Just a quick heads-up for anyone who read the unedited version of previous chapter. I accidentally wrote 'Kiyoko' instead of 'Hitoka.' That's been fixed in the edit, so thanks for your understanding! My bad!
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The evening sky was gloomy as Jin and Hitoka walked side by side down the familiar road.
Hitoka's heart was restless the whole way, silently praying that nothing strange would happen.
Jin, however, didn't plan on doing anything mischievous this time. Watching Hitoka walk nervously, her head slightly lowered, he couldn't help but smirk in his heart. She was still wary of him.
Once they arrived home safely, Hitoka finally let out a breath of relief.
"Excuse me!" Jin called as he stepped into the door, glancing around the house as if expecting to see someone.
"My mom's working overtime tonight," Hitoka said as she slipped out of her shoes. "She probably won't be back."
"Not coming back?" Jin's lips curled upward before he could stop himself.
Hitoka stiffened and pressed herself against the wall, her eyes wide. "Why are you smiling? Don't tell me you're happy about that… Bad boy…"
"Hehehe…" Jin rubbed his palms together, baring his teeth playfully like a cartoon villain.
"Hyaah!" Hitoka crouched down, startled by his act.
Jin broke into laughter and waved it off. "Hahaha, come on, don't jump to conclusions. Let's review already. Homework comes first."
Relieved, Hitoka exhaled and led him to the study. She laid out her textbooks and began tutoring him seriously.
Hitoka really was a good teacher. She explained things clearly, then gave him a few problems to solve. Jin got through them with ease, making her quietly proud of herself.
After an hour, Jin stretched, rubbing his stomach. "Hitoka-chan, you explained it perfectly. But after all that studying, I'm starving. How about I take you out to eat?"
Hitoka waved her hands quickly. "No, no, I couldn't let you treat me just for that. If you're hungry… why don't you just cook something here? I'll eat too."
That was exactly what Jin was waiting for.
"Cooking myself, huh? Then I'll show you!" Jin said with exaggerated confidence, pointing at his chest.
A boy cooking for her, Hitoka had never experienced anything like it. Without even realizing it, she nodded.
In his previous life, Jin had been used to taking care of himself, so cooking was no trouble at all.
He opened the fridge and pulled out lean pork, cabbage, eggs, potatoes, tomatoes, enough for a homestyle dinner.
"Hitoka-chan, watch carefully! Time for my Shokugeki no Jin mode!" He tied on an apron with mock seriousness.
"Shokugeki? Do you… make food fights?" Hitoka tilted her head in confusion.
Jin just smirked and got to work. His knife moved swiftly, slicing vegetables and meat with practiced ease.
Hitoka, who always carried a cautious impression of him, felt something shift. Watching Jin focus on cooking, her wariness loosen. Serious men, it was said, were the most handsome and right now, Jin fit that perfectly.
Within minutes, he had nikujaga (simmered meat and potatoes), tamagoyaki (rolled omelette), and finished with miso soup.
He set the table proudly. "Simple home-cook foods. Try it and see if it's to your taste."
Hitoka picked up her chopsticks, took one bite and her eyes shimmered with tears.
Jin looked at her expression and grabbed his own chopsticks. "Oi, it's not that bad is it? You look like you're about to cry!"
Hitoka shook her head quickly. "I wasn't crying, really! It's just… this is the first time a boy's cooked for me, so… I got a little emotional." She gave him a small smile.
Jin chuckled, scoping out a small bowl of miso soup. "Soup goes best with rice. Here, let me, ah!" He slipped, spilling hot broth onto his hand.
"Ah! Are you okay?" Hitoka rushed over, grabbing tissues. "You're so careful most of the time, how can you be so clumsy?"
Jin shook it off, running his hand briefly under cold water. He returned with a faint grimace and sat back down, pretending to still be in pain.
The chopsticks slipped from his hand with a dramatic sigh.
Hitoka bit her lip. "It hurts that much? Should I run out and buy medicine?"
"What medicine?" Jin shook his head, looking at her intently. "…Can't you just… feed me instead?"
Hitoka's cheeks turned pink. "Eh… feed you…?"
Jin stayed quiet this time, not daring to push her too far.
After a moment of hesitation, she remembered, it was because he cooked for her that he got burned. Slowly, shyly, she lifted the rice bowl and chopsticks.
"…Here." Hitoka inched the chopsticks toward his lips, her face burning.
'Done!' Jin praised himself inwardly. His plan was working.
But before the first bite could reach him…
*Boom!* A loud thunder resounding through the sky.
The lights flickered out, and the room was swallowed by darkness.