Kei: By the way, Sakuya-san, what should we do about dinner today?
Sakuya: Hey you, after stuffing yourself to bursting, you’re already worrying about dinner?
Sakuya: In the world of today, you aren’t gonna miss a meal just because you weren’t scouting for prey 24/7. There’s no need to rush.
Kei: It’s not that I’m rushing, you know. I think Tsudzura-chan and I can deal with nutrient supplemented food, anyway, so I’m fine with us heading home like this.
Sakuya: Mph……
Sakuya-san puts a hand to her stomach, and lovingly pets at its slowly dissolving contents.
Sakuya: You got me there… after eating something this good, there’s no way I can bear that seedy crap now……
Sakuya: Okay, I’ll be putting my hand to the task tonight, then.
Kei: Ehhh!?
As my body recoils, the chair underneath cries in resistance.
Sakuya: What in the hell is that reaction supposed to mean?
Kei: But, Sakuya-san, you mean you can cook? I haven’t seen you cook, ever!
Sakuya: I haven’t had the opportunity. Anytime I went over to your place to hang out, Mayumi always did everything, and there was no chance to show off.
Kei: Of course, Mom was always good at cooking.
Sakuya: Hmph! The people who showed your mother the ropes were Emiko-san and yours truly.
Kei: Eeehh!?
Not only my grandmother, but Sakuya-san——
Sakuya: Ke~i~
Her exhausted and pathetically disappointed voice brings my dumbfounded self back to my senses.
Kei: But, you do all your work outside, Sakuya-san. I didn’t think you had time to do any domestic stuff……
Tsudzura: She does have that image, doesn’t she~?
Hardly ever home, but when you’re in trouble, you can count on her – a regular family’s daikokubashira. When she’s off work, she lounges around, leaving all the housework to my mother. (TN: Daikokubashira – 大黒柱 – central pillar supporting a traditional Japanese home.)
I guess that father-like image is something I projected on her without giving it much thought.
Kei: Uuu! I’m sorry……
Sakuya: Whatever, it’s alright. I’m used to not being seen as a domestic type, anyway, in many ways.
Sakuya: ……On this one Valentine‘s, before, I passed out some homemade chocolates to my favorite editorial group, you know? And of course, it had all the earmarks of an obligatory gift, right?
Kei: Yeah?
Sakuya: You’d think they’d be thankful, but things got really awkward instead.
Kei: …………
Tsudzura: Tahaha, that is truly a disaster……
Tsudzura: By the way, Sakuya-san, I have connected the electricity and water in that house, but the gas is beyond my means. Can you still cook in that environment?
Kei: Ah, if that’s it, it should be fine. Sakuya-san has a portable stove packed in her car. Right?
Sakuya: I’m not usin’ that. It’d be a waste.
Kei: But, how can you cook, then?
If she was mom’s teacher, slicing tofu and serving it cold—— probably isn’t the answer, I think.
Sakuya: First of all, we’re gonna gather some firewood when we get back.
Kei: Firewood?
Sakuya: The mansion has a stove, right? That’s how we all used to cook back then.
Kei: ……Wah, firewood and a stove is really retro. Tsudzura: Well, it is a retro residence, that is for certain.
Kei: But, you hardly ever get the chance to do that. It sounds kinda fun!
When I think of blowing at a fire through a bamboo pipe, even though I know it’s a lot of work, it makes me feel excited in spite of myself.
And seeing as Sakuya-san is so used to the outdoors, that’s a lot easier to imagine than her humming and cooking cheerfully, and a relief.
Tsudzura: If that is the plan then, Sakuya-san, I shall return early with Obana-chan via bus and gather firewood for you. Yes.
Sakuya: Are you okay with that?
Tsudzura: If we do not scout them out quickly, we may be forced to burn green wood, and Obana-chan can’t be brought to stores dealing in cooking ingredients, besides.
Kei: That makes sense. And we’ve already left Obana-chan alone all this time, haven’t we?
Tsudzura: Tahaha…… there is that, too.
Tsudzura: Furthermore, if we can first gather the wood together, then Sakuya-san can begin her preparations the moment she returns. It is the perfect arrangement for efficiency. Yes.
Sakuya: Alright. I’ll leave the firewood to you, then.
Tsudzura: Ten-four, it is! I will be expecting some delicious food in exchange, though.
Sakuya: Oh yeah, expect your heart out.
I can’t tell whether she’s confident she’ll meet any expectations, no matter how high, or if all her confidence has no basis in reality——
I imagine it was on purpose, but Sakuya-san throws out a line that fans unease, and curves her lips in a smile.
Sakuya: So, what’ll you be doing, Kei?
| サクヤさんに付き合う | 葛ちゃんと一緒に帰る |
| I’ll go with Sakuya-san. | I’ll go home with Tsudzura-chan. |