Chapter 39: The Ice Lady and the Way Back

The eight-course meal consisting of appetizer, hors d’oeuvre, soup, fish, sorbet, entrée, dessert, and petit four was truly exquisite.

One bite and you could tell the difference.

That was how sophisticated everything felt.

“It was delicious…”

“Yeah, I can’t find any other words to describe it.”

 

After leaving Soleil Levant, the conversation between Asahi and Fuyuka was limited to today’s dinner.

Not only while they were eating, but also while they were walking through the seven-colored downtown area swaying under the rumbling of the train.

It was no different even during the walk back to the apartment after they arrived at the nearest station.

“Can you also make that dish, Asahi-kun?”

 

“Can’t.”

 

“No hesitation, huh?”

“I’m only an amateur, so it’s impossible for me to make something on the same level as a professional.”

It was hard to imagine from their usual appearance, but Kazuaki and Touko were both top-notch chefs.

If one tries hard enough, one could make a dish that would look and taste similar, but it would be a copy at best.

In terms of completeness, it would be hard to stand a chance.

“If you, who is a good cook, can’t make it, then I definitely won’t be able to.”

“Was there something you wanted to cook?”

“No, no, it’s nothing like that…”

 

“It’s egg soup, right?”

“…Why do you know that…?”

 

“It’s written on your face.”

 

Apparently, Asahi’s point was right on the money, and Fuyuka rolled her eyes, then quickly covered her small face with her hands.

Did she really take the words “it’s written on your face” literally?

Fuyuka should know that it was a metaphor, but it was still childishly adorable to see her trying to physically block Asahi’s gaze.

“What are you laughing at…?”

 

Asahi couldn’t help but smile, and he cleared his throat to cover up his mistake as the girl stared at him through the gap between her fingers.

“You really like egg dishes that much, huh?”

“I love it so much.”

 

“Is there a particular reason?”

 

“A reason, is it?”

“Yeah, a reason… Well, if it’s hard to answer, you don’t have to.”

The question, “What is your favorite food?” was easy to answer.

Everyone has at least one thing that would come to their mind.

However, the reason why they liked their favorite food was sometimes harder to answer than one might think.

This was because what they liked or disliked were often inborn, or because the preferences were often established at an early age, so in many cases, they liked it before they knew it.

Which means, in many cases―

“It was my mother’s specialty dish. She used to make it for me when I was little. I’m sure I love the way it tastes.”

Fuyuka spoke after a short pause, and Asahi replied with a nod.

Of the few favorite dishes that would come to Asahi’s mind, most of them originate from his parents.

As he remembered a variety of excellent dishes, he felt a bit nostalgic.

“Soleil Levain’s soup reminded me of my mother. That’s why I want to make it too… Unfortunately, it may be difficult.”

Asahi wondered if Fuyuka was thinking about the taste of her mother’s dish.

The faint smile created by her naturally relaxed cheeks was very gentle and calm, but somehow seemed to be tinged with melancholy and sadness.

‘When she was little, huh?’

In his mind, a hypothesis emerged that he had unconsciously avoided until now.

At that moment, a north wind blew in with a whoosh.

Fuyuka sometimes showed a dark shadow beneath her smile.

It was always when she was talking about family, and the stories were always about the distant past.

“Asahi-kun…?”

“…Oh, my bad.”

 

Fuyuka turned and tilted her head at Asahi, who had stopped dead in his tracks.

“I know I said I couldn’t, but I can make the soup.”

Hiding the agitation in his frozen body and mind for a moment, Asahi returned to his story and acted stoutly.

The soup that was served at Soleil Levant was the first dish that Kazuaki and Touko created together, and it was also the first dish that Asahi learned.

Even though it would be impossible to perfectly recreate it, he could make something as close to it as possible.

“I’ll teach you how to make it sometime.”

“Really?!”

“Y-yeah, I’ve been taught how to make that soup.”

Just when he thought she would hide her face and give him a sharp glare, her expression immediately lit up.

The old Fuyuka was as expressionless and emotionless as the old Touko who had been present two hours earlier, but now there was no trace of such expression.

The expressions on her face were full of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, and the conversation that they had was not cold but warm.

That was why he began to feel uncomfortable with the dark expression that Fuyuka made sometimes.

And even now, he felt a small discomfort from Fuyuka who was walking next to him.

“…What’s wrong?”

 

“Uhm… I thought it was only until the final exam that you would teach me how to cook and I would teach you how to study…”

 

Thinking about it, to this day they had been having dinner together like it was natural, but it was just a relationship of mutual support which was beneficial to both of them.

Asahi wanted to improve his grade on the final exam.

Fuyuka wanted to learn the basics of cooking.

They were able to achieve more than the goal for the former, and the latter was barely passable.

After today, their winter vacation will finally start.

There were no more problems regarding the exam or cooking.

In other words, there would be no need to see each other every day.

Thinking about it calmly, Asahi felt a haze rise from the bottom of his chest.

His hand involuntarily reaches for the brooch on his lapel.

Looking back, it was the same day that this relationship officially began and when he received the brooch.

“Hey―”

“If―”

Perhaps it was due to the light of the apartment building in front of them that made them do so, but Asahi and Fuyuka opened their mouths at the exact same time.

The sound of footsteps stopped and only the sound of the wind touched their ears.

“If you don’t mind… Could you teach me how to cook for a little while longer? I’m… not forcing you to, but…”

Fuyuka’s clear voice was the only sound which echoed in the quiet residential area.

The answer to the words spoken was already confirmed in Asahi’s mind.

“…I haven’t said that ‘it’s delicious’ yet. Besides, there’s also the soup thing.”

 

“W-well, then.”

 

“I’ll teach you how to cook as much as you want until you’re satisfied.”

For some reason, the words came off as arrogant, but he was able to say what he wanted to say.

Asahi was also about to suggest the same thing.

There was absolutely no option to refuse Fuyuka’s offer.

―I’ll try my best to make you say that it tastes good someday.

Asahi vividly remembered the smile that Fuyuka had put on her face at that time.

“…Thank you very much.”

 

Fuyuka slowly raised her head and faintly smiled.

The expression on her face should have been familiar to him by now, but for some reason, Asahi’s heart jumped in his chest.

Before he knew it, the haze had cleared away completely, and instead a warm feeling took over his body.

“Can I come visit you tomorrow at once?”

 

“I don’t mind, but since it’s… Christmas, so let’s make it a little fancy.”

“That sounds nice, it makes me very excited.”

“Don’t expect too much, okay? The quality is a few steps lower compared to today.”

“I’m still looking forward to it… Because I like your cooking, Asahi-kun.”

“…I see.”

 

“Yes, I love it.”

 

Fuyuka’s cherry-red lips curled up in a smile as Asahi replied.

The smile on her face was so cute that Asahi tried to move forward with his feet, which had stopped while turning away.

But before that, Fuyuka took a step forward.

“Please take care of me tomorrow.”

After saying that, Fuyuka ran towards the entrance.

It seems her cheeks and ears had turned bright red.

There was no way to confirm this, since Fuyuka had already disappeared from sight.

‘I’m not turning red too, right?’

Although surprised by the sudden disassemble, Asahi was inwardly relieved.

If he stayed with Fuyuka any longer, his mind would be too disturbed.

Left alone on the street at night, Asahi realized why he had been unusually blunt and quiet today, especially on the way there.

He was conscious about it.

About Fuyuka’s appearance, that was even better than usual.

She displayed many different sides of herself, which differed from what it used to be.

Coupled with the fact that it was the holy night, a special day, he was conscious of Fuyuka.

What was the true nature of the constant beating of his heart?

There was one thing that came to mind, but he shook his head and denied it.

It can’t be, he told himself.

The cold night wind stung his cheeks.

Strangely enough, he didn’t felt cold.