Chapter 36: The Angel and Preparing for the New Year (2/2)

Amane realized it was overbearing to have her prepare lunch when she was cooking Osechi, and bought lunch from the convenience store. A sandwich pack should be fine, given that Mahiru would not eat much.

Mahiru took off the apron, probably intending to rest, so this might have been perfect timing to her.

“Thank you very much for doing this. Sorry that I do not have the time to do so.”

“No actually, I’ll be sorry to ask you to make you do that when you’re making Osechi…here, eat up.”

It was rest time, and lunch, so Mahiru obediently returned to the living room.

“A sandwich and café au lait for you?”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

She nodded, received lunch from Amane, and sat next to him.

“How’s your progress?”

“Some are already done, since they are bought, and I am almost done since I have kept the dishes minimal, most of them are simply waiting to be cooled. Since it looks like you like Datemaki, I decided to make them for you, Amane-kun.”

“How do you know?”

“You said you like egg dishes, no?”

It appeared she had baked it in the oven, for Amane had heard it being used, though he had wondered what it was for. So that was what she was making.

“You like a little sweetness in that, I suppose?”

“You really understand me well.”

“It has been months, I can remember what you like.”

For some reason, she sounded happy when she said that as she munched on the ham and lettuce sandwich.

Amane ate the onigiri he bought as he looked over at the kitchen, staring at the Jūbako Mahiru brought and left there.

That Jūbako would be used, it seemed.

Amane never expected her to have a Jūbako even though she was living alone, taken aback even when he found it to be posh look, with gold plating on it.

“Seriously, I’ve to be grateful about this…how do I put it, when I started living alone, I never expected to be so nourished in the latter half of the year.”

“I myself am amazed that you are able to live till this day.”

“That’s harsh. I can survive on convenience store stuff and what’s sold out there, you know?”

“But that is not healthy, goodness.”

Mahiru sighed while looking dumbfounded, but there was a grimace in the sly dig, her expression clearly going, guess I have to do something, and that caused his heart to jolt.

“With me living here, I will not allow for any unhealthy eating habits, you know?”

“Are you my mom?”

“It is your fault for being so callous about it, Amane-kun. I am making sure you will eat healthier next year.”

Mahiru appeared invigorated for some peculiar reason, so we’re together next year too? He was a little embarrassed by that thought, and averted his eyes.

However, Mahiru took that attitude of his as an intent to skimp and live lazily, and she stared back in annoyance. It took him quite a while and lots of effort to explain that he did not mean that.