Chapter 83: Apprenticeship

“Please take me as your student.”

 

On a Saturday afternoon, Fuyuka suddenly spurted something, and Asahi was startled.

 

“What’s up all of the sudden..?”

 

They were supposed to meet in the evening.

 

That was, until, when the intercom rang just after noon.

 

When Asahi asked with a troubled face, Fuyuka held out a sheet of paper.

 

“The home economics handout?”

 

The school that Asahi attended offered three years of art courses such as music, art, and calligraphy, as well as specialized courses such as IT and home economics.

 

Last year, he learned simple programming and other skills in IT class, and this year he took a home economics class.

 

And home economics was basically lectures, but sometimes there was hands-on practice.

 

“There’s a cooking class next week, right?”

 

“Yeah, and it says to bring your own apron.”

 

“Not there, look…right here.”

 

Asahi looked at the place where Fuyuka had pointed and found detailed information about the day’s classes.

 

“Making cookies, huh?”

 

Fuyuka frowned a little at Asahi, who muttered as if it were somebody else’s problem.

 

“It may be a piece of cake for you, Asahi-kun. But it’s a serious problem for me.”

 

“What’s the problem? You did just fine in the previous cooking class.”

 

Before the midterm test, they also had a home economics class where they had to make takikomi gohan.

 

Fuyuka was not very good at cooking, but after several months of instruction from Asahi, she had reached a reasonable level. It was not like she was stumbling in home economics class, and in the first place, the cooking class was divided into groups and each group was assigned a role in the cooking.

 

Asahi had been worried just a little bit, but Fuyuka had pulled it off and was being praised by her classmates.

 

“I remember you were so happy when you were praised for your cooking.”

 

“Please forget about that…”

 

Fuyuka with her cheeks dyed with embarrassment, seemed to remember the main topic and discreetly shook her head to switch.

 

“It’s true that I was able to manage it last time, but this time it’s a different story.”

 

Then, Fuyuka took out a recipe book from the kitchen.

 

“I’ve never been taught how to bake!”

 

Fuyuka patted the cover of the recipe book, which was lined with cakes, muffins, crepes and other delicious-looking pastries, and insisted out loud.

 

“So, you want me to take you as a student?”

 

“I just wanted to say that.”

 

Fuyuka, who easily swept it under, then opened her mouth.

 

“I’ve asked you several times, didn’t I? I want to make sweets.”

 

“…You did.”

 

“And yet, you always left me in the dark…”

 

Fuyuka seemed to have become more aggressive than usual.

 

Being insisted on in this way was similar to the old Fuyuka who stubbornly refused to accept favors.

 

However, unlike before, the atmosphere was gentle. The way she puffed out her cheeks was so cute.

 

“Don’t you always avoid the subject, Asahi-kun?”

 

When Fuyuka’s gaze hit the nail on the head, Asahi quickly looked away.

 

Then Fuyuka’s eyes shined as the expression of not letting him get away was reflected in the corner of his eye.

 

After a while of avoiding her gaze, both of them let out a laugh.

 

“What are we doing…But, it’s kinda funny.”

 

“I agree. Fufu.”

 

After a brief moment of laughter, Asahi opened his mouth as if he had given up.

 

“I’m not very good at making sweets, so I can’t talk about it like a big shot, and I don’t know if I can teach you.”

 

“That’s surprising. I thought you could cook anything, Asahi-kun.”

 

“Like I said before, I don’t stand against professionals. I’m just a little influenced by my parents.”

 

He laughed self-deprecatingly, and Fuyuka shook her head.

 

“From my point of view, you’re as good as a professional.”

 

“Hearing you say that makes me happy.”

 

“Be confident, you’re number one, Asahi-kun!”

 

“Well, that’s a bit of an exaggeration…”

 

When Asahi humbled himself, Fuyuka denied it and praised him.

 

At first, he took it as flattery and felt sorry for making her say it, but now he was able to say thank you much more honestly.

 

Asahi could tell that Fuyuka was speaking from the heart, and more importantly, he was very happy that the person he adored was praising him.

 

“Well, I can’t exactly refuse when you put it like that.”

 

“So you’re going to take me as your student!”

 

“You’re still gonna continue that?”

 

They looked at each other and laughed again, then they moved to the kitchen.

 

“Alright, let’s get started.”

 

“Yes, please do so.”

 

Asahi opened the page of a cookie recipe to prepare for the cooking class.

 

“First is sugar and butter, then…”

 

Fuyuka diligently mixed the ingredients according to the procedure that Asahi mentioned.

 

As he watched from next to her, the corners of his mouth lifted.

 

“…Is there something on my face?”

 

“It’s been a while since you said that.”

 

“Well, it’s been a while since someone stared at me.”

 

Asahi smiled, wishing that this calm and gentle time could last forever.

 

Fuyuka’s eyes widened a little and then she smiled back.

 

‘I want to tell her I love her right now, but I can’t take another step.’

 

It had nothing to do with Asahi’s feelings, of course, but with his love rival.

 

But for now, he will continue to enjoy this time.

 

He wanted to cherish the time he had with Fuyuka, and more importantly, he felt that Fuyuka herself would not allow him to do so.

 

“Is this the right amount?”

 

“Yeah, good job. Now just keep mixing this one.”

 

“Understood!”

 

Fuyuka looked very, very adorable as she happily made the cookie dough.