"Tap tap tap tap tap…"
Saiki pedaled the sewing machine, "focused" on making the outfit.
(Ah, this is such a hassle. If Kitagawa-san could just go out shopping for a few hours, I could finish this outfit in two or three minutes using my powers, then drink some coffee, watch TV, sit back and relax, and wait for her to come back. Done.)
Yes, that was Saiki's ideal, most relaxed plan. But he also knew it was never going to happen that way. Using superpowers to make clothes would be so easy.
If nothing else, pedaling bit by bit like this required an incredibly calm and leisurely state of mind. Making a whole outfit — it was fine at the beginning, but after a while Saiki started feeling like a prisoner doing forced labor.
From the side, Saiki saw Kitagawa Marin pull up a stool and sit right next to him, wearing a creepy otaku grin as she stared.
(Yare yare, why are you making that face? It's terrifying ꒰꒪꒫꒪⌯꒱)
Kitagawa Marin [Ahh~ Eijun-sama…]
(Who the heck is that?!)
Kitagawa Marin shook her head vigorously to shake the weird thoughts out of her brain.
Kitagawa Marin [No no no, Saiki-kun isn't Eijun-sama, but he really looks like him. Seriously though, a guy working seriously is just the hottest thing. No wonder Shikimori likes Saiki-kun so much. Looking at it this way, yeah, he really is… Wait, no! What am I even thinking? Friends' boyfriends are off-limits!]
In her mind, Kitagawa Marin was still recalling the promise she made to Shikimori — that she wouldn't steal Shikimori's guy. She took promises very seriously.
Saiki sped up the pedal. Even if he couldn't just toss it in the air and let the threads connect themselves like last time, he could secretly guide the threads to move faster. As long as it wasn't too obvious, it should be fine.
And so, very quickly—
About half an hour later
[Yare yare, finally finished.]
Saiki picked up the completed outfit, checked it left and right, found no issues, and handed it to the excited Kitagawa Marin beside him.
"Wow… amazing!!"
Kitagawa Marin took the outfit and exclaimed in excitement. "Saiki-kun, you're seriously incredible! I thought this would take at least two or three days — normal people might need a whole week or even two. I can't believe you finished it so fast."
Saiki turned his head away and spoke calmly.
[Well, everyone's constitution is different, so the speed and quality of what they make varies too, right? It's perfectly understandable. Yeah, that's normal.]
Kitagawa Marin said excitedly, "Then can I try it on?"
[Sure, go ahead and try it. If it doesn't fit, we can adjust it later.]
(It's impossible for it not to fit.)
"Yes!"
Kitagawa Marin took the outfit and went into another room.
Not long after, Kitagawa Marin walked back out wearing the purple Lolita dress.
"So amazing… Too bad I didn't buy a wig. I never thought it would be finished this quickly. Ugh~ I should've bought one ahead of time."
Kitagawa Marin stomped her foot in mild frustration. It was already perfect, but it was missing the wig.
[Anyway, nothing doesn't fit, right?]
"Yeah, it's perfect. Thank you so much, Saiki-kun!"
Saiki nodded and stood up.
[Then I'll head home now.]
(´°Δ°`)
"Wait!"
Kitagawa Marin instinctively grabbed Saiki's hand.
[What's up?]
Kitagawa Marin let go and scratched her head. "It's… it's already noon. Why don't you stay for lunch!"
[No need.]
"Stay! How could I ask you to do all this work and then just let you leave? Stay and eat with me, please!"
Kitagawa Marin looked completely sincere.
Kitagawa Marin [I don't know why, but right now I really don't want to let Saiki-kun go home yet. Plus, I already owe him a favor and asked for his help — how could I just send him away after he's done? At the very least, I have to treat him properly. Yes, that's right.]
(Do I really owe you a favor? I don't feel like it, but whatever. Eating a meal shouldn't be a problem. This girl probably won't stalk me at school again over something like "owing a favor," right?!)
Saiki thought for a moment.
[Sure, okay.]
"Really?! Great! Wait right here — I'll go make something for you now."
Kitagawa Marin gave a bright smile, showing her neat teeth, then ran to the next room. In no time she had changed out of the outfit Saiki just made, hung it carefully on a hanger, and placed it aside.
"Wait a sec — I'm going to the kitchen to cook for you."
After saying that, Kitagawa Marin turned and left.
[Kitchen… Kitagawa-san is cooking herself?]
Saiki hesitated for a second, then followed after her.
When Saiki reached the kitchen, he saw Kitagawa Marin already wearing an apron.
"Saiki-kun, what do you want to eat?"
[Uh… something simple. The simpler the better. If it's too much trouble, I can cook instead.]
"How could I ask you to cook after you already helped me? Seriously, it's fine. Simple, right? OK!"
Kitagawa Marin opened the refrigerator.
"Simple… onions, eggs, chicken, beef, meatballs, and fish with shiitake mushrooms… mm… OK, let's do omurice."
(Omurice? That's relatively simple. Should be fine.)
Kitagawa Marin [Though I don't really know how to make much else. What else can I make… fried rice… I think that's it.]
(Only fried rice? Well, omurice is basically fried rice too, so it should be okay!)
Kitagawa Marin saw Saiki still standing there blankly. "Saiki-kun, it's fine. You can go rest first."
[I'm not really at ease leaving you alone. I'll just watch from here.]
"I… I see."
Kitagawa Marin covered her cheeks, which had turned slightly red. [He's worried about me? Why would he worry about me? Could Saiki-kun actually… No, no, stop it.]
In her mind, Kitagawa Marin imagined herself finishing the omurice, writing "I love you" or drawing a heart in ketchup, and feeding it to Saiki. Her face grew even redder as her heart raced with "no no no."
(I never said anything about being fed.)
(Is that all you people ever think about?)
Saiki had followed mainly because he was genuinely worried this girl might make something bizarre.
(Yare yare, now I'm a little scared whenever girls try to cook. After all, there's precedent — both Shikimori-san and Kubo-san… neither of them are very good at it. Oh, except Shiina-san.)
Without saying more, Kitagawa Marin had already started cooking.
She picked up a sharp kitchen knife. She didn't need any cat-paw grip or anything — she just held the onion or braced the end of the handle.
"Damn it, so spicy! What's wrong with this onion? Why do onions even exist?"
(Don't complain — onions are pitiful enough.)
After just a few cuts, the pungent smell made Kitagawa Marin's eyes water involuntarily. She squinted and kept chopping.
It was like she was letting the knife fall freely. Saiki, watching from the side, seriously wondered if she was going to cut her own hand. It felt exactly like when parents watch their overconfident child chopping vegetables, convinced they won't get hurt even though the blade is only millimeters from their fingers.
But then…