Hospitality Comes with a Soufflé 3
“If you’re good at Japanese food, then mastering it could be an option.”
Upon hearing Sōma’s words, Chika shook her head from side to side,
“I don’t want to become a chef specializing in Japanese food. Besides, wouldn’t it be better for Sōma-san to be able to eat various kinds of dishes?”
“Well, that’s true.”
It’s a given that it’s better to be able to eat a wide variety of dishes, whether they be Japanese, Western, or Chinese.
“In that case, I’ll work hard on Japanese cuisine next time. I want you to say it’s delicious, Sōma-san.”
Regaining her spirits, the ‘Angel of Peace’ gave a soft and gentle smile.
“…!”
He was a little surprised.
Not wanting to show it, he patted her head encouragingly.
“Well, well, hang in there. I’ll be there to taste-test your food as much as you want.”
“Thank you! I’ll do my best!”
Chika said, nodding bravely with a bright smile.
“Yeah, let’s both do our best.”
“Yes! —By the way,”
With a smile, she firmly grasped Sōma’s wrist, which had encouraged her.
“What was that exchange about in the classroom earlier?”
“Huh? The exchange just now?”
The quality of her smile gradually changes.
From an innocent, childlike one to a smile resembling that of a beast eyeing its prey.
“The exchange with Wakui-san. Didn’t you promise to make sweets?”
While tightening her grip on his wrist, she slowly brings her face closer.
“I did, but… h-hey, this is kind of scary. Could it be, are you angry?”
Feeling terror from Chika’s smile and still being gripped tightly, he reluctantly steps back but quickly finds himself trapped against a wall.
“I’m not angry at all? I just want to know what your intentions. I’m supposed to be Sōma-san’s taste tester, right? Then why are you making sweets for Wakui-san?”
“Um, this actually hurts…”
It’s astonishing how such a slender arm could exert such an incredibly strong grip.
“Moreover, you were invited to a Halloween party, weren’t you? I said a long time ago that we should have a tea party at my house. Yet, we still haven’t had it. Despite that, you’re going to Wakui-san’s Halloween party?”
“Declined! I declined!”
He had to say it with all his might or it felt like his wrist would be twisted off.
“Declined? Didn’t you say something like ‘if I feel like it’?”
“No, that was just being polite…”
Why does she sometimes become like this…!
He thought bitterly while dripping with cold sweat.
Usually, she’s like a child and is treated merely as a lovable mascot, but occasionally, she shows a completely opposite side.
A devilish side that takes joy in acting mature and teasing people.
She shows this S side of hers only to Sōma.
As far as Sōma is concerned, it’s unreasonable, but she probably thinks of him as an easy target to tease.
It would be nice if he could get angry or forcefully reject her in this situation, but in front of this state of Chika, Sōma finds himself unable to move.
On one hand, he wants her to stop because it’s embarrassing, but on the other, as if enchanted by a demon, he also finds himself wanting to keep watching her forever.
The ‘mature’ version of her is beautiful.
In front of her transformed self, he becomes nervous like a boy who has encountered his admired Onee-san.
He wants her to stop, but he also wants to keep looking at her.
He’s always troubled by his own contradictory feelings.
Seeing Sōma unable to move, Chika let out a short ‘fufu’.
“I knew it, a blushing and embarrassed Sōma-san is really cute. I could watch you forever.”
Saying so, she released the wrist she had been holding.
The relief was short-lived, as she then began to stroke his cheek.
It felt like being caressed by soft feathers, sending shivers down his spine.
“Okay, I was wrong. But I never intended to neglect you or anything like that. You are definitely the most important to me.”
He tries desperately to defend himself while being completely at her mercy.
“Is that true?”
“Why would I lie about that? I felt like I was destined with you that day after school. I can’t imagine meeting anyone better than you in my life from now on. I truly believe from the bottom of my heart that I can’t let you go. That’s why, even now and in the future, you are the most important to me!”
He earnestly conveys his feelings while staring into her eyes.
There’s no other way to escape this predicament but to make her understand his true feelings.
So, without any sense of shame or concern for how it looks, he passionately explains that Chika is indeed the best taste tester and no one else can compare to her.
Then, seemingly satisfied with Sōma’s words——
“Well, if you’re going to say that much, maybe I can forgive you. But you must never forget that I am your number one, okay?”
“Of course.”
He nods vigorously, up and down.
“Then, I’ll forgive you.”
With that, she finally let go of the hand that had been caressing his cheek.
…Really, in moments like this, she’s truly beautiful.
Though still feeling embarrassed, he finds himself thinking this as he’s relieved from the indescribable shivers.
“…Could you move aside?”
Remembering he had to go to the school store, he asks while still trapped between the wall and Chika, but she shows no sign of moving.
“Can’t we just leave it like this for a bit longer?”
“No way. It’s already super embarrassing as it is.”
“That’s why.”
“You, you really have a great personality.”
“Only for Sōma-san, though.”
As Sōma made a troubled face, Chika found it even more amusing.
Scratch- scratch- scratch- scratch-
Feeling increasingly desperate, he suddenly hears a strange sound.
Turning towards the source of the noise, he sees Miki, who had been silently observing their interaction until now, scratching the white hallway wall like a cat sharpening its claws.
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