirit, he gave a different answer— “Wh… Whatever you want.” At this, the girl merrily clapped her hands. “When when when? Are you free this Sunday?” The girl narrowed her eyes in a smile. This bright, beaming face somehow gave Himekoji a strange feeling of pressure. He almost blurted out an agreement. Thankfully, at the last second, he slammed on the brakes— “Ah, sorry, this Sunday’s no good. How about… we talk about it another time…”