Chapter 115: Parents Not Home This Afternoon
The moment the knock sounded, Kaede and Eriri instantly separated. Eriri quickly adjusted her clothes, not wanting the elder to see anything inappropriate.
Kaede sighed internally and said, "Got it, we'll be right there!"
Then he went to open the door.
When the door opened, Asakura Reiko didn't notice anything from her son, but she caught sight of Eriri's flushed face, which hadn't faded yet, standing up behind him.
Fortunately, Asakura Reiko had been young once herself. She didn't say anything suddenly and knew her son's boundaries. She smiled and said, "You must be hungry after studying all morning. Come down and eat quickly."
Having said that, she went downstairs first.
Kaede turned around, looked at Eriri, who was still standing there with a red face, walked over, cupped her face, and said, "Sorry, I got a little carried away just now."
With her face cupped by Kaede, Eriri shook her head and whispered, "It... it's just a little embarrassing, but nothing else. Alright, let's hurry downstairs, or Aunt Reiko will think we're doing something."
Naturally, these complaints could only be kept internal and not spoken aloud. After helping Eriri smooth the hair near her ear, Kaede led her downstairs.
In the dining room, even though her husband wasn't home today, Asakura Reiko still prepared a table full of delicious dishes, which made Eriri, who had just come down, so tempted that she momentarily forgot her earlier embarrassment.
As they started eating, Asakura Reiko looked at Kaede and Eriri sitting next to each other, a continuous smile on her face.
"Eriri, remember to eat plenty!"
"Mhm!"
Eriri nodded repeatedly, elegantly yet swiftly finishing the meal in front of her.
Kaede looked at today's lunch and said with a sigh of emotion, "I feel like if Eriri came to our house every day, Mom's cooking would be good enough to be a head chef at a big restaurant in another half year."
Two of today's lunch dishes were newly learned by his mom, something Kaede had never seen before.
Asakura Reiko heard him and looked at Kaede with encouraging eyes, "For that, Kaede-kun, you'll have to work harder. Mom also looks forward to eating with Eriri every day."
Eriri naturally understood the unspoken message and looked at Asakura Reiko shyly, her face red, "Auntie Reiko!"
"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore~"
Having known her for a while, Asakura Reiko had clearly become like her son, Kaede, and also enjoyed teasing Eriri, as Eriri was simply too easy to embarrass.
Holding her bowl, Asakura Reiko subtly gestured to her son with her eyes.
Upon receiving the look, Kaede immediately rolled his eyes, ignored her, and continued eating.
They were only in high school now; they couldn't possibly rush to get Eriri married into the family, could they? How could it be that fast?
They'd have to wait until they were 18, right?
Hmm... was he perhaps being a bit too impatient himself?
Glancing at the girl beside him, Kaede decided he should just focus on eating for now.
As for Eriri, at this moment, she was so shy because of Asakura Reiko's words that she could only bury her head in her food.
After lunch, Kaede helped his mom clear the table and put the dishes into the dishwasher. Asakura Reiko then came into the living room and said to the two, "You two aren't going out this afternoon, are you?"
"That's right. We finished studying this morning, so this afternoon we'll probably draw manga or just relax."
"In that case, you two can stay home this afternoon. I'm going out."
"Shopping?"
"No!" Asakura Reiko shook her head and smiled at Eriri, "Sayuri and I made plans to go shopping and get a spa!"
"Huh? With Mom?"
Eriri never expected that the two of them had an even better relationship than she thought; they were going for a spa together again today? She knew her mother had a habit of getting regular treatments, but inviting someone else along seemed to be a first.
"So, I'll be heading out soon. I won't be back this afternoon. Sayuri and I will let you know when we find a place for dinner, so remember to come! Otherwise, no one will be making dinner for you, got it?"
Without waiting for the two children's reactions, Asakura Reiko hummed a tune and went upstairs to change.
"..."
In other words, for the long afternoon ahead, it would just be him and Eriri at home?
Kaede's young heart inevitably began to stir.
And when Eriri met Kaede's gaze, she immediately knew what her boyfriend was thinking. Before Kaede could say anything, she quickly got up and scurried upstairs.
"Emmm~~~ I didn't even say anything yet, is there really a need to be so scared?"
Scratching his head, Kaede sat on the sofa for a while before getting up to the kitchen, taking a bottle of juice, two glasses, and some snacks from the fridge, then heading upstairs.
Thankfully, Eriri also knew that locking herself in his room was useless, allowing Kaede to enter easily.
After putting down the items, Kaede looked at Eriri, who was already in the computer chair, having turned on the computer and preparing to play games. He said with a wry smile, "Is there a need to look so stern? I won't do anything."
"Hmph! Kaede-kun, your thoughts were written all over your face just now!" Eriri snorted, then logged into Kaede's Steam account and started playing an indie game.
Since it supported local co-op, Kaede quickly grabbed another controller, connected it to the computer, and joined in.
"My expression was written on my face? I don't believe that at all. Please provide evidence."
"Urusai! If I say it is, it is!"
Grinning, Kaede couldn't help but doubt himself at this point. Did he really show it just now? Impossible.
Never mind, it was just a thought anyway. As long as Eriri wasn't willing now, he wouldn't force anything. These things required a natural progression; he couldn't rush it.
Then he focused on playing the game with Eriri.
About ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Asakura Reiko opened it, glanced at the two playing games inside, and said, "Well, I'm heading out then. Remember not to miss the message I send; you need to come out for dinner!"
"Got it!"
"Okay~~~"
After the two responded, Asakura Reiko smiled and closed the door.
Soon, the sound of the front door closing and a car starting and driving away echoed from downstairs.
After confirming, Kaede said, "Okay, Mom's gone, Eriri. It's just the two of us left at home!"
"W-what do you want to do?"
In her nervousness, her controls went awry. Eriri's character, which already had very little health left, instantly died, leaving Kaede alone, struggling to hold on.
Pressing pause, Kaede looked at the girl beside him and said with a smile, "So, let's start drawing manga! Don't forget your dream of being a manga artist!"
"..."
(T/N: My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.)
Eriri's expression gradually shifted from surprise to fury. She grabbed the cushion behind her and threw it at Kaede.