Chocolate de Familia 3
Her room was just like the rest of the house, utterly ordinary.
The stuffed animals neatly lined up on a dedicated shelf were the only eye-catching feature.
Apart from that, there was nothing else that stood out.
A study desk, a bookshelf, a wardrobe, and a bed.
Also, a small folding table that seemed to have been brought from somewhere else for tea.
He had imagined a girl’s room completely painted in pink due to all the cute things she had been praised for, but it was completely different.
“Now, come over here.”
She urged him, and he sat down on the soft cushion as suggested. Chika also sat down beside him.
“Alright, let’s get started.”
“Huh? Oh, okay…?”
He watched Chika, who struck a cute—’I’m going to do my best’ pose with some caution.
“Sōma-san, is there any snack you want to eat?”
On the table in the centre of the room, various snacks were piled up.
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There were potato chips, chocolates, savoury snacks, gummies, and candies – a mountain of confections commonly found at convenience stores.
“Well, then, I’ll take that chocolate one over there.”
“Sure.”
Chika’s slender fingers unwrapped the package and took out the chocolate-coated snack.
“Here, say ‘aah.’ “
“Huh?”
“Come on, open your mouth.”
“Ah, aah…”
With a hint of hesitation, he opened his mouth, and Chika carefully placed the chocolate snack inside.
“How is it? Is it delicious?”
“Ah, it’s good.”
The crispy and light texture spread in his mouth.
“I knew it! I love this snack too. Miki-chan eats it often as well.”
“Yeah, it’s a popular brand.”
As they enjoyed the snack, Chika continued the conversation.
“Sōma-san, do you also study snacks produced on a large scale by confectionery companies?”
“Of course. Whether it’s handcrafted by artisans or mass-produced in factories, if it’s tasty, it’s tasty.”
“You’re really serious about everything related to sweets, huh?”
“It sounds like you’re saying I’m not serious about anything else.”
“It’s just your imagination.”
Casually brushing it off, Chika waited for Sōma’s empty glass and asked,
“Which one would you like next? Or would you prefer juice?”
“I’ll have juice.”
“Sure.”
She poured orange juice into a glass and brought it closer to his mouth with a straw.
“It’s 100% fruit juice.”
“Of course!”
Sōma sipped the orange juice while looking at Chika’s smile.
“Oh, right. Let me give you a shoulder massage, a shoulder massage! I’ve never done that before.”
“I don’t have shoulder stiffness, but sure, go ahead if you want.”
“Yes!”
Chika cheerfully agreed and came around to his back, starting to massage his shoulders.
“How does it feel?”
“To be honest, I don’t really know.”
He didn’t have shoulder stiffness, and Chika’s strength was light as expected from a girl, so the stimulation was weak.
It felt more like being gently caressed, slightly ticklish and tingly, rather than relaxing.
“Is that so? I guess it’s not like Miki-chan’s then.”
Chika seemed a little disappointed.
“If I have shoulder stiffness, my impressions might change. Why don’t you try doing it for your parents?”
“Do my parents have shoulder stiffness?”
“Most adults usually do.”
It’s partly prejudice, but probably not entirely wrong.
“Well then, I’ll try it tonight. Now then, I’ll massage your arms next. Can you place your arms on the table?”
“Sure.”
As instructed, Sōma extended his arms, and Chika began massaging from his wrists to the shoulders with care.
“….”
“….”
Chika massaged diligently, and Sōma received it silently.
The quiet massage session continued for a while.
“Hey, is it about time to stop?”
Sōma opened his mouth calmly.
“What do you mean?”
Chika responded with a serious expression as she continued to massage his arms.
“Everything since I entered this room. Offering me snacks, giving me a massage.”
“It’s just my hospitality…”
The massage stopped.
“Is this bothering you?”
“Uh, a little bit…”
Perhaps due to Sōma’s strange expression, her face gradually clouded with anxiety.
Based on her reaction, it doesn’t seem like she’s teasing or joking.
“Um, is there something wrong with me?”
If he was asked to point out something, everything was wrong.
“Um…”
‘I don’t know where to start.’
“Chika, why did you decide to treat me like this?”
“Well, when I visited Miki-chan’s house, I was treated this way.”
“Is that girl the culprit?”
Miki, who seems to take great joy in doting on Chika, has been showering her with strange hospitality even when inviting her over to her house.
It’s no wonder she would get the wrong idea if she kept receiving such odd treatment.
“I see…I was completely mistaken…”
Sōma furrowed his brow, and Chika looked disheartened.
She seemed like a wet puppy, evoking a sense of pity.
Though he didn’t intend to bully her, he felt guilty, and his heart ached.
“Uh… Well…”
Searching for words, he gently patted her fluffy head.
“I’m your practice subject, right? Then, it’s okay to fail.”
“I guess it was a failure after all…”
Chika became even more downcast.
But Sōma continued without minding her reaction.
“However, you can keep trying until you succeed. Use failures as a source of reflection to lead to success. Otherwise, it’d be a waste.”
“A waste, you say?”
“Of course. If you let failures remain failures, what’s the point of your efforts? Failures are there to lead to success.”
“Failures are for success, you mean…”
While contemplating Sōma’s words, Chika stared intently at him, making him feel a bit embarrassed.