Why does the Ruined King still fall in love?

That night, the table was set up for the second time in Yukinoshita's apartment.

Yukinoshita was cooking the rice in the pot, and checking the curry, so I went to make sure the table was right.That hot skillet was left over from a party and it just came in handy.

The electricity hadn't come on, so there had to be plenty of lighting for the meal.

I put a bunch of long candles on the dining table and lit them with a match.

Yukinoshita specifically instructed me not to use any scented candles unless I wanted to spoil our appetite with a certain scent.

"I saw that you completed the simple task I assigned." Yukinoshita checked the placement of the tableware and candles.

After tweaking a few items, she offered her verdict: "It's passable."

"Hey... can't I get more affirmations? I completed this quest. Can't I just get a quest reward?" Maybe I'm still dreaming about some XP that would boost my stamina point because I'm feeling tired.

"Your reward is that you will have food in your stomach. The meal is ready." Yukinoshita said as he placed a plate of rice in front of me, "Sit down."

Yukinoshita sat down, went back to the kitchen, and picked up a plate of fried pork cutlets, cut into strips, along with a pot of curry and some fresh salad that she made from whatever vegetables she had on hand.

"You don't have to wait for me." Yukinoshita said as she untied her apron.

"I remember that it was rude to start eating before the host was seated," I said.

"I said it's okay...uh." Yukinoshita turned around, "Can you untie this for me?"

With Yukinoshita's back turned to me, I saw a tight knot in her apron.

She made the knot tighter...

"Wait a minute," I said...with one flick of my hand, the knot was untied.

"Thank you."

"Nothing." I said. "It's just one more trivial thing I do today..."

"Oh? Who cooked this meal?" Yukinoshita asked, sitting down.

"Hey! I contributed too!"

"Don't use my lines..."

"I contribute as much as you!"

"Who made the salad?"

"You did, but that—!"

"Who made the rice?"

"You did it, but I—!"

"Who made the steaks, cut them into strips, and plated them? Who got the plates out first? It was a great dinner. And the curry, the star of tonight's meal...  ..who the hell measured out the seasoning to make sure the vegetables were the right size?"

Yukinoshita is ruthless in assigning tasks.

For her, assigning appropriate tasks to everyone and rewarding achievements in a fair manner is a mission given to her by God.Everyone should cheer Yukinoshita Yukino, the king of the world.

Long live Yukinoshita!

Bah, no.

I also made some contribution to this result, even if it was insignificant.

"At least I filled the jar with water!" I muttered, "At least I contributed to..."

"Contribution... well... I think I'll give you your due. No matter how small an ant's contribution, I think they should all be recognized...even if an ant It's easy to get lost and forgotten..."

You mean I'm as unimportant as an ant?

"I disagree with that view—"

"Eat." Yukinoshita said while pulling back some strands of hair, exposing her ears. "Thanks for the hospitality," she said softly.After scooping up a spoonful of curry and putting a few cutlets on the plate, Yukinoshita took a spoonful of curry, and the rice slipped past her lips.

She closed her eyes and tasted the food, opened her eyes, and looked at me, my plate.

"Oh yes, you haven't been received yet."

"It's rude to serve yourself in front of guests," I said, bemoaning my plate of plain rice.

"I have flaws, too," she said, scooping some curry onto my plate. "Please help yourself."

"Thank you for the hospitality." I said, clasping my hands together.

The curry and pork formed an excellent treat in my mouth.

The spices tingled my tongue, and the juicy meat melted in my mouth as the firm crust provided delicious texture.If it was made by Totsuka, it would be even better.

"What do you think, Hikigu-kun?"

"That's good, but it would be even better if someone else did it..."

"Oh?" Yukinoshita put down the spoon.

"Are you saying you can do better than me?"

Seriously, I could feel a biting cold wind blowing through the window when she asked me.

"It's not me, it's someone else."

I answer.It brings a smile to my face when I think of Totsuka in his apron.Seeing him say "Welcome home, Hachiman!" Every day goes by like a day in heaven...ah.That's great.

"Hehe..." I smiled in my fantasy, and then I realized that I was eating dinner in the cold reality.

There is no warm Totsuka here, only (cold) Yukinoshita.

The girl across from me said nothing.

She didn't even touch her fork or spoon or anything.

She just sat there, staring at me.

"Don't you want to continue eating?"

Yukinoshita was silent for a while, then asked.

"Anyone else you'd like to cook with?"

"That question needs no explanation at all," I said.

Yukinoshita closed her eyes and returned her attention to her plate.

We continued eating in relative silence, and for some reason it felt like the thermostat was set to the temperature of the refrigerator even though the power was out.

After we finished eating, I offered to do the dishes.

"You go and relax on the couch," Yukinoshita said. "The power will be restored shortly. Besides, your presence and rotting eyes will make the dishes sick."

My stomach was so full I had to agree with her.

I go to the sofa.

Even with just candlelight, I realized I'd made a groove on the couch during a previous nap on the couch.

Smoothing it out with my hands, I did my best to smooth it out.

"Mr. Biqigu." A voice came from the kitchen.

"Ah!" I was taken aback.

Yukinoshita's voice surprised me, like a kid who's been caught stealing ice cream by the shopkeeper.

"W-what?" I replied.

"You'd better spend the night here," she suggested.

"why?"

“Due to a scheduled power outage, trains stopped running early tonight. So instead of walking home, I might as well just stay here,” Yukinoshita said from the kitchen.I could hear the running water washing the dishes.

"That sounds reasonable," I replied.

I sat on the couch and absently picked up the remote.I tried turning on the TV before I remembered the power went out.

what.

Something is out of my mind.

Then I sneezed.

"Are you okay?" I turned to Yukinoshita and saw her holding a tray with two cups of tea. "Maybe there's something you'd like to do..."

"Nothing." I said.

Yukinoshita looked at me suspiciously, as if she was a lie detector, trying to determine if I was lying.She took out two teacups, put them on the saucers, and began pouring tea for herself and me.

"I hope you don't mind drinking black tea," she said.

"We drink it every day," I reminded her, picking up a glass.

She smiled quietly.

"That's exactly what we are."

I took a sip.That scalding liquid ran down my throat, and it made me feel good.

"Will the school be discussing this?"

I put the tea aside and looked at Yukinoshita.

I don't need someone to tell me 'what's this', but I don't see her as someone who cares about school rumors.

But then again, it does have something to do with her.

Perhaps she thinks this will affect her future prospects of school life?

"Yes. Just gossip, as they say..."

"I see......"

"...ah, that reminds me."

"What?" Yukinoshita asked.

"Ms. Shizuka Hiratsuka caught me before the end of the last class." I said, taking another sip of tea.

Yukinoshita glanced at me 'Oh?' Her head was slightly tilted, just like the beautiful girl in Two-dimensional.

The sight nearly burned my tongue.

Damn pussy tongue.

After I blew my tea down, I continued, "She said your substitute teacher got the two piles of letters wrong and that's where your letter was."

"I think it's just bad luck," Yukinoshita said calmly.

"Ah... maybe."

Yukinoshita said softly, "There is nothing more to say about this letter now."

She took her eyes away from mine and turned to the balcony.

"Maybe you should be more humble," I suggested. "Then, maybe the New Year's luck won't be washed away."

"I'm not the kind of person who believes in stupid superstitions. There are only coincidences, chances and skills in the world. In the face of perseverance, luck is meaningless." Yukinoshita said solemnly.

Some people are born lucky, some are born beautiful, some are born to shoulder the responsibility of justice, and some are born to live a carefree life, begging money from their parents in a miserable shallow life.

I envy the latter very much, but I realize that Yukinoshita was born in a righteous family.

She had a duty—a conviction—a conviction I had never seen in a human being.

"If everyone didn't lie to themselves," Yukinoshita said softly, putting the teacup aside, "I think the world would be a better place."

Yuki picked up a book from the table, put the teacup she put down back to its original place, and started to read.

Here's another work of literature, quite possibly the one that won the Nobel Prize without a doubt.

"Is that a Nobel Prize-winning novella or something?" I asked.

Yukinoshita looked up at me and blinked.Then, she sighed.

"Unfortunately, not. Whatever you think about it, most of Neon's 22 Nobel laureates are in physics and chemistry. In literature, only two have ever won the prize."

How she knew it all at once, I'll never know.I think she's been preparing to win a lot of Nobel Prizes since she was a little girl.

"Xue Ji Encyclopedia." I said, drinking the last cup of herbal tea.

Yukinoshita frowned and said, "I'm not the type to edit easily."