A Few Chaotic and Complicated Days (1)

"L...Love?"

Oreki stared at the ketchup written on the omurice.

Wait...

If his eyes weren't playing tricks on him, or if he wasn't still dreaming.

Then this must be "Love," right?

Genuine "Love" written in ketchup, right?

"Mm, is there a problem?"

"No..."

"Since there's no problem, hurry up and eat. It won't taste good if it gets cold."

"That's true, but..."

"Hm? Oh, Houtarou, could it be that you..."

"Yes?"

"Want me to cast a spell to make the omurice taste better?"

"A spell to make the omurice taste better?"

Oreki turned his head.

A spell to make omurice taste better—he wasn't a child anymore.

"Hehe..."

Sakayanagi had intended to restrain herself.

But seeing Oreki's flustered expression, she couldn't help but chuckle.

It was truly a rare sight.

Houtarou Oreki actually had a shy side.

Sakayanagi took off her apron and sat down beside Oreki.

"How is it? Is it good?"

"Mm..."

Oreki took a spoonful.

As soon as it entered his mouth, he felt the rice begin to separate.

The heat control was excellent.

A familiar taste...

Mom's...

No, his sister's taste?

Oreki froze at the thought.

His older sister hadn't been home in a long time.

He wondered if she was doing well.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

"Is that so? By the way, who do you plan to spend White Day with, Houtarou?"

"Cough, cough!"

Oreki hurriedly grabbed the water glass on the table and downed it in one breath.

That was dangerous.

He almost choked to death.

It was all because Sakayanagi asked such a question so suddenly.

Usually.

Shouldn't one ask if the other person is free on March 14th?

As long as the other person isn't too dense, they would quickly understand the underlying meaning.

But someone as direct as Sakayanagi...

This was the first time Oreki had encountered such a thing.

"What did you... just say?"

"Nothing."

"...I see."

"Mm. It's getting late, I'm going to take my lunch break."

"Good afternoon, then."

"Good afternoon."

Sakayanagi Arisu said, then rose to her feet.

Unlike the composed expression she wore just moments ago, a flush of rouge spread across her face with startling speed. It first gathered like translucent coral beads upon her earlobes, then spilled over her frost-white cheeks.

It was just like a peach branch in March, unable to bear the weight of the overnight rain, trembling with a delicate crimson that seemed ready to fall at any moment.

If you're going to be shy, then don't say it, you idiot...

Oreki felt a bit embarrassed himself, shielding his face to the side.

After Sakayanagi returned to her room, he sighed.

"When did I start caring about her, anyway..."

"How strange."

"At the very beginning, I only wanted to earn some money and then unite with outside forces to overthrow her rule."

Oreki twirled his spoon, puzzled.

But thinking about it alone wouldn't yield any answers.

Since things had come to this...

He might as well eat first.

"...Mmm, delicious."

Oreki expressed his appreciation for Sakayanagi's cooking.

It was truly unexpected...

He had assumed Sakayanagi wouldn't know how to cook.

After all, what kind of young lady would be willing to step into the kitchen herself?

With very few exceptions, everyone else would simply hire some famous chef to prepare their meals.

Someone like Sakayanagi Arisu...

She certainly has the potential to be a virtuous wife, doesn't she?

Right? Right?

Full.

Oreki stood up, feeling satisfied.

But looking at the somewhat messy dining table, he decided to help clean up.

Working time usually passes very slowly.

Especially when one is acutely aware of how much is left to do.

Five minutes later.

"Finally finished washing."

After putting the clean plates away, Oreki took a moment to stretch his shoulders.

It was exhausting.

Although these chores should have been handled by a butler or a maid or someone similar, it didn't really matter.

Consider it repayment for the Omurice Sakayanagi had made.

Besides, Sakayanagi's Father didn't seem to have hired any servants.

Was it because he didn't trust anyone else to look after his daughter?

Or perhaps...

He must have his own reasons for doing so.

Oreki looked toward Sakayanagi's room.

Yesterday, he could have walked in there as if nothing were the matter.

But now...

It felt as if something was blocking Oreki.

What could it be?

Oreki had a hunch that if he ever figured out what this was, he would inevitably be pulled into a whirlpool called "love."

And by then, there would be no turning back.

So, you had better think it through carefully before making your choice.

"I'd better just sleep on the sofa for a while."

Oreki's face flushed slightly.

He wasn't doing this because he was shy, oh no.

Absolutely not.

He convinced himself of this.

But as for the truth, everyone surely knows what it is.

After lying down on the sofa, Oreki gradually closed his eyes.

Spring makes people sleepy very easily.

He was no exception.

"Zzz..."

Twelve fifty-six.

Houtarou Oreki fell asleep on the sofa at the Sakayanagi residence.

On the other side.

Back in her dormitory, Shiina Hiyori opened her phone.

She had just sent a text message to Oreki.

Simply put, it was to ask Oreki to come to the Literature Club at three-thirty.

They would go to investigate Kiyoko together then.

That is to say, Ayanokoji.

Although the other party promised that as long as she gave up the investigation, he would gift her the first edition of Sherlock Holmes.

But how could Shiina Hiyori just give up on such an interesting matter?

So, she didn't tell Oreki the truth.

Instead, she said that Ayanokoji wanted to have a final showdown with them.

Shiina Hiyori was indeed very interested in that item.

However...

Ayanokoji had forgotten one thing.

Books are inanimate.

People are living.

Compared to the first edition, Shiina Hiyori was far more interested in Houtarou Oreki.

She had heard of his exploits before.

Shiina Hiyori had wanted to meet Oreki sooner, but unfortunately, there hadn't been a suitable opportunity.

Unlike the Sakayanagi Family.

Because Sakayanagi Arisu was in poor health, the people in the Sakayanagi Family didn't force her much.

But the Shiina Family was different.

Although they had ridden the wave of the era to successfully grow and strengthen the family business.

The older generation was terrified of falling back down.

That is to say, returning to how things were in the beginning.

Having grown accustomed to a life of luxury, it would likely not be easy to return to a frugal lifestyle.

The saying goes: it is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality...

That is exactly how it was.

In short, Shiina Hiyori had been bound by many rules since she was a child.

This was the reason she was so quiet and intelligent now.

Unlike certain other families.

Not only were they broke, but they also imposed unintentional restrictions on their children.

Thinking that this would make their sons dragons and their daughters phoenixes.

In reality, they only cultivated cold and heartless ordinary people.

Of course, some might have... along the way.

After all, that is what happens when you have no money but try to imitate others.

Not working hard yourself, while expecting your descendants to carry you to success.

Shiina Hiyori sat at her desk.

She rested her cheek on her right hand, staring at her phone in boredom.

"How strange..."

"Has Oreki gone to sleep already?"

"Five minutes have passed, yet he still hasn't replied to my message..."

--To be continue