The next morning, I found myself wandering through a local supermarket, smartphone in hand.
Today was the long-awaited day of our cooking lesson, with Haruka invited to my home as our guest instructor. Since we were planning to make omurice, I needed to have the ingredients ready. I already had rice and eggs in the pantry, but I still needed to pick up the meat and vegetables.
I drifted through the aisles, checking the shopping list Haruka had sent me.
That said, the list was simple—just meat, bell peppers, and green peas. I’d be done in no time.
...Should I buy some snacks or something special to drink?
I could hardly welcome a girl—my girlfriend, no less—and serve her nothing but plain barley tea. Since she was making the effort to come over, I wanted her to be as comfortable as possible.
Would she prefer tea? I didn't know the first thing about brands, and I wasn't even sure what kind of tea Haruka liked... Maybe I should just buy a variety pack.
Just as I turned on my heel to head toward the beverage section—
"Ah, you noticed me! Good morning, Tatsumi-kun!"
"…Good morning, Haruka. Were you trying to surprise me?"
Speak of the devil. Haruka stood there with a radiant smile, her hands raised as if she were about to go for a high-five.
Between the incident at lunch the other day and the bus ride, she had proven herself to be quite the prankster. I’d grown entirely too familiar with the mischievous look she got when she was plotting something.
As I gave her a wry smile, Haruka playfully stuck out her tongue.
"You looked like you were deep in thought, so you were wide open... I just couldn't resist."
"Are you an assassin or something? …Well, whatever. You're early. We still have a couple of hours before the time we agreed on."
When I asked if something urgent had come up, Haruka pouted slightly.
"It’s just that I wanted to see you sooner. Don't you feel the same way?"
"…I wanted to see you too. Even yesterday, after you went home, I felt so lonely I didn't know what to do with myself."
The words spilled out before I could even think of a way to filter them.
Haruka’s eyes widened for a moment, and then she gave a shy, tickled sort of laugh.
"Ehehe… me too. I kept thinking about everything that happened at Tatsumi's House. I was just soaking in the memories, feeling so happy. It really felt like a dream…"
"But it wasn't a dream."
"Mhm! You confessed to me, we became a couple… we held each other and kissed so many times… it was all real!"
I found myself captivated as she smiled, savoring the happiness in her heart.
Ever since I’d acknowledged my feelings for her, Haruka seemed to get more beautiful by the second. I’d always known she was cute, but now... every little thing she did grabbed hold of my heart and wouldn't let go.
I almost reached out to touch her, but I pulled myself back at the last second.
Lately, my self-control and my sense of shame were both wearing thin. There was no sense in wearing myself out with self-inflicted embarrassment. I had to stay sharp.
Standing in the middle of the grocery aisle forever would only get in people's way, so I took Haruka’s hand and started walking. She followed me obediently, happily lacing her fingers through mine in a proper lover’s hand-hold.
…Well, this much should be normal for a couple.
When we arrived at the tea section, Haruka tilted her head curiously.
"Are you buying tea?"
"It’s for guests. Do you have a brand you like?"
"For me?" Haruka blinked in surprise.
"Yeah. The only guests I ever have over are you and Yui. It felt a bit cheap to keep serving my girlfriend nothing but barley tea every time she comes over."
"Girlfriend… fufu, 'girlfriend,' huh? I don't really mind either way, but it makes me happy that you were thinking of me."
Beaming with delight, Haruka leaned down to browse the tea bags.
Calling her my "girlfriend" was becoming surprisingly easy. Given my personality, I thought I’d be a stuttering mess every time the word came up.
If it made her this happy, then maybe losing my sense of shame wasn't such a bad thing after all.
"You have your hair tied up today."
"Well, I'm cooking! I can't have hair getting in the food, and it gets in the way when I'm looking down at what I'm doing."
About thirty minutes had passed since we left the supermarket. Having finished our preparations, we were currently lounging on the sofa.
Haruka was practically clinging to me, her arms wrapped firmly around mine. She looked the picture of contentment as she sipped the tea we had just bought.
...In the past, this level of physical closeness would have sent me into a panic.
Now, while I still felt my body stiffen as I focused on the sensation of her touch, it was overridden by the sheer sense of security I felt having her by my side. I supposed this was another change in my heart now that we were officially together.
I felt the smooth sensation of her hair brush against my shoulder. When I spoke to her, Haruka gave her bound hair a little waggle.
Today, she was dressed in a refreshing outfit with pants, similar to what she’d worn during our last cooking session.
"That hairstyle looks incredibly intricate."
"Not really! It’s called a kururinpa. You just tie your hair back, make a little gap above the hair tie, and loop the ponytail through it. It makes it look fluffier and more stylish than a normal ponytail, right?"
Haruka explained the process with practiced hand gestures.
Indeed, the hair gathered at the back had a natural, soft volume to it.
Seeing how impressed I was, Haruka gave me a mischievous grin.
"Do you like this hairstyle, Tatsumi-kun? It’s going to start getting hot soon, so I was thinking of tying it up like this at school, too... If you like it, maybe I’ll do it just for you?"
"Hmm…"
Haruka looked surprised when I let out a low groan.
"Oh... do you not like it?"
"It’s not that I don't like it. But... sorry, I’m about to say something really conceited and annoying."
Setting up a defensive line like that was pathetic, but it couldn't be helped. I subtly looked away as the words began to tumble out.
"That hairstyle... I mean, you did it to look cute for me, right?"
"Of course! I want the person I love most to think I’m the cutest girl in the world."
She gave me a melting, radiant smile, her cheeks flushing a soft red. The sheer destructive power of it nearly knocked me flat, even while I was sitting down.
But I couldn't fold here. I gathered my courage and continued.
"If it's for me... then I'd prefer if you didn't show it to anyone else as much as possible. No, of course, you're free to dress however you want, and I’m not trying to restrict you at all! It's just my own selfishness... sorry, just forget I—!?"
I couldn't stand the sound of my own possessiveness and hurried to retract the statement, waving my hands—only to freeze when I felt something soft press against my lips.
A floral scent tickled my nose. Haruka’s face, flushed deep red, was right in front of mine. I felt a faint heat and a soft pressure against my mouth.
Haruka had leaned in and kissed me. The moment the realization hit, I forgot how to breathe.
The same seemed to be true for Haruka. When we finally pulled apart, we just stared at each other, both of us breathless.
"Sorry, Tatsumi-kun... you just looked so cute... I couldn't stop myself..."
"I-I see... I don't think I'm cute, but you can do that whenever you want, Haruka."
"Then one more time! ♪"
"Mph!?"
Slender arms wrapped around my neck, and the wet sound of a kiss echoed in my head.
We had been sitting side-by-side, but somehow Haruka had ended up straddling my lap, her weight pressing down on me.
Her large, amber eyes were clouded with affection, and her hot, ragged breaths brushed against my skin. The heat radiating from her body began to melt my reason—no, this was bad! I had to stop this. The kissing was one thing, but this position was dangerous!
"H-Haruka! Wait, calm down...!"
"Mmuu—!"
I grabbed her shoulders and carefully pushed her back, making sure she wouldn't fall or get hurt. She pouted at me with watery, dissatisfied eyes like a small animal, and I felt a pang of guilt... but I needed her to understand. Being straddled was definitely crossing a line.
Yesterday, during our first kiss, I’d been so overwhelmed by euphoria that I hadn't even been conscious of the physical reality. But now that a night had passed and my head was clearer, I couldn't help but be aware of it.
I was acutely aware of Haruka Akise’s feminine charm.
Once again, I realized that my decision to send her home yesterday had been a very wise move.
"But I see. You have it too, don't you? That 'possessiveness' toward me ♪"
Once she was sitting back beside me, Haruka took a sip of her tea and teased me.
Possessiveness... so that was what this was.
"……Sorry."
"Eh? Why the sudden apology?"
"I read somewhere once that possessiveness isn't 'love,' it's just a 'desire for ownership' or 'distrust' of your partner. I felt like such a small, narrow-minded guy for getting worked up over something as simple as a hairstyle."
"Fufu, that's not a bad thing at all!"
Haruka laughed my worries away. She tilted her head and rested her cheek on my shoulder, her flaxen hair brushing against my face.
"I’m actually happy about it. It means you don't want to let me go, right?"
"…I guess so."
"Besides, it's not wrong to say that I belong to you, is it?"
"Wait, what?"
I looked up, shocked by what she’d just said, but Haruka completely ignored my reaction. She took my hand in both of hers and began to play with my fingers. It tickled a little, but she looked so happy that I couldn't bring myself to stop her.
"And I’m the same way. If I saw you being friendly with another girl, Tatsumi-kun... yeah, I’d get really jealous."
"…You would?"
"Remember the rainy day during Physical Education the week before last? You were being so kind, teaching Karin how to play badminton."
"I remember."
"I was so jealous then! I kept thinking it wasn't fair that Karin got your attention."
I looked at her, surprised by the confession, and found her peering up at me a bit anxiously.
"Are you disillusioned now? Do you think I'm a small-minded woman?"
"Not at all. If anything, I’m glad to hear it... Oh, I see."
"Exactly. So the possessiveness is mutual. I think those feelings, and the affection, are all just part of what it means to be 'in love.'"
Her whispered words were filled with a heat that felt like it could leave a burn.
Her fingers, which had been tracing the lines of my palm, slowly intertwined with mine. I squeezed her hand back, and she let out a delighted little laugh.
Possessiveness and affection, all part of being in love. As I let the thought sink in, it felt strangely right.
"Haruka. I’m going to say one more pathetic thing."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"As much as I want to keep you all to myself... there's a part of me that wants to brag to the whole school that such a cute girl is my girlfriend."
Despite my attempts to act like a lone wolf who didn't care about others, it seemed I had a perfectly normal desire for validation. I gave a self-deprecating smile at my own shallowness. If Yui or Haruka heard this, they’d probably tell me that overthinking things was my worst habit.
Just as I expected, Haruka beamed with a radiant smile.
"I feel the same way! I want to show everyone that such a cool, kind, and incredibly cute boy is my boyfriend."
Her voice was proud and sweet. She leaned in closer, wrapping her slender fingers around my arm and rubbing her cheek against me.
"…I already told you, I'm not cute."
"I don't know about that. The way you get all twisted up in your head... or the way you're blushing and looking away right now... I think it's all very cute! …But you're not allowed to show that side of you to anyone else, okay?"
"…Yes, ma'am."
I felt a strange pressure behind her smile as she drove the point home.
She didn't need to worry; I didn't think anyone besides her would ever find my behavior "cute." And the idea of me looking at any girl other than Haruka was even more impossible.
Satisfied with my nod, the pressure vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving only her lovely smile.
…Regardless, I decided I would have to be more careful about how I acted in public from now on.
"I was going to try to keep things a secret if you hated the idea, but if you feel that way, then we can flirt as much as we want in front of everyone! Hmm, what should we do? Maybe we should just kiss in the classroom?"
"I'm pretty sure we'd get in trouble with just about everyone if we did that..."
"Then how about a hug every time there's a break? Or I could sit on your lap while we eat lunch!"
"…The hurdle for that is a bit high in public."
"Then, can we hold hands on the way to and from school? And feed each other bites of our lunch!?"
"If it’s just that... then I guess it’s fine."
"Yay! It’s a promise!"
Wait... was I just played?
It was a classic negotiation tactic: start with an absurdly high demand and then lower the bar until the target accepts the proposal you actually wanted all along.
She was really determined to flirt in public... Well, it might be embarrassing, but I didn't actually hate the idea. I didn't want to spoil her mood when she was this happy. I’d just have to deal with the inevitable teasing from Hashimoto and Takamiya.
As I was thinking that, a rhythmic beeping sounded from the kitchen.
"Was that the rice cooker?"
"Sounds like it. ...Is it that time already? Shall we get started, Instructor Haruka?"
I joked and held out my hand. The instructor for today’s cooking class laughed and took it.
"I’m going to teach you everything today, so let's do our best together!"
Our first attempt at making omurice under Instructor Haruka's guidance was a success. While the shape was a bit lumpy, the taste was good enough to earn me a compliment from my teacher.
Even though it was a simple dish, the fact that I was getting used to cooking gave me a real boost of confidence.
I should try making this more often. Maybe I’ll make it for Yui the next time she stops by... I’m sure she’d be surprised.
...Oh.
Come to think of it, I still hadn't told Yui that I’d started dating Haruka.