I had to think really hard about this. And the conclusion I reached was that postponing it for just a day wouldn’t lead to the destruction of Abydos. Yet…
My conscience ached. A lot.
I had been holding onto a vague thought that the teacher would take care of any annoying tasks once they arrived, but the reality was that I was the type of person who couldn’t easily accept the situation, making it tough to just sit back and relax.
Over there, they were probably gathering combat data with Vina while gasping for breath in a sandstorm, and here I was, celebrating my lover’s birthday. It wasn’t easy.
So, after much thought, I decided to contact Hina. I asked her if she had any plans for dinner tonight, and thankfully, she didn’t. Thus, an impromptu trip to Gehenna was decided right then and there.
I already knew that Hina didn’t have an oven at her place, so instead of the tomahawk I initially planned, I bought two 200g pieces of beef tenderloin, along with some vegetables to go with them. Plus, I picked up a cake from Millefeuille as an extra gift and headed off to Gehenna.
When I arrived at Gehenna, it was just after 5 o’clock. Without delay, I went straight to Hina’s empty house.
I took the meat out ahead of time to pat it dry, brushed it with olive oil, sprinkled salt and pepper, and left it be for a bit. Then, I accessed my frequently used recipe website on my Hyudaepon.
It was my first time frying tenderloin steak, so I read the recipe several times, just to be sure. I would have liked to prepare a candle as well, but it was a spur-of-the-moment plan, and I couldn’t manage that much.
While I let the meat rest, I hesitated for a moment when I thought about asking the teacher for updates. I clearly remembered not giving out my Momotalk ID, so why was it saved? What’s going on…?
For a moment, I felt a chill that could rival a horror film, but I quickly shook it off and sent a message on Momotalk. What could I do about something already saved? Honestly, I knew this day would come, regardless of when.
After waiting for a while without a reply, I passed the time by checking other messages on Momotalk.
Then, around 6 o’clock, I heard the sound of the front door opening. I rushed to the hallway, only to see a tired-looking Hina taking off her rain boots. She looked up at me, blinking as if she couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Welcome, Hina-chan☆”
“Mika? Why are you here…?”
“Uhm, I’ll explain that in a bit. Change into something comfortable and come back!”
I let the flustered Hina inside and began to preheat the frying pans. I took out two frying pans, poured some oil over strong heat, and got ready. I had already planned the following steps after cooking the meat.
Once the pans were nicely heated and smoke started rising, I placed the meat in one of them. To match Hina’s preference of medium-rare, I decided to cook mine a bit longer for 2 minutes and 30 seconds each.
I threw in butter and rosemary, continually spooning the oil over the steak as it cooked. Once it was nicely done all around, I wrapped it in foil to let it rest.
As I repeated the same process, Hina came over, now wearing a white frilly nightgown that radiated a pure vibe instead of her usual cute pajamas.
“Uh, Mika. Did I perhaps misremember the date?”
“Huh? No, that’s not it. It’s almost done, so just wait a little longer.”
I finished cooking my steak, wrapped it in foil, and threw some asparagus, mushrooms, and onions into the other frying pan.
Maybe feeling awkward just standing there, Hina looked around to see if there was anything for her to do. The setup had long been completed.
Seeing Hina’s disappointed face made my heart flutter; it’s why I enjoyed taking care of her so much.
I plated hers first and placed it in front of her. Honestly, I was worried about it failing, but on the outside, it looked just fine.
Anyway, as long as I followed the recipe, I shouldn’t have too much trouble.
I prepared my plate and sat across from Hina. For something decided on a whim, it felt pretty nice… I hoped so at least.
“To be honest, it’s my first time cooking steak myself, so I’m not sure how good it’ll turn out. But hey, it looks decent, right?”
“…Mika, sometimes your humility seems a bit excessive.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind; it’s not important. I’ll, um… enjoy this.”
“Yeah, eat up☆”
I brought out steak sauce just in case, but seeing Hina take bites of the steak without dipping it in sauce made it seem like it wasn’t necessary.
Watching Hina’s mouth happily working on her food was proof enough; this was definitely a success. Maybe if I studied the recipe a bit more, I could make it again whenever I liked.
And sure enough, when I tasted my own steak, I felt it was a resounding success. Cooking wasn’t that hard, so it must have been a good recipe after all.
“Mmm~!”
The steak melted in my mouth. I was looking forward to the next year when I could pair it with some wine.
“How is it, Hina-chan?”
“I think I’d love anything you made, Mika…”
“Heueng Oh, if that’s the case, I’m happy to hear it. But I’m sure you have more thoughts about the meal?”
“Um… Isn’t that the kind of thing I could just hear from Haruna? The only thing I can say is that it’s just delicious…”
“Hahaha! That ‘delicious’ is more than enough. I think it’s time to remember that Hina-chan’s praise makes Mika dance!”
Well, expressing one’s feelings clumsily makes little compliments even more precious.
“By the way, this steak: whoever made it must be amazing. I think Hina-chan should give an even bigger shout-out!”
“I think it’s amazing. If I could eat your cooking every day, I’d have no other wishes.”
“…Ugh.”
Ah, this is a bit too much. What can I say… it’s a moment where I feel a bit resentful of our social positions. Though we can’t spend time alone together, being in positions responsible for Gehenna and Trinity means it’s a bit difficult to do that daily. Maybe after graduation.
“So, about why I came by today… you do have something planned for tomorrow, right?”
“…Hina-chan, come on, if you jump to conclusions like that, it puts me in a tough spot. It’s already a sensitive topic, and not giving me time to prepare is a bit too much.”
“Sorry, Mika.”
“No, no, you really shouldn’t apologize, Hina-chan! So, um, you’ve heard about the teacher from Shalle, right?”
“Yeah, somewhat. The advisor teacher of the federal investigation club appointed directly by the Student Council President essentially means inheriting all her authority and influence, so it’s definitely something you shouldn’t miss.”
“That teacher is currently in Abydos to help with some issues there. Last night, one of my friends from Abydos asked me for help.”
“…Now I understand why you came so suddenly. Feeling guilty, are we?”
“Hahaha… Not guilty, just a little conscious. My friend and the teacher are struggling in the desert…”
“Stop, Mika. You don’t need to say more.”
Hina interrupted me, setting down her utensils, and reached for my hand. When I grasped her hand reflexively, Hina smiled softly.
“I won’t say I wasn’t upset or disappointed. That would be a lie. Honestly, I want to sulk and ask you to take the day off for me. But… I don’t want to blame you for situations like this.”
“I’m sorry, Hina-chan. I know you were looking forward to it.”
“But you came to see me today. There’s no need to put too much meaning on a birthday, Mika. It’s just one day a year, but… it’s also a day we can celebrate many times in the future together.”
I don’t know why Hina’s tiny hand feels so enormous. Shouldn’t mental maturity have its limits?
“A date on your birthday and a date on an uneventful day a week later—there’s really no difference between the two. If it’s about how it feels to spend time with someone who loves special days… well, maybe I’ll consider today my birthday.”
“…Puhuh! Hina-chan, you really don’t need to go that far. But as a favor, how about we go on a trip together sometime?”
“I say this every time, but… as long as I’m with you, I’m happy with anything, Mika. There’s just a slight difference between something a bit less special and something more special. So, about what you’re planning tomorrow, can I come along?”
“…?”
Hearing Hina’s words made my head go blank. Why was she willingly taking on hardships?
“Uh, it’s gonna be troublesome, you know?”
“Do I need to explain again…? That’s honestly more of a pain, you know?”
Only then did I begin to understand Hina’s ‘I’m fine with anything as long as I’m with you’ sentiment. I realized just how much she truly cared for me.
“Uh-huh… a date in a desert ravaged by a sandstorm is quite literally the worst.”
“Then… shouldn’t I leave you with the best memories before we go…?”
“Hmm?”
Hina slightly shifted her gaze away, speaking in a whisper. I felt her fidgeting hand in mine.
“Today… can I sleep over here…?”
…Hina, deep down, do you really not plan on coming with me tomorrow?
