Tanabata Special (3)

"So why put sugar in tomato and egg stir-fry? That's completely, utterly heretical!"

"Who says that? Not putting sugar in is the real heresy!"

"You!"

It was lunchtime, and we were arguing over whether tomato and egg stir-fry should have sugar or not.

We'd bickered about how to cook dishes before, but this time it felt more... stubborn than usual.

After all, for me, my obsession with sugar in tomato and egg stir-fry was second only to my obsession with Arisu.

If Arisu said so, I could go without sugar.

But I still wanted to fight for it.

"Either way, this dish is not allowed to have sugar."

"No."

Arisu tilted her head and pursed her wine-red lips.

"What did you say?"

She leaned in and pressed her hand on my shoulder, the warm breath from her small mouth brushing past my ear.

I swallowed hard.

"Hm?"

She gently tugged at my ear.

"Fine... it's not impossible."

I put down the sugar in my hand.

"That's more like it."

Arisu let go of my ear.

It wasn't really a tug—more like a caress.

There was no force behind it at all.

After a bit of horseplay, Arisu kicked me out of the kitchen.

"You go out first. Don't use 'helping me cook' as an excuse to interfere. If you hadn't come in and messed things up last time, the food would've turned out fine."

Arisu's face was red as she shot me a glare.

Right, last time we almost burned the food because of a kiss.

Arisu, in her apron, bustled around in front of me, but her flustered movements made her look a little clumsy.

She was a complete novice at cooking, yet she still tried her best to follow the steps in the recipe book.

Maybe that's what it means to like someone—wanting to do something to prove it.

Even if it's something she's not good at, she puts her heart into it with that feeling of fondness.

I'm a little curious what surprise Arisu will give me this time.

The deliciousness of food belongs to the body's reactions—like how seeing good food makes you salivate uncontrollably, a purely instinctive act.

Leaving aside the taste, for me, this dish carries Arisu's full sincerity, and that's enough to make me fall for it.

After all, for me.

Arisu is the one and only existence in my world.

Just like how tasting good food can let happiness seep from the body into the soul.

Then, even just sitting at the table watching that busy, adorable figure in the kitchen.

There's that indescribable joy bursting from the depths of my heart, flowing through every corner of my body.

Before long, Arisu came out of the kitchen.

Her eyes darted away, and she scratched the side of her face with her cute little hand, then cleared her throat with a forced seriousness.

She walked up to me.

"Seisuke! Um, do you know how to fix it if you put too much salt in?"

"Huh? Why are you suddenly asking that?"

"Ah, well, it's nothing."

Arisu lowered her head, her hands fidgeting nervously in front of her chest.

"Mm... I just wanted to learn a bit about that kind of thing."

She dragged me back into the kitchen, and I picked up a spoon to taste the miso soup.

Hm... Hm? It's so salty!

For a second, I wondered if my tongue was broken, so I took another sip.

Yep! That kind of salty that hits the back of your tongue.

Even so, I barely managed to keep my expression in check.

"What's wrong? Your face looks weird."

"Nothing, it's pretty good. Just a little salty, that's all."

She was about to take a taste, so I quickly pretended to fumble, knocking over a small bottle of salt on the counter above.

I looked down at Arisu, who was leaning against my chest.

"Looks like this miso soup is ruined. How about we make another one together?"

She thought for a moment, then nodded.

"I guess that's the only way."

"You handle the cooking, and I'll handle the seasoning."

I gently wrapped my arms around her slender waist, burying my face in her hair.

A faint, clean fragrance lingered in her strands, and I couldn't help but sink into it.

I nuzzled her softly.

"Stop it, that tickles!"

"I want to..."

"Hm?"

She reached one hand back and lightly pinched the skin at my waist.

I have no idea who taught her that move, but it's a guy's absolute weak spot.

We set the finished miso soup on the table.

"Mmm! Seisuke~"

"What is it?"

"I really love you..."

We've been together this long, and I've rarely said sweet things like that to her.

This is something I should be doing—something I need to initiate.

There's no girl who doesn't love hearing the one she loves express their affection, whether through words or actions.

I decided to respond.

I cupped her face and gently kissed her.

"Mmf."

She responded awkwardly.

I didn't let go until she was a little breathless.

"Alright, go sit back down."

"I want to feed you."

Arisu's pretty face suddenly flushed red, and she lowered her head without speaking.

I sat down with her in my arms and scooped up a spoonful of miso soup.

I leaned in, kissed her lips, and gently passed it to her.

Our tongues brushed, and I couldn't help but close my eyes.

They intertwined, the miso soup mixing with her taste, imprinting itself clearly in my heart.

Blood rushed upward involuntarily, and my already intoxicated brain was forced into oxygen deprivation.

I love her.

That single shred of remaining clarity told me so.