Heroine Life

Chapter 15: The You That's Supposed to be There

When I woke up in the morning and went to the kitchen, Yuzuha, wearing an apron over her school uniform, was preparing breakfast.

She hasn't noticed me yet and is going through the familiar motions of frying some vegetables and other food in the frying pan.
On the counter were plates of fried eggs and bacon lined up next to each other. On each plate, there was also a piece of golden brown toast.
It looks like most of the breakfast preparations are already done. After she finishes what she's making now, everything should be ready.

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

I've grown quite used to hearing these sounds and now I associate them with home.
The sight of Yuzuha in my kitchen is also no longer something I find unusual.
At some point, I grew used to this scene.
It has only been about 2 months since Yuzuha came here, but it already feels like we've always lived like this.
She has become so integrated into my daily life that it feels weird when she's not here.
Not long ago, I would have hated for things to become like this but now I no longer resist it.
Although I am dismayed at my own weak will, I don't think this situation is bad so I guess I don't have to force myself to reject it.
Although I do find myself still slightly embarrassed by this daily routine.

While I was watching her from behind as she focused on cooking, at some point she noticed me and turned towards me.
Our eyes meet and she gently smiles then calls out my name happily.
Yup... as I thought, this is still a bit embarrassing.

"Good morning."
"Good morning. Breakfast will be ready soon, so please take a seat and wait."
"Do you need any help?"
"Thanks for the offer, but I'm pretty much done here."
"Then I'll take what's ready to the dining table. Is it alright for me to take this?"

We're living together, so I want her to at least let me help with this much.
Yuzuha has taken the bulk of the housework upon herself, but in the end, I still feel like I should do my share as well.
I don't want to take advantage of her kindness just because I'm bad at housework. I want to at least ease her burden a little bit.

"Ah...... yes, please go ahead."
"Okay."

She beams with joy while thanking me. I head towards the living room and see grandma at her seat watching TV.
This is a rather rare sight since she usually stays in her room until we call her.
It is said that old people wake up early in the morning, but my grandma wakes up a little late. ...That's probably because she stays up late watching late-night anime.
Grandma opens her mouth wide and lets out a big yawn.

"Good morning, grandma."
"Oh, Chiharu. Good morning, it's cold again today."
"Is it? Well, it is already winter, after all. It's about time to bring out the kotatsu."
"I threw out the kotatsu last year. It was getting pretty old."
"Oh, right. I remember now. Then we'll have to get by this year with just the heater."

Lazing around while under a warm kotatsu and devouring tangerines is one of the best parts of winter. That's too bad.

"Fufu, you don't need to worry about that. I've already ordered a new one."
"Wow!"
"Though it won't arrive until the end of the year."
"Oh..."

Isn't that a little late? Well, I guess it's still going to be cold after the end of the year.
It's regrettable we won't have it until then, but I'm looking forward to the arrival of a new kotatsu.

"And here's today's breakfast. I'll bring the rest of the food later, but you can go ahead and start eating now."

I put the breakfast I brought in front of grandma.
For some reason, she looked at me strangely, but then her eyes narrowed and she smiled, seeming satisfied.
That look on her face. She must be thinking of something strange again.

"Heh, helping Yuzuha? How admirable."
"I'll be ashamed if I can't do at least this much."
"...... Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm."
"What?"

She stares at my face while nodding and grunting. I'm not sure what she's thinking but I had a feeling I should leave it alone instead of asking about it.
There are still some more plates on the counter, so I ignore grandma and go back to the kitchen.
Yuzuha, who was stir-frying something earlier, is packing the finished product into a bento.
She was preparing lunch and breakfast at the same time. She's dextrous as usual.
What is amazing to me is probably normal to her. Still, I can't help being amazed. I don't think I'd be able to do the same thing.

(I wondered what today's side dishes are......)

I suddenly grew curious about the contents of the bento, so I take a peek.
There is sausage, omelet, salted salmon, and a variety of other colorful side dishes. Just from a quick glance, I could tell that a lot of time and effort had gone into making them.
The bentos she makes always look so elaborate. Of course, they taste delicious as well. I'm sure she could even beat some pros.
She always includes one of my favorites every day, but at the same time, she also adds some of the things I don't like to make sure I get a balanced meal.
I didn't want to waste any of the food she takes the trouble of making for me, so recently I've been eating a lot more of the foods I don't like.
But that doesn't mean I've conquered my dislike of them. I just force myself to stuff them into my mouth and swallow. That's the best I can do.
There's no way I can make myself like something I don't so easily.

"Yay! Fried prawns!"

I was about to reach for my favorite food when I found it in my bento, but Yuzuha noticed and gave me a gentle warning.