CH 9

After our part-time job was over, I went home to take a bath.

I took out a can of beer from the refrigerator and drank it.

“Fuuahh… So good.”

Then I noticed that Ando-san was staring at me.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, Sorry. Matsuo-san, I don’t usually see you drinking much.”

“Well, sometimes. How about joining me, Ando-san?”

I said.

“I-I’m sorry. I’m not 20 yet…”

“I-I see. By the way, when’s your birthday?”

“Umm…… June 21.”

“That’s pretty soon, isn’t it?”

“Y-yes.”

“Then let’s celebrate.”

I thought I said it casually, but … I saw tears welling up in her eyes.

“…. Ah, I’m sorry.”

Ando-san said, wiping away tears.

“Till now, I’ve never had anyone celebrate my birthday.”

When I saw her smiling sadly, my heart ached too. Naturally, I hugged her tight.

“Ma-Matsuo-san?”

“… absolutely, let’s make this a fun birthday.”

I said softly and with force.

“Yes,…, thank you.”

Then I held her gently for a while until she stopped crying.

******

Then came the day of her birthday.

“Excuse me~!”

The one whose voice resounded at my door was…

“Hello, Koshiba. I’m glad you came.”

“Hehe~. Because it’s Hiyorin’s birthday, right? We have to celebrate it.”

Koshiba said,

“T-thank you, Koshiba-san.”

Ando-san replied,

“It’s almost ready. All that’s left now is to drink and eat.”

“Sake?”

“You’re in high school.”

“Just a little, no one will know.”

“No.”

“Mou~, Tsugutsugu, you’re so stingy~. You’ll never be popular with the ladies like that.”

“Shut up.”

“I mean, did Hiyorin make all of these dishes?”

“I did. But Matsuo-san helped me, too.”

“Wow, Amazing! Hiyorin, you have super girl power~!”

Koshiba hugged Ando-san and said.

“Haha, that’s not true.”

“Koshiba. Coke or orange juice, which one do you prefer?”

“Beer!”

“I see, I see. Is water okay? You’re an auspicious fellow.”

“Wah~n! Tsugtsugu’s a devil!”

“Rather, I’m being kind.”

“What’s with you, Baka~!”

*****

In the dimly lit room, a candle was lit.

“Then, Ando-san. Go ahead.”

I said.

“Y-Yes.”

She blew out the candle with a slightly nervous look on her face.

“Yay! Happy Birthday~!”

As soon as Koshiba popped the cracker, I turned on the light.

“Happy birthday, Ando-san.”

Then, with tears in her eyes, she said,

“Thank you very much.”

She smiled at me.

“Then, Ando-san.”

I walked up to her and poured her a cup of shochu.

“Tsugtsugu, that looks so good, give me some too!”

“Koshiba, shut up”

“So cruel~!”

When I finished pouring.

“Try it.”

“Y-Yes.”

“Yay! It’s Hiyorin’s sake debut~!”

“Shut up, Koshiba”

“Cruel~!”

Despite Koshiba’s outcries.

“T-Then, Itadakimasu.”

Ando-san became nervous again and held the cup with both hands. She drank the shochu.

“How is it?”

I asked.

“….Delicious.”

She placed her hand over her mouth and said so.

“Well, next time. I’ll stock up on shochu in the fridge at home, too.”

“Th-that’s a luxury…”

“It’s okay. I’m happy to see your smiling face.”

“Ma-Matsuo-san ……”

Me and Ando-san just stared at each other naturally.

“Heh? Are you going to kiss? You’re totally going to kiss, right? Kya~!”

“…. Koshiba.”

When I said in a low voice and glared at her, Koshiba freaked out.

“I-I’m sorry for disturbing you.” Koshiba said,

“No, no. Thank you.”

“Huh?”

“For celebrating Ando-san’s birthday with me.”

“T-thank you.”

Ando-san and I thanked her,

“No, no, hey… I’m going to fix my makeup.”

“No, It’s fine. You still look the same, not much has changed”

“Mou~, You devil!”

Koshiba puffed up her cheeks and started to eat Ando-san’s home-cooked food.

“Holy c**p, it’s delicious! What’s this, Hiyorin, you can totally open up a restaurant!”

“Oh, no, you’re exaggerating.”

“No, no, seriously. If Hiyorin opened a diner or something, I’d go there every day!

“T-thank you …….”

Ando-san said shyly.

“Ah right! I bought a present for you, Hiyorin!”

Koshiba said.

“Here it is.”

Koshiba handed a small package to Ando-san.

“Thank you. May I open it?”

“Please, go ahead.”

Ando-san opened it.

“This is a …… hairpin.”

“Yes. Isn’t it cute? Hiyorin, your hair isn’t that long, but I was wondering if you could pin your bangs when you cook.”

“I-I’m so happy …. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome~”

Koshiba smiled.

“Well then, I guess it’s my turn to give you the present.”

“Heh?”

“Yosh, the wait is over, here comes the real star!”

“Koshiba, shut up.”

I said and took out a paper bag from the closet.

“Wow, that’s so big. What’s in it?”

Koshiba said.

“That’s something to look forward to. Anyway, Ando-san.”

I handed it to her.

“T-Thank you.”

She then extracted the contents from the paper bag.

Unwrapping it,….

“…… Ah.”

Ando-san let out a small voice.

In her hand was an apron.

“M-Matsuo-san, this is ….”

“Because, Ando-san always cooks for me. I thought you’d need it. Besides, I thought it… would look good on you”

I was embarrassed, but said so.

“Tsugtsugu~, this is already a proposal, isn’t it?”

“What? Why?”

“Because, apron = wife, right? Hiyorin doesn’t have girl power, she has strong wife power.”

Koshiba clapped her palms together as if she had reached an agreement.

“Well, that’s true.”

“Are, why don’t you deny it like you usually do?”

“No, well, I live with her….and I know that quite well.”

“Matsuo-san……”

“Hey, hey, Hiyorin. You should put on the apron, since we’re here. Oh, and put on that hairpin I gave you.”

“Uh-huh.”

Ando-san stood up, turned her back to us, and put on the apron on the spot.

To finish, she put on the hairpin. …

“…How is it?”

I looked at her as she turned around and I was speechless.

“S-Sorry, It doesn’t suit me, right?”

Ando-san said.

“N-No, it’s not that, it’s just…it looks too good on you.”

“Heh? T-Thank you…”

Me and Ando-san both blushed and hung our heads.

“Ah~, So lovey dovey~”

Koshiba said sincerely.

“……, Oi! Don’t try to drink alcohol without permission! I’ll arrest you!”

“Huh? No, what are you going to do after arresting me? Tsugutsugu , you devil~!”

“Shut up!”

I was so agitated that I couldn’t help but let out a loud voice.

I turned around and saw Ando-san smiling at me.

“I’m so happy for you, Tsugtsugu. You’ve got a wonderful wife.”

“You…….”

I thought about saying a few words to Koshiba, who was smiling at me, but.

“… she’s too good a wife for me.”

“Oh?”

“What’s with that face?”

“Tsugtsugu, get married soon.”

“I don’t get it.”

I was staring at Ando-san in her apron while Koshiba was saying that.