Running After You

Chapter 28: Making Up

One would think dealing with his own personal issues with Chinemi would make Youta happy. Sure, he was more than glad to resolve everything with her, but that wasn't the only problem surrounding the boy.

There was still Mitora, whom he still felt mad at even by the time the weekend rolled around. It had been a while since the boy could say he was truly upset with her, with the last time being that time they had that sleepover and she pranked him with the water bowl trick. That girl should've known better than to bring back bad memories, he thought.

Either way, his current cold shoulder directed towards her also had the negative impact on his mood even as he laid out on the couch to watch some online videos. Not even cute vtubers playing silly video games could brighten his mood. If anything, they annoyed him more as his mind would get things mixed up with them and Mitora.

The worst part of his bitterness towards her was that even Youta couldn't properly explain to himself on why this time was worse than most of the other times she had upset him. Sure, her being the one to make everyone misunderstand the situation should be the main reason. After all, if it wasn't for her, then he wouldn't have found himself being chased through the hallways by the rest of his classmates.

Speaking of, he was grateful enough that his teacher actually had his back after the truth came out. That man gave a pretty harsh scolding to the class on how they shouldn't be forming mobs to chase after one of their classmates regardless of whether they believed the person to be guilty of a crime. This was a school and even in the regular world that shouldn't be the way things are.

But back onto the topic on his feelings towards Mitora. It was less about her being the cause of his pain, and more so that he was hurt that she'd not trust him. After all these years growing up, he figured they both knew each other well enough to do that at least.

"Actually, she has been acting strange sometimes lately." He said to himself, sitting up on the couch. It usually sprung up whenever she saw him working with a female athlete, never the male ones. Presumably because those were girls and perhaps she was worried he might be taken advantage of? While he would've assumed her to have more faith in her fellow athletes, it shouldn't matter anyway. He was more than mature enough to take care of himself.

All this thinking was making him hungry. It also didn't help that the person he was watching was also playing a game where one simulated the life of a chef. His stomach growled as the boy got up from his seat and headed into the kitchen. Surely they had to be something he could whip together in no time.

Before he was able to begin his work, there was a knock on the door. Youta thought it a bit strange, as no one was expected to be coming over. Though he should've known who it was all things considered as he opened up the door.

As before him stood Mitora, along with Fuwaka who had been standing a bit behind her as if trying not to be seen. "Mitora?" He said, surprised before realizing that he still was not on speaking terms with her. Then the boy would cross his arms and again try to act as if she wasn't standing in front of him.

"Youta..." She spoke slowly, breaking the silence between them that grew once more. "I'm sorry!" She bowed down, bending over at the waist, and held up a bento box full of food.

"You made something for me?" Again he forgot about his silent treatment towards her to address the meal in front of him. Whether it was due to his empty stomach or her kind gesture was unknown even to him.

"It's my fault that you suffered." She continued on with her apology. "And I should've trusted you. After all this time, you've always had my back. So there's no reason for me to doubt you. So please forgive me."

"Mitora..." He said quietly, only for something louder to take center stage in their conversation. Which was his own stomach growling in response to seeing her handmade meal. "Ahem, it's not because I'm starving. But if you'd like to come inside, you can." Youta would then turn his attention to Fuwaka.

Just like with Mitora, albeit not heavily weighing on his mind, he had been upset with her. It was pretty much for the same reasons where it would've been nice to have someone who he thought was a friend be there in his time of need. She had complained to him before about how it seemed he no longer wanted anything to do with her after their time together as athlete and sports manager.

Back then, he decided that he shouldn't just stop spending time with her despite having no job relating to the girl. Yet despite him making that effort, she didn't give back the same effort. "What are you doing here?"

"I guess great minds think alike..." She meekly revealed her own bento box that she had kept hidden behind her as he had been talking with Mitora. "I can understand if you don't want to see me. So you can tell me to leave if you want."

"Fuwaka..." He sighed, knowing what he'd have to do next. "Come in, I was just about to eat lunch anyway."

"Yay!" Mitora cheered as they all entered his house. Youta turned off the TV, a bit embarrassed for them to catch a glimpse of his watching habits, and went into the kitchen.

"I think I'll just make something for myself." While it was a kind gesture for them to have made him lunch as a means to give something for an apology. Youta knew better than to simply accept it. After what had happened last time he tried Mitora cooking, he knew that if he wished to continue living on his planet that he could never try it again.

"Are you sure?" Mitora asked. "I mean, does it really count as me saying sorry if you don't accept?"

"It's fine, I'm not mad at you anymore." His words confirmed his feeling towards her. Yes, what she did was bad for him, but she was someone he could never stay mad at forever. Even if not actually addressing the problem may not be healthy.

"Then, I guess I shouldn't make this go to waste." She took the pair of chopsticks she had set with the box and took a bite. "Oh..." Her expression switched from one of joy to bitter disappointment as she spat out the food she had made for him. "Maybe it's better you didn't try this."

"I'll make something for you too then." When he said this, her eyes lit up once more. This would be the first time he had ever cooked for her and Mitora was ready to finally have this moment. The only disappointment about this was that she couldn't say she was the first girl he had ever cooked for.

"I guess for me, at least my lunch is edible." Fuwaka said as she had already tried out what she made for him before coming here. "You don't have to make anything for me."

"Are you sure?" Him hearing her dejected words concerned him. She seemed sad, but shouldn't seeing as he allowed her into his home. Even though he hadn't directly said it, most would take that as him also forgiving her as well. "It won't take much more effort to add in some more ingredients."

"It'd be a shame to waste food though." She said as this, as Mitora threw away the lunch she made. "It's okay, you don't have to do anything for me or anything."

"All right then." He didn't agree, but didn't want to fight about it either. So the boy got to work whipping up something simple for one to enjoy heading into the afternoon.

"When did you learn how to cook?" Asked Mitora. Unlike back when Fuwaka had been here studying, the girl took a more active approach in watching him work his magic.

"Guess I've been studying a lot starting high school." He answered as the boy sprinkled some flour and rolled out some dough. "If you were so busy with track, then you'd pick up on a thing or two, you know." Youta noticed her eyeing down at the counter to see him at work. Thanks to this distraction, he took the opportunity to take some extra flour and surprise her with throwing it at her face.

It hit her directly, leaving the girl with a completely white face as a result of his prank. "Like that." He laughed from her silly appearance. Mitora wasn't even upset in the slightest about his move. How could she be from such a playful mood with him.

The pair laughed together as he continued preparing lunch. However, Fuwaka continued sitting on the counter quietly. All she could do was watch them have fun as she took a bite of her food.