Chop, chop, chop...
🎵~
"Mmm..."
The soundtrack to my morning was once again the sound of Sara-senpai humming along to the rhythm of her kitchen knife.
Unless she had some other commitment, Sara-senpai would come over before I woke up and start the day by preparing breakfast.
"Good morning, Kazunari-san. It is lovely weather today as well."
I pulled back the curtains and looked out the window.
The sky was perfectly clear. It looked like it was going to be a hot one.
"Now then, let us get you changed and wash your face."
She picked up a top from the clothes she had already set out for me and helped me change out of my pajamas.
After washing my face in the bathroom and changing into a fresh pair of pants, I returned to the table to find breakfast waiting for me.
In truth, I felt like my right wrist had recovered enough that I could manage changing and eating on my own now.
But when I had mentioned that yesterday...
"...Um, how should I put this... I would like to be the one to do it... is it a bother to you, Kazunari-san?"
She had asked that while looking up at me with a slightly downward tilt of her head. I doubted there was a man alive who could refuse such a beautiful girl when she spoke to him like that.
That being said, we had agreed that she would only help "to a certain extent" rather than doing "everything" for me.
To be honest, I was happy to have her take care of me, but I was worried that if I leaned on her too much, I’d turn into a total deadbeat.
"I shall head out to do the shopping after this."
Just as she finished putting all my laundry into the machine and started the cycle, Sara-senpai made her announcement.
Sara-senpai was apparently quite skilled at managing ingredients; despite cooking for me every day, it didn't seem like she was spending much on groceries at all.
Since it seemed like there was a bit of room in the budget, I thought about getting a cake for her as a thanks for everything she did for me, but...
"Wasting money is not allowed. If you would like cake, I shall simply make one for you."
No, I’d be happy to eat a cake made by Sara-senpai, but it wasn't that I wanted one...
However, since Sara-senpai was the one holding the purse strings, I couldn't exactly force the purchase.
Regardless, I should at least help with the errands. Even with just my left hand, I could carry the bags.
"Sara-senpai, I'm coming with you."
"Kazunari-san should stay at the house and rest..."
"I'll be fine with just my left hand. Besides, it's not just about the bags—I want to go out with you, Sara-senpai."
I said it firmly, looking straight into her eyes.
"...Y-Yes. If that is the case... um, I understand."
Sara-senpai nodded slightly, looking quite embarrassed.
I’d been realizing this lately, but while she acted like a composed, caretaking older sister when she was the one taking the lead, she was apparently quite vulnerable to a direct hit from me.
The more assertive I was, the more she tended to get flustered and shy.
Of course, if I teased her too much just to see that reaction, she’d hit back with a "You're being mean...", and I’d be the one defeated in the end.
I had assumed we would get everything done at the supermarket, but she surprisingly decided to stop by a specialty shop first.
And so, we currently found ourselves at a fish shop.
It was incredible... the place felt so authentic and old-school that it was actually a bit intimidating.
I was impressed that Sara-senpai was so at home here.
Then again, the way she shopped with such meticulous care was very much like her.
"Oh, Sara-chan, welcome."
"Hello."
It seemed she was a regular here.
"What can I get for you today?"
"Let me see..."
She picked out some flounder—likely for the meunière she knew I liked—and some mackerel.
"Thanks as always. By the way, Sara-chan, is this young man perhaps..."
The fishmonger lady spoke to Sara-senpai while glancing over at me.
"Ah, he is, um..."
The lady, seemingly sensing the atmosphere, made a slightly disappointed face.
"I thought so. There's no way a girl like Sara-chan wouldn't have someone. I was hoping to introduce my son to you if you were still single."
Hey now, are you really saying that right in front of me?
That didn't exactly make me feel great.
Sara-senpai glanced at me with a slightly troubled expression, but when she saw my face, she suddenly looked happy for some reason.
"Fufu... my apologies. I already have someone very precious to me..."
Saying that, she moved closer and stood right beside me, gently resting her hand on my arm.
I felt like I was going to grin from sheer happiness.
"To win over Sara-chan, you must be a fine man. Young man, you won't find another girl as good as her, you hear?"
I knew that even without being told.
I was certain that meeting Sara-senpai had used up every last bit of luck in my life... but I was perfectly content with that.
"I know. For me, there's no one but Sara-senpai..."
When my gaze met Sara-senpai's as she looked up at me, she gave me a blissful smile.
"A lucky draw, huh?"
The Shopping Street occasionally held these events. Since we had bonus tickets from the fish shop and the supermarket, we were eligible to enter.
I had tried these before... but there was no way I’d ever actually win.
"With the bonus tickets we have... it seems we can draw three times."
I didn't think I'd win anything, but I had a feeling Sara-senpai would.
She was a Goddess, after all.
"Sara-senpai, I never have any luck with these things, so can I leave it to you?"
"I understand. But please, you must draw first. I want us to try together."
The fact that she wanted to share even something as small as this was just too cute.
And so, I went first.
The Grand Prize was yellow, for a hot spring trip.
A trip for the two of us sounded like a dream.
Well, not like I’d actually hit it.
Rattle, rattle, rattle...
Plop.
White. Exactly as expected.
"Yes, here is your tissue~"
I accepted the pocket tissue I’d known was coming.
Next up was Sara-senpai.
"I shall do my best."
Looking like she was actually having fun, Sara-senpai placed her hand on the handle of the lottery wheel.
Rattle, rattle, rattle...
Plop.
Red?!
Karan-karan-karan!
The handbell they rang for winners echoed through the street.
"Congratulations! It's a pair invitation ticket for the Marine Garden Pool!"
A resort pool... and a pair invitation ticket at that.
Amazing... As expected of a Goddess. To win that on her first try...
"I did it! Kazunari-san, it's an invitation ticket for the pool."
Sara-senpai was frolicking happily.
With this, a pool date with Sara-senpai was officially on the calendar.
"Kazunari-san... with this ticket, would you... with me..."
"Sara-senpai, will you go to the pool with me? Let's go on a date."
It felt a bit uncool since I wasn't the one who won the ticket, but I felt like the man should be the one to do the inviting at a time like this.
"Yes! I would be delighted..."
As she said that, she leaned in close to me with her head slightly downcast. She was so cute that I almost reached out to...
"Sorry to interrupt the romantic mood, you two, but you've still got one more draw."
The staff member said this with a somewhat forced smile. Oh right, I’d forgotten.
"Sara-senpai, there's one more."
"I understand. I shall do my best once more."
We'll need swimsuits... A swimsuit... Sara-senpai in a swimsuit...
While the thought process of a healthy teenage boy was firing up—
Karan-karan-karan!
The sound of the handbell rang out again.
No way...
"C-Congratulations! Another one for the Marine Garden Pool!"
...Eh?
A second pair invitation ticket?!
"Kazunari-san, what should we do..."
What indeed...