124 - The Essence of Happiness

RAW

The morning after the post-test karaoke outing, Haruto felt the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains as he slowly opened his eyes.

Having somewhat adjusted to life in the Tōjō household since the start of summer break, Haruto stretched, got out of bed, and left his room. After washing his face and brushing his teeth at the first-floor sink, he returned to his room to begin his usual morning study session.

The Tōjō household was still wrapped in silence, with no one else awake. The faint sounds of turning textbook pages and his pen moving across the notebook filled the serene room.

After about an hour of focused studying, Haruto paused to stretch.

“Hmm… Alright, I’ll stop here for today.”

Tidying up his desk, he headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. There, he found his grandmother Kiyoko already beginning to cook for the six members of the Tōjō household, including their guests.

“Good morning, Grandma.”

“Good morning, Haruto.”

After exchanging greetings, Haruto stood beside her, grabbed a cucumber placed near the cutting board, and began crushing it with the side of a knife.

Having spent years cooking alongside his grandmother, Haruto could guess the menu just by looking at the ingredients and seasonings she had laid out. He added plum paste and seasonings to the crushed cucumber, transferred it to a bag, and began kneading it.

“Grandma, what’s the ingredient for today’s miso soup?”

“I’m thinking of making nameko mushroom miso soup today,” Kiyoko replied as she stir-fried leftover eggplants from yesterday’s mapo eggplant dish in plenty of oil.

“Ikue told me that Ryota-kun loves nameko miso soup.”

“I didn’t know that. So, Ryota likes nameko mushrooms, huh?”

Though Haruto prided himself on knowing everyone’s food preferences through his part-time job as a housekeeper, it seemed there was still more to learn. For instance, Shuichi liked dishes with rich flavors that paired well with alcohol, Ikue enjoyed tangy or spicy foods, and Ayaka lit up with joy for sweetly simmered dishes.

“Well then, I’ll make the nameko miso soup,” Haruto said. Just as he reached for the prepared broth to start cooking, the living room door opened, and Ayaka entered.

“Oh, good morning, Haruto-kun. Good morning, Kiyoko-san.”

“Good morning, Ayaka-san,” Kiyoko greeted.

“Morning, Ayaka. You’re up early today,” Haruto remarked, holding the pot.

Ayaka hesitated for a moment, then answered shyly, “Well… I was thinking, if it’s alright, I’d like to help with the cooking from now on. I feel bad leaving it all to Kiyoko-san…”

“Oh my, Ayaka-san, there’s no need to worry about that,” Kiyoko responded, her smile warm as she looked up from checking the eggplant.

“Just being able to stay here is a blessing for me. Please, take your time and relax.”

“Actually… there’s another reason I’d like to help…” Ayaka mumbled, fidgeting and glancing at Haruto before speaking with a blush.

“I’d like to learn Kiyoko-san’s recipes… so that one day, I can cook for Haruto-kun.”

Kiyoko’s eyes widened in delight. “Oh my! Haruto! Did you hear that? Ayaka-san is such a wonderful girlfriend!”

“G-Grandma, calm down! Too much excitement isn’t good for you.”

As Haruto tried to soothe his overjoyed grandmother, Kiyoko turned to Ayaka and took her hand. “If that’s the case, please let me teach you! It would be my honor.”

Ayaka, flustered but determined, nodded. “Thank you! I’ll do my best to get close to your level, Kiyoko-san!”

With that, the two began preparing the eggplant dish together. Kiyoko explained cooking tips and seasoning techniques in detail, which Ayaka absorbed with a focused expression, occasionally trying things herself.

While making the nameko miso soup, Haruto glanced at Ayaka. Their eyes met, and Ayaka smiled warmly.

“Just wait, Haruto-kun. One day, I’ll win your heart through your stomach.”

“...I’m looking forward to it.”

Caught off guard by her words, Haruto felt his heart race. Fighting the urge to smile too broadly, he continued making the soup.

The Tōjō and Otsuki families gathered around the dining table. Shuichi took a bite of the eggplant dish and nodded approvingly.

“Starting the day with a delicious meal gives me so much energy.”

Kiyoko smiled. “Ayaka-san helped with that dish.”

“Really? Ayaka, it’s wonderful!” Shuichi exclaimed.

“Thank you. I only helped a little, though. Kiyoko-san did most of the work,” Ayaka replied modestly.

Ikue smirked knowingly. “Learning to cook, Ayaka? Are you planning to charm someone in the future?”

Blushing, Ayaka responded, “Well… someday, I’ll get married, and it’s better to know how to cook, right?”

“Cooking is crucial for a happy marriage,” Ikue remarked with a grin, prompting Shuichi to chuckle.

“Back in the day, I tried making squid ink pasta but ended up with burnt Neapolitan,” Shuichi admitted, laughing at the memory.

The table burst into laughter, and even Haruto found himself joining in.

Turning to Ryota, Haruto asked, “Ryota-kun, you really like nameko miso soup, huh?”

“Yep! It’s the best!” Ryota replied cheerfully before sipping the soup with delight.

Watching Ryota’s smile, Haruto felt a warm sense of happiness. *Yes, the slippery texture of nameko is essential.*

The lively breakfast set a cheerful tone for the day, and Haruto and Ayaka prepared to embark on their planned date with light hearts.