Keita watched Anna forcefully change the subject and followed her lead, sitting up from the bed.
"The rice has been steaming for a while, it should be about done."
Keita said as he put on his slippers and walked out of the bedroom, "I'll go check."
"Ah, oh!"
Anna gave a haphazard response and quickly followed behind him.
She needed to find something to do to distract her heart, which was still thumping wildly.
The two of them arrived in the kitchen one after the other.
The indicator light on the rice cooker had already jumped from 'Cook' to 'Warm,' and an aroma was drifting out of the vent.
Keita lifted the lid and used the rice paddle to fluff up the rice inside.
"Wow! It looks so delicious!"
Anna immediately leaned in, her eyes lighting up a bit at the scent of the rice, and she reached out to take the rice paddle from Imaizumi's hand.
Then, with practiced ease, she took two porcelain plates from the cupboard and scooped two full servings of rice.
Keita, meanwhile, scooped the steaming curry from the pot and poured it evenly over the two portions of rice.
Chunks of potato and carrot were mixed into the thick brown sauce, releasing an aroma that made one's mouth water.
"Alright, let's eat."
He handed one of the plates to Yanami.
The two of them sat face-to-face at the small dining table.
Anna pressed her hands together and said "Itadakimasu" with a voice full of ritual.
Then, she impatiently scooped up a large mouthful of curry mixed with sauce and rice, stuffing it into her mouth with satisfaction.
"Mmm...! Delicious!"
Her cheeks were puffed out, and her eyes narrowed into happy lines as she gave the highest praise indistinctly.
"Of course," Keita also picked up his spoon and took a slow bite, "otherwise, how could I capture the stomach of a glutton like you?"
"Hmph."
Anna let out a dissatisfied snort; she swallowed the food in her mouth but didn't take her attention away from the delicious meal.
As she continued to feast, she didn't forget to strike up a conversation: "Keita, why aren't you eating yet? Why do you keep looking at me? Is there something on my face?"
"I eat much faster than you," Keita said teasingly. "I'm looking at you because no matter how many times I see you eat, I'm still surprised."
"Anna-chan, is your stomach really that of a normal girl?"
"Shut up!"
Anna was already used to his daily sharp tongue; her face didn't even turn red as she stuffed another large mouthful of curry rice into her mouth without changing her expression.
Keita watched her like this and didn't say anything more.
He quietly ate the curry on his own plate, but his mind had already uncontrollably started calculating.
What should they do after finishing the meal?
Watch TV, or... continue discussing the novel?
No, those were both too ordinary.
It wasn't easy to trick her into coming to his house; if he just let her go back like this, it would be too much of a loss.
He wanted to get one step closer to her.
Even if they couldn't go all the way yet, at least... tasting a bit of the appetizer should be fine, right?
Deep in Keita's heart, that primal craving for intimate contact was quietly heating up along with the ambiguous atmosphere of their being alone.
The meal soon ended under Anna's whirlwind-like devouring.
The two of them tacitly cleared the dishes and stood side-by-side at the sink to wash them.
Yanami was responsible for rinsing and lathering, while Imaizumi was responsible for the final wash and putting them away.
In the small kitchen space, their arms would occasionally touch, causing an ambiguous atmosphere to permeate the air.
"Alright, done!"
Anna wiped her hands, feeling a bit lost in her heart.
The meal was finished, and the dishes were washed.
Next... what were they going to do?
Go home directly?
But it was still early; if she went back now, it felt a bit... like a waste.
But staying didn't seem to have a legitimate reason...
Just as she was caught in a dilemma, Keita reached over and grabbed her hand.
"Come on."
Keita's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable tone.
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