Chapter 60 – Celebration
Chapter 60 – Celebration
“I’ll do anything. If it’ll make you happy, Kenya… Is there nothing I can do for you?”
(Huh? Is this heading into sexy territory?)
For a moment, carnal desires overtook Kenya.
But then reason reared its head and clamped down on those impulses.
Reason began battling the desires, but today, it seemed reason had the upper hand.
Thanks to crawling my way through countless brushes with death.
“That’s fine? Anything. If that’s what big brother wants.”
Reason died.
“Oh, right. What do you like, Kenya?”
“I like Reina!”
“Ah, uh… That’s… Th-thank you. No, not that! Food!”
Kenya’s excitement had turned him into an idiot.
Can’t be helped when reason’s dead.
“Ah, sorry. Favorite food… Curry?”
“Curry… Then let’s have curry today!”
Reina would make curry that day.
“There are so many kinds of curry. Keema? Green curry? Even waterless curry. What kind do you like, Kenya?”
“Hmm…”
Kenya pondered.
Why do I even like curry again?
◇ What Kenya recalled was a memory from his childhood.
“Here, Kenya. Curry’s ready. Can you carry it?”
“Yay!!”
“Mom’s curry is the best. It’s Dad’s favorite. You like it too, huh, Kenya?”
“Yeah! I love Mom’s curry!”
Right…
In the end… I could never bring myself to hate it.
Because I have those memories of being loved, even a little… even from parents like that.
But I need to forget. I’m living in this world now.
“Kenya?”
“Ah, yeah! No, let’s skip curry today. I want your specialty, Reina!”
“Hmm… That’s tough. My specialty… Rolled omelet?”
“Not really a celebration dish… but it’s delicious, and I love it…”
Reina made breakfast every morning.
Usually Japanese-style morning fare.
Her rolled omelets were perfectly coiled.
One of Kenya’s favorites.
“Okay, then how about cake? Rice as usual.”
“Nice! Cake! Yeah, I haven’t had sweets in ages! Chocolate cake!”
“Hehe, got it.”
Reina smiled as Kenya cheered exaggeratedly.
Lately, she’d started laughing out loud, and her smile soothed him.
The menu was set, shopping done, and they returned home.
It was evening, but the day was still young.
…
“This is good… Is it because you’re good at KOG that your hands are so skilled?”
“Who knows. But I have confidence in my technique.”
For some reason, after that earlier fantasy, it sounded suggestive.
But Reina’s probably good… No, better stop there.
Reina rolled the omelet into perfect spirals.
She said the trick was using your forearm, not just the wrist, but Kenya didn’t quite get it.
She efficiently finished one dish after another.
Now she was making miso soup.
“Reina, who taught you Japanese food?”
“Huh? Well…”
A casual question to Reina.
Couldn’t imagine Zeke in an apron rolling omelets.
Her mom, then? But Zeke’s not married…
“Who? Right, who did I learn from… Mom?… Ah, ah…”
“Reina!?”
Right after, Reina dropped the ladle and clutched her head.
Kenya supported her, but she trembled, tears welling up.
“No, no, Mom… Mom… Ha, ha…”
“Reina, calm down! Reina!”
Kenya desperately hugged her.
She seemed to be hyperventilating, her breaths ragged.
◇ Reina’s flashback
“Haa, haa… Rei-chan… You okay? No injuries?”
A woman draped over Reina.
Her face was shadowed, out of Reina’s sight.
“Cough. I’m fine. Fine… You’ll be okay for sure.”
Red blood trickled from her mouth.
Still, she desperately shielded Reina from something.
How long had they stayed like that?
She didn’t know, but she felt gentle words… and the taste of blood.
And it hurt.
“Reina! Reina!”
A voice calling her in the pitch-black world.
Who?
“Reina! It’s me, Kenya. Can you hear me? Reina!”
Kenya-kun?
It hurts, help, I can’t breathe.
“Damn, hyperventilating… Something, anything. Sorry, it’s anime knowledge!”
Breathing…
And what is this?
This feeling… It’s reassuring.
Slowly, Reina opened her eyes.
“Ah…”
Kenya had kissed Reina.
He recalled an anime scene where a kiss stopped hyperventilation.
He’d doubted it’d work, but it had steadied her breathing, and Reina calmed down.
“Haa… Kenya?”
“Haa… Good. Reina…”
Relief washed over Kenya as he sank to the floor.
“Sorry… My breathing suddenly…”
Then Reina touched her lips.
As if confirming the kiss’s lingering sensation.
Seeing that, Kenya panicked and apologized.
“S-sorry! It was sudden! Couldn’t think of anything else…”
“I… What did I… I can’t remember.”
“No, don’t remember!”
“R-right. Thanks for helping me. And…”
Looking at flustered Kenya, Reina murmured, head down.
“It wasn’t bad. If it’s you, Kenya.”
Their eyes met, recalling the kiss.
But.
“W-whoa! Reina! Fire! The pot’s boiling over!”
“Ah, oh! Sorry!”
Reina rushed to turn off the stove.
They gazed at each other again and shared a small laugh.
“Anyway, let’s eat.”
“Yeah!”
Kenya decided not to ask what happened and pretend it didn’t.
It should resolve slowly on its own, and prodding might trigger another attack.
So now, all he could think of was,
(Damn, that’s impure! That wasn’t a kiss, not a kiss!)
The soft feel of her lips.
…
“Here, Kenya. Chocolate cake, loaded with chocolate mousse as requested.”
Dinner done, they enjoyed the cake they’d made together.
“Looks insanely good… You really can do anything.”
Kenya reached for a fork.
Seeing that, Reina thought,
(I’ve heard about this. Guys love it when you do ‘ahhhn’ here. It’s a celebration today! And to thank him for earlier…)
Just remembering made her flush.
Realizing she’d kissed Kenya.
“K-K-Kenya, ahhhn!”
Blushing furiously, she scooped some with a spoon and offered it.
The sweet cake created a sugary atmosphere.
“Reina…”
(What is this blissful space? Is this heaven?)
Stuffed with delicious food, fed handmade cake by his favorite girl.
If this wasn’t heaven, what was?
Kenya understood her intent and opened his mouth.
(Ahh, so happy. Worth all the effort…)
Ding-dong.
A visitor’s chime echoed through the house, interrupting.
“Tch! Buzzkill! Be right back.”
Grumbling, Kenya dashed to the door.
He needed that ‘ahhhn’ now!
No newspapers here, and if NHK, he’d smash it!
But at the door stood.
“Yes, hello…”
“You’ve had a long day, my knight Kenya. Got some praise and important talk. Mind if I come in?”
His lord, with the worst timing possible.
“You… You’re the worst.”
“Huh!? Did I do something?”
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