Does This Love Suit Your Taste? - Volume 1 Chapter 3.1

Life Isn’t Sweet 1

——It was about ten years ago.

『Camille-san… can we meet again…?』

『Yes, we’ll definitely meet again. I will come back to this shop someday. That’s why Toui-kun—』

Camille, a certain female chef with golden hair, warmly hugged the still young and small Toui, wiped away his tears, and then took off the earring she was wearing on her left ear.

『—Here, this is for you to keep, Toui-kun.』

『An earring…?』

Camille gently placed an earring into Toui’s palm and then showed him the other one she was wearing on her right ear.

『Here, take a look? Auntie has one too, so we match.』

The earring that Camille had given him had something attached to it that looked like a blue gemstone, or perhaps a medal. She pointed to it.

『This is called a ‘Medaille’.』

『Medaille…』

『That’s right. If you have this, you’ll be protected by God and you’ll be happy. That’s why I’m sharing this power of happiness with you, Toui-kun. Even if we’re apart, you and I are connected through this Medaille. Okay?』

『I… I’m keeping this with me!』

『Yes, absolutely. Take care, Toui-kun. Please protect this place until we meet again—my Maison (home).』

With those words, Camille extended her pinky finger to Toui.

『It’s a promise, okay?』

『…Yes!』

Since the day they intertwined fingers at Maison, Toui had yet to have a reunion with Camille.

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The day after the incident, the set alarm clock rang out in the room, and I lifted my body from the bed on a morning when there was still time before going to school.

Taking a shower upon waking up is part of my daily routine. It’s the best way to instantly tame my bed hair.

After leaving the bathroom and getting ready, I head straight to the kitchen of the shop.

I take out the necessary vegetables from the refrigerator and the meat I intend to practice cooking later and quickly carry out my ‘preparation’ work.

It’s a process I’m perfecting every day.

The steps I’m entrusted with are steadily increasing, and as someone aiming to be a chef, this is a piece of cake.

And yet… during cooking, yesterday’s events keep flickering through my mind.

I vividly remembered what happened after that yesterday——

◇◇◇

Going back to yesterday.

At Venus Terrace, I was made to enter into a contract, or rather, I was practically forced into it and became the servant of S-Hime, also known as Shirahime Rira.

I was making my way home… while carrying S-Hime on my back.

“Hey, are you okay? Is it not too heavy?”

“Ah? Well, of course, it’s super heav… ack… veeery light…”

The princess (Hime) I was piggybacking suddenly put me in a headlock from behind.

Total madness.

“You’re not heavy at all…”

Having been granted forgiveness and released, I gasp for breath… taking in the oxygen that had nearly run out inside my body.

I see. S-Hime also stands for Sadistic-Hime…

Of course, the piggyback ride is also by the order of my master, who is puffing her cheeks on my back.

I was told to carry her because she said it’s actually difficult to walk downhill in heels.

“Hey? By the way, Toui-kun, why do you want to take over Maison?”

A sudden question is passed to me from behind.

As she leans in to look at my face, her short hair tickles my cheek.

I guess it’s okay to share a little…

I trace the memories of the past in my heart.

“…My parents were always working. When there was no one at home, there was this woman chef at Maison who took care of me like a mother. I have a special attachment to her. But then, she had to leave Maison one day.”

“…hmm.”

“It was about ten years ago. I still don’t know why she left, but when she did, she told me, ‘I will definitely come back someday, so please protect the shop until then.’ I promised to ‘protect’ it too. That’s why I have to keep Maison safe until she returns someday. This earring is also something I received from her back then.”

“Wow…”

“You see, the name Maison was given by my father. It’s not some fancy knowledge to show off to you, whose mother is French, but Maison means ‘home’ in French. So Maison needs to remain unchanged, a place where she can return to. I want to keep waiting at Maison for her to come back.”

There was no response from Shirahime.

Feeling slightly ashamed for speaking too much, I glanced over my shoulder.

“Shirahime…?”

Shirahime muttered quietly with her face buried in my back.

“…I wish I could live as honest as you…”

“What? If that’s the case——”

“It’s just a sarcasm. Oh, we’ve arrived.”

As if to drown out her own words, Shirahime interrupted the conversation by reverting to a commanding tone.

“More importantly, you know what to say to the owner first when we get inside, right?”

“Haa… What?”

Mumble- mumble-

Shirahime whispers into my ear, and I am left speechless what she said.

“Uhh…”

“If you don’t say it, you know what will happen——”

“Ah, come on! I get it, okay… Now get down, we’re here…”

“No way. We’re going in like this! Let’s go!”

“Wait, like this? Why… Ouch! Hey, stop thrashing around!”

She was flailing her legs like she was spurring a horse into action. It was humiliating.

Without even the chance to hesitate, I enter Maison.

The sound of the doorbell alerted the four people inside—our parents inside, Ichigo and Mabuchi-san.

They noticed our return and were rendered speechless by the sight of me carrying Shirahime on my back.

“This is…”

“Realizing I was in heels, Toui-kun kindly offered to carry me! He’s really sweet! I didn’t know Toui-kun was such a gentleman!”

“Hey, stop…”

I was hugged tightly from behind.

I somehow understood that she was smoothly covering for the unpleasant attitude I had shown during the earlier dinner.

However, I was appalled by the fact that Shirahime’s usual behavior was a cover for her true nature on the high ground.

“That Toui would do something for someone else…!?”

“What’s that…”

Ichigo opens her mouth wide in an exaggerated shock.

“Also, Toui-kun! You have something to say to everyone, right!”

“Ah, yeah… well…”

With Shirahime’s setup, I clenched my teeth, and for the first time since becoming a delinquent—I deceived my own feelings.

“I’m sorry for being sulky earlier~ I’ve decided that I’m going to marry her~☆”

Then Ichigo dropped and shattered a plate in shock.

Was it really that surprising for me to listen to what someone else says…?

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