I felt the panic rise up in my throat once again.

"Was it that bad?!"

"..."

Ichinomiya maintained her silence,
as her tears continued to flow.

All I could think to do
was to grab a nearby napkin
and dab at her face
in an attempt to calm her.

"I'm sorry, okay?

So, um...please don't cry..."

"...you're suffocating me."

Oh shoot!

It seemed I had unwillingly used
too much force.

"Sorry!"

I backed away instantly in embarrassment.

"No..."

Ichinomiya Megumi
regained her composure.

"It's not your fault...

Just..."

"Hm?"

"It's been a long time
since I've had a homemade meal.

So the tears just came out.

Did I worry you?"

"No! Not at all!

I'm actually glad you enjoyed the food!"

I reassured her,
feeling somewhat relieved myself.

Megumi looked pleased by my words--
a rosy pink tint blooming
on her once pale cheeks.

"...thank you."

She spoke so softly
that it was hard to catch her words.

"I'm sorry,

what was that?"

The pink on Megumi's face
turned a shade darker.

She stood up promptly from her seat,
causing the chair to topple over
with a loud thud.

Her quivering eyes locked onto mine.

"I said...

thank...you."

After completing the sentence,
she quickly bolted
out of the room.

.

.

.

Left alone to my thoughts now,
the previous moment kept replaying itself in my mind

--over

   and

   over--

like a broken cassette tape.

...

...

...

What the heck was with that reaction just now?!

Saying 'Thank you'
and making a run for it?

That was...

unbelievably cute...

The temperature in my ears rose
just from recalling Megumi's final expression.

"Shoot..."

My heart was stupidly pounding
all on its own.

"...I'm in trouble now."