"Pardon the intrusion!"
"Come on in."
"Whoa, hold on, Yanagida. That’s not how you’re supposed to do it, is it?"
"Huh? …Look, if you’re just here to be a pain, you can go home."
"There it is! That’s the one!"
"I will seriously kick you out, man."
"Hehe. You two really do get along."
Haruka giggled at our pointless bickering as I led the guests inside.
Even though the hallway was out of reach of the air conditioning, the temperature was a world away from the sweltering heat outside.
Their eyes, narrowed against the glare just moments ago, flew wide the second they reached the living room. Gasps of admiration followed immediately.
"Whoa! This place is huge!"
"It’s so clean! You’re seriously living here alone!?"
"The sofa and the TV are massive... At this rate, your place is better decked out than my parents’ house, Master..."
"I don’t mean to be rude, but it’s surprisingly well-organized and tidy, isn’t it?"
"It’s mostly thanks to Haruka, so don’t give me too much credit."
I was well aware that this apartment was far too nice for a guy like me, so being showered with praise just made me feel awkward.
Giving Takamiya-san a wry smile in response to her blunt observation, I grabbed the plastic bags filled with drinks and snacks and headed for the kitchen.
"Just grab a seat anywhere. There’s room for four at the dining table and another four at the low table in the living room."
It was a scorcher outside, so I figured I’d get some cold drinks ready. I also thought it’d be better to empty the mountain of snacks onto large platters so they’d be easier to reach.
As I was pulling cups from the cupboard, a slender hand reached out from beside me. I looked down and met Haruka’s gentle, smiling eyes.
"I’ll help. Is this plate okay for the snacks?"
"Thanks. I’ll leave it to you. You probably know where everything is better than I do by now."
"Hehe, that might be true. But don't forget, we bought this plate together."
"I thought it was way too big at the time, but I guess it’s finally coming in handy... Oh, right. I don't have eight real cups, so the guys are going to have to make do with paper ones. Is that cool?"
I’d never expected to host this many people, and buying a whole set just for today felt unnecessary, so I’d picked up a pack of paper cups as a backup.
When I called out to Hashimoto and the others—who were watching us with unreadable expressions—they gave me somewhat stiff nods.
"Mm, oh... yeah, that’s totally fine. Thanks for looking out for us... Still, though."
"What?"
"Maybe we really should have called this a housewarming gift. No matter how you look at it, you two are acting like a pair of newlyweds."
"Shut up and sit down already."
And the rest of you, stop nodding like you agree. No ice for any of you.
Haruka ignored my half-hearted glare, her cheeks flushing a light pink as she hummed a happy tune.
"Oh, stop it, you guys! I think I’ll give everyone an extra ice cube for that!"
...Does that even make sense?
After a quick discussion, we settled on the seating. Haruka, Hashimoto, Shinohara-san, and I took the dining table. Takamiya-san, Mukai-san, Hamasaki, and Moriyama sat at the low table in the living room.
This arrangement was the result of the single guys claiming that sitting at the same table as a couple would be "psychological torture," as well as a strategic move to give Hamasaki a chance to be near Mukai-san.
After a brief cooling-down period with juice and snacks, we shifted gears to the main event: the study session.
"Ugh, I’m already depressed..."
"Stop whining and just start. Sorry about this, Yanagida-kun. I know he's a handful."
"Ah, no, don't worry about it. Teaching someone else helps me review, too."
I shook my head to dismiss Shinohara-san’s apologetic bow.
To be honest, a part of me was actually excited. This was the kind of classic "hanging out with friends at someone's house on a day off" scenario I’d missed out on.
"I didn't really have friends until middle school... so I was actually kind of looking forward to having a group study session like this."
"Yanagida...! If that’s the case, we should do this every week!"
"I said I was looking forward to it, not that I’d do your work for you. Do it yourself."
"Exactly. You’re just hoping everyone will give you the answers because it’s a group session. Reflect on your laziness."
"Yessir..."
Hashimoto’s sudden burst of energy was immediately crushed by Shinohara-san and me, leaving him slumped over.
As I watched them with a small chuckle, I felt a light poke on my arm.
Haruka was looking up at me, her cheeks puffed out in a mock pout.
"We had study sessions at home before we started dating, too... were you not excited back then?"
"Actually... my heart was racing too fast for me to be 'excited.' I was way too conscious of you."
"Oh... I-I see. Well... hehe, me too."
"Even though you were being so bold?"
"Maybe I was only that bold because I was so nervous?"
I suppose that made sense. Being nervous can make you do some pretty impulsive things. I wasn't exactly one to talk in that department.
...And stop staring at us, Hashimoto. Focus on your homework. You too, Shinohara-san—please don't look that embarrassed for us.
I took a sip of juice to reset my focus and picked up my pen.
"Alright, let's get to it. We’ll work until lunch."
"If you get stuck on anything, just let us know!"
"""Okay!"""
With our joint command, the study session officially began.
Between the two tables, everyone—some more reluctantly than others—dived into their assignments.
Even Hashimoto and Hamasaki, who had acted like it was the end of the world, became surprisingly focused once they actually started.
Our school was a high-ranking preparatory academy; they’d all passed the entrance exams to get here. Even Hashimoto, who had entered through a sports recommendation, was the type who could perform when he actually put in the effort, as his recent final exam scores had proven.
They didn't lack ability; they just lacked the motivation to overcome their mutual hatred of textbooks.
...Not that I was in much of a position to act superior, considering I’d been in the exact same boat until recently.
"Hmm... Hey, look at this. Is this grammar right? It feels off."
"The grammar is fine, but... right here. You forgot to use the past tense."
"Oh, right, right. Thanks, that helps."
I listened to the exchange between the two across from me, occasionally asking my own questions or offering help where I could.
Similar voices drifted in from the living room as time passed peacefully.
Eventually, as the clock ticked toward noon, we decided to take a break for lunch.
"It’s my turn for lunch duty today. Haruka, is that chilled pork belly somen you taught me okay?"
"Yes! I’m looking forward to it."
I nodded at Haruka’s smile and stood up, only to realize that every eye in the room was suddenly locked on me.
"What? I’m not making enough for all of you."
"No, we didn't expect you to cook for a crowd; we all brought our own. It’s just... you really do cook, don't you? It's still a bit of a shock."
"Karin-chan, that’s a little rude! Even if I totally agree!"
"Don't sweat it. A few months ago, I would have said the same thing."
If I hadn't met Haruka that day, I’d probably still be living on convenience store bentos and supermarket side dishes.
Actually, my stepmother probably would have staged an intervention by now, but I certainly wouldn't have become this proficient in the kitchen.
And I definitely wouldn't have had the chance to host a group of friends like this... No, let's not go there.
I’d noticed lately that I was developing a habit of getting sentimental over the smallest things.
I really need to get used to this, I thought with a quiet, wry smile as I began prepping the somen and toppings.
The noodles were actually a gift from Haruka’s parents. They’d received a massive amount as a seasonal gift and didn't know how to finish them all, so I’d been more than happy to help them out.
"Master, can I borrow the microwave? I want to heat up my bento."
"Can Shio and I use it too?"
"Go ahead. Just don't blow it up."
"Hey! What kind of person do you think I am!? ...But thanks!"
"Thanks, Yanagida!"
"Thank you, we’ll be using it."
I nodded to Hamasaki and the others holding their store-bought lunches and pointed toward the kitchen. The others had brought their own lunch boxes or sandwiches.
It was a bit surprising to see Shinohara-san with a convenience store bento, but then again, she’d mentioned she wasn't much of a cook.
I cleared my head of idle thoughts and focused on the task at hand.
While waiting for the water to boil, I chopped the green onions, lettuce, and pork belly into bite-sized pieces.
Then I cut the bands off the somen bundles. Neither Haruka nor I were massive eaters, so three bundles would be plenty.
As I dropped the noodles into the boiling water, I finally noticed the weight of the stares coming from the room.
"What is it now?"
"Just watching you work. You’re actually really efficient at this, aren't you?"
"I’m just chopping and boiling things. It’s not exactly high-level culinary art."
"See! That’s exactly what someone who can cook would say! As expected of Akise-san’s star pupil!"
I looked at Hashimoto with a flat expression, wondering what his deal was, but his attention was already shifting toward Shinohara-san.
"Um, Akise-san. Is it true... that you’re the one who taught Yanagida-kun how to cook?"
"Yep! He’s come such a long way. This teacher is very proud of him."
"I see... Um, if it’s okay with you, would you mind... teaching me, too?"
"Of course! When do you want to start?"
The moment Haruka smiled and agreed to Shinohara-san’s request, Hashimoto pumped his fist in a silent victory.
Man, he’s having a tough time too, I thought. I sent him a mental nod of encouragement as I drained the noodles and rinsed them under cold water.
Next was the soup and the pork. I refilled the pot and added the meat along with the seasonings.
As I worked through the steps, Mukai-san’s energetic voice carried over from the living room.
"By the way, Hamasaki-kun, why do you call Yanagida-kun 'Master'? Did he teach you something?"
"Wha—? Uh, no, that’s... well..."
"It was about dating, wasn't it?" Hashimoto interjected. "Yanagida-kun is a romance legend who managed to win over the legendary Akise-san in just a few weeks, after all."
"I’m not a legend, and I don't remember teaching Hamasaki anything. I’ve just given up on trying to make him stop calling me that."
"Oh, wow! Does that mean you have a girl you like, Hamasaki-kun!? Ooh! I’ll cheer for you! Good luck!!"
"……Thanks."
"Oh, man..."
Poor Hamasaki. You really need to work on your game.
I didn't want the title of "Master," but maybe I should throw the guy a bone? Then again, his problem was way more basic than that... He needed to be able to hold a normal conversation first. I wasn't the smoothest talker in the world, but I’d never been that bad.
"What about you, Kota-kun? Do you have anyone you like?"
"That’s a bit sudden, Takamiya-san. Right now, I’m busy with soccer and school. I don't really have room for romance."
"Oh..."
"Yeah."
"…………"
"…………"
Awkward.
The tension was so thick I could feel it all the way in the kitchen. My hand stirring the pot involuntarily stopped.
"Kota" was Moriyama’s first name. I knew something had happened between those two, but I hadn't realized they were on a first-name basis.
I was curious, but if he hadn't even told Hashimoto—his teammate and close friend—then I certainly had no business prying.
I let out a soft sigh, confirmed the meat was cooked through, and killed the heat.
It seemed like this group was a minefield of personal issues and unspoken drama, but today was supposed to be about studying.
Time to get some food in everyone and gear up for the afternoon session.