僕は食器を並べて、僕たちは食卓の席に座った。布都ちゃんは僕の横に、妖夢さんは僕の対面に。「口に合えばいいのですけど・・・」と妖夢が謙遜しつつ、鍋の蓋を開けると、食欲が刺激される匂いがその場を覆った。美味しそうだね。早く食べたいよ。と腹を空かせていたせいか、少し興奮気味に言うと、「ふふ、期待されると、少し困ってしまいます」と妖夢さんは照れ恥ずかしそうに微笑んだ。僕らは、いただきますと、手を合わせた後、僕は盛って貰った料理を口にすると、ありきたりな言葉の表現だけど、とても美味しかった。何というか、インスタントの大雑把な塩と調味料の味じゃなくて、手作り独特の気を使った味だった。久々にこの種の味の物を食べ、ぼぅとしていると、妖夢さんが、僕を伺うように見ていた。僕が、とても、美味しいよ。こんなに美味しい物食べたの久々だと言うと、「ふ、普通の味の料理ですよ。・・・でも、有難う御座います」と俯き加減に妖夢さんは答えた。「本当に美味しいぞ。「」殿はいいご友人をもっておられるな」とご飯を頬ばらせている布都ちゃんの表情は幸せそのものだ。「・・・有難う御座います。」と妖夢さんはにこりと微笑む。また、料理をつつくと、今度は歪な形をした具に出くわした。「そ、それは、我が切ったのだ、どうだ？」と布都ちゃんはが照れ恥ずかしそうに聞いた。それを口にして、美味しいよと僕が言うと、「そ、そうか。嬉しいぞ・・・妖夢殿ほど綺麗に出来なかったが」とはははと布都ちゃんは笑って、それを見ていた妖夢さんもにこにこと微笑んでいる。何か、いい雰囲気だ。「あの「」さん・・・」と妖夢さんは急に思い立った様に僕の顔を見た。何？と僕が聞き返すと、妖夢さんは少し、間を置いてから、「布都さんから聞いたのですど・・・一緒に寝ていると・・・いうのは本当ですか？」と聞いてきた。僕は、うん、寝ているよと答えた。僕は、寝ているといっても、添い寝しているだけだよ。と付け加えた。訂正するのが恥ずかしい。妖夢さんは、「そ、・・・・・そうですか・・・、そうですか・・・。」と妖夢さんは何か考えをめぐらせているかの様にうなずく。「・・・あのですね、「」さんに聞きたい事があります。・・・私が口出しする事じゃないかもしれませんが、私は・・貴方の友人ですから、これぐらいは聞いてもいいと思います、から・・」と妖夢さんは何か深刻そうな顔をしてわっふるわっふる

I set the tableware and we sat at the dining table. Futo-chan was next to me, and Youmu across from me. "I hope it's to your liking," she humbly said, opening the pot lid to reveal a mouth-watering aroma that flooded the room. "Looks great. Let's eat already," I ushered excitedly, quite hungry. "Don't get your hopes up too high," she giggled with an embarrassed smile. After we put our hands together and said our thanks, I tasted a bit of the food. I didn't show it, but it was delicious. It didn't have the rough, salty, seasoned flavor of instant stuff, but rather the special taste of something that has been painstakingly made by hand. It had been so long since I'd tasted such a flavor that I was sitting there looking dumbfounded. Youmu gave me a questioning look. "This is really delicious. It's been a long time since I've had something this good," I told her. "Oh, it's just the kind of stuff I cook all the time... but thank you very much," she replied, looking down. "It truly is quite a meal. My lord keeps good company," Futo-chan added happily, stuffing her cheeks with rice. "Thank you very much," Youmu smiled. Picking at my food, I came across a rather irregularly shaped vegetable. "Th-that is the one I cut! How is it?" Futo-chan asked in an embarrassed-sounding tone. Popping it in my mouth, I told her it was good. "I see... I am glad. I was not able to cut it as nicely as Lady Youmu's," she laughed. Seeing her laugh made Youmu smile. It was a nice atmosphere.

"Um..." Youmu interjected while glancing at me, seeming to have suddenly come up with something. "What is it?" I asked. After a short pause, she asked, "I heard it from Futo-san, but... is it true that you two are... sleeping together?" "Yeah, we're sleeping together," I told her. "By that I mean we just sleep... together," I added. It was embarrassing having to clarify that. "I-I see... I see..." she replied, turning her head down with an expression that said she had a lot of thoughts her mind. "Um, hey... I have something to ask you. I may be out of line with this, but you're... my friend, so I think I can at least try asking. So..." Youmu said with a serious look on her face... to be continued