Chapter 231: A Little Touch
Kitahara Kaede set down his chopsticks.
Hardly any conversation had passed during the meal, but his bowl of rice was already empty.
Just as he was about to offer a few polite closing words to end the dinner, Terumi Mei stood up and, with effortless naturalness, reached out and took the empty bowl from in front of him.
"You can just leave it," Kaede said.
Mei didn’t stop; she stacked her own bowl on top of his, her tone casual. "I ate a meal you cooked. Isn’t it only right that I help with the dishes?"
Kaede instinctively reached out to take the bowls back from her. "That won’t do. There’s no reason to let a guest do the dishes."
Mei stepped slightly to the side to avoid him, glancing back with a small, teasing quirk of her lips. "Why are there so many rules about washing a few dishes? Or does Jonin Kitahara think I’m too clumsy to get them clean?"
Kaede’s hand froze in mid-air.
How was he supposed to respond to that? If he said she couldn’t clean them, he’d be asking for trouble. But letting her do it felt... wrong.
By then, Mei had already turned and walked into the kitchen without a second glance.
Sitting at the table, Kaede listened to the sound of running water coming from the kitchen, feeling an immense sense of awkwardness. Letting a guest do the dishes in his own home.
He sighed and stood up, resigning himself to the situation. *Fine, I’ll just go in and help her finish up quickly.*
When he entered the kitchen, Mei was standing at the sink. The faucet was running steadily, and she had rolled up her sleeves, revealing a stretch of fair skin. She was scrubbing the grease from the edge of a plate with a sponge, her movements focused and diligent.
Kaede stepped forward, standing beside her. He picked up a dry cloth, preparing to dry the plates she washed.
The moment he drew close, Mei’s pace slowed. The shimmering water reflected in her emerald eyes. When she turned her face toward him, she wore that same soft, gentle smile.
"Why did you come in?" she asked, handing him a clean plate. "I can handle this on my own."
Kaede took the plate and wiped it clean with a quick, efficient motion. "Two people are faster."
He placed the dried plate into the cupboard. "Besides, there’s no reason to leave a guest to toil in the kitchen alone."
’Guest,’ she thought. ’I won’t be a guest for much longer.’
Mei didn’t reply, but the corners of her mouth curved upward.
The two of them stood side-by-side at the sink, the sound of flowing water filling the silence of the kitchen. She washed one, he dried one. Their coordination was surprisingly seamless.
Mei intentionally slowed her pace. She relished this quiet moment, their shoulders nearly brushing against one another.
As she handed him another clean plate, Kaede reached out to take it.
The rim of the plate slid across his fingers, and Mei’s soapy fingertips grazed the back of his hand—a touch so light it was almost imperceptible. It was slippery and slightly cool.
Kaede’s arm tensed for a fraction of a second before he immediately forced himself to relax. Suppressing the sudden surge of unease, he took the plate with a blank expression and continued drying it, acting as if nothing had happened.
Mei withdrew her hand and lowered her lashes, hiding the triumphant glint in her eyes. She had seen it clearly; his instinctive urge to recoil. It meant that these small gestures still made him uncomfortable.
But that was fine. He would get used to it after a few more times.
Once the last plate was finished, Mei turned off the faucet and shook the water from her hands.
"All done," she said, reaching for a towel to dry her hands. Her tone sounded satisfied, as if she had just completed a vital mission.
Kaede breathed a silent sigh of relief. *Finally, it’s over.*
They walked out of the kitchen one after the other. Mei glanced at the wall clock and spoke up.
"It’s getting late; I won’t disturb you any further."
Her smile was perfectly measured—expressing gratitude while remaining poised and proper.
Kaede nodded and walked to the entryway, opening the door and stepping aside. Mei crossed the threshold and took a few steps before suddenly turning back.
She looked at Kaede, her tone casual, as if she had just remembered a trivial detail.
"Oh, by the way." She paused. "I have a calico cat at home. It’s very clingy."
Confused, Kaede could only offer a vague response. "Is that so?"
"Mm." Mei frowned slightly, a hint of worry in her eyes. "But it’s seemed a bit listless lately, and it hasn’t been eating as much as usual."
Kaede thought for a moment and gave a perfunctory answer. "Maybe it ate something bad. Just keep a close eye on it."
Mei’s eyes lit up, her voice tinged with a sudden spark of excitement. "Really? I don’t actually have much experience with pets."
She looked directly at him. "Since Jonin Kitahara knows about these things, would you mind if I brought it over next time for you to take a look?"
The refusal Kaede had prepared jammed in his throat. He looked down into those emerald eyes, which were brimming with anticipation. It felt as though saying "no" would be an act of unthinkable cruelty.
He remained silent for two seconds before finally giving a helpless nod.
"...Fine."
Mei beamed, her smile widening significantly. "Then I’ll be heading back. Goodnight."
"Mm."
Kaede watched her turn and walk down the street with a light step, opening the door to the house opposite his and disappearing inside.
Once the door closed, Kaede finally shut his own.
The feeling of unease in his chest grew heavier. Terumi Mei was far too unusual today.
From the moment she knocked on his door claiming she was hungry, to the natural way she sat down to eat, to her insistence on washing the dishes... and especially that touch in the kitchen.
Was it an accident, or was it intentional?
In their previous interactions, though she had occasionally overstepped, she had always maintained a certain level of propriety and distance. Today, however, it was as if she had suddenly stripped away a layer of disguise, using a more domestic, more assertive approach to close the gap between them.
*Why?* Kaede frowned.
***
In the small house across the way, the moment the door closed, a calico cat leaped from the sofa. It meowed loudly and ran over, rubbing its fluffy head vigorously against Mei’s calf.
Mei leaned down and scooped the cat into her arms, gently scratching it under the chin. The calico cat squinted in pleasure, a loud purring sound vibrating in its throat.
Holding the cat, Mei walked barefoot up to the second floor and sat in a chair by the window. She leaned down, her lips brushing against the cat’s furry ear, her voice as soft as a whisper.
"Do you want to see him?"
The calico cat tilted its head and let out a soft meow.
Mei smiled, stroking the fur on the cat’s back. The light from the window opposite her was reflected in her eyes.
"Don’t be impatient."
She gently pinched the cat’s ear, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
"Soon... I’ll bring you to see him."