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Main Story 17 - The Lunch Made by Hiori

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I put my shoulder bag in the living room and go to the kitchen with Hiori.

Hiori immediately stands in the kitchen. As she does so, she puts on a blue apron and uses a blue hair tie to tie her hair into a ponytail.

“Oh, it's a ponytail. It's cute. Do you always go with a ponytail when you cook?”

“I often do. Also, during the hot summer months, I sometimes put it in a ponytail. It keeps my neck cool.”

“I see.”

Come to think of it, last summer... I’ve seen Hiori in summer clothes and a ponytail at the high school building. I think she was even confessed to in that appearance. Let's hope to see Hiori with her hair tied up in a ponytail at school when summer comes around this year.

“I put mine in a ponytail too sometimes! Just like with Onee-chan, when I'm cooking or during the hot summer months. Also, I'm in the badminton club, and I put it in a ponytail when I want to get motivated during practice or a match.”

“I see. Also, Nanami-chan is in the badminton club, huh?”

“Yes! I'm practicing hard for the tournament in June right now!”

Nanami-chan says very cheerfully. I guess you'd be more motivated during practice if you have a goal like a tournament. Kazuo is also practicing hard right now with the goal of participating in the inter-high.

“Hiori. You look really cute in that apron and ponytail, can I take a photo with my smartphone?”

“Sure.”

“Thank you.”

I take out my smartphone and take several photos of Hiori in her apron and ponytail. I'm glad I was able to capture a rare appearance of Hiori in a photo.

After that, I sit down at the dining table and watch Hiori make miso ramen. She’s very skillful. That's part of the reason why she looks so good when cooking.

Also, Nanami-chan serves me cold barley tea and sits down on the chair next to me.

Nanami-chan asks me a lot of things about myself and what has happened since we started dating. I was embarrassed when I talked about what I like about Hiori.

Partly because I was talking with Nanami-chan, the miso ramen was ready in no time.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting. Here is the miso ramen.”

“Ooh, looks delicious.”

Hiori places her special miso ramen in front of me. Placed on top of the medium-thick noodles are stir-fried ingredients such as bean sprouts, carrots, and pork.. It smells delicious and whets my appetite.

Next to me is Hiori. Across from me are Ryou-san and Youko-san. Sitting diagonally in front of me is Nanami-chan.

“Akito-san, thank you for coming today. I'll be happy if it suits your taste. Itadakimasu.”

[Itadakimasu.]

Maybe because she made it just for me, Hiori doesn't even take a bite of the ramen, and just stares at me.

First, I’ll take a sip of the soup. ...Yeah, the flavor of the miso is rich and delicious.

I use the chopsticks to take a good balance of noodles and ingredients and place them in my mouth.

“...Yeah, it's very delicious. The noodles have just the right firmness, and the ingredients on top go well with the miso soup. It's delicious, Hiori.”

When I say that, Hiori sighs in relief and the corners of her mouth turn up slightly.

“I’m glad you said that.”

“Good for you, Onee-chan!”

“Yes. It's not my first time making something for Akito-san, but I was nervous. I'll have some too.”

Hiori takes a bite of her miso ramen. I guess she is satisfied with it, as Hiori nods while murmuring, “Yeah.”

After that, we eat while talking about our lunch on our day off and whether we like noodles such as ramen. In the midst of that, Nanami-chan,

“Kamitou-san. Onee-chan fed you her homemade tamagoyaki, right? I want to see you being fed!”

Gave this request.

There is some feeling of embarrassment in me because I'm in front of Hiori's parents. But my desire to have Hiori feed me won out.

“Should we do it, Hiori?”

“I understand. ...Then, aa─n.”

“Aa─n.”

Hiori feeds me a bite of miso ramen. That one bite is very flavorful and delicious.

“That's nice isn’t it! My heart skipped a beat!”

Nanami-chan is overjoyed. Youko-san says “That’s nice~” with a gentle smile, and Ryou-san is silent but smiling as he looks at us.

“Then, how about having Akito-san feed you as a thank you, Onee-chan?”

Nanami-chan suggests while grinning. Come to think of it, I've never fed Hiori anything, have I?

Hiori's cheeks flushed slightly,

“...I'm curious about how it feels to be fed by Akito-san.”

She says that while glancing at me.

“I got it. Then, I'll feed you one bite.”

As I respond like that, Nanami-chan excitedly says, “Ooh!”

I pick up a mouthful of noodles with my chopsticks and blow on it a few times. I then bring the noodles to Hiori's mouth.

“Hiori. Aa─n.”

“A-aa─n.”

I feed Hiori the noodles while her family watches over us.

Hiori chews the noodles several times and swallows them. Then, Hiori raises the corners of her mouth a little,

“It's delicious. Much better than eating it myself.”

And says that while looking me in the eyes.

Perhaps because our interaction is good, Nanami-chan and Youko-san look very satisfied. Ryou-san also has a gentle smile on his face. I am relieved to see such reactions from her family.

After that, we spent a peaceful lunch time talking about my part-time job and Hagikubo.

“Thank you for the meal. It was really delicious. Thank you, Hiori.”

“I'm happy you finished your meal. Me too, thank you very much.”

It was so delicious that I was able to finish Hiori's miso ramen without any difficulty. I feel like I can finish one more serving of miso ramen of the same amount even if she serves another one.

“Dad will take care of the clean up, so Hiori, you can spend some time with Kamitou-kun.”

“I understand. Thank you very much, Dad. Then, shall we go to my room?”

“Got it.”

“Kamitou-kun, take your time~”

“Yes. I’ll be in the room with Hiori. It was fun having lunch with everyone. Thank you very much.”

I grab my bag from the living room and head to the second floor with Hiori and Nanami-chan.

As I thought when I saw the exterior, it's bigger than my house.

“This is my room.”

A rectangular blue nameplate with the words [Hiori's Room] in English written on it attached to the door. It has a cool feel and is very Hiori-like.

Is Hiori's room beyond this door? My heart is pounding. I wonder if this is what Hiori felt when she was about to enter my room the day before yesterday.

“By the way, my room is next door.”

“I see.”

Attached to the door where Nanami-chan is pointing is a light blue round nameplate with the word [Nanami] in hiragana written on it. It has a cute atmosphere and is very Nanami-chan-like.

“I have a club activity after this, so I'm going to get ready.”

“I understand. Have a safe trip, Nanami.”

“Do your best with your practice. Be careful not to get hurt.”

“Thank you very much! Have a good time with Onee-chan, Kamitou-san! Bye!”

Nanami-chan bows slightly towards me and goes into her room. Nanami-chan really is a girl full of energy.

The badminton tournament will be held in June. I hope Nanami-chan will do her best without pushing herself too hard or getting injured.

“I'm sorry that Nanami asked Akito-san so many questions while I was making lunch. She was really looking forward to meeting Akito-san.”

“I don't mind it at all. I actually enjoyed it instead.”

"That's good to hear. Then, shall we go in?”

I wonder what kind of room Hiori’s is. Is it a simple room? Or is it just a room with a pretty cute atmosphere? I end up imagining all kinds of things. Whatever the atmosphere, it's sure to be a nice room.

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