Chapter 148

The process and result of cooking are enjoyable.

Cleaning up and clearing the aftermath is not.

"No problem."

Qingshan Nanami walked to the doorway and peeked into the kitchen first.

She saw Kitakami Yoru with his back to her, his hair tied up casually.

"Kitakami-kun really looks so good..."

Qingshan Nanami inexplicably recalled their chance encounter in the stairwell that day before walking in.

"Right here, sorry to trouble you."

Kitakami Yoru wrapped the mussels in foil, put them in the oven, and set the timer.

Without looking back, he pointed to the sink, which was piled with various scraps and inedible parts, emitting a strong fishy smell.

Qingshan Nanami wasn't afraid of the mess and began to clean up the trash.

Kitakami Yoru then prepared the sea bass.

The scales of this sea bass had already been scraped off, and he had scored it, marinating it with cooking wine and ginger for a while.

He brought a pot of water to a boil, added some cooking wine, green onions, and ginger, and steamed it until cooked.

"Almost there."

Kitakami Yoru smiled, went to the sink to wash his hands, and prepared the wok.

Stepping over to Qingshan Nanami's side, Kitakami Yoru looked at her profile with a smile.

With his intense gaze on her face, Qingshan Nanami shifted her feet shyly, made space, and secretly looked at Kitakami Yoru.

"The fish is a bit fishy, use more dish soap."

Kitakami Yoru shook his hands dry, said this lightly, and turned to the stove.

"Mm... mm-hmm..."

Qingshan Nanami nodded blankly.

Then, suddenly, she was so surprised she almost cried out, but fortunately, she covered her mouth with her forearm, making no sound.

"How did Kitakami-kun become even better-looking again!"

"Wuwu... it's completely like he's become a different person!"

"Whoosh, whoosh—"

Letting the faucet run, Qingshan Nanami, who was usually very frugal, didn't even turn it off.

Because the current Kitakami Yoru was even more handsome than when she met him at the stair corner a while ago.

It's no exaggeration to say his attractiveness had almost doubled!

Until the sizzling sound of oil hitting the hot pan rang out.

Qingshan Nanami released her forearm from her mouth and took deep breaths.

The strong fishy smell was no longer even noticeable.

"Kitakami-kun..."

Whispering Kitakami Yoru's name, Qingshan Nanami's thighs were pressed tightly together, and her expression had long since turned into the shy look a young girl shows when meeting someone she likes.

Her light brown eyes darted back and forth on Kitakami Yoru's back.

Even though they were already good friends and had spent a long time together.

Qingshan Nanami cursed herself under her breath; she was actually shy?!

Just because Kitakami Yoru was getting better-looking every day as he lost weight?

At this moment, Qingshan Nanami seemed to understand some of the girls in her class a little bit.

They usually look open and bold, only acting tough behind people's backs when they see a handsome guy, but wanting to hide in the ground when he's right in front of them.

Qingshan Nanami finished cleaning the kitchen and quickly went out.

"Gabriel, have you noticed that Kitakami-kun has become so good-looking?"

Qingshan Nanami sat on the small sofa, looking toward the kitchen with a guilty conscience.

"I have, so what?"

Gabriel, distracted for a second by this strange question, nodded casually.

"You only have games in your eyes, don't you?"

Qingshan Nanami had already received her answer and glanced at the kitchen again.

"Kitakami-kun has become so handsome, he shouldn't be lacking a girlfriend anymore, right?"

"At first, I even doubted him because of what Kanda Sorata said..."

Someone in the kitchen, working hard on the meal, didn't know his attractiveness had reached its peak, still feeling a bit insecure and thinking he was very average.

Half an hour later.

At the simple dining table.

Kitakami Yoru opened three bottles of iced juice in a row, handing two to Gabriel and Qingshan Nanami sitting opposite him.

On the small table, delicious dishes emitted steaming heat...

The mussels, baked in the oven with garlic, onions, and various spices, had their aroma fully released.

One sniff was enough to make one unable to resist.

Gabriel's mouth was watering, her eyes shining, and she quickly moved her chair to sit closer.

Her fair little feet under the table accidentally kicked Kitakami Yoru.

"I'm digging in." Qingshan Nanami had been stealing glances at Kitakami Yoru and picked up a piece of sea bass.

Kitakami Yoru leaned over to look under the table and saw two pairs of fair, bare feet stepping on the floor; it was simply a waste of beauty.

This thought flashed by, and he quickly looked up, taking a sip of his drink.

All three of them enjoyed the meal.

Gabriel washed her hands, held her round little belly, and lay on the sofa like a sloth.

Qingshan Nanami helped Kitakami Yoru clear the plates before leaving for work.

"Bye-bye..."

Kitakami Yoru saw Qingshan Nanami to the door.

"See you..."

Qingshan Nanami nodded gently.

Actually, she could have stayed for another half hour.

In the afternoon.

The water and electricity in Gabriel's apartment were reconnected, and she left immediately.

Kitakami Yoru sat on the sofa, smiling and shaking his head slightly, twisting a strand of golden hair in his hand.

Under his seat, there was still the lingering warmth and body scent Gabriel had left behind.

By evening, the heat wave gradually faded.

Kitakami Yoru went home and brought San-san over.

At the same time, he was nagged and urged by his parents to go to the hospital for a check-up.

School started the day after tomorrow, and Kitakami Yoru had already made an appointment.

Back home, Kitakami Yoru reviewed for an hour as usual, put down the textbook he had thoroughly understood, and rested his hands behind his head.

His long hair fell down, covering his peerless beauty, while reflecting in the mirror.

"Sigh~"

Sighing softly, Kitakami Yoru dragged out his yoga mat and exercised as usual.

Jumping jacks, start with three hundred.

Mountain climbers, ten sets.

Plank...

Russian twists...

The bright moon hung high, and the stars were scattered.

Kitakami Yoru, exhausted from his travels, soon felt sleepy.

As if to compare something, he took a bottle of sports drink and walked into the shower room.

After a comfortable bath, he came out to the sofa, grabbed San-san, and held her in his arms.

"Meow meow~~"