It was a winter day with light snow.
The accumulated snow dyed the eaves and branches pure white. A faint mist draped the streets in a hazy veil. Perhaps because the residents had all retreated into their hos to warm themselves, there were only a few pedestrians on the road.
"Uu… Uu… Where is this… Am I lost…?"
Leaving a row of shallow footprints in the snow, the blue haired little girl looked blankly at the unfamiliar street. Her red little face was filled with unease.
She had only just been discharged from the hospital and moved here, so she was unfamiliar with the place. On top of that, the snow covering the streets made it even harder to recognize the road.
Nervously looking around, Yoshino instinctively lowered her head, wanting to tell her "hero" about her worries.
But when she saw her empty left hand, Yoshino tightly pressed her lips together. Tears began to gather in her eyes.
"Yoshinon… Where did you go…? Everyone… Obaa-chan… Please don't leave behind…"
Just when Yoshino did not know what to do, slow footsteps ca from the pale mist.
Yoshino instinctively wanted to find a place to hide.
But very soon, the figure who appeared made her eyes widen.
"Good grief… So you ran all the way here, Yoshino."
"Obaa-chan…"
Walking slowly to Yoshino's side, the old woman brushed the snow off Yoshino's body, took out a scarf, and wrapped it around her neck.
"You are safe. That is what matters… Obaa-chan is here… so there is no need to be afraid."
Hearing Yumi's words, most of the fear in Yoshino's heart imdiately lted away.
After hesitating for a while, she finally gathered her courage and spoke to this old woman who had only just beco her family.
"I-I still cannot go back… Yoshinon is missing… I have to find it…"
Hearing Yoshino's words, Yumi smiled and took out a rabbit puppet wearing an eyepatch from her coat pocket, then held it out in front of Yoshino.
"Yo-Yoshinon?!"
Yoshino's eyes widened in surprise.
"—Well, what terrible luck! I did not expect to be attacked and dragged off by a passing stray cat. Honestly, Yoshinon is not so quilt for keeping cats warm!"
The mont the rabbit puppet returned to Yoshino's hand, it seed to gain a soul. It straightened itself up and waved its tiny hands, complaining nonstop.
Yumi was not surprised by this. She only said calmly,
"I happened to see Yoshinon by the roadside… The mont I saw it, I knew… you must have been very worried…"
"Ahaha~ I see! Thank you, Yumi obaa-chan! If not for you, Yoshinon almost would have spent the winter together with the stray cats."
"Yes… Thank you very much."
Yoshino hurriedly bowed her head in thanks.
"You do not need to be so polite… We are already family."
With a smile, Yumi shook her head and held out her hand to Yoshino.
"Co… Let us go ho quickly."
"Mm…"
Although she was still a little nervous, Yoshino nodded and shyly took Yumi's hand.
So warm…
A small breath of white mist escaped her lips.
Warmth passed through the rough palm and into her own hand, making her feel deeply at ease.
Looking at the slightly hunched yet steady figure beside her, a faint longing quietly sprouted in Yoshino's heart.
…
One evening, not long after she had entered middle school, Yoshino carried a shopping bag in both hands and jogged ho in a hurry.
"I-I am back…"
"Welco ho… Yoshino."
Hearing Yoshino's voice, Yumi ca to greet her with a smile.
After Yoshino took a small breath, the rabbit puppet released the shopping bag it had been biting and spoke excitedly.
"Yumi obaa-chan! Yoshino-chan bought all the ingredients! According to the promise, you must now teach Yoshino-chan the secret recipe for nikujaga without holding anything back~"
"Honestly… There is no secret recipe… And I never said I would not teach you."
Seeing Yoshinon make such a fuss, Yumi shook her head helplessly and said,
"Yoshino… Co into the kitchen first. Rember to wash your hands."
"O-Okay…"
Yoshino nodded. After carefully doing as Yumi told her, she put on an apron and entered the kitchen.
"Potatoes, beef, green onion, ginger, seasonings, and spices… All right."
After checking the ingredients in the shopping bag, Yoshino took a deep breath and looked at Yoshinon in her hand.
"Yoshino-chan, are you ready?"
The rabbit puppet's voice carried a rare seriousness.
"Mm… I am fine."
Yoshino nodded firmly, gathered her courage, and slowly removed the puppet from her hand.
Not wearing the puppet while cooking.
At first glance, it was an extrely ordinary and obvious matter. But for Yoshino, it could be called one of the greatest challenges of her life.
To Yoshino, Yoshinon was not only her companion. It was also her safe harbor, her hero. Only when it was by her side, constantly encouraging her, could Yoshino avoid feeling uneasy.
Fear and anxiety surged into her heart like a tide, making a faint layer of sweat appear on Yoshino's forehead.
"Obaa-chan… Please look after Yoshinon…"
Yoshino tightly pressed her lips together and handed the puppet to Yumi with trembling hands.
"Mm… I will watch over it properly."
Yumi quietly watched Yoshino complete everything, then nodded and solemnly accepted the rabbit puppet.
"Let us begin… Do not rush. Relax…"
Hearing Yumi's comforting voice, Yoshino slowly cald down. She took a deep breath and began her cooking.
"First… wash the potatoes and beef, then cut them into pieces separately… Put the beef into cold water first… Bring it to a boil over high heat, then continue heating over dium heat… After the foam and blood co out, take it out and wash it with hot water…"
"Then, while waiting, I can handle the side ingredients…"
Recalling the steps obaa-chan had taught her, Yoshino picked up the kitchen knife and carefully began handling the ingredients.
Although it was her first ti cooking, the process was fairly smooth.
Aside from being nervous when she first held the knife, Yoshino's movents soon grew more practiced.
"After that, heat it over dium heat…"
After closing the lid and finishing the key step, Yoshino let out a long breath.
Then she turned around and looked at Yumi with nervousness and expectation.
"Obaa-chan… Is this all right?"
"Mm… You did very well. Good work."
Yumi smiled and nodded.
Then she ca to Yoshino's side and said helplessly,
"Yoshino… Give your left hand."
Yoshino was startled. She instinctively wanted to pull her hand behind her back, but under Yumi's gaze, she obediently stretched out her left hand.
Yumi saw that on the back of Yoshino's left finger, in an inconspicuous place, the skin had been cut and blood was seeping out.
"As expected… Cutting at is harder than cutting vegetables. If you are not used to it, it is easy to get hurt."
Yumi sighed softly. After disinfecting the wound simply, she placed a bandage on Yoshino's finger.
"I am sorry…"
Yoshino lowered her head and whispered.
"There is no need to apologize… Everyone makes mistakes in the beginning. Just be careful next ti. You already did very well."
Yumi stroked Yoshino's head and said gently.
"Now… keep going. Tonight's main dish is your responsibility, after all… It would be a sha to stop halfway."
Hearing Yumi's encouragent, Yoshino clenched her fist with renewed determination.
"Mm."
…
"Mm? Today's stew tastes a little different from usual."
Tohka asked in slight surprise.
"I-It was made by . Is it… too overcooked?"
Yoshino timidly raised her hand and asked anxiously.
"No way! It is super delicious!"
Tohka shook her head and raised her empty bowl.
"Obaa-chan! Another bowl!"
"Kuku. This offering has a different flavor from usual as well."
"Praise. It does not taste like a beginner's cooking at all."
"Do not worry, Yoshino. You have more cooking talent than Tohka."
"Origami! What is that supposed to an?!"
"Thank you…"
Seeing everyone enjoy the al, Yoshino finally felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
At the sa ti, an indescribable feeling of achievent and satisfaction rose in her heart.
"Well done! Yoshino-chan! You have grown far more than I imagined! Yoshinon! Yoshinon is deeply moved right now! Uuuuu—"
"You are exaggerating… Yoshinon."
After dinner, Yoshino ca to Yumi's side and whispered,
"Obaa-chan… Will you continue teaching how to cook from now on?"
"Of course…"
After receiving permission, Yoshino did not stop there. She nervously asked,
"A-And… laundry, cleaning… and the other chores in the house… Could you teach those too?"
Hearing this, surprise first appeared in Yumi's eyes.
Then she nodded with joy.
"Mm… If you can help with those… then that would really be a great help…"
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