A Warm Place

XXII One Happiness

"Hinata-chan... is anyone having a birthday today?"
"I admit that I overdid it."

We're currently looking at a whole cake, adorned with whipped cream and fruits. It's beautifully decorated, and I'm personally satisfied with the result. Aah, but, that's not the point.

"I think we were talking about making some simple sweets since it'd be a waste to do nothing while waiting them, right?"
"I got carried away by mistake."

Rumi and I have been waiting for Hiori and Tsubaki to return home, but they're getting quite late. So, I tried contacting them by an email, and it seems that they'll be taking their time. In the end, I borrowed the kitchen to make something that wouldn't be too time-consuming. I had planned to bake cookies at first, but the moment I reached the kitchen, I got too excited when I saw the cookwares that I don't have at home. As a result, I ended up making a cake by accident.

"It's amazing how you can make something this grand without meaning to..."
"Well~ you're making me blush."

Be that as it may, I've used their ingredients without asking. I need to apologize to Hiori later. Rumi will most likely tell me that it's okay, but using someone else's stuff without permission is still a bad thing to do. I'm reflecting on it. I should've asked when I was sending the email earlier.

"Still, they're late."

While I'm washing the cooking utensils and cleaning up, Rumi looks at the clock and mutters in worry. Now that she mentions it, I think it's been more than an hour since they replied.

"It seems it's been a really long time since they last went shopping together, so I guess they want to take it slow."
"I think you're right."

When I imagine the sight of them shopping happily, I end up smiling. It's still early for dinner anyway, so we should be waiting for them patiently. After I finish cleaning up, I put the cake in the fridge and return to sit in the living room. A short while later, Rumi comes to sit in front of me. But, for some reason, she's staring at me.... Uh, um? What is it?

"Is there something on my face?"

Maybe there is cream stuck on my face when I was making the cake, so I try wiping it off with my hand. I was stirring it with my strength, so some of the fresh cream might have taken flight.

"Ah, that's not it. Umm, it's just, you know, that, I think you have a cute face."
"Haa."

I have no idea how to react to that, so I'm not sure what to say. 'Thank you very much!' will sound as if I'm agreeing with her statement. But if I say 'That's not true!', it might just come out unpleasant. But, there are no girls who aren't happy to be told that she's cute, of course, me included.... Although, hearing that from my little sister gives me mixed feelings.

"A-anyway! Was Tsubaki-chan the one who invited you for dinner today?"
"Aah, yes. After getting forsaken by my family, Tsubaki was the kind person who beckoned me for dinner."
"I-I see."

'Hurrah for a full-course Chinese meal!', I laugh in derision as I remember how my family shouted that. Rumi's smile clamps up a bit when she sees me like that.

I'm sure Mother and my sister are currently laughing merrily at a Chinese restaurant, spinning the rotating table in high speed. I don't really like Chinese food anyway, and I don't feel dejected at all because they didn't bring me with them, you know? Besides, what's the big deal with an elite full-course Chinese dinner! Just because it's expensive, it doesn't mean that it's guaranteed to be delicious, okay?!

"...Say, Hinata-chan, are you going out with anyone?"

Here it comes, the question that always comes out of nowhere. Girls like to talk about this topic a lot. Well, I'm also a young girl in the peak of my adolescence, though. At least my appearance is.