154 - A Bridge of Sweets

RAW

Haruto placed three molds on a tray and put them into the preheated oven.

"Now, I just need to set the timer… Kazu-senpai, how long should it be?"

"I'm not familiar with this oven's quirks, so let's check after 30 minutes for now."

"Got it."

Haruto operated the oven and set the baking time for the brownies.

"Alright, now we just wait for them to bake."

"Yeah."

Ishikura nodded in response to Haruto's words.

With the brownie-making process done for the time being, Tomoya stretched with a satisfied "Mmm~."

"Baking is surprisingly fun when you're doing it with everyone."

"You're just snacking too much, Akagi-kun. Almonds, walnuts, and all."

Saki teased Tomoya, who had a look of accomplishment on his face.

"Well, I mean, once you start eating nuts, you can't stop, right? Haru, you get it, don’t you?"

"I won't say I don't understand, but you ate way too much."

Haruto agreed with his best friend while pointing out his excessive snacking.

Ishikura then smirked mischievously.

"Alright, then. Tomoya's brownies will be nut-free."

"Whoa, Kazu-senpai! That’s just cruel!"

"Haha, just kidding. Besides, they're already in the oven, so it’s too late to change anything now."

Ishikura laughed heartily.

His booming laughter reached Ryota, who was playing in the living room, making him glance toward the kitchen in fear.

Seeing this, Shizuku nodded thoughtfully.

"Just a single laugh can plunge a child into terror… As expected of Kazu-senpai."

"Ugh… Don’t praise me for that…"

Ishikura instantly drooped, looking dejected.

Seeing him like that, Haruto gently patted his shoulder and offered words of encouragement.

"If you let Ryota-kun taste your brownies, maybe he'll open up to you a little."

"Yeah…"

For someone who liked kids, Ryota’s reaction seemed to hit Ishikura hard. He looked truly downcast.

Watching this, Saki quietly spoke to Ayaka.

"You know… Kazu-senpai is actually kinda different from what I expected."

"Yeah, he taught us how to bake so carefully. At first, he seemed scary, but he's actually really kind and… um… maybe even a little cute?"

It seemed their perception of Ishikura’s intimidating appearance was gradually fading.

Shizuku joined in on their conversation.

"Fufu, you two have finally started to see Kazu-senpai’s charm. His contrast is addictive. If I were to compare him to something, he’d be like natto—smelly but an essential part of daily life."

"Hey, Shizuku, did you just say something weird?"

"No, I didn’t. I was just saying that Kazu-senpai is like durian—unbearably smelly but the king of fruits."

"That’s just an insult!"

"I'm praising you. You’re the king of the strong-faced world, Kazu-senpai."

"Shut up!"

Ishikura retorted, his usual loud voice making Ryota flinch again. He slumped down, defeated.

Seeing this play out like a comedy skit, Tomoya couldn’t help but laugh.

"Haha, tough luck, Kazu-senpai."

Haruto also tried to comfort Ishikura.

"Kazu-senpai’s intimidating look might actually be so scary that it loops back around and stops being scary. So, don’t overthink it."

"…Haruto, was that supposed to be comforting?"

"Probably."

"You…"

As they waited for the brownies to bake, they chatted and teased Ishikura to pass the time.

Soon, a sweet aroma began to waft from the oven.

"Seems like it's almost done."

Just as Haruto glanced at the oven, the timer beeped, signaling that the brownies were ready.

"Alright, let's check on them."

Ishikura opened the oven door.

The sweet scent that had been faintly lingering now burst out in full force.

"Whoa! That smells amazing!"

"I'm getting hungry just from the smell."

Ayaka and Saki beamed as they inhaled the rich aroma.

"Kazu-senpai. Let’s eat now. Right now."

Shizuku’s usually expressionless eyes gleamed with anticipation as she stepped forward.

"Hey, hold on! They’re still hot! We need to take them out of the molds and let them cool first!"

"Hmm, is this your way of teasing us, Kazu-senpai?"

"No! It just tastes better that way!"

Ishikura lifted the hot tray above his head, keeping it away from Shizuku’s reach.

Haruto chuckled at their exchange and set up a cooling rack on the dining table.

"Kazu-senpai, please place the brownies here."

"Oh, thanks."

While holding Shizuku back with one hand, Ishikura carefully placed the brownies on the rack.

"Technically, they’d be best if we let them sit for half a day."

"Leaving such a fragrant creation untouched for half a day? Kazu-senpai, you truly are ruthless."

"Shut up."

As Ishikura and Shizuku bantered, Ayaka and Saki stared at the cooling brownies.

"We have to wait for them to cool…"

"Ugh… This is a test of willpower."

"Just a little longer…"

While two girls tried their best to resist temptation, one was actively fighting Ishikura for a taste.

Tomoya observed them with amusement and nudged Haruto.

"It's kinda like obedient house dogs versus wild stray dogs, huh?"

"…That actually makes sense."

Haruto nodded in agreement.

Hearing this, Saki protested.

"Hey, Akagi-kun! Don’t compare us like that! We’re doing our best to resist!"

"Haha, sorry, sorry. It just slipped out."

"And Otsuki-kun, you agreed too!"

"Well, I just thought Ayaka as a house dog would be kinda cute…"

"!?"

Ayaka’s face instantly turned bright red.

At that moment, Shizuku slipped in between them.

"Haru-senpai, do you want to put a collar on Ayaka-senpai? Are you into that kind of play? A real pervert, I see."

"That's not what I meant! I was just picturing it! And what do you mean by ‘that kind of play’!?"

Haruto frantically denied it, but Shizuku gave him a blank stare, while Ayaka glanced up at him shyly.

"I swear, I meant nothing weird!"

"…Okay."

Ayaka gave a small nod.

Ishikura, meanwhile, patted Shizuku’s head with a laugh.

"Well, calling you a stray dog is actually pretty fitting."

"Hmph. Careful, Kazu-senpai, or I might bite you."

Shizuku glared up at him and let out a low growl.

"Hahaha! You really are like a wild dog."

"Tomoya-senpai, I’ll bite you later."

"More like a rabid dog, huh?"

"Haruto-senpai, you too, prepare yourself."

As they waited for the brownies to cool, they spent their time calming the "rabid dog" Shizuku and resisting the tempting aroma.

Finally, the moment arrived.

"Alright, let’s take them out of the paper and cut them up."

"At last, we are freed from Kazu-senpai’s torment."

"Stop saying it like that!"

Ishikura cut the brownies into bite-sized pieces and placed them on a large plate.

"Wow! This looks so fancy!"

Saki gasped.

"Let’s take some pictures!"

"Me too!"

As the girls excitedly snapped photos, Ishikura set aside another plate of brownies.

"Alright… I’ll bring these as a gift."

He glanced at Ryota, playing in the living room with Ikue and Kiyoko.

Understanding his intention, Haruto smiled.

"Ryota-kun will be happy."

Ishikura nodded nervously and walked over.

And when Ryota took a bite and smiled—his first real smile toward Ishikura—Haruto patted his senpai’s shoulder.

"See? It was worth it."

"Yeah."

And so, their brownie-making day ended on the sweetest note.

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Well I'm a bit sad to tell you this but we've caught up with the RAWS, now we'll have to wait for new chapters, I'll check if there's a new chapter every day and post it the same day.

I said at one point that I was reading and translating another novel, I think it's pretty OK so next time I'll upload several chapters to get your opinion, if it's not great we'll see together to translate another that seems nice