[ENG] Yuukai Saresou ni Natte Iru Kou Tasuketara, Oshinobi de Asobi ni Kitte Ita Ohimesama Datta Ken V1 Chapter 4

Chapter 4

"—Hey, Alford-san. How about having a welcome party after this?"

This took place after the opening ceremony and homeroom had ended.

Since there were no classes today, school finished in the morning, but it seems Luna was being invited by the girls in the class.

They probably want to become friends with her.

By the way, Luna’s seat wasn't set up in the classroom as it seems Sagami-sensei was planning for one of the boys to bring it to her. So, after the opening ceremony, I went to get it for her.

Then, the teacher, being considerate, said, "Since you're spending time in Japan for the first time, please help her, Kiriyama-kun, as her fiancé," and Luna ended up sitting next to me.

So, currently, the invitation to the welcome party was happening right next to me.

"Well...! Thank you so much for inviting me...!"

Luna responded with an incredibly happy smile, clasping her hands together.

The welcome party would probably be just for the girls.

Right now, the group around Luna is all girls, and the boys, perhaps because of me, are casting curious glances at the welcome party but not joining the group. Instead, they're preparing to leave.

At this point, I can’t join either.

It would be awkward for a single boy to be in a girls-only space, and the girls would probably dislike it too.

As I was thinking this, Luna briefly glanced at me.

However, she quickly turned her gaze back to the girls.

"But, I'm terribly sorry. I already have plans for today…"

She seemed so happy that I thought she would gladly accept the invitation, but instead, she declined.

Since she looked at me when she declined, maybe she was being considerate of me?

"Luna, it's fine. You should go to the welcome party."

Feeling sorry that she couldn’t attend because of me, I decided to interrupt the conversation.

As a result, all the girls, including Luna, turned their attention to me.

Maybe I acted too quickly.

"No, if it's okay, could we have the welcome party on another day…?"

In response to my words, Luna shook her head.

Maybe she wasn’t avoiding the party because of me, but genuinely had plans.

"I see. I’m sorry for saying something unnecessary."

It seemed like I misunderstood, so I apologized to Luna sincerely.

"I’m really happy that you’re concerned about me, so please don’t apologize."

In return, Luna gave me a smile.

Her gentle demeanor hadn't changed since before we parted, and seeing Luna’s smile warmed my heart.

"Thank you. Sorry, everyone. So, would you mind rescheduling Luna’s welcome party for another day?"

Not so much as a way to make up for my earlier mistake, but since I understood Luna’s feelings, I asked the girls.

"Yeah, of course! We’re the ones who invited you so suddenly!"

"Yeah, with these things, it’s better to plan it a few days later than to do it on the same day."

"Maybe we can do it on one of the weekends coming up?"

In response to the suggestion of rescheduling the welcome party, the girls not only didn’t show any signs of displeasure but instead smiled and began discussing alternative dates.

This is one of the good things about this class, and Luna will surely fit in quickly.

"Seito-sama, will you be able to join us as well?"

Thinking that the conversation was progressing smoothly, I began preparing to leave, but Luna tilted her head slightly and asked me.

I hadn’t expected to be invited to a girls' party, so I looked at Luna in confusion.

"I would be happy if Seito-sama could join us, but would that be impossible…?"

Had Luna not noticed that the welcome party was becoming a girls-only event?

Or… did she notice but still want me to be there?

Either way, the girls wouldn’t allow such a thing to happen…

"Well, you're her fiancé, so of course, you’ll be joining Alford-san’s welcome party, right?"

"How can we turn down a request from the guest of honor, right?"

"I’m really looking forward to hearing all kinds of stories from the two of you."

Instead of being told I would be excluded, I was now being actively pulled into participating.

All the girls present were grinning, and they looked like they were enjoying themselves immensely.

—This is definitely going to be embarrassing for me at the welcome party…

"U-um, having one guy among all the girls... isn’t that a bit...?"

I wanted to attend Luna's welcome party, but I really didn’t want to be the target of teasing. I tried to find a way out.

However—

"Having someone you trust nearby gives a completely different sense of security, doesn’t it? Since he’s your fiancé, no one will mind that Kiriyama-kun will be there, right?"

Unexpectedly, a new obstacle appeared.

I looked toward the voice.

"S-sensei…?"

"Well, I mean, there’s no way such a kind person like Kiriyama-kun would refuse a request from a girl who’s feeling lonely after just arriving in Japan, right?"

When I turned around, it was Sagami-sensei, still lingering in the classroom and watching us, who had blocked my escape route with another remark.

This only served to encourage the girls even more.

"Yeah, yeah, if it’s kind Seito-kun, of course, he’ll join us, right?"

"You’re not going to run away now, are you?"

This was strange. The girls—well, except for one—were systematically eliminating all my escape routes…

"Seito-sama, if you really don’t want to, it’s okay to decline…"

Seeing that I seemed to be in a difficult situation, Luna spoke to me apologetically.

But after hearing that, there was no way I could say, "Yeah, I’ll pass."

"It’s fine. I want to have Luna’s welcome party too. I’d be happy to join."

In the end, that was the only answer I could give.

Somehow, it felt like Luna had delivered the final blow.

"Alright, it’s decided~!" the girls chimed in unison as I nodded.

Our class really gets along well…

"Seito-sama... I only wanted to be with you... I never intended to trouble you..."

While the girls continued to celebrate, Luna spoke to me, looking very apologetic. It was clear this wasn’t the outcome she had planned.

I understood that she was straightforward and a bit airheaded by now.

"It’s fine. I really did want to have Luna’s welcome party too. I’m looking forward to it."

"Seito-sama..."

When I smiled to reassure her, Luna let out a sigh of relief, her hand resting on her chest, then smiled brightly.

...Well, I did want to celebrate Luna’s welcome party too, so if she’s happy, it’s fine.

Seeing Luna’s smile, I decided to accept it.

"Shall we head home then?"

With the welcome party settled, I picked up my bag and spoke to Luna.

"Yes♪ Everyone, thank you so much for today. I look forward to tomorrow as well."

After nodding in response to my words, Luna smiled and bowed to her classmates.

She had rented a room near where I live, so we were planning to go home together.

I had expected that the girls who lived in the same direction would suggest they go home together, but surprisingly, none of them said anything like that.

It seems that the others were considerate enough to let Luna and me go home together, just the two of us.

We left the classroom, but—

"Ah, it’s that cute girl...!"

"The one walking next to her is her fiancé, huh..."

As expected, Luna draws attention, and the students in the hallway couldn’t help but stare.

I could hear whispers, likely gossiping about me.

It must have spread during the break that we were engaged.

As we passed in front of Class A—

".........."

Rion, who had remained in the classroom, was glaring at Luna and me with her arms crossed as we walked down the hallway.

Her eyes clearly showed she was upset.

But, since there were classmates around, she didn’t seem to want to confront us.

Well, instead—

I’ll have you explain later when we get home.

I received a message from Rion demanding an explanation. It seemed she heard about me and Luna during the break after the opening ceremony and sent it right away.

I did ask her to reschedule for another day, but... she’s seen the message and ignored it, so I’m not sure how it’ll go.

"Ah, it’s Aira-chan."

As I was looking at Rion, Aira-chan, who had also stayed behind in the classroom, caught my eye.

She was surrounded by classmates, so like Luna, she was probably attracting attention.

Although she has a youthful face, she’s also a real beauty, so it’s no surprise.

Unlike Luna, though, she seemed to be responding in a detached manner, with a neutral expression...

"Hey, Luna. Isn’t Aira-chan going home with you?"

Aira-chan was supposed to be Luna’s caretaker and bodyguard.

That would make sense, but—

"I plan to let her live as freely as possible while at school. Even though it’s a different country, this is one of the rare opportunities she has to experience a normal school life."

In response to my question, Luna gave me a rather cryptic answer.

Normal school life—wait, has she not been attending school until now?

It’s honestly making me want to ask so many more questions.

"So, it’s okay for us to go home together, just the two of us?"

"Yes♪"

I asked just to be sure, and Luna happily nodded.

Seeing her so cheerful over something as simple as going home together made me feel bad for potentially ruining the moment with more questions. I figured she’d explain everything when we got home, so I could wait until then.

Still—Luna’s from Arcadia, huh...

Arcadia is, as the name suggests, a utopian country.

Its territory isn’t very large, but it’s rich in resources like oil, natural gas, and has numerous mines that produce gold and diamonds.

They’ve built a prosperous trade economy from these resources and used their wealth to attract top talent from around the world in various fields.

As a result, they are now world leaders in areas like IT, healthcare, and military technology.

Because of this, even elementary school students know about Arcadia.

It seems Japan can only win in areas like anime, manga, and other two-dimensional media.

Arcadia is also incredibly strong in the food industry.

—Well, I’ve never been there, so I only know about it from what I’ve learned in class.

“....”

While lost in thought, I stepped outside and noticed Luna starting to look around curiously after we had walked some distance away from the school.

I wondered what was going on.

"Luna?"

"Looks like there’s no one around..."

When I called out to her, Luna muttered something to herself. Then—

"Take this...!"

She suddenly hugged my arm tightly.

"L-Luna, it’s a bit surprising when you hug me out of nowhere..."

I tried to ignore my rapidly beating heart and gently cautioned Luna with a smile.

To be honest, it might have been worse for my heart when she clung to my arm without warning, compared to this sudden, forceful hug.

"I-I'm sorry. I thought it would be fine since no one else is around..."

It seemed like Luna was still worried about what had happened in front of the gym earlier.

She really is a good girl, but... it wasn’t like I was saying it was okay if no one was around.

Well, maybe it was my fault for using the excuse of not wanting to inconvenience others...

"No, it’s fine... But, Luna, is this something you often do?"

In some countries, physical contact is much more common than in Japan.

It’s a cultural difference, so I figured it was just how she was raised. Luna had been very touchy ever since she stayed over at my place for the first time, so it was possible she grew up in that kind of environment.

I asked, thinking it might just be a cultural thing... but—

"W-What I’m doing is only with Seito-sama... I don’t do this with anyone else..."

She denied it, looking up at me with flushed cheeks.

It seems like this isn’t just part of a cultural difference after all.

"Oh, I see... That’s pretty bold..."

Embarrassed by her words and expression, I found myself blurting out what was on my mind without thinking.

Luna quickly averted her gaze, looking even more embarrassed.

"It’s only because no one else is around that I can do this..."

It seemed like she was saying that she could act like this because we were alone.

In other words, it was too embarrassing for her to do it if there were other people watching.

—But, wait a second.

Back in the hallway, with classmates around, she had casually wrapped her arm around mine... Should I not mention that?

She did say she was excited, so maybe she’s not the type of person who does that regularly.

...When it’s just the two of us, she might wear my shirt or come in front of me with only a bath towel, or hug me like this...

Maybe she was forcing herself then...?

She seemed to have her reasons, so I hoped she would explain all that to me someday. I thought as much.

◆

"Wait, does that mean we’re next door to each other?"

I had intended to escort Luna home first, following her directions, but the place we ended up at was the apartment complex where I lived.

That alone was surprising, but her apartment was right next to mine.

There was no way I wouldn’t be shocked.

"Hehe, I was able to see Seito-sama's surprised face♪"

Luna, apparently pleased with herself, looked at my face with a mischievous expression.

She must have known all along and had been pretending to mislead me.

Now that I think about it, she had said "a room nearby," not "a nearby apartment."

That was probably the hint.

Still—living next door? I never would have guessed that.

"The room next door hasn’t been occupied since I moved into this apartment, but... I never expected someone to start living there..."

"I wanted to live in Seito-sama's room... but, of course, that wasn’t allowed, so..."

Huh? Did she just say something outrageous so casually?

So, she was planning to live in my place if I had allowed it?

But whose permission would she have needed, I wonder?

It’s probably not my parents...

She really keeps raising questions, one after another.

"So, you decided to move next door because it was available?"

"Yes♪ I wanted to be as close to Seito-sama as possible."

The result? She moved right next door. Amazing.

"Well, if that’s the case, you could have just come to visit..."

"Oh, well, um... actually, this is the first time I've been in this apartment!"

It seemed like Luna had noticed my displeasure and quickly started to explain herself.

"What do you mean?"

I tilted my head, trying not to make it seem too pressuring.

"My arrival in Japan was a bit late... I just got here yesterday. I could have visited, of course, but... since it was only a day difference, I wanted to surprise you by meeting as a transfer student instead..."

I see... As a big fan of anime, Luna probably wanted to experience the classic scenario where the heroine transfers to a new school and meets the protagonist, like in romantic comedies.

Or maybe she thought it would make me happy.

『And... if I were to close in on you, I thought it would be better to have the support of our classmates... Aira gave me that advice.』

As I tried to understand Luna’s feelings, she suddenly looked down and started muttering to herself in English.

Does she still think I’m angry?

“I understand how you feel, Luna, so don’t worry about it anymore. But next time, I’d be happier if you came to see me right away. Well, honestly, it’s better if there isn’t a next time.”

I really don’t want to feel like Luna is gone again. I hope it never happens, but if it does, I’d prefer she come straight to me instead of trying to surprise me.

“Seito-sama... will you forgive me...?”

Luna looked up at me, her eyes filled with worry.

I didn’t want her to look like that, so I gave her a smile.

“There’s nothing to forgive, I wasn’t angry to begin with. By the way, since we’re neighbors, how about we have dinner together?”

I was surprised that she lived next door, but honestly, I couldn’t be more happier. Now we can walk to and from school together and hang out too.

I invited her to dinner because it seemed like she had been in a good mood but had gotten down because of me, and I wanted her to feel better by eating something delicious.

“Thank you... I’ll take you up on that offer.”

It seemed like she finally understood that I wasn’t angry, and Luna sighed in relief.

For a moment, I found myself captivated by the way she brushed her chest in relief, but I quickly shifted my gaze back to her eyes.

“It’s not like that. What would you like to eat?”

“Oh... I’d like to have Seito-sama’s homemade cooking...”

When I asked her what she wanted to eat, Luna shyly smiled and made her request.

I had intended to suggest we go out to eat, but...

“Are you sure you’re okay with my cooking? You’re already able to go out, so we could go to a restaurant if you want... There’s ramen and sushi nearby.”

When I was hiding Luna and she couldn’t go outside, I would cook for her. But now that she’s able to go to school and go outside without issue, eating out shouldn’t be a problem.

Dad and Rion would probably let us eat out today, but...

However...

“I’ve never had ramen or sushi before, so I’m interested in them, but... I’d really like to have Seito-sama’s homemade cooking again after such a long time... Of course, if you’re tired, it’s fine to eat out.”

What a sweet and thoughtful thing to say. It’s surprising that she hasn’t had ramen or sushi living in a place with such a developed food culture like Arcadia, but since she wants my homemade cooking, there’s no way I wouldn’t cook for her.

“Alright, then I’ll change and go buy some ingredients.”

Unfortunately, there’s nothing in the fridge. I’ve been too drained lately and have just been buying bento boxes.

Honestly, if Rion had come to check up on me again, I’d have been in trouble.

“Oh, may I join you to buy the ingredients?”

When Luna realized I was planning to cook, her face lit up, and she made an additional request.

Buying ingredients for two is something I can do on my own, but if she wants to come, it’s better to let her. Plus, I’d be happy to have her with me.

“Alright, I’ll wait here after I change.”

I said that and immediately went to my room to get ready to go out.

While we were shopping...

“I’d also like to try cooking...”

She cutely looked up at me with those eyes and made the request. When we were hiding her, she had refrained from cooking as a guest, but since we were now neighbors, I decided it would be fine for her to help with simple tasks.

◆

“We got a lot of attention, didn’t we?”

After finishing the shopping and returning to the apartment, I shrugged and smiled at Luna.

Unlike the time we went to buy lingerie, this time Luna didn’t wear any disguise and went out shopping in her natural state. Her outfit, which was elegant and stylish, enhanced her charm, and throughout the journey and at the supermarket, everyone’s eyes were drawn to Luna.

“I’m sorry, it must have been a hassle...”

It seemed like Luna had interpreted my comment as sarcasm, and she nervously glanced at my face, looking for a reaction.

I didn’t mean to criticize her; I just wanted to share the difficulty of the situation and say it must have been tough for her...

“Don’t apologize, it’s not your fault people were staring. I think they were looking at you because you’re so attractive, so just hold your head up high. Like, ‘Look at me, I’m beautiful,’ right?”

Since Luna had a downcast expression, I tried to joke a bit.

But apart from the last bit, I genuinely felt that way. It wasn’t a bad kind of attention, so she should just be confident.

"Attractive... Ehehe..."

Instead of laughing it off with something like “I wouldn’t say that,” Luna looked down instead.

“Luna?”

“No, it’s nothing...”

When I called her name, Luna looked up and gave me a cute smile. Though, it seemed like her mouth was slightly slack in a relaxed way.

It seemed she was just happy about the compliment.

“Well then, shall we get started on dinner?”

Since everything seemed fine, I took the ingredients out of my shopping bag.

After washing my hands in the kitchen, I looked back at Luna.

“Just the two of us, right?”

“Yes, Aira will join us for meals starting tomorrow, but today it’s just the two of us♪”

It seems Aira-chan will be living in the apartment next door with Luna. I had assumed they would eat together, but Luna had told me during the shopping that it wasn’t necessary for today.

I was curious about why they were going to eat separately, but more than that, I needed to make sure Luna, who was cooking for the first time, wouldn’t hurt herself.

“Have you ever used a knife before?”

“No, this is my first time.”

In that case, I should probably teach her how to properly hold a knife.

Honestly, if she hasn’t used one before, I’m hesitant to let her handle it...

“Should we skip using the knife for now?”

“No, I’d like to try…”

I asked just to check, but it seemed she really wanted to try using a knife since she was cooking.

I’ll have to be extra careful.

“Let’s start with something simple, like making tamagoyaki.”

“That’s a bit difficult for a first try, isn’t it?”

"Eh, is that so?"

I think tamagoyaki is a relatively simple dish, just beating the eggs and frying them in a pan...

Well, it might be difficult to roll the eggs until you get used to it.

"Do you think I can crack the eggs properly...?"

Luna looked up at me with a worried expression.

Ah, I see. That’s the concern.

If she’s never cooked before, it makes sense that she might never have cracked an egg.

And cracking eggs cleanly is difficult until you get the hang of it.

If you’re not careful, the shells might get mixed in.

"Watch closely."

I figured it would be better to show her than just tell her, so I gently tapped the egg on the flat surface of the kitchen counter.

Then, after making a small crack, I pressed my thumbs into the center of the crack and gently spread it apart, dropping the contents into the bowl.

"The shells... there's not a single one in there..."

Luna peered into the bowl, seemingly impressed.

"It’s fine, Luna. You can do it too."

I’ve been doing this since I was a kid, so it’s second nature for me not to let any shells slip in, but I didn’t want to add pressure by saying that.

So I just encouraged her without saying anything unnecessary.

"If I do it, I feel like shells will end up in there..."

"If that happens, we’ll just take the shells out of the bowl. You won’t improve unless you try, so go ahead."

I smiled and handed Luna a fresh egg.

Honestly, if shells get in, all we have to do is remove them from the bowl.

It’s a little extra work, but it’s no problem since I can do that.

"Just tap it gently on the flat part, okay?"

When I said that, Luna looked at me curiously.

"Seito-sama, you did it the same way earlier, but why the flat part and not the corners?"

It seemed Luna was puzzled and asked me about it.

There didn’t seem to be any resistance or disagreement in her voice.

It’s natural to think that tapping the corners would make the crack easier.

"Hmm, if you tap the corners, the shells are more likely to get in. Cracking it on the flat part makes it harder for the shells to break off, so that’s why I do it this way."

I didn’t really study cooking, so I don’t know the exact reasoning, but from experience, that’s what works.

—Actually, this is something I learned from Rion.

At first, I was trying to crack the egg on the corner, and Rion corrected me.

So, I can't act all high and mighty in front of Luna.

"I see... I apologize for asking such an impertinent question..."

Luna straightened her posture and bowed deeply.

She's so polite, you can tell she was raised well.

"No, no, when you're learning, it's fine to ask anything you don't understand. Actually, it's worse to try and do something without asking when you're unsure. There's a Japanese proverb that goes, 'Asking once may bring temporary shame, but not asking will bring lifelong shame.' It means that if you ask, you might feel embarrassed at that moment, but if you don't ask, you'll go through life not knowing and continue to feel embarrassed. It's better to ask and get it right than to pretend you know. So feel free to ask anytime."

Luna likely didn’t think asking was embarrassing, but I wanted to make sure she didn’t stop asking questions because she thought it might bother me. So, I used a proverb to explain it.

Honestly, when learning something, it’s better to ask questions.

If you acquire the wrong knowledge, you often don’t realize it until someone else points it out.

Of course, there are many people who say you should figure things out for yourself rather than asking others, so it depends on the situation.

But in this case, it’s definitely better to ask.

At least, I don’t mind being asked questions, and it makes me happy when she does.

"Thank you... Seito-sama, you're so kind, and that reassures me..."

"Ahaha, if I were to get angry over something like this, I’d be really bad at teaching in the first place. Anyway, give it a try."

I encouraged Luna to crack the egg.

With that, Luna, her face determined, gently tapped the egg on the kitchen counter.

"...It didn't crack..."

However, when Luna looked at the part of the egg that had hit the counter, her face clouded with disappointment.

"There’s no crack. It’s okay, that’s fine. Just add a little more force, and tap it again. You can keep trying until it cracks."

When I said that, Luna gently tapped the egg on the counter multiple times.

Eventually, a crack appeared, and she looked up at me with a pleased expression.

So, I smiled back at her and urged her to continue.

Luna, maybe recalling how I did it, closed her eyes for a few seconds, then slowly began to open the egg.

"...I did it...!"

She looked into the bowl, where only the yolk and egg white had fallen, and her face lit up with a bright smile as she looked at me.

She’s so cute.

◆

"...♪"

Currently, Luna is mixing the egg yolks and whites in the bowl while humming a tune.

She was surprised when I added sugar to the bowl during the seasoning process, but once I explained that the sweetness helps create a fluffy omelette, she seemed to understand and accepted it.

"Is this about right?"

Once Luna finished mixing, she showed me the contents of the bowl.

"Yeah, that's perfect. Now, let's strain the egg mixture."

Since the seasonings were thoroughly mixed and well-dissolved, I showed Luna the strainer I had been keeping aside.

"So, we're not cooking it right away?"

"Well, you could cook it as it is, but adding this extra step makes the omelette smoother and finer, resulting in a fluffier texture."

Since I was making it for Luna, I wanted it to be as delicious as possible. Honestly, if I were doing this alone, I would probably skip this extra step to save time, but that's different here.

"By not skipping these extra steps, that’s why your cooking is always so delicious, Seito-sama."

Luna looked at me with passionate eyes, almost as if she were admiring me.

I felt a little uneasy about it.

"Ahaha... Okay, I think that’s enough."

After straining the egg mixture a few times, I began heating the omelette pan.

"This too is another extra step, isn’t it..."

Luna nodded while gently placing her index finger on her chin, observing as I heated the pan without adding any ingredients.

She was focused and seemed to be learning quickly, determined to master the cooking.

"This is a trick for making it fluffy. It’s called preheating. By warming up the pan beforehand, the egg will cook quickly, and the batter will turn out just right."

"I never knew any of this..."

For someone who doesn’t usually cook, it’s understandable not to know these preparations. To learn, you either have to ask someone, look it up yourself, or fail and learn from your mistakes. But to do that, you need to have the intention of cooking in the first place.

Luna, who was seriously learning, would surely improve her cooking skills quickly.

"Alright, it's heated now. Let’s add the vegetable oil and—"

From here, I decided to let Luna take the reins, explaining and giving her instructions as we went.

Luna worked hard, following my directions.

"—We don't add it all at once, do we..."

While cooking, when Luna tried to pour all the egg mixture at once, I stopped her, and she looked a bit downcast.

"Yeah, it's better to add the egg mixture in three parts. Roughly a third of the mixture at a time. First, cook that, then fold it over about a third of the way, and add more egg mixture to cook again."

Following my explanation, Luna added about a third of the egg mixture to the pan.

When it cooked nicely, she skillfully folded it over according to my instructions.

It turned out much better than I expected, so she must be quite skilled.

Luna continued cooking the omelette...

"I’m done...!"

When the fluffy, beautifully yellow omelette was finished, Luna eagerly showed it to me, as if saying "Look, look!"

"Yeah, you did a great job. Luna has a real talent for cooking."

She had done it so well, without flattery, so I smiled and praised her. As a result, Luna's refined and graceful face lit up with a smile, looking as innocent as a child.

"Hehe... Do you think so...? I think it's because you taught me, Seito-sama..."

I could really sense how happy she was to be praised, and I couldn’t help but smile.

She's such a cute girl.

"You only had verbal instructions, and yet you made it so beautifully, so that’s impressive."

I thought it would have been better to show her how, but that would have made too much. So I explained it verbally and had her do it. To see her do it so well on the first try, I could tell Luna had a natural talent for cooking.

"Alright, how about we cut it now?"

Before we made the next dish, I decided to have Luna try using a knife, so I took one out.

Seeing the knife, Luna froze, taking a sharp breath.

"Still scared?"

It was only natural to be a bit scared of handling a knife, especially if you weren’t used to cooking. However, Luna, though nervous, took the knife from me.

"It’s... it’s okay..."

"Don’t push yourself too hard. The way you hold it is like this—"

I showed her the proper way to hold the knife and how to position the left hand when cutting, which is known as the "cat’s paw" method.

Luna mimicked me, placing her left hand on the omelette, but—

"Um... may I ask one thing...?"

Just as she was about to start cutting, Luna looked up at me with a hesitant gaze.

"What is it?"

"Um... could you please place your hand on mine...?"

"Huh?"

I tilted my head, not quite understanding what Luna meant.

Place my hand... does she want me to hold the omelette down for her...?

That seems a bit scary...

If she were cutting it herself, I wouldn't have any problem, but placing my hand on hers while she's cutting, given that she has no cooking experience, is a bit intimidating.

Honestly, I'd prefer to cut it myself.

But it seems I misinterpreted her request—

"I’d like you to guide my hand from behind, like in an anime, and teach me how to cut..."

—It seemed Luna wanted me to help guide her hand from behind, like in a "two-person" cooking style.

"...That’s a bit..."

After thinking for a moment about her request, I decided to decline.

It would involve our bodies being very close, which made me nervous.

"...I guess it does feel a bit late to worry about that, though...?"

Luna seemed to quickly understand why I hesitated.

She tilted her head cutely and looked at me with innocent eyes, staring intently.

Yeah, it really did feel a bit late to be worried about it...

After all, we had already embraced each other.

In fact, when I was hiding Luna, she was only wearing the shirt I had worn to school over her underwear, so the situation back then was probably far more awkward than now.

Plus, since it was summer, I was wearing shorts, and our skin would occasionally touch.

"Y-yeah, I suppose it might be a bit late to worry about that."

Luna's pure gaze made me feel like I was the only one aware of the situation, so I decided to go along with her request, trying to act like it didn't bother me.

—Well, it felt like a futile attempt, but…

"Are you scared and want to do it together?"

Trying to avoid the awkwardness, I asked Luna why she had made the request.

"No... I've always admired things like this..."

It seemed Luna's reason for wanting to do it together wasn't fear. She had admired things like wearing his shirt and doing something couple-like.

If that's the case, then I suppose I can't really refuse... I told myself.

"Well, let's do this, then...?"

"Yes..."

I checked with her, and Luna nodded softly. Her cheeks were lightly flushed, and there was a slight awkwardness in her movements.

It seemed she was a little nervous, too.

I moved behind Luna, making sure not to startle her, and gently placed my right hand over her right hand.

I focused more on holding the handle of the knife rather than the back of Luna's hand.

There was no need to place my left hand over hers.

As I tried to look over Luna's shoulder at the omelette, I realized—

"I-I can't see..."

Luna's full chest completely obscured the omelette on the cutting board.

"Huh?"

Luna turned to look at me with a puzzled expression in response to my voice.

She could probably see it just fine.

"N-Never mind, it's nothing..."

I hurriedly forced a smile and tried to brush it off.

I couldn't exactly say what I was thinking—how Luna's chest was so large that it was blocking the omelette from view.

But I couldn't just go on cutting without being able to see. I absolutely couldn't afford to cut her hand, let alone leave a single scratch.

What should I do...?

Is there a way around this...?

Given the situation, I desperately racked my brain for a solution.

"Seito-sama...?"

Since I hadn't moved, Luna probably felt confused and looked at me again, her face full of wonder.

"Sorry, Luna. Could you step back a bit and lean forward just a little?"

I managed to come up with an answer and decided to ask Luna to lean her upper body forward.

I asked her to step back because I thought simply leaning forward wouldn’t clear the omelette from being covered by Luna.

I was practically admitting my own dilemma, but I figured Luna, being naturally unaware, probably wouldn’t notice.

"Yes... like this?"

As she had said, Luna stepped back and leaned her upper body forward.

However, she only leaned a little, and I still couldn't see the omelette.

"Sorry, can you lean a little more?"

This wasn’t quite enough, so I asked her to lean even further.

"Yes, I understand."

Luna, ever obedient, didn’t question me and leaned her upper body further.

Finally, I could see the omelette.

Of course, I was looking down at the omelette from over Luna's shoulder.

『—Ah. Seito-sama is leaning against my back... I can feel his body heat...』

But the position seemed uncomfortable for Luna, and she muttered something in English.

I thought I heard my name...

"Sorry, is this uncomfortable?"

"No, it’s just... too much happiness..."

"Huh?"

Happiness? Why?

Luna’s response was different from what I expected, and I found myself confused.

"Ah... n-nothing. More importantly, shouldn't we cut it now?"

As I was still trying to figure out what she meant by happiness, Luna seemed to realize something and quickly urged me on.

What’s she in such a hurry about...?

『'It seems Seito-sama isn’t aware... so if he becomes aware now, I might not be able to pull away...'』

She muttered again in English.

Her voice was quieter than before, and I couldn’t catch what she was saying.

Just as I was about to ask her again—

"I’ll make sure not to apply any pressure, so please move however you like, Seito-sama."

Before I could even speak, she eagerly urged me on with a cheerful tone.

From the sound of her voice, it seemed like she was enjoying this... so maybe I shouldn’t worry too much?

If I ask too much, I might come off as a persistent guy.

"Yeah, I’ll move it now. If you’re scared, just let me know."

"How could I be scared with Seito-sama here?"

I had only said it just to be cautious, but she responded with such a heartwarming reply.

This girl seems to be putting a strange amount of trust in me, someone she’s only just met... but honestly, I don’t mind at all. If anything, it makes me happy.

I think she’s really a wonderful and cute girl.

As someone who doesn’t know many girls aside from Rion, interacting with someone like Luna feels incredibly fresh.

After that, Luna and I worked together to cut the omelette, and I made the other dishes on my own to make sure the omelette wouldn’t get cold.

Of course, Luna stayed nearby the whole time, watching me cook.

"—Alright, shall we eat?"

After arranging the dishes on the table and preparing the white rice, I called out to Luna.

"Yes♪"

Luna nodded with a smile—then sat down next to me, not across from me.

And before long, she pressed her body against mine.

"L-Luna...?"

My heart raced as I spoke to Luna, who showed no attempt to hide her feelings.

When I interact with her, I sometimes get the illusion that we’re already in a relationship.

"I’ve always longed for this kind of life since I was little..."

Luna seemed to be enjoying herself, and with a look almost as if she were savoring the moment, she gazed up at me with a heated expression, like she was in a trance.

There was something alluring about her, yet at the same time, she had an aura that made me want to protect her.

Honestly, she was just too cute.

"How were you raised, Luna?"

I couldn't help myself and asked the question I’d been holding in.

I was so curious about Luna, I couldn’t hold back anymore.

However—

"If I tell you, the food will get cold… I’d prefer to talk about it once Aira returns..."

It seemed Luna wasn’t going to tell me after all.

If the food would get cold, it must be something she couldn’t easily talk about.

Considering she said she would speak after Aira-chan returned, it probably meant there were things she couldn’t say unless Aira-chan was present.

"I’m sorry for asking."

"No... I actually think Seito-sama has been very patient, without asking anything... Normally, it wouldn’t be strange if a storm of questions were to fall upon me..."

When I apologized, Luna shook her head with a remorseful expression.

It seemed she felt guilty for not being able to talk about something.

It seemed there was still something she couldn’t say.

"Don’t worry about it. I just want you to talk when you’re ready, Luna."

"Seito-sama, you’re so kind... You’re too good of a person..."

When I expressed my thoughts, Luna intertwined her left hand with my right, holding my hand in a lovers' hold.

She then rested her head on my shoulder, and her hand gently squeezed mine as if she were seeking comfort.

What is this cute creature...?

"Don’t overestimate me, alright? I’m nothing special, just an ordinary Japanese student."

While I was happy that Luna thought so highly of me, I couldn’t help but feel worried.

What if one day, she becomes disappointed in me?

Because I don’t have anything I can really be proud of.

My grades are average, far behind Rion’s, and while I’m somewhat good at sports, I’m not at the level of the students in the sports clubs.

I’m not even in a club, and I don’t have any notable achievements, so if she praises me too much, I’m afraid it’ll come back to haunt me later.

"Being kind is a wonderful and admirable thing. And above all, Seito-sama is amazing... Even without any special training, you managed to defeat the two bodyguards who underwent tough training. That’s truly extraordinary..."

Luna praised me with a deep, sincere expression.

However, instead of calming down, hearing those words made me feel like my heart was being gripped.

"Did you just say 'bodyguards'?!"

I couldn’t help but ask about the part that stood out to me.

"I will explain that as well," Luna replied, not denying it but smiling faintly, as if resigned to it.

Wait, does this mean I’ve done something ridiculous...?

I started recalling the two women who came to pick Luna up.

I still didn’t understand Aira-chan well, but she had shown extraordinary movements and was carrying a gun, something not allowed in Japan.

And most importantly—the other woman was a refined, imposing person.

She had the air of a maid scolding an aristocratic young lady in manga or anime... Could it be that Luna is a noble living in Arcadia after all?

Her name was unusually long, too...

"It’s alright, Seito-sama. You won’t experience anything terrible."

As I began to sweat nervously, Luna smiled kindly and wiped my forehead with a handkerchief.

This reaction probably wasn’t unexpected for her.

"Are you sure it’s really alright...?"

Even though Luna was here beside me, and neither the women who came to pick her up nor Aira-chan said anything, I couldn’t help but worry. Given the situation, I was imagining the worst.

"It’s alright, everything has been settled."

Well, if Luna says so, I guess I have no choice but to believe her...

I didn’t want to make Luna feel uncomfortable by doubting her too much, so I decided to trust her.

"If you say so, Luna, I’ll trust you. Can I let go of your hand now, though? It’s time to eat."

Since I’m right-handed, I couldn’t eat if I was holding her hand with my right hand.

I could probably manage with my left hand, but I didn’t want to embarrass myself by dropping food, especially in front of Luna.

As I was thinking this, Luna, whose right hand was free, picked up a pair of chopsticks and smiled brightly at me.

"I’ll feed you, so don’t worry♪"

Luna’s voice was light and cheerful, as if she had been looking forward to this moment.

It seemed Luna was going to feed me.

...Well, I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel "reassured" about this.

"Th-thank you, but that might be a little embarrassing..."

I had never even been fed by my childhood friend Rion, so the idea of a girl feeding me was embarrassing.

I reflexively turned her down, but—

"......"

Luna, as usual, looked at me with large, moist eyes, like a puppy who had been abandoned, gazing up at me as if pleading.

It really seems like Luna is longing for moments like this, as if we were a couple.

"Alright, alright. Can you feed me, then?"

I was weak against those eyes of Luna’s, so I ended up giving in.

This expression... it's so unfair.

"Ah... Thank you so much...!"

When I agreed, her face lit up brightly.

How could I possibly refuse a girl who looked so happy and excited?

"Then, here comes the 'ah~n'♪"

Luna, with a joyful smile, picked up some tamagoyaki with her chopsticks and brought it to my mouth.

I hesitantly opened my mouth, trying to push aside my embarrassment.

Then, Luna gently placed the food in my mouth.

"Is it delicious?"

As I chewed, Luna fidgeted, her body swaying anxiously, waiting for my response.

She was probably nervous because it was something she made herself.

"Yeah, it’s really fluffy, and the sweetness is just right. You really have a talent for cooking, Luna."

"Hehe... I'm glad it turned out well..."

When I complimented her again, Luna’s cheeks softened in a happy smile.

She was so cute that it was almost dangerous.

I was dying to hug her, but I held back my impulses, not wanting to surprise her.

After that, Luna ate as well and continued feeding me, and we happily continued our meal together.

Since we were using the same pair of chopsticks, it was technically an indirect kiss... but Luna didn’t seem to mind at all.

[ENG] Yuukai Saresou ni Natte Iru Kou Tasuketara, Oshinobi de Asobi ni Kitte Ita Ohimesama Datta Ken V1 Chapter 4

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