Chapter 237: Kotone / Woman of Destiny (1/2)

Chapter 236: Kohaku / Wait Chapter 238: Suzune / Four Wings

Translator: Reflet

Editor: ryunakama

「Thank you for waiting」

Early afternoon on a weekday, in the Miyagi household in a tranquil residential district.

Kotone and Youran, who had visited there, were greeted by one of the mistresses in a maid outfit, Mio.

「We’re so sorry for suddenly barging in like this」

Upon entering the entrance hall, the eldest of the three sisters, Kotone, lowered her head with an apologetic expression. To her side, the twintailed Youran imitated her, lightly lowering her head.

「I have heard from Aoba-sama concerning this. Please, do not worry about it」

「Thank you」

「Then, sorry for rushing things, but I want to begin quickly. He’s buying time, but I don’t know how long he can hold」

「……Understood」

Mio made a sour face for a moment in response to Youran’s words.

It was clear that she still did not think well of Taiyou.

Nevertheless, she slowly nodded, motioning to show them to the back of the estate.

Mio had guided them to the Miyagi household’s kitchen.

It was a kitchen, bigger than that of the typical bad apartment’s, kept tidy and in order.

There were many food ingredients on the table in the middle of the kitchen.

「The preparations are in order. We can begin at any time」

「Thanks」

Youran thanked her, going to the opposite end of the table with Kotone.

Kotone and Youran had come to the Miyagi residence in order to learn cooking from Mio.

Last night, as Kotone and the others had proposed, they had thought to throw a welcome party for Shirokiyami.

Shirokiyami was not yet Taiyou’s bride, but he planned for her to be such.

Thought she had moved into Taiyou Castle, she was in a sense still an “Okyaku-san”, so in order to get along better with her, Kotone and the others proposed a welcome party, approving it unanimously.

As they were discussing what specifically they should do, there was a proposal that they make the food for the welcome party with their own hands, and Aoba recommended they try Mio’s cooking techniques.

Furthermore, Kotone and the sisters proposed that they make the food based on what they were taught, and Youran volunteered, asking that she please be part of it as well.

That was why Kotone and Youran had come to Mio to learn cuisine.

「We’ll start from the preparation of the vegetables」

「I just have to cut this, right?」

「Yes」

Mio nodded.

Youran took the knife in her hand, standing before the cutting board.

「Umm, Youran-san？」

「What？」

「The way you’re holding that……could it be……」

Kotone inquired timidly.

After all, the way Youran was holding the knife was precisely how an amateur would do so.

No matter who saw, it was clear that she had never cooked even once.

「Bingo. I’ve never so much as cooked in my life」

「Seriouslyyyyy？」

「Because I’ve never had to do that until now. There’s never been a necessity for me to cook」

「Th-Then, I’ll――」

「It’s fine, let me do it」

「But……」

「Cause if I make having no experience into an excuse, I won’t even be able to do anything today. And plus I did come here because I wanted to do it」

「Well……」

「So let me」

「……Understood. But there isn’t much time, so let us do it together」

「That’s true. He might get killed as we’re squabbling」

「I-I don’t think it’ll be THAT bad」

Kotone panicked.

Considering what Taiyou was currently doing, this line would clearly not be a joke.

The two of them stood next to each other before the sink, washing vegetables, cutting them, and beginning to prepare each one.

「Ow-」

「Youran-san？」

「It’s fine, I just cut myself a bit. See, just a bit」

「Mhm. Umm, it might be good for you to hold kitchen knives like a cat. Please curl your fingers」

「Like a cat……like so？」

「Yes, that is correct」

「Like a cat, like a cat――Ow-」

「Ahhh-」

「……It is the first time I’ve laid eyes on someone cutting themselves while holding it like a cat」

「Well it can’t be helped. This is my first time」

「Are you all right, Youran-san? Please show me！」

「It’s fine, this is nothing」

「But……」

「Like a cat, like a cat」

Treating herself in a simple manner, Youran challenged it again.

Unable to just watch, Mio began giving specific advice.

「Rather than pressing the blade down, if you slowly pull it back to you from within, the blade will not slip and your hand will not get cut」