Remnants of a Fleeting Childhood Dream
As a rhythmic chop, chop, chop filled the air of the dining room, Mahiru felt a sense of warmth and contentment as she worked on her homework. While she typically completed her homework in her room, on the days when Koyuki was there, she often did it in the dining room, enjoying the sounds of Koyuki cooking.
Truth be told, Mahiru could easily finish her homework quicker, but she found comfort in completing it slowly when accompanied by the sounds of the kitchen—the slicing of the knife, the sizzling of ingredients, the bubbling of boiling food, and the pleasant aromas that wafted over as the cooking progressed. More than anything else, she loved that atmosphere.
Besides, Mahiru knew that here, Koyuki would notice her hard work and offer words of praise.
Sensing Koyuki occasionally glancing in her direction, Mahiru continued tackling her homework with high spirits. Slowly, very slowly, she would work until Koyuki’s dish was ready.
Despite her hunger, she found such moments enjoyable and wished they could last longer. After all, it would extend the time she spent with Koyuki.
“Ojou-sama, it’s ready.”
“Okaay!”
Mahiru finally heard Koyuki’s voice and gleefully closed the notebook lying on the table.
Towards the end, even though she had already finished and was pretending to still be working—an act clearly undeserving of praise—she rationalized that since she was actually done, it was no issue.
With a secret smile, she meticulously gathered the eraser shavings and threw them into the trash bin. If she didn’t clean up properly, Koyuki would scold her when lining the table. She collected her notebook filled with written kanji and math worksheets, setting them neatly on the living room table.
Then, she walked into the kitchen with a smile, only to find Koyuki removing her apron, wearing a gentle smile of her own.
“You worked hard on your homework again today.”
“Yep!”
Clearly, Koyuki had been watching her after all.
Then, as the woman who balanced roles as a housekeeper and tutor, she whispered softly as she folded her apron. “Please go wash your hands. I shall set the table in the meantime.” Koyuki maintained her soft smile as she looked at Mahiru.
Without hesitation, Mahiru nodded and headed to the sink. Stretching to reach it, Mahiru washed her hands and took a brief glance at the array of dishes being set on the dining table, her cheeks relaxing into a smile.
It seemed today’s menu was Japanese cuisine.
While her peers weren’t the biggest fans of Japanese food, Mahiru personally loved its flavors. Although she also enjoyed Western food, when it came to a sense of comfort, Japanese dishes—with their calming tastes—always made her feel at ease.
Koyuki would often say, “It’s important to expose yourself to various flavors from a young age to develop your palate.” Consequently, she prepared a wide range of dishes, but Mahiru had always maintained a special fondness for Japanese cuisine.
After washing her hands thoroughly, Mahiru took her seat at the dining table, and Koyuki sat down directly across from her.
However, there was nothing in front of Koyuki.
Though Mahiru yearned to share even a single meal with her, Koyuki remained, strictly speaking, a ‘housekeeper,’ not a family member.
Anytime Mahiru hinted at the desire to eat together, Koyuki would politely but regretfully decline, leaving Mahiru to dine alone.
If only we could eat together…
But Mahiru understood that expressing this selfish wish would put Koyuki in an awkward position, so she never voiced it. With a sigh, she gazed at the dishes arrayed before her on the table.
Today’s menu was strictly Japanese: the usual rice and miso soup, tamagoyaki made with dashi, a simmered dish of chicken and vegetables, and spinach dressed in sesame.
“Everything looks tasty,” Mahiru uttered in awe.
“I put extra effort into today’s meal, you see. Please enjoy it while it’s still warm.”
“Okay!”
Nodding, Mahiru clasped her hands together and politely said, “Thank you for the food,” before gently sipping the miso soup. The warm, comforting taste gradually seeped into her body, making her feel as though she were enveloped in a cozy warmth from the inside out. This was her favorite flavor, a taste that brought her a sense of happiness.
As Mahiru quietly savored her food, one small bite at a time, Koyuki watched her with a warm smile.
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