"What the heck, you idiot? I'm only on my third bowl!" Itsuki's face flushed as she glared at Sui angrily, her cheeks puffed out in indignation.
She felt it was perfectly normal to be on her third bowl of rice. Besides, she hadn't bought any snacks after school today, only having a bit of candy.
"Itsuki, we're guests here. Please be polite," Miku said, taking a small bite of rice and chewing slowly, her tone calm and composed.
"Miku, are you taking his side too!?" Itsuki asked, looking a bit wronged.
"Alright, dear. You hardly eat that much," Ichika chimed in, setting down her bowl and chopsticks. Like a caring older sister, she gently patted Itsuki on the head to comfort her.
"Did you hear that?" Itsuki turned and glared at Sui, pointing to Yotsuba. "And look, Yotsuba's on her third bowl too!"
"Huh?" Yotsuba looked up, a blank expression on her face. Her bow bobbed like a rabbit's ears, and her cheeks were stuffed with rice, giving her an adorably confused appearance.
"…I see. You don't eat much either," Sui said, resigned.
"Humph!" Itsuki snorted, but then smiled and added a fourth bowl of rice to her plate.
For some reason, she had an unusually good appetite today—the food was just too delicious. Of course, she wouldn't admit that out loud.
Sui's mouth twitched slightly. He started to doubt whether this girl actually only weighed 50 kilograms. Shaking his head, he lowered his gaze to continue eating. Suddenly, he felt someone kick him under the table.
He looked up, only to see Utaha sipping her soup, looking as calm as ever.
Sui shrugged and resumed eating, deciding not to make a fuss. But soon after, he felt another kick.
Taking a deep breath, he continued to ignore it. Yet, when the third kick came, he couldn't hold back any longer. "senpai, enough is enough!" he blurted out, putting down his bowl.
"Kouhai-kun, what's wrong with you?" Utaha asked, setting down her chopsticks with a look of feigned innocence.
"It's fine if you kicked me once, but why did you have to kick me three times?" Sui asked in frustration.
"What are you talking about? I only kicked you once," Utaha replied, her wine-red eyes narrowing slightly as she prepared to argue, but then realization dawned. Her face flushed with embarrassment.
"Oh, I see… I only kicked you once," she muttered softly.
Sui froze, now confused. Who kicked him the other two times? He glanced around at the Nakano sisters.
"Why are you looking at me? I didn't kick you!" Nino said with an annoyed expression.
"I didn't either," Miku said calmly, her face unreadable.
"Not me," Ichika added with a playful smile.
"Huh?" Yotsuba looked up again, her face still covered in rice.
"…It's fine. Let's just keep eating," Sui mumbled, shaking his head in defeat.
The meal resumed without further incidents.
After dinner, the Nakano sisters began helping with the dishes.
"You guys are so polite," Sui remarked, somewhat surprised.
"I can't help it. After all, we ate your food," Itsuki replied, patting her stomach, which now felt uncomfortably full. She silently regretted going for that fourth bowl. Next time, she would stop at three and a half.
Behind them, Utaha, who had been quietly drinking tea, suddenly blushed for no reason. Feeling awkward, she got up and joined in the dishwashing.
"Wow, I didn't expect you to actually help with the dishes," Sui said, raising an eyebrow as if he'd stumbled upon some great secret.
Utaha, her cheeks flushed red, remained silent as she continued washing.
Once the dishes were done, the Nakano sisters gathered their things to leave.
"Thank you for the meal, Sui. It was really delicious," Ichika said, bowing slightly in gratitude.
"You're welcome to come by again anytime," Sui replied with a smile, before glancing at Itsuki. "And of course, you're welcome too."
"What?! Why are you singling me out? If you don't want me to come, just say so!" Itsuki huffed, folding her arms and turning away. "It's not like I'm coming here just to freeload or anything."
"Haha, I don't think Sui meant it like that. Right?" Ichika interjected with a teasing smile, glancing at Sui.
Sui rolled his eyes but played along. 'Aren't you all here to freeload?' he thought to himself, but he still said, "Of course. You're welcome to come again."
Once the Nakano quintuplets had left, Utaha sidled up to Sui, her wine-red eyes narrowing mischievously. "So, are you planning to make a move on the third one next? Tsk, tsk. Are you really aiming to win over all five sisters?"
Sui shot her an exasperated look. "What do you mean, 'make a move on the third one'? I haven't done anything!"
But as he thought back to the mysterious kicks under the table, his mind wandered. Who had kicked him? Was it one person or two? And did someone really have a crush on him? Miku always blushed, but Sui had assumed it was just because she was shy.
He muttered under his breath, "I haven't done anything to you, senpai…"
Utaha's face turned red, and with a playful smirk, she stomped on his foot with her stocking-clad heel.
——
Back at Erina's house, she was cooking in the kitchen.
"Sui, you're back!" Erina poked her head out of the kitchen with a smile. "If you haven't eaten yet, feel free to join me."
"I've already eaten," Sui replied.
Today, Erina was wearing a white blouse and her usual school skirt, her long, slender legs encased in black knee-high stockings. She had a pink plaid apron tied around her waist, and her blonde hair, as always, fell in two playful strands along her cheeks, making her look like a perfect blend of elegance and innocence.
"Erina, why are you dressed like that?" Sui asked with a teasing smile. "Where's your housewife outfit?"
"What are you talking about? Who wears a 'housewife outfit'?" Erina blinked, momentarily stunned, before looking down at herself in confusion. She was dressed as she always was.
"I mean, the 'naked apron' you wore yesterday," Sui clarified.
Erina's face turned crimson. "I never agreed that was a 'housewife outfit!'" she protested in a whisper, remembering the embarrassment of the previous day.
"Didn't you say you wanted to learn from Isshiki-senpai?" Sui asked innocently.
"Who said anything about learning from Isshiki-senpai?! I don't have that kind of… hobby!" Erina shouted, her face burning with embarrassment.
"But didn't you say life should have a sense of ritual? So where's your 'housewife outfit'?" Sui pressed.
"What does a naked apron have to do with a sense of ritual?!" Erina stomped her foot in frustration, her face flushed.
"But I think it suits you really well," Sui said with a hint of regret, remembering how well she had pulled off the look, especially how it had accentuated her…
"Not at all!" Erina cut him off, blushing furiously.