EVIFSHETHEDEMONKING (GXG) (GIRLXGIRL) (GL)

37

“Looks like it’s about time we head to the counter!” Ascena said.

“Yeah,” I said.

I temporarily restrain the burning determination in my heart. After all, it didn’t help me during the shopping… well, I’ll learn from my mistakes here! As I did with my party and housework… probably.

Incidentally, I decided to carry the shopping bags myself. Ascena kept on saying, “Please, let me carry them for you, Princess…!”… come on, just let me do this!

I bring the large and heavy shopping bags back to our place. Now, it’s time to start helping from here on out! It’s up to me whether or not I can eat a delicious hamburger steak for lunch or make something terrible instead!

“Well then, let’s start cooking, Princess~!” Ascen hums.

“R-Right!” I said.

Gulp… I’m so nervous.

“S-So, what do I do first?” I asked.

“First chop the onions,” Ascena said. “Here… there’s a secret coming up~ Try chopping it now.”

“R-Right,” I said. “I see…”

Ascena may have been hinting at something, but I’m not in a position to say anything. I just have to follow her orders. The chopping ends up being messy.

Chop, chop, I’m awful at cutting it… what the?

“A-Ascena?” I asked. “My eyes are hurting and tearing up for some reason!”

“Forgive me, Princess,” Ascena said. “I just wanted to have a little fun and kept it a secret.”

“Wha… you were hiding this!”

“I’m very sorry~!” Ascena hummed.

This girl is seriously…! Did she want to see me teary-eyed so much?”

“Now then, let’s fry them till they turn amber!” Ascena said.

“… Amber?” I asked.

I wonder if that’s the color candy is supposed to be. Brown is for coffee and pink is for strawberry, right?

I fry and fry, but it only turns out brown.

“Right, this is OK~!” Ascenah hums.

I stopped myself from saying “Huh?” at the last minute. This isn’t brown, is it? Where in the world is the amber? Well, if this is amber, I suppose there’s nothing I can do about it…

“Next, let’s put the minced meat into a bowl and knead it,” Ascena said.

“R-Right,” I said.

Knead the minced meat… I wonder what it feels like? Ah–

“Hii!” I squeal. “It feels awful!”

“P-Princess!” Ascena gasps. “Please just bear with it.”

“Ugh… I’ve got it!” I said.

Don’t think about how it feels. Knead, knead, just knead!

“Princess, let’s add the eggs, salt and pepper, nutmeg, and bread crumbs next,” Ascena said.

“G-Got it!” I said.

I do just as Ascena asked, I leave the amounts to her. At school, I’m the one giving out orders, so I’m disoriented by the sudden shift in roles.

“The whole mix is getting uniform, so it’s time to add the onions,” Ascena said.

“R-Right!”

So far, I’ve only been able to say “Right!” or “Got it!”… but I’m getting used to the feeling of meat. I can knead it properly…

“Huh?” I asked. “Shouldn’t I have worn gloves for this?”

“If we do it like that, the Princess’ flavor won’t be added… ah, I meant, this is fine~!”

Did Ascena just say something? Ah, whatever. I’m sure she’d say it again if it was important.

“Let’s take half and shape it into an oval,” Ascena said.

“An oval…” I repeat. “I wonder if I can do it…”

I try to move it around in my hand. Beside me, Ascena is going “Ah <3” and “I want to eat it <3” but this is fine, right?

“Let’s bake it. I’ll take things over from here~!” Ascena said.

“Yes, please!” I said.

I’m not confident that I’d cook it well. But I’ve helped make 50% of this hamburger, right? I feel like I’ve done enough!

Ascena bakes the hamburger with familiar hands. Before I knew it, she had taken out the ingredients for the sauce and started making it at the same time. Waaah… my best friend is incredibly skilled.

“Right!” Ascena said. “The hamburger stake that you and I made together is complete!”

“Woohoo!” I said. “Let’s eat, let’s eat!”

I take it to the table immediately. What does it taste like?

“… Mm! It’s delicious!” I said.

It’s a juicy hamburger steak topped with plenty of gravy. It’s done well for my helping make it!

“The Princess’ flavor…” Ascena hums as she tries it. “Hehehehe…!”

Did something good happen?

“Ascena?” I asked.

“Wah?!” Ascena yelps. “W-What is it?”

“Thank you again for doing this every day,” I said. “All that cooking earlier must have been so difficult.”

“T-That’s not true!” Ascena said, violently shaking her head. “I’m happy and I had a lot of fun!”

“But I still have to thank you,” I said. “What would you like?”

“In that case…” Ascena said, “can we cook together again someday?”

I thought it was only going to be more trouble for my being there…

“Yes~!” I said. “Of course.”

After we finished eating, we talked and took a nap. This is how my Sunday came to an end.