CSCP – Vol 1 Chapter 8 – It’s Dangerous for a Naive Young Lady to Live Alone

One day in late October, with the midterm exams approaching…

I stayed behind in the student council room to study.

Since I joined the student council, I wanted to avoid causing unnecessary concerns by failing. Even I was impressed with myself for being quite serious about this.

Just like other clubs during the exam period, the student council was taking a break from duties.

So now, I was the only one using this room.

There were too many distractions at home, and I found myself slacking off most of the time so I resorted to using the student council room, which was the perfect environment to focus on studying.

I had to avoid using the library or the study room because I might scare other students.

Haa… Why did I have to go to such lengths… but then again, the fact that I lost my motivation to study was partly my own fault… Or maybe it’s because of all the eye-catching videos from YouTube and TikTok. Goddamit modern society…

Because I had been slacking off for a while, my brain had become quite dull. However, if I forced myself to stare at textbooks and solve practice questions in my notebook, my knowledge would gradually return.

The more I studied, the more I uncovered areas I didn’t understand, but that was a sign that I was making progress.

Yeah, this was what studying for tests felt like.

When you slack off on studying, you lose track of what you can or can’t solve. This makes it harder to identify the areas you need to focus on, which can make studying inefficient. As new topics pile up, knowledge of basic fundamentals gradually disappears.

In the end, the more you slack off, the harder it becomes to catch up.

On the contrary, if you study consistently, you’ll be able to know the areas which you need to focus on.

Through today’s study session, I realized that the set of math problems in my school workbook was too high for me. Math had always been a weak subject of mine, and the consequences of slacking off did not help.

On my way home, I should stop by the bookstore at the station building and buy a workbook of a slightly lower difficulty.

◆

Before I knew it, the sun had completely set, and it was almost time to leave.

“Well, I guess I’ll head home for today.” (Takaki)

Muttering this to myself with no one else around, I packed up my things and left the room.

When I stepped outside from the entrance, the cool air gently brushed my cheeks, which had grown warm from studying.

The evening breeze had turned quite cool. It reminded me of how it was already autumn.

By the time I bought the workbook I wanted at the bookstore in the station building, I was really hungry.

Although I usually tried to save money, it was incredibly difficult for a high school boy to resist his hunger. This might be even more challenging than studying for tests.

I stepped outside and headed towards the ramen shop on the opposite side of the station.

Although there was a ramen shop inside the station building, they charged extra for rice. For a hungry high school boy, nothing was more enticing than an all-you-can-eat rice.

As I walked for a while, the light of a convenience store emerged at the end of a dark, deserted street. Turning the corner at that convenience store, I would find the ramen shop I was looking for.

Just then, a figure appeared from the convenience store and started walking towards me.

“…Hmm?” (Takaki)

I couldn’t make out much from a distance, but it seemed to be a woman. There was something familiar about her graceful walk, and that long black hair… somewhere…

Eventually, the distance between me and the woman closed to a few meters, and I stopped in my tracks as I saw her illuminated figure under the streetlight.

Despite her casual outfit of a hoodie and sweatpants, her impressive figure and long black hair made her stand out. Her fair face, straight nose, and almond-shaped eyes was familiar.

“…Togami?” (Takaki)

She seemed to notice me as well and took a step back in surprise.

“G-Gujou-san!? What are you doing here…?” (Nadeshiko)

“Well, I was just heading to the ramen shop over there.” (Takaki)

When I looked down, I saw that she was carrying a plastic bag with the convenience store’s logo on it. Togami was probably on her way back from the convenience store.

I sighed internally and explained to Togami.

“I was studying for exams in the student council room earlier and decided to stop by the bookstore on my way home. It was then that I got hungry so here I am.” (Takaki)

“Ah, I see.” (Nadeshiko)

“Still, this is the first time I’ve seen you in casual clothes, Togami, and, well…” (Takaki)

“Oh! Please don’t look too much!” (Nadeshiko)

Togami blushed and hugged herself with her arms. Indeed, her outfit could be described as casual at best, and unrefined at worst.

“I don’t usually dress like this! These are just my lounge clothes… I was just going to the convenience store at night so…” (Nadeshiko)

“I get it, I get it. Don’t worry, I don’t think it’s weird or anything.” (Takaki)

I remembered how Arisu used to dress quite casually when we were kids. Well, comparing an elementary school student to a high school student might not be fair.

Still, seeing a classmate in their casual clothes when you’re only used to seeing them in their school uniform always felt a bit strange. 

In Togami’s case, the contrast with her usual formal appearance made this encounter feel especially rare… What am I even thinking anymore?

As I tried to avert my gaze, my eyes unintentionally fell on the contents of the plastic bags Togami was holding.

From the overstuffed bag, I caught a glimpse of junk food such as pastries, cup noodles, and snacks.

“…By the way, what did you buy, Togami?” (Takaki)

“I bought dinner, or rather, enough food for the next few days.” (Nadeshiko)

Now that I thought about it, when we ate lunch together in the student council room, she usually had pastries.

If she ate these kinds of things at night too, her diet seemed pretty unbalanced.

“Do you… always eat this kind of stuff?” (Takaki)

“W-What’s wrong with that!? It’s not like convenience store food is bad!” (Nadeshiko)

“Sure, it’s rare for convenience store items to be bad, but if you eat only that, your health will take a hit.” (Takaki)

“I don’t just eat convenience store food, you know? I also eat outside sometimes, like at the local Jiro-inspired ramen shop¹ and even the ramen shop you’re heading to.” (Nadeshiko)

“That only adds to my worries! Your nutritional balance is a mess!” (Takaki)

“It’s fine. I get enough calories!” (Nadeshiko)

“Yeah, and everything except calories is lacking.” (Takaki)

“I take supplements for my nutrition, so there’s no need to worry.” (Nadeshiko)

For some reason, Togami declared this with a triumphant look.

Relying on supplements for nutrition while still in high school is definitely another concern. It seems like Togami isn’t aware of this at all.

“Well, if Togami is okay with it, then it’s fine, but…” (Takaki)

At that point, I noticed something odd.

…What about Togami’s family?

Given that I live with my aunt in a somewhat unusual situation, it didn’t immediately click. But thinking about it deeply, it’s strange for a high school girl to stock up on several days’ worth of dinner from a convenience store.

Come to think of it, on the day I learned about Togami’s secret, I remember her saying that her family wouldn’t worry even if she came home late. If that’s the case, her family must either be really distant or…

“What about Togami’s family?” (Takaki)

After some hesitation, I decided to ask. Given I’m in a situation where I’m not living with my parents either, I figured it was fine, though I felt a bit cowardly for using that as an excuse.

For a brief moment, Togami’s eyes narrowed, and there was a slight pause.

Then Togami answered with an almost too calm demeanor as if simply reporting a fact.

“I’m currently living apart from my parents. I live alone in that apartment over there.” (Nadeshiko)

“…” (Takaki)

It was the response I had expected. But hearing it directly left me unsure of how to respond.

Should I offer comfort, or act as if I don’t mind?

Our relationship isn’t exactly one of friends or lovers. It’s merely a matter of me assisting Togami in her duties as the student council president. In such a situation, was it even appropriate for me to delve into her complicated family circumstances?

Seeing my struggle to find the right words, Togami gave a small, faint smile.

“You don’t need to worry about it, Gujou-san. It’s a matter of my own family.” (Nadeshiko)

“Well, that’s true.” (Takaki)

“Ah, but please keep this a secret at school. If my classmates found out that I’m living alone, it might cause them unnecessary concern.” (Nadeshiko)

“Got it.” (Takaki)

Indeed, it’s not something that should be widely discussed. Even my own situation of living with my aunt is known to only Arisu and our homeroom teacher. Togami’s circumstances are likely known only to the school staff.

“Well then, I’ll be going.” (Nadeshiko)

“Yeah…” (Takaki)

I watched as Togami’s back grew smaller as she walked away.

The usually confident figure of Togami looked particularly small and frail today.

She was still a sixteen-year-old high school girl.

This simple truth suddenly struck me with a sense of reality. I couldn’t just let Togami go home like this.

Without knowing what to say, I called out to her back.

“Hey, Togami!” (Takaki)

“What is it?” (Nadeshiko)

As Togami turned around, the dim light from the streetlamp cast a faint glow on her face.

Togami probably thought she was the only one in such a situation. That’s why she acted as if it didn’t bother her. She had probably given up, thinking no one could understand.

I licked my lips, searching for the right words to convey to Togami.

“I don’t have parents at home either.” (Takaki)

“Eh?” (Nadeshiko)

Togami’s eyes widened in surprise, and her gaze wavered.

It was only natural that she’d be shocked by such a sudden revelation.

But I couldn’t help but want to tell Togami that she wasn’t alone in this. I couldn’t let Togami go home like this.

“I lost my mother when I was a child, and my father is stationed overseas for work. So I live with my aunt. I’m not hiding it, but I don’t think any of the students, except for Arisu, know about it. I don’t really have friends I talk to about this either.” (Takaki)

I poured out my family situation in a rush.

I wasn’t sure if this was the right way to say it, but I didn’t have the luxury to think it through.

Togami, still with a puzzled expression, slowly opened her mouth.

“Why are you telling me this?” (Nadeshiko)

“It feels weird for you to know about my family situation without me knowing about yours.” (Takaki)

“…Thank you. Gujou-san, you’re very kind.” (Nadeshiko)

Togami relaxed her expression slightly and gave a small nod.

“Well then, see you at school.” (Nadeshiko)

“Yeah.” (Takaki)

Without turning back, Togami walked away down the road in front of the convenience store.

◆

The next day during lunch break, when I went to the student council room with my usual lunch, I found Togami slumped over the long table, looking exhausted. She was holding a bag of pastries in her right hand, but it seemed she had little appetite as it was barely touched.

“…Hey.” (Takaki)

“Oh, it’s Gujou-san…” (Nadeshiko)

Togami sluggishly turned to look at me.

Her expression was drained of life, and a deep sigh escaped her lips.

“Is something wrong?” (Takaki)

“Next week… there’s a home economics cooking class…” (Nadeshiko)

I was worried it might be related to our conversation from yesterday, but apparently not.

There was a cooking practical right after the midterm exams, and Togami, who cannot cook at all, was feeling down about it.

I recalled hearing similar concerns come up when I was in class earlier.

Home economics is graded based on both written and practical assessments, so the cooking practical is scheduled around the same time as the midterm written test.

The menu for this cooking practical was supposed to be standard curry.

From what I saw Togami bought at the convenience store and our conversation, it was clear she hardly cooked for herself.

For her, a cooking practical must be a nightmare.

“Ugh… This is bad. If this goes on, everyone will find out I can’t cook…” (Nadeshiko)

“Well, it can’t be helped, right? You know, it’s common in manga for rich young ladies to have a setting where they can’t cook because there’s a chef at home.” (Takaki)

“Indeed, there was a personal chef at my family’s home, but…” (Nadeshiko)

“Seriously?” (Takaki)

I had been half-joking, but reality often surpasses imagination.

“If this keeps up, my career as student council president will be over… Everyone will realize I have no practical life skills and will say things like, ‘See, rich kids don’t cook’, ‘Maybe they have a personal chef at home’, or ‘They probably think fish swim around as fillets.’ It’s hard to refute because some of it’s true…” (Nadeshiko)

“Have you actually been told that?” (Takaki)

“Ugh, it’s a trauma from elementary school…” (Nadeshiko)

Apparently, she had.

Togami slumped back onto the desk, not caring that her hair was getting disheveled, and slowly slid down. It looked like something out of a horror movie, and I wished she’d stop.

Trying to cheer up the dejected Togami, I spoke up.

“But well, isn’t it fine if you can’t cook? There are others who don’t cook at home either.” (Takaki)

“Gujou-san, you say that because you don’t know how incompetent I am…” (Nadeshiko)

“Incompetent, huh?” (Takaki)

“The only ‘cooking’ I can do is buying a bento from the convenience store, ordering at a ramen shop, heating a convenience store bento in the microwave, or making instant ramen with an electric kettle.” (Nadeshiko)

“Even if I’m being generous, the first half of those aren’t really related to cooking…” (Takaki)

To be honest, I wanted to say that the latter half doesn’t count as cooking either, but that might be too harsh.

Togami gave a weak laugh, still lying on the desk.

“Heh, I know. The tasks in the cooking practical aren’t as simple as that… I suppose we’ll be chopping things with knives and grilling things with fire.” (Nadeshiko)

Her idea of cooking was incredibly vague.

“Not ‘things’, but usually vegetables and meat. What else would you chop or grill?” (Takaki)

“Ah… Gujou-san, you’re lucky. You’re skilled enough to make your own dinner and bento. You don’t understand the feelings of those of us who can’t cook… hmm?” (Nadeshiko)

Togami suddenly sat up straight, staring intently at my half-eaten bento before shifting her gaze to my face.

“Gujou-san, you’re really good at cooking, aren’t you?” (Nadeshiko)

“I don’t know about being good, but I can cook normally.” (Takaki)

“Then… could you teach me how to cook!?” (Nadeshiko)

“…Ha?” (Takaki)

◆

That afternoon after school…

Togami and I met up in front of the convenience store where we had bumped into each other the day before and headed to a nearby supermarket.

I was going to teach Togami how to make curry, so we needed to gather the ingredients first.

“Gujou-san, curry ingredients are plants and animals, right?” (Nadeshiko)

“Just say vegetables and meat. It’s kind of scary otherwise.” (Takaki)

Most ingredients are plants and animals anyway. The exceptions are fungi and seasonings.

“Oh, they have bananas.” (Nadeshiko)

“We’re making curry, you know?” (Takaki)

“I thought it might be a good secret ingredient.” (Nadeshiko)

“Don’t think about secret ingredients when you don’t even know the basics. Think about what comes to mind when you hear ‘curry’, and start buying from there.” (Takaki)

“I see. Then to add some spiciness to the curry, how about chili peppers?” (Nadeshiko)

“That part will be handled by the curry roux.” (Takaki)

Starting with spices is way too advanced. I went through a phase where I tried making spice curry, but I got bored and most of the spices are now just sitting in the back of the cupboard. I wonder if spices have an expiration date.

“Well then, for color… soil?” (Nadeshiko)

“Don’t try to use soil in cooking! I’ve heard some cultures eat soil, but still! The color is handled by the roux.” (Takaki)

“R-Rice…?” (Nadeshiko)

“It’s debatable if that counts as an ingredient for curry, but I’d give you partial credit.” (Takaki)

Maybe it’s because her answers have been so terrible up until now. If I don’t give her a couple of points here, she’ll end up with zero.

Togami probably doesn’t go to the supermarket much. She looked around nervously, showing interest in things that clearly wouldn’t go in curry.

This must be what it feels like to be a parent with a young child…

Is it really okay to feel this parental instinct towards a high school classmate, especially the student council president?

Afterwards, for some reason, Togami wanted to put chicken gizzards and salmon fillets in the basket, but I managed to stop her.

In the end, we bought the most basic ingredients: potatoes, carrots, onions, pork shoulder, and curry roux. We then headed to Togami’s place.

“Come to think of it, I feel like it’s been years since I last saw an onion with its skin on.” (Nadeshiko)

I thought I heard a terrifying comment, but I decided to ignore it. If I had to comment on everything, I’d never catch up.

Togami lives in a high-rise apartment just a few minutes from the station.

Unlike the subtly desolate atmosphere of the houses near the station area, this place had a quiet residential neighborhood feel to it.

Among the buildings, a relatively new apartment complex stood out with a luxurious ambiance.

After going through the auto-lock at the entrance, Togami led me inside. In the lobby of the building was a shared space, about the size of a classroom, with comfortable-looking sofas, a coffee table, and some potted plants in the corners. Through the corridor’s glass windows, there was even a view of an open courtyard. Impressive—it feels like a hotel lobby.

At the end of the corridor, there were two elevators. My own apartment building doesn’t even have an elevator.

As we were about to step into one of the elevators, Togami muttered,

“I’ve mentioned this before, but since my parents aren’t around, there’s no need to be concerned.” (Nadeshiko)

“I-I see.” (Takaki)

I was momentarily flustered and my reply came out awkwardly. Damn, I had been trying to avoid thinking about it until now.

High school boys probably worry more about this sort of thing. I’d been to Arisu’s house a few times when we were in elementary school, so it wasn’t my first time entering a girl’s room. Even so, I was still nervous.

Well, at this point, there’s no point in worrying about it.

With a sense of resignation, I kept my silence and watched the floor number display climb.

Togami’s apartment was on the top floor, at the very corner. As expected of someone from a high-class family.

She unlocked the double-lock door and guided me inside.

“This way. Please come in.” (Nadeshiko)

“Sorry for intruding.” (Takaki)

With a bit of tension, I entered the entrance that was twice as large as mine. I couldn’t understand the necessity of having such a spacious entryway.

I took off my shoes and stepped into the hallway.

The hallway, which seemed to connect to the living room, had one door on the right and two doors on the left. The hallway was also about twice as long as mine.

From the interior, it was clear that this was a family-sized apartment.

Despite that, the absence of her parents was puzzling… but there was no point in dwelling on it.

When I was led into the living room, I was taken aback by the sight before me.

Plastic shopping bags were scattered all over, filled with trash from cup noodles, convenience store bento, and plastic bottles. Since there was little else in the living room besides furniture, It was fortunate that there was still some space to walk.

Togami’s lack of basic life skills was on full display.

“…Seriously, do you only eat cup noodles and convenience store bento?” (Takaki)

“Sometimes I also eat frozen foods.” (Nadeshiko)

“Why do you respond with such a sullen tone?” (Takaki)

Peering into the kitchen, I saw two rows of plastic bottles lined up under the sink, waiting to be washed.

I understood that washing is a pain, but this would only hinder her daily life.

Or maybe it wouldn’t because she doesn’t use the kitchen…

“Ah, sorry about the bottles. I’m still not quite sure when to throw them out.” (Nadeshiko)

“True, it’s easy to forget when to clear up the trash when you first move in… But how long have you been living here, Togami?” (Takaki)

“I moved in a little before the school year started, so since March this year.” (Nadeshiko)

“It’s already been six months already!” (Takaki)

“Things have settled down now, but it was tough during the summer… It felt like the plastic bottles were duplicating itself in the heat, so it was quite frightening.” (Nadeshiko)

I don’t even want to imagine what the house must have looked like during the summer.

“But rest assured. I’ve figured out that burnable trash is collected on Mondays and Thursdays, and plastic waste on Tuesdays.” (Nadeshiko)

“That doesn’t make me feel reassured at all!” (Takaki)

It sounded like something an ancient person might say upon discovering the phases of the moon or the seasons. 

I was confused, wondering if maybe this was impressive in its own way.

“However, unfortunately, it seems that plastic bottles are collected randomly.” (Nadeshiko)

“That can’t be! Normally, they’re collected on specific weeks and days, usually about twice a month!” (Takaki)

“Eh, really!? I thought that as long as I noticed there were a lot of bottles to be thrown out, I could just put them out.” (Nadeshiko)

“So you were treating trash disposal like a game of chance?” (Takaki)

She definitely must not have had any experience with taking out the trash at home.

I often heard the term “naive young lady”, but it only seems like a cute phrase when someone is there to take care of things for them. 

Seeing Togami, I realized how devastating things could be when such a person starts living alone while still being clueless about the world.

Even if there was some support from her family, it seems like she was completely left to her own devices or maybe even chose to move out on her own.

Well, that’s beside the point. The priority now is to set up an environment where we can actually cook.

“Before cooking, let’s do a bit of cleaning.” (Takaki)

“But, I feel that it’s really not right for me to ask you to do that.” (Nadeshiko)

“If we don’t clean up, we won’t be able to cook.” (Takaki)

If she feels any remorse, she should be reflecting on inviting someone over to her home in this state. But dwelling on that won’t help right now.

“We should clean up the kitchen first. While I handle the cleaning here, Togami, look up the garbage collection days on the local government website and make a note on your phone.” (Takaki)

“Huh? No, I should help with the cleaning too…” (Nadeshiko)

“You’re the one who needs to take out the trash, so figuring out the schedule comes first. There’s no point in cleaning and leaving the garbage sitting in the corner of the room.” (Takaki)

With that, I convinced Togami and began restoring the kitchen to a usable state.

First, I put the groceries into the refrigerator to keep them out of the way. Then, I started dealing with the garbage, including the bottles and the trash piled up in the sink.

Handling the garbage at a girl’s house isn’t exactly comfortable, but it had to be done. I didn’t feel any weird emotions, just a sense of duty, like I was a cleaning service.

I rinsed the plastic bottles, peeled off the labels, separated the caps from the bottles, and sorted them into separate trash bags. From what I found with a quick check on my phone, the sorting rules here were more lenient than in my city, which was a relief.

I also lightly washed and stacked the cup noodle containers before disposing of them.

Fortunately, there wasn’t much organic waste, but I still wiped down the sink with the sponge and detergent that were left out, emptied the contents of the triangular corner basket, and cleaned it. Finally, I replaced the drain net.

In about ten minutes, the kitchen became much cleaner.

“Alright, that should do it.” (Takaki)

“Thank you so much for cleaning it up, Gujou-san.” (Nadeshiko)

“Don’t worry about it… Well, maybe you should worry about it a little.” (Takaki)

“Ugh, sorry…” (Nadeshiko)

Togami shrank her shoulders apologetically.

“I didn’t realize the kitchen was this spacious.” (Nadeshiko)

“Of course, it would always seem smaller when it’s cluttered with trash.” (Takaki)

Seeing the kitchen now, which likely looked much the same as when she moved in, made her realize just how abnormal the previous state had been.

“Now that I think about it, do you even have cooking utensils in this house?” (Takaki)

Her complete lack of cooking experience was starting to make me uneasy.

“I think they’re in the back of the storage room somewhere.” (Nadeshiko)

“It’s worrying when the resident isn’t even sure.” (Takaki)

After some searching, I quickly found a cutting board, knives, pots, and other cooking utensils. None of them showed any signs of use and had a thin layer of dust on them.

Who knew knife handles could gather dust…

And so, my cooking class for Togami finally began.

“Alright, let’s get started.” (Takaki)

“Yes! Please teach me well!” (Nadeshiko)

“Good response.” (Takaki)

Togami returned a crisp salute. She was even dressed for the occasion, wearing an apron and a bandana over her uniform. I was dressed similarly. Normally, I wouldn’t bother with an apron when cooking at home, but I figured it might be good to set the mood today.

Although Togami doesn’t cook, she seemed to have at least bought a full set of cooking utensils when she moved in. 

Noticing my gaze, Togami shyly fiddled with the strings of her apron.

“I-I was planning to cook someday! I just never found the time!” (Nadeshiko)

“Sure, let’s go with that.” (Takaki)

Someone who hasn’t cooked in six months probably won’t start anytime soon.

First, we needed to prepare the rice, which was essential for curry.

“You do have a rice cooker, right?” (Takaki)

“Yes, it’s over here.” (Nadeshiko)

I looked at a sleek, black, and heavy-duty rice cooker. It had a touch panel instead of buttons and was probably several times more expensive than the one we had at home.

“It’s surprisingly clean for something bought six months ago.” (Takaki)

“Yes, I kept it properly stored!” (Nadeshiko)

“That wasn’t a compliment.” (Takaki)

I placed a 2kg bag of pre-washed rice on the counter.

“First, we’ll cook about two cups of rice, but I don’t see a measuring cup.” (Takaki)

“A measuring cup… oh, you mean that beaker-like thing for rice?” (Nadeshiko)

“That’s roughly right, but I don’t like the comparison.” (Takaki)

Despite searching, I couldn’t find the measuring cup. The fact that there was a rice cooker but no measuring cup clearly showed she never cooked. There was a digital scale, so I measured out two cups, considering one cup of rice to be 150 grams.

In the almost brand-new rice cooker, I put in the rice and water. I wasn’t sure how long cooking the curry would take, but pressing the cook button once we started sautéing² should time it well enough.

“Alright. Next, we’ll start with how to hold a knife. Try holding it naturally, for now.” (Takaki)

“Like this?” (Nadeshiko)

Togami gripped the knife in a way that emanated pure menace.

“Oi, idiot! Don’t hold the knife backwards!” (Takaki)

“I thought it might be easier to stab this way…” (Nadeshiko)

“A knife isn’t for stabbing, it’s for cutting!” (Takaki)

If she stabs, it’s highly likely to end up in the news.

I needed to ensure that if I let Togami handle the knife, it wouldn’t turn into a news story titled “High School Girl Stabs Classmate with Knife.” I had to make sure to drill this into her mind before we finally moved on to cutting vegetables.

“Do you know what a ‘cat’s paw’ is?” (Takaki)

“I believe I have heard of such knowledge.” (Nadeshiko)

“I never thought of it as knowledge. First, you press the vegetable with your fingertips, then slightly bend your knuckles and tilt them towards the cutting edge. If you clench your fist, it becomes difficult to hold the food, so keep it slightly open.” (Takaki)

“Like… like this? It’s surprisingly difficult.” (Nadeshiko)

“Yeah, it is. Though it’s often presented as a basic cooking skill, I struggle with it too.” (Takaki)

My hands are big, so it’s hard to hold small ingredients with the cat’s paw grip. To be honest, I sometimes just use my fingertips out of convenience.

“Is there any trick to it?” (Nadeshiko)

“Well… maybe try getting into the mindset of a cat and start meowing.” (Takaki)

“N-Nyaa…? Gujou-san, what’s the point of this?” (Nadeshiko)

Of course, meowing has no real connection to the cat’s paw technique.

I had intended it as a joke to lighten the mood, but Togami took it seriously.

“…Sorry, that was just a joke.” (Takaki)

“Wha—! Then, then I’ve meowed for nothing!” (Nadeshiko)

“Meowed for nothing” was a new phrase to me.

Togami’s face was flushed with embarrassment. The effect of the apron made the situation all the more impactful.

I realized I was starting to feel a bit weird and reminded myself, “Remember the state of the kitchen!” I looked away and saw a pile of trash bags stacked like a small mountain, which made me chuckle wryly.

Well, I guess it’s worth trying to lighten the mood with a joke every now and then.

…Two hours later.

—”Cutting off the top and bottom of the onion first makes it easier to cut the rest.”

—”Don’t try to be artistic with the way you cut the carrots.”

—”Oil doesn’t make things tastier just by adding more. …Some ramen do but that’s a different story, so don’t go overboard.”

—”The pork is still red. Especially with chicken and pork, make sure they’re cooked thoroughly.”

—”Stop thinking that high heating for a short time equals low heating for a long time! Oi, the fire!”

At first, it was difficult, but Togami was quick to correct herself.

Having overcome numerous challenges, and though it took longer than usual, she finally entered the final simmering stage.

“Well, just let it simmer for a while until the roux is well blended.”

“I see… I’m exhausted.” (Nadeshiko)

Togami looked drained, possibly because she was using areas of her brain she wasn’t accustomed to.

It became clear over time that Togami struggled with multitasking, unlike studying, which she could handle. It made sense that she would have difficulty with household chores.

I finally took a breath and quenched my thirst with a glass of water. I had been shouting and giving constant instructions, and before I knew it, my throat was dry.

“I’ll keep an eye on the pot, so Togami, please handle the dishes—no, never mind. I’ll show you how to do the dishes later.” (Takaki)

“It’s kind of sad that you gave up on me really quickly like that… Can I not even handle washing the dishes on my own…?” (Nadeshiko)

“Sorry, sorry. Alright, clean your hands and get the dishes ready.” (Takaki)

“Understood.” (Nadeshiko)

I figured it was safer to have her prepare the dishes with dry hands, as leaving the pot entirely to Togami seemed a bit risky.

After finishing setting up the plates at the kitchen workspace, Togami stood next to me, staring at the pot. It was tasty enough to eat already, but it still needed a bit more thickness.

“Thank you for today, Gujou-san. If it were just me, I would never have been able to make curry on my own.” (Nadeshiko)

There’s something a bit unsettling about not being able to laugh off the joke. It’s not surprising if a major accident happened before finishing the curry.

“You’re getting ahead of yourself. We still don’t know how it tastes.” (Takaki)

“Hehe, you’re right.” (Nadeshiko)

Togami placed her hand on her mouth and chuckled softly.

Togami stretched with a sigh of relief, as if finally freed from her tension. She then tilted her head and looked up at me.

“Gujou-san, how did you learn to cook?” (Nadeshiko)

“Mostly from my mother. When I was little, I had a habit of talking about what happened at school while my mother was cooking in the kitchen. Along with that, we often cooked together.” (Takaki)

“I see… I’m envious.” (Nadeshiko)

“Togami?” (Takaki)

There was no immediate response.

The sound of curry simmering and the low hum of the ventilation fan were the only noises filling the kitchen. Feeling that pushing her to continue would be inappropriate, I traced the surface of the kitchen counter with my fingertips. The coldness of the stone surface was felt through the touch.

The silence felt like it stretched on for minutes, but it was probably only a few seconds.

Suddenly, Togami began speaking in a distant tone.

“As I mentioned earlier, I live alone.” (Nadeshiko)

“Seems so. Is your family far away or something?” (Takaki)

“No, not at all. My family is within the same prefecture, and commuting to school isn’t an issue. It’s just that I insisted on moving out on my own.” (Nadeshiko)

“Did they not oppose it at all?” (Takaki)

“Not at all. It’s surprising, isn’t it? I would think any normal parent would oppose a fifteen-year-old daughter wanting to live alone, and even I can understand that.” (Takaki)

Togami wore a sarcastic smile, speaking in a detached tone. 

This was different from the usual anxious Togami. Her self-deprecating demeanor left me at a loss for words.

“Isn’t that a bit cold?” (Takaki)

“Well, yeah.” (Nadeshiko)

There was no point in avoiding the issue.

“From a normal perspective, that would be the case. But the Togami family is anything but normal. You’ve heard the rumors, right?” (Nadeshiko)

“That your parents are company presidents, right?” (Takaki)

“Exactly. To be precise, the Togami family is from a founding family of a company that deals in office equipment and home electronics. They have several subsidiaries and related organizations under their umbrella, and the Togami family owns most of the shares in these group companies. It’s commonly referred to as an owner-operated business.” (Nadeshiko)

“I don’t really get it, but it’s clear that Togami’s family is impressive.” (Takaki)

The level of life Togami leads is on a completely different plane from mine. Just being a company president is impressive enough, but when it comes to businesses and related organizations, it’s beyond comprehension for someone like me.

“Will Togami also become the president of such a company in the future?” (Takaki)

“Within the family, only those who are exceptionally capable are directly involved in management. If not, they are at least given a substantial position, often in name only. It’s a form of being kept on a leash.” (Nadeshiko)

“The term ‘kept on a leash’ is pretty blunt.” (Takaki)

“It’s the truth. And then…” (Nadeshiko)

“…Togami?” (Takaki)

Togami, who had been speaking in a detached and emotionless tone, now hesitated with her words.

She let out a small sigh, shook her head, and then continued.

“I’ve been treated as one of those ‘kept in reserve’ since I was a child.” (Nadeshiko)

“……” (Takaki)

Her voice, devoid of all emotion and mechanical, left me unable to respond.

Sensing my struggle for words, Togami continued in a more casual tone.

“It’s something I can’t help. I have two older brothers and an older sister, all of whom are far more exceptional than I am. On the other hand, I was the clumsy youngest child with a significant age gap. I was bad at studying, poor athletically, and also terrible at piano and violin… By the time I was in the upper grades of elementary school, I understood that no one had any expectations for me. Even a child can sense when others are thinking, ‘This one is no good’.” (Nadeshiko) 

Togami looked off into the distance as if recalling the past.

“But right now, you’re a model student, excelling in both academics and athletics.” (Takaki)

At least, that’s how it’s perceived by those around you.

Even with my attempt to comfort her, Togami weakly smiled and shook her head.

“I’ve put in a lot of effort, but I still can’t match up to my older brothers and sister.” (Nadeshiko)

It seems that Togami’s siblings are quite exceptional.

“What did your parents say about it?” (Takaki)

“When I tried to discuss my future path with them in middle school, they had a servant relay the message: ‘Live as you please’.” (Nadeshiko)

The casual mention of servants was shocking, but the real issue isn’t that.

The fact that her parents didn’t even spare time for a direct conversation about her future is what stands out.

The phrase “live as you like” essentially means “I don’t care”.

“Do you know how terrifying it is to hear ‘live as you like’?” (Nadeshiko)

Togami’s hand clenched tightly at the edge of the counter.

The knuckles turned white, and it was painful to look at, so I turned my gaze away.

“I’m afraid of living without any role or purpose.” (Nadeshiko)

Those words, which slipped out softly, were probably her true feelings.

“Don’t you think it’s terrifying to feel like you’re not needed by anyone?” (Nadeshiko)

“Yeah, maybe.” (Takaki)

Honestly, it’s a feeling I still can’t fully grasp.

After all, in my own home, there’s someone who can’t even manage a normal life without me. In that sense, I might have some sense of purpose or meaning.

“I want to be recognized by my family. That’s why I left the girls’ school I entered without much thought and took the entrance exam for the top school in the prefecture, Reishuu. I moved out of my family home and started living alone, without any servants. They put me in a ridiculously large family-oriented apartment because having their daughter live in a single-person apartment would look bad. It’s funny, isn’t it? They don’t care at all about my future, but they’re concerned about such superficial details.” (Nadeshiko)

“Is that how it is in rich families everywhere?” (Takaki)

“Not necessarily. My family is just a bit more meritocratic.” (Nadeshiko)

“You sure put a positive spin on it.” (Takaki)

“Well, it is the family I grew up in, even if it’s a place like that.” (Nadeshiko)

Having let it all out, Togami gave a small, clear smile.

“Becoming the student council president was also to prove my worth. So, I must fulfill my duties as the president.” (Nadeshiko)

“I see.” (Takaki)

On the day Togami and I were in the PE storage room, Togami had said, “I have to be a proper student council president.”

Proving her worth to parents who had abandoned her must be the driving force behind Togami’s actions.

It’s dazzling, I think. At the same time, practical concerns kept nagging at me.

Would parents who had already given up on their daughter really reconsider her if she excelled as the student council president?

It’s hard to imagine their opinion changing significantly just because of high school achievements. Getting into a prestigious university and building a career might make a difference, but changing their view based on high school accomplishments alone seems unlikely.

Noticing my silence and sensing my doubts, Togami offered a wry smile.

“I understand it myself. Even if I do my best as the student council president, the chance of my parents changing their view of me is low. Still, I don’t want to give up. I don’t want to discard it as meaningless. I think there’s a possibility that these struggles might one day hold meaning for me.” (Nadeshiko)

“Togami…” (Takaki)

That reminded me of the words Togami had spoken in the gym storage room before.

Noticing the damp atmosphere, Togami suddenly looked flustered.

“Oh, um, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to bring this up suddenly…” (Nadeshiko)

“Don’t worry about it. Besides, I’m glad I helped you with cooking today.” (Takaki)

“Huh? What do you mean by that?” (Nadeshiko)

“Sure, studying and building relationships are important, but knowing how to cook is also valuable. At least, Togami now is better than my aunt, who can’t cook and keeps avoiding it, despite my efforts to teach her.” (Takaki)

Togami looked taken aback by my unexpected words and then, after a moment, burst into laughter.

“Ahaha, that might be true.” (Nadeshiko)

At that moment, the timer I had set went off.

I turned off the heat and faced Togami again.

“Is it done?” (Nadeshiko)

“Yeah. Togami, please serve the rice onto the plates and bring them over here.” (Takaki)

“Got it!” (Nadeshiko)

The change in Togami’s demeanor was noticeable; her voice now had a slightly lively tone. Watching her excitedly carry the plates to the rice cooker, I let out a sigh of relief.

On the living room table, two plates of curry and two spoons were neatly arranged. Steam rose from the curry and rice, and the spicy aroma stimulated our appetite.

“Well then, itadakimasu.” (Takaki)

“Yes! Itadakimasu.” (Nadeshiko)

We joined our hands in a brief gesture of thanks and began eating the curry.

I scooped up a portion of rice and curry with my spoon, making sure to get some meat and onions. I opened my mouth wide to avoid getting the sauce on my lips and took a bite.

“Mmm!” (Nadeshiko)

Togami, who was also eating, made a strange noise with her mouth closed and chewed for a while. After a small gulp, her eyes lit up.

“…It’s delicious!!” (Nadeshiko)

“Right? The food you make yourself always tastes better.” (Takaki)

“Indeed, this might even rival a convenience store bento. Though, the two hours it took is a bit of a drawback.” (Nadeshiko)

“It’s more about technique. Once you get the hang of it, you can make curry in about thirty minutes. If you cut the ingredients into smaller pieces and shorten the cooking time, you can cut it down to twenty minutes. Honestly, that’s enough for homemade curry.” (Takaki)

“I see, that’s quite informative. But isn’t there still a time issue with cooking the rice?” (Nadeshiko)

“If you pre-cook and freeze the rice in portions, you only need to make the curry itself. Also, curry can be made in advance. I usually make enough for two days at once.” (Takaki)

“Indeed!! Could it be that you’re a genius, Gujou-san?” (Nadeshiko)

“It’s the wisdom of those who came before us.” (Takaki)

Thanks to all the parents and cooking experts out there who have strived to save time.

Next time, I’ll make sure to recommend some good freezer storage containers to Togami.

In the end, I had two servings of curry. Afterward, I taught Togami how to wash the dishes and pots, then left Togami’s house.

The day after the midterm exams, which was the day Togami’s class had cooking practice.

When I went to the student council room after school, Togami was deep in thought with a strange expression on their face.

“Hey.” (Takaki)

“Ah, Gujou-san. Thank you for your hard work on the midterm exams.” (Nadeshiko)

“Togami, you look tired too… Did you mess up on the test?” (Takaki)

“No, the test went fine. However, we had cooking practice today.” (Nadeshiko)

When I spoke, Togami responded with a complicated expression.

“Well… I have mixed feelings…” (Nadeshiko)

“What happened?” (Takaki)

“I tried to handle the knife, but the others in my group said, ‘We can’t let Togami-san do something dangerous!’ and took it away from me. When I tried to stir-fry or simmer, they stopped me, saying, ‘What if you burn yourself?’ And for dishwashing, they said, ‘What if you break something and injure yourself?'” (Nadeshiko)

“Why did that happen?” (Takaki)

“Oh, I once accidentally mentioned in front of my classmates that ‘Togami’s family has a personal chef.’ It seems they assumed I couldn’t cook because of that… Ahaha…” (Nadeshiko)

I see. It makes sense now. There’s no initial expectation that an aristocrat would be able to cook. Although there’s a perception of being particular about taste, Togami seems like the type who relies on convenience foods like ready-made meals and cup noodles.

“Well, if you didn’t mess up, I guess it’s fine?” (Takaki)

“Yes, that’s true. But this makes the intense training I went through seem pointless… Even after a week of making curry every day, to the point of dreaming about it… and even getting good at removing potato sprouts with the knife… Haa…” (Nadeshiko)

It seems that Togami continued to make curry as self-training after that day.

“A week of making curry—didn’t you get tired of it?” (Takaki)

“No, even though it was supposed to be the same curry, for some reason, the taste changed every time, so I didn’t get bored.” (Nadeshiko)

“Well, I’m glad it tasted edible.” (Takaki)

I wanted to ask how she managed to make the flavor change every time using store-bought curry mix.

In any case, Togami’s dedication is impressive. To keep making curry for a whole week shows just how much effort she puts in.

It’s likely that this commitment is why she continues to excel both academically and athletically.

Togami still looked dissatisfied, her expression showing frustration at not being able to demonstrate the results of her practice.

Thanks for reading!

That ‘Nyaa’ thing was unexpected but funny. She does look like the kind of person to just take such things at face value.

Sending servants to effectively say ‘I don’t care’ is way too harsh…

Oh god this chapter was so long… I’m starting to doubt that I can finish this in time…

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1. From my research, Ramen Jiro is a popular Japanese chain of ramen stores. Jiro-inspired stores are inspired by these stores.
2. To saute is to cook food over high heat, usually in butter or oil. Look, idk anything about cooking so something in this line is probably wrong.