My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 539

"I see, that makes sense... Wait, really?"

"Y-yes, that's fine! No problem...probably."

A sense of unease flashed through my mind, and I couldn't help but glance to the side. Yui nodded vigorously, her fists clenched, her expression resolute. However, she ultimately faltered. Yes, yes, that's what I meant by your tendency to add unnecessary ingredients. That's the root of all my unease. Every time, it's that "One more ingredient!" that ruins the dish. But, if I just pay a little more attention, it'll be fine, right?

"Okay, let's give it a try."

"Um!"

Seeing us nod to each other, Bibin's mother chuckled and said:

"Then let's go out and buy some things."

Yuihama and I agreed, and Suchi also chimed in, full of enthusiasm. Hmm—but Suchi, you're in charge of looking after the house…

× × ×

Perhaps because it was approaching dinner time, the supermarket's food section was bustling with activity.

Inside the vibrant store, I clattered along, pushing my shopping cart behind Yui and her mother. The two-tiered baskets were piled high with rice, meat, snacks, and other goods; their weight was palpable even through the handles. Today, I wasn't just buying ingredients for making sweets, but also household necessities.

The mother, who was walking ahead, turned around and looked at me with a smile.

"Sorry, these are all very heavy items."

"No, I'm used to it."

It's not like I haven't gone shopping with my mother and Komachi before. When I was little, I often went shopping with my family, trying to sneak snacks into the shopping basket without being noticed... Now, Yui is doing the same thing right in front of me.

However, today might be the first time I've browsed the food section so thoroughly. When I'm shopping with my family, I just follow their instructions. Even when I go shopping on my own, I often get told to buy this and that, only to be met with serious questions from them when I get home: "Why did you buy this?" How would I know the difference between silken tofu and soft tofu? They're both delicious…

With only this much shopping skill, I can only help them carry things at most, so I followed behind Hajime's mother in three steps.

"Having guys around really makes a difference. It's so refreshing!"

We strolled around the store, chatting occasionally, and eventually arrived at the fruit and vegetable section. Here, they had not only vegetables but also the fruits we wanted. From common fruits like bananas, apples, and oranges, to rare tropical fruits that made us want to specifically confirm, "Let me see, you have kiwis, papayas, and mangoes, right?" (Note), they had a very wide variety.

Note: "You are kiwi, papaya, and mango, right?" is a song by Japanese singer Akiko Nakahara.

"What kinds of fruit should I buy?"

First, Yui crossed her arms and then placed her hands on her cheeks in thought. Yui then energetically raised her hand.

"peach!"

"It's not peach season yet. Summer is the peak season."

Bibin's mother gently rejected it.

"Oh... I thought it was now..."

"After all, it looks a lot like spring fruit."

In fact, the shopping basket was indeed filled with peach-flavored snacks selected by Yuihama.

Perhaps it's because of the "Peach Blossom Festival" that the misconception arises that peaches are a spring fruit. Food manufacturers also capitalize on this, launching limited-edition white peach juice, sparkling wine, and various snacks every March. As a result, people generally have little concept of the peach season.

In this era, imported fruits and greenhouse cultivation are commonplace, making it even harder to understand the seasonality of food production. A gag artist I know even said, "But Japanese food companies are also at fault!" Call out the person who came up with this white peach product!

While I was lost in thought, Mommy Bibin stood in front of the shelf.

"The seasonal fruit right now is strawberries!"

She pointed to the front of the shelf, to the most eye-catching corner. There, boxes of strawberries were piled high, surrounded by fancy promotional banners and cute billboards, making it look like the Daishoshimiya Strawberry Festival.

Note: This is the title of the theatrical version of "Aikatsu!".

"Oh—I didn't expect that either. Strawberries seem like a winter fruit."

Yui bent down and sniffed it, her whole face breaking into a smile.

"It smells so good..."

"Then let's use strawberries."

I had just reached out my hand when I was gently stopped by Bibin's mother.

"No~ okay."

She whispered in my ear, and I reflexively leaned back. The sweet aroma of the supermarket sent a tingling sensation through my entire body, not just my ears. I barely managed to suppress a sound like "meow." I looked at her, asking why I couldn't, but Mommy Bibin, with a stern face, held up a finger.

"Strawberries are not suitable for use in handmade desserts."

"Oh, I see..."

It's incredible how there are countless desserts made with strawberries in the world. It's incredible how she's going to hold my hand forever. It's incredible how I don't feel any resistance at all.

At that moment, Yui pulled her mother's hand and stepped between us.

"Why? Aren't there many desserts made with strawberries?"

"That's exactly why—since we have so many opportunities to eat strawberries, we should choose fruits that leave a lasting impression."

I gave Yui a look that asked, "What does this mean?" She shook her head, indicating that she didn't know. So, we both looked at Yui's mother and asked her to reveal the answer.

Instead of answering directly, Bibin's mother smiled and asked another question.

"Hey, autistic male student, what's your favorite fruit?"

After she asked that question, I really couldn't think of one right away. While I was thinking, Yui Hama, for some reason, immediately answered:

"Peanuts, right!"

"Why did you answer for me without my permission? Besides, the question is about fruit, okay?"

"But you like Chiba..."

"Do you want all the residents of Chiba Prefecture to eat peanuts?"

You should know that peanuts are not fruits, not tree fruits, and certainly not like Nana Kinomoto (note), but rather a type of legume! I was about to proudly show off this little bit of knowledge, but Yui pouted and asked, dissatisfied:

Note: Japanese actress and singer. "Tree fruit" is written as "木之实" in Japanese.

"So what exactly do you like?"

"...If I had to pick, it would be pears. Chiba pears are the best in Japan. No, they're the best in the world."

"As expected, it's Chiba!"

"No, Chiba certainly played a part in it, but I really love pears. Especially Komizu pears, the taste goes without saying, the crisp texture is amazing, they're so delicious. Every summer, my family buys them by the box."

"More serious than I imagined! It's terrifying!"

I wasn't speaking very enthusiastically, but Yuihama was so startled that she took three steps back... Strange, I was just answering your question...

On the other hand, Hima's mother did not react in any particular way, resting her chin on her hand and deep in thought.

"There are no pears right now... but there are canned peaches."

"Wow—canned peaches, delicious!"

"This guy really loves peaches..." Yui-hama said softly, a look of delight on her face. I watched from the side, while Yui-hama's mother nodded in agreement.

"Hmm, canned goods are actually better. They also save time on compote."

"On the contrary..."

What does "on the contrary" mean? I was completely confused, and Yuihama tilted her head in thought as well.

"Candied...I see...Reassuring, comforting..."

"That's right~"

Completely wrong, that's comfort. Whether or not her beloved daughter's mother noticed, she smiled and pretended nothing was wrong.

So that's it. It's this educational approach that shaped her magnanimous personality. I won't say exactly how magnanimous, but it really is. It's not just genetics; environment plays a big role too. I hope she continues to grow up like this… I gave her a warm look, and Yui seemed to notice, turning to look at me.

"Canned peaches...what do you think?"

"Anything is fine. Komachi isn't picky about food. So, let's have peaches then."

In the Hikigaya family's summers, pears are a common sight, but according to Komachi's preferences, peaches are definitely among her favorites. I don't dislike peaches either. In fact, I absolutely adore plump, ripe peaches!

However, there's one thing I'm concerned about if we're using canned food.

"Canned food has nothing to do with the seasons."

I glanced at Hajime's mother; she paused for a moment, then gave a gentle smile.

"That's how it is now... but the same season will come again."

Her tone was very gentle, yet tinged with a hint of loneliness. Her lowered face resembled her silhouette in the sunset, radiating a faint melancholy. It was an expression only an adult would display.

"After a few years, when everyone has grown up, and when they eat peaches again, they will remember these things that happened before, right? That's the beauty of homemade desserts."

Yuihama's mother squinted one eye and spoke softly, as if teaching us a secret incantation. Her voice possessed an incredible magic. Those words touched my heart so deeply.

"This feels amazing!"

Yuihama, just as engrossed as I was, had her eyes sparkling. Under her daughter's respectful gaze, Yuihama's mother covered her mouth and chuckled softly, winking mischievously.

"Right? This trick works best on guys."

"The atmosphere instantly vanished! Suddenly she's become so cunning..."

Listening to their conversation, I couldn't help but chuckle wryly. Indeed, this tactic must be very effective against boys.

Whenever I smell a fresh and invigorating fragrance, and immerse myself in that intoxicating sweetness, I am reminded of that season.

So I will definitely not forget what happened today.

As expected of Yuihama's mother. I followed behind her, casting a gaze that was not just respect, but awe, even fear, at the mother and daughter as they went to buy canned goods.

The two linked arms amicably and continued chatting with light steps.

"Did your mother do something like that?"

"Yes, Dad still remembers what he used to do—"

Yuihama's sigh interrupted her mother's words.

"Ah—well. Never mind. I feel a little uncomfortable listening to Dad about things like this..."

Dad is so pitiful...

× × ×

Visiting someone else's kitchen is a truly unique experience.

The location of the sink, the faucet switch, the water heater power supply, the arrangement of the plates, the pattern of the mat, the scent of the dish soap... all these differences made me feel a sense of novelty.

However, the most novel thing is how they look wearing aprons.

Yuihama's mother coiled her milk tea-colored long hair into a bun at the back of her neck, then secured it with a small flower hair clip held between her delicate lips.

Then, she put on a long apron with ruffles and tied it tightly behind her back.

The sight of Hajime's mother wearing an apron made my heart race.

The Hikigaya family rarely wears aprons.

This is completely different from my kitchen. In my family, Komachi would be wearing a tacky, dark red tracksuit, furiously tossing a frying pan around, while my mom, in casual clothes, would toss ingredients into the pan with a deadpan expression, cooking noodles for the rest of her life. As for my dad, who almost never enters the kitchen, he'd be wearing pretentious pajamas, happily heating milk in the microwave. If you're at my level, you might even be half-naked. But even so, no one ever asks me, "Is that kind of equipment okay?"

Growing up in a family environment where everything is so casual, one naturally yearns for the image of wearing an apron and cooking.

Is this what "a life of refinement" is all about...?

I stared blankly at Mommy Bibin. She noticed my gaze, smiled, and then gently took my hand, tucking a dark blue half-length apron into my hand.

"Sorry, I only have Dad's apron."

"Ah, no, it's perfectly fine..."

Actually, it wouldn't matter if she didn't give me an apron, I could just be naked... That's what I wanted to say, but she insisted on shoving the apron into my hand, and I felt too embarrassed to refuse.

Reluctantly, I tied the apron tightly around my waist. This apron seemed to be frequently used; it fit surprisingly well. It seems that in Yuigahama's family, the father also cooks.

If both parents can cook, why is their daughter's cooking skill so poor?

I looked at Yuihama with suspicion as she deftly put on her soft, light, girlish apron. Although I'd forgotten the exact date, it was one that Yukinoshita and I had picked out together. Compared to when it hung in the store, it showed signs of wear, but it was clear she cherished it.

Yuihama lifted the hem of the dress, which was adorned with ruffles, and revealed a smug smile.

"How is it? Looks like you're a good cook, right?"

"..."

Surprisingly, it suits me quite well.