It was a strange feeling to come back like this.
“I think Kim-kun is cool.”
“Huh? What?”
“…Really, baka. Nothing!”
No, this time it was because I genuinely couldn’t hear her properly, but being suddenly called an idiot made my stomach churn a little.
Was this what the main character in a romantic comedy manga or novel felt like? I think I was starting to understand why they always reacted with a [Huh? What?]
I was sure it must have been something meaningful, but without any context, it was just a vague statement with no connections.
“Oh, I also brought a mat. I think we should sit over there…”
“Let’s do it.”
It was the weekend, and we were at the park, yet for some reason, there was no one around.
As if the world had cleared a space just for Ohana and me.
“There’s no one else in the park today?”
“Yeah… that’s right.”
“I guess we can relax a bit more comfortably.”
“Ah, lets put the mat here.”
Ohana took out the mat and spread it on the grass.
I had thought the fabric on top of her basket was a mat, but upon closer inspection, it was too small to be used that way.
While Ohana busied herself with preparations, I took a moment to look around.
Spring was still in full bloom, and the scenery was covered in falling cherry blossom petals.
The atmosphere felt strangely dreamlike.
As I watched the petals drift in the breeze, Ohana suddenly spoke.
“Um… Everything’s ready, so sit down, Kim-kun. Can you hand me the basket too?”
“Oh, sure.”
As soon as I handed the basket to Ohana, she removed the cloth covering it and opened the lid.
Just as I expected, it contained simple foods—sandwiches and toast. The drink was orange juice.
At this point, I had to admit, Ohana had good instincts.
I gave her a thumbs-up.
“Kamiyama, nice work!”
“Ehehe… Is that a compliment?”
“Of course. What else would it be?”
For a light picnic, having a meal that wasn’t too heavy was ideal.
And in that sense, what Ohana had prepared fit the occasion perfectly.
“Please enjoy your meal!”
“I was going to, even if you didn’t say that.”
I noticed that Ohana was trembling slightly.
Was she nervous?
Considering the situation, she might have been worried that the food she prepared wouldn’t suit my taste.
I took a bite of the sandwich and—
Chew, munch.
I calmly savored the taste. The ham and cheese were perfectly balanced, and the subtle dressing on the salad brought everything together.
Before I knew it, tears welled up in my eyes.
“Ah… ah…”
“W-Why are you crying, Kim-kun?! Did I mess up the food somehow?!”
“No, it’s just… it’s so delicious that it’s making me cry.”
I wasn’t lying. It was genuinely delicious.
I still couldn’t forget Amelia’s cooking—no, her poison… her Cooking of Death.
Her dishes were so deadly they felt like an assassination attempt.
On the other hand, Ohana’s food was simple, classic, and just right.
I never thought I would be so grateful for something like this.
I felt like her cooking was even better than the average restaurant’s, but more importantly, someone had actually cooked for me.
Wasn’t that a high-ranking perk in life?
It felt like something straight out of an otaku’s dream.
“Ah, Kim-kun. Eat slowly. Here.”
Perhaps amused by how quickly I was eating, Ohana took out a bottle of orange juice and poured some into a cup before handing it to me.
I downed it in one go, letting out a satisfied sigh like an old man.
“Oops, sorry for eating so much. That was kind of embarrassing.”
“Oh no! If it tastes good, then… I-I’m happy too.”
Ohana turned her head, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
“You should eat too, Ohana.”
“Huh? Oh, no, it’s okay! Just watching Kim-kun enjoy it is enough to make me feel full.”
As she spoke, she tucked a strand of her pink-dyed hair behind her ear.
Maybe it was the way her soft pink hair blended with the falling cherry blossom petals, but for a moment…
She looked breathtakingly beautiful.
At the same time, I suddenly felt like crying.
The past five months since I had been transported into this world had been tough.
Even though I worked as a butler, I had never once acknowledged how hard it really was.
…No, I had just been pretending it wasn’t.
No matter how kind Amelia was, it had still been exhausting to constantly cater to her whims.
Because being treated well and having an easy life were two completely different things.
“Kim-kun, actually… I suggested this picnic because…”
“Hm?”
“I… I wanted to say thank you.”
“Thank you?”
“Yeah… We didn’t really talk much at the start of the semester, but you were the first one to help me when I needed it.”
“That’s true.”
“So, I thought it would be nice to take a proper break today.”
Ohana suddenly knelt down and lightly patted her lap.
“Kim-kun, do you… want to lie down here?”
What she was suggesting was clear—
A lap pillow.
‘…Huh?’
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