Chapter 507: The Couple Caught Red-Handed Again
After an indeterminate amount of time, their lips parted.
Suppressed breaths escaped from the girl's lips.
Yumiko's face was flushed with a captivating crimson, her arms still wrapped around Hachiman's neck, her eyes shimmering with tears.
"Yumiko, I love you."
Looking at the girl in front of him, Hachiman couldn't help but confess.
Upon hearing this, even the usually assertive Yumiko's expression softened.
"Remember what you said today. If you forget, I won't forgive you."
"Don't worry, I'll never let go of you, Yumiko." Hachiman tightened his embrace and spoke softly.
Hearing this, Yumiko nestled herself closely into Hachiman's arms.
"Mhm."
...
After a moment of warmth, they separated, and Hachiman took Yumiko's hand with a smile.
"How about I cook for you at your place today?"
Yumiko blinked in surprise, then returned to her usual haughty demeanor.
"You said it yourself. I didn't force you."
Hachiman laughed at her response.
"Haha, yes, yes, it's my idea. Consider it a way to make it up to you."
Yumiko gave a light humph, playing with her hair, and turned her head slightly away. "Humph, fine. Since you insist, I'll give you a chance."
Despite her words, the corners of her mouth curved into a delighted smile.
She hadn't tasted Hachiman's cooking in quite a while.
"Let's go to the supermarket first to buy some ingredients," Hachiman said, holding Yumiko's hand. "And let's get some pears; I'll make caramelized pear soup for you today."
In the dry winter, caramelized pear soup is a dessert particularly suitable for the season.
Just as they were about to head to the supermarket, Hachiman seemed to notice something.
"Wait a minute."
"Huh? What's up?"
Hachiman released Yumiko's hand and, under her puzzled gaze, knelt down to tie her shoelaces.
A surge of indescribable warmth filled Yumiko's heart, almost overflowing.
In a society like Japan where traditional masculinity prevails, a guy kneeling down to tie a girl's shoelaces is a powerful testament to his genuine love for her.
Soon, the shoelaces were tied, and Hachiman stood up, giving her a gentle smile.
"Alright, we can go now."
Yumiko's tone softened unconsciously as she took his hand willingly.
"Yeah, let's go."
...
At the supermarket, Yumiko picked up a shopping basket and walked with Hachiman towards the produce section.
Looking at the wide variety of ingredients on the shelves, Hachiman turned to the girl beside him and said, "You choose the ingredients today. Whatever you want to eat, I'll make it for you."
"Really?"
Hearing this, Yumiko seemed a bit skeptical.
"Of course it's true. Do you think I would lie to you?"
Seeing her doubtful attitude, Hachiman sighed slightly.
"Alright then, I won't hold back," Yumiko said with a happy smile, beginning to select ingredients for the basket.
Shrimp, ribs, potatoes, tofu...
While choosing ingredients, Yumiko mentioned, "Looks like my mom will have a feast today. Ever since she tasted your cooking last time, she's been nagging me about why you don't come over more often."
Hearing this, Hachiman smiled wryly.
What am I supposed to do at your house, become a full-time chef? Last time I was at your house, I nearly ended up washing dishes too.
Recalling his last visit to Yumiko's house, he couldn't help but shake his head.
Soon, Yumiko finished picking the ingredients. After adding some fruits, they went to the checkout and then left the supermarket.
Approaching Yumiko's neighborhood, they were greeted by an elderly lady in her seventies.
Yumiko politely greeted her, "Hello, Grandma Tanaka."
"Ah, it's little Yumiko," the elderly lady named Tanaka replied kindly, then turned her gaze to Hachiman, giving him a once-over.
"So this is your boyfriend, huh? Your mother mentioned him before, and now I finally get to see him."
Hachiman offered a slight smile, greeting her with equal politeness.
"Hello, Grandma Tanaka. I'm Yumiko's boyfriend, Hikigaya Hachiman."
"Well, well," Grandma Tanaka nodded warmly and praised him. "Such a polite young man."
Hearing this compliment, Yumiko couldn't help but smile.
"Grandma Tanaka, we'll be heading home now."
"Alright, you young lovers go on ahead. I'll continue my walk."
"..."
After exchanging goodbyes, Hachiman and Yumiko continued walking toward her house.
When they reached the door, Yumiko used her key to unlock it.
At the entrance, she bent down and took out the pair of slippers Hachiman wore the last time he visited.
After changing shoes, they entered the living room and found that Mrs. Miura wasn't home.
"Huh, Mom's not here? Maybe she's at some community event," Yumiko guessed, seeing the empty room.
Hachiman nodded in response.
Mrs. Miura is a traditional housewife who doesn't work outside and is fully dedicated to managing the household.
With her mom not home, Yumiko took it upon herself to attend to Hachiman, "Do you want to watch TV? The remote is on the coffee table."
"Would you like some tea or fruit?"
"..."
Seeing her hospitality, Hachiman felt a bit helpless.
"Alright, alright, it's not my first time here; you don't have to be so formal."
"You haven't been here that often, yet you talk like you're a regular visitor," Yumiko retorted. "What should we do now, wait for Mom to come back?"
Hachiman thought for a moment and said, "Let's start making the caramelized pear soup. It'll be ready for when your mom gets back."
"Sounds good." Yumiko nodded.
Entering the kitchen, Yumiko took out an apron and handed it to Hachiman.
Instead of taking it, Hachiman spread his arms, indicating that he wanted her to help him put it on.
Seeing this, Yumiko gave him a look but blushed slightly as she helped him tie the apron.
Apron on, Hachiman took out the pears they had just bought.
"How many should we make?"
"Three, so we each get one," Yumiko suggested.
"No problem."
Hachiman gave a small smile and got to work.
Caramelized pear soup is great for clearing heat, reducing coughs, and nourishing the lungs—an excellent tonic for girls.
The process is fairly simple: first, wash the pears, remove the stems, and hollow out the center, leaving a shell. Core the pear flesh and cut it into small pieces.
Then, place the chopped pear flesh and rock sugar into the hollow pears, add water, and steam them for thirty minutes. Optionally, you can add some dried tangerine peel, Fritillaria, and red dates for enhanced effects.
Of course, if you want an easier method, you can simply peel, core, and chop the pears whole, then boil them with sugar and water.
Hachiman placed the pears in the steamer and stepped out of the kitchen.
Now, all they had to do was wait.
Back in the living room, he found Yumiko sitting on the sofa, reading a fashion magazine.
As the reigning queen of fashion, she needed to stay updated on the latest trends.
Sitting down next to her, Hachiman casually wrapped an arm around her waist.
Being at home, Yumiko had taken off her heavy coat, leaving her in a fitted wool sweater.
Holding her slender waist, he could feel the warmth emanating from her skin, which made him slightly restless.
Noticing his subtle move, a blush crept across Yumiko's face, and she playfully tapped his head with the magazine.
"Behave yourself. No touching."
"Hehe, isn't it natural to hold my girlfriend like this?" Hachiman chuckled, taking advantage of the situation.
Then he remembered he had initially planned to teach Yumiko a lesson today, but had been too wrapped up in the moment to recall.
Just as Hachiman playfully pushed Yumiko onto the sofa and was about to employ his "divine hand" technique, they heard footsteps at the entrance.
Looking up, they saw Mrs. Miura entering the living room in her loungewear.
Their eyes met, leaving them both momentarily speechless.
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Chapter 508: Both Mother and Daughter Are Completely Satisfied
Seeing Mrs. Miura walk into the living room, Hachiman felt a bit of dread.
Why does she always have such perfect timing?
As for Yumiko, she seemed puzzled about why Hachiman had suddenly stopped. From what she knew of him, he wouldn't stop until he'd had his fun.
Why had things ended so soon today?
Just as Yumiko was about to ask, a familiar voice sounded in her ears.
"Looks like I came back at a bad time, but don't mind me, I'll head to my room and let you continue."
"Mom?!"
Hearing the voice, Yumiko's eyes widened in surprise, and she instinctively called out.
"What are you doing here?"
"I can see I'm interrupting, so I'll just head to my room. You two carry on," Mrs. Miura said lightly, moving towards her room.
As she walked away, Yumiko could hear her muttering to herself, "Yumiko is really growing up," and "first time on the sofa, how bold."
Seeing her mother like this, Yumiko quickly pushed Hachiman away, stood up, and spoke in a mix of embarrassment and urgency.
"It's not what you're thinking! We weren't doing anything!"
"Okay, okay, Yumiko, whatever you say," Mrs. Miura replied with a wave of her hand, unconcerned.
"It doesn't bother me."
"But it should bother you!" Yumiko said, exasperated.
"I'm your daughter! Why do you always assume I'd be doing something like that?"
Mrs. Miura continued in her breezy tone, "Because you're at that age, Yumiko. I've been through it, so I understand."
"Aaah, I'm so done with this."
Seeing that she couldn't explain things clearly, Yumiko was a bit frantic and turned to glare at Hachiman.
"You idiot, explain it to her!"
Hearing this, Hachiman stood up and began to explain, "Mrs. Miura, there's really been a misunderstanding. I had just finished preparing the caramelized pears and came to sit down on the sofa to rest. I accidentally tripped on the table leg, and that's why it looked like that."
"And besides, if you look, both Yumiko and I are fully clothed, so it really is just a misunderstanding."
Hachiman, of course, couldn't reveal the awkward truth. It was far too embarrassing.
Although he had only intended to use his "divine hand" to tease Yumiko, the position had indeed been a bit inappropriate. Plus, being caught by her mother would be embarrassing for anyone.
"Is that so?"
Mrs. Miura turned around after hearing the explanation, taking a moment to look over their fully intact clothing. Her tone held a hint of regret as she said, "What a shame. I was hoping to have you call me 'Mom,' Hachiman."
Uh.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Hachiman's forehead at her comment.
It turned out that Mrs. Miura was indeed a tough woman to deal with.
As Hachiman was mulling this over, he heard her speak again.
"But caramelized pears, huh? It's been a long time since I've had them. My throat has been a bit dry lately, so this is perfect timing."
Hachiman immediately understood her hint and said, "Just a moment, Auntie, the pears should be ready. I'll go check on them."
With that, he headed to the kitchen.
…
Before long, Hachiman came out with two servings of caramelized pears.
"Auntie, Yumiko, it's ready to eat now."
"Great!"
With the treats in front of them, the mother and daughter forgot everything else and sat down on the sofa.
Hachiman divided the pears between them and handed over two spoons. "Here, enjoy it while it's warm."
"Thank you, Hachiman," Mrs. Miura said, taking a spoonful slowly.
"Mmm... Hachiman's flavor, how nostalgic."
Yumiko nearly choked at that remark.
"Just eat your food properly and stop saying weird things."
But Mrs. Miura's breezy response left Yumiko speechless.
"Oh, what I said was perfectly normal, Yumiko. It's you who's thinking differently."
Watching Yumiko silently eat after being shut down, Hachiman found the situation amusing.
At school, she was so formidable, yet when it came to Mrs. Miura, it was like facing her natural enemy.
Watching the two blond beauties, so similar in height and appearance, elegantly enjoying their food was indeed a pleasing sight.
Leaving Yumiko aside for now, just by looking at Mrs. Miura, you would never guess she's the mother of a seventeen-year-old girl.
Though she wore a simple loungewear outfit, her demeanor was quite refined.
A long white cotton dress, topped with a blue jacket, cinched at the waist to accentuate her slender figure. Her legs showed through black stockings, with red high heels completing the ensemble. Sitting next to Yumiko, she looked more like a sister than a mother.
With her youthful appearance contrasting with a mature aura, she would undoubtedly turn heads if she walked down the street—a true beauty.
Feeling Hachiman's gaze, Mrs. Miura turned her attention back to him and asked, "Aren't you going to eat, Hachiman?"
Yumiko also chimed in, "Yeah, aren't there three servings? Why aren't you eating?"
"I won't have any," Hachiman replied with a small smile. "You mentioned your throat is a bit dry, Auntie, so you should keep that one for yourself."
"I've put that serving in a thermal container for you, just enjoy it tonight or tomorrow."
Hearing this, Mrs. Miura didn't hesitate to accept.
"Thank you, Hachiman."
"Is that so?"
Yumiko hesitated for a moment, glancing at the half-eaten pear in her hand.
Then, as if coming to a decision, she scooped up a spoonful and leaned over to Hachiman.
"Ah~~~"
Seeing her offer to feed him, Hachiman was surprised but didn't miss a beat and opened his mouth to eat.
Spoonful after spoonful, Yumiko, with a flushed face, continued feeding Hachiman.
"Yumiko has really grown up, learning to take care of others," Mrs. Miura teased, sitting beside her daughter.
"Oh, why do the caramelized pears suddenly taste a bit sour?" she added playfully.
Hearing her mother's teasing, Yumiko stopped feeding Hachiman, her face even redder, and started eating herself.
Seeing this, Hachiman sighed silently and stood up.
"Auntie, you two continue enjoying the dessert. I'll go prepare dinner."
"Thank you, Hachiman," Mrs. Miura said with a gentle smile, placing a hand on her stomach.
"Ah... so warm and comforting. It seems our stomachs will be happily filled by you today, Hachiman."
Hachiman twitched his lips slightly at the ambiguous comment but didn't respond, instead heading to the kitchen.
...
Time passed quickly, and soon dinner was ready.
Sweet and sour ribs, tempura shrimp, stir-fried shredded potatoes, miso soup...
All simple home-style dishes, so it didn't take much time.
"Auntie, Yumiko, dinner is ready." Hachiman announced to the pair in the living room after placing the last dish on the table.
"Alright," they responded and went to wash their hands.
As they sat down, Hachiman served rice to Mrs. Miura and Yumiko.
The two couldn't help but feel their appetites whetted by the vibrant and delicious-looking dishes on the table.
"It's been so long since I've had Hachiman's cooking," Mrs. Miura said, picking up a piece of tempura shrimp with her chopsticks.
A satisfying crunch sounded as the crisp coating broke, revealing the tender shrimp inside.
Relishing the taste, Mrs. Miura gently touched her cheek, lost in delight. "Mmm... just as I remember, Hachiman's flavor is so nostalgic."
Yumiko, too, was immersed in the deliciousness.
But as with all good things, dinner came to an end all too soon.
Not giving Mrs. Miura a chance to speak, Hachiman promptly excused himself.
At the doorway, Yumiko reminded him, "Be careful on your way home."
"Don't worry," Hachiman replied with a soft smile before leaning down and giving her a gentle peck on the lips.
"Goodnight, Yumiko."
With that, he turned and headed toward his home.
He hadn't gone far when he heard a gentle murmur from behind.
"Goodnight."
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