Chapter 5
"—Onee-chan, Onii-chan, hello...!"
The day after, while waiting at home with Luna after school, Mi-chan came over to play around evening. Behind her stood Sagami-sensei, smiling at Luna and me.
"Hello, Mi-chan, Sagami-sensei," Luna greeted them with a cute, beaming smile. I mirrored her smile, returning their greetings and inviting them inside. Then, Mi-chan’s gaze shifted to Aira-chan, who was standing quietly behind us.
"Little Onee-chan, hello...!"
Mi-chan had met Aira-chan at the amusement park and likely recognized her as one of the people who helped her. Despite Aira-chan’s expressionless demeanor, which could seem unapproachable, Mi-chan directed a pure, innocent smile at her. However, that innocent remark seemed to strike a nerve with Aira-chan.
"L-Little...!?"
Perhaps it was because a much smaller girl said it, or maybe Aira-chan was secretly sensitive about her petite stature—whatever the reason, it was rare to see her so flustered.
"...?"
Seeing Aira-chan freeze, Mi-chan tilted her head curiously, her expression puzzled. She had likely just distinguished Luna and Aira-chan by their size, not understanding why Aira-chan was stunned.
"Ahem—my apologies. Mion-sama, hello," Aira-chan said, forcing a smile to cover her embarrassment and greeting Mi-chan formally. She spoke this way even at school, so she didn’t seem to mind doing so in front of Sagami-sensei.
"Mi-chan, okay?"
But Mi-chan tilted her head again, staring at Aira-chan. She probably liked being called that. Despite being addressed so formally with "-sama," she insisted Aira-chan call her [Mi-chan]. This caused Aira-chan’s expression to stiffen.
What an unexpected weakness... This girl’s not good with little kids, is she? Come to think of it, at the amusement park, Luna and I mostly dealt with Mi-chan while Aira-chan kept her distance. She’s used to handling older people, so she might struggle with the unpredictability of young children. Teasing someone like Mi-chan the way she teases Luna or me could make her cry, so Aira-chan’s probably being cautious. Plus, kids act on whims and live in their own little worlds, so someone like Aira-chan, who tries to read others’ intentions, might get overwhelmed.
"M-Mi-chan, hello," Aira-chan said awkwardly, complying with Mi-chan’s request. Satisfied, Mi-chan scampered over to Luna with quick steps, seemingly done with Aira-chan.
"Onee-chan, let’s play!"
"Sure, what should we play?" Luna crouched down to Mi-chan’s eye level, smiling warmly. Though my mind was filled with images of Luna being clingy, she handled Mi-chan like a mature older sister. Honestly, it’s kind of nice, I thought.
"Your face is all soft, Kiriyama-kun~," a voice whispered suddenly in my ear. A shiver ran through me, and I hurriedly covered my ear, stepping away from the culprit.
"Sagami-sensei, whispering in my ear like that is startling...!" And please, stop whispering in that sultry tone! It’s making me feel weird!
"Hehe, why so flustered~?" Sagami-sensei giggled, hand to her mouth, tilting her head playfully. She’s doing this on purpose... Why am I surrounded by so many pranksters!?
"..."
I could feel Luna’s intense gaze on me without even looking. Her cheeks were probably puffed out, sulking. From her perspective, even that brief exchange probably looked like flirting. I didn’t do anything wrong, though...
"Onee-chan?"
"Sorry, it’s nothing. Shall we play inside?" Luna, prompted by Mi-chan’s voice, led her into the living room with a smile. She’s probably not mad, but...
"Alford-san seems possessive, doesn’t she? I noticed it in class and at the welcome party," Sagami-sensei remarked.
"If you know that, please don’t tease her..." I couldn’t help but retort to the instigator. What if this ruins things between Luna and me? Knowing her, she’d probably just say, "Oh, I don’t know~."
"More importantly, Kiriyama-kun," Sagami-sensei said, brushing off Luna’s sulking as trivial. From her adult perspective, it probably wasn’t a big deal. And honestly, Luna’s mood usually improves quickly with some pampering, so maybe it’s not.
"What is it?"
"Thank you for looking after Mi-chan." She bowed deeply. That’s unfair, getting all serious out of nowhere.
"No need to thank me. Luna wanted to play with Mi-chan, and so did I. Besides, you went out of your way to bring her here." We’d considered going to Sagami-sensei’s place, but since her work hours at school are unpredictable and she picks Mi-chan up from daycare, coming to my place was the easiest option. I could tell she didn’t want us to spend money or effort on travel, which shows how kind and considerate she is—despite the scary things she sometimes says.
"Hehe, you’re so kind, Kiriyama-kun. No wonder you’ve charmed the famous Alford-san, who’s got the whole school’s attention," Sagami-sensei teased, flattering me. It’s surprising coming from someone with her gentle demeanor.
"N-No, it’s not like that..." I’m not used to being praised by teachers, so I got a bit embarrassed. Then, a loud ahem came from nearby. Aira-chan was staring at me pointedly. Instead of joining Luna in the living room, she’d been watching me. Her gaze shifted to the living room door, and when I followed it—
Stare...
Through a small gap in the door, Luna was glaring at me with a sulky expression. Below her, Mi-chan was mimicking her, peeking through the gap. Weren’t they supposed to be playing?
"Oh my," Sagami-sensei said, smiling warmly at the sight, as if it were amusing.
"Sensei, I don’t want Luna to misunderstand any further, so let’s head to the living room..." With Mi-chan around, Luna wouldn’t openly get mad at me. But that just means she’d bottle it up, and after they leave, she might unleash all her pent-up affection on me.
...Actually, that doesn’t sound bad at all. Clingy Luna is super cute.
"Stop thinking stupid things and get inside," Aira-chan snapped, poking me in the side while I was imagining clingy Luna. This girl reads people too well—it’s troublesome. Also, couldn’t she have just said something instead of poking me?
"If you overload again, don’t blame me," she added with a deadpan stare, making me look away awkwardly. She’s probably referring to our first date night when Luna went full-on clingy mode. Her cuteness was so overwhelming it nearly broke me. I don’t think I could handle that again.
"But making Luna jealous isn’t good either," I said. While I love her clingy side, jealousy must be tough on her. I don’t want to burden someone I care about.
"If it gets too bad, I’ll administer punishment, so don’t worry," Aira-chan said.
"That’s not reassuring at all!" Punishment from Aira-chan sounds like one of the scariest things in the world.
"Um, you two? While you’re chatting, Alford-san might be getting even more jealous," Sagami-sensei said with a wry smile. I glanced at Luna—her cheeks were puffed out like balloons. Yeah, she gets especially jealous when it comes to Aira-chan and me.
"Quite an interesting dynamic~," Sagami-sensei said.
"Please don’t treat your students like entertainment..." I grumbled at her amusement, then headed to the living room with them.
"—Let’s play [house]...!" As soon as we entered, Mi-chan, oblivious to the tension and Luna’s sulky glare, invited us to play with a bright smile. Playing house is a classic for young girls, but my place doesn’t have any play sets for it.
"That’s a problem. We didn’t bring any..." Sagami-sensei seemed to realize I wouldn’t have a play set, but she hadn’t brought one either. They can be bulky, so it’s understandable she left it out.
"Please wait a moment," Aira-chan said, seeing Mi-chan’s disappointed face, then swiftly left the room. Is she seriously going to buy one now? Even for Aira-chan, that’s not—
"Sorry for the wait," she returned, carrying a massive pile of play house sets.
"That was fast! And that’s a lot!" I exclaimed.
"Just in case, I prepared these. I’ve never played [house], so I bought extra to ensure we had enough," Aira-chan explained. As expected of the capable maid Aira-chan. Even if she’s bad with kids, she’s prepared for their typical games—probably because she didn’t want Luna to be sad if Mi-chan’s wishes couldn’t be met. She likely held off bringing them out in case Sagami-sensei had brought her own.
"Little Onee-chan, amazing! Thank you...!" Mi-chan beamed, thanking her. Aira-chan’s smile twitched. Doing something nice and getting hurt by it—talk about irony.
"Haha... Aira, thank you," Luna said with a dry laugh, perhaps feeling bad for her, and thanked Aira-chan. Aira-chan bowed lightly and stepped behind Luna, clearly not planning to join the game.
"Let’s play [house]...!" Mi-chan, now full of energy, started assigning roles.
"Mi-chan, the kid...!" She picked her role first.
"Onee-chan, Mama...!" She made Sagami-sensei the mom.
"Onee-chan, Onii-chan, Mi-chan’s big sister and brother...!" She assigned Luna and me as her older siblings.
"Little Onee-chan, kitty...!!" She designated Aira-chan, who had no intention of joining, as the pet—a cat.
"Kitty...!?" Aira-chan, shocked, let out a rare vocal reaction. She only reacts like this with Mi-chan. I get that she’s not thrilled, but in manga or anime, there’s usually one pet role in these games. Maybe it’s a kid’s desire to have a pet, or if they have one, they see it as essential. Since Aira-chan is the smallest and most petite, she got picked for the role.
...Still, if Luna and Sagami-sensei are both "Onee-chan," why not just call Aira-chan that too? Maybe Mi-chan sees the "Onee-chan" for Sagami-sensei, whom she’s known longer, as different from the one for Luna.
As I pondered this—
"Cat ears, we have those, right?" Luna said with a smile, cornering Aira-chan. Maybe it’s payback for when Aira-chan made her wear cat ears before.
"Khh..." Aira-chan, reluctant even at her master’s request, looked displeased. Embarrassment was winning out. It’s impressive she made Luna do something so embarrassing before.
"Aira-chan, it’s what a little kid wants," I said. In most cases, kids take priority. If Mi-chan wants Aira-chan to be the cat, she should play along.
"Not only Luna-sama but even the maid is being forced to wear cat ears... What a perverse fetish," Aira-chan shot back, turning her ire on me.
"Don’t say things that make me sound bad! I didn’t start this, and you’re the one who made Luna wear them!" I protested as she glared at me like I was trash. She’s the one who caused this, after all.
"Just give up~♪" Luna said cheerfully, her lovely smile blocking Aira-chan’s escape. There was no way out now.
"Understood..." Resigned, Aira-chan left the living room. The cat ears Luna had worn were probably in the bedroom, so she went to fetch them. Meanwhile, we prepared for the game.
"—She’s not coming back...?" Sagami-sensei said worriedly when Aira-chan didn’t return after we finished setting up. It shouldn’t take long to grab a headband, so she’s probably too embarrassed—or humiliated—to show her face.
"There’s no sound of the front door, so she hasn’t escaped outside," I noted. Honestly, Aira-chan could probably leave silently if she wanted, but she wouldn’t defy Luna’s orders. She’s likely just hiding. Looking closely, I spotted her standing quietly in a corner of the living room, wearing the cat ear headband.
"She’s right there!" I blurted out, and everyone’s eyes turned to her.
"Aira, what are you doing?" Luna asked. Aira-chan, cheeks slightly red, moved awkwardly, clearly embarrassed.
"As ordered, I put on the cat ears and was waiting..." she said.
"You were hoping we wouldn’t notice so you could slip by, weren’t you?" Luna tilted her head with a smile, applying gentle pressure. Aira-chan, sweating nervously, looked away. Yeah, Luna’s smile somehow feels intimidating. No wonder Aira-chan’s sweating. And Luna’s probably right.
"Luna, Aira-chan, Mi-chan’s getting impatient. Let’s play [house]," I said, throwing Aira-chan a lifeline. Her cat ear look is adorable, and I’d love to take a picture, but she’d probably destroy my phone, so I’ll restrain myself.
"Onee-chans, let’s play...!" Mi-chan, who was indeed getting restless, urged them on. With that, the game began, but—
"Kitty, paw!" Mi-chan, sitting on Luna’s lap, focused entirely on Aira-chan, the cat. Aira-chan’s face turned red with embarrassment.
"That’s for dogs—" Aira-chan started to protest, but—
"Kitty, no talking...!" Mi-chan got upset. In [house], you have to stay in character.
"Aira," Luna prompted, also insisting she play the role properly. I’m glad I’m not the pet—both because it’s embarrassing and for another reason.
"Nya, nyaa..." Aira-chan, face bright red, actually meowed, curling her hands like paws. It reminded me of when Luna did this in the bedroom, but Aira-chan seemed even more embarrassed.
"Paw!" Mi-chan held out her hand again, and Aira-chan, with a "Nyan...", gave her a paw with her cat-like hand.
This is bad. What do I do?
[“I’ll kill you...!?”]
Aira-chan shot me a glare filled with murderous intent from across where Luna sat. Taking advantage of the fact that neither Luna nor Mi-chan could see, her eyes were those of a trained assassin, not something an ordinary person would ever show. Even the usually laid-back Sagami-sensei paled slightly and looked away.
[“I absolutely won’t record it...!”]
Feeling my life was in danger, I frantically shook my head, pouring all my sincerity into the gesture. I value my life, you know!
“Ehehe... Onee-chan, pet me?” Amid the suffocating tension as Aira-chan and I exchanged looks, Mi-chan, satisfied with Aira-chan’s cat act, began clinging to Luna. Luna, distracted by Mi-chan, started stroking her head with a gentle, maternal smile. It felt like two completely different worlds were unfolding around Aira-chan—heaven and hell.
“...”
And then, Sagami-sensei casually slipped over to the heaven side. That’s unfair, securing a safe spot for herself...! Well, maybe it’s my fault Aira-chan’s radiating such killing intent...?
But I only thought about it—I didn’t say anything out loud. If Aira-chan wasn’t so good at reading minds, she wouldn’t have noticed. More importantly, her reaction is due to the humiliation of the situation, not me. So, Aira-chan, could you please stop with those eyes...? I pleaded with my gaze, and gradually, her killing intent began to fade. She seemed to understand.
“Kiriyama-kun, you’re the type to die young...” Sagami-sensei muttered, watching Aira-chan and me with a worried expression. From her look, I could tell it wasn’t anything good—probably something like I’d get killed without even realizing it.
Afterward, Mi-chan alternated between clinging to Luna and pampering Aira-chan the cat, eventually falling asleep with a deeply satisfied look.
—Yeah, were Sagami-sensei and I even needed...?
◆
“Hehe... She’s sleeping so peacefully...” Sagami-sensei said, gazing warmly at Mi-chan, who had fallen asleep from playing so hard. The three of us—Luna, Sagami-sensei, and I—were watching her sleeping face, enchanted by the serene expression of the little angel. Honestly, a sleeping child’s face is just so cute.
As for Aira-chan, she’d said, [“Please let me rest...”] and retreated to the bedroom. The cat role must have taken a toll on her mentally. It was the first time I’d seen her so exhausted.
[“A child... I want one...”] Luna mumbled to herself while gazing at Mi-chan’s sleeping face. It was too quiet for me to catch, but Sagami-sensei grinned mischievously.
“With Kiriyama-kun?” she teased.
“Fweh!?” Luna, caught off guard by Sagami-sensei’s jab, let out an adorable squeak. Her face turned bright red instantly, confirming it was a bullseye.
“No need to be shy. You and Kiriyama-kun are engaged, so it’s only natural. Though, as a teacher, I’d be in trouble if you did that while still students, so please wait until after graduation,” Sagami-sensei continued, piling on the teasing after Luna’s cute reaction. I kinda suspected it, but she’s got a hidden sadistic streak, doesn’t she? Everyone’s fooled by her gentle demeanor and looks...
“I-It’s too early for us...!” Luna, shy and earnest, took the bait completely. Her flustered, red-faced response was exactly what you shouldn’t do when being teased.
“Oh? Too early for what?” Sagami-sensei pressed.
“Tch... Th-That’s... Ukyuu~!”
Perhaps Sagami-sensei’s question sparked Luna’s imagination. She let out an odd squeak and her eyes started spinning.
“Sensei, please go easy on her. Luna’s not used to this kind of thing...” As a princess raised with care, her sense of propriety is strong, and she’s likely had little exposure to topics about intimacy. Such stimulating subjects are too much for her to handle.
“Hehe, my apologies. I couldn’t help teasing her a bit out of envy, seeing as Alford-san has such a wonderful partner,” Sagami-sensei said, apologizing but smiling with clear amusement, not seeming sorry at all.
“Envy? But Sagami-sensei, you could easily find someone if you wanted...” After all, she’s incredibly popular with the guys at school—not just students, but probably teachers too. At a mixer, men wouldn’t leave her alone. It was hard to believe someone like her didn’t have a partner.
“I’ve never had a boyfriend,” she confessed.
““—!?”” Luna and I exchanged shocked glances. Her reaction seemed to please Sagami-sensei, who let out a soft chuckle before continuing.
“My father’s wishes meant I attended all-girls schools from kindergarten through university. Naturally, there weren’t many opportunities to meet anyone, right?” Despite her smile, there was a hint of loneliness in her expression. She, too, might be a woman yearning for romance.
“An ojousama, then...?” I asked.
“No, my father was an ordinary salaryman, and my mother is a high school teacher like me, so we’re a regular family.” Her father’s strong desire to protect his daughter must have driven those choices. What caught my attention was her use of the past tense for her father—“was.” Her mother was described in the present tense, suggesting her father might have retired—or perhaps something else.
“But that’s just an excuse. My younger sister found a good partner and had Mi-chan,” Sagami-sensei said, her eyes softening nostalgically as she stroked Mi-chan’s head. I knew she had a sibling since she’d mentioned Mi-chan was her niece, but it was her sister’s daughter. If her sister also attended all-girls schools, she might have met someone through SNS or a friend’s introduction—common these days. But more pressing was Mi-chan’s situation. From what she’d said, Sagami-sensei was the one raising her. What happened to her sister and brother-in-law?
“Sagami-sensei is wonderful, so I’m sure you’ll meet someone amazing soon,” Luna said kindly, genuinely believing it. I agreed—honestly, it’s surprising she hasn’t found someone yet.
“Thank you. But they’d have to accept Mi-chan too...” Mi-chan isn’t her daughter, but raising her means she’s essentially a single parent. Some people might not mind, but others would. That must be her concern.
“I think it’ll be fine,” I said.
“Kiriyama-kun...?” She looked at me, surprised.
“Mi-chan is adorable, and if someone truly loves you, whether you have a child or not wouldn’t matter. With you, Sensei, I bet plenty of men would propose.” If Luna told me she had a kid like Mi-chan, I’d be surprised but wouldn’t reject her. I’d raise the child as my own. There are definitely men out there who’d feel the same and accept her.
“...Seito-sama, that’s not allowed, okay? You have me as your fiancée...” Suddenly, Luna clung to my arm, rubbing her face against it. Was she jealous of my words meant to encourage Sagami-sensei?
“No, I meant someone else would show up for her, not me...” I clarified.
“Exactly. Even I wouldn’t go for a student, so don’t worry. I’d rather not lose my job,” Sagami-sensei added, and together we tried to calm Luna. But one thought struck me: her reasoning was about losing her job, not ethics? Of course, I couldn’t say that out loud.
“Yes, I understand, but...” Luna slowly lifted her face, reassured by our words. If she gets it, there’s no need to be jealous, but it’s probably a case of her heart not catching up with her head.
“Besides, with a wonderful partner like Alford-san, Kiriyama-kun wouldn’t stray,” Sagami-sensei said.
“...” Luna’s skeptical gaze hit me, as if saying [I don’t trust that]. I couldn’t help but mentally retort. She’s probably still hung up on Aira-chan and Rion. Even though I promised at the amusement park to focus only on her, Luna must think my lingering feelings for Rion—my rejection—still affect me. I haven’t fully moved on, and she likely feels she’s not my sole focus.
“Kiriyama-kun, could it be Alford-san doesn’t fully trust you...?” Sagami-sensei teased, picking up on it. I get what she means, but...
“I do trust him, and I don’t think he’d cheat... It’s just that Seito-sama is surrounded by too many wonderful women...” Luna said, pressing her face into my arm again.
◆
“I bought ingredients. I’ll start cooking,” Sagami-sensei said, offering to cook as thanks for playing with Mi-chan. She asked us to watch the sleeping Mi-chan while she shopped.
“Are you sure...?” I asked again, feeling uneasy about a teacher cooking for us.
“As I said before, it’s just for my own satisfaction, so don’t worry. Or do you think my cooking won’t be tasty?” She smirked, pulling out ingredients. She’s cunning—saying that makes it impossible to refuse.
“Shall I help...?” Luna offered, still clinging to my arm.
“No, you must be tired from playing house. Relax on the sofa,” Sagami-sensei declined.
“But...” Luna hesitated.
“Luna, let’s take her up on it,” I said. Her earlier words left no room for refusal, and insisting further would be pointless or even rude. From her perspective, having students entertain her niece without reciprocating probably feels wrong. Accepting her kindness is best.
“If you need anything, please call...” Luna said.
“Of course,” Sagami-sensei nodded, and we left the kitchen.
“Now what?” I asked Luna.
“That’s a problem...” She seemed unsure. Normally, we’d watch anime or I’d pamper her, but watching anime while Sensei cooks feels awkward, and flirting with Luna even more so, especially after hearing about Sensei’s love life.
“By the way, Aira-chan hasn’t come back,” I noted.
“She probably won’t unless called,” Luna said, glancing at Mi-chan. With Mi-chan around, even asleep, Aira-chan might fear more humiliation. The cat act really got to her. It was cute, though. With guards outside and Aira-chan’s ability to sense if something’s wrong with Luna, she’s probably fine in the bedroom.
“...” Luna naturally started gazing at Mi-chan’s sleeping face again, clearly fond of kids.
“Cute, huh?” I said.
“Yes... She’s adorable awake, but her defenseless sleeping face is just too cute...” Luna leaned closer, entranced, wanting a better look.
“Speaking of, you have a younger sister, right? Is she cute like Mi-chan?” I asked.
“...You can’t go after my sister...” Luna puffed her cheeks slightly, giving me a pointed look. What? Am I seen as some kind of womanizer? I feel like she gets suspicious whenever I mention another girl. Or maybe she’s just sulking...
“Not like that. I meant if she’s cute like Mi-chan, in a kid way,” I clarified, meaning the innocent kind of cute.
My intent seemed to get through, and Luna’s expression softened. “She’s different from Mi-chan, but to me, she’s an adorable sister. Honest, kind-hearted, diligent about what she’s taught, and as a child, she always followed me around. I loved watching her sleep when we were young. Aira always fell asleep after me, so I couldn’t with her,” Luna said, her words flowing happily. She clearly adores her sister, who must have been attached to her. With Luna’s genes, she’s probably very cute and loved by all.
“Don’t you want to see her?” I asked.
“Of course, I miss her... Being apart from family is lonely... But...” Luna paused, placing her hand over mine and looking into my eyes with moist ones. “I wanted to be with Seito-sama, so it can’t be helped. I can see her when I return to Arcadia for business.”
So, Luna does feel the weight of being away from family but prioritizes being with me. Maybe I should consider going to Arcadia for her sake. But that would mean giving up the normal family life and marriage she dreams of. It’s tough—prioritizing one thing neglects another. Life doesn’t work out so neatly.
“Tell me if you want to go back, okay?” I said. Her feelings come first. If she wants to return to Arcadia, I’ll respect that. Visiting family is normal, and she shouldn’t hold back.
“...Will Seito-sama come with me?” she asked.
“Of course, if they’ll let me in,” I replied. Right now, Arcadia’s royal family doesn’t welcome me. Even if Luna returns for family or business, I might not be allowed in. I need to build a better relationship with them, but doing something significant enough to earn their favor seems unlikely. A student like me can’t easily help a globally prominent royal family.
“If they don’t accept Seito-sama, I won’t go,” Luna said.
“Haha...” Knowing her, she really wouldn’t. Her determination was clear from the moment we met.
“I think you’d like my sister. She can be misunderstood, but she’s young like Aira, earnest, and hardworking. She’d probably want to get along with you,” Luna said, clearly trusting her sister. If she says so, it must be true.
But a memory flashed through my mind. [“The eighth princess is my age but somewhat childish in personality. Sometimes, she does things that make you want to cover your eyes.”] Aira-chan told me this one night when we were alone. It feels almost the opposite of Luna’s view, stirring unease. Did Aira-chan, jealous of Luna’s affection for her sister, lie to me? No, that’s unlikely. Despite her pranks and occasional scariness, Aira-chan wouldn’t falsely malign someone. So, this conflicting evaluation...
“Seito-sama...?” Luna peered at me anxiously, noticing my deep thought.
“Sorry, I zoned out. Tired, I guess. It’s nothing, don’t worry,” I reassured her. I have a hypothesis, but it’s baseless. I can’t share it and make her anxious or taint her feelings for her sister. I’d need confirmation first, maybe from Aira-chan, but she’d likely catch on if I probed. What to do...
◆
“It’s ready. Eat up,” Sagami-sensei announced, placing a large pot before us. I’d noticed earlier—she was making hot pot. It was unexpected.
“It might be early for hot pot season-wise, but it’s tasty even in warm weather. Plus, you can eat vegetables deliciously, and it’s nutritious. The only downside is it can get pricey,” she said, almost defensively, but it’s probably just her love for hot pot. The ingredients were neatly cut, showing her skill.
“And I thought hot pot might be unfamiliar to Alford-san and Sylvian-san,” she added. So, she wanted to serve something novel, not just tasty. Arcadia’s food culture is top-tier, but cultural differences mean some dishes are uncommon. For a royal like Luna, communal hot pot was likely rare. Sagami-sensei doesn’t know Luna’s a princess, though.
“Yes, it’s my first time...” Luna’s eyes sparkled at the pot, perhaps from seeing it in manga or anime. Sensei’s plan hit the mark. Even Aira-chan seemed quietly excited, though her expression stayed blank—probably only cakes make her show emotion.
“Good. It’s a chicken broth salt hot pot, so it’s easy to eat,” Sensei said. We clasped our hands, saying [Itadakimasu]. Mi-chan, still groggy from waking, couldn’t quite manage it, but that was cute too.
“I’ll serve,” Aira-chan offered.
“No, I’ll do it,” I stopped her, taking Mi-chan’s small bowl. Aira-chan could probably serve perfectly despite being unfamiliar with hot pot, but I hadn’t done much today, so I wanted to contribute. I served Mi-chan first to prioritize the youngest.
“Put in lots of vegetables,” Sensei instructed, likely wanting Mi-chan to eat healthily.
“Nooo...!” Mi-chan protested, suddenly alert at the word “vegetables.” Two opposing gazes hit me—Sensei’s insistence on vegetables and Mi-chan’s defiant refusal. I’d prefer to respect Mi-chan’s wishes, but—
“Kiriyama-kun?” Sensei’s pressure was undeniable, a motherly resolve for the child’s sake. It was one of those rare cases where a child’s preference took a backseat.
“Muu...!” Mi-chan glared at me tearfully, but Sensei gave the order, so blame her...
“I’ll serve Sensei’s too,” I said, taking her bowl.
“Veggies, lots...!” Mi-chan, seeking revenge, demanded I pile on vegetables. This kid’s got spunk for her age.
“Sure, load mine with vegetables,” Sensei agreed with a smile, unfazed. Mi-chan looked shocked, as if saying [Gah!!]. Adults rarely dislike vegetables, and Sensei seems the type to embrace them, so it’s no surprise.
“Gunununu...!” Mi-chan puffed her cheeks, glaring at Sensei, who returned a radiant smile. Ignoring them, I reached for Luna’s bowl.
“Um, please make it a small portion...” Luna requested.
“Got it, don’t worry,” I assured her. Luna’s a light eater, and too much would overwhelm her. She was probably worried after seeing Mi-chan and Sensei’s exchange. I balanced cabbage, mizuna, enoki, king oyster mushrooms, pork, and meatballs in her bowl and handed it to her.
“It’s hot, so be careful,” I said.
“Thank you,” she replied.
Next was Aira-chan, but—her silent stare screamed [Hand over the ladle]. As a retainer, she probably dislikes me serving her master. She could serve herself and me, but I didn’t care. I’d served her cake before, after all.
“Here you go,” I said, serving her.
“...Thank you...” she replied sullenly, clearly displeased, which was a bit amusing.
Afterward, I served myself, and we all enjoyed Sensei’s hot pot together. Once we finished cleaning up—
“Thank you for staying late. I loved seeing Mi-chan’s happy faces,” Sensei said, holding the now-sleeping Mi-chan, her smile conveying her gratitude.
“Thank you for the delicious meal,” I replied, happy to see her joy.
“Hehe, glad you enjoyed it. Please play with Mi-chan again anytime. I’m free whenever,” she said. So, she’s sneakily scheduling the next visit? She’s not to be underestimated.
“Oh, Alford-san, over here,” Sensei called to Luna, who approached. Sensei whispered in her ear, “If you’re worried about all the wonderful women around Kiriyama-kun, move to a physical relationship soon. Sincere men cherish you more after that.”
“~~~!? S-Sensei!?” Luna gasped.
“Hehe, I’m heading home. Don’t stay up too late, you three,” Sensei said cheerfully, leaving. Luna was writhing in embarrassment—must’ve been something scandalous.
“Luna, what did she say?” I asked, curious.
She turned to me, eyes teary and face red. “I-I can’t say... It’s too embarrassing...”
Yup, definitely something outrageous. Now I’m dying to know...
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