บท 174: [174] The Persistence of Utaha Kasumigaoka (1)

Chapter 174: The Persistence of Utaha Kasumigaoka (1)

Hachiman, as was his usual custom, woke early, drew back the curtains, and indulged in a satisfying yawn. He then gently stretched his slightly aching back.

The previous day, a Saturday, had followed his typical routine. He had headed to Saeko's dojo to instruct Kotonoha, Maki, and Saeko in the ways of Kendo. What began as straightforward one-on-one training gradually evolved into intense bouts, pitting Hachiman against all three of his opponents simultaneously.

In the end, he emerged victorious, with all three of them surrendering. However, the effort had left his white uniform soaked in sweat. After Maki had left with the manuscript he had given her, Hachiman had hoped to spend some quality time with Kotonoha and Saeko. Unfortunately, Kotonoha had to return home due to her mother's call, and Saeko's father was also on his way back.

...

Following breakfast, Hachiman prepared to visit Utaha's home. Having accompanied her back on previous occasions, he was well-acquainted with her address. In about half an hour, he arrived at his destination.

It was an impressive two-story villa, adorned with the name "Kasumigaoka" on the doorplate. As he approached the front door, Hachiman extended his hand to ring the doorbell.

"Ding-dong," "Ding-dong."

The cheerful doorbell chimed, yet there was no response for quite some time.

This situation left him somewhat bewildered. It was still early, just past nine o'clock on a weekend, and Utaha who typically stayed home wasn't likely to have left so early.

Hachiman speculated that she might have worked late into the night on a project. With that thought in mind, he pressed the doorbell once more.

Meanwhile, in the second-floor bedroom of the Kasumigaoka residence, the curtains were tightly drawn, shrouding the room in darkness. On the slightly disheveled queen-sized bed, a graceful figure lay.

Her waist-length black hair was spread across the bedsheets, and she was dressed in pajamas, exposing large areas of flawless, fair skin. With her beautiful legs and delicate sleeping expression, she resembled a sleeping beauty.

"Ding-dong," "Ding-dong."

At this moment, the doorbell rang again, a bit noisier this time. The serene expression on the young girl's face was disrupted by a slight frown.

Initially, she ignored it, but the persistent doorbell eventually compelled Utaha to reluctantly open her eyes.

She slowly got out of bed, made her way to the window, and intended to discover who was disturbing her sleep so early.

Utaha opened a corner of the curtain, gazing towards the entrance, and immediately spotted a figure she recognized.

"Huh... Hachiman." Her eyes widened in surprise.

Seeing Hachiman at her doorstep, she was taken aback by his unexpected visit. She hastily donned a coat and hurried downstairs.

Meanwhile, Hachiman, after waiting for a while and receiving no response, rang the doorbell once more. This made him furrow his brows. He wondered if she could be out.

But he decided to give it one more try. If there was no answer, he would leave for now. Just as he was about to press the doorbell for the third time, the door clicked open.

Looking up, he saw Utaha standing in the doorway, slightly out of breath. She was dressed in only a white slip, with a coat draped over it. Two pristine legs were revealed beneath, her hair was slightly disheveled, and she appeared as though she had just woken up.

"Good morning, Utaha-senpai," Hachiman greeted with a smile.

"Oh, good morning," Utaha replied promptly, opening the door.

"Come on in, Hachiman," Utaha invited him as she opened the door.

They entered the living room, and the girl suddenly became aware of her disheveled state after just waking up. In a rush, she dashed into the bathroom.

"Hachiman, please wait in the living room for a moment. I'll freshen up," she called out.

Observing her somewhat frantic exit, Hachiman couldn't help but shake his head with amusement. He hadn't anticipated that the girl who was usually as poised as a highland flower at school would reveal such a casual side at home.

With some free time on his hands, he made his way to the kitchen. Knowing that she had just woken up and probably hadn't eaten, he decided to prepare some breakfast for her.

With that in mind, Hachiman began to prepare breakfast.

After about half an hour, Utaha had finally finished her morning routine.

Stepping out of the bathroom, Utaha caught a whiff of something delicious in the air. She entered the living room and found Hachiman cooking in the kitchen.

"Hachiman, what's all this?" she inquired.

"Utaha-senpai, I bet you haven't had breakfast yet. I've made you some lean meat and vegetable congee," Hachiman replied, turning around with a warm smile.

Utaha was touched by his gesture. "Hachiman, why did you come today?" she asked, but before she could complete her question, he interrupted.

"Don't worry, Utaha-senpai. The congee is ready. Let's talk after you've had your meal."

"Alright," Utaha agreed, her stomach growling in anticipation. She approached the dining table, where Hachiman served her a steaming bowl of freshly cooked lean meat and vegetable congee.

"Thank you, Hachiman," she expressed her gratitude and accepted the bowl.

"No problem, eat it while it's hot, Utaha-senpai," Hachiman replied with a smile as he took a seat across from her.

As Utaha observed the congee with lean meat and vegetables and savored its enticing aroma, her mouth watered. She picked up a spoon and took a bite.

The well-cooked rice combined with the flavorful minced meat made the congee incredibly appetizing. Utaha found herself indulging in one spoonful after another, savoring the delicious flavors.

One spoonful, two spoonfuls, three spoonfuls...

After consuming almost half of the bowl, Utaha eventually set her spoon aside.

"What's wrong, Utaha-senpai? Is there something off about the taste?" Hachiman asked, puzzled by her sudden stop. He wondered if she might be full already, considering she had eaten so little.

"The taste is fine, Hachiman. Your cooking is as excellent as ever," Utaha assured him. She knew that when it came to culinary skills, Hachiman surpassed even her father, a restaurant chef.

With her spoon set aside, Utaha finally voiced the question on her mind. "Hachiman, why did you come today?"

"I came today because Sonoko asked me to check on you. She mentioned that your new novel was facing some difficulties, so she requested that I come and see how you're doing. And, of course, I'm worried about you," Hachiman explained with a slight smile, revealing the purpose of his visit.

Hearing that Sonoko had asked Hachiman to come, Utaha's feelings became somewhat complex. But the genuine concern he expressed made her heart swell with a mix of emotions, including happiness.

On one hand, Utaha felt grateful for Sonoko's concern, but on the other, she harbored some resentment toward Sonoko's interference. She had kept the news about her novel's difficulties under wraps because she didn't want to rely on others. Utaha wanted to prove her abilities to Hachiman through her hard work. Sonoko's direct intervention had brought Hachiman, the last person she wanted involved, which left Utaha caught off guard.

"Ugh, that meddlesome old woman..." she muttered in irritation.

Hearing her words, Hachiman's lips twitched, but he chose not to comment on it. He thought it best to be considerate.

With this in mind, Hachiman spoke again. "Utaha-senpai, if you have any issues with your new book, just tell me directly. Don't worry, I'll do my best to help you."

Hearing his words, Utaha fell silent for a moment, pondering the offer.