Chikasugiru Karera no, Juunanasai no Tooi Kankei [LN] V2 Chapter 1.6

Chapter 1 - After The End Of The Rainy Season

"Ugh-. I'm no match for her at all."

Yuriko was still holding back. In a game that lasted only ten minutes, the margin was as large as 7 vs 0 points.

Almost always, Yuriko had a point on one play, and her ball possession was over seventy percent. Izumi was disappointed, perhaps because she couldn't do anything more than she expected. In contrast, Yuriko was in a very good mood, saying, "Fufufuu~n."

"You. She's a beginner, so take it easy on her."

Yuriko's lips twitched slightly, saying, "What?". Izumi was calm and quiet, so I was sure she would be fine, but if I messed up, the atmosphere could have been very bad.

Suddenly, I thought to myself, "This was the opposite of the way it was supposed to be,". Yuriko usually warned me about my lack of social skills and my inability to read the atmosphere.

"Ugh-. Kenichi-kun, pass."

With that, Izumi offered me the controller. It seemed that Yuriko and I would play next. Yuriko stayed with Germany, I chose Spain, and we started the game.

Perhaps she heard my warning, or perhaps she felt better after winning one game, but the next time she and Izumi played, Yuriko began to go easy on her. So the three of us continued to play the game, and soon it was around 5:00 p.m.

"Ah. It's almost 5:00 p.m. Let's get ready for dinner," Yuriko said.

"Right," Izumi stood up as well, smiling, and they walked to the kitchen.

Izumi put on the sakura-colored apron that hung on the back of the dining chair, and Yuriko pulled out a yellow apron from a tote bag that was propped up next to the sofa. Yuriko quickly tied the strings behind her back and tied her hair up in one bundle, as she did during club activities. Wearing shorts and an apron, Yuriko looked like someone I didn't know at all.

Yuriko looked back at me and said, "What's wrong?" I was startled and shook my head. 

"No, nothing. I'm going back to my room. I don't want to bother you."

"Okay. I'll call you when everything is ready."

Izumi said as she fixed her hair with an elastic band.

Yuriko and Izumi cooked dinner, which consisted of a hamburger steak, tomato and lettuce salad, and consomme soup.

My mother was coming home much earlier than usual that day, a little after 7:00 p.m., so the four of us ate dinner together.

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Yuriko and Izumi sat down across from me and my mother. We said, "Itadakimasu," and the four of us began to eat. The voluminous hamburger steak was topped with a sweet sauce, and I had a feeling that this menu was more to Yuriko's meat-loving liking than to Izumi's.

"What do you think?"

Yuriko asked.

"Delicious," I replied.

Then, "Fufufu. How is it?" she said proudly.

"Did Yuriko-chan cook these?" my mother asked, and she nodded with a smile.

"I do the meat and Izumi-san does the rest."

"Hee~. Kenichi, do you realize how lucky you are right now?"

My mother gave me a mischievous gaze. Even I could tell what she was trying to say. I knew, but I didn't know how to respond, so I just replied, "I know," and let the conversation drift away.

Then, as I was about to eat my salad, I looked for the dressing that I always keep on the table when I eat. The other three had already put on what I assumed was Caesar dressing, so I figured it would be nearby. Then, "Oh," Izumi said, getting up from her seat and opening the refrigerator.

"Here. Sorry, I put it away when we used it." 

"Thanks. I was just looking for it." When I received it, I suddenly felt Yuriko's eyes on me.

Yuriko was looking at me. Our eyes met for a split second, and then we both looked away from each other. Then she immediately brightened her expression and began talking with my mother.

During the meal, I wondered how the atmosphere at the dining table would change with just one Yuriko. I was uncomfortable because I did not fit in with the atmosphere, but the three women chatted happily without seeming to have any reservations. Even with my mother, myself, and Izumi all together, it was usually quieter. Today, however, they were very lively.

"Thank you for the food."

After we finished eating, we clasped our hands.

When I got up to wash my own dishes and return to my room, "Kenichi," my mother called out to me.

"What?"

"Preparations for tomorrow's festival begin at 1:00 p.m., don't forget."

"Yeah. Got it."

Yuriko joined the conversation when I replied.

"Is Kenichi going to help them?"

"Yeah. We were in charge of the preparations. Kenichi is going to help set up the tent. Are you going to the festival too, Yuriko-chan?"

"Yes. I was planning to go with my friends. That reminds me, Kenichi, it looks like Akari and Nagai will be there tomorrow. Let's go over there and have some fun."

"Nagai is coming too?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm saying."

"Got it," I replied and washed my dishes in the sink. Izumi and Yuriko were to take the bath first. When it came time to decide the order of the baths, Izumi walked up and down the stairs with a clatter of her slippers and brought some bathing salts with her. The three of them started talking right then and there about which bathing salts they wanted to take. I went back to my room as if I had been thrown off by the atmosphere.

I pressed the switch on the wall and turned on the light. I sat down on the chair and took a breath of fresh air at the quietness of my room.

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