"Then I'll be going now, wifey. I'll leave the house to you."
Natsuhi slipped her fingers into her small leather shoes, tapped them lightly against the floor, adjusted her black-rimmed glasses, and turned back to wave at Yui, signaling that she was leaving.
"Mm."
"Oh, right, Natsuhi, wait a moment. I have something to give you."
"Eh?"
Watching Yui hurry toward the kitchen, Natsuhi was momentarily stunned.
'What... could it be?'
'She wouldn't happen to be giving me a passionate, fiery kiss, would she... Ehehe, that would be a bit of a dilemma.'
As Natsuhi thought of this, a blissful smile spread across her face, and she felt like drool was about to spill from the corner of her mouth. Could she be thinking about how to handle it in a moment? *36 Stratagems of Kissing*?
"What are you thinking about? Is it really worth smiling so happily? Your expression... is a bit lewd."
Just as Natsuhi was letting her imagination run wild, Yui was already standing in front of her, complaining crossly (though it sounded more like acting spoiled).
"Ah, I'm not, I didn't!"
Her train of thought interrupted, Natsuhi realized she had been daydreaming again and shook her head, eager to clear things up.
But how could Yui not know what she was thinking? A blush spread across her face.
"Sigh, I really can't do anything with you. Here, take this. Remember to eat well."
Sighing, Yui extended her small hand, holding a bento box tightly wrapped in pink fabric with a heart tied on top.
Seeing this, Natsuhi gasped. Having a beautiful girl shyly hand over a bento was a treat that many anime protagonists didn't even get to enjoy.
And today, right here, right now, she had actually encountered it. Come to think of it, this was her first time.
So awesome, so satisfying, so happy!
The sunlight streaming through the gap in the door illuminated the girl's mood at that moment, filling the room with orange, comfortable and warm.
"Is this really for me?"
"Do you see anyone else here? Dummy!"
Taking a deep breath, Natsuhi took the bento from Yui's small hands with trembling hands, as if she were receiving an imperial decree—it was ridiculously exaggerated.
"There's no need to make that kind of face. You're making me feel awkward."
Watching Natsuhi's overly solemn expression, although she complained, Yui couldn't help but giggle. After all, it was a lunch she had carefully prepared. She had been worried about whether the other person would dislike it, but seeing her expression, she knew she had worried for nothing.
'I just love that about you... Natsuhi.'
"How could that be? After all, what's inside is filled with my wife's love for me."
"Remember to wait until lunch to op..."
"Mm, delicious! My wife's cooking is truly great!"
Before Yui could finish her sentence, Natsuhi had already unwrapped it in a few quick motions, took out a golden egg roll, and ate it happily, looking completely satisfied.
"Eh—!?"
Seeing Natsuhi's rude behavior, Yui let out a short cry of surprise, her small mouth pouting slightly, her face showing a touch of dissatisfaction.
"Wait, wait! Natsuhi, you dummy!"
She stomped her feet in a rush. "Who starts eating right now? I told you to wait until lunch to open it!"
The scene Yui had carefully envisioned was—Natsuhi at school or during a break, eating with classmates, opening the bento full of her love, and then having people around cast envious glances, asking what was going on, introducing herself... maybe even getting a touching message from her...
But this dense person had actually done it right at the door, unable to wait like a puppy sneaking a snack! What a little glutton!
In such a short time, she had already finished a small chicken leg, and half the bone was still sticking out as she chewed back and forth. It was unbearable!
"I... I wanted to give you a surprise..."
Yui's voice grew quieter, filled with the grievance and coy resentment of a failed plan, her eyes glaring resentfully at Natsuhi, who was chewing happily.
"Hm? A surprise?"
Natsuhi, with the bone in her mouth, blinked. Looking at Yui's puffed-up appearance, she finally realized, belatedly, whether she had accidentally ruined something...
She looked at the bare bone, then into the bento box—sure enough, the rice was shaped into a cute panda, carefully decorated with colorful vegetables on the side, and in the corner, there was even a little heart drawn with ketchup that made one feel the 'love'.
"Ah, I'm done for..."
The bone fell from her mouth, making an awkward sound on the floor.
Natsuhi instantly understood Yui's little intentions, and her heart was instantly filled with deeper warmth and apology.
She quickly closed the lunch box, put her hands together, and made an exaggerated apologetic gesture toward Yui.
"Sorry, sorry! I was too impatient! This is the first time I've received a bento made by my wife, I was just too excited."
"Because it smelled so good, I couldn't help it!"
"Are you an elementary school student who can't wait to open a gift?"
Yui stood with her hands on her hips, speechless, but looking at Natsuhi's sparkling eyes, she really couldn't bring herself to be angry.
"I was wrong, but the bento is super delicious!"
Hearing this, Yui couldn't maintain her hands-on-hips posture for even three seconds before she burst into laughter, shaking her head helplessly.
"You..."
The slight reproach in her tone had long been replaced by indulgence, soft as cotton candy.
'Actually... I'm also making a bento for someone for the first time...'
"Things like bentos..."
Yui's voice softened unconsciously. She took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away a bit of sauce that had accidentally stained the corner of Natsuhi's mouth. "I can make as many as you want to eat."
'Forget it, isn't this better anyway?'
Compared to receiving envious glances in front of everyone, what she preferred, perhaps, was this moment—the silly and incredibly sincere look on Natsuhi's face as she unreservedly and impatiently enjoyed her heartfelt creation.
"However,"
Yui deliberately put on a straight face and poked Natsuhi's forehead lightly, trying to regain some ground. "Next time, you're not allowed to sneak a bite at the door! At least wait until... hmm... you find a decent place to sit down before you eat! Do you hear me?"
Natsuhi immediately grabbed the finger she had poked with, held it tightly in her palm, and nodded vigorously. "Understood, my wife! I promise next time I'll find the place with the best scenery, and with a heart full of reverence, I'll savor it slowly!"
"But... the place I'm looking forward to most is still in my wife's arms~"
Natsuhi held Yui's finger, shaking it gently, a cunning smile in her eyes.
"Y-y-y-you... what are you spouting nonsense about! You dummy Natsuhi!"
"W-who would let you eat in their arms! Shameless!"
She accused her incoherently, her eyes darting around. She had been teased to the point of being unable to cope with Natsuhi, her heart pounding wildly, almost leaping out.
"Eh—is it not allowed?"
She wore a disappointed expression, deliberately drawing out her tone.
"But, my wife's arms must be the most comfortable and fragrant place in the whole world."
"Stop saying that!"
Yui finally couldn't take it anymore. Blushing, she puffed up her cheeks and raised her small fist, making a gesture to punch Natsuhi. "Hurry up and leave, if you don't go now, you'll really be late!"
She was practically pushing Natsuhi out the door.
"Wait, wait a second, there's one step missing before I can go."
Natsuhi's feet seemed nailed to the ground, looking back at Yui with longing eyes.
"What step?"
Blinking in confusion, Yui stopped pushing her.
"Can my wife give me a goodbye kiss? That way I can leave without regrets, full of energy for the whole day!"
After saying that, she held out her hands, indicating she was ready—come on, be bold!
"You... you are really..."
Unable to find words, Yui clutched the hem of her clothes, her lips moving slightly.
Looking at Natsuhi's hopeful face, thinking of the bright smile she had shown earlier because of the bento, and that confession of "I love Yui the most"... she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
"... O-only once, okay."
Yui took a deep breath, as if she had made a huge decision.
She stood on her tiptoes, quickly and gently planting a kiss on the cheek that was within reach.
"Chu~"
It was a fleeting touch.
Like a feather brushing past, carrying the light, pleasant scent of the girl, and a trace of shy warmth.
Natsuhi touched the spot that had just been kissed; it seemed to still retain the soft, moist sensation, but she said something shocking.
"It wasn't there? I'm a bit disappointed."
"Dummy! How could I kiss there directly? You're too impatient!"
Yui blushed deeply. How could she not know what 'there' meant in Natsuhi's mouth? A dummy with a head full of unhealthy thoughts!
"That kind of thing... at least wait until..."
She stopped halfway through her sentence, realizing she had almost been led into a trap, and hurriedly changed her tone: "No! This kind of thing shouldn't be discussed at all!"
Natsuhi didn't let it go, leaning into Yui's ear and asking wickedly: "Then when does my wife think... it would be appropriate?"
The warm breath brushed against her ear, and Yui felt her legs go a bit weak.
She struggled to push away Natsuhi's face, which was getting closer and closer. Her voice was trembling, and one could faintly hear a crying tone of someone about to lose control: "At night..."
"Hm?"
"We'll talk about it at night!"
"You have to be gentle..."
Looking at the girl she loved saying shyly 'you have to be gentle'—who could endure that? Natsuhi's mood at this moment could no longer be described by pale words.
Taking a deep breath, forcing down the restlessness in her heart, she, like Yui, couldn't speak.
She suddenly gave Yui a quick kiss back on the forehead. "This is the return gift, I'm off."
Fumbling to straighten her clothes, Natsuhi hurried out the door.
"Wait!"
Before she had taken many steps, she was called back by a voice from behind. Yui stuck half her head out from the door, her soft voice coming through: "Take care on the road, and also... come back early..."
Bang—!! The door was slammed shut.
Leaning against the door, Yui subconsciously stroked her forehead where she had just been kissed, then touched her flushed cheeks.
"I forgot to say it just now, Natsuhi looks very cute with glasses on too, I love every version of you..."
The girl leaned against the door, hugging her knees with both arms, hiding her expression.