Chapter 6: Forbidden Glance ( 6 )
Once the food was ready, Kyouko carefully placed the dishes on the table. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air.
"I hope my cooking is to your liking," she said with a gentle smile as she took a seat across from Haruki.
"Thank you, Kyouko-san." Haruki nodded, picking up his chopsticks.
Kyouko let out a soft chuckle. "It's rare for me to cook this much."
Haruki tilted his head slightly. "Really?"
She nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "My husband is always busy with work... He rarely eats at home. So most of the time, I only cook for myself." Her smile remained gentle, but there was a hint of wistfulness in her voice.
"Oh..." Haruki murmured, unsure how to respond.
"Well... let's eat."
"Itadakimasu~"
They clapped their hands together in unison before picking up their chopsticks.
As Haruki took his first bite, a strange warmth settled in his chest. Eating with someone... it felt nice. It was different from the lonely meals he had grown used to in that cramped apartment.