Murder Maiden and the Fatal Final

by Mizuki Mizushiro

  “Flirty-flirty? …Weren’t those your words?”

  Previously, following Ayaka and Maina’s earlier confrontation, as soon as it was time for a break from cooking, Kyousuke had approached Ayaka to apologize.

  Maina had also come, and bowed in apology, but Ayaka’s response had been—

  “You’re in the way of my cooking. Would you move? Aren’t you useless people satisfied with your flirty conversation?! Stay out of my sight!”

  “……”

  “……”

  —Kyousuke and Maina had been faced with no choice but to turn back around and convene another meeting in the corner of the classroom.

  They had concluded that, for the time being, it would be best to stay out of the way and wait for Ayaka to calm down.

  …And now Kyousuke could not believe that, after waiting a good while before trying to go back, he had still received a starvation sentence.

  “…Ah, I’m sorry! The food that we went to so much trouble to make has gotten cold, hasn’t it? My idiot older brother was such a bother… Well, anyway, please eat up!” Ayaka clapped her hands cheerfully.

  “Hooraaaaaay!” the male students shouted happily. They took up their chopsticks, and after pressing their hands together and saying, “Thank you for the meal!” they tackled each other to get to the meat and potato stew and fried food.

  “Bwuh?!”

  From the next table over came the loud sounds of someone spitting. Oonogi and Usami appeared to be choking. Across from them, Maina shrieked and leaped out of the path of the spray. Oonogi and Usami were writhing in horrible agony, feebly gasping for air.

  “Wh…what the hell is thiiiiiis?! Tough…it’s ridiculously tough…half-cooked, isn’t it…and yet, it stinks—is it rotten?! This food is rotteeeeeen!!”

  “Hee-hee-hee…sweet and salty, bitter and sour…the flavor is a mess. The food is a mess! It’s a catastrophe in my moooooouth. Hee-hee…ohhh!”

  “”

  Eiri, covered in their expelled food, glared wordlessly at both of them. Sitting between the two, on the table across from Eiri, was a single dish piled up on a platter. It was arranged in a tall heap that looked like it would collapse at any moment. Random ingredients had been tossed haphazardly together and thoroughly boiled. The pitiful dish resembled a mountain of mangled corpses.

  Eiri had once again caused a tragedy. She pressed a hand to her forehead. “Y-you guys…you said you’d do anything to try my cooking, so what’s with those faces? You want to die? You’d be better off dead.”

  “Oh dear, oh my… Your pretty face is dirty now…oh no…” Maina wiped at Eiri with her pink handkerchief.

  Oonogi and Usami, back on their feet, tried to explain their way out of trouble.

  “B-but listen…we never thought that you would make such terrible ‘food,’ Miss Eiri. You’re just too unladylike! This is the worst thing I’ve eaten in my entire life!”

  “Hee-hee…don’t call it ‘food,’ it’s just ordinary garbage. It’s compost…hee-hee-hee…”

  “Wha—” Eiri looked stunned, and her face flushed red. “Shut up, both of you! You’ve really gone too far! I don’t care what you say, there’s no way it can be that bad! It’s not like it has anything weird in it! Don’t be ridiculous!!” Furiously, she snatched up her chopsticks and shoveled up a big mouthful.

  “”

  After a moment’s hesitation, she swallowed, barely taking time to chew. “Oh, gross—I mean…it’s delicious…yeah…that’s it…”

  Beads of sweat and a stiff smile appeared on her face.

  “No, no, no, no!” Oonogi jabbed back. “You’re totally forcing it, aren’t you? Your face is pale!!”

  “…H-huh? No way! I’m telling you guys, it’s really grooooo—wing on me!”

  “Seriously? Well, you can have the rest—”

  Eiri cut this off at the pass. “…Hmm, I’m full.”

  “You’ve only eaten one bite!! What a small stomach you must have!!”

  “Um, excuse me…I also have a small appetite, so…”

  “Hey! Don’t think you can just sneak away, clumsy girl.”

  “Hee-hee-hee…m-my stomach…it feels…I’m going to the bathroom!”

  “I won’t let you run away, Usami!! One person can’t eat this much alone, ya know.”

  “By the way, if you leave any behind, you’ll face serious discipline. You made it, so be sure to clean your plates!”

  “Gah?! M-Ms. Kurumiya…but…Akabane was the one who—”

  “Eh…? I seem to remember the two of you asking her. Now eat up.”

  “B-but—”

  “Now. Eat. UP.”

  “……Yes, ma’am.”

  Under Kurumiya’s bloodthirsty gaze, Oonogi and Usami gripped their chopsticks and prepared to dig in. Sweat, tears, and snot flowed from their anguished faces as they approached the “meal”—

  “De…delicioooooouuuuuussssss!”

  In contrast to Oonogi and Usami’s living hell, the two male students tasting Ayaka’s food shouted in excitement as they sampled the many dishes that she had prepared.

  “This meat and potato stew is so full of flavor…the meat and veggies soaked in broth really melt in your mouth! Forget home cooking, this is fine dining! I-I’m touched…”

  “Wow!! The outside is crisp…the inside is juicy…every bite explodes with flavor! Even the batter on this fried chicken is a masterpiece!”

  Ayaka puffed up her chest as she listened to their rave reviews. “Ahem. It’s because I started the meat and potato stew with dashi stock, and because I fried the chicken just before dishing it up! If you put my special sauce on it instead of lemon juice, it’ll transform into Chinese-style fried chicken.”

  “Whoooaaa, amaaazing! Ayaka’s amaaazing!”

  “I think I love you, Ayaka, more than anyone else! Marry me, pleeeaaase!”

  “…Huh? Who’s going to let you have Ayaka? I’ll kill you!”

  “Yes, yes…” Ayaka brushed Kyousuke aside. He had kicked over his chair as he stood up. “I wonder if we should even let my big brother have water…? Oh, Mister Kitou! Do you need a second helping of rice? You eat plenty, too, Mister Kousaka!”

  “Okaaaaaaaaayyy!”

  They pumped their fists in the air.

  Kyousuke, who had received a “starvation sentence,” could do nothing but stare, looking on enviously as they ate. His stomach growled as if in lamentation. He had been looking forward to this since before class had started. This abuse was just too much.

  “Wha—?! Big brother, what are you crying for?”

  “Waaah…because you’re…y-you’re…hic…!”

  Kyousuke could not hold back. He cried a great deal. Ayaka drew away, startled, and even Kitou and Kousaka stopped eating. His classmates turned to stare, and he could hear their mutters circulate around the room.

  “Wha…look! That Kamiya guy is seriously crying!! Tears come even to the eyes of murderers, huh…”

  “What’s that, a brother-sister fight? But it looks like Kyousuke’s losing big time!”

  “Other people’s misery makes the best side dish. It’s really improving the flavor of my meal! It’s my favorite spice. Eee-hee-hee!”

  “Gya-ha-ha! What a major dork. That guy’s got a seriously messed-up sister complex. Eeewww…”

  “Oh dear…Kyou-Kyousuke…”

  “…Let’s leave him here and go. The school store is gonna be crowded soon.”

  Glancing sidelong at the sobbing Kyousuke, Eiri and Maina quickly left the classroom.

  “Big brother…” Ayaka’s voice was full of shock and pity. But she quickly shook her head. “No, no! Big brother is going without, that’s final! I have to teach you a lesson about what you did… I can’t spoil you, no way! I’m not going to forgive you, you know!!”

  “Waaah…Ayakaaa…”

  “I-I won’t give you any, even if you make those Chihuahua eyes!” As if to escape Kyousuke’s pleading gaze, Ayaka turned to face away from
her brother. She continued her meal with a resolute demeanor. No matter what Kyousuke said, she absolutely would not accede—her intentions were crystal clear.

  Kyousuke’s depression seemed to cast a gloomy air over the table. Even Kitou and Kousaka grew quiet. The meal they had worked so hard to prepare was ruined.

  This is just too much… Sensing that his presence was nothing but a nuisance, Kyousuke quietly stood up from his seat. He would have to head to the cafeteria or school store if he wanted to find lunch.

  “……Hmph.”

  Ayaka huffed but didn’t try to stop him.

  “Yoo-hoo, everyone! I came to see you! Did you make some tasty food?”

  Suddenly, a friendly voice rang out from the doorway, where a female student wearing a black gas mask was energetically waving.

  “Renko…”

  “Kksshh. What happened, Kyousuke? You’re making a face like you might die any minute now. Did you eat something bad—waaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!” As she approached Kyousuke’s table, Renko reared back in surprise. “Wh-wwwwh-what the hell is this wonderful cuisine?! Who on earth—?”

  “I did,” Ayaka answered bluntly, and sipped her miso soup.

  “What did you saaay?!” Renko was even more taken aback. “You made everything on this table all by yourself, Ayaka?!”

  “Yep. I did have help from Kitou and Kousaka, though.”

  “Kitou and Kousaka… Who are they?”

  “It’s us, GMK!”

  The two threw down their chopsticks and stood up simultaneously. Standing so straight they were almost bent backward, they were faintly flushed in the cheeks.

  Renko clapped her hands in recognition. “Oh! Aren’t you the boys who helped us start the fire during the Outdoor Cookout?”

  “…Eh? Ah…y-yes!” Kitou and Kousaka seemed very happy to be recognized by their idol GMK—by Renko, and after exchanging glances, they bowed back at her vigorously.

  “…GMK?” Ayaka knit her brows.

  “That’s the stage name I use with Fuckin’ Park. I’m ‘Gas Mask’—GMK.”

  “Oh? So you are a comedian after all?”

  Though she was actually a musical artist, Renko nodded anyway. “Yeah. Sometime I’ll do a live show just for you, Ayaka! I don’t play around, I take my shows very seriously…kksshh. Anyway, enough of that—”

  Her viewports shining, Renko returned her gaze to the table, surveying the impressive spread. “This is really amazing…and everything looks so delicious, doesn’t it! I thought it might be from some three-star restaurant. Turning those garbage ingredients into something like this… Are you a genius, Ayaka? It’s just like magic! Your feminine prowess is just too muuuuuuuuuch!”

  “…Mmm.” Ayaka’s disinterested facade crumbled under Renko’s praise. A broad smile spread across her face—or started to, before she tightened her mouth into a frown, and put on a sullen expression. “It-it’s not that big of a deal. Please stop with the obvious flattery.”

  “It’s not flattery! Oh, I wish I could take off this mask right now just to taste your cooking… Maybe I could have some miso soup? Look, I’ll use this straw tube and suck it up.”

  “No way. I refuse.”

  “It’s okay. Come ooooon! I’m fine with just broth from the meat and potato stew, or the fried chicken sauce, or the grated daikon on the rolled omelets! I want to taste your food, Ayaka baaaby!”

  “Just a…aah, no, get off me!” Ayaka glared at the gas mask as she tried to shake off Renko’s embrace.

  Placing an index finger against the exhaust port, Renko mumbled, “…Stingy.”

  “I’m fine with being stingy. I didn’t make this food for you, anyway.”

  “Is that so? And who did you make it for, I wonder?”

  “Umm…th-that’s…” Ayaka faltered. Her eyes briefly wandered through space. “For Mr. Kitou and Mr. Kousaka—”

  “Yeah, sure. It was for Kyousuke, wasn’t it?”

  “……?!” Ayaka’s body shook with a start.

  Renko laughed. “Kksshh! You wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble otherwise, would you? I knew that you loved Kyousuke, but when I saw this spread, I really, truly believed it. Of course the number of dishes shows it, but each one also took an awful lot of time and effort. It’s obvious how much you care about whoever you made this for.”

  “”

  Ayaka bit her lip and did not answer.

  As if she had only just noticed a crucial detail, Renko tilted her head curiously. “And yet…huh? The important party—Kyousuke—hasn’t eaten yet, has he! How cruel, Kyousuke!! She went to all the trouble to make this for you, so eat up!”

  “Well, I want to do that very much, but…she won’t let me eat.”

  “Wh-wwwwh-what did you saaaaaay?!” Renko put her hands on her hips in a display of exaggerated anger. She peered at Ayaka’s downcast face. “What the hell, Ayaka?! You love Kyousuke—”

  “He’s under a starvation sentence.”

  “…Huh?”

  “My big brother made me angry, so I’m making him go without dinner!” Ayaka yelled at Renko, who had not quite grasped the situation. “This has nothing to do with you, Miss Mask, so could you please just leave?!”

  However, Renko did not flinch. “Ah, I see. In other words, you’re having a little brother-sister quarrel?”

  “…That’s right. This is punishment for my big brother. I’m teaching him manners! I have to be strict or he’ll never learn his lesson—”

  “What a waste.”

  “…What?”

  “It’s a waste, Ayaka dear. You have a brother complex, and Kyousuke has a sister complex. You want Kyousuke to eat your cooking, and Kyousuke wants to eat it. It’s your precious mutual love… What a waste to miss your chance over something so stupid!”

  “So…stupid…?”

  “Uh-huh. Stupid. Now listen, Ayaka! Cooking class only comes around once every two months. I don’t know why you’re angry, but it will be a long time till you get another chance to cook for Kyousuke…and for Kyousuke to eat your cooking! That’s too bad, isn’t it? Even if you make up and regret it later, it’ll already be too late!”

  “……”

  “And the real tragedy is that all this food is going to waste. You went to so much trouble to prepare it, and made it with your truest feelings, and now you won’t even let the person you care about the most have any. It’s sad. Not getting your true feelings across is sad…” Renko hung her head, looking crestfallen.

  The bitterness of unrequited love—Renko understood it all too well, and to see Ayaka stubbornly obstruct her own feelings must have been unbearable.

  “Miss Mask?” Ayaka stared at Renko. For a short while, a silence descended, too heavy for words.

  With a sigh, Ayaka stood and left the table.

  “…Huh?” Renko lifted her face as Ayaka crossed in front of her, and walked over to the cupboards—

  “Here, big brother.” She set down the small plate and chopsticks in front of Kyousuke’s seat.

  “…Eh?”

  Ayaka ignored her surprised brother, and left the table again. This time she returned with a heaping dish of rice and a hearty bowl of miso soup. Setting them down in front of Kyousuke, Ayaka took her seat. “How long are you going to stand there? Sit down and eat!”

  “…Is it okay?”

  “If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have brought those.”

  “Seriously?! Th-thank y—”

  “But—” Ayaka stopped his mouth with her index finger as he was about to thank her. Her voice was stern, and she stared into Kyousuke’s eyes. “This does not mean I’m not angry anymore. It’s just that I don’t want to waste an opportunity for you to eat my cooking! That’s all, so don’t get any ideas, okay?”

  “…Okay.”

  “Good. Then, you can eat.”

  “Thank you for the meal!” Clapping his hands together and taking up his chopsticks, Kyousuke began to eat. First he had a mouthful of miso soup. The flavor of the blended miso
filled his mouth. He swallowed it down, savoring the aroma of dashi.

  —I’ve missed this. To Kyousuke, it was the flavor of the everyday life he had lost. Along with the warmth of the food, another warm emotion spread throughout his whole body.

  Once he had started moving his chopsticks, there was no stopping them. He ate his meal in a trance. Meat and potato stew, miso-simmered mackerel, fried chicken, rolled omelets, boiled greens—he ate so fast that rice spilled from his mouth. It was so nostalgic he couldn’t stand it.

  In an instant, his bowl was empty. Faster than Kyousuke could ask, Ayaka had dished up more. “Here you go!”

  He accepted the heaping rice bowl with a chiming “thank you!” and quickly resumed scarfing.

  Ayaka watched over Kyousuke with a smile as he ravenously wolfed down the food. Renko, Kitou, and Kousaka also stared silently as he ate.

  “What a treat!”

  He laid his chopsticks down and pressed his hands together in a gesture of gratitude. In less than twenty minutes, Kyousuke had eaten everything. He rubbed his stomach, looking satisfied, as Ayaka filled his cup with barley tea.

  “…How was it?”

  “It was incredibly delicious!”

  “Oh? Tee-hee-hee!” Ayaka looked pleased at Kyousuke’s review. Her expression showed a mix of happiness and relief, without the faintest trace of anger.

  Kyousuke sipped the cold tea, immersed in lingering joy. “Wooow, I’m happy to be alive… It was so delicious I thought I might die!”

  “Tee-hee! You’re exaggerating, big brother. But…I really am glad.”

  “…Kksshh…” Renko sighed contently, watching the smiling siblings.

  Turning to face her gas mask, Kyousuke bowed his head. “Thank you, Renko. Ayaka only let me eat her cooking because you spoke up for me. Seriously, thank you! How can I show my gratitude…?”

  “Sure. You can repay me with your body!”

  “Uh…”

  “Kksshh. Just joking. I don’t need any thanks, Kyousuke. You looked truly happy when you were eating. Just getting to see you like that is enough. Plus, Ayaka also looked really happy! Watching the two of you, even I felt all warm and fluffy inside.”