Chapter 22: Couples (4)
"Ah, as long as it tastes good."
Because Reinhild's expression was so blissful, Subaru instinctively sat back on the wooden bench and unconsciously took a bite of the fish in his hand.
The tiny bones and delicious flavor, combined with the slippery texture of the semi-raw meat, froze Subaru—whose palate had long been spoiled by Reinhild—and he struggled to swallow the fish.
—Wait, didn't Reinhild just say, "It's really great that you can do this well on your first try!"
Subaru instantly realized he had been tricked. He stared seriously at Reinhild. Though she was enjoying her fish thoroughly, Subaru had only taken one bite and fell silent.
—Maybe it surprisingly suits Reinhild's taste? —Or maybe because I know it's for Reinhild, I overperformed?
Recalling all the food Reinhild made for him every day, Subaru's self-deception vanished instantly.
"Um… can I try?"
Reinhild looked at Subaru in surprise, then at the half-eaten fish in her hand.
"Um, I'm just curious if it tastes different because of the fire, so please."
Reinhild instinctively stepped back as Subaru approached, bumping into the dragon carriage's guard panel. Still seeing her Subaru in front of her, Reinhild instinctively held the fish between them.
—Could this be… an indirect kiss?
Having been studying how couples interact recently, Reinhild's mind automatically jumped to this thought as Subaru's mouth neared the part of the fish she had bitten.
—What should I do!?
—No, wait… isn't this kind of nice? An unexpected way to achieve it. This could naturally lead to sharing drinks, cakes, and food with Subaru like other couples…
—And isn't it kind of romantic too? Anyway, my previous attempts failed, and we've already kissed, so why worry about this little thing?
Subaru's mouth got closer and closer to the fish, and Reinhild's thoughts became increasingly chaotic. Since that first kiss, she had never had the courage to kiss Subaru herself, and indeed wanted to grow gradually through indirect experiences, but…
When Subaru's lips were about three centimeters from the fish, seeing his lips and teeth approaching the piece she had bitten, her shyness finally took over. Reinhild rotated the skewer 180 degrees, positioning the untouched half of the fish toward Subaru.
—Ahhh, what am I doing!?
Watching Subaru already biting the fish, Reinhild thought, but also realized it would be too forward to reverse it now. She sighed, then looked at Subaru, puzzled by his paused action.
"Why…"
In just a moment, Subaru bit off the majority of the remaining fish and stuffed it into his mouth. Reinhild looked at the skewer in her hand, with only the tail end of the fish left, and at the fish disappearing into Subaru's mouth.
—%¥&#@
As expected!
Just one bite and Subaru understood—the fish Reinhild held was as unpleasant as the one in his hand.
Of course—cooked on the same fire, for the exact same amount of time. How could one half be raw and the other fully cooked?
Subaru glanced at Reinhild, who was dazed for some reason, realizing there was only one chance. He instinctively grabbed the skewer, pulled his head back, tore the remaining fish off in one bite, swallowed it, and then finished the rest of his grilled fish.
Afterward, he looked at Reinhild, who strangely remained sitting in place, her entire face red.
—Is she angry?
Subaru cautiously approached Reinhild, sensing something off. Though her gaze was on the remaining fish, her expression was not angry, but rather…
—She's shy! Why?
"Um, Rein, are you okay?"
"Ah! No, I'm not mad at Subaru!"
Reinhild flailed her hands, dropping the grilled fish to the ground.
—As expected, she's shy!
Seeing this, Subaru was finally certain. Then he looked at his own clothing, puzzled.
—Why is she embarrassed? I ate Reinhild's fish, isn't that…?
—Wait, I just ate the fish Reinhild bit!
Subaru's eyes drifted downward to the fish on the ground, still marked with her teeth.
—I just ate the fish Reinhild had bitten!
He finally understood as he saw Reinhild's flushed face.
—This is… an indirect kiss!
Subaru shouted instinctively, then looked at Reinhild, who was shyly lowering her head. His own face rapidly turned red.
"No, I didn't mean it that way."
"Mm, I understand Subaru didn't mean it that way."
—Oh no! I stepped on a landmine.
Seeing Reinhild's slightly dejected expression, Subaru instantly realized.
"Honestly, I feel like I messed up. I shouldn't have eaten so quickly. No, Reinhild's well-being is more important… ahhh!"
"I'll take care of the remaining fish."
Reinhild stood up, a small smile on her face as she heard Subaru's troubled mumbling behind her.
"This one is spicy, this one is barbecue."
Reinhild climbed onto the dragon carriage and said.
"Oh, either is fine. Reinhild's cooking is definitely delicious anyway."
Reinhild handed over the barbecue-flavored fish.
—Absolutely delicious.
"Then do you want to try the spicy one?"
?!!
"Well…"
Subaru hesitated when seeing the small missing piece in the fish in front of him.
"I don't mind, since Subaru just ate half of the fish I had already bitten, right?"
"Then I won't hold back."
Subaru swallowed and, even though there were untouched parts, gradually approached the missing piece and took small bites.
—It really is delicious. By the way, did I eat too much? More than half is already in my stomach. Reinhild, you should have some too.
Reinhild paused as she looked at the fish in front of her, her foot slightly curled in midair, but soon her eyes grew determined. She carefully moved her hair aside and took a small bite of the exposed fish.
"Mm, pretty good."
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