Chapter Twelve: Figuring Things Out:

It's this thing now, that's drivin' me wild. There were some things that I didn’t get. Why me? She could have any human that she wanted. But she chose me. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it. It was the same thing with Yumi.

“Hey, Yumi,” I said as she was cooking dinner.

“Hm?” she asked. I didn’t know how I was going to word this. She would probably get mad. Still, I had to say something. Otherwise, it would drive me crazy.

“Why do you love me so much?” I asked. She didn’t turn around as she chopped vegetables.

“Why?” she asked. I nodded. There was a pause. I pressed my lips together as I waited. Yumi slowed down her cutting.

“Does there have to be a reason?” she asked. I’ve heard this question before. Yumi has asked it before. It wasn’t just her either.

“Do you want there to be?” I asked.

“No,” she said. I knew she was going to say that. I’ve heard this answer before, after all. That was her answer too.

“Why do you ask?” Yumi asked. I froze.

“Huh?” I asked. I shrugged. “I’m just trying to sort things out.” I leaned back in the chair. Maybe I was overthinking things. I couldn’t help it. My mind kept returning to that nagging question. By now, I had hoped that I had an answer. That didn’t look like that was going to happen anytime soon. And thus, I was back to where I started.

I about stumbled backward when I saw a wooden spoon being pushed toward my mouth.

“Gah!” I shouted.

“Taste this,” she said. I stared up at her, blinking. When did she get time to move in front of me like that? Yumi tried to nudge the spoon to my mouth again.

“Taste this,” she said again. I blinked before I leaned forward and licked the edge of the spoon. She kept her eyes on me.

“How is it?” she asked. “Too salty? Too sweet? Just right?” I nodded.

“Good,” I said. “It’s good.” Yumi gave me a stern look.

“Are you just saying that?” she asked.

“No,” I said. “Why would I do that?” Yumi shook her head.

“I’m trying out a new recipe here,” she said. I noticed how frustrated she looked. I gave her a sympathetic smile.

“Why did you want to try out something new?” I asked. Yumi huffed as she frowned.

“I just wanted something new to try tonight,” she complained. “I’m not sure if I’m even doing this right.” I patted her on the head.

“I’ll be willing to try it out and give you my honest opinion,” I said. Yumi started to perk up.

“Alright,” she said.

“What exactly are you making anyway?” I asked. Yumi broke into a huge grin.

“Roast trout with eggplant in a miso glaze!” she said. She sounded so excited too. I nodded after some thought. That actually sounded so good. It was moments like this that made me forget what I was trying to figure out before. Even though I knew that question would come back later, Yumi knew how to make me forget about it long enough to remind me that I still have a life here and now in the present. Kind of how she used to do before I joined the Self-Defense Force.

Now that I think about it, she also used food as a distraction for me as well. Her cooking might have been just as good as Yumi’s. (Please don’t tell her I said that.)