Harukaze Tetsu's cooking skills finally received official recognition this time.
Seeing Kato Megumi finish three bowls of rice and still look unsatisfied, the boy finally relaxed.
It seemed his hospitality today wasn't too shabby.
Kato Megumi felt she had blushed more in one day than her entire life before. She had confidently declared she would only eat one bowl of rice before stopping. But once she sat down at the table and smelled the enticing aroma of the pork ribs, she forgot all about it.
The pork ribs were more than just crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Perfectly cooked, all it took was a gentle tug on the exposed bone to make it fall off. As she put it in her mouth, the flavors of deep-frying and the sauce perfectly blended, instantly exploding on her taste buds.
“Harukaze-kun's cooking is amazing. Earlier, seeing all that oil, I was worried the ribs might be too greasy, but they're so delicious.” Kato Megumi generously offered her highest praise, making Harukaze Tetsu a little embarrassed.
But soon, her next sentence made him feel a little off.
“If only I could eat this often. It feels like after eating food made by Harukaze-kun, I can’t eat anything else.”
Seeing the girl's slightly shy, expectant expression, Harukaze Tetsu really wanted to retort.
“You wish. Are you trying to find a long-term meal ticket here? Pork ribs don't grow on trees!”
…
By the time Kato Megumi finished eating, it was already dark. It was only April, so the sun didn't set too late. With a sense of responsibility, Harukaze Tetsu insisted on walking her home.
You see, Japan's nights aren't exactly safe. Darkness often serves as a cover for crime. In a country where even gangs are legalized, hoping for safety is simply delusional.
Although Kato Megumi repeatedly insisted that she could go back alone, and that their homes weren't far apart, Harukaze Tetsu still insisted on escorting her home.
After only a little hesitation, Kato Megumi obediently walked beside the boy. Actually, she had been looking forward to days like this for a long time.
Even if they weren't going back to their shared home, the girl was already happy just being able to walk with him.
“It feels like Harukaze-kun has been smiling a lot since this semester started,” Kato Megumi walked beside the boy, leaning slightly forward in the dim light of the streetlamps, turning her head to look at the boy's profile.
Harukaze Tetsu was indeed smiling at that moment. Being able to take a walk with Kato Megumi gave him the illusion that he wasn't a lonely dog.
Moreover, Kato Megumi was the kind of girl who was gentle and kind, her personality was unassuming, but easy to get along with, like a gentle rain that nurtured everything.
While chatting with her, he didn't have to constantly worry about awkward silences or whether he chose the right topics. They could talk about anything under the sun, like old friends reuniting after a long time, yet still feeling familiar.
So he didn't feel anything unusual about the girl's question.
“Of course. Before, I had to worry about living expenses every day, and I had my little sister to take care of. Feeding two mouths wasn't easy.” Although he was talking about something difficult, the expression on Harukaze Tetsu's face didn't reflect any hardship.
Even though it was tiring, not having to deal with those stupid relatives, and being able to live happily with his sister in this small home, was what Harukaze Tetsu had always dreamt of.
“What about now?” The boy hadn't reacted much yet, Kato Megumi was already feeling a little sad.
In their freshman year, because they were deskmates, their relationship was quite close. The girl often saw Harukaze Tetsu napping in class, and occasionally he would have bruises on his body.
At first, she thought he was some kind of delinquent, but based on her impression from a certain incident and her trust in the boy, Kato Megumi boldly approached this person she had been thinking about for a long time.
As she learned more about him, the girl realized just how hard this boy the same age as her was working.
He didn't get enough sleep because he had to work at the Izakaya, and the bruises on his body were from dealing with troublesome customers. Honestly, if Kato Megumi had to go through such a life, she might have broken down.
Thinking about it, she couldn't help but feel respect for her parents. If it weren't for their hard work, she wouldn't have this comfortable living environment.
“Now? Now I've finally found a sugar momma!” Harukaze Tetsu proudly declared that he had been taken care of.
From a certain point of view, he was indeed tied to the novel *Love Beat*. He was not only responsible for the illustrations, but also had to help Kasumi no Oka Shiha with the outline and character design.
Of course, the compensation matched the effort he put in. Now, Harukaze Tetsu only needed to work two days a week, and handle a bit more in the evenings after school, and he could easily earn almost as much as he did before when he was working so hard.
Hearing the boy's declaration, the girl shook her head helplessly.
Why did he always say such strange things? Was being taken care of something to be proud of?
You see, in Japan, women's social status is quite low. A man being taken care of by a rich woman isn't exactly something to brag about.
But that was just Kato Megumi's opinion. If it were any other guy, they would be thrilled to be taken care of by a rich woman.
Who wants to work hard?
“Congratulations, Harukaze-kun, you finally found someone who's blind.” The gloomy girl could only gently jab at Harukaze Tetsu.
But Kato Megumi, being the kind soul she was, even when she was unhappy, wouldn't say anything hurtful to the person she liked.
Only, Kato Megumi felt so stifled. Just a minute ago she was thanking her parents for providing her with a good upbringing, but now the girl only had one thought.
Why am I not rich?
If Harukaze-kun is really going to succumb to money, then just succumb to me!
Just as the girl was fantasizing about becoming a rich person in the future and taking care of Harukaze Tetsu, the boy suddenly stopped.
“Crap, I forgot the tonic I prepared for Kato-san…”
Harukaze Tetsu felt he was really pathetic. Although he saw a side of Kato Megumi today that was different from her usual self, how could he be so absentminded? It was embarrassing.
Kato Megumi's face turned red again.
Because when she was leaving, she had already seen the tonic on the shoe rack, but she just didn't say anything.
If she pretended to forget to take it today, maybe she could come to Harukaze Tetsu's house again tomorrow?
“Harukaze-kun, you didn't actually forget, did you? Are you deliberately forgetting so I can come again tomorrow?”
Fearing her inner motives would be exposed, Kato Megumi decided to take the initiative.