Chapter 69 - The Ambiguity in the Kitchen (Part 2)

'Shirakawa Miwa, what's wrong with you? Why are you daydreaming like a lovesick girl? How can you entertain such thoughts about Ito-kun?!...'

Inside the kitchen, Miwa wasn't hasty to start cooking. She turned on the faucet, cupped her hands under the cool running water, and gently splashed it on her flushed cheeks to cool down and ease her shyness.

Remembering how lately she had been feeling like a blossoming girl, she often dreamed of scandalous scenes at night, always with the same leading man. Just when she was about to see his face clearly, she would suddenly wake up, as if her heart craved yet resisted at the same time.

Every time she had that dream and woke up to an empty room, a sense of loneliness washed over her.

'Clearly, I've lived alone for a long time and wasn't this lonely before... When did this start?'

Touching her face, Miwa fell into deep thought.

"Shirakawa Miwa…"

"Ah!" 

Suddenly jolted from her thoughts by a voice, Miwa flailed her arms in surprise, causing her T-shirt to sway slightly.

"Ito-kun!" she shouted angrily, the embarrassment in her heart spilling out into her words.

"Sorry, sorry." Yoshito apologized awkwardly, realizing he hadn't expected Miwa to react so dramatically.

Taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart from the initial shock, Miwa looked at Yoshito, knowing he still wanted to help.

"Geez!" Miwa pouted in dissatisfaction, "Ito-kun always says I'm stubborn, but aren't you the same?"

"Ha ha ha…" 

Yoshito laughed awkwardly, fully aware that he couldn't contradict her.

"Fine, since it's like this, could you help me wash once, Ito-kun?"

Since Miwa rented a one-bedroom apartment, the kitchen space wasn't large, making it feel somewhat cramped with two people inside.

So they couldn't really cook together; one had to take charge, while the other helped out.

"Happy to oblige."

... 

"Bang bang bang…"

Calm returned to the kitchen, leaving only the sounds of knife blades striking the cutting board as they processed ingredients.

After handing Miwa the washed potatoes, onions, and other items, Yoshito watched her skillfully handle the fish and asked,

"Sensei, do you cook often?"

"Yeah~" She continued slicing without looking back. "Since I live alone, and I'm also quite interested in cooking."

"You're truly a virtuous woman."

"Hehe…" 

Watching Miwa busy with the fish, realizing her hands were tied and she couldn't manage the vegetables, Yoshito thought for a moment and picked up the washed onion, giving it a little roll in his hand.

"Sensei, let me handle the onions."

"Then I'll trouble you, Ito-kun, but be careful; cutting onions can make you cry! Watch out for your hands!"

"I'll be careful!"

Nodding, Yoshito squatted down to grab a knife and a cutting board from the kitchen cabinet.

"Bang bang..." 

As the knife sliced through the layers of the onion, a faint pungent aroma wafted through the air.

His cutting motion became more fluid, yet Yoshito could feel tears starting to well up in the corners of his eyes. What initially felt just slightly moist turned into a stream of tears as he continued to slice.

"Are you alright, Ito-kun?!"

Having finished with the fish, Miwa turned around and was startled by the sight of Yoshito's tear-streaked face.

Setting down the knife, she hurried over to him.

"Ito-kun, stop cutting for now; let me see."

With her soft hands, she cupped Yoshito's face, forcing him to turn toward her, noticing his red eyes spilling over with clear tears. Concern filled Miwa's expression.

"Are you okay, Ito-kun? Why are you crying so much?!"

"Oh, um, I accidentally rubbed my eye after touching the onion..."

Yoshito felt embarrassed, realizing how clumsy he had been.

"Idiot! How could you be so careless?"

Gently pinching his cheeks and giving a light reprimand, Miwa softly wiped the tears from Yoshito's face.

"Ito-kun, could you squat down a bit?"

Looking at Yoshito's red eyes, Miwa tiptoed, her pale, slightly pink foot stepping out of her house slippers.

"Phew—"

Her cherry lips parted slightly, blowing soft, warm breaths over Yoshito's eyes, alleviating the stinging sensation.

Miwa was blowing gently onto Yoshito's red eyes!

"Phew—"

"Ito-kun, do you feel better?"

Gazing into Miwa's gentle eyes that seemed to shimmer like autumn waves, Yoshito nodded slightly, "Yeah…"

"Then I'll continue."

"Phew—" 

A warm, fragrant breeze swept into his nose, and instinctively, Yoshito embraced Miwa's slim waist again.

"Hmm?"

"Sensei, don't get me wrong... I'm just trying to support you…"

As Miwa stared into Yoshito's eyes, she realized just how intimately close they were, feeling the rhythm of their heartbeats resonating with one another.

Biting her lip, it felt as though a little devil inside her was enticing her, and after a moment of hesitation, a faint response slipped out.

"Yeah…"

"…" 

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