Itsuki Reluctantly Eats It All

"Um."

Itsuki smiled and agreed.

The outcome of today left her very satisfied. The gift she gave wasn't just something he could often use, but also what Ren needed.

There couldn't be a better ending than this.

"The meat bun should be ready to eat."

Setting aside his glasses case, Ren reminded her.

"Ah, um."

Itsuki tried her best to pretend to be calm, but the hand that had taken the meat bun had betrayed her anticipation.

Then, under Ren's gaze, she bit into the meat bun.

Chew, chew—

"How does it taste?"

Seeing Itsuki's slightly squinted eyes and tousled hair, with a happy expression, Ren asked this question.

Originally, it was a sentence often asked by Gabriel to him, but now he used it to ask Itsuki.

After finally swallowing the meat bun in her mouth, Itsuki said emotionally, "Wow... It's delicious. It's the most delicious meat bun I've ever eaten in my life. I can't describe it with words at all."

Originally, the idea was that no matter how bad the meat bun made by Ren was, she would eat it all, but in reality, the taste of the meat bun far exceeded her expectations.

So much so that she couldn't find the right words to describe it.

"That's good."

After receiving her answer, Ren was very satisfied and didn't continue talking; he just watched her eat the meat bun calmly.

Itsuki immersed herself in the beautiful world of eating meat buns.

One bite, two bites... one, two, three...

After swallowing the third meat bun, just as she was about to take the fourth and last one, Itsuki's hand stopped in midair.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing her strange movement, Ren looked very puzzled.

Pulling her right hand back and averting her gaze from the remaining meat bun, Itsuki said with a little embarrassment, "I can't bear to eat it."

"Why don't you want to eat it?"

Itsuki avoided his sparkling eyes and answered softly, "Because after eating this last meat bun, the gift you gave me will be gone."

"Don't worry about that, just eat it." Ren reassured gently, "As long as you want to eat meat buns, I'll make them for you."

"Eh? W-what do you mean?"

Itsuki couldn't even speak clearly.

"I learned how to make meat buns just for you, so the gift I gave you isn't just this meat bun." Ren narrowed his eyes and explained with a smile, "So, if you still want to eat the meat buns I make, just tell me, and I'll keep making them for you."

"..."

Itsuki didn't say anything, just looked at him.

"Itsuki? Are you okay?"

Realizing that she remained motionless as she just did, Ren couldn't help but shout.

Reminded like this, Itsuki finally regained her senses and said in a panic, "Ah, oh, sorry, my attention was a little distracted earlier."

"It's okay, just eat the meat bun." Ren said nonchalantly.

"Um... Kamikawa-kun, can you say those words again? I didn't hear you clearly earlier."

Seeing his expressionless face, Itsuki wondered if she misread him.

Just now, did Ren smile at her?

He did smile at her.

Then, she felt all her attention focused on his smile, and she didn't even hear what he said clearly.

It felt like a dream, she couldn't remember anything, she just thought his smile was beautiful.

"Yes."

So, Ren repeated what he just said.

Itsuki, who had been staring at him so sure of one thing, that Ren wasn't smiling this time.

But that wasn't the point.

The point was...

As long as she still wanted to eat the meat buns Ren made, he would still make them for her?

Itsuki couldn't help but confirm this interesting thing.

"Yes, as long as you want." Ren replied softly.

"Can that be done in the future?"

"No matter how long, it's okay."

"I..."

Itsuki wanted to say something else, but when the words came out of her mouth, nothing came out.

Ren asked, "Do you still want to eat? I can make them for you again now."

"I want to."

Itsuki nodded eagerly.

At this moment, she no longer cared to hide her appetite; she just wanted to eat as much as she pleased.

And soothe her restless heart.

"I want to."

After saying this, Ren stood up and walked to the kitchen.

"Am I dreaming today?"

Taking the last meat bun from the steamer, Itsuki began to suspect this issue.

Not only did she eat the delicious meat bun made by Ren for herself, but she also saw his smile, and he even promised to make meat buns for herself in the future.

Is this really not a dream?

If it is a dream, please don't let her wake up so soon.

Seeing Ren busy in the kitchen, and thinking about the promise he just made to her, Itsuki bit into the meat bun with a happy face and fantasized about the future.

······

Night, Nakano's house.

"I'm back."

Pushing open the door to her house, Itsuki shouted out of habit.

Seeing her just entering, Nino urged, "Itsuki, you're back just in time. I've just prepared dinner. Please quickly wash your hands and come to eat."

"I'm full, so I won't eat dinner tonight." Itsuki replied with a smile.

Nino said teasingly, "Are you sure? I specially made meat buns for you today."

"I'm not hungry."

After tasting the meat buns made by Ren, Itsuki was not interested in Nino's meat buns at all.

After a moment of silence, Nino ordered Yotsuba, who was sitting on the sofa watching TV, "Yotsuba, quickly call Dad! Itsuki is possessed, and she's not eating meat buns."

"Yes."

Yotsuba hurriedly took out her phone, but before she could make the call, it was snatched by Itsuki flying over.

"Does it have to come to this? I just had dinner at Kamikawa-kun's house, so I'm not hungry."

After making sure there were no unanswered calls, Itsuki returned the phone to Yotsuba.

"At Ren's house..."

Miku, who was sitting next to Yotsuba, realized the key point.

Feeling her unfriendly gaze, Itsuki said confidently, "What's wrong? Is there a problem with this?"