All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me

”Walnut buns are perfectly edible, and you’re so picky, Mom! You’re a grown woman with two daughters!”

”Walnuts aren’t the issue, Kotomi. Back when I was young, your grandma made me eat walnuts every day. She said they were good for the brain, but ugh, I can’t stand them anymore.”

”Mom, I’m pretty sure it was because Grandpa’s walnut business had a bad year, and they couldn’t sell all the walnuts.”

In fact, Kotomi’s mother, Akina, had grown up in a walnut-farming family. One year, when the walnut harvest didn’t sell well, they had tons left over, and to avoid waste, her parents gave them away to neighbors and family, keeping the rest to eat themselves.

For a while, every meal featured walnuts in some form. As someone who already disliked walnuts, Akina’s childhood was filled with walnut-related misery.

”Alright, alright, I’ll buy the pork buns. You don’t have to worry,” Kotomi reassured her mother, who had clearly been traumatized by walnut overload.

”Oh, and one more thing. When you’re getting breakfast, pick up some pudding for Aimi. You know, her favorite caramel-orange flavor.”

”Is Aimi in a bad mood?”

”What do you think? You didn’t come home last night—of course she’s upset.”

Kotomi felt a sudden pang of guilt. Aimi, her sister, always got upset if she stayed out too long.

Wiping a bead of sweat from her brow, Kotomi vowed, I’ll buy all the caramel-orange pudding I can find. Not just pudding—this is life-saving ammunition!