The Classmate Who Is Adored by Everyone Smiles Teasingly Only at Me-Chapter 3V1 .1 - Chocolate de Familia

Chocolate de Familia 1

At school, Sōma and Chika didn’t have many opportunities to exchange words.

They could greet each other, of course, but having a deeper conversation was quite challenging.

“Chika, should I lend you my chemistry textbook and notes?”

“Ah, um, you don’t have to go that far. I have my own, thank you. You don’t need to worry about me so much, Miki-chan.”

“I’m not worried. I just want to help you, Chika.”

The reason was that there were always girls, led by Miki, around Chika.

It was extremely difficult to approach and talk to her without arousing their suspicions.

However, there was hardly any need to force direct conversations at school.

Recently, they had exchanged contact information, so they could easily communicate through their smartphones.

Therefore, when everyone in the class started moving to the chemistry lab for the next class, it was somewhat unexpected for Chika to call out to him.

“Sōma-san, can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Huh? Didn’t you go to the chemistry lab with Miki and the others just now?”

He had been fumbling in the disorganized locker to dig out his chemistry textbook, thinking he was the last one.

“I came back because I forgot something.”

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‘Of course, it was a lie’, she said, and she playfully stuck out her tongue.

“There’s something I want to talk to you about in person, Sōma-san.”

“In person?”

“Um… well…”

She hesitated and stumbled over her words but quickly raised her face, staring straight at him with a nervous expression.

“A-are you free this Sunday?”

“Sunday? I don’t have any specific plans…”

If invited by friends, he might go out to play, but if not, he’d probably be studying or practising making sweets.

“If you’re okay with it, would you like to come to my house? I want to treat you, Sōma-san.”

“Treat me?”

As he pondered, Chika nodded subtly and said,

“When I visit Miki-chan or other friends’ houses, they treat me so wonderfully. It’s almost too much to handle. But, on the other hand, I’ve never treated anyone before. I mean, I’ve had friends over at my house, but it’s always my mom and dad who prepare everything perfectly.”

“A former patissier’s hospitality sounds impressive.”

It wasn’t hard to imagine that there was no room for Chika to insert herself into those occasions.

“However, as an individual, I can’t just keep being treated. I want to be able to entertain my friends without relying on anyone’s help. I want to satisfy them with just my own efforts. So, could you please help me practice?”

Her fists clench involuntarily in a sign of determination.

“So, as a first step, you want to use me as a practice subject?”

“Please, can you do that?”

When Sōma understood the reason, Chika timidly asked, looking up at him with her eyes.

“Okay, I guess that’s fine.”

As he lightly tapped his shoulder with the rolled-up chemistry textbook, he pondered.

“Since I really have no experience, I probably won’t be able to provide satisfying hospitality…”

“Don’t worry too much about impressing me. Just do it your way, and that’s enough.”

The hesitation in his response was not about that.

As a guy, was it really okay for him to readily visit a girl like Chika’s house? That was his concern.

It takes quite some courage to visit a girl’s house in high school, unlike when they were in elementary school.

But, to be honest, even when Sōma was in elementary school, he had never done such a thing.

In any case, even if he and Chika were okay with it, her parents, who dote on their daughter, probably wouldn’t be pleased.

“Wait. Hey, will Chika’s parents be home on Sunday?”

“They won’t be at home that day.”

“What about Saturday?”

“They’ll probably be home… Is there something wrong?”

Chika tilted her head, not understanding the intention behind Sōma’s question.

“Alright, then, let’s do it on Saturday.”

“Huh? Saturday?”

Chika’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected suggestion.

“I’m going to a house where there’s a professional pastry chef. I want to meet them and hear all sorts of things.”

To have a chance to hear firsthand stories from people in the dream occupation they aspired to.

For students with a career path in mind, could there be anything more valuable?

“…Muu一一”

“Please make sure I can talk to your parents. If that’s settled, I’ll go anytime, and you can use me as a practice subject. Okay?”

“Well, it’s fine, I guess.”

“Really? Yes! That’s great! You promised!”

Sōma, who was elated about the prospect of meeting pastry chefs, didn’t even notice that Chika seemed a bit sulky.

“Hey, Chika. Still can’t find your missing item? The bell is about to ring, you know?”

As Sōma struck a triumphant pose, Miki, who should have been heading towards the chemistry lab, came back.

“Huh? Ichinose is here too… What’s going on?”

Without trying to hide her suspicion of them being alone together in an empty classroom, she pulled Chika closer to her chest, keeping her away at a distance from Sōma.

“Ichinose, you weren’t trying to do anything strange because Chika is cute, right? Chika, even if this guy asked you to ‘lift your skirt and show me in exchange for sweets,’ you would definitely refuse, right?”

“You’re a complete pervert, aren’t you? There’s no way I would do that.”

Although they were just talking in the classroom, it felt like he was being accused of something serious.

“That’s right, Miki-chan.”

Sōma vehemently denied it, and Chika concurred.

However, her voice was unusually cold.

“Such a thing is unimaginable. It seems like Sōma-san isn’t interested in me at all.”

“Huh… Chika…?”

A freezing glare pierced him.

Despite her usual airiness and laughter, the serious side of Chika was a bit scary.

“Miki-chan, let’s hurry to the chemistry lab.”

“Well… okay.”

As Chika urged her, Miki, still perplexed by Chika’s uncharacteristic behaviour, left the classroom with her.

Only Sōma remained, left behind in the classroom.

“….?”

He couldn’t understand the reason behind Chika’s displeasure, and all he could do was tilt his head in confusion.

*****

The following Saturday, Sōma headed towards Chika’s house, guided by the address she had given him.

“I’ve never been around here, so I don’t know where it is…”

Chika’s house was located in an old residential area with confusing and labyrinth-like streets, making it hard for first-time visitors to find their way.

He rode his bike, occasionally stopping to check his current location on the map app on his smartphone, then continued biking, repeating this process multiple times until he finally arrived.

“So, this is Chika’s house…”

He looked up at the house with the nameplate “Satomi,” which was Chika’s family name and took a deep breath.

The house was an unremarkable, ordinary, and aged two-story building with no special features.

If one were to point out a distinguishing feature, it would be the vibrant orange-coloured roof.

Since it belonged to a former pastry chef couple, he secretly had expectations of a stylish Western-style mansion or a confectionery workshop with a herb garden.

He was slightly taken aback by its simplicity.