Beautiful Barking Tsundere

Chapter 11

Original Author: ひのはら (Hinohara)
Date Submitted to Kakuyomu: 2021/09/16

After untying the ribbon of the apron around her waist, she places the finished dish on the dining room table.

The mixture of onions, red peppers, and minced meat placed next to the white rice completes the pad krapow (a popular Thai dish).

Despite their initial agreement to handle their own meals separately, they have only been eating together lately.

"Delicious. You really are good at housework, Aira."
"Not really. I'd say this much is normal."
"I'm serious. The food is so stylishly arranged that people would post pictures like this on social media. Do you ever do that?"
"I don't have any social media accounts."

Aira has a talk app to communicate with acquaintances, but she does not have an account on any social media platforms that would expose her to the general public.

Ema reacts with surprise like everyone else does when they learn that.

"Even though you're a high school girl!?"
"I tried signing up for one once... a lot of strangers kept contacting me. It got scary so I quit."

High school girls are expected to have social media accounts these days, but it seems like Aira can not get on top of that trend.

More than anything, the social media culture where strangers can send messages to anyone they please doesn't sit well with Aira.

"If I were still in high school, I'd be sending you a crazy amount of direct messages."
"High school girls are one thing, but I was getting a lot of messages from old men and other people as well. I don't like it when boys I don't know from other schools send me messages out of the blue."
"You know, Aira... your appearance doesn't quite match what's inside."

Aira has gotten used to hearing that.
She's strong-minded despite her appearance, she's always saying uncute things, and she can't be honest.

She has been told many times that being like that isn't cute.

"Your face is as pretty as a doll's, but you have an indomitable spirit... I'm also surprised that you don't get particularly happy being fawned over by others."
"Well... I don't feel much when I'm just being praised for what's on the surface. I'd be happier being praised for what's on the inside."
"Does it make you happy to hear me tell you that you're a good cook?"

Even though she only followed the recipe, she's still happy about receiving praise for the food she put time and effort into making.

When she nods, Ema's voice changes to the one she likes to use when she teases Aira.

"If they know too much about what's inside, won't it get even harder for you than now?"
"What do you mean?"
"More people will try to hit on you."
"What's with that? I've been called uncute many times."
"You being uncute makes you cute."

Aira is completely confused, but Ema doesn't say anything more.

Being uncute makes her cute... that's a contradiction.
Aira doesn't understand what Ema wants to say at all.

"Ah..."

Aira glances at the time and sees that it's 6:00 p.m.
Even though she hasn't finished dinner, she quickly grabs the remote control and turns on the TV.

"It's starting..."
"What are you watching?"
"This Week's Meow Meow."

Along with cheerful background music, "This Week's Meow Meow" appears in a cute font on the TV screen.