“Yuta-san, it’s ready!”
“Wow!! Bubbling gratin!”
After the sweet and tangy kiss, I awaited the completion of the meal at the living room table, where I was greeted by Ippei carrying my favorite gratin.
In addition to that, there was also minestrone and white wine being served. Although I don’t usually drink, I had prepared two wine glasses that seemed suitable for wine.
And finally, what was brought to us last…
“What… What’s this? It looks delicious!”
“It’s baked caprese with tomatoes! Since it’s baked in the toaster, it’s not raw.”
It was indeed an incredibly appetizing caprese that Ippei had prepared for me, processed to be easier for me to eat. Although it looked like tomatoes, the cheese on top had a golden brown crust, and the tomato’s sharp scent was balanced out by the basil and honey.
“It smells amazing!”
“Without the sharpness of raw tomatoes, I think you’ll definitely be able to eat it! I love it too. Well, now that everything’s ready, let’s dig in!”
“Yeah, I’m starving already.”
“Haha! Me too!”
With all the dishes brought over, it seemed like there was no need for you to think about where to sit.
Though there was ample space to sit facing each other, you quietly settled down next to me.
“Oh, by the way, Yuta-san, do you have a corkscrew to open the cork?”
“Hmm? Nah, I don’t have anything like that.”
“Uh-oh, that’s not good. Then we can’t open the wine…”
“Haha! Here, let me try.”
I firmly gripped the bottle after taking the white wine from the perplexed Ippei and slowly pushed up the protruding part of the cork, gradually revealing the cork inside.
However, it’s a good thing this wine was a bit higher quality… If it were a cheaper wine, the cork might have been difficult to remove, causing some trouble.
Pop!!!
“Wow… that’s amazing. You can open the cork by hand!”
“Well, yeah, but if you don’t hold it properly, the pressure inside can push the cork out, you know? I had a friend once who accidentally popped the cork and broke a lamp.”
“T-That’s scary… It’s like a weapon…”
“Haha! Yeah, you could say that.”
Even such trivial conversations naturally turn into smiles and bloom into a joyful space shared between the two of us.
With the white wine successfully liberated from its cork prison, we poured it into our glasses and raised them together.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Pqqfl? Ktjcxr obg abvjs.”
“Rb, atjcx sbe. P’w tjqqs ab yf klat sbe.”
“Zf abb… Jtffgr.”
“Tfjt… Jtffgr.”
Ktf milcxlcu bo uijrrfr tfgjivfv atf yfulcclcu bo j oec jcv rbwfktja rkffa yjcdefa obg pera atf akb bo er.
“Qtbj!? Ktlr ktlaf klcf lr vfilmlber!”
“Pa’r vgs, yea la tjr j ogelas oijnbg. Pa qjlgr gfjiis kfii klat atf ugjalc, sbe xcbk?”
“Huh… By the way, Ippei, you don’t drink much, but you seem to know a lot about alcohol, huh?”
“Well, I’ve been dragged along to so many social gatherings that I practically know everything about it…”
Unlike me, who didn’t pay much attention to the types of alcohol and simply chose what I liked, Ippei had acquired knowledge about various drinks from various social engagements.
And the entertainment he was involved in was on a different level from mine. It involved entertaining people at the level of company presidents, something I knew was beyond my reach. But that person was beside me—you.
“Still, it’s amazing.”
“Huh? Is that so?”
“Haha! Someday, those experiences will become valuable assets, you know? Well then, shall we dig into Ippei’s homemade dish?”
“Hehe! Alright, shall I serve the gratin?”
With those words, you began scooping the gratin from the heat-resistant dish onto plates. And as you served, your profile, full of joy as you devoted yourself to me, was something I wouldn’t forget. No, I didn’t want to forget it anymore.
“Here you go! Enjoy!”
“Wow! It smells amazing! Right, Ippei?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“… Itadakimasu.”
“Mm, please try it!”
One must properly greet the person who made the food out of respect. This is especially true if it’s someone you like who made it for you with all their heart and love.
“…Usshi! …*nom*!”
“…How… is it? Is it… delicious?”
“Mm-mm!! It’s incredibly delicious!”
“Haha! Even though I’m happy, you’re so cute!”
Amidst the incredible deliciousness, with my mouth still full, I gazed at Ippei with sparkling eyes.
Ippei’s gratin had the perfect creaminess, and all the ingredients inside harmonized without any discord. The creamy sauce, infused with the essence of shrimp, shimeji mushrooms, and other vegetables, delighted my taste buds over and over again.
“It’s okay to be cute, but this gratin is the best I’ve ever tasted in my life.”
“Huh!? That’s too much praise…”
“No, really, *nom*… *nom*… Mmm, so delicious…”
“Hehe! I’m glad if it suits your taste!”
My mouth was filled with overwhelming happiness. It had been so long since I tasted such a delicious and love-filled dish, and the fact that it was you who brought me this happiness made it even more delicious.
“But when you say it’s that delicious… it’s a little embarrassing, you know?”
“Well, it’s tasty, right, Ippei?”
“…Huh…!?”
“Come on, open your mouth.”
“Huh!?!”
As a return for the “Aaah” I received during the day, I scooped up a bite of gratin onto a spoon and fed it to Ippei.
The bewildered expression on your face as you reacted to my actions. I wonder how many people have seen such a face before, but you’re willing to show it to me, aren’t you?
“Do you dislike it?”
“I-I don’t dislike it, but…”
“But?”
“…Geez! *nom*!!”
“Haha! See? It’s delicious, right?”
“Yeah… I, well, I must say, it turned out delicious…”
You are blushing at my gesture. And as you chewed, despite being delicious, there was still that hint of reluctance in you. It goes without saying that I find you cute and endearing, even with such behavior.
“Um, Yuta-san, please try something else too!”
“Yeah, alright… I’ll give this… a try!”
What I reached for was the creatively prepared baked caprese. It looked incredibly delicious, but I still felt a bit anxious about whether it would be okay to eat, considering tomatoes were the base.
“…”
“Whoa… you picked it up, but you still have that ‘it’s tomato’ look on your face, huh?”
“Grr… Yeah, that’s exactly it.”
“Trust me and just take a bite. I’m sure it’ll suit your taste, Yuta-san.”
I decided to give the baked caprese a try, believing in your confident smile as you conveyed this.
“*nom*… Mmm… Mm!?”
“H-How is it…?”
“I-Is this really a tomato?”
“Yes, it’s tomatoes—the ones you dislike, Yuta-san.”
“It’s tomato, but I don’t taste the usual tomato-y scent; it’s more like pizza… and it’s sweet and melting…”
“Did… it suit your taste?”
“It’s incredibly delicious. I never knew tomatoes could taste this good!”
“Wow! I’m glad you liked it!”
I never imagined that simply putting some effort into tomatoes, which I dislike, could make them taste this delicious. And apparently, this baked caprese goes well with white wine too.
“Yeah, it goes well with white wine!”
“Yeah, my mouth has been happy the whole time.”
“I’m glad… you’re enjoying it…”
The wonderful dishes you made with love for me. And as you smile at my delight, you’re next to me. Ah, I’m truly happy.
“Ippei, thank you so much.”
“…Huh! Y-You’re welcome…!”
“Hehe! Your cheeks are like tomatoes.”
“I-It’s your fault, Yuta-san!”
“Huh? …Haha! It’s okay for today.”
Your smile next to mine is irresistibly cute. Even though it was just a simple pat on the head to express my gratitude, your cheeks turned tomato-red.
“G-Geez! …B-But I don’t dislike it.”
“Hm? Dislike what?”
“B-Being patted on the head… I-I don’t dislike it…”
“I like that straightforward Ippei.”
“Please… pat me a little more…”
“Ah, alright?”
I’m happy. I never dreamed that we could spend such a sweet time together in this space, just for the two of us.
But there may eventually come a day when even this happy time must come to an end. We both haven’t forgotten that our relationship is one that may lead to such an outcome.
Yet, for now, I want us to savor this happiness together. My heart strongly desires to be enveloped only in this happiness where we can laugh together.
