Chapter 148: [148] Erina's Three Conditions
Chapter 148: Erina's Three Conditions
Erina's mind raced as she replayed the events of the previous day involving Hachiman. The memories of her candid words, the embrace, and that first kiss left her bewildered. She couldn't shake the feeling that this had to be a dream; she couldn't have done those things willingly.
Refusing to accept the reality of her actions, Erina reclined on her bed, closed her eyes, and attempted to return to slumber. But the truth wouldn't elude her for long.
In a sudden burst of realization, she shot up from her bed. The truth was inescapable; it was real. Her frustration contorted her face. Each time she closed her eyes, that vivid image of her kiss with Hachiman haunted her like an intense close-up shot.
Frustration turned into embarrassment, and she anxiously tangled her golden hair in her hands. "This is so humiliating," she muttered to herself. "No, I must confront him and clear the air." She knew he should be downstairs in the kitchen, making breakfast.
Erina steeled her resolve and swiftly left her room. She hurried downstairs to the first floor. Her gaze locked on the kitchen, where Hachiman was engrossed in food preparation. When he heard her approach, a warm and charming smile graced his face.
"Good morning, Miss Erina," Hachiman greeted her with an exuberant smile.
Erina couldn't help but feel a sudden flush of warmth at his cheerful demeanor. She found herself baffled by her own reaction. Why did she now perceive this guy as somewhat appealing when, by looks alone, he had seemed rather ordinary before?
Certainly, in terms of appearance alone, Hachiman could be considered slightly above average at best. As the heiress of the prestigious Totsuki Group, Erina had been to countless high-society gatherings and had encountered many young men attempting to engage her in conversation. She was the kind of woman who could easily marry into wealth and never have to work a day in her life – a true heiress.
Among those who sought her attention, there were undoubtedly some exceptionally handsome individuals, even on par with the most trendy male celebrities. Yet, regardless of their good looks, Erina had never shown much interest in them.
However, today was different. Hachiman's once ordinary face seemed remarkably more attractive in her eyes, and she even felt a slight quickening of her heart rate.
Could it be that she had developed feelings for him? As she touched her lips, she couldn't help but recall the image of their kiss from the previous night.
"No, that's impossible. I'm just a bit concerned because he beat me," Erina thought, attempting to rationalize her uncharacteristic feelings.
As she stood there in silence, Hachiman couldn't help but feel perplexed.
"Miss Erina, are you alright?" he inquired.
His words snapped Erina back to the present, reminding her of her purpose for seeking him out. She concealed her complex emotions beneath her usual air of pride.
"Of course, I'm fine," she replied, though her voice hinted at the turmoil within.
"But you, do you remember what happened last night?"
"Last night?" Hachiman pondered her question for a moment and then wore a perplexed expression.
He remembered last night, except for having sex with Kotonoha and Saeko and Erina kissing him.
Upon seeing Hachiman's expression, Erina quickly grasped that he did, in fact, remember the events of the previous night.
"This guy does remember," she thought to herself.
"Since you remember, that's good. So, how are you going to make it up to me? You took my first kiss, you know," Erina pouted, looking a bit sulky.
Hachiman's upper body shifted slightly backward as he processed the situation. He realized that something was amiss. Last night, she had initiated the kiss, and he had merely been caught off guard. How had it turned into a scenario where he needed to make amends?
"Do you think you can just get away with a kiss?" Erina continued, clearly upset.
Erina's frustration prompted her to reach out and grab Hachiman's shoulder. However, Hachiman remained remarkably composed in the face of this situation.
"Don't worry, Miss Erina. Since it happened, I'll take responsibility," he reassured her with a slight smile, unperturbed by the unexpected turn of events.
Erina's face flushed with embarrassment as she stammered, "Ha, you think... you think too highly of yourself. You're just a commoner, and you think you can..."
Despite her outward dignity as the heiress of the Totsuki Group, Erina was, in reality, rather inexperienced when it came to interactions with the opposite sex. Even reading a shoujo manga could easily make her blush and feel flustered.
"Well, I wonder how Miss Erina would like me to make amends," Hachiman mused, keenly observing Erina's demeanor and suspecting that she might have some unconventional ideas in mind.
"Um... you have to cook a hundred dishes for me that I find satisfactory," Erina replied, her expression a mix of determination and embarrassment.
Hachiman readily accepted the challenge, his confidence in his cooking abilities evident. With his current Level 5 culinary skills, the prospect of preparing a hundred dishes that met Erina's standards didn't seem overly daunting. His culinary skills had notably improved, as he discovered while making breakfast this morning, likely due to the days spent cooking by the seaside and the barbecue event from the previous day.
"Also, in the future, if I want to challenge your cooking, you can't refuse," Erina presented her second condition.
"Of course, if you want to challenge my cooking, I'll be more than willing to accept," Hachiman agreed, viewing her requests as reasonable. A friendly culinary competition held no real stakes.
However, Erina didn't appear entirely satisfied with his easy agreement.
"Why do I feel like my first kiss is being treated as if it's worth nothing?" Erina couldn't help but feel displeased by how the situation was unfolding.
But she wasn't done yet. She had more conditions in mind.
"Also, if you come up with any new dishes, be sure to prepare them for me first."
Hachiman couldn't hide his surprise upon hearing this additional request. There was something peculiar about these conditions, but Erina was quick to justify herself.
"Hmph, what are you looking at? You should know that I'm the 'God Tongue,' and countless chefs would love to have me taste their creations. You should consider yourself lucky!" She reverted to her customary proud, peacock-like demeanor.
"All right, all right, Miss Erina is the best," Hachiman acquiesced, his tone akin to someone humoring a child.
Receiving praise from her was a rarity, so Erina couldn't help but feel a little uplifted.
"Hmph, you know your place. From now on, just call me Erina."
"Ah... Okay, Erina."
Surprisingly, their relationship had taken a sudden turn toward closeness, leaving Hachiman somewhat taken aback. It appeared that dealing with a tsundere had its simple methods – a bit of indulgence went a long way.
"I wonder if there's anything else you'd like, Erina," Hachiman inquired, genuinely open to meeting her requests.
Erina paused, her attractive brows slightly furrowed in contemplation.
"For now... I can't think of anything else. I'll let you know if I come up with anything in the future. Don't think that these three conditions are all there is to you taking my first kiss."
"Very well, Erina. If you think of anything in the future, just tell me. As long as it aligns with my principles, I'll do my best to fulfill your wishes." Hachiman found the return of Erina's tsundere side somewhat amusing.
"But for now, my suggestion is to go back and put on some clothes, although I don't mind you like this."
Erina lowered her head, a puzzled expression crossing her face, followed by a deep blush. She suddenly realized that she had rushed out in just her underwear and had been standing in front of Hachiman during their conversation.
"You, you did this on purpose, didn't you? Wait for me."
With a stern warning, Erina swiftly retreated to her room on the second floor to rectify her attire.
Seeing Erina's swift retreat, a mischievous grin crept onto Hachiman's face. He had noticed her attire ever since she arrived but hadn't mentioned it. He certainly hadn't anticipated that she would remain there for so long without realizing her state of undress.
Of course, he wouldn't let such an unexpected advantage go to waste.
---
The following morning, a little after 8 o'clock, the girls began to awaken one by one. Komachi was the first to rise, her energy unscathed by any previous night's indulgences due to her avoidance of alcohol.
"Good morning, Onii-chan," Komachi greeted Hachiman as she entered the living room, where he was occupied in the kitchen.
Hachiman replied, still focused on flipping a frying pan in his hand, "Yeah, good morning, Komachi."
"Breakfast will be ready soon. Go wake up your sisters."
"Yes Sir!."
With a playful salute, Komachi hurriedly dashed upstairs, her knocks on doors resonating soon after.
Thanks to Komachi's wake-up service, the girls soon roused from their slumber and congregated in the living room. However, the previous night had involved a fair amount of alcohol, and many of them now rubbed their foreheads in discomfort.
Despite beer's relatively low alcohol content, it wasn't without ethanol, and nighttime digestion processes were sluggish, making it less favorable for breaking down ethanol.
Hachiman had foreseen this and, aside from preparing breakfast, had also made fresh grape juice. Fresh grapes contained tartaric acid, a substance that could react with the ethanol from alcohol to form esters, thereby helping to alleviate hangovers.
These grapes were far from the premium ones that cost tens of thousands of yen per piece.
As Hachiman set breakfast on the table, Saeko and Kotonoha, who had spent the night in his room, made their way downstairs, moving at a sluggish pace.
Given their late departure from his room, they had to wait until everyone else had gathered in the living room.
"Hmm, Onee-chan, why did you wake up so late today?" Kokoro couldn't help but wonder, seeing her older sister arrive last.
Kotonoha, her face slightly flushed, responded, "Well... it's because I had a bit too much to drink last night, and my alcohol tolerance isn't great to begin with. So, I ended up sleeping in." She offered a simple excuse, choosing not to reveal the true reason.
"Oh, I see." Thankfully, Kokoro didn't probe further, putting Kotonoha at ease.
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