About a month has passed since the New Year arrived.
Winter’s chill was in full force, and the cold outside made me shiver. In the morning, it was tough to get out of bed and wait for the living room heater to warm things up.
We were using more hot water for cooking, and everyone took long, warm baths, so the amount of water heated by the boiler had noticeably increased since autumn. Honestly, I can’t imagine how things would be if we didn’t have this house. Sometimes I think about how terrifying it would be if Chocola and I had been thrown out with nothing but the clothes on our backs.
Despite the biting cold, everyone seemed in good spirits.
Chocola ran around the yard even without snow, and Mint was all excited, saying, ‘I love the cold!’ Karen, on the other hand, was content to cozy up with the heater in the living room, and mother was thrilled saying ‘Since coming back to this house, winter felt better’. The one I was most worried about was Pochi, but the insulation in the stable was working well, and he didn’t seem cold at all.
So far, no unexpected troubles had arisen, and the monitoring device remained silent. We, the Hatano family, lived each day peacefully.
※※※
「Well, I’m off. I should be back by evening.」
「Okay, be careful! And please take care of them, Ji Liz.」
「Aye, leave her to me. Though, it’s quite the unusual group, I must say.」
「Uuuu!」
「Bark!」
After lunch, Mother prepared to go to Sidera for a task at the research bureau.
As Ji Liz had mentioned, she would be taking Mint and Chocola with her. Mint was eager to see Grandma, who worked there, and Chocola was chosen as Mint’s guardian while Mother took care of her errands.
「Chocola, stay close to Mint, okay?」
「Bark!」
「Mint, give Grandma our regards and don’t forget to hand over the gift, alright?」
「Live it too me!」
Mint proudly held a small package with both hands.
Inside were baked treats and some pickles.
「Alright, everything’s set? Then let’s depart.」
「Yes, thank you.」
「See you later.」
I said, chuckling inwardly at the way Ji Liz spoke like a doting mother as I joined Karen and Pochi to wave them off.
Mother waved back with a soft smile, while Mint jiggled around to wave without dropping her package, and Chocola barked, ‘Bark!’ beside her. They quickly disappeared from view, with the dragon’s silhouette heading south.
So, it was just me, Karen, and Pochi left behind.
「Mint seemed excited.」
「Hmm. She’s really grown attached to Grandma.」
After that brief exchange, Pochi let out a soft ‘kyururu’ before lumbering off towards the stable, and Karen and I fell into a comfortable silence.
There wasn’t anything we needed to talk about—and that was fine.
It was a peaceful silence, and I liked it.
When you truly trust someone, there’s no awkwardness. When you know the other person so well, you can almost sense their thoughts, and if there’s no topic, there’s no need to force conversation. Just being here together brought a calmness, with the certainty that the other felt the same.
Without a word, we both turned and went inside, side by side. Karen settled into the living room sofa, and I went to the kitchen, where I put on water to boil, made two cups of tea, and set them on the table before sitting beside her.
「Here.」
「Hmm」
We each took a sip, letting out a synchronized sigh of relief.
Karen gently leaned against me, and I softly supported her.
After a few minutes of silence, I had a sudden idea.
「Hey, Karen.」
「Hmm?」
「Do you want a snack?」
She glanced at me, curious.
「We just finished lunch.」
「True, but I thought it might be nice to try out a recipe I’ve been wanting to experiment with. If we start now, it should be ready right around snack time.」
「What is it?」
「I’m not telling.」
「Hmm.」
She pouted and playfully tugged at my cheek.
「Doesn’t it sound more fun if it’s a surprise?」
「Maybe. But you being all smug about it is annoying.」
「Want to help me make it, then?」
「Can I?」
「It’s not that complicated, so you should be fine.」
「Alright, I’ll help. I probably wouldn’t guess the taste anyway. So whether I watch you make it or not, I’ll still feel that same excitement before trying it.」
「Alright, then let’s do it.」
「………fufufu」
Karen gave a soft smile as she stood beside me, her lips quirking in that little way they do whenever she’s up to something.
「Are you… planning something?」
「No, not really. But, I can see why it might look like that…」
She hugged my arm tightly and pressed herself close.
「It’s like with that curry we made together. A secret little project, just between you and me, away from Viole-sama, Mint, and Chocola. It’s like a prank, and it makes it all the more exciting.」
Her words were so endearing that I couldn’t help but—
「‘A secret project’ kind of sounds like a cake-cutting ceremony…」
「Huh? Are we making a cake?」
「No, it’s not a cake. Sorry, that was… never mind.」
Realizing what I’d implied, my cheeks grew hot, and I nudged her lightly with my shoulder.
She gave me a quizzical look, then stepped ahead toward the kitchen.
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