Chapter Forty-Four: Laying Bare One’s Heart

After leaving the hotel, Anhe originally planned to return home and take Sayu Amamiya to work, but midway, Haruki Sato suddenly called to say that the café would be closed for the next two days. So Anhe bought some vegetables and meat nearby and drove straight home.

By the time he reached the apartment building, dusk was settling in. He found an empty spot, parked the car, and carried the groceries and the gift for Sayu Amamiya upstairs.

At the entrance of the apartment, the same group from yesterday still squatted in the corner, each holding a bucket of instant noodles. The sound of slurping and the rich aroma even made Anhe, passing by, feel a little hungry.

Quickening his steps, Anhe soon arrived at his own door. Placing the groceries on the ground, he took the key out of his pocket, about to unlock the door, when it opened automatically, revealing Sayu Amamiya’s figure.

“Waiting for me at the door again?” Anhe’s voice was tinged with resignation.

“I just happened to be passing by,” Sayu Amamiya replied softly. Her gaze fell on the groceries at Anhe’s feet; she stepped forward to pick them up and asked curiously, “Aren’t you going to work today?”

Hearing this, Anhe followed her into the room, changing his shoes at the entryway as he explained, “Manager Sato said the café is closed for a couple of days, so there’s no need to work.”

The mention of not working brought a hint of disappointment to Sayu Amamiya's face. To her, no work meant no income.

Sensing her mood was low, Anhe rose and handed the bouquet he’d bought at the boutique that afternoon to Sayu Amamiya. She looked at him in confusion, and he smiled gently, “It’s for you.”

Gazing at the vivid red rose, Sayu Amamiya stood stunned for a moment before taking it.

“Thank you.” She spoke softly, her eyes lingering on the rose, her earlobes and even her neck flushed with color.

Seeing her like this, Anhe suddenly pecked her cheek with a grin. “You’re welcome.”

Afterwards, he placed the rest of the items on the living room table and called out to Sayu Amamiya, who was still standing in the entryway, “I’m going to take a shower. Don’t worry about the groceries. Tonight we’ll have sukiyaki.”

Hearing Anhe, Sayu Amamiya snapped out of her daze and nodded with a blush. “I understand.”

A few dozen minutes later.

Emerging from the bathroom, Anhe had changed into loungewear. In the living room, Sayu Amamiya was sitting on the sofa lost in thought.

Following her gaze, he saw that, at some point, a plastic bottle filled with water had been placed on the cabinet in the corner, holding the bouquet of red roses.

“Do you like it?” Anhe sat down beside her. Sayu Amamiya nodded, her eyes still fixed on the roses. She murmured, “This is the first time anyone has given me something.”

Hearing that, Anhe wrapped his arms around Sayu Amamiya’s soft body, settling her onto his lap, and chuckled, “Then I’ll give you something every day from now on.”

At his words, Sayu Amamiya lifted her head, her lashes trembling. Her large eyes blinked up at Anhe, as if searching for some flaw in his promise.

After a long moment, as though she’d found the answer she wanted, Sayu Amamiya slowly closed her eyes, raised her chin, and parted her lips slightly—like a rose waiting to be plucked, delicate and enticing.

Seeing this, the diligent bee, Anhe, did not hold back.

“Mmm~”

...

After a while, the two parted.

Watching Sayu Amamiya, breathless and nestled in his arms, Anhe played with her silky hair and rested his head atop hers, asking quietly, “Will you tell me about your past?”

Hearing him, the mist in Sayu Amamiya’s eyes gradually cleared, and her gaze returned to the bouquet on the cabinet. After a moment of silence, she spoke.

“My father is the current chairman of the Amamiya Group…”

(The details of Sayu Amamiya’s background were mentioned earlier; let’s omit eight hundred words here. I dislike padding, and if you wonder why I explain this, I can only say I’m padding right now.)

...

Sayu Amamiya’s voice was calm, as if recounting something unrelated to herself, but Anhe knew it was a sign that she had given up on familial affection.

By the time she finished, more than half an hour had passed.

Feeling her mood sink, Anhe gently cupped her face, and, seeing the confusion in her eyes, kissed her lips softly. “Let me be your family from now on, okay?”

At his words, Sayu Amamiya’s eyes gradually regained their sparkle, and she nodded lightly.

[With just a few words, you’ve won a girl’s heart. You are secretly pleased, but you want more. Since she’s in a good mood today, why not make some requests? Perhaps tonight you will take your first step into adulthood.]

The untimely narration shattered the ambiguous atmosphere Anhe had painstakingly created, though the latter part of the comment left him somewhat excited.

Sayu Amamiya is in a good mood today?

Does that mean I can…

Thinking of certain unspeakable things, Anhe couldn’t help but grin mischievously.

Sayu Amamiya had no idea what he was thinking, but seeing how happy he seemed, she smiled as well.

The two lingered together for a while longer, then rose to prepare dinner.

Japanese sukiyaki is quite similar to hotpot, though lighter in flavor.

The flat stone pot is rubbed with beef fat, and thin slices of beef are spread evenly, sprinkled with white sugar. Once the meat changes color, soy sauce and cooking wine are added, along with preferred seasonings, to stew into a savory sauce.

The meat is shifted to one side, and the vegetables are arranged like a cake in a circular pattern, with mugwort placed in the center. At this stage, a little water is added, and the lid is closed for three minutes.

A pot of sukiyaki, rich in color, aroma, and flavor, is thus ready.

Though there were only two, dinner was unusually lively.

It all started when both Anhe and Sayu Amamiya grabbed a single enoki mushroom at the same time. To be fair, Anhe suggested they each take one end and eat to see who could manage more.

Initially, Sayu Amamiya disagreed, but she gave in under Anhe’s persistent coaxing.

In the end, dinner stretched for over two hours.

Afterwards, Anhe cleared the dishes while Sayu Amamiya went to shower.

She felt she’d eaten only a third, with more than half snatched from her mouth by Anhe.

Soon, both returned to the living room after tidying up. Since tomorrow was the weekend, Anhe had no intention of sleeping early.

After watching TV for a while, Anhe grew bored and suddenly remembered he had bought many DVDs. He suggested watching a movie.

Sayu Amamiya readily agreed.

Thus, with a cheerful smile, Anhe pulled out a DVD titled “The Grudge” from the cabinet. After assuring Sayu Amamiya several times that it was a romance film, he slipped it into the player…