Wait, Why are you crying?
The food didn't even glisten, glow, or anything!
Kazami Haru looked helplessly at Uika, who suddenly started shedding pearl-like tears. To him, his Lv.5 cooking skill didn't seem that different from Lv.4, he never expected such an intense reaction from his "judge."
He was even starting to wonder if he did accidentally slip something strange into the food.
"S-Sorry—!"
"I didn't mean anything by it! It's just that... Haru-kun's cooking is so delicious, I couldn't help myself..."
Seeing the shock in Haru's eyes, Uika immediately realized something was off. She reached for a tissue to wipe her tears, her pale fingers trembling slightly but the more she tried to stop it, the more the tears welled up.
How long had it been since she last cried?
Uika's tears weren't from sadness. They came from memories: sweet, fleeting ones. Since coming from the countryside to the dazzling city of Tokyo, she had lived alone. The pressure of being an idol, her bottled-up emotions, the loneliness—all of it had been buried deep inside.
Now that her emotional dam had cracked, she felt... lighter. Almost like she could breathe again.
"I'll grab something to drink. Uika-san want anything?"
Haru handed her a few soft tissues.
Even if it wasn't intentional, he had played a role in triggering this. While he was sure he didn't add anything weird to the food, it was clearly his cooking that had brought her to tears.
"Thank you…"
Uika took the tissues instinctively, watching as he turned and walked back to the kitchen. That little bit of thoughtfulness from Haru stirred a complicated feeling inside her. She wasn't sure how to deal with him anymore.
Chomp…
Still holding her chopsticks, Uika took another bite of the braised pork.
Warmth bloomed inside her like spring sunlight, and for a moment, all her worries about work, public image, gossip... just faded.
"So good… Really, so good…"
She took small, careful bites, as if trying to savor every last piece.
Thinking about Haru's subtle kindness, something soft unfurled in her heart. Uika wiped her eyes again with a tissue, regaining her composure with the practiced poise of a professional idol.
"Haru-kun, can I have the Cream Puff Oolong Tea now~?"
"Knew it."
With a teasing grin, Haru pulled the drink out of the fridge, pouring it into two cheap plastic cups. As he passed one over, Uika tilted her head, curious.
Neither of them said a word as they clinked cups and took a gulp and immediately pulled identical faces.
This new drink was exactly as bizarre as it sounded.
They both looked like they'd just swallowed regret in liquid form.
Yep, should've gone with the Apple lemon tea. At least that one tastes like actual food.
Pfft—
Uika couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Watching Haru's reaction made her laugh even harder. Sharing silly little moments like this, it was something Uika hadn't experienced in a long, long time.
Ever since she became an idol with a mask to wear at all times, she had forgotten what it felt like to laugh from the heart.
But sitting across from this boy, the weight she carried seemed a little lighter. Even this terrible tea didn't taste quite so bad anymore.
"I once tried garlic-flavored coffee. That was even worse than this."
"Ehh?! I kinda want to try that now~"
She had removed her sunglasses and cap, revealing her stunning beauty in full.
Chatting so casually, taking bigger bites without worrying about appearances, it was her way of showing Haru respect as the cook.
...
By the time they finished dinner, it was already 8 PM.
Uika sat on the couch, cheeks glowing from the meal. It was so delicious she had completely let go, helping Haru polish off all four dishes. Even her usually flat stomach was starting to puff out a little.
As a famous idol, she normally watched her weight obsessively.
But tonight? She threw all that out the window.
"...Haru-kun, thank you so much for the meal."
Her violet eyes sparkled with a mix of embarrassment and warmth. She had let her guard down completely tonight, her polished public persona had likely crumbled.
"No need to thank me. I enjoyed it too."
"But it's getting late. Once I'm done cleaning up, I'll walk you home."
As he started clearing the table, Uika tried to help, only to be stopped by a flat refusal.
"No way I'm letting a top idol wash my dishes. What if your fans show up tomorrow with knives?"
Realizing she couldn't win that argument, Uika slumped back onto the couch. The peaceful feeling after dinner made everything feel like a dream.
She had never felt so... relaxed.
It was almost like one of those late-night dramas, with newlywed couples—
No, no, stop!
She shook her head vigorously. Was the food messing with her brain?
Still, she had gotten what she came for, plenty of insight.
So far, Haru didn't seem like the kind of guy who toyed with emotions. She hadn't seen a single red flag.
If Sakiko really did love him... then maybe Uika could help her, just a little.
"...I think I kind of get how Sakiko feels now."
She stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought.
She remembered that day she saw them together on the street, Sakiko walking beside Haru, smiling like she was glowing.
That memory suddenly made her heart stir in a way she didn't expect. She caught the shift in her mood right away.
Weird…
Why am I even thinking about this?
Haru soon finished cleaning up, and they slipped their shoes on to head out.
Thankfully, her place wasn't far, so they strolled slowly, continuing their chat.
Of course, for safety reasons, he wasn't walking her all the way to her door. Just nearby.
"Good thing I came to your place today, Haru-kun. If I hadn't... I might've missed out on one of the best meals of my life. I'd seriously regret it."
Wearing her cap again, Uika walked with both hands behind her back. Haru could tell by the slight lilt in her voice, she was in a great mood.
"Not a big deal."
Despite his modest words, the proud smile tugging at the corners of his lips betrayed him.
Seeing that, Uika burst into laughter again, her gaze full of warmth.
"No stars…"
Looking up at the dark Tokyo sky, she sighed. In a city this bright, stargazing was hopeless. Every time she looked up, she felt a little lonely.
Just as she lost herself in thought, Haru spoke beside her:
"If you don't mind... you're welcome to come over for dinner again sometime."
"Eh?"
Uika blinked and looked up at him.
And just then, for the first time, she thought she saw actual stars twinkling above.
A strange emotion welled up in her chest.
"Come over again... for dinner?"
She opened her mouth, ready to refuse after all, this was just a mission to see who Haru really was. She didn't need to come again.
But the words that came out—
"Can I really?"
Haru's lips curved up in a sly smile.
"Sure, but next time you're paying for groceries."
He even made a little money sign with his fingers, totally unfazed.
"Groceries, huh?"
The word felt unfamiliar to her. But the next moment, her violet eyes sparkled mischievously. She leaned in playfully, her voice soft and teasing:
"Eh~ do I really have to pay?"
Of course!
Doesn't matter if you're Uika from Sumimi, or even if it's cute little Sakiko or Mutsumi—
everyone pays for groceries!
(Except if it's Blue-Eyes White Dragon. That one eats for free.)
"I got it~ Next time, I'll pay for groceries properly."
Before Haru could reply, Uika spoke up again, almost too eagerly.
A graceful, mature smile spread across her pale, lovely face. Even with her cap and sunglasses on, it couldn't hide her overwhelming charm. Under the dim streetlights, she looked like a beautiful night fairy.
She had her reasons for not refusing.
Mostly, Haru's food was just too good. She couldn't forget the taste even if she wanted to.
And besides, Uika wasn't about to completely drop her guard around him, not yet. A short encounter like this wasn't enough to fully understand someone like Haru. She needed more time, more interactions. Only after that could she truly form a judgment.
So, coming over for dinner a few more times shouldn't be a problem, right?
"Uika, we're here."
"Already?"
Before she realized it, Haru had walked her to a street near her apartment.
Uika had thought there was still a ways to go, and for some reason, she felt a slight pang of disappointment. But she quickly collected herself, adjusted her sunglasses slightly to reveal her dazzling violet eyes, and smiled warmly at him.
"Well then, Haru-kun until next time."
She waved her slender hand in parting, and only after his figure disappeared down the street did her expression melt into a soft, contented smile.
In the end... I totally forgot to talk about lyrics and composition.
With light steps, Uika made her way toward her apartment. That's when her phone buzzed. A glance at the screen told her it was her fellow idol, Sumita Mana. Without hesitation, she answered.
"Hello? Mana?"
[Uika-chaaaaan~ I sent you sooo many messages, why didn't you reply?!]
Mana's lively and cheerful voice rang through the speaker. Uika smiled softly, naturally slipping back into her "idol mode."
Twirling a lock of golden hair around her finger, she replied in a gentle, elegant voice, "Sorry, sorry. I was having dinner and didn't notice."
[Ohhh okay! I was getting all worried about you!]
[By the way, Uika, there's another surprise live show coming up! Our schedule just doubled, and I'm dying. I was gonna use this break to catch up on some shoujo manga I haven't finished yet, but now I don't even have time for that...]
Mana quickly launched into one of her signature rants, but this time, Uika wasn't just politely listening, something felt different.
She found her thoughts drifting back to a certain black-haired, dark-eyed boy.
And before she realized what she was doing, she blurted out—
"Mana… what does it feel like to be in love?"
For a heartbeat, the air froze.
Even the ever-bubbly Mana was caught off guard, pausing for several seconds in stunned silence. Uika herself blinked, realizing what she'd just asked and instantly regretted it.
But there was no taking it back.
[Uika-chan?! Wait, are you saying you're dating someone or that there's someone you like?!]
[Is it a classmate? A senior from another year? Oh wait, you go to an all-girls school, don't you?! Then who is it?! What bastard stole Uika's heart before I even got to experience love?! This is so unfair—]
A flurry of wild, jumbled words exploded from the speaker. Uika pressed her fingers to her temple, letting out a faint sigh as Mana's misunderstanding spiraled out of control.
With a weary look in her violet eyes, Uika raised her phone and tried her best to explain calmly.
"No… it's not like that. I was just asking... for a friend."
[Ahh~ a 'friend,' huh? I get it, I get it.]
Mana's tone shifted from frantic to suspiciously knowing. That smug voice made Uika's face heat up even more, and her grip on the phone grew shaky.
At this rate, she'd never be able to explain herself properly.
"I really was just asking for a friend... Don't overthink it, okay, Mana?"
Unable to deal with the mess any longer, Uika muttered a vague excuse and hung up.
The truth was, she had been thinking about Sakiko.
She just wanted to understand, what was love like for her childhood friend?
If she could grasp even a little of it… maybe she could help.
Yes, that was all.
It was just for Sakiko.
---
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