Snapping out of her daze, Masuzu pursed her warming lips and looked at Yuigahama.
"Why did Tenkuji-kun come too?"
"Oh, it's related to our club. Originally, it was just going to be Yukinon…"
After explaining why so many people were in her house now, Yuigahama noticed Masuzu's brows still slightly furrowed and asked in confusion.
"What's wrong? Is there something you don't understand?"
Masuzu hesitated. She hid her confused eyes in the white mist of the warm tea and let out a soft sigh.
"No, it's just… my mother… someone once told me not to let anyone of the opposite sex, other than my boyfriend, into my house. So I'm a bit worried about that."
"Don't say things like that after accepting someone's help."
Yukino sipped her warm tea from a paper cup, speaking with her eyes slightly lowered and a flat tone. "Besides, he'll leave after making the porridge. He doesn't have any chance, let alone the intention, to do anything to you. You don't need to worry about useless things like that."
Her tone carried a hint of reproach, as if defending the person cooking in the kitchen, not wanting him to be misunderstood.
Though she knew he had helped her a lot and could even be called her benefactor, driven by instincts etched into her DNA, Masuzu still retorted:
"Of course I know. I just have the reasonable concerns any normal girl would have. I hope Yukinoshita-san can understand."
Catching that hint of hostility, Yukino raised an eyebrow. Her sharp gaze cut through the steam, staring coldly at her.
"Are you saying I'm not normal? If so, I suggest you see a doctor more often. A weak body is understandable, but cognitive issues need immediate treatment."
"I never said you weren't normal in the slightest. If you have that kind of self-awareness, I can't do anything about it. Let's just say that's the case."
"Being carried to the sofa by others after fainting, covered with someone else's coat, and drinking tea made by someone else. It's impressive you can still say things like that without shame."
"I'm very grateful for your care, but that doesn't mean I'll torture myself and not say what's on my mind… Yukinoshita, aren't you the same?"
"I'm not as bad or as rude as you." Looking up, Yukino showed her snow-white neck with pride. In a nonchalant yet condescending manner, she said confidently, "Even if your attitude is as bad as I imagined, if you collapsed in front of me, I'd choose to save you, no matter how many times."
"What a coincidence, me too." Masuzu shrugged. She suddenly sighed again, dropping her confrontational expression and bowing her head sincerely to them.
"Also, thank you for being willing to take care of me this far. I really don't know how to repay you."
"No need! Like Yukinon said, it's only natural for classmates and friends to look out for each other."
Yuigahama covered Masuzu's cold hand with her warm palm, comforting her with a serious tone. "Next time, if we're sick, it's your turn to visit us, Suzu-chan!"
Yukino patted her forehead in resignation. "Yuigahama-san, don't say such unpleasant things, okay?"
"Hehehe~ Everyone gets sick sometimes!"
"Not necessarily if they're foolish."
"Foolish? Where's the fool? Wait, is there a fool here?"
"Haah, I really don't know what to say to you…"
Seeing the two talk with such a natural atmosphere, Masuzu sipped her tea. The corners of her lips curved into an unconscious smile.
"Friends… huh."
That word surfaced in her heart. For some reason, her chest, empty since morning, began to fill with something warm and comforting.
She suddenly realized she was no longer an empty shell. The existence called Natsukawa Masuzu was slowly returning from a distant past. The feeling of her half-lost soul lingered, but she now had the strength to face it.
Her cold, numb limbs gradually regained their normal temperature and flexibility.
"Tch, isn't this like I'm afraid of being lonely? Just kidding…"
Just as she mocked herself, an out-of-place yet striking voice suddenly sounded from the sofa on the other side.
"Youthful friendship is so nostalgic. I want to relive high school life again~"
"…"
The mood shifted instantly. The three of them froze their movements and simultaneously looked at the speaker.
After shaking her head with emotion, Haruno tilted her head, smiling warmly and cheerfully. She asked Masuzu with curiosity, "By the way, Masuzu-chan, you still haven't told us why you fainted."
"Though it seems like you were just too hungry or tired, I feel there's something else behind it. Otherwise, you wouldn't look so despairing and occasionally stare blankly into space."
Seeing her expression freeze for a moment, as if realizing her words were problematic, Haruno quickly added in a gentle tone:
"Oh, if it's something you can't talk about, it's fine if you don't say. I've been studying psychology lately, so I'm a bit interested in things like this… If you need, I can give you some advice, you know?"
"No need, thank you."
She shook her head, refusing without hesitation. Toward this older sister she'd just met, Masuzu remained wary and kept her distance. Of course, she wouldn't tell the truth in front of her.
As for Yuigahama and Yukino, after hearing Masuzu's response, they gave up asking for the reason. They only advised her to take care of herself, see a doctor if she felt unwell, and pay more attention to her health than before, especially since she lived alone.
Masuzu nodded, accepting their concern. She couldn't help glancing at Haruno, whose eyes were full of thoughts and whose lips always curved into a smile. She felt as if she'd let a wolf into her house. An inexplicable discomfort enveloped her heart.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
About ten minutes later, Yuu opened the kitchen door.
"The porridge is ready. Anyone who wants to eat, grab disposable utensils from the kitchen."
As he placed the clay pot on the table and lifted the lid, as if accompanied by a dazzling golden light, a sweet and savory aroma burst forth like an explosion of flavor.
The four people there reflexively swallowed, pressing their stomachs with ravenous appetites and staring at the snow-white porridge in shock.
"Wow, it smells amazing!"
"The color and aroma are perfect. I can already taste it in my mouth before even trying it… His cooking skills are as incredible as ever."
"And it even stimulates the appetite. So thoughtful~"
Ignoring the group praising him as they hurried to the kitchen, Yuu placed the only set of utensils there in front of Masuzu. He nodded politely.
"Please."
"Thank you, sorry for the trouble." An elegant, polite response, as if speaking to a classmate or teacher.
Masuzu took the bowl and chopsticks. For some reason, she felt no resistance to eating food made by a boy she barely knew. Instinctively, she reached her spoon into the clay pot and took a bite.
She looked like she was only tasting it out of courtesy.
"Does this porridge have a name? The dish's name." Masuzu asked without thinking.
Yuu paused for a moment, shook his head, and answered, "Just a stomach-soothing porridge I threw together. Something you'd find anywhere."
Without looking at him, Masuzu said softly, "You can make it this well just by throwing it together. You're far more skilled than me."
Yuu didn't comment. "Maybe. Anyone could do it if they tried harder."
"Then, let's eat."
Ignoring the subtle, mixed feelings in her heart, Masuzu let out a slow breath. The next second, the thick, full spoonful of white porridge entered her small, slightly cracked lips.
Yuu's expression was neutral, but his eyes kept shifting. As if worried and nervous, like observing an experiment's results, he watched her throat pulse. Masuzu swallowed the bite of white porridge, lightly covering her slightly wet mouth.
"This…"
Masuzu's eyes widened slightly, as if confused. She furrowed her brows again and pursed her lips, as if confirming the taste in her mouth.
Yuu's hand on his knee clenched unintentionally. He quickly hid his unreadable expression and asked casually:
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
"A problem… Not exactly."
Masuzu hesitated in choosing her words. As the other three returned with bowls, she said to him in a probing tone:
"Though the aroma is fragrant, this porridge has no taste at all."
Yuu: "…"