Haruki sat at the dining table across from Kyouko as they ate breakfast.
She wore a simple, sleeveless white tank top that hugged her form, the soft fabric tracing the lines of her body with effortless grace. The neckline dipped just enough to reveal the faint curve of her cleavage, though she seemed completely unaware of it.
And those short shorts... they barely covered anything, revealing her smooth, toned thighs as she sat comfortably across from him.
Damn, she's really hot.
"Haruki?"
Her voice snapped him back to reality.
"Um... yes?" he stammered, hoping she hadn't noticed where his eyes had wandered.
"Is the food not good?"
"Um... yes?" he stammered again, straightening slightly. He blinked and realized he'd barely touched his meal.
"Ah, sorry, Kyouko-san. I was just thinking about the project. The food is good,it's delicious."
Kyouko smiled softly. "Sorry, Haruki. I had to cook with whatever I could find. The fridge is running low, so I hope it's good enough."
"Don't worry about it, Kyouko-san."
She sighed, resting her cheek on her palm. "I need to go to the market to restock."
Haruki looked at her while continuing to eat.
"Ah, but the bags will be heavy if I go alone..." Kyouko mumbled softly. "Maybe I should just order online..."
She glanced at her food and exhaled softly. "But there are a lot of things I can't buy online. I need to find the right sauces, and some of the fresh ingredients just aren't the same unless I pick them myself."
"If you don't mind, I can accompany you," Haruki offered.
Kyouko blinked, clearly surprised. "Really?"
"Yes."
She hesitated, tapping her chopsticks lightly against her bowl. "But I don't want to trouble you..."
Haruki shook his head. "It's no trouble at all, Kyouko-san. Besides, I don't have any urgent work to do right now."
Kyouko smiled, looking relieved. "Well... if you insist. We'll go after this."
They continued eating quietly. Haruki watched her eat with such gentle grace, nothing about her seemed forced, just natural. Haruki smiled. Watching her like this made his heart feel light.
An hour later.
Haruki waited by the entrance while Kyouko locked the door behind her.
"You ready?" she asked, glancing back at him.
Haruki smiled and nodded.
He noticed she had changed her outfit. Now she wore a long-sleeved white blouse tucked neatly into a flowing black skirt that reached her ankles, paired with low heels.
If only I could take out my phone right now and take her picture.
"Haruki-kun, let's go. We'll use my car," she said with a small smile.
He followed her to the driveway, watching as she unlocked the vehicle and slipped inside. Haruki settled into the passenger seat beside her.
As Kyouko started the engine, a soft hum escaped her lips. It was a beautiful melody, soothing to his ears.
I didn't know she could hum like that. Another new thing he was learning about Kyouko.
Haruki glanced at her, then leaned back, trying not to stare.
This was just a casual grocery trip. Nothing more.
"We'll go to the supermarket nearby," Kyouko said, her voice gentle as she continued humming faintly.
"I'll just follow your lead," Haruki replied.
Once they arrived at the supermarket, Kyouko smoothly pulled into a parking spot. After turning off the engine, she adjusted her face mask and stepped out of the car.
Haruki followed, the cool air brushing his skin as he joined her on the pavement.
They strolled toward the entrance side by side, at an easy pace.
Haruki grabbed a shopping cart and pushed it alongside her as she led the way down the aisles.
"Hm… what would you like to eat tonight, Haruki?" Kyouko asked, glancing at him while scanning the shelves.
"Me?" He paused, rubbing his chin. "Hmm… I'm not sure, Kyouko-san."
Kyouko smiled faintly. "If there's something you'd like, I can cook it for you, you know."
Her soft, casual tone sent a gentle warmth through him. Hearing her say that felt oddly special.
"Well… I do want beef tataki."
Kyouko let out a soft chuckle. "Beef tataki, huh? Alright. Since that's what you want, let's head to the meat section first."
She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "It'll go well with chawanmushi and a few side dishes. Maybe some spinach ohitashi too."
Their conversation flowed easily. Favorite foods, cooking habits, little comments about certain brands or packaging. Every now and then, Kyouko would hold up an item for Haruki to see.
"This one's good for stew," she said, showing him a box of stock cubes.
"And this one, you can use it to make zosui. Oh, and that one's perfect for kabocha soup."
"You really love cooking, Kyouko-san?" Haruki asked as they moved down the aisle.
She smiled, eyes shining softly. "Yes," she said, her voice tender. "I don't know why, but cooking makes me… feel something. It's hard to explain, but the feeling is always there."
"Maybe that's why your cooking is so delicious, Kyouko-san."
Kyouko chuckled lightly and gave his arm a gentle tap. "I don't think it's that delicious," she said with a soft giggle.
The sound of her laughter warmed Haruki's chest. It had been a while since he'd felt this kind of quiet happiness, simple, natural, and close.
He found himself smiling without even realizing it. The casual atmosphere, her warm voice, the way her eyes softened when she talked, it all felt comforting, like something he hadn't experienced in a long while.
Kyouko glanced at him, tilting her head slightly. "Why are you smiling, Haruki?"
"Oh, nothing, Kyouko-san." He shook his head lightly. "It's just… it's been a while since I've gone shopping like this."
Kyouko smiled behind her facemask, her eyes curving softly. "Well, that's good to hear. Same here." She placed another item into the cart, then added casually.
"Maybe we should hang out like this more often."
Haruki blinked, then chuckled quietly. "Yeah… maybe we should."
Their pace remained slow and relaxed, the atmosphere light. Haruki had never expected something as simple as grocery shopping to feel this… comfortable.
They moved through the supermarket side by side, occasionally stopping to check the shelves. Haruki pushed the cart while Kyouko carefully selected ingredients.
Inside Kyouko's mind, a quiet thought surfaced.
It's been a while since I've felt this happy.
I don't know why, but being around Haruki makes me feel… comfortable.
And I didn't realize he was this tall…
Handsome, too.
"Kyouko-san?"
"Ah...yes, Haruki?" She turned quickly.
"Oh, nothing," he said with a small chuckle.
Kyouko tilted her head slightly. "Do you need to buy something?"
"Ah… now that you mention it, I think I do."
"Okay, go ahead. I'll look around this area first," she said, gesturing toward the shelves of sauces and seasonings.
Haruki nodded and turned down the next aisle, leaving her standing there for a moment.
She exhaled softly, her fingers brushing the edge of the shopping cart as she watched him go.
Strange… why do I feel so at ease with him?
Shaking off the thought, she turned back to the shelves and continued browsing.
( End Of Chapter )