Chapter 97 - Preparation for Tomorrow
"I'm home."
"Aldo-san, welcome back."
When I returned home, Flora welcomed me with a smile.
Just seeing Flora's beaming smile gave me the real feeling that I had returned to the place where I belonged.
As I put down my luggage and tried to take off my shoes, Flora devotedly helped me.
I put down the bow equipment hanging from my waist, the basket on my back, and the wooden box I was holding, and untied my shoelaces.
Then, Flora began to peer into the basket, perhaps curious about the ingredients I had gathered.
"You gathered a lot today!"
"I mainly gathered autumn ingredients while being taught by Lauren-san and Kyle."
"There are many delicious ingredients in autumn, after all!"
"It's hard to remember them all. There are many similar poisonous mushrooms and such. I've had everyone check them just in case, but I'm worried, so could you take a look?"
I was an amateur when it came to the mushrooms here. I wanted to look cool and hand them over without saying anything, but if I was wrong, it would be no laughing matter. I had received the seal of approval from Lauren-san, Kyle, and Fiona-san, but I asked Flora for a final check.
"Understood!"
When I asked, Flora spread a cloth on the floor and lined up the mushrooms one by one on top of it. Flora observed them carefully.
Flora's expression as she observed whether they were poisonous mushrooms was truly serious, and she looked more dignified than usual.
"How is it?"
"...Yes, there are no problems with any of them. It seems you've avoided mushrooms that are similar to poisonous ones."
When I asked timidly, Flora said with a beaming smile.
That's a relief. At this rate, I should be able to at least gather simple mushrooms.
Flora and I put the lined-up mushrooms back into the basket.
Then, Flora left only the egg mushrooms for last and took them to the kitchen.
"Egg mushrooms go well in dinner soup too, so I'll put them in right away!"
Apparently, she was going to put them into the dinner soup she was preparing. The mushrooms I gathered were already proving useful.
Perhaps she had opened the lid of the pot where the soup was simmering, as the delicious smell of vegetables and seasoning drifted into the living room.
"There's also smoked boar meat, but are you not using it today?"
"Yes, I think we have enough since there's chicken tonight."
"Then that's plenty. Shall we save the smoked boar meat for tomorrow's breakfast?"
"Ah!"
Saying that, as I picked up the luggage and tried to head to the storage room, Flora suddenly raised her voice.
Surprised by Flora's sudden, silly-sounding voice, I stopped, and Flora covered her mouth as if embarrassed. Apparently, she was embarrassed that a louder voice than she expected had come out.
I let it slide with a wry smile and prompted Flora to speak with a gesture.
"...Aldo-san, about tomorrow..."
"Ah, I met Fiona-san on the way back and heard. I told her my schedule was free, so they're coming tomorrow at noon."
"That's a relief then."
Flora looked relieved upon hearing my words.
If I had a schedule, she would have had to head to Elgis-san's house now.
"Ah, but I'm somehow nervous."
"Is that so? Since it's just your parents coming, Flora, I don't think there's much to be nervous about, is there?"
If anything, I thought I would be the one who was nervous, as my worthiness was being tested to see if their only daughter was being cherished and living healthily.
"That's true, but the problem is Mother... she'll surely strictly check if I'm doing the housework and such well."
Ah, Fiona-san was quite worried about Flora's life. As for Flora, she probably wanted to show her living well here so as not to make her worry.
"There's still time until dinner, so if there's anything I can help with, I will?"
"Thank you. In that case, Aldo-san, please organize the storage room just in case. If you organize it roughly, I'll clean it up beautifully."
Oh, the storage room. There are many large pieces of luggage placed there and organizing it is a pain, but it can't be helped. I'll work hard for Flora's sake.
And so I organized the storage room until dinner was ready.
However, even after dinner, Flora said, "Let's clean a bit more thoroughly!" so that day we cleaned until the whole house was sparkling.
◆
"Aldo-san, it's morning!"
Shaken by Flora's energetic voice, my sleeping consciousness was awakened.
When I opened my heavy eyelids, there was the beautiful blonde girl, Flora, looking at me with a heartwarming expression.
Perhaps because she had opened the curtains and windows, the morning sunlight was streaming in, making Flora's silk-like blonde hair shine. Her warm smile and beautiful hair were so dazzling from the morning.
Because it was so dazzling, my eyes, which were used to the darkness, couldn't even open properly.
"Come on, Aldo-san! Breakfast is ready, so if you don't get up quickly, it'll get cold, you know?"
Perhaps she didn't like that I didn't get up immediately, as Flora said with a slightly dissatisfied look.
Now that she mentioned it, the fragrant smell of bread and the savory smell of meat were drifting from the living room. It would be a waste to let such delicious-looking food get cold.
"...I get it. I'm getting up."
"Ufufu."
When I sat up and said that, Flora giggled.
"What's wrong?"
"I just thought it was interesting how Aldo-san wakes up well when I open the bedroom door like this and let the smell of breakfast drift in."
When I asked while tilting my head, Flora said with an innocent smile.
I see. So that's why she always came to call me right after she finished making breakfast, and moreover, left the bedroom door wide open.
She had grasped what she needed to do to make me get up immediately.
It was a bit embarrassing, like the relationship between a mother and child.
It felt like I was being played in the palm of Flora's hand, but I felt happy because it meant she knew me that intimately.
"But, there's a way to wake up even better, you know?"
"What is it?"
Flora, who showed interest in my words, leaned forward slightly.
"A little closer."
"Yes?"
When I said that while beckoning her, Flora approached me while looking bewildered.
On the lips of such a defenseless Flora, I overlapped my own lips.
The sensation of Flora's plump, soft lips was transmitted to me.
Flora's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden kiss, but eventually she closed her eyes and accepted it.
Through the morning kiss with the person I love, I felt the cells of my entire body rejoice and become active.
After overlapping our lips for a few seconds, we both pulled our faces away.
Then I smiled brightly.
"Good morning, Flora."
"...G-Good morning. Aldo-san."
Flora gave her morning greeting while looking down, her white cheeks dyed bright red.
Unlike before, I felt a sense of satisfaction from having pulled one over on her.
I'm sorry it's a bit halfway through.