The Drunkard Invasion
The evening chime rang, marking the end of another school day. Subaru slung his bag over his shoulder, ready to head home, when Chiharu called out to him.
“Subaru-kun, wait a second!”
Chiharu jogged over, her hair swaying lightly as she adjusted it with her hand, a confident smile on her face.
“Hm? What’s up?”
Subaru stopped and turned to see Chiharu, her small bag slung over her shoulder, flashing a mischievous grin.
“You remember your promise to go to the salon with me, right? We agreed during the BBQ.”
“Oh, right. I guess we did talk about that…”
Subaru replied reluctantly, tilting his head, but Chiharu’s sharp gaze made it clear she wasn’t letting him off the hook.
“Don’t ‘I guess’ me! Your hair is a mess, and it’s way too long. Let’s get it sorted. I chose the salon myself, so you can trust me!”
“Alright, alright, I’ll go, okay?”
Shrugging his shoulders, Subaru gave in, prompting Chiharu to smile with satisfaction.
“Good! Tomorrow at 10, meet me in front of the station. And don’t you dare be late!”
Leaving those assertive words behind, Chiharu waved cheerfully and walked away.
Just as Subaru was about to finally head home, another cheerful voice called out from behind him.
“Hey, Subaru!”
Turning around, he saw Yuto running toward him, a sports bag slung over his shoulder.
“You look like you’re in a rush. Where are you going?”
“I’m not rushing. I just got roped into a salon appointment by Chiharu-san.”
Subaru replied with a hint of annoyance, and Yuto laughed, giving Subaru a friendly pat on the shoulder.
“Haha, that sounds just like Chiharu. But hey, maybe it’s time you started caring about your looks a bit more.”
“Yeah, I guess. I’m not a fan of salons, but I’ll give it a shot. Anyway, did you need something?”
“Oh, right. Sunday—you’re free, aren’t you? Let’s train together!”
“Training? Sure. I’ve actually wanted to work out with you. What time?”
“We’ll start in the morning and finish around noon. Let’s get moving and clear our minds!”
Yuto grinned broadly, lightly pumping his fist.
“Alright, it’s settled then. Sunday morning, meet at the station. Don’t be late!”
“Same to you, Yuto.”
Laughing, Subaru walked away. Between Chiharu’s persistence and Yuto’s carefree invitation, his weekend was quickly filling up. Straightening his posture slightly, Subaru resumed his walk home.
With his weekend plans set, Subaru felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Though home would bring its own set of tasks, the thought of spending time with his friends made him genuinely excited.
As he opened the door to his house, a cheerful voice greeted him from the back of the café.
“Welcome home, Subaru! Perfect timing!”
His mother, Sorano Mio, waved enthusiastically at him from behind the counter, her broad smile hinting at mischief. Subaru muttered internally, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“What is it? You’re going to ask for something again, aren’t you?”
Not bothering to hide his suspicion, Subaru’s comment only made Mio’s smile grow wider.
“Bingo~! My drinking buddies are coming over today. Can you whip up some snacks?”
“Again…? Didn’t this just happen the other day?”
Subaru sighed in exasperation, but Mio continued, completely unfazed.
“It’s fun~! And everyone always raves about your cooking. Last time, they couldn’t believe a high schooler made it!”
“I don’t care. Stop advertising me without my permission.”
Despite his grumbling, Subaru grabbed an apron and headed for the kitchen.
“Alright, what do you want me to make?”
He asked bluntly, and Mio approached cheerfully, handing him a small note.
“Here’s what we have: zucchini, shrimp, squid, and some leftover canned tomatoes. Feel free to use anything else in the fridge. I’m leaving the menu to your creativity!”
“Leave it to me, huh? Normal moms don’t dump this stuff on their kids.”
Shaking his head, Subaru began mentally piecing together a menu as he inspected the fridge.
“Zucchini… Maybe fried zucchini with a crispy coating and a soft, melty inside. That’d be nice.”
Mumbling to himself, he continued brainstorming.
“Tomatoes and cheese could work for a caprese salad. Oh, there’s kiwi too… Maybe a kiwi sauce? That’d look stylish and appealing.”
His hands were already reaching for utensils when his eyes landed on the squid, shrimp, and tomato can.
“Shrimp and squid, plus the tomatoes… I could go for a paella-style dish. No saffron? I’ll use curry powder for a spicy twist.”
Subaru pulled out some rice and grabbed a frying pan.
“Alright, it’s decided: fried zucchini, caprese with kiwi sauce, and seafood paella. That’s a pretty solid menu.”
Smirking slightly, Subaru immediately got to work. The sound of chopping and the aroma of cooking quickly filled the kitchen.
“You’re a lifesaver, Subaru~. Having a son who’s great at cooking is so convenient.”
Mio teased, watching Subaru from across the counter.
“You probably think that’s a compliment, but you’re just treating me like a convenience. Why don’t you cook for once?”
Subaru shot back, half-joking, but Mio just chuckled in response.
“Because you’re so good at it! Oh, by the way, today’s guests are a bit younger, so make the dishes a little trendy, okay~?”
“What? You could’ve told me that earlier. Well, I think this menu will work, so just sit back and wait.”
Fully immersed in cooking mode, Subaru skillfully tossed ingredients into the frying pan.
The zucchini sizzled as it fried. Subaru carefully flipped each piece with chopsticks, keeping an eye out for splattering oil.
“Alright, this is coming along nicely. Just need to crisp it up…”
Just then, the café’s doorbell jingled as someone walked in. Mio’s cheerful voice followed.
“They’re here!”
Still in his apron, Subaru peeked out from the kitchen, tilting his head.
“Who’s coming at this hour? You didn’t invite someone strange again, did you?”
Glancing toward the entrance, he saw Mio opening the door enthusiastically to greet their guest.
“Welcome! I’ve been waiting for you~!”
To Subaru’s shock, the guest was none other than Hiyori-sensei. Dressed in a soft pink knit top and white pants, she looked completely different from her usual teacherly appearance. Subaru blurted out in disbelief,
“Huh? Why is Hiyori-sensei here!?”
Startled by his outburst, Hiyori-sensei turned toward him, equally surprised.
“Eh, Sorano-kun?! Wait, Sorano… Are you related to Mio-san? No way…”
She froze in place, blinking in confusion, while Mio grinned knowingly, glancing between the two.
“That’s right~. Subaru’s my son. Hiyori-chan, you didn’t know?”
“N-No, I had no idea! What an incredible coincidence…”
Flustered, Hiyori-sensei quickly bowed.
“I’m so sorry for dropping by unannounced…”
Still trying to process the situation, Subaru alternated between looking at Hiyori-sensei and Mio.
“You don’t have to apologize, but… why are you here?”
Mio clapped her hands lightly and explained with enthusiasm.
“Hiyori-chan and I are drinking buddies~! We hit it off at a bar recently, and now we hang out from time to time.”
“Drinking buddies…?”
Subaru repeated, his eyes wide with disbelief.
“Y-Yes… It’s just that I really enjoy talking with Mio-san…”
Smiling shyly, Hiyori-sensei sat down at the dining table. The soft pink knit reflected the warm light, giving her a relaxed look far removed from her usual school demeanor.
“But I’m honestly shocked to find out Subaru-kun is Mio-san’s son…”
“Yeah, well, I’m just as surprised. You never mentioned anything at school!”
Flustered, Subaru shot back, making Hiyori-sensei lower her gaze, clearly embarrassed.
“I didn’t realize it either… Meeting like this outside of school feels so strange.”
“Yeah, I guess…”
Shrugging, Subaru sighed as Mio interjected brightly.
“Now, now! Don’t be so stiff. Let’s have a good time tonight~! Hiyori-chan, take a seat!”
“Ah, thank you. Sorry for intruding…”
At Mio’s urging, Hiyori-sensei settled into a seat and immediately launched into venting about the recent BBQ.
“Mio-san, you wouldn’t believe how chaotic the BBQ was…”
Her expression turned serious as a stream of complaints poured out—about the chaos at the grill, running out of ingredients, and the students’ lack of coordination.
“Hiyori-sensei, it’s fine to vent, but… could you keep it short? The zucchini’s about to burn.”
As Subaru kept frying, he glanced sideways at Hiyori-sensei, who smiled sheepishly.
“S-Sorry! But I really needed Mio-san to hear this!”
Watching the scene, Mio laughed warmly.
“It’s fine, it’s fine! Let it all out. Subaru, the cooking’s your job, so focus on that!”
Sighing in exasperation, Subaru continued cooking while Hiyori-sensei chatted away.
By the time they were halfway through the wine, Hiyori-sensei’s cheeks were flushed pink. Her tone softened, turning sweet and slightly playful.
“Subaru-kun, you’re such an amazing cook. For a high schooler, you’re so responsible… It’s incredible~.”
She gazed at Subaru intently as he busily moved around the kitchen.
“It’s not a big deal…”
Though his words were indifferent, Subaru avoided her gaze, clearly a bit self-conscious.
As Hiyori-sensei drank more, her doting side emerged in full force.
“You know, Subaru-kun, you’re really impressive~. Cooking like this—it’s so admirable!”
Suddenly, she wandered into the kitchen and gently patted Subaru’s head.
“Good job, good job~!”
“Wait, Sensei! What are you doing?!”
Startled, Subaru backed away, but Hiyori-sensei’s smile remained as she continued patting his head.
“Because you’re working so hard, Subaru-kun! You’re just so cute~!”
Mio, watching the scene, chuckled. “Hiyori-chan, you’re completely drunk, aren’t you? Are you okay?” Her tone was amused, and she made no move to intervene.
“Mom, do something!” Subaru pleaded, but Mio shrugged casually. “Come on, this is fun, isn’t it~?”
Dodging Hiyori-sensei’s affectionate advances, Subaru somehow managed to finish cooking. The table was soon filled with a vibrant array of dishes: fried zucchini, caprese with kiwi sauce, and seafood paella—all showcasing Subaru’s skill.
“Wow~! Subaru-kun, did you make all of this?”
Hiyori-sensei’s eyes sparkled as she admired the food, wine glass in hand, before wobbling over to Subaru.
“Well… I was asked, so I had no choice.”
Though Subaru’s response was curt, there was a hint of pride in his expression.
Without hesitation, Hiyori-sensei grabbed Subaru’s arm and pulled him into a chair.
“You have to eat with us! It’s such a waste if the chef doesn’t enjoy his own cooking!”
“I’ll pass. There’s still cleaning to do—”
Before Subaru could finish, Hiyori-sensei wrapped her arms around him in a light embrace.
“Come on~. Eat with us! We want to enjoy your cooking together!”
Resting her cheek lightly on Subaru’s shoulder, Hiyori-sensei’s affectionate plea left him frozen.
“Please, Sensei! Let me go!”
Flustered, Subaru tried to escape, but Hiyori-sensei’s unexpected boldness left him at a loss.
Mio, watching with a smile, commented, “Araraa, Hiyori-chan’s really drunk. Are you sure you’re okay~?” but made no move to stop her.
Hiyori-sensei eventually sat beside Subaru, savoring each bite of his dishes with audible delight.
“This is amazing~! The fried zucchini is so crispy on the outside, yet soft and tender inside~. Subaru-kun, you’re a genius~!”
“And this kiwi sauce—it’s so refreshing! Coming up with something like this is incredible!”
“It’s just normal cooking.” Subaru muttered, his face red as he avoided her gaze.
As the wine flowed, Hiyori-sensei’s doting escalated.
“Subaru-kun, you have to come cook for me at home sometime!” She looked up at him with pleading eyes.
“No way. I can’t do that.”
Though his refusal was firm, Hiyori-sensei ignored him and leaned in closer.
“Please~? I really want to eat your cooking again!”
She leaned in, acting spoiled and clingy.
Finally, Mio stepped in with a light tap on Hiyori-sensei’s shoulder.
“Alright, Hiyori-chan, that’s enough~! You’ll lose your job if you keep this up. You’re definitely drunk, so tone it down.”
Pouting briefly, Hiyori-sensei quickly recovered, smiling again.
“Okay~, Mio-san scolded me~.”
Subaru let out a deep sigh of relief.
“Seriously, Hiyori-sensei is way more trouble than I expected…”
Mio, catching his muttered words, grinned mischievously. “Isn’t that what makes her adorable~?”
As they continued enjoying the food, Hiyori-sensei and Mio chatted happily. Watching them, Subaru felt a mix of exhaustion and pride, knowing his cooking had brought everyone together.