"You’ve got a bit of food on your face."
"Mmm... hehehe."
I wiped the smudge from the corner of Hinako’s mouth.
Her expression softened into a smile, much like a child’s.
Then I realized—the other customers were staring at us in silence. The weight of their collective gaze snapped me back to reality.
Crap... we’re drawing too much attention.
"W-well, should we head out?"
"Mhm."
I often tended to forget, but Hinako was the kind of beauty who made every head turn. We already stood out enough as it was; behaving like that only made it worse.
We hurried out of the shop and began walking aimlessly again.
"How was your first beef bowl?"
"It's going to be... my favorite food!" Her eyes sparkled as she spoke.
She’d certainly developed a commoner-like preference. I’d have to make sure to warn her never to mention that in social circles.
"Gyudon... it was delicious. And it was easy."
"Easy?"
"Mhm. I didn't have to worry about etiquette or anything."
For Hinako, a meal where she didn’t have to stress over formal manners was a rare luxury.
For the time being, she would have more opportunities to eat without worrying about such things. That was surely a happy development for her, but I also felt a bit of concern.
"...I’ve only just started being careful myself, so I shouldn't talk, but you can't let your manners slip entirely."
"Mhm. I know." Hinako's expression turned solemn. "I almost got separated from Itsuki because I forgot my manners... I never want to feel like that again."
I knew exactly what she meant.
About three months ago, while dining with executives from a shipbuilding company, she had instinctively followed the three-second rule—something I had taught her as a joke.
She clearly regretted it. Of course, so did I.
"We both have to be careful."
"Mhm."
The responsibilities of the upper class were heavy. It was a lot for such a delicate girl to shoulder. That was why I had to be careful, too—to make Hinako’s burden even a little bit lighter.
"Well, we still have some time..." I checked my phone.
"I want to play more...!"
"Alright. Let's take a walk in the park to help digest that food."
◆
The town was dyed in the colors of the sunset as we returned to the apartment.
"Phew..."
After kicking off her shoes, Hinako immediately sprawled out on a zabuton in the living room.
"Tired?"
"Mhm."
We had come here by car this morning, but she’d been on her feet almost constantly since lunch. For an indoor person like Hinako, today’s activity level was quite high.
I’m... not really that tired, though.
I still had plenty of energy, both mental and physical. Back at the manor, I pushed myself to the limit every day with studies and servant duties. Compared to that, today’s schedule was remarkably light.
I actually felt a little... unsatisfied.
Spending a day living like a commoner again had allowed me to look at my current life objectively. There were clear differences between a commoner's lifestyle and that of the upper class. But if I thought about it, those differences were deeply meaningful.
I’d been thinking about this ever since we stepped into the beef bowl shop.
Kikou Academy often mandated more traditional, manual ways of doing things than the outside world. The lack of ticket machines was a perfect example. If you wanted to eat something at the academy, you had to speak to a nearby servant.
At first glance, it seemed inconvenient, but I realized it wasn't a bad thing. The students of Kikou Academy were destined to lead others. Therefore, learning how to interact with people—especially subordinates—was vital. If you gave confusing orders or acted arrogant, you lost your influence. Conversely, if you knew how to manage people correctly, you could enjoy a level of convenience that surpassed any machine. The academy used mealtimes as a training ground for that. Even the way someone ordered food revealed their character and dignity.
Kikou Academy provided an environment where learning happened in every possible situation. It was the embodiment of upper-class stoicism.
I’ve certainly broadened my horizons.
I’d only been at the academy for a few months, but perhaps because I’d been fighting so hard to keep up, I could feel myself gaining insights I never would have had before. Once I understood the purpose behind it, I felt a desire to take it even more seriously.
I might even be starting to miss life at the academy a little.
As I was getting sentimental about the past, my phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Ms. Shizune.
"Ms. Shizune? Is something wrong?"
"My apologies. My work here is taking longer than anticipated, and it appears I will be returning late. Would it be alright if I left dinner preparations to you?"
"That’s fine. If all else fails, I’ll just order something."
"Thank you. If you decide to cook, please feel free to use any of the ingredients in the refrigerator."
"Understood."
I hung up.
Ms. Shizune's voice had sounded more tired than usual. The least I could do was handle the cooking.
When I opened the fridge, I found a variety of ingredients. Some were obviously expensive, but they were beyond my skill level, so I pulled out the basics.
Onions, carrots, potatoes. And some meat.
...Curry, maybe?
I found some curry roux in the seasoning rack. The menu was decided. Since lunch was a beef bowl, I was worried about nutrition. I'd go heavy on the vegetables.
As I searched for a knife and a peeler, I heard the pit-a-pat of footsteps as Hinako approached.
"Itsuki... what are you doing?"
"Ms. Shizune is going to be late, so I thought I’d get started on dinner."
I explained while setting up the cutting board.
"...I’ll help."
"You too, Hinako?"
I was a bit worried it might be dangerous, but Hinako put her hands on her hips, looking full of confidence.
"I have experience from the Summer Seminar," she said, puffing out her chest proudly.
Did a barbecue really count as cooking...?
"Well, alright. Can I ask you to peel the vegetables then?"
"Leave it to me!"
Peeling was the only job that didn’t involve a sharp blade or fire. I’d taught her how to use a peeler during the barbecue, so it should be fine.
"Hinako, do you like it mild or spicy?"
"Hmm... mild."
"Got it. Then I’ll add this as a secret ingredient..."
I dropped something I’d found in the fridge into the pot.
"Chocolate?"
"Yeah. Yuri told me that adding this gives it a nice sweetness and depth."
"Ohh... I’m looking forward to it."
According to Yuri, curry was endlessly customizable, so it was better to tailor the secret ingredient to the person eating it rather than sticking to one recipe. Apparently, after many trials, Yuri had determined that I personally preferred miso.
"Hinako, can you hand me that potato?"
"Mhm....I finished peeling the carrot, too."
"Thanks. Just set it there."
Cooking together with Hinako. I desperately suppressed the thought that we looked like a married couple.
I chopped the vegetables she handed me and added them to the pot. When she finished the next carrot, I reached out for it.
Our shoulders brushed.
"S-sorry."
"...M-ng... ah."
Hinako’s face flushed red, and she let out a strange little squeak.
The kitchen was so narrow that we were forced to be close. This wasn't the spacious Konohana manor or a wide-open beach.
Once I became conscious of it, I couldn't stop thinking about it. We had been fine a moment ago, but now, even the slight friction of our clothes against each other made us both freeze up.
Hinako kept her head down, peeling in silence. I focused on chopping the vegetables, trying to endure the awkward, fluttering tension in the air.
◆
"Thank you for the meal."
We enjoyed the finished curry together.
"I'm... so satisfied!"
"I’m glad."