BHSAF 142: Sleepover 17

　Yui starts to cut ingredients and calls out Yu's name as if she has just noticed something.

"Hey, hey Yu-kun."

"yeah?"

"Look, look at this cat's paw. Meow, meow!"

　She said this as she raised both her hands, which seemed to be lightly clasped, to the sides of her face and struck a pose.

"...Hehe..."

"If I wasn't cooking I would have attacked you, you're so cute."

　She was so cute that I was left speechless as I stared at her.

"R-Really...? I'm happy."

　Embarrassed, Yui resumed cooking, trying to hide her red face.

―――

"Let's eat."

　It's been a while since we've sat around a table together.

　With the TV on in the background, Yui and I started eating.

　I could imitate what they do at school by eating lunch together, but eating a meal like this with Yui at home is something else entirely. What's more, the meat and potato stew we're eating was made by the two of us together.

"Hmm. It turned out better than I expected."

　It doesn't fall apart when cooked and the taste isn't too strange.

"That's true... but it's still okay, I guess."

　It has a slightly strong flavor and is so soft that it's almost falling apart.

　Still, considering it was made by two people who are not very familiar with cooking, it still deserves a passing grade.

"I'm glad... I was a little worried that I might feed you something strange."

"You don't need to worry about that. I helped with the cooking too, so I'm also responsible if it's not tasty."

"That's true, but as they say, if you want to grab a man, grab him by his stomach..."

"I'm already completely captivated by Yui... Or is Yui not enough for me yet?"

"I'm a little worried that Yu-kun might be liked by a girl more beautiful than me."

　It's a question that goes beyond whether you believe it or not. In other words, it's a girl's heart. No matter how much you believe it, you still get anxious about what might happen. Some people might say that it's because they don't really believe it.

　However, even though Yui believes that there is no need to worry because she loves him, she still wavers in the back of her mind because she doesn't want to lose Yu at all.

"There's no one cuter than Yui. And even if that were to happen, I wouldn't choose her based on looks alone. I've liked Yui since elementary school."

　When you fall in love with someone at that young age, no one would care about their appearance.

"Hmm. Sorry, Yu-kun, I said something that made you doubt me..."

"It's okay, Yui. If you're worried about me, it means you care about me."

　I was a little hesitant to say it myself, but when I said it, Yui nodded shyly and said, "Hmm."

　A slightly sweet and embarrassing atmosphere.

　To overcome this, or to hide his embarrassment, he talks about what he sees on TV.

"Ah, Yu-kun. Do you know this person?　"

　Kyosuke Imura. He is an actor who could best be compared to the male version of Yui. He is a handsome actor who started out as a child actor and is currently a university student. His looks are one level cooler than Takuya's.

　When Yui made her debut as a child actress, there was a boom in child actors, and she is said to have been the one who started it all.

"I know, of course. He was in a special effects movie last year."

　It's a special effects film in which the main character and his friends transform to fight enemies. Kyosuke played the lead role in it. He had been very popular even before that, but his popularity exploded after that, and he's especially popular among young women.

　He has good acting skills, a beautiful face, and is such an athletic guy that he performed the action scenes himself during special effects shoots without using a stuntman. Moreover, his co-stars, manager, and people on set all agree that he has a kind and gentle personality.

　Imura Kyosuke is someone who has been blessed with two or even three gifts from heaven.

"So what happened to him?"

"I heard from my manager a while ago that depending on the movie's sales, I might get to co-star with Imura-san. As the leading man and heroine..."

　As far as Yu knows, the two have not yet appeared together in a film, meaning this is their first time acting together.

"That's right"

　He replied with just one word, and Yui looked dissatisfied.

"Hmmm... I think it would be good if Yu-kun was a little more jealous or anxious..."

"Yui has acted with handsome actors before, so there's no need to worry now."

"yes?"

　Yui continued eating her chopsticks, thinking that she wished he had been a little more concerned.　

"But, even though I'm not worried, to be honest, I do feel a bit uncomfortable about her getting to know such a handsome man without me knowing. However, I'm also a fan of Shimotsuki Yui, so as a fan, I can't get in the way of her success."

"...Oh, I see. Yu-kun, you don't want me to get to know Imura-san, huh... hehe."

　Yui's cheeks relax with joy.

　Watching Yui like that while eating the dinner they made together felt incredibly luxurious.

"I'm rooting for Yui, but I can't stand kissing scenes."

　Yu's jealousy is what will likely hinder Shimotsuki Yui's success, but Yui is surprised and happy to hear it.

"Hehe. I know. If such an offer comes my way in the future, I won't accept it, so don't worry. I'll only be with Yuu-kun from now on."

"Then I'll be relieved."

　The two of them lock eyes and smile happily.

"Eat it before it gets cold"

"I agree"

　It's nice to enjoy conversation together, but we've worked together to prepare dinner, so we want to eat it while it's still delicious.

"......Ahhh"

　Just as Yu was thinking that, he started to move his chopsticks.

"picture?"

"Ah, ahhh..."

　Yui shyly picked up the food with her own chopsticks and handed it to Yu.

　Even though he was full and had an embarrassed look on his face, he took a bite.

"...Then, here it is. In return, open your mouth."

　Then Yu also offers his side dish to Yui.

"Mmm♡"

　Yui happily puts it in her mouth.

"...Mmm, delicious♡"

　Although the dishes lined up were all the same, Yui felt that the one Yu had given her tasted somehow more delicious.