kscans

Chapter 163 - The Woman Who Falls for a Hopeless Man

(This is hopeless...)

My best friend, the man I am in love with, is nonchalantly performing otagei in public. With my less than stellar social skills, I cannot think of how to handle this. I mean, the fact that his moves are so sharp is somehow irritating.

"Hm, if it isn't Suzuki. What are you doing over there. If you're here, come on over and say hello."

Noticing me, Satou-kun stopped his otagei and came over.

"Well, I mean, you were doing something strange in the middle of town... It was hard to approach."

"Shut it. I've got my reasons, you know."

What kind of reasons would lead to someone performing otagei in the middle of town. I was curious and about to press him for an explanation, but...

"More importantly, let's get going. You're making me dinner, right? I'm starving."

"Oh, right, yes."

I was the one who had invited him tonight. It was not just because I heard Takahashi-kun had invited him over to his place and I wanted to do the same. There was a bit of rivalry, but I also had a favor to ask, so I thought I would invite him over and treat him to a home cooked meal.

"What do you want to eat?"

"Hmph, a hopeless man would probably say something like 'anything's fine'. But the great Satou-kun is different."

Then again, I am not so sure it is a good thing to shamelessly ask for this and that without any thought for the effort involved.

"Straight up Chinese. Make it a bunch of spicy, stimulating dishes, please!!"

"Chinese, got it."

Still, when he looks at me without a single doubt that I will make him a delicious meal, well, you know? It makes me happy, both as a cook and as a woman. That said, expressing my joy so openly is a little embarrassing, so I replied as if it were nothing.

"Alright, let's go shopping then."

"Yeah! Leave the money and carrying the bags to me."

We walked side by side to a large supermarket. If he wanted spicy Chinese, that would mean Szechuan. I could make him something more exotic if we went to a specialty store, but...

(This time, I think I'll stick to dishes that Japanese people are familiar with.)

The standard dishes, arranged for Japanese palates rather than the authentic versions. Some of the more unusual dishes not only require special ingredients, but they can also make you hesitate a bit. Satou-kun would probably be fine, but if I were going to serve something like that, it would be better to give him a heads up so he could prepare himself mentally. In that case, tonight it would be better to stick to classic menu items like mapo tofu, twice cooked pork, la zi ji, and green pepper steak. All of them go well with white rice, and I am sure a white rice lover like Satou-kun would be delighted.

"What about dessert? Should I make something? Or get something ready made?"

"Ready made. I'm sure anything you make would be delicious, but there's a certain ice cream I'm craving right now."

He is so sly, not just saying "ready made" but smoothly adding that what I make would be delicious. This man has always been like that. He casually accumulates points with me in these little moments. The fact that he can do this naturally, not as a calculation, must be why being a salesman is his calling.

"...Hm."

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, I was just noticing a new flavor came out."

A new product from my favorite ice cream brand. I have no choice but to buy this. I was not in the mood for ice cream, but now that I have found this... it has put me in the mood for ice cream.

"That looks good. I'll get that one too. Oh, Suzuki, doesn't that one look good too?"

"It does."

When I am with Satou-kun, I tend to let loose and buy one thing after another. But I have no regrets. It is Satou-kun's money, after all. We bought a large amount of groceries in addition to our main ingredients, then left the supermarket. It is a long way to my house from here, but since we can teleport, it will be instantaneous.

"So this is your place, Suzuki? Huh?"

We talked about coming here when we first reunited, but in the end we went to Satou-kun's place that day, and there has not been a chance for him to visit since. I had Satou-kun sit down while he looked around the room with curiosity, and I headed to my battlefield. I put the ice cream and the ingredients I would not use right away in the refrigerator and washed my hands.

"Satou-kun. I'll call you if I need help, okay?"

"Aye, aye."

The help I needed was mainly his time manipulation. Satou-kun's limited time manipulation is incredibly useful for letting flavors soak in thoroughly.

"By the way, what was the reason you were doing otagei after all?"

"Hm? Oh, about that. Turns out two of our company directors have gotten into idols recently."

"............So it's for work?"

Being forced to go along with your boss's idol hobby. Isn't that power harassment? As if sensing what I was thinking, Satou-kun gave a wry smile and shook his head no.

"Neither of them are like that. I'm going along with it of my own free will."

He then explained the details... and I thought it was just so typical of Satou-kun. He must be well regarded for his work, but Satou-kun's true value probably lies in his personal life. The fact that he gets so many private consultations from both his superiors and his subordinates shows how much they truly trust him.

(I feel a little... no, quite proud.)

It feels like I am saying, "Isn't my boyfriend amazing? Heh heh!" Well, it is not like we are actually dating yet. But setting that aside...

"So 'LovePan' were really nonhuman. When I saw them on TV, I thought something felt off."

"I'm a little surprised you even know who LovePan is."

"Well, I used to be like that. I only watched serious news and things, but now I watch other shows too."

But to think they were the real Lucifer, Beelzebub, and Lucifuge... Goodness, you truly never know what will happen in this world.

"I get that you're going along with their idol hobby, but why the otagei?"

"They have a concert in late October. I'm thinking of making that my final test for going independent."

Late October... I guess it is a Halloween concert? Though it is probably not on Halloween itself. Halloween is a busy day for beings of the dark.

"How much we can let loose is key. If I take the lead and do otagei, I'm sure Saionji-san and Azuma-san will get caught up in the atmosphere and get hyped up too."

I see, so that is why he was practicing. But still, do not do it in the middle of town. Even if you have a perception filter up, people from the Supernatural World will know if they see you. It is just too confusingly scary to see the man who caused such a huge mess in Kyoto doing otagei in the street. When I voiced this complaint...

"It's too late for that now. What happened in the past has become known to the younger generation too."

"Well, yes, that's true..."

I also read the Supernatural World's weekly magazine that was published because of Yanagi's scheme. The feature on Satou-kun... was nothing short of awful. The part about the True World made my old wounds ache terribly.

"From my perspective, I don't think it's anything to get that scared about."

Satou-kun sounded carefree as he said that the civility of the Supernatural World had improved since the old days. No, even back then, there were plenty of people who were seriously scared.

"More importantly. I've got a little favor to ask."

"It's a souvenir for Sakuya-kun, right? It's fine. I've already made plenty of extra."

The flavor will diminish once it gets cold, but with Satou-kun, I do not have to worry about that. He can use time stop to preserve it indefinitely, just as it was when freshly made.

"As expected of Suzuki-san, you're so understanding! You really are a great woman!!"

"Yes, yes."

Honestly... He is such a flatterer.