Sometimes, as soon as Yukima Azuma reached for something, she knew exactly which seasoning to hand him without needing to be told.
Though it was their first time working together, they were in perfect sync.
Before long, a full meal, full of flavor, was set on the table.
"Azuma-san, you're really good at cooking. And you're great at Chinese dishes, too," Kato Megumi said, admiring the spread on the table.
Yukima Azuma glanced at his cooking skill chart and saw he had reached level 6 in cooking. He nodded.
"Well, it seems that way. Actually, I'm not very familiar with some traditional Japanese dishes. I prefer Chinese food more."
"I can't drink coffee either. I only like tea."
Kato Megumi's unexpected comment almost made Yukima Azuma choke.
His gaze shifted toward the manual coffee maker beside him.
He once again felt that familiar sense of not knowing how to respond, just like before.
Kato Megumi... really is impressive!
.....
After finishing their meal, they both went back into the kitchen to wash the dishes.
To be honest, Yukima Azuma hadn't washed dishes in quite a while.
Since Kasumigaoka Utaha moved in, Yukima Azuma did all the cooking while Kasumigaoka Utaha took care of the dishes.
"It's getting late, I should be heading back," Kato Megumi said.
"Aren't you staying overnight?" Yukima Azuma asked.
"It feels a little... strange, staying over at Azuma-san's house for the first time," Kato Megumi replied.
"I was just asking out of courtesy. Don't refuse so seriously! No matter how many times you come, staying overnight at a boy's house still seems a little" he trailed off.
"Well... if it's with you, Azuma-san, I guess it wouldn't be a problem," she added, her voice trailing off slightly.
Upon hearing Kato Megumi's murmured response, Yukima Azuma wasn't sure how to reply.
But before she left, Yukima Azuma reached out and handed Kato Megumi something.
Kato Megumi took it, her jasmine-like eyes glinting slightly.
"Could this be...?"
"Yes, it's the key to the apartment. I might need to ask for your help sometimes."
Yukima Azuma had only just realized how busy he had been lately as they ate.
"Actually, I'm still a professional player, and sometimes I have to go compete. I might not be able to take care of Shiratamaru, so I may need your help looking after it occasionally."
"Also, with the club... tomorrow I might have to stay late for club activities. Could you come by to feed Shiratamaru?"
Kato Megumi listened and nodded thoughtfully.
"I see. So, that's why you asked for time off yesterday?"
"Are you paying that much attention to these things?" Yukima Azuma asked, a little surprised.
"Yes, Azuma-kun, don't worry. I told you, I'll take responsibility," Kato Megumi affirmed.
— — —
Happy new year, Wishing you a healthy and a good new start.
P/S: My country uses Lunar New Year so I forgot about it
— — — — — — — — — — —
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Chapter 45: White Album
Chapter 45: White Album
At nine o'clock in the evening.
"I'm back."
Kasumigaoka opened the large door of the Yukima household, announcing her return.
"Welcome home."
Yukima Azuma was sitting in the living room, his head bowed down doing something.
Kasumigaoka Utaha took her white slippers from the shoe rack.
Just as she was about to change into them,
Her gaze fell on a corner of the room where a pair of cherry pink slippers had been unboxed.
"Did Sora Ginko come by today?" Kasumigaoka asked, looking towards the living room.
Yukima Azuma raised his head. "No, why do you ask?"
She stared at the pair of slippers for a moment.
Kasumigaoka Utaha changed into her slippers and walked towards the living room.
She had only made it halfway there,
When suddenly, she felt something soft rush at her feet.
Kasumigaoka Utaha let out a startled sound, hurriedly looking down.
At that moment, she saw a small creature resembling a white gem clinging to her leg, its head tilted up to look at her.
Its bright eyes, one in each color, gazed into hers.
At that very instant, Kasumigaoka Utaha felt her heart begin to melt.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, senpai. On my way home, I picked this little one up."
"If I brought it to a rescue center, it might be put into eternal sleep."
"So I had no choice but to bring it back. Since it was an emergency, I didn't ask for your permission. I'm really sorry."
Yukima Azuma clasped his hands together in an apologetic gesture.
Kasumigaoka Utaha reached out and lifted the white gem-like creature from the ground.
She gently stroked its fluffy white fur.
Kasumigaoka Utaha unconsciously smiled.
"This time, I'll let it slide. I'll forgive you, ex-boyfriend-kun. Does this little one have a name?"
"Shiratamaru."
"Hmm... not bad."
And so, as Kasumigaoka playfully called "Shiratamaru," she teased the kitten with her fingertips.
For a moment, she forgot all about the cherry pink slippers.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma breathed a sigh of relief, bowing his head again to continue his work.
After playing with Shiratamaru for a while,
Kasumigaoka Utaha let it go and sat down beside Yukima Azuma.
She curiously looked at the laptop screen in front of him.
It was a document page.
Notes and story developments filled the screen.
"This is...?"
Kasumigaoka stared at the story plot Yukima Azuma was writing, her eyes lighting up as she asked.
"This is the plan. Aren't we planning to start a game club?"
"If we've decided to do it, then naturally we have to take it seriously and aim for perfection."
"This is what senpai taught me. I'm not like certain people who scribble a few lines in their plan and then hope the script and visuals will automatically turn into a game."
Yukima Azuma replied.
Hearing Yukima Azuma's words, Kasumigaoka Utaha was momentarily stunned.
Then she quickly reacted.
This guy... What was that about 'senpai taught me'?
Clearly, he was mocking her perfectionism.
Thinking this, Kasumigaoka Utaha let out a soft snort.
But this ex-boyfriend of hers really held grudges.
To make Aki Tomoya "sink into the depths," he was truly putting in every effort.
Even so, his seriousness was undeniably captivating.
At that moment, Yukima Azuma reached the final part of his work.
Once he finished the draft,
Yukima Azuma pushed the laptop toward Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"Senpai, take a look."
Kasumigaoka Utaha, of course, didn't refuse; she had already been extremely curious about what kind of literary work Yukima Azuma could produce.
Flipping to the first page, she saw the title of the plan:
White Album.
Fifteen minutes later, Kasumigaoka Utaha had finished reading the entire plan.
When she looked up, her gaze toward Yukima Azuma carried a subtle, indescribable expression.
"Well? It's decent, right?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't know what to say for a moment.
Decent?
This plan was far beyond just "decent."
From the perspective of a light novel author, this was completely a story that could make someone's heart tremble.
Shewho the world often referred to as a genius light novel authorcouldn't find a single point that needed revision in this story.
All that remained was to write the script, flesh out the details, and add a few side story branches.
Moreover, as a project plan, it was already perfect down to the finest detail.
With a plan like this, if it were introduced to the market, there would surely be countless people willingly throwing money in to invest.
A work of this caliber.
And yet, it was Yukima Azuma, someone who had never written any literary work before, who managed to create this in just a single day?
"Ex-boyfriend-kun, have you ever thought about giving up shogi and becoming a light novel author?"
Finally, Kasumigaoka Utaha voiced this question.
Hearing that, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Well, it depends on the situation."
Recently, his literary skills had reached a level of proficiency, advancing to level six.
Although he hadn't yet reached the realm of mastery,
His writing skills were definitely sufficient for debuting as a light novel author.
Moreover, in his mind, there were countless stories that didn't yet exist in this world.
Becoming a light novel author might not be such a bad path.
Hmm, so, depending on the situation.
"Using a work of this level just to hurt someone is such a waste of talent. Can you be any more petty?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha pushed the laptop aside, sounding somewhat helpless.
"Well, who told that guy to mess with something he shouldn't have touched?"
Yukima Azuma smiled faintly.
Hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha once again thought back to the conversation earlier, in the kitchen.
The corners of her mouth lifted unconsciously.
"Do whatever you want."
Saying this, Kasumigaoka Utaha went off to cuddle Shiratamaru.
Yukima Azuma closed the laptop, putting it into his backpack in preparation for any necessary situations tomorrow.
...
The next day.
"I have something to say to you. Come here."
Eriri, just back from her leave, stopped Yukima Azuma early in the morning and said this.
Yukima Azuma was stunned for a moment, then followed the golden twintails, walking toward a secluded corner of the school building.
As Eriri walked ahead, her golden twin ponytails bounced, giving an irresistible urge to reach out and grab them.
Even though she was only wearing the school uniform, the youthful energy of the girl was clearly apparent.
Beneath her pleated skirt, the "zettai ryoiki" made it impossible not to think impure thoughts, while the black stockings created alluring curves along her legs.
In fact, if one ignored the chest area, Eriri's body was quite perfect.
While Yukima Azuma's thoughts wandered,
Eriri stopped suddenly.
Yukima Azuma almost bumped into her, but luckily he stopped just in time, only brushing her arm.
However, in the past, even the slightest touch would cause Eriri to blush and run off in embarrassment.
Now, she turned around and grabbed Yukima Azuma's wrist.
This made Yukima Azuma freeze in place, stunned.
Chapter 46: Eriri: Kato Megumi Really Is a Good Person
Chapter 46: Eriri: Kato Megumi Really Is a Good Person
In a secluded corner of the school building.
Eriri firmly gripped Yukima Azuma's wrist.
After a moment of daze, Yukima Azuma's gaze fell on Eriri's exposed earlobes peeking out from her hair.
They were flushed red.
For some reason, Yukima Azuma felt a sense of relief.
This was still the Eriri he knewnothing had changed.
Only today, she must have summoned unimaginable courage to do something that even surprised him.
Thinking this, Yukima Azuma gently reached out and stroked Eriri's golden hair.
He felt the softness atop her head.
Eriri, who had prepared a mountain of things to say, suddenly forgot everything.
For a moment, her mind went completely blank.
'Say something! Say anything, Eriri!'
Her heart urged her.
Unlike the hesitation from before,
This time, Eriri followed the call of her heart.
She threw herself into Yukima Azuma's arms.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I I was so stubborn before! I'm sorry!"
Halfway through, her voice choked up.
Yukima Azuma could clearly feel the uniform on his chest becoming wet.
Feeling Eriri's resolve as she tried to overcome her own obstinate nature,
Yukima Azuma wrapped her slender frame tightly in his arms.
She cried for a long while.
Her tears left a large damp patch on Yukima Azuma's uniform.
When Eriri finally stopped sobbing, she looked up at him.
"Azuma, can you forgive me?"
Her entire heart felt as though it were suspended mid-air,
As if awaiting judgment.
Eriri was terrified that Yukima Azuma would say something cold and hurtful.
No matter how tightly his arms held her, she feared it was all just an illusion.
She had finally realized how deeply she had hurt Yukima Azuma in the past, relying on his love to inflict wounds on him.
"With such a heartfelt apology, how could I refuse you?"
Yukima Azuma smiled softly.
Eriri's eyes widened.
In those deep blue irises, the image of the boy reflected clearly, her gaze brimming with pure joy.
"Ayaya, Eriri, you're really cheating hereyou know perfectly well that I can't refuse any of your requests as long as you cry."
Yukima Azuma leaned down and whispered gently into her ear.
His breath brushed past Eriri's earlobe.
Her slender body trembled slightly.
Eriri had finally apologized, so of course, Yukima Azuma was willing to start their story over again.
Any progress from this tsundere girl was precious.
And this time, it wasn't just a little progress
It was a monumental step forward.
After that, Yukima Azuma took Eriri to wash her face.
He carefully wiped the lingering tears off her cheeks.
"By the way, I'm planning to form a game club, Eriri. Would you like to join?"
Right at the classroom door, Yukima Azuma suddenly asked.
Eriri froze, memories of unpleasant experiences flashed briefly through her mind.
But when she looked at the boy in front of her,
Those unhappy memories quickly melted away.
"What's this? If you want to invite me, at least be more serious about it!"
Eriri muttered softly.
She had changed a little, but not too much.
"Eriri-sama, for my game club, the person to draw the character designs can only be you. Please, lend me your talents!"
Of course, Yukima Azuma didn't hesitate to shower her with praise.
Eriri had taken the initiative to compromise this much
Saying a few sweet words was no big deal, right?
Hearing Yukima Azuma say "can only be you",
Eriri's face instantly turned red.
"Alright, I'll join!"
Eriri nodded and agreed.
After that, the two of them returned to the classroom.
When she sat down,
Eriri cupped her face in her hands, her joy so apparent that anyone could see it.
