IT BLOSSOMS, hatori sohma [Fruits Basket]

Chapter Forty Six

Ryu, despite being proficient at cooking, found herself grappling with difficulty when her sprained wrist hindered her usual dexterity in the kitchen. Earlier, Tohru had stepped out to fetch some missing utensils, but before she could return, Ryu had taken it upon herself to lend a hand, determined not to feel like a freeloader.

Given that she and Himawari were staying over due to her injury, Ryu already felt like she was imposing upon the household's hospitality. This only added to her sense of frustration and helplessness as she tried to stir the pot of food with her sprained wrist.

As she stirred the food, her frustration grew, knowing how much more smoothly this task could've been done if her wrist were functioning properly. "This is ridiculous," she muttered under her breath, trying to make do with her impaired hand. "I shouldn't be struggling this much just to stir a pot of food."

"Ah, Ryu, let me handle it," Tohru protested, gently taking the spoon out of her hand. However, before Ryu could protest, an ominous presence made itself felt, and she froze, feeling the weight of Hatori's gaze.

She slowly turned around, her body tensing with trepidation, and met Hatori's dead stare. The intensity of his gaze pierced through her soul, making her flinch.

Ryu's mind raced as she suddenly remembered that Hatori had stayed over that night as well. She had no idea how she could've forgotten his presence so easily. She plastered a forced smile on her face, and picked up a small cup of the broth she had been cooking, extending it towards Hatori.

With a meek voice, she asked, "Can you tell me if there's anything else I should add?"

Hatori took the cup, his stern gaze not lifting an inch. He wasn't finished with Ryu just yet, but he swallowed his words for now, not wanting to create an uncomfortable atmosphere for Tohru, who was watching the exchange anxiously.

"How is the taste? Is it too spicy?" Ryu inquired.

Hatori took a moment to savor the flavor, then shook his head, "No, it's just right."

Ryu's face brightened, her smile widening, "Good, I know how sensitive you are to spice, I made sure to keep it as mild as possible."

Hatori's eyes widened, his surprise evident. Her words had caught him off guard—she'd correctly identified his preferred level of spiciness without him ever explicitly stating it. The fact that she knew this small detail rendered him momentarily speechless.

"Ryu, you're really like a wife," Shigure's voice chimed in, his arm casually resting on both Ryu and Hatori's shoulders, bringing their faces dangerously close together. "Don't you think so as well, Hatori~! Isn't she just lovely?"

Hatori's face instantly pinkened, his usual stoicism faltering under Shigure's teasing. He tried to regain his composure, but his proximity to Ryu was quite distracting.

Hatori let out a sigh as he moved Shigure's arm off Ryu, mumbling, "There you go spouting nonsense again... And be careful, Ryu is injured."

Shigure chuckled at Hatori's response, sensing that he hadn't directly denied his comments. This only fueled Shigure's growing scheming, as he took Hatori's lack of direct denial as a confirmation of the truth in his words.