A wave of discomfort washed over Saito. He wasn’t used to doing things like this; maybe he shouldn’t have bothered in the first place. Instead of helping bring the two closer together, he might have inadvertently pushed her further away.
“It’s just…I wrote that in a tiny corner of the page. I forgot all about it until you brought it up just now,” Akane whispered, holding the gift box from Saito.
“Well, excuse me for having an impeccable memory,” said Saito. Even among the distinguished members of the Houjou family, Saito’s memory was particularly exceptional. If he read something, even once, he almost never forgot it.
“…A-anyway…” Akane’s cheeks flushed apple-red.
A shy voice escaped her crimson lips. “…Thank you.”
She gently hugged the cake box to her chest.
Damn. She’s so…cute. Saito was shocked by his own reaction. How could he be feeling this way toward the demon queen Akane? He had half-expected her to grumble, nitpick, and shove the cake right back in his face. Instead, her earnest reaction, however brief it was, had an unbelievable impact.
Who even is she? Saito was genuinely confused.
Meanwhile, Akane, looking positively delighted, placed the box on the table. Carefully, she peeled away the seal and opened the lid—only to let out an excited gasp at the sight inside.
“Wow, what a delicious-looking strawberry shortcake! You can really tell how light and fluffy the cream is! And the strawberries are so big and ripe!”
“Wanna take a break and eat it now?” asked Saito.
Saito reached for forks from the silverware drawer, but Akane put her hands on her hips and scolded him.
“Nope. It’s not dinnertime yet. What if this spoils your appetite for my cooking?”
“Fine, fine,” Saito conceded.
Oddly, her scolding didn’t have any venom to it this time. Akane happily closed the cake box and placed it in the fridge for later. It seemed like the peace offering had been a success. Saito, still somewhat surprised, washed his hands and put away his bag.
As he waited on the living room sofa, Akane brought out the food she had cooked: omurice with cream sauce, minestrone soup, and herb-grilled chicken. The fragrant aroma of olive oil and herbs filled the air.
“Western-style tonight, huh? Looks like you really went all out.” Saito was impressed.
“I’m finally going to make you acknowledge my cooking skills. Bon appétit.” Akane leaned forward over the table, watching his reaction like a hawk.
It’s not poisoned, right? Saito cut into the omelet with his spoon and took a bite. The soft, half-cooked eggs blended seamlessly with the cream sauce, filling his mouth with a smooth, rich, savory taste. Instead of ketchup, the rice was seasoned with basil and black pepper, and the plump shrimp punctuated every bite with an added burst of flavor.
It was restaurant-quality—unbelievably well-made for something cooked by a high school girl.
“Well? Ready to bow down to my cooking skills yet? It’s delicious, right? Right?”
Akane leaned in even closer, eager for his verdict.
“…It’s extremely delicious.” Saito earnestly gave his review.
“Really? I’m so glad.” Akane beamed in satisfaction.
Akane rested her cheek on her hand as she grinned. The softness of her smile sent another shock wave through Saito.
“Who even are you?” Saito blurted out.
Akane blinked in confusion.
“What do you mean? I’m Sakuramori Akane.”
“No, something’s up. The Sakuramori Akane I know would get mad even when someone compliments her cooking. She’d complain that it wasn’t the right kind of praise and then throw a plate in frustration or something.”
“What kind of person do you think I am?! I’ve never done that!”
Indignant, Akane picked up her plate.
“You’re literally about to do it right now. And with hot soup, no less,” Saito pointed out.
“Makes no difference to me whether you have your soup in your mouth or on your face.”
“Well, it matters to me. Now put your weapon down—I just want to eat the dish you prepared in peace.”
At Saito’s plea, Akane begrudgingly set the plate back onto the table. Avoiding eye contact, she fidgeted slightly, shifting her shoulders.
“Well… If you’re going to eat it, hurry up. It’s going to get cold.”
“O-oh… Right.”
Saito still wasn’t sure who exactly he was sitting across from. Maybe this wasn’t Sakuramori-san at all, but some body-snatcher wearing her skin—and if that’s the case, then where is the real Sakuramori-san…? Saito cast a wary glance down at the minestrone before him. The tomato-based soup, served in a heat-resistant dish, was still bubbling ominously. Saito scooped up some minestrone with his spoon and popped it in his mouth. The robust tanginess of the tomato paired beautifully with the mellow richness of the onions. The finely chopped vegetables and beans in the soup infused his body with energy, while the bacon provided a satisfying chew and a sense of fullness in his mouth.
“This is really good too,” Saito moaned in delight.
“See? I won’t let you call my cooking ‘ordinary’ ever again!” Akane declared triumphantly, taking a big gulp of her own minestrone—only to burn her mouth.
“Ouch, hot hot hot!” She quickly grabbed some water, but in her haste, she choked and started coughing, her eyes watering.
“Are you okay?” Saito asked, concerned.
Akane glared back.
“Of course I’m fine! Don’t think you’ve won because of something like this.”
“I wasn’t,” Saito replied calmly.
Her tendency to turn everything into a competition was unchanged—in that moment, Saito felt relief wash over him. This was, without a doubt, the real Akane.
The unusually peaceful dinner had come to an end. Saito stepped into the hallway, intending to wind down by reading in his room when he suddenly remembered something. During their discussion earlier, Akane had asked Saito to make sure not to let the dishes pile up. He would have preferred to relax after dinner, but if he wanted to improve their relationship, he’d have to make an effort. With a small sigh, he headed into the kitchen.
Unlike his old, minimalist, shaker-bottle-filled life, proper meals required a lot of dishes. The sight of the mountain of dirty pots and plates was discouraging, but he steeled himself and got to work.
Saito was running the water and scrubbing a bowl as Akane entered the kitchen.
“It’s your turn to do the dishes today, but I’ll give you a hand.”
“What are you plotting?” said Saito, instantly on his guard due to Akane’s unexpected kindness.
“I’m not plotting anything. There’s just a lot to clean, and I thought it’d be tough for you to finish on your own!”
“As if you even have it in you to be considerate of others…” Saito blurted out.
“You do realize that’s an incredibly rude thing to say?!” said Akane, offended.
“No, I understand now. You’re still frustrated about missing your chance to throw a plate earlier…so now you’re planning to hurl one at me from close range,” said Saito.
“I’m not going to throw anything! Just accept my help like an ordinary person!”
Akane gripped the sponge tightly and glared at him. She really did seem honest in her intentions. Akane was genuinely making an effort to meet him halfway, Saito realized.
For a moment, Saito wiped at his eyes, the unexpected kindness of his longtime nemesis catching him off guard.
“Wait…why are you crying?! I didn’t hurt your feelings or anything, right?! I’m just trying to be nice,” said Akane.
“Turns out you really can be helpful if you try…” Saito replied.
“Why do you sound so condescending?” Akane responded.
“I didn’t mean to. Just keep up the good work,” Saito said.
“Now that is condescending. If you don’t like my help, I can just leave, you know.”
Saito let out a quiet chuckle.
“No, truly. I appreciate it. Thanks.”
“Hmph. You’re welcome.”
Akane smiled, swelling with pride. He had grown so used to seeing the scowl etched into her face, but her expression when she smiled—her eyes shining, her cheeks lightly flushed—was completely different. At school, Akane was known as a beauty when she kept quiet. But Saito had just realized that she was at her most beautiful when she was happy.
And now that he had noticed, he couldn’t unsee it.
“I’ll rinse; you wash. I can’t stand the way you leave soap on the dishes. If there’s detergent left on them, it’ll be bad for our health,” Akane instructed.
“Ah…right.”