Episode 11: Dinner for Two

I was regretting having invited her rather forcefully. What’s more, it had been ages since I’d invited anyone to this house – not since that traumatic incident in secondary school.

Truthfully, I hadn’t intended to bring anyone home at all. I just wanted to thank her somehow, and inviting her over was what I’d come up with.

　Takizawa and I walked home in silence. Having invited her myself, I’d created an awkward atmosphere, so I tried to find a conversation starter.

“Takizawa, any foods you can’t eat? Any allergies?”
“No.”

Her reply was as curt as ever.

The library wasn’t far from home, but as I recalled the ingredients in my fridge and pondered what to cook, we arrived in no time.

“This is my place.”

I announced, opening the door to the detached house.

Takizawa looked at my house with a very puzzled expression. She might have heard from Mai or someone that I lived alone, but wondering why it was a detached house wasn’t at all surprising.

I took off my shoes at the entrance, thinking it would be nice if she didn’t ask any questions.

“Just leave your bag anywhere. And please, take a seat?”
“Right.”

Takizawa sat down awkwardly, then kept looking around nervously. I’d never seen her like this before, and I couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“Why are you laughing?”
“You’re amusing, Takizawa.”
“I’m not doing anything funny. Anyway…”

　Takizawa stopped what she was about to say and fell silent. Her gaze fell on the family altar where my father and mother were enshrined.

Would it be alright to tell Takizawa?

“My parents died in a car accident when I was in primary school.”
“I see.”

Takizawa didn’t ask any more questions.

　Usually, people would say things like, “It’s amazing you’ve managed on your own,” or “That must be really tough.” When they said that, I’d have to make polite conversation, saying things like, “Oh, it’s nothing,” or “It’s fine.”
So, I felt relieved that Takizawa didn’t probe deeper.

I placed the pot of freshly boiled tea on the table in front of Takizawa.

“Thanks.”
“I was thinking of making omelette rice. You don’t mind that, do you?”
“No.”
“Right then, I’ll get it ready. Just wait a moment.”

　I switched on the television so Takizawa wouldn’t get bored.

From the kitchen, I could see Takizawa’s slender back.

Though we’d spent nearly a month together after school, I’d rarely seen Takizawa eating. I’d seen her eat rice balls, but even when I offered sweets or bread, she didn’t seem particularly pleased.

She genuinely seemed uninterested in food. Worried it was bad for her health if she didn’t eat properly, I put extra effort into cooking.

　I tossed the frying pan, sizzling the omelette filling.

Pouring the well-beaten eggs into the pan, they bubbled and began to set as if fleeing the heat. Before they solidified completely, I gently rolled them up, enveloping the filling.

I carefully placed the finished omelette on top of the prepared rice filling. Usually, I’d just cut it open down the middle and spread the egg out, but with Takizawa here today, I decided to open it up in front of her.

Soft, fluffy filling spilled out from inside.
It turned out rather well, so I looked over at Takizawa with a smug expression, only to get an unexpected comment.

“Wow… it’s prettier than the one I saw at that restaurant before.”

Alongside the pride, her earlier remark about not eating out much stuck in my mind.

“Didn’t you just say you don’t eat out much?”
“The other day, I happened to go to a famous omelette rice place with Mai.”

I’d done it.

Admittedly, this omelette rice was a confident creation, but I didn’t think it tasted good enough to beat a specialist omelette rice restaurant.
Bad timing made me feel a little down, but since it had turned out so well, I also wanted her to eat it quickly.

“Shall we eat before it gets cold?”
“Yeah.”

Seeing Takizawa’s gaze, usually so detached, fixed intently on the omelette rice made me happy.

“Let’s eat.”

I scooped up a spoonful of the perfectly shaped omelette rice and took a bite.

Mm, I think it turned out rather well. It would have been perfect if Takizawa hadn’t gone to that specialist omelette rice place last week.

　I glanced across at Takizawa sitting opposite.

Her cheeks were stuffed full of omelette rice, puffed out slightly like a squirrel’s. I’d never seen her like this before – usually quiet, cool, seemingly uninterested in anything.

Seeing her like this made me glad I’d invited her today.

“Was it alright?”
“It was okay.”

Okay?!

She looked happy while eating it, and I was quite confident in it, so I was a bit shocked. But seeing Takizawa’s face made that feeling vanish instantly.

I thought I saw Takizawa smile, just a little. I’d always thought she had beautiful features when we studied together, but her smile was even more beautiful and cute.

“I wish I’d prepared dessert after the meal.”
“It’s alright, I don’t need any.”

Thinking I’d at least offer tea, I stood up, only to have my wrist suddenly grabbed, making my body jerk in surprise.

“What’s wrong…?”
“Endo-san, thank you for the meal. — Thank you.”

She wouldn’t meet my eyes, but this must be Takizawa’s way of expressing her deepest gratitude. I decided to take it as her way of thanking me, at least a little.

　Takizawa sat staring blankly at the television in the living room. I really wanted to get closer to her, to ask why she’d been on the rooftop, or about when she’d given me that handkerchief.

She said she didn’t remember, but had she really forgotten…? Lost in such thoughts, I made some tea and brought it to her.

The programme Takizawa was watching seemed to be an animal special. It was explaining various creatures. Today, it was discussing the differences between male and female Great-billed Parrots.

　I was surprised that birds of the same species could be so different between males and females.

Both had beautiful, striking colours.

“I prefer the male’s colouring, actually. Which do you like better, Takizawa?”
“The male, I suppose…”
“I thought so! Such lovely colours. They’re rather cute, aren’t they?”

Takizawa’s reaction to my comment was a bit lukewarm. She seemed uninterested in everything. No matter what I said, she always seemed a bit distracted.

　Does Takizawa even have any likes?
Lately, I’ve found myself increasingly preoccupied with thoughts like this about him.

“It’s nearly ten. I’ll be heading home.”

As I pondered this, Takizawa began preparing to leave. I hurried to see her off.

“Shall I walk you home?”

Since it was close anyway, I asked.

“It’s alright. Thanks for today. It was delicious.”

“Eh—”

Before I could say anything, she tried to dash outside, so I frantically grabbed Takizawa’s arm and pulled her towards me.

I hugged her tightly from behind so she couldn’t escape.

I could hear my heart thumping loudly.

Opening my mouth as if to cover it up, I said,

“Come eat here again sometime.”

“If I feel like it.”

Takizawa’s words felt cold, yet somehow warm.

She’ll definitely come back.

Thinking that, the word ‘anxiety’ vanished from within me, and I let go of Takizawa. I watched her back until she disappeared from sight.

In the end, I hadn’t said anything I really wanted to say.

　Alone in the large, spacious house.
Just moments ago, Takizawa had been here. Though our conversation was sparse, it hadn’t felt unpleasant.
Now, I feel a little lonely.

I’ve grown accustomed to living alone.

I should be used to it, yet it had been a long time since I’d been overcome by this kind of feeling.