Distressed Pudding 6
“We were mistaken for a couple again.”
Chika said, playfully bumping her shoulder against his.
“We just know each other’s strengths and weaknesses well.”
They had switched positions midway because Sōma was adept at handling eggs due to his experience with baking.
Chika knew that, so she readily agreed to the position change without a word.
“We seem to be mistaken for a couple by those around us, huh?”
“Well, this cooking class is targeted at couples, so it’s natural for them to think like that.”
Since today’s goal was to ‘go on a date’, being misunderstood as a couple was probably a pleasant misunderstanding for Chika, but for Sōma, it was a bit embarrassing.
“It’s starting to smell good.”
“Yeah, I’m actually getting hungry.”
Sōma lined up two plates, and Chika plated the finished ketchup rice.
Then, using a clean cloth, she skillfully shaped it into a rugby ball form.
She topped it with a soft-cooked omelet and poured a generous amount of hashed beef over it, completing the 『Omelette Rice with Hashed Beef』.
“Sensei, we’re done!”
Chika raised her hand energetically, and the instructor, surprised that she had already finished, checked the completed dish.
“You’ve passed. That’s really wonderful, you two. Among the students we’ve had, you’re at the top in both speed and quality.”
“Ehehe, did you hear that? Top class!”
Praised by the instructor, Chika blushed with a shy, delighted smile.
“I’m used to handling kitchen tools other than knives since I bake sweets regularly, and Chika has been practicing cooking lately, so I think it’s only natural.”
“Don’t rain on my parade when I’m happy.”
“Alright, alright. It’s thanks to our great teamwork.”
As he placated his slightly pouting partner, the other students also finished their dishes. Soon, the place was enveloped in the delicious aroma of hashed beef.
“Everyone, thank you for your hard work. Now, let’s eat.”
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Everyone said itadakimasu together, and the tasting began.
“Sōma-san, Sōma-san.”
As he picked up his spoon and was about to dig in, Chika poked him on the shoulder.
“Here, say ‘ahh’.”
An omelet rice covered in a brown sauce was brought close to his mouth.
“I have the exact same dish in front of me.”
“It’s fine. We’re on a date, so it’s natural to do this kind of thing.”
“We’d do it even if we weren’t on a date.”
“I like feeding Sōma-san. It’s like taming a pet with treats.”
“Could you at least try to hide that a bit? It scares me sometimes.”
“Just eat!”
“Alright, alright.”
Defeated by Chika’s persistence, Sōma reluctantly opened his mouth.
“How is it?”
“It’s good.”
The ingredients and cooking methods were nothing special, just ordinary omelet rice and hashed beef.
However, it tasted much better than any family restaurant’s dishes, perhaps because they had made it themselves.
“Now it’s my turn!”
After Sōma ate the omelet rice, Chika opened her mouth as if waiting for her turn, looking exactly like a chick begging for food.
“Why don’t you eat it yourself?”
“No! I want Sōma-san to feed me!”
He tried to protest, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Sighing in resignation, he fed her the omelet rice.
Chewing contentedly, Chika said,
“It’s delicious. Actually, I made omelet rice at home the other day, but this tastes better. Maybe it’s because the eggs are fluffier. If that’s the case, it’s thanks to you, Sōma-san.”
“If you pay attention to the heat and the timing when the eggs start to set, you’ll be able to do it too, Chika.”
“Will you eat it again if I make it next time?”
“Of course.”
As they talked, they continued to feed each other as usual.
“That’s it! I get it now!”
Suddenly, a bride sitting at the opposite table clapped her hands loudly.
“You two aren’t just a couple. You’re newlyweds like us!”
***
On the way home from the cooking class, Chika couldn’t stop laughing while holding her stomach.
“The look on Sōma-san’s face when we were called newlyweds! It was very funny!”
“Shut up. That was a shock and pretty embarrassing.”
Blushing, Sōma sulked.
Despite their explanation to the newlywed couples that they were just classmates, no one seemed to believe them.
“It’s weird to be wished ‘May you be happy forever’ when I’ve never even had a girlfriend.”
“Well, that’s true.”
After laughing to her heart’s content, Chika finally stopped.
“Sōma-san, have you ever imagined yourself married?”
“Of course not.”
“Neither have I. I can’t even imagine myself dating someone. Kikuchi-san said he wanted to date Miki-chan. He must be able to imagine himself dating her. It seems like something people my age do naturally, but I can’t. It makes me feel like I’m still a child.”
She smiled a little sadly.
“To be honest, I think today’s date was a failure. The plan I worked hard on fell apart quickly, and I kept wondering what it means to act like a couple or what a date really is, but I still don’t understand.”
He thought she had suggested dating out of mere curiosity, but it seemed she had given it quite some thought.
“Well, it was a bad match.”
After all, it was Sōma, whose age equals his years without a girlfriend, and childlike Chika who doesn’t understand romance at all.
Expecting them to have a date like something out of a drama or manga was unrealistic.
“But, but you know!”
He was about to console her not to be disappointed, but Chika’s voice was surprisingly bright and lively.
“I had a lot of fun today. How about you, Sōma-san?”
“It was okay, I guess.”
Honestly, it was fun.
He wouldn’t have gone to the planetarium if she hadn’t asked. He got to see Chika’s sleeping face, and the cooking class was a good experience too.
It wasn’t just about today. Doing something with Chika was usually fun, and it was a good experience for Sōma too.