Episode 389: A Fun Meal

「Here Mio-chan, say ahhh.」

「Ahhh!!」

I held out the chopsticks and Mio-chan opened her mouth wide, vigorously stuffing her cheeks with the tamagoyaki. Seeing her puff out her cheeks like a lovely little animal while munching away is just, how should I put it…

This is a foul, a foul!!

「Mmm, sho delicious.」

Holding her cheeks with her tiny hands and swallowing it down, Mio-chan leans against my chest and rubs against me as if in ecstasy.

Yeah, yeah, I can really understand that reaction. Sara-san’s tamagoyaki is without a doubt the best in the world (by my standards)!

And well, that’s how it is. Mio-chan is currently enjoying her mealtime while sitting on my lap.

「It’s delicious, isn’t it, Onii-chan!!」

「That’s right. It’s very delicious.」

「Yeah!」

When I honestly agree, Mio-chan nods happily and… acting spoiled again, this time she presses her cheek against mine and rubs it.

What’s this?

She’s too cute in a different way than Sara-san, seriously!!

「Ahaha, Mio-chan is sticking close to Takanashi-kun.」

「That’s true. Even when I eat with her normally, she doesn’t get like that.」

「Is that so? But maybe that’s also because it’s Takanashi-kun, she doesn’t get many opportunities like this?」

「Yeah. That might be part of it, but maybe that’s not all…」

「…Marina?」

「Ahaha… sorry, it’s nothing.」

At Todo-san’s somewhat meaningful murmur, Tatsukawa-san tilts her head curiously. And next to her, Hanako-san, who also seemed to be listening, showed a gesture of thinking about something…

I wonder what that meant just now?

「Onii-chan, Onii-chan, next is that one!!」

「Haha, understood. Then let me move it to the plate first…」

It’s not like I’m not curious, but since Mio-chan is actually this happy… I decided not to think about it for now.

「Mio, if you do that, Onii-chan won’t be able to eat, will he?」

「Ehhh… but, Mio…」

「Fufu, it’s all right. I’ll feed Kazunari-san… here, say ahhh.」

「Amu.」

This time I bit into… or rather, I didn’t hesitate to eat the chopsticks held out by Sara-san sitting next to me. Immediately after, the meat juice and tenderness spread through my mouth, and the crispy texture of the surface was so exquisite that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it the ultimate roast chicken… in other words.

「Sooo gooood…」

「Kazunari, no more than that.」

「I’m sorry…」

Mmm… the taste was so overwhelming that I almost blurted out that famous quote (and various other things)… no, I mean, it’s just that delicious!!

「Fufu… those two really get along well, don’t they.」

「They really do. I never thought I’d see them do the “ahhh” thing right in front of me. And they don’t even hesitate.」

「Ahaha… doing “ahhh” in front of people is just the beginning for those two.」

「Eh? I-is that so?」

At Natsumi-senpai’s unnecessary comment, the mothers’ faces turned toward us all at once in surprise. Well, it’s not like I’m just aware of it, I can only think of reasons for it so I can’t deny it… though it seems there’s no option to stop it.

「…Ufufu♪」

「Y-you seem to be having fun, Sachie-san?」

「She’s just fantasizing about their future image by looking at that.」

「Oh, you figured it out, Hanako-chan?」

「How could I not.」

Hanako-san counterattacks with a cold stare at Sachie-san, who says such things nonchalantly… but aside from that, it seems those two have become close before I knew it?

Especially for Hanako-san, it might be a bit rare for her to treat Sachie-san, whom she just met, with her usual tone?

Of course, that itself is a good thing, so there’s no problem.

「Hey, hey, Onii-chan, Mio wants to try “ahhh” too!」

「Eh?」

「Mio wants to try giving “ahhh” to Onii-chan too… is that no good?」

「Ugh…」

Seeing Mio-chan start saying such things with an upturned gaze that stirs my protective (nurturing?) instincts and a lisping, spoiled voice, I feel something devilish… no no, I know she doesn’t mean anything deep by it, yeah.

「Uhh.」

When I naturally turned my gaze to the side, there was Sara-san, watching over us gently with a smile like a goddess. And when our eyes met, she let out a dazzling smile one level higher… but I don’t feel any particular reaction like that.

Well, since the opponent is Mio-chan, it’s natural in a way.

「Sara, is it okay?」

「What do you mean by okay?」

「No, giving Takanashi-kun an “ahhh” is Sara’s privilege…」

「Haa… listen, there’s no way I would say such a thing to Mio-chan, right?」

「Well, I guess so.」

「Then the other girls…」

「Do you really want to ask for an answer that is so obvious?」

「「I-I am sorry, so sorry.」」

The intense pressure known as a frozen smile released by Sara-san instantly silenced Tachikawa-san (and Natsumi-senpai)… and its aftermath seemed to affect the surrounding mothers as well, as they couldn’t hide their surprise in a different sense than before.

But this much is still on the light side. If it were a total stranger… Sara-san would be even scarier.

「Mio-chan is the only one being unfair! Sakura also wants to give Onii-chan an “ahhh”!!」

「Yuki also wants to give Onii-chan an “ahhh”.」

「No!! Only Mio and Sara onee-chan can give Onii-chan an “ahhh”!!」

「Muuu… Onii-chan!?」

「Onii-chan…」

At Mio-chan’s absolute refusal which left no room for negotiation, Sakura-chan’s puffed cheeks and Yuki-chan’s sad gaze were directed at me as expected.

Mmm… what should I say here?

As a fundamental principle, only Sara-san is allowed to give me an “ahhh”, and Mio-chan as a child is a special or exceptional case… but in that sense, would Sakura-chan and Yuki-chan be the same?

However, at least for this time…

「Sakura! I told you earlier not to trouble Onii-chan any more!」

「Buuu… but, it’s unfair that only Mio-chan gets to be held by Onii-chan!!」

「Yuki-chan, being selfish is no good.」

「Uu, I’m jealous… Mio-chan.」

Thankfully, Sakura-chan’s and Yuki-chan’s mothers intervened, so it looks like I’ll be able to get through this situation… but even so, why do Sakura-chan and Yuki-chan like me so much when we’ve just met?

Of course, it doesn’t feel bad, but Yuji and Hayato are also here.

「Fufu… Kazunari-san’s charm is something that those who understand can properly see.」

「From our perspective, there’s nothing strange about Mio-chan and the others getting attached to Kazunari.」

「I-is that so?」

It seems Sara-san and Hanako-san have an idea… and as for Nishikawa-san and Todo-san… are they all nodding in agreement with the story?

Wait, is this one of those patterns where I’m the only one who doesn’t understand?

「Fufu… Kazunari-kun, you can stay just as you are. Sara-chan must be happy that her future husband is easily liked by children… right, Sara-chan?」

「Eh? Y-yes. Um, I think it’s a very wonderful thing, Kazunari-san?」

「S-Sara-san…」

Of course, for me too, I’m happy that Mio-chan and the others are attached to me, and regardless of the reason, if it makes Sara-san happy, that’s exactly what I want… but it’s not like I’m doing it consciously, and I haven’t really done anything.

「Onii-chan, what do you want to eat? Mio will give you an “ahhh”!」

「E-err… then, what should I have?」

「Ah, Sara onee-chan, you do “ahhh” with Mio too!」

「Fufu… I understand. Then, shall the two of us give an “ahhh” to Kazunari-san together?」

「Yeah!!」

The two of them smile at each other and let out giggles as they look at my face. And for me, seeing their smiles makes me happy and filled with joy…

「Marina-san, if it’s okay, should I get some for you?」

「Eh… H-Hayato-kun?」

「Ahaha, we can’t do it like those two, but we could at least do a little… right?」

「A-auu…」

「Now then, leave the stupid couples alone, let’s eat a lot!!」

「Agreed!! I haven’t eaten nearly enough yet!!」

「Um… Natsumi-san. At least have a bit more sense of the mood.」

「Shut up!! Don’t ask for that from me!!」

「Haa… I see.」

「Fufu… then, shall we continue to enjoy our meal as well? Right, Hanako-san?」

「I don’t mind, but there’s no need to rush…」

「Huh? I’m not rushing?」

「Oh… mistake.」

「Here, Onii-chan, say ahhh♪」

「Kazunari-san, say ahhh♪」

Spending an irreplaceable moment with someone precious, overflowing with delicious food, bright smiles, and everyone’s laughter. Being able to enjoy it.

While savoring that happiness once again…

「Fufu, next is this?」

「Onii-chan, eat this too~」

「W-wait a second, it’s still in my mouf…」

「Here, say ahhh!!」

「Say ahhh♪」

But aside from that, I might need to be careful about happy weight gain… this.