My Sun and Your Star (GL) - Episode 11

I was regretting having invited her so forcefully. On top of that, I was bringing someone to this house for the first time in a long time, since the trauma of my middle school years.

I never really intended to bring anyone home again. But wanting to thank her somehow, inviting her over was the idea I came up with.

Takizawa and I walked to my house in silence. Even though I was the one who invited her, I’d made the atmosphere incredibly awkward, so I tried to start a conversation to find some common ground.

“Takizawa, is there anything you can’t eat or are allergic to?”
“No.”

Her reply was as curt as ever.

It wasn’t very far from the library to my house. While mentally going through the ingredients I had in my fridge and thinking about what to make, we arrived before I knew it.

“This is my house.”

I said that and opened the door to the single-family home.

Takizawa was looking at my house with a very curious expression. She might have heard from Mai that I live alone, but it’s not strange at all to wonder why it’s a house.

Thinking it would be a relief if she didn’t ask anything specific, I took off my shoes at the entrance.

“You can just put your bag anywhere. Oh, and could you wait sitting on a chair?”
“Yeah.”

Takizawa sat down awkwardly, and even after that, she kept looking around nervously, as if she was still tense. I’d never seen Takizawa like that before, so a small laugh escaped me.

“Why are you laughing?”
“Because you’re funny, Takizawa.”
“I’m not doing anything, I’m not funny. More importantly…”

Takizawa stopped what she was about to say and fell silent. Her gaze was fixed on the family Buddhist altar for my father and mother.

I wondered if it would be okay to tell Takizawa—.

“They died in a traffic accident when I was in elementary school.”
“I see.”

Takizawa didn’t ask anything further.

Usually, people often say things like, “It’s amazing you’re managing on your own,” or “That must be so hard.” When they say that, I have to respond with things like, “It’s not like that,” and the conversation becomes forced.
So, I was relieved that Takizawa didn’t probe deeper.

I placed a cup of tea, heated in the pot, on the table in front of Takizawa.

“Thank you.”
“I’m thinking of making omelet rice now, you don’t dislike it, right?”
“No.”
“Okay, I’ll get things ready, so wait just a bit.”

I turned on the TV so Takizawa wouldn’t get bored.

From the kitchen, I could see Takizawa’s slender back.

I’d spent nearly a month after school with Takizawa, but I’d rarely seen her eating. I’d seen her eat onigiri, but even when I gave her snacks or bread, she never seemed very happy.

She really didn’t seem interested in food. Thinking that she needed to eat properly for her health, I put extra effort into cooking.

I shook the skillet, sizzling as I fried the ingredients for the omelet rice.

When I poured the well-beaten eggs into the skillet, they began to bubble and solidify from the heat, as if trying to escape. Before they were completely set, I gently folded and shaped them into a roll.

I carefully placed the finished omelet on top of the pre-made omelet rice base. I usually just make a cut down the middle and spread the egg open, but since Takizawa was here today, I decided to open the omelet in front of her.

A soft, fluffy interior spilled out.

It turned out pretty well, so when I looked at Takizawa with a proud face, an unexpected comment came flying my way.

“That’s amazing… it’s prettier than the one I saw at the restaurant.”

Along with a sense of pride, her earlier comment about not eating out much stuck in my mind.

“Didn’t you say earlier that you don’t eat out much?”
“The other day, I happened to go to a famous omelet rice place with Mai.”

I’d done it.

This omelet rice was definitely my best work, but I didn’t think the taste was good enough to beat a specialty restaurant.
The timing was bad, and I felt a little down, but since I’d managed to make it well, I also wanted her to eat it quickly.

“Let’s eat before it gets cold.”
“Yeah.”

I was happy to see Takizawa, who usually seemed uninterested in everything, staring intently at the omelet rice.

“Thank you for the meal.”

We said it in unison.

I scooped up a bite of the neatly formed omelet rice with a spoon.

Yeah, I think it turned out pretty tasty. It would have been perfect if Takizawa hadn’t gone to that specialty omelet rice place last week.

I glanced at Takizawa sitting across from me.

Her cheeks were stuffed full of omelet rice, slightly puffed out like a squirrel’s. I’d never seen that side of her before—usually quiet, cool, and seemingly disinterested.

Seeing her like that made me glad I’d invited her today.

“Was the taste okay?”
“It was alright.”

Alright?!

She seemed happy while eating it, and it was my best work, so I was a little shocked. But when I looked at Takizawa’s face, that feeling vanished in an instant.

Just a little, but I thought Takizawa was smiling. I’d always thought she had pretty features since we started studying together, but her smiling face was even prettier and cuter.

“I wish I’d prepared some dessert for after.”
“It’s fine, I don’t need any.”

Thinking I’d at least make some tea, I stood up, and she suddenly grabbed my wrist, causing me to jump slightly.

“What’s wrong…?”
“Endo-san, thank you for the meal. —Thank you.”

She wasn’t looking me in the eye, but it was probably Takizawa’s way of expressing her utmost gratitude. I decided to believe that I had managed to thank her a little.

Takizawa was watching TV absently at the living room table. I really wanted to get to know her better, talk about why she was on the roof that day, and about when she gave me the handkerchief.

She said she didn’t remember it… maybe she really has forgotten…? Thinking such thoughts, I made tea and served it to her.

The TV Takizawa was watching seemed to be an animal special. They were explaining various animals. Today, it was about the differences between male and female Eclectus Parrots.

I was surprised that the same species of bird could be so different between males and females.

Both were beautifully colored and striking.

“I prefer the male’s coloring. Which coloring do you like better, Takizawa?”
“The male, I guess…”
“Right?! It’s such a pretty color. So cute.”

Takizawa’s reaction to my response was a little subtle. Takizawa seemed disinterested in everything. No matter what I talked about, she seemed somewhat distracted.

I wonder if Takizawa has anything she likes?
Lately, I’ve been finding myself increasingly curious about Takizawa.

“It’s almost ten. I should go.”

While I was thinking about that, Takizawa got ready to leave and headed for the door. I hurriedly went to see her off.

“Should I walk you home?”

Thinking it was close anyway, I asked if I should escort her.

“It’s fine. Thank you for today. It was delicious.”

“Eh—”

Before I could say anything else, she started to hurry outside, so I flusteredly grabbed Takizawa’s arm and pulled her towards me.

I hugged her tightly from behind so she wouldn’t run away.

I could hear my heart pounding.

Trying to cover it up, I opened my mouth.

“Come again to eat.”

“Maybe, if I feel like it.”

Takizawa’s words seemed cold, but somehow felt warm.

I’m sure she’ll come again.

Thinking that, the word “anxiety” disappeared from within me, and I let Takizawa go. I watched her back until she was out of sight.

In the end, I didn’t get to talk about what I really wanted to.