[Warning 15+]
Author's Notes:
Sorry guys, I ended up rewriting the whole thing right before hitting post, so the update's a bit late...
Part Three"―Seriously, Your Vibe Hasn't Changed a Bit Since the Old Days!"Chapter 97A Brand-New, Fragile Feeling That Hasn't Quite Reached a Conviction Yet
Haruki's consciousness was drifting in the shallows. But not quite deep enough to actually start dreaming.
Suddenly, Haruki's drowsy mind wavered. It swayed. It was being rocked.
It was a sensation Haruki hadn't experienced a single time since the day she was born, and man, it felt incredibly good.
"—, ―ase ―ake."
Voices were trickling in, too. But the whispers that tickled Haruki's ears every now and then were so soothing, making her want to just surrender herself to this rocking forever.
Especially after that drama last night that had Haruki's heart all worked up, she just wanted to float in this peace until her mind finally settled down.
"―kay? ―ight?"
But yeah, no such luck.
"Puha—!?"
"Oh, you're actually awake."
Suddenly, Haruki's brain flipped the switch.
As Haruki bolted upright, the first thing she saw was a totally unfamiliar room—plain but with a chill vibe—and Minamo's face, who was giggling away.
"Good morning, Haruki-san."
"Eh, oh, mornin'..."
Haruki responded to the greeting instinctively while rubbing her nose. Her brain was lagging, trying to figure out the situation. With sleep still in her eyes, she kept looking around the room.
Minamo was already decked out in her school uniform. Minamo looked like she was in a great mood while staring at Haruki, who was still just in a T-shirt and shorts.
"Eh, so..."
As Haruki's brain slowly kicked into gear, she started remembering how she ended up here.
This was Minamo's room, and last night they'd gone out of their way to line up their pillows on the floor to chat and hang out in the group chat together.
Comparing her newly-awakened self to Minamo, who was already dressed and ready, Haruki felt like she was being totally coddled. Haruki could feel her cheeks starting to heat up.
"Wow, you really do wake up instantly if someone pinches your nose."
"...How did you even know about that?"
"Hayato-san told me."
"Ugh, that j*rk Hayato."
"Anyway, breakfast is ready. Oh, or do you wanna get dressed first?"
"Eh―"
Instead of Haruki giving a confused answer, her stomach gave a loud "Growl" for her.
Since the timing was just too perfect, Minamo's eyes went wide for a second before she totally lost it and started grinning. Haruki's face was as red as it could possibly get.
"Let's start with breakfast then."
"...Okay."
◇◇◇
"Whoa!"
The breakfast spread was seriously high-effort for this early in the morning. Haruki couldn't help but let out a gasp of pure admiration.
There was grilled salmon with grated radish on the side, tofu and seaweed miso soup, an okra and pickled plum salad, plus some pickled eggplant. Since Haruki'd spotted okra and eggplant in the Gardening Club's flowerbed before, she wondered if these were fresh-picked from there. And next to the rice sat an egg in a tiny bowl, along with another empty bowl of the same size.
Since Haruki had started helping out with the cooking at Hayato's place, she totally got just how much work went into a meal like this. Just how early did Minamo have to get up to pull this off?
When Haruki blinked in surprise and gave Minamo a guilty look, she just got a smug, proud face in return.
"Last night, Himeko-san told me the secret to the ultimate egg-on-rice. Oh, but that was while you were fast asleep, Haruki-san."
"Ugh! Oh, right..."
"Like, mixing just the egg whites into the rice first... ...hehe, Himeko-san did say she just looked it up online, though."
"I-I see."
Haruki's heart skipped a beat. Memories of last night came flooding back.
(...What about... ...Saki-chan...?)
Haruki was pretty clueless when it came to the subtle vibes of a girl's heart. Heck, she didn't even understand her own feelings yet—she hadn't reached any real conviction. Her chest just felt all fuzzy and unsettled.
And if you asked Haruki about boys, she wasn't much better. At most, she could tell if a boy was looking at her with some thirsty vibes. But her childhood buddy (Hayato), who never gave off that vibe, was someone she understood even less. And that's what made it so tough.
In a way, that made sense for Haruki, since she'd been intentionally dodging social stuff for so long. To be honest, she wanted to take her time nurturing this brand-new, fragile feeling, but she might not have the luxury of waiting around anymore.
"Um, should I separate the egg white and the yolk for you?"
"Eek!? Oh, no, I'm good, but... ...maybe you could show me how it's done first?"
Minamo spoke up tentatively. Apparently, Haruki must've been making a pretty intense face.
(TL Note: Just ignore what Minamo wearing, cause she supposed to wear the uniform in this scene.)
Haruki quickly forced a smile and turned back. It'd be super rude to eat a breakfast someone went to the trouble of making while looking all grumpy.
"Okay, so first, you crack the egg in half over the small bowl, then just shuffle the yolk back and forth between the shells―"
"Whoa, only the yolk stays in the shell!"
"I guess you're supposed to whip the separated whites into the rice... ...man, this gets way fluffier than I expected."
"No kidding... ...alright, just make a little crater for the yolk, splash on some soy sauce, and boom. Ahaha, this is definitely not the egg-on-rice I'm used to."
"Mmm... ...such a unique texture. It might actually be k*ller with some sesame oil, whitebait, or bonito flakes too."
"Oh, for sure. Since the rice is so mellow now, having something with a punchy flavor... ...wait, this actually hits different with the salty salmon and pickles! The okra and plums are a vibe, too!"
Breakfast was a bit unusual, and it was straight-up delicious. The side dishes paired perfectly with the egg-on-rice, and she couldn't stop eating.
Haruki was busy pigging out on the meal—it had a gentle seasoning that was different from Hayato's cooking—when she suddenly noticed Minamo watching her with an amused look on her face.
(Cr*p... ...was I eating like a total beast...?)
As Haruki's cheeks flushed red again, Minamo gave Haruki a sweet, beaming smile.
"It tastes great, doesn't it?"
"Y-Yeah. Totally."
"I knew it. Food just hits different when you're eating with someone else, right?"
"...Oh."
Haruki finally caught on to why Minamo was in such a great mood.
It was something Haruki knew all too well from a lifetime of eating alone, and it was the same reason she'd impulsively grabbed Minamo's hand yesterday.
Eating with someone you're close to is warm, delicious, and just plain fun. Yeah, Hayato was the one who taught her that.
So, Haruki smiled back, letting her own hopes ride on her words.
"Well then, you gotta come over and stay at my place next time. We could even do a study marathon during finals or something. Plus, my place is closer to school, y'know?"
"Wait... ...really? You're okay with that?"
"Duh― we're buddies, aren't we?"
"Oh... ...hehe, I guess you're right. I'd love to come over then."
"Haha, definitely. It's a promise, okay?"
"You bet!"
Then, they looked at each other and shared a laugh.
It was just a typical, everyday moment between buddies.
(Buddies―...)
Suddenly, Hayato's face flashed in Haruki's mind, and a bitter taste surged in the back of her throat.
To Haruki, buddies were special. Even more special than family. And yet, that word "buddies" felt like a curse eating away at her heart, leaving a sharp, stinging pain.
So, Haruki just shoveled the rest of the egg-on-rice into her mouth and forced it down.
All while keeping a smile on Haruki's face for Minamo―her female buddy...
Author's Notes:
So, this happened when I hit up the home center.
A new little guy showed up looking for a forever home.
Breed: Minuet
Minuet... ...first time I've heard of 'em. Long-haired, right? Persian vibes? I feel like I've seen this look somewhere before.
I did some digging. Apparently, since people obsess over short-legged Munchkins, there were cases where kittens got dumped just for having long legs. The breeding started in the late 90s, but the name "Minuet" only popped up around 2015—so yeah, it's a pretty recent thing.
They say they're unique cats that inherit traits from both Persians and Munchkins. They're needy and cuddly like Persians, but curious and active like Munchkins. Friendly enough to vibe with strangers instantly, and they love chilling on their owner's lap... ...I mean, is this a gift from God or what?
Still, since it's a newer breed, you can't really generalize their personality; It probably varies from cat to cat.
I'm gonna keep an eye on this little one and see how their temperament develops.
Baaa baaa
,. .,. ., .,
＠"・∀・"＠
;' .:. ,;
';,,.u.,.,.u,;'
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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Haruki's consciousness was drifting in the shallows. But not quite deep enough to actually start dreaming.
Suddenly, Haruki's drowsy mind wavered. It swayed. It was being rocked.
It was a sensation Haruki hadn't experienced a single time since the day she was born, and man, it felt incredibly good.
"—, ―ase ―ake."
Voices were trickling in, too. But the whispers that tickled Haruki's ears every now and then were so soothing, making her want to just surrender herself to this rocking forever.
Especially after that drama last night that had Haruki's heart all worked up, she just wanted to float in this peace until her mind finally settled down.
"―kay? ―ight?"
But yeah, no such luck.
"Puha—!?"
"Oh, you're actually awake."
Suddenly, Haruki's brain flipped the switch.
As Haruki bolted upright, the first thing she saw was a totally unfamiliar room—plain but with a chill vibe—and Minamo's face, who was giggling away.
"Good morning, Haruki-san."
"Eh, oh, mornin'..."
Haruki responded to the greeting instinctively while rubbing her nose. Her brain was lagging, trying to figure out the situation. With sleep still in her eyes, she kept looking around the room.
Minamo was already decked out in her school uniform. Minamo looked like she was in a great mood while staring at Haruki, who was still just in a T-shirt and shorts.
"Eh, so..."
As Haruki's brain slowly kicked into gear, she started remembering how she ended up here.
This was Minamo's room, and last night they'd gone out of their way to line up their pillows on the floor to chat and hang out in the group chat together.
Comparing her newly-awakened self to Minamo, who was already dressed and ready, Haruki felt like she was being totally coddled. Haruki could feel her cheeks starting to heat up.
"Wow, you really do wake up instantly if someone pinches your nose."
"...How did you even know about that?"
"Hayato-san told me."
"Ugh, that j*rk Hayato."
"Anyway, breakfast is ready. Oh, or do you wanna get dressed first?"
"Eh―"
Instead of Haruki giving a confused answer, her stomach gave a loud "Growl" for her.
Since the timing was just too perfect, Minamo's eyes went wide for a second before she totally lost it and started grinning. Haruki's face was as red as it could possibly get.
"Let's start with breakfast then."
"...Okay."
◇◇◇
"Whoa!"
The breakfast spread was seriously high-effort for this early in the morning. Haruki couldn't help but let out a gasp of pure admiration.
There was grilled salmon with grated radish on the side, tofu and seaweed miso soup, an okra and pickled plum salad, plus some pickled eggplant. Since Haruki'd spotted okra and eggplant in the Gardening Club's flowerbed before, she wondered if these were fresh-picked from there. And next to the rice sat an egg in a tiny bowl, along with another empty bowl of the same size.
Since Haruki had started helping out with the cooking at Hayato's place, she totally got just how much work went into a meal like this. Just how early did Minamo have to get up to pull this off?
When Haruki blinked in surprise and gave Minamo a guilty look, she just got a smug, proud face in return.
"Last night, Himeko-san told me the secret to the ultimate egg-on-rice. Oh, but that was while you were fast asleep, Haruki-san."
"Ugh! Oh, right..."
"Like, mixing just the egg whites into the rice first... ...hehe, Himeko-san did say she just looked it up online, though."
"I-I see."
Haruki's heart skipped a beat. Memories of last night came flooding back.
(...What about... ...Saki-chan...?)
Haruki was pretty clueless when it came to the subtle vibes of a girl's heart. Heck, she didn't even understand her own feelings yet—she hadn't reached any real conviction. Her chest just felt all fuzzy and unsettled.
And if you asked Haruki about boys, she wasn't much better. At most, she could tell if a boy was looking at her with some thirsty vibes. But her childhood buddy (Hayato), who never gave off that vibe, was someone she understood even less. And that's what made it so tough.
In a way, that made sense for Haruki, since she'd been intentionally dodging social stuff for so long. To be honest, she wanted to take her time nurturing this brand-new, fragile feeling, but she might not have the luxury of waiting around anymore.
"Um, should I separate the egg white and the yolk for you?"
"Eek!? Oh, no, I'm good, but... ...maybe you could show me how it's done first?"
Minamo spoke up tentatively. Apparently, Haruki must've been making a pretty intense face.
(TL Note: Just ignore what Minamo wearing, cause she supposed to wear the uniform in this scene.)
Haruki quickly forced a smile and turned back. It'd be super rude to eat a breakfast someone went to the trouble of making while looking all grumpy.
"Okay, so first, you crack the egg in half over the small bowl, then just shuffle the yolk back and forth between the shells―"
"Whoa, only the yolk stays in the shell!"
"I guess you're supposed to whip the separated whites into the rice... ...man, this gets way fluffier than I expected."
"No kidding... ...alright, just make a little crater for the yolk, splash on some soy sauce, and boom. Ahaha, this is definitely not the egg-on-rice I'm used to."
"Mmm... ...such a unique texture. It might actually be k*ller with some sesame oil, whitebait, or bonito flakes too."
"Oh, for sure. Since the rice is so mellow now, having something with a punchy flavor... ...wait, this actually hits different with the salty salmon and pickles! The okra and plums are a vibe, too!"
Breakfast was a bit unusual, and it was straight-up delicious. The side dishes paired perfectly with the egg-on-rice, and she couldn't stop eating.
Haruki was busy pigging out on the meal—it had a gentle seasoning that was different from Hayato's cooking—when she suddenly noticed Minamo watching her with an amused look on her face.
(Cr*p... ...was I eating like a total beast...?)
As Haruki's cheeks flushed red again, Minamo gave Haruki a sweet, beaming smile.
"It tastes great, doesn't it?"
"Y-Yeah. Totally."
"I knew it. Food just hits different when you're eating with someone else, right?"
"...Oh."
Haruki finally caught on to why Minamo was in such a great mood.
It was something Haruki knew all too well from a lifetime of eating alone, and it was the same reason she'd impulsively grabbed Minamo's hand yesterday.
Eating with someone you're close to is warm, delicious, and just plain fun. Yeah, Hayato was the one who taught her that.
So, Haruki smiled back, letting her own hopes ride on her words.
"Well then, you gotta come over and stay at my place next time. We could even do a study marathon during finals or something. Plus, my place is closer to school, y'know?"
"Wait... ...really? You're okay with that?"
"Duh― we're buddies, aren't we?"
"Oh... ...hehe, I guess you're right. I'd love to come over then."
"Haha, definitely. It's a promise, okay?"
"You bet!"
Then, they looked at each other and shared a laugh.
It was just a typical, everyday moment between buddies.
(Buddies―...)
Suddenly, Hayato's face flashed in Haruki's mind, and a bitter taste surged in the back of her throat.
To Haruki, buddies were special. Even more special than family. And yet, that word "buddies" felt like a curse eating away at her heart, leaving a sharp, stinging pain.
So, Haruki just shoveled the rest of the egg-on-rice into her mouth and forced it down.
All while keeping a smile on Haruki's face for Minamo―her female buddy...
Author's Notes:
So, this happened when I hit up the home center.
A new little guy showed up looking for a forever home.
Breed: Minuet
Minuet... ...first time I've heard of 'em. Long-haired, right? Persian vibes? I feel like I've seen this look somewhere before.
I did some digging. Apparently, since people obsess over short-legged Munchkins, there were cases where kittens got dumped just for having long legs. The breeding started in the late 90s, but the name "Minuet" only popped up around 2015—so yeah, it's a pretty recent thing.
They say they're unique cats that inherit traits from both Persians and Munchkins. They're needy and cuddly like Persians, but curious and active like Munchkins. Friendly enough to vibe with strangers instantly, and they love chilling on their owner's lap... ...I mean, is this a gift from God or what?
Still, since it's a newer breed, you can't really generalize their personality; It probably varies from cat to cat.
I'm gonna keep an eye on this little one and see how their temperament develops.
Baaa baaa
,. .,. ., .,
＠"・∀・"＠
;' .:. ,;
';,,.u.,.,.u,;'
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Your donations really support us to finish this novel from here until the end, so please consider to support us.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages: