Chapter 1 Part 3
"How does it taste? Did I manage to replicate it?"
"Ah, it's amazing... The taste, the crispiness, everything is just like it. It's really delicious."
The fried chicken that Nagi made was both nostalgic and delicious. Although I say nostalgic, it’s not like it’s been that long—just the summer break when I visited my mom’s place, and she made some for me.
Even so, good food is still good. If this fried chicken were to be made every day for a week, I’d probably never get tired of it.
"Wow, this is incredible. Tastes like fried chicken from someone’s home. So good."
"I know, right? There’s something special about eating fried chicken at someone else’s house."
"What’s that supposed to mean... well, I get what you mean."
The conversation was typical of Eiji and the others—casual, yet full of praise.
As we continued eating, I realized that, even though there was a considerable amount of food for five people, everything had disappeared by the time I looked again.
"Thank you for the meal. It was really, really delicious, Nagi."
"Hehe, I'm glad you liked it."
I ended up going back for a second helping. Feeling like I should move around a bit after eating, I got up and started clearing the plates.
"I’ll help you."
"No, it’s fine. You’re the guest. Just relax."
"Ah, then I’ll help too."
"You made the food, so it’s okay."
"Cleaning up is part of cooking, you know."
"...Alright, I understand."
I couldn’t argue with Nagi’s words. As we gathered the plates, I noticed Nishizawa grinning at us.
"Looking at you two, you really seem like a married couple, huh?"
I froze, my hand pausing midair as I was about to pick up a plate.
Nagi was the same, and I could hear the clink of a plate as she stopped as well.
"Oh, I get that. It was the same vibe when we visited my uncle’s house right after he got married. Felt like this."
"Ah, stop teasing them, you two."
"No, I’m serious. Hika-run, don’t you think so?"
"Well... yeah, but it’s kind of hard to understand. They’re like a young couple one moment, then they suddenly seem like a couple who’s been married for years. But you can always feel the intensity of their relationship, and that’s what’s strange."
My face was burning up. On the other hand, Nagi...
"Hehe, really? Do you think so?"
She had a big grin on her face, her cheeks slack with happiness. I tried to hide my face from the three of them by setting down the plates, but... it was pretty obvious to me. And I’m sure they could tell I was grinning too.
Nagi, still in a good mood, finished gathering the plates and went to the kitchen first.
"You three just relax," I managed to say to Nishizawa and the others, who were still grinning, before following Nagi to the kitchen.
"Ah, please just leave the plates here. There aren’t too many, so I’ll wash them right away."
"Got it."
As I was about to step back to give her space, Nagi stopped me.
"Wait a moment."
She set the plates down with a clink and looked at me.
"...I’m really happy."
"Was it because of what Nishizawa and the others said?"
"That too, of course... but what made me really happy was realizing that I’m not the guest, but the one welcoming them. That thought made me so happy."
Nagi’s cheeks were twitching slightly. It seemed like her face would naturally soften without her doing anything. I had felt that same sensation just a moment ago.
"...I see. Hey, Nagi. Can I ask something?"
"Yes? What is it?"
"Just wait a moment."
I left Nagi in the kitchen and went back to my room. From the back of a drawer, I took out something.
When I returned to Nagi, she was waiting for me with a slightly confused look on her face.
"Sorry for making you wait."
"No, it’s fine. But what’s going on?"
"...I’ve got something I want to give you. Could you hold out your hand?"
Nagi tilted her head but obediently held out her palm.
On her palm, I placed a key.
"...! This is...!"
"It’s the spare key to my room. You come over here often anyway, but I wanted to give it to you."
Her face was unusually flushed. But seeing her waiting for my words with such a happy expression, I didn’t want to look away.
If I didn’t speak, she wouldn’t understand. I took a deep breath.
I looked at her closely. As I watched her smile, the tension within me loosened. I exhaled completely, and then met her blue eyes squarely.
"Nagi, you’re already my fiancée, so you’re like family—no, you are family. So, I want you to accept this... Just like you said earlier, I want you to be the one to welcome me from now on."
Even though I had already given her the key, I wanted to confirm this. I wanted to make sure of her intentions.
Nagi tightly gripped the key with both hands, holding it carefully against her chest.
"Of course!"
Her blue eyes sparkled as she smiled happily. She continued to smile as she stared at the key, holding it tightly, her lips curving into a joyful grin.
"Actually..."
Seeing her so cute made me want to keep watching her. She murmured softly.
"This is my first time having a key. Usually, the chauffeur picks me up and takes me home. And at home, there are always helpers, so I never needed one."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. So, I’m really happy. To think my first key is to your house, Souta-kun... It makes my heart feel warm."
She smiled softly, her eyes gentle.
"I’ll cherish it."
"Yeah."
I was so happy to hear those words that I couldn’t help but place my hand on her head. Nagi happily accepted the gesture.
...It wasn’t long before we finished washing the dishes together.
★★★
After that, we watched various movies at Eiji’s request.
It seemed that Eiji and Nishizawa often watched movies, and since we weren’t very familiar with them, they told us it was a waste. Eiji apparently had a subscription service, so we decided to use a cable that I had bought before to output my smartphone to the TV.
We started with a well-known Western movie. As expected, being famous, it was a movie that I could enjoy as well. Nagi, of course, and even Hayama seemed to be enjoying it, which was a relief.
Hayama had only known Nagi until now, but she had blended in quite well with Eiji and Nishizawa. Maybe it was because both Eiji and Nishizawa were naturally good with people, but they had gotten along very well.
The second movie was also interesting. However, I couldn’t help but notice that I was watching Nagi instead.
Her expression as she watched the movie was changing constantly, and it was so beautiful.
At the beginning, she leaned forward, staring intently at the screen. During the comedy scenes, her cheeks relaxed, during the action scenes, her hands were clasped together as she anxiously watched... and during the romance scenes, her face turned red.
Each of those expressions was so picturesque that, if I wasn’t careful, I felt like I might get lost in her gaze, just like back then.
At that moment—our eyes met. She smiled gently, and her hand overlapped mine.
...I think Eiji and the others might have noticed by now.
But they didn’t comment on it. We finished watching the second movie without anyone saying anything.
As Eiji was looking for the next movie, he said,
"I really like this one. It’s a horror movie, but is that okay with you guys?"
"Oh, this one! I went to the theater to see it like three times! It's super scary but really good!"
"Horror movie, huh? I’ve never watched one, so I can’t say for sure. What about you two?"
"I think I’ll be fine. I can handle it."
"I... I’m not sure. It’s the same reason as you, Souta-kun."
I thought for a moment at Nagi’s words.
Would it be okay?... She was scared when we went to the haunted house at the amusement park.
Recalling that, my chest hurt a little, and I shook my head, thinking that wasn’t good.
Still, I looked at Nagi. When I saw her expression, I stopped thinking.
Her face was filled with curiosity... It seemed like she was curious to see something scary.
Thinking back, Nagi had enjoyed the haunted house at the amusement park, didn’t she?
With that in mind, we decided to watch the horror movie.
However...
"So, Souta-kun... Can I hold your hand?"
"We’re already holding hands."
The movie started with a scene where a person was suddenly attacked. It seemed that the enemy was not a ghost, but a monstrous creature.
As expected, Nagi was really scared. She hadn’t even noticed that she was gripping my right hand tightly.
"Ah, that’s right... Can I get a little closer?"
"Of course."
Nagi leaned her shoulder against me. Her face was right next to mine.
Nagi continued to look at me without saying a word. Our gazes intertwined, and even in this situation, my heart began to throb with an uncomfortable sound.
"Souta-kun... Could you give me your other hand?"
"...? Like this?"
When I extended my hand, Nagi momentarily released my hand and shifted her position.
"Excuse me for a moment."
Nagi reached her left hand over my knee and took my left hand in hers. She then grasped my right hand with her other hand, leaning into me.
Both of my hands were held by Nagi’s small ones, and my heart began to beat rapidly, not from fear, but from something else entirely.
"Th-this is fine now... I’m not so scared anymore."
At this point, I wasn’t really paying attention to the movie anymore... but if it helped Nagi enjoy it, I tried to force myself to shift my focus.
As we sat there, Nishizawa observed us and muttered, with a smile.
"Ice Princess, you’re completely melting now."
――――She muttered this with a smile.
★★★