Long Lost Summer Episode 5: "Brand New Day."
"The miso soup is good!" I exclaimed,while looking amazed at Ren's cooking skills.
"Did you hear that,Ren?A cute girl praised your cooking!" teased Takehiko-san,as he
slapped Ren's back.
Ren started to cough uncontrollably,until his face became red.
"Cut it out,Take-san!" Van reprimanded his father.
Takehiko-san gave him a deathly glare.
"You brat!Don't call me Take-san infront of Nao-chan!" he shot back to his son.
"Gomen ne,Nao-neesan...It must be too hard for you having dinner with us." Ren
apologetically said,after drinking some water.
"I don't really mind...The food is delicious,anyway." I replied,while shrugging.
"Oi,oi!Don't eat all the tsukemono!" protested Takehiko-san,as he slapped Van's
hand.
"Don't be such a spolied brat,Takehiko-san!If only you coud make a good tsukemono
like this,Ren and I would be happier!" lectured Van.
I smiled as I watch them argue over he tsukemono...I have to ask my mother for the
recipe to give it to Takehiko-san one of these days...
"Ano...Suimasen!" someone called outside.
The three men looked at each other.
"Isn't that Reiko-chan?" guessed Takehiko-san.
"Yeah...I'll invite her in.Ren,prepare another bowl for Reiko." said Van to his
younger brother,as he stood up and opened the front door.
I timidly chewed on my food.Why is Yoshikawa Reiko,the most popular girl in our
school came to visit Van?
I heard she was the only child of the Yoshikawa household.The family is known for
their sucessful chain of cooking schools in Okinawa and Tokyo.I sometimes see them
talking animatedly to each other at school...
"Konbanwa!Sorry for intruding at the middle of your dinner.." Reiko greeted,as she
enters the dining room.She was holding something...
"You're just in time,Reiko-chan.Did you have dinner already?" asked Takehiko-san.
"I had bread and milk for dinner.My parents are not home,anyway." answered Reiko.
"Hey,that's not good enough!Come,just pull a seat beside Van and join us for
dinner." suggested Takehiko-san.
"Arigato...And oh,I bought cake for everyone." announced Reiko.She took a seat at
Van's left side.
And I was on his right side...Van ended up sitting between me and Reiko.
Reiko looked at my direction.I saw the surprise in her eyes but just like a proper
lady from a rich family,she hid it well.
"You're Nisikawa Nao-san,ne?From Class 3-B?" inquired Reiko.
"Hai." I answered.
"Huh?You're on the same class as Van?" asked Takehiko-san.
Ren lets out a fake cough.
"D-Dad...Do you like another bowl of miso soup?" he tried to divert everyone's
attention.He can sense the awkward atmosphere between Reiko and Nao.And he's also a
little irritated because his brother Van didn't seem affected.
"Wait!Did yo just call me Dad?!" Takehiko-san was already teary-eyed while looking
at Ren.
"It's not a big deal,isn't it?" retorted Ren,as he stood up to get another fresh
serving of miso soup.
"---I'm sorry for the late introductions...I'm Yoshikawa Reiko from Class 3-A."
Reiko introduced herself.
I knew that Reiko had a soft side,despite of being born to a rich family.I saw her
once feeding a stray cat at the gates of our school.She even decided to bring the
cat home.
"Oh,I know you...Everyone does.By the way,how's the kitten?" I casually asked her.
"Oh,you saw me?Well,Miike-chan's doing fine!" Reiko excitedly pronounced.
"Try this tsukemono,Reiko...It's really good." Van suddenly joined us in the
conversation,as he puts some pickled vegetable on Reiko's bowl.
I felt a pang of jealousy hit my chest while watching them.
"Nishikawa Nao!Stop this foolishness!" I reprimanded myself.
"Arigato..." Reiko said,and then she eats the tsukemono.
"So?How is it?" asked Van.
"This is delicious!Who made this tsukemono?" questioned Reiko.
"Nishikawa-sensei made it...Nao-chan's mother." Takehiko-san said,while giving me a
playful wink.
"Really?From Nishikawa-sensei?I have to ask her for the recipe!" said Reiko,as she
smiled towards my direction.
I smiled in return,and then I went back on eating.