How to raise a random guy's wife

Kobayashi Sora recalled the several friendly exchanges between Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri, "It seems the situation is not quite what you thought."

“Just as you are oblivious and unfamiliar with relationships outside of business collaborations,” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s eyelids drooped slightly, “I am the same when it comes to communication outside of combat—but the responsibility doesn’t lie entirely with me.”

"Oh?"

"The moment we met, she immediately imagined me smiling and signaling, a large group of delinquent-looking kids running out of the classroom and surrounding her. She was terrified and tried desperately to escape, but was held back by the strong men and couldn't resist at all. She even prepared her lines—basically, she looked like someone who was easy to bully."

"Ah, this..." Kobayashi Sora was speechless for a moment, and after a while she managed to stammer out, "As expected of her."

"After exchanging a few words, she realized there was no danger and immediately became arrogant again. Then I instinctively retaliated, and my original plan could no longer be realized." Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled. "Although we exchanged our experiences with a hint of hostility, it was no longer possible to get along peacefully."

Chapter 91 Our Love

“It’s still possible. Sawamura’s thought process is very simple. He can handle it with a straight shot.” ​​Kobayashi Sora said, somewhat puzzled. “As long as you speak properly—ah, it’s alright.”

It would be strange if Kasumigaoka Utaha ever spoke properly.

Kasumigaoka Utaha stared at Kobayashi Sora, "I have a feeling you're thinking something very rude."

“You’re mistaken. I don’t think I’m being rude.” Kobayashi Sora found sesame oil and salad oil, mixed them together, and heated them. “But if that’s your idea, then Sawamura probably thinks the same way.”

There are many options for oil that can be used to fry tempura.

Previously, sesame oil, cottonseed oil, and soybean oil were commonly used, and peanut oil was also sometimes used. However, these oils have a strong aroma, which can affect the flavor of the raw materials. Therefore, herbal yeast is needed to remove the grease.

While salad oil has a mild flavor, it lacks aroma.

Therefore, mixing sesame oil and salad oil in a 2:8 ratio is just right.

"Well, probably." Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled confidently. "Personality aside, at least she admires my story design skills."

"You really do have self-awareness." Kobayashi Sora coated the prepared ingredients with a thin layer of batter and put them into the oil to fry. "But isn't it a pity? They clearly admire and like each other, yet they argue every time they meet—a pair of bickering lovers?"

"You really have no tact," Kasumigaoka Utaha said, giving him a disapproving look. "How could I possibly get along with her?"

"Oh." Kobayashi Sora realized, "A love rival."

"Tsk." Kasumigaoka Utaha started shaking her leg. "Can't you even be a little more tactful?"

“There’s no need.” Kobayashi Sora paused in her actions and turned to look at Kasumigaoka Utaha. “You’ve made it so obvious, who doesn’t know about this?”

Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow. "So, you know the color of a girl's panties and you can even tell her that?"

"You make your panties so obvious?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha raises a carrot, as if to throw it.

“I warn you not to make any rash moves,” Kobayashi Sora pointed to the oil fryer, “the weapon in my hand is far more lethal than yours.”

"Hmph," Kasumigaoka Utaha put down the carrot, "aren't you the same?"

"Ok?"

"They're always all lovey-dovey with Kato, but they still haven't defined their relationship, have they?"

"That's normal," Kobayashi Sora said, frying tempura. "Have you ever seen a guy confess his feelings right after meeting someone?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha let out a sneer, "I've seen a lot, and I've even made quite a few cry."

"As expected of a dark beauty, my example is inaccurate." Kobayashi Sora organized her thoughts. "How should I put it, Megumi has a very good personality."

I feel like you're alluding to me.

Kobayashi Sora sighed, "Saying someone else has a good personality is an insinuation about you. Your self-awareness is too sharp."

Kasumigaoka Utaha's leg-shaking sound became even clearer, "So you're going to make it explicit now, huh?"

Kobayashi Sora scooped out the fried shrimp. "What I mean is, given Megumi's personality, if I confess now and keep pestering her, she'll definitely agree to be my girlfriend."

“Everyone who comes to confess to me has this kind of confidence,” Kasumigaoka Utaha pouted. “And only this kind of confidence.”

“So why don’t you get closer to Eta?” Kobayashi Sora suggested. “You can learn a lot from her.”

"for example?"

"Like speaking politely or something."

Kasumigaoka Utaha turned her head. "Yes, yes, yes, Eiko is all right now. You can continue."

“Let me put it this way,” Kobayashi Sora decided to start from the beginning, “Can you read the air?”

"Air is for breathing."

“That’s right, but not quite right.” Kobayashi Sora continued working. “To put it bluntly, it’s all about the atmosphere. Putting aside the negative factors, reading the atmosphere can be understood positively as being polite.”

"You're being way too positive."

"Because the negativity is just too overwhelming."

"What does politeness have to do with your relationship with Megumi?" Kasumigaoka Utaha asked, getting straight to the point.

"Politeness is an outward manifestation of a person's moral character, cultural refinement, and communication skills. It is the most basic moral norm that humans must abide by in order to maintain normal social life. It is gradually formed by people living together and interacting with each other over a long period of time, and is fixed in the form of customs, habits, and traditions." Kobayashi Sora paused for a moment, "That's a bit complicated. To put it another way, politeness is the clothing of the spirit."

“This is the first time I’ve heard of this,” Kasumigaoka Utaha said, intrigued. “Tell me more about it.”

"Simply put, what's your first reaction if a naked man approaches you?"

"Although I really want to punch him, it's better to run away." Kasumigaoka Utaha thought for a moment, "And tell him I'm afraid of needles."

"...The same applies to the spiritual level. Humans are individuals who are difficult to understand each other, so we need the cloak of politeness to cover up our true nature. This allows us to communicate normally instead of running away from each other." Kobayashi Sora continued, "First, there is ordinary communication, then frequent communication, and finally in-depth communication. With continuous communication, understanding gradually deepens, and the cloak of politeness gradually becomes dispensable."

Kasumigaoka Utaha understood: "Being together is like taking off each other's clothes."

“At this point, we shouldn’t use such vivid metaphors… But you’re right, that’s the idea.” Kobayashi Sora arranged the fried tempura on a plate. “It’s not just about removing the other person’s polite facade, but also about removing your own.”

"Taking off someone else's clothes while taking off your own." Kasumigaoka Utaha thought of someone, "Isn't that just like Sawamura's storyline?"

"No... never mind, let's just understand it this way." Kobayashi Sora gave up correcting her. "Simply put, it's a gradual process. You take off one piece of clothing, I take off one piece of clothing, and everyone looks at the exposed skin on each other's bodies. Some yearn for beauty, some accept the imperfections. Or if they can't accept it, then they put their clothes back on and go their separate ways."

"So in your understanding, establishing a relationship means taking off all your clothes." Kasumigaoka Utaha gradually understood everything. "And confessing is like forcibly stripping the other person naked. Even if the other person doesn't run away, they might get hurt in the process."

Kobayashi Sora regretted it, "I shouldn't have used that metaphor."

Kasumigaoka Utaha chuckled, "It's a very vivid metaphor; I can almost picture it."

"You should think less about the plots written by Sawamura."

Kasumigaoka Utaha summarized, "Simply put, you believe this should be a process of mutual effort and natural outcome, rather than a one-sided night raid."

“In a phase where the situation is stable and improving, there is no need to take radical measures.” Kobayashi Sora put it in a less suggestive way: “High returns come with high risks, and taking risks is not a good habit.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha scoffed, "Only you can be so carefree."

Chapter 92 Sunk Costs

Kobayashi Sora corrected, "It's true that haste makes waste."

Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled, "What if someone were to pursue her relentlessly?"

"If she is willing to accept it, then I can only wish her happiness."

"Oh?" Kasumigaoka Utaha drawled, "Really?"

“Of course it’s true.” Kobayashi Sora put the eggs into the steamer and began to fry the marinated chicken thighs. “I respect an opponent who is indomitable.”

"I didn't expect you to respect people with perseverance."

“No,” Kobayashi Sora corrected, “I respect those who, despite being constantly in trouble and lacking food and clothing, still have the leisure to relentlessly pursue girls.”

"You make it sound so nice, but when you encounter a love rival, isn't it all the same?"

“It’s different.” Kobayashi Sora poured in the teriyaki sauce and simmered it over low heat. “I have no rivals.”

"Tsk." Kasumigaoka Utaha was about to retort when the fragrance lingering around her nose made her involuntarily take a deep breath. "This scent..."

"It smells so good~" The door opened, and Kasumigaoka's mother finally returned. "This is... huh?"

"Hello, Auntie," Kobayashi Sora said with a smile. "I didn't bring any gifts, but I happened to have some ingredients, so I gave it a try, and it was ready in no time."

"Thank you for your hard work." Kasumigaoka's mother smiled broadly, a warm smile that Kasumigaoka Utaha never showed. "I wish my child had this kind of cooking skill."

Kasumigaoka Utaha muttered, "I won't waste my time on something like this."

"It's a waste of time to work hard without talent," Kasumigaoka's mother said with a smile. "Mom totally agrees."

Kobayashi Sora seems to know how Kasumigaoka Utaha developed her strong laning ability.

Teriyaki chicken thigh meat, various tempura, steamed egg custard, miso soup, fruit and vegetable salad, plus steaming hot rice and pickles, a fairly hearty meal is officially completed.

"I'm starting to eat."

The three of them sat down and began to eat.

Kasumigaoka Utaha picked up a tempura shrimp. The moment she bit into it, the crispy batter broke with a slight crackling sound, and the fresh, tender shrimp flavor leaped onto her tongue.

"This level of skill is definitely not something a high school student should have," Kasumigaoka's mother said, looking at Kobayashi Sora. "Do you often cook for yourself?"

"Because my parents are very busy with work, I tried doing it myself a few times, and gradually it became a habit."

“You still have talent,” Kasumigaoka’s mother praised. “What do your parents do?”

"Running a company means I often have to travel for work or work overtime."

Kasumigaoka's mother said gently, "That must be really difficult. You can come over often when you have time, it would be nice to chat."

"Are you asking him to come and chat?" Kasumigaoka Utaha muttered. "I don't even want to point it out to you."

Kasumigaoka's mother said directly, "I want you to spend more time with my daughter, Shiyu. She doesn't have many friends, and you're the first person her age to come to our house. Don't let her seemingly unapproachable demeanor fool you; she really wants someone to talk to."

Kasumigaoka Utaha almost choked, "Mom! I didn't!"

"And they're stubborn and unwilling to admit it."

Kasumigaoka Utaha: "..." Should I deny it or should I admit it?

Denying it is admitting it.

To admit it? That means to admit it.

"I have a work collaboration with my senior, and now I'm her editor," Kobayashi Sora said with a smile, trying to smooth things over. "I'll inevitably be bothering you in the future, so I hope you won't mind."

“That would be even better, making our family even closer. This child loves to procrastinate on her work and then stay up all night writing it at the last minute—you'd better keep an eye on her.” Kasumigaoka’s mother continued, “If she doesn’t listen, just tell me.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at Kobayashi Sora, her eyes filled with threat.