On a weekend noon, what woke Chihaya Tetsuya from his slumber was the aroma of cooking coming from outside his door.
Although he and Anon would occasionally cook simple meals themselves, their skill level was nowhere near capable of producing such a fragrant scent...
Perhaps because his mind wasn't fully awake yet, Tetsuya didn't immediately recall the promise he'd made with Nagasaki Soyo a short while ago.
And that was why, when he pushed open his door and walked to the kitchen, he saw a sight that made him stop in his tracks.
Soyo, wearing an apron, had changed from her usual style of wearing her hair down. Instead, it was tied up in a single ponytail. As she bustled about the kitchen, her swaying ponytail would occasionally reveal her beautiful, fair neck. To make her work easier, her clothing style had also changed from her usual decorative and lace-trimmed types to a very smart and crisp woman's shirt. Not only that, but to avoid getting the cuffs dirty while she worked, she had even rolled up her sleeves. Combined with her intense focus on her cooking and her deft movements, it was enough to show her excellence in domestic skills.
This new look, so completely different from her usual self, transformed Soyo's aura, changing her from a dignified and reserved young lady into a capable and domestic, virtuous wife. What was even more fatal was that, because of the tailored fit of the woman's shirt, Soyo's already well-proportioned figure was presented even more directly in Tetsuya's line of sight, making him realize for the first time that this girl, whom he had always seen as "his sister's friend," was also a beautiful young woman with extraordinary charm—
"Good morning, Tetsuya."
Just as Tetsuya was captivated by Soyo's new look, she noticed the person who had been standing dazed at the kitchen entrance for some time.
"Lunch will be ready in a little while. You should go wash up first."
"Eh? Oh... okay..."
Tetsuya subconsciously nodded in agreement, but he quickly came back to his senses.
"No, wait a second... Soyo, when did you get here?"
"Around ten in the morning. I was originally planning to come earlier, but I had to make a trip to the supermarket on the way, so I was a little late."
Soyo said, continuing with the task at hand.
"By the way, Anon already left for [RiNG] with Tomori and Taki for extra practice."
"Ah... no wonder I didn't see her."
Tetsuya glanced back at the empty living room.
"If she were home, she would have definitely shaken me awake to see you cooking."
"What's there to see? I really don't get you two."
Soyo said, amused.
"And I'd advise you not to get your hopes up too high. It's really just some ordinary home cooking."
"No, just the fact that you're willing to cook for me is something I'm very grateful for."
Tetsuya said in a very serious tone.
"And this scene, of someone cooking for me at home... it makes me feel very at ease. I really like this feeling."
"...Is that so."
A slight smile played on Soyo's lips.
"If that's the case, then once I move here, I'll cook for you every day."
"Eh, every day is a bit too much..."
"It's fine. Just like you enjoy watching others cook, I actually really like this feeling of turning around and finding someone behind me, waiting for me."
At this, she suddenly put down the utensil in her hand and walked over to Tetsuya. Then, under his dazed expression, she reached a hand toward the top of his head.
"But no matter what, you really should wash up first. Look at your hair, it's a complete mess."
"!?"
With the sudden closeness, Tetsuya's attention couldn't be drawn away from the subtle pressure against his chest, far more than by the small hand gently straightening his hair.
Eh? Wait, although I already knew Soyo's measurements from when I made her clothes, can it really be to this extent?
...
(This is probably... shaping lingerie...)
Out of his knowledge and experience with clothing, Tetsuya almost instantly understood the truth hidden beneath the tailored shirt.
This type of undergarment, designed to make a girl's curves more prominent and defined, was quite common in the fashion world. Not only that, but for some fashion models with impressive figures, this kind of lingerie could even serve to maintain their bust shape.
Of course, for a girl Soyo's age, she probably didn't need that function yet.
Which meant, she was wearing this simply to make her figure stand out more...
"There, that's about it."
After tidying Tetsuya's hair and seeing his stiff expression, as if he had been turned to stone, a knowing smile flashed in Soyo's eyes.
"Hurry up and wash your face and brush your teeth. I'm going to get back to cooking."
"Oh, okay..."
Coming back to his senses, Tetsuya nodded quickly.
"Sorry, I'll go right now..."
With that, he immediately turned around as stiffly as a robot and walked step by step towards the washroom.
...
[Ten Preparations to Make Before Going to Your Boyfriend's House!]
[Seven Surefire Techniques to Easily Capture a Pure-hearted Boy!]
[Five Little Tricks to Show Off Your Feminine Charm!]
"...Doing some research beforehand was indeed a wise move."
After Tetsuya left, Soyo couldn't help but reveal a happy smile once more.
"In the end, he's just a boy three years older than me. He's not that out of reach at all."
Recalling the way he had just been staring straight at her, Soyo reached up and gently adjusted the slightly tight innerwear she had on.
"Although it's a little uncomfortable, the effect is surprisingly noticeable..."
I should wear it when we meet in the future, too...
...
Then again, because she was in a bit of a hurry this time, she didn't even have time to choose the pattern properly.
Next time, she should really choose the black set... but if she did that, would it be a little too obvious under this white shirt?
Would he think she was that kind of naughty girl? Or maybe... that slightly obvious effect is exactly what will hit his strike zone?
"Sigh, it's truly a profound field of study."
With a concluding remark on her victory, Soyo focused once more on the meal she was preparing...