Mitsuha and Shouko had both gone to pick up their younger sisters, so Kyousuke didn't hurry back to his seat.
Instead, he casually sat down in Shouko's chair and reached over to lift his little sister onto his lap.
"Kasuko, did you properly greet all these big sisters?"
As he spoke, he gently took his sister's chubby, cartoonishly round hand and waved it left and right like a puppet.
"Of course! Pretty sisters!"
Though tiny in stature, Kasuko spoke with the confidence of an empress bestowing titles upon her court.
"Kasuko is so adorable—she's just like Yotsuba when she was little," Yukari said with a warm smile, lightly tickling the tiny palm with her finger.
Her expression radiated pure affection.
It wasn't because she was older than the others and naturally fond of children, nor was it because she was childlike herself.
Yukari simply loved the innocent joy of a child's world—one free of complicated motives.
Unlike adults who calculate gains and losses and endure things they dislike for various reasons, children were refreshingly honest.
If they didn't like something, they'd rather never see it again.
Just like how Yotsuba would light up with glee at the sight of Sayaka but scowl and bluntly call Teshigawara a clown who shouldn't bother cute Sayaka all the time.
Even though Yukino Yukari had grown up, the lines dividing her world remained just as clear.
She had tasted too much malice in her life.
She understood that most things in this world wouldn't go the way she wanted.
She knew she couldn't chase all the darkness out of her world.
So, she chose to run.
She ran from middle school after her beloved teacher Hinako left.
She ran from the gossip and rumors of Tokyo.
She ran from a hometown that had lost its warmth…
Her world was gradually stained by cruelty.
The pure white canvas of her childhood had been painted over in black.
And yet, she still sought to make her world a little more beautiful, constantly fleeing the things too complex to handle.
Eventually, in the secluded village of Itomori, she found a place untouched by the filth—a sanctuary.
Her god had planted an apple tree just for her, and it bore sweet fruit.
Looking at Kyousuke's adorable little sister in front of her, Yukari couldn't help imagining what her own child with him might be like.
He—or she—would probably have black eyes.
If it were a boy, she hoped they wouldn't have eyes like hers.
Hers looked too easily bullied.
Kyousuke's eyes, on the other hand, could scare off the world's malice just by narrowing slightly.
If it were a girl, then Kyousuke's eyes would also be best—then she'd never have to worry about her daughter being left out.
The hair would be black too, hopefully not as soft as hers.
Soft hair made people assume a soft personality.
Kyousuke's hair was better—strong and confident.
The hands should be like Kyousuke's too—large and reassuring.
Just placing one lightly on someone's head felt like it could dispel all fears.
The nose, the mouth, even the toenails...
Yes, if everything were like Kyousuke's, that would be perfect!
Lost in thought, Yukari subconsciously reached out, wanting to hold Kasuko in her arms.
Seeing her delicate white hands extended toward him, Kyousuke smiled gently and handed over his sister without hesitation.
Kasuko really was lucky—surrounded by so many beautiful older sisters since she was little, she was bound to grow up with a blessed life.
"Yukari!" Kasuko called out sweetly.
Though she could already speak in surprisingly logical sentences, she still had the earnestness of a child.
She always spoke with utmost seriousness and would stare at the listener's face afterward to make sure she got her message across.
"Mm!" Yukari responded with a nod.
As a teacher, she was a natural with children.
She brought Kasuko onto her lap and sat her in front.
Because they had informed the staff in advance, the food had already started arriving.
Yukari looked over the dishes placed before her.
She skipped past the skewers of yakitori and beef and settled her eyes on a plate of oden.
The carrots and tofu looked soft and tender, and the large daikon radish had absorbed the broth beautifully, turning a pale brown.
She picked up a clean pair of chopsticks and was just about to cut the daikon into bite-sized pieces when she looked up, slightly panicked, toward Hojou Mikiko.
"Mikiko-auntie, is it okay if Kasuko eats these?"
Even though it was probably the tenth time she'd said "Mikiko-auntie" that day, Yukari still felt awkward.
Kyousuke's mother looked way too young to be the mom of two children.
If Shizuka-chan were here, she'd probably drown herself in wine on the spot out of jealousy.
But Mikiko, true to being Kyousuke's mother, was a gentle soul.
The moment they met, she'd grabbed Yukari's hand, called her "Yukari-chan," and complimented her cuteness—like she was a child herself, just like Eriri.
"She can eat everything! All of it!"
The voice was far too firm and confident to have come from the carefree Mikiko.
Kasuko had jumped to her feet, stretching her arms out as if she wanted to pull every single dish on the table to herself.
A tiny girl with a big appetite.
"Waaah! Really? Kasuko, you're amazing!"
From across the table, Utaha played along with exaggerated surprise.
"Mhm! Kasuko could eat beef ages ago!" Kasuko nodded with wide, sparkling eyes.
Eriri turned to stare at the overly dramatic black-haired actress beside her, face full of disbelief.
"Then… can you eat green peppers too?"
With a theatrical gasp, the blonde girl picked up a salad full of red and green bell peppers and asked in an overly enthusiastic tone.
"Of course!" Kasuko declared proudly with a firm nod.
"EHHH?! That's incredible!"
Eriri exaggerated her reaction and slid the salad plate toward Kasuko, who eagerly picked up a piece of green pepper with her chopsticks and popped it into her mouth, chewing with determined gusto.
Kids being serious about anything is always cute—but everyone, including Yukari, was now looking at Eriri with a strange expression.
"W-What?"
Eriri instinctively shrank back, then puffed up her voice in protest.
Her mannerisms were almost identical to Kasuko's.
Kasumigaoka glanced at Mikiko, who was smiling serenely nearby.
She moved her lips silently for a moment, hesitated, then couldn't hold it in any longer.
"Sawamura-san really is something else," she said. "Every time I think I've seen the full extent of her ridiculousness, she surprises me all over again."
After that, she pressed her lips together, her expression like someone who'd just taken a big gulp of unsweetened soda—shocked, disbelieving, and complicated.
"Pff—hahahaha!"
The only one who would laugh so shamelessly was, of course, Sakura.
Her laugh was infectious; soon Yukino, Miki, and Naoka were all covering their mouths and giggling.
Kasuko, naturally, had no idea what was so funny, but true to the Hojou bloodline, she happily joined in just from hearing the laughter.
Before long, their corner of the room was filled with the sound of light, bell-like laughter.
Kyousuke didn't know where to look anymore—surrounded by charming girls giggling like willow branches swaying in the wind, it was almost too much to take in.
Well… except for one person.
"What's the problem!? Green peppers are good for kids! They're full of vitamins, anthocyanins, protein—"
Even though Eriri's cheeks were flushed bright red, her mouth refused to back down.
The moment she blurted out "protein," even Mikiko-auntie couldn't hold back her laughter. Eriri quickly added, flustered:
"—and hydration! They're good for hydration too!"
Everyone at the table knew by now that the blonde young lady had a mortal fear of green peppers.
Even if the plate was placed too close to her, she'd react like it was radioactive.
The only time she'd ever eat one—grudgingly—was if it was cooked by Kyousuke himself.
"So that's why Sawamura-san's, um, physical development is so… hmm, how do I put this without embarrassing you? Oh, I know—'cute.'"
'Cute? As in adorable? No, wait—wasn't that word usually reserved for kittens, puppies, or toddlers!?'
Eriri, whose English wasn't exactly top-notch, froze for a second.
But she knew that word well enough. Once it clicked, she exploded.
"Y-You take that back! That's nonsense!"
Her vivid blue eyes darted toward Mikiko-auntie seated diagonally to the left.
If it weren't for the presence of Kyousuke's mother, she'd have dunked her signature twin tails into chili oil and used them to cast a full-power magical attack in revenge.
"Eh? Green peppers are that good for you? Then Eriri should eat them too!"
Kasuko didn't understand a word of what the busty poetess had said, but she grasped the golden-haired Eriri's logic just fine.
Hearing about all the benefits of green peppers, the tiny girl pushed her salad dish forward without hesitation.
"Eriri, here! Eat more!"
Still calculating whether chili oil would cause too much damage and wondering if soy sauce might be a less violent alternative.
Eriri looked at the plate of green pepper salad handed back to her.
Her lips involuntarily quivered, and she could already taste that bitter flavor haunting her tongue.
"Fine. I'll eat it," she growled through gritted teeth.
She grabbed the nearest condiment bottle and squeezed an ungodly amount of dressing onto the salad until the peppers were no longer visually identifiable.
"Let's not set a bad example, Kasuko~"
Kyousuke quickly reached out and shielded his sister's eyes.
Meanwhile, Yukari finally had the opportunity to resume feeding her.
'Ah, I'm so happy.'
Watching Kasuko obediently munch down the food she offered, Yukino Yukari's heart felt like it might bubble over with joy.
Her face bloomed with a childlike smile, unfiltered and pure.
Yukari had found her joy in the banquet, and Kyousuke finally relaxed.
With his mother present, he wasn't worried that any of the girls would feel left out—but unlike Miki and Utaha, who had already met his mother before, Yukari hadn't spent much time with her.
And Yukari, more reserved and shy than even Shouko, was the kind of girl who easily got overwhelmed in unfamiliar settings.
Naturally, he had been concerned.
Kyousuke shifted his seat, now positioning himself between Yukari and Miki.
"Congrats on the award, Kyousuke."
Okudera Miki raised her glass of ginger ale, her red lips forming a gentle smile.
Her gray eyes sparkled under the warm lighting, like stars twinkling in the night sky—but in truth, they reflected only one person.
"So, now that you've got some capital, are you ready to open a second branch? Shall we discuss investor funding?"
Kyousuke grinned, picked up Yukari's orange juice, and gently clinked glasses with her.
"Hehe~ Wait, don't tell me... this whole banquet is actually a pitch to your investors?"
Miki chuckled lightly, then covered her mouth with one elegant hand and widened her eyes in mock surprise.
Her slender fingers, each nail encrusted with glimmering rhinestones, sparkled under the light.
The glow seemed to reflect off her radiant face, making her look almost impossibly beautiful.
"That's right. I'm a very diligent investor, you know. Been working hard, waiting for this little lamb to turn my money into ten times its worth."
Kyousuke laughed and, without meaning to, drifted back in time—to the first time he received a payment for his serialized manga and excitedly ran to tell Miki.
They had taken a stroll by the Ochanomizu River, and she had earnestly asked him to autograph a copy of his magazine.
That was the first time he truly felt the joy of being a manga artist.
He remembered holding his coffee and joking about how the Japanese must be immune to heat.
Miki had confessed she had a cat tongue, then adorably tried to cool his drink for him by blowing on it like an idiot, going, "Fuu~ Fuu~..."
"And here I thought it was angel investing. Turns out it was hush money for a sugar daddy," Miki teased, swaying her hips with practiced grace.
"Well, of course. You eat my rice, you're mine."
Kyousuke replied shamelessly, grinning from ear to ear.
"It wasn't just rice, you know…"
Miki lowered her head and took a sip of her drink.
The orange soda sparkled with ice cubes, clinking softly.
It wasn't just rice. It was her dream.
Back when she first moved to Tokyo alone to attend school, a boy had—half-jokingly—offered to invest in her.
The two of them were like wide-eyed country kids chasing dreams in the big city, crammed into her tiny apartment, eating meager midnight snacks while dreaming big.
Even if it were written into a morning drama, the best plotline would've been the heroine finally waking up to reality, finding her rightful place in a society that treats people like mechanical gears in a massive clock.
But Miki never gave up on her dream.
She kept improving her recipes, searching for the signature dish that could support her dream.
That boy, who had once made that playful promise, not only helped her sell a humble recipe for over a million yen—but also miraculously became a professional manga artist.
Together, they turned a dream into a real restaurant.
They scouted the location together, brainstormed names together, designed the space together… watched as the dream they shared floated higher and higher.
It really was like a dream.
"You're so pushy, Kyousuke," she murmured softly, then gently stirred the ice in her glass with her tongue, as if trying to reflect her restless emotions in the motion.
"Because what I love most," Kyousuke said, looking her in the eye, "is the way you chase your dreams so fiercely, Miki."
He would never forget the stacks of notebooks he saw in Okudera Miki's apartment, pages covered in notes—not the kind for school exams, but notes born of someone chasing a dream.
She could have easily graduated and married into a rich family like many of her classmates from that elite girls' school, but instead, she toiled away in a restaurant, learning everything hands-on.
Kyousuke had no doubt—Miki would've made her dream come true even without him.
One day, maybe even the massive Shibuya intersection would play nonstop ads for Entei.
All he did was help speed up that journey just a little.
He just wanted to make sure his name appeared somewhere in her dream.
It was never charity—it was an investment, like he'd said from the start.
Hearing that, Miki couldn't help but lift her head.
Her long lashes fluttered slightly as her eyes glistened with brilliance.
Kyousuke never stopped moving forward.
He might always look lazy and relaxed, but he was always making progress.
And what about her? She had achieved her first dream—she now had her own restaurant.
She was constantly creating delicious, nutritious dishes.
The initial investments had long paid off, and now, the daily profits were almost unbelievable…
Then… should she make her investor even prouder? Should she make her dream shine even brighter?
Maybe, someday, Hojou's award ceremony wouldn't be held in just any venue—but in her own restaurant.
No, her own hotel.
Okudera Miki felt as if she'd suddenly been transported back to those days at the Garden of Words café.
Back then, even when dealing with difficult customers, the thought that she was building experience for her future restaurant gave her the strength to smile, to persevere, to give it her all.
A dream...
It really is something distant and dazzling.
"Mhm! I'll be counting on you from now on, dear investor!"
She nodded firmly, her voice bubbling with excitement.
"I'm counting on you too," Kyousuke replied with a warm smile, raising his glass.
And clearly, Miki wasn't the only one bursting with joy.
————————————————————————
The Miyamizu Residence
As soon as she heard her older sister had come to pick her up to go celebrate with Hojou, Yotsuba let out a cheer and leapt off the couch.
Without hesitation, she grabbed her two little tagalongs and charged for the front door.
Meanwhile, Miyamizu Mitsuha stood frozen, staring in disbelief at her father.
Wait—did she hear that right?
Dad was going to Hojou's celebration?
"Why? What, that brat's party doesn't want me there?"
Miyamizu Toshiki scowled deeply, looking nothing like someone about to attend a joyous banquet.