It Seems Like a Girl I Don’t Know Is Doing Housework at My Place. But She’s Cute, So I’m Watching Her.

“Alright then.”

I confirmed that Chiaki-san had lowered her tone and decided to wrap up the conversation for now. …It’s strange how she’s oddly considerate in such cases, but then again, why did she become a stalker in the first place?

Well, that’s that. Now that I’m fully awake, and it’s almost noon, it’s time to figure out what to do next.

“Lunch, huh…”

I’m talking about food. Specifically, I’m craving something hearty, since it’ll be my first meal of the day.

But, that’s where the dilemma lies. Deciding on what to eat every day is not only something to look forward to but also kind of a hassle. More specifically, choosing a menu can be a real pain.

“I had instant noodles yesterday, and having them two days in a row is… meh. But other instant options are…”

As I shifted my gaze, I noticed Chiaki-san staring at me with a blank expression.

If it were just me, I wouldn’t care. But unfortunately, there’s another person in this room right now. It’s not the kind of meal I want to eat in this situation.

I’m not trying to impress her or anything. As I’ve said many times before, my relationship with Chiaki-san is ambiguous at best. While I can admit that she’s quite attractive, I don’t see her in *that* way… well, at least, not right now.

So, what I’m saying is, I’m just going to take this meal seriously. That’s all there is to it. It’s one of the few things I’m particular about, and I won’t compromise on it.

Chiaki-san isn’t a guest. If I had to describe her, she’s more like a pseudo-housekeeper. So, she’s not someone I need to go out of my way to entertain. But she’s still doing labor here.

That said, she has the right to a decent meal. As the pseudo-employer, I feel like it’s only fair to give her the option.

“Just to check, what do you want for lunch, Chiaki-san?”

“Is this an invitation to a lunch date…!?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Ehh, why not~? Let’s go out and eat together.”

“It’s a waste of money.”

As if a college student living alone could afford to eat out regularly. I’m not obsessed with saving money, but avoiding unnecessary expenses has become second nature. If I don’t, I’ll suffer for it later.

Even without the financial concern, eating out just isn’t an option. After all, I work part-time as a kitchen staff at *Marine Snow*.

I’ve got the skills to prepare dishes worthy of serving to customers, and my coworkers even request my meals sometimes. My repertoire is quite extensive.

“Is there anything you don’t like?”

“Wait, does that mean… you’re going to cook for me!?”

“Yeah, that’s the plan.”

“You’re suddenly being so kind… Is this your *tsundere* side?”

“I object to that on two fronts.”

Not only is there no *dere*, but I don’t recall ever treating her with enough *tsun* to warrant that title. If anything, I’ve just been a bit distant.

Cooking for someone doesn’t equate to showing affection. I do it all the time at work. I’m sure Chiaki-san has eaten the meals I’ve made with a deadpan expression countless times as a regular customer.

“I mean, you seem pretty content to leave all the housework to me…”

“Well, yeah, but cooking is a different matter.”

“Do you like cooking that much?”

“Not really. I just trust my own skills the most.”

“I can cook too, you know!? I’m not amazing, but I can follow recipes and make proper meals!”

“Okay, now sit down.”

“Hey, wait—!”

From that reaction, I could tell. It’s better if I do the cooking.

“Why!? What part of that sounded bad to you!?”

“You don’t seem like someone who cooks regularly. You’d probably be too focused on following the recipe, and that would slow you down.”

“That critique sounded so professional!”

I’m not a professional, though. While my manager has hinted at hiring me full-time in the future, I’m just a part-timer for now.

Still, I’ve got enough experience to tell the difference between someone who cooks regularly and someone who doesn’t.

“Recipes are just guidelines. People who say they follow them exactly are usually not that experienced. People who are used to cooking tend to get a bit more casual about it.”

They start talking about “estimating the amount” or “adjusting as needed,” or they begin substituting ingredients from the fridge as they go along. Experienced cooks have a clear idea of how the dish will turn out, and they just fit the pieces together like a puzzle.

That doesn’t mean not following the recipe makes you good at cooking. In fact, when you’re cooking something seriously, following the recipe exactly is crucial.

It’s just that we don’t dedicate that level of effort to everyday meals. It’s about finding that balance, and that’s what defines someone who’s used to cooking.

“Besides, if you’re using a recipe, you have to know what ingredients you have on hand first. Do you know what’s in my fridge, Chiaki-san?”

“Ugh…”

“And cooking in someone else’s kitchen can be a pain if you’re not familiar with it. Especially since you’re from a family home, right? A small, one-room kitchen would probably throw you off quite a bit.”

“Wait, did I tell you that about my family?”

“I dunno. It’s just that your tone earlier made it sound like you don’t cook regularly.”

Which means someone else is probably handling the daily cooking. The most likely candidate is her parents. Roommates are a possibility, but less likely.

“Why is everyone around me so perceptive…?”

“Maybe you need good intuition to deal with eccentric people?”

“There’s a saying about birds of a feather flocking together, you know.”

“So, you and I will be friends for life, huh?”

“Whyyy would you say thattt!!?”

Please don’t yell like that while on all fours. Also, that’s quite an old meme you just brought up.

“Chiaki-san, I just told you to be mindful of the neighbors.”

“…I wanted words of comfort, not criticism. You really are *tsun*, aren’t you?”

“Uh-huh. Complaints?”

“No, not at all~. It just makes me more determined to bring out the *dere*.”

“Terrifying.”

She said that with a pure smile. Seriously, Chiaki-san never falters.

“Anyway. I’m leaving the housework to you, but I’ll handle the cooking from now on. If you need a meal, that’s the deal. Just take care of the cleanup.”

“Does that mean we’ll be eating together every day!?”

“No, because that would raise the food costs, so it’s obviously a no.”

“How much would I have to chip in for that to work?”

“I was indirectly trying to refuse.”

Stop pulling out your wallet. Put that stack of bills away.