Wash Up First!

Cooking was a success.

"Heh, just you wait and see."

After serving the completed dishes attractively and placing the final plate on the table, the two people who had kept their eyes closed until then suddenly opened them with a pop!

"Wow! … Uh, Eve…?"

"Food made by Eve… Hm? E-Eve?"

"...Why, why are you acting like this?"

I had expected them to exclaim in amazement.

Contrary to expectations, their reactions were peculiar.

"T-This… What is it? Oh, maybe it's steak…!"

"…That's steamed eggs."

"Ah, then this must be the steak!"

"That's apple pie…"

"Oh."

"Ah…"

Silence.

The awkward silence descended over the dining table, which had been lively with conversation just moments ago.

"Haha, but this dessert turned out well. These must be Eve's favorite chocolate cookies!"

"That's the steak…"

"…I'm sorry."

Don't apologize.

It just makes me feel even more pathetic…

"Well… as long as it tastes good, right?"

"Of course, of course. Hope really is clever."

"…You don't both need to try so hard."

That's just how my cooking is.

Having exposed my poor cooking skills to the world, I drooped my head low under the waves of embarrassment rushing over me.

I was sorry.

Sorry for ruining the dinner of the old man who had chosen to stay here and eat with us instead of heading to town.

Sorry for disappointing Hope, who had trusted me to prepare the meal after working hard on lunch… I couldn't bear to lift my head.

"There's no need to be so disheartened. I'll give it a try!"

"I'll give it a try too!"

"…You can spit it out if it tastes bad."

I had no expectations.

That "as long as it tastes good" line is a typical trope in fiction.

It's so rare for it to actually mean the food is good.

It's 100% going to be "ugh"…!

"Oh?"

"Wow."

"…Huh?"

But their reactions were strange.

Instead of the expected "ugh" or pale faces, they let out genuine exclamations of admiration.

"…It's delicious?"

"It really is. It's incredibly tasty!"

"T-That can't be."

Really?

It's really good?

"See, the steak may look burnt on the outside, but the inside is perfectly moist!"

"Exactly! It's evenly cooked to perfection!"

"…Unbelievable."

Amid the numerous compliments directed at me, I cautiously cut into the steak and took a bite, half-believing and half-doubting.

"Gasp, it's d-delicious?!"

It was true.

Not only the steak but also the steamed eggs, apple pie, and salad—all the dishes, though charred on the outside, were fantastically cooked inside, delivering an incredible flavor.

"With such amazing cooking skills, you really are a Eve! Being the head of the orphanage isn't just for anyone!"

"This is almost like magic. How did you manage this?"

"…I'm not sure myself."

Is this a dream?

"Eve?"

"Ow, ow… It hurts, so it's not a dream."

"Eve, you should eat too. These dishes are so good, they might run out quickly."

"…Yes, yes!"

Though I wasn't sure how, I knew that my cooking had turned out well, so now it was time to enjoy it.

"Wow, this is amazing!"

"It's perfect. I knew Eve's cooking was the best."

"Eve, you're the best!"

Hmm, if I dare say, perhaps the chef's talent hidden within me has finally awakened?

Otherwise, how else can this situation be explained?

Well, whatever the case, it's a good thing.

Pushing aside all troubling thoughts, I began savoring various dishes, marveling at my incredible cooking skills.

"It's delicious!"

"It's tasty!"

"It's so good!"

Kind people, delicious food shared together.

And an evening meal in a treehouse brimming with the scent of nature.

"Wow!"

Is this what it means to be intoxicated by the atmosphere?

As my stomach filled, warmth spread through me, and the tension eased, my mind began to wander.

Not long ago, I used to feel overwhelmed just living day by day.

But at some point, I gained a precious family and formed precious bonds.

"This is nice, isn't it?"

"Yes, this kind of warm atmosphere is new to me."

"…Uh? Hope, what kind of life have you been living?"

"Me? Hmm, I've had a lot of work to do. But it's okay because I'm happy now."

Like a salad where different colors come together and intertwine into one dish,

The people gathered here had lived in entirely different worlds, different lives, and different stories.

"Shall we gather again next time?"

"Not a bad idea. How about tomorrow?"

"I don't want that."

"Haha, our Hope is as prickly as a cat."

"Don't pat my head."

"Goodness, they say children resemble their parents. You even speak the same way."

"…I'm not a parent. I'm the head of the orphanage!"

"It was a joke."

Though there was no alcohol here, everyone was intoxicated.

They were intoxicated by each other.

"Hah… I'm so glad Eve came to our village."

"Me too. I'm glad you were the first person I met here. Oh, Hope too, of course."

"I agree. If Eve hadn't been there, if I hadn't followed the light to the orphanage that day… ugh, I can't even imagine it."

Though the time we had known each other was short and there was still much we didn't know about one another…

"By the way, Hope, how about visiting the village?"

"…Old man, what are you up to now?"

"Haha, nothing suspicious. I just want to introduce you to the villagers. That's all."

"…"

"There won't be any problems. The villagers are friendly towards beastfolk. And if anything does happen, this old man will protect you, so don't worry."

"I'll be there too!"

"Eve…"

There was a reason why we could trust and rely on one another.

And we had the confidence that these bonds would never break.

"It's also a personal reason… I don't want to see a child suffer anymore."

"Old man…"

"W-What's with this sentimental atmosphere? Fine, I'll go."

"Hope, don't push yourself too hard."

"…It's fine, Eve. It's a necessary step if I'm going to keep living at the orphanage."

"Okay. But if you're embarrassed, you can stick close to me."

"Stick…! Yes, I will!"

Just looking at one another brought happiness, and this time felt more precious than anything else.

Truly.

* * * *

Happy times always pass quickly.

The mountain of food and stories had vanished before we knew it, and the dim outdoors had turned pitch black, where not even a step ahead could be seen.

"See you next time~!"

"Next time… Come if you want, or don't."

"Take care. Ah, it's dark out, so don't go outside, no matter what!"

"Who do you think you're talking to? I won't go out!"

"Seriously, don't! It's really dangerous out there!"

The old man seemed reluctant to leave the orphanage, giving us several warnings before finally taking his heavy steps away.

"…Does he always act like that?"

"Yeah, he's more of a worrywart than he looks."

"It's so dark outside, will he be okay getting back?"

"He's really strong, so he'll be fine. …Wait, hold on, Hope, are you worried about him? You are, aren't you?!"

"…Uh, uh, no! It's just… it's so dark outside."

"Heh."

Hope's starting to worry about others now. Impressive.

I guess having dinner with the old man helped.

She even managed to make eye contact and talk with him earlier. Looks like she's not as shy as before.

Hope, you've grown!

"Um, um… Eve, now that the old man is gone… that…"

"Hm?"

"That… ugh…"

That?

What does she mean by that?

…Oh, could it be that?

Well, now that it's dark and we've eaten, it's about time for bed.

"Heh, our Hope is in more of a hurry than I thought?"

"…Ugh."

Well, kids do tend to get sleepy early.

It's not unusual to feel tired already.

Especially after eating, the food coma must be kicking in.

"Alright, I'll be lying down, so why don't you go wash up first?"

"…Wha—fine, I'll be quick!"

"Take your time."

I wanted to wash up first myself.

There's nothing better than showering quickly and getting cozy in bed.

But I had to let Hope go first.

Unlike me, she had been lying outside for a long time, sweating a lot, so she must have been feeling really uncomfortable.

"I'll be back!"

"…She's fast."

Thud, thud.

Unlike her usual self, Hope rushed to the bathroom in a hurry, almost clumsy in her haste.

How uncomfortable must she have felt to be in such a rush?

…I should have told her to wash up before eating.

"Heave-ho."

Thinking, taking care of a kid is really tough, I flopped onto the bed.

If she feels uncomfortable, I wish she'd speak up right away.

Maybe it's because she's gone through so much and grown so mature that she doesn't like showing her discomfort.

Since we're both just kids, I wish she'd feel free to whine and lean on me a little.

"Well, time will take care of that…"

Hoping for the day when Hope could release all the burdens in her heart, I let my gradually heavier eyelids close.

Ah, I shouldn't sleep like this.

I need to wash up…