Suspense in Summer

Why do I have to cook for you?

Tsukiko Kyono confronted me in an apron, her attitude prickly. She’s a classmate of mine, known for her long black hair and beautiful appearance.

It was sometime in the evening.

Despite it being summer vacation, we still attended school frequently. We failed to pass the exams for our first semester, and now had to take supplementary classes.

It was after one of those classes that Tsukiko, uninvited and still in her school uniform, came to my studio apartment. She brought with her the ingredients for a meat and potato stew.

I bet you're not eating properly, since you're living alone.

She pushed her way inside and started to prepare dinner.

A moment passed, and an odd tension grew in the air. Now, it seemed like I was the one forcing her to cook. Her knife drummed on the chopping board as she cut the vegetables. Tsukiko's expression was sulky.

You even made me wear a pink apron.

Didn't you bring that yourself?

I bet you're thinking something like, hehe, she's wearing an apron over her school uniform.

That's not really my kind of fetish . . .

I'm this embarrassed, and you don't feel a thing?!

I can’t win this conversation, can I?

Hmph.

Without another word, Tsukiko tips the chopped vegetables into a pot.

I live alone because my father was transferred to the countryside. With no high schools close enough that I could attend in the area, I chose to stay in the city where I was born and raised. As the house my family lived in was too big for just me, I moved into this apartment.

Although I enjoy my carefree life, Tsukiko comes over quite often.

Do you want me to help you?

No, it's okay. You can relax over there, Yukiji.

I sat on the sofa and turned on the television.

The evening news was on.

Political corruption, a missing elementary school student, bank robbers on the run, celebrities having an affair, an exhibition on the history of cannons at some museum, the development of a new drug turning out to be fake . . .

I had no interest in these things.

Just as I'm getting bored, my cat jumped onto the sofa. I petted her smooth, furry head.

I never thought you'd have a cat, Yukiji.

You haven't seen her before, have you?

Nope. She wasn't here the last time I came over.

I only picked her up last week.

Was she abandoned?

I found her in front of my door.

I tickled the cat's chin, and her eyes narrowed with pleasure. What a cute little thing!

What's her name?

I haven't decided yet. Wonder what should I call her?

Tsukiko placed our dinner on the table, and we sat across from each other as we ate. The amount of vegetables in the stew showed how much she cared for my health.

As I was a responsible cat owner, I didn't forget to feed the cat. I poured some milk into a dish and placed it on the floor. The cat lapped it up eagerly. Once finished, she climbed onto my lap, asking for my attention. I stroked her head while eating my stew.

After dinner, we sat on the sofa and watched a movie. It was a common action flick, but each action scene had humorous twists, making it funny and refreshing.

Gazing at Tsukiko's profile, I remembered what some of the boys from my class had said about her.

Tsukiko is seriously hot. I wish I could date her.

Idiot, you don't stand a chance. Besides, she may look cute, but she's rough on the inside.

That's the point, I want her to scold me.

Perhaps she's actually gentle when you get her alone?

A trivial boys' conversation.

Tsukiko was the kind of girl who often became the focus of such talk.

And right now, I was alone in my apartment with that girl.

Fair skin, thin lips, almond-shaped eyes, long limbs. She looked thin when fully dressed, but her gym clothes revealed more impressive proportions than I had expected.

I had known Tsukiko since elementary school. Usually, childhood friends didn't see each other as potential romantic interests until they were in high school, but for Tsukiko, things were different.

Tsukiko had always been mature and beautiful since she was little. She had been many a boy's first crush.

Is there something wrong?

Noticing my gaze, Tsukiko turned toward me.

Are you still hungry?

No.

I quickly averted my gaze, not wanting her to realize I was admiring her beautiful face. Tsukiko's prickly demeanor could be a challenge, but I was no better.

As a distraction, I stroked and talked to my cat.

Don't you get lonely when I'm at school?

Meow.

I wonder if I should get another cat. But they say it's harder to look after more.

I squeezed her tiny paw gently.

Meow.

I'd heard that many cats hated being touched, but this one seemed completely relaxed.

Amused, I started playing with the cat.

Eventually, Tsukiko seemed to grow bored. She gave the cat a long, hard stare, so I picked the cat up and placed her down on the opposite side to Tsukiko.

Want to play a video game?

When I asked this, Tsukiko blinked.

Huh?

She had a look of annoyance on her face.

Wait a minute. You make it seem like I'm jealous because you're paying attention to the cat, not me? No way! Can you stop framing it like that? You couldn't be more wrong if you tried! Seriously!

Well, you looked really bored.

Your very existence bores me.

Then why do you keep inviting yourself over?

So that's how you want to play?

No one likes to have their contradictions pointed out.

Tsukiko glared at me.

I'm going to burn this place down.

Well, that's a scary threat.

Despite all of that, we ended up playing a video game together. Whenever I won, she'd say the same thing.

This is boring.

And when I lost, she'd still complain.

You're such a pushover, it's not even fun.

She always found a reason to lash out at me. This girl had more thorns than a cactus.

When I playfully punched her shoulder in retaliation, she fought back with everything she had.

I give, I give!

Things turned into an all out wrestling match. Since I’m naturally stronger, I ended up pinning Tsukiko down while looming over her. Her refined face, inches from mine, reminded me of just how beautiful she was, which made me nervous.

Suddenly, Tsukiko became docile and turned away.