Chapter 44: A Step Forward for the Ice Lady

“Sorry for involving you yesterday.”

A day after, Kazuaki and Touko came and went like a storm, Fuyuka responded to Asahi’s apology with a bitter smile.

“There’s no reason for you to apologize, Asahi-kun.”

“Even if you say so. In fact, it’s annoying, right?”

“Annoying? No, I found it quite lively.”

“It’s the same thing. It’s noisy either way.”

“But I had fun. It was warm and wonderful, just like the food they cooked.”

As she said this, Fuyuka reached for the colorful ratatouille.

Asahi also reached for the dish, as he sipped on the stew filled with vegetables, the concentrated flavor of the ingredients filled his mouth and warmed his body to the core.

There were also many other different kinds of dishes on the table today than usual.

For example, boiled egg and spinach gratin or pork rillettes.

All of them were made with great care by Kazuaki and Touko.

Touko said she wanted to cook for her son once in a while.

She also said that it would be sad if he forgets the taste of home.

And on the way home, Touko reminded Asahi again and again to eat with Fuyuka happily.

―Be sure to eat with Himuro-san! You better!

When he got to that point, one might think it was a grand pretense, but Asahi was not a filial person who disobeyed his parents’ good intentions and implication.

In the first place, he had planned to eat with Fuyuka without being told to do so.

“…It’s really tremendously good.”

“I agree. Besides, it kind of makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.”

Fuyuka gave an abstract impression as her cheeks relaxed while holding a cup of corn potage in her hands.

Asahi also sipped his second helping of ratatouille and smiled at the nostalgic taste.

He had heard that French home-cooked meals were best as leftovers, but as they say, a day in the fridge doesn’t just change the taste, in fact, it makes the food taste 20% better.

Yesterday was the first day of the new year, and although Asahi was exhausted from many things, he couldn’t complain to his parents for cooking a lavish dinner for them for the next few days.

“As expected, all of the food prepared by the Kagami Family is excellent.”

“Well, I’m not even close.”

“Then for me I guess I’m just looking up from below.”

“When it comes to the level of mom and dad… That sounds about right for now.”

“Then, any advice from such a person would be invaluable.”

“…Advice?”

 

“Yes, advice.”

 

When Asahi repeated the words he had heard, nothing in particular came to mind.

‘Come to think of it, mom called her into the kitchen when she was cooking.’

Asahi wondered if she had received cooking instruction from Touko at that time.

But it was such a short period of time for that, and to begin with, a degree of that dish would be a little too difficult for Fuyuka.

As he was thinking, Fuyuka took out her phone from her pocket, which she rarely picked up, and started to operate the messaging application.

According to what she said, that phone, which was the latest model, should have no contact information except for her family and Asahi.

[The most important thing in cooking is not taste, but love.]

On the screen that Fuyuka presented to Asahi, there was a name that he knew very well and a phrase that he had heard somewhere before.　

Even though he rubbed his eyes a few times, not believing it right away, the name Kagami Touko wouldn’t change or disappear.　

“You exchanged contact info with mom…?”

“I was able to take time out of her busy schedule to learn how to cook.”

“Well, that’s great…”

 

It was not everyday that one would get the chance to get advice from a top-notch professional.

It would be a pleasure if this could further improve Fuyuka’s cooking skills.

However, despite his words, Asahi’s cheeks twitched again and again.

It was that mother. Asahi was afraid that she was going to call it advice, but was also going to interfere with other things besides cooking.

Thinking about it, Asahi was inwardly uncomfortable.

“Which reminds me, you talk to my parents normally. You know, you don’t talk much, or at least to strangers.”

“That’s true… I’m even called the “Ice lady” for such reasons.”

“You’re saying that yourself?”

“Because I did it myself. You don’t have to worry about it.”

They had a similar exchange once before, but the impression Asahi got from Fuyuka was very different from last time.

She used to say that she didn’t care and could feel her indifferent and cold attitude but.

“Recently, I’ve been trying to change the way I treat people. It’s hard to do right away, so I’m trying to do it little by little…”

Apparently, there had been some kind of major change of heart in Fuyuka.

Her expression was very calm, but at the same time, it seemed to display a strong determination.

“Besides, your parents seem similar to you, Asahi-kun.”

“To me?”

 

“Both Kazuaki-san and Touko-san approached me without hesitation, so there was nothing I could do.”

“Does that sound like me?”

“I mean, even Asahi-kun was pushy at first, right?”

“Well, now that you’ve mentioned it…”

If his memory served him right, he forced himself to take back a plastic bag or something.

Now that he thought about it, he was much more annoying than his parents.

However, speaking in terms of results, it was because of that time that he was with Fuyuka like this.

‘What if Fuyuka was changing little by little because of that time?’

He didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but it made Asahi happy.

“Hey, Fuyuka. You remember when we ran into those two noisy guys before, right?”

“I remember, but… what about it?”

“I’m going on Hatsumode with those two.”

Fuyuka tilted her head at the sudden question and declaration.

“Both of them are noisy and troublesome. Also, it’s annoying that they keep trying to connect everything to love.”

“I see…”

“But they’re really good guys. I’m sure they’ll get along with Fuyuka too.”

 

Fuyuka finally seemed to understand what Asahi was trying to say.

Perhaps the rumor that the “Ice lady” was melting a little had something to do with the fact that she was changing the way she interacted with people.

If Fuyuka, who was still building walls around others at school, was thinking of making slow and steady progress.

Poof, two faces immediately came to mind.

“Why don’t you come with me? They said they wanted to be friends with you.”

Chiaki and Hinami could be friends with Himuro Fuyuka and not the “Ice Lady”.

Fuyuka turned her head down and thought with her eyes downcast.

However, it only took a little while to get an answer.

“If they’re a friend of Asahi-kun’s… I’d also like to go.”

The caramel eyes that were looking straight at him were somewhat anxious, but Asahi could still see a strong will to move forward.

“All right, I’ll let them know.”

 

‘I wondered how Chiaki and Hinami would react.’ Asahi thought.

It will be quite noisy from all the messages.

When they meet in person, Asahi may have to protect Fuyuka from the two people who are trying to crowd her.

Asahi smiled, imagining the beginning of such a new relationship.