When they finished their outing trips before they decided to visit the hotel, they ended up visiting one of the famous restaurants in Matsushima, as Nifuji also needed to make a call, and reply to many things that had contacted him.
Yup, most of his women knew well that he went on a trip with Chika, but some thought that he went on a business trip to Matsushima; but then again, he knew well that they were jealous.
Still, he didn't come just because he wanted to take a trip with Chika; he also thought of investing in this place.
Yup, investing.
Nifuji had made a lot of money from his property glitch, where he bought many properties, then gained a tenfold return by thinking that it was all for his women. His ammunition was high, so he wanted to invest in something else, and frankly, he thought that this city, Matsushima, had a lot of potential to invest, especially—
"Oyster?"
"You don't like it?" Nifuji, who had returned, looked at Chika's expression that had become strange after she saw the oysters.
"Well..." Chika gulped.
"If you don't want to, it is fine since there is also the conger eel (anago)."
"I will order that!" Chika quickly said, but then she couldn't help but look around. "But you sure found a good restaurant, Onii-chan."
"Is it?"
"Yup, it has an elegant vibe, but strangely comfortable."
Yes, the restaurant is perched on a hill slightly away from the main tourist bustle, and it offers a sense of quietude and exclusivity. It has a sophisticated yet relaxed "hideout" atmosphere, primarily defined by its dramatic cliffside location.
The restaurant is designed so that virtually all seats—arranged in a spacious table-and-chair layout—face the large windows, providing an expansive, bird's-eye panorama of Matsushima Bay and its many islands.
Inside, the space feels stylish and airy. While it is refined and part of a high-end hospitality group, the vibe is approachable and comfortable, a mix between a modern, upscale dining hall and a peaceful seaside retreat. It avoids the stiff formality of some traditional ryotei, making it feel welcoming for both quiet lunches and family gatherings.
"The view is good, but let's eat first."
"...you are such a glutton, Onii-chan."
Chika was helpless, but she leaned on him, looking at the various menus that Nifuji had ordered.
"...raw oysters, are you sure?"
"Yup." Nifuji had been thinking for a while, and he felt that he might have an investment in oysters. It might be simple, but he knew that it had a total market of USD 157.4 billion in 2025, and with the "Delicious" ability that he got from Ruri before, he knew that he would be okay.
Regardless, Chika didn't have an interest in the oyster as she felt that it wasn't good. Instead, she focused on the food that she ordered, the Anago Hitsumabushi, the signature dish of this restaurant, featuring tender, locally sourced conger eel served over rice.
"It is said that there are three distinct steps to enjoy the shifting flavors of the dish."
"Is it? How?" Chika asked quickly.
"First, eat it plain to appreciate the natural flavor of the eel and the secret savory-sweet sauce."
"Okay."
Chika moved her chopsticks and then ate the natural flavor, as the savory-sweet sauce unfurled on her tongue, as the umami and softness of the eel made her melt, but she couldn't fall asleep, as there were two more steps!
"It's delicious, Onii-chan!"
"Is it?"
"Try it!"
Chika tried to feed him, which Nifuji sighed inwardly, wondering whether she wasn't that embarrassed when people saw them, when they were being so close like this, yet as he saw her bright, gentle smile, he opened his mouth and accepted her feeding.
"Hnm."
"Is it good?"
"Yup!"
"Let's go to the next step!"
"...you are impatient, aren't you?" Nifuji felt that Chika was childish, but somehow, he just couldn't help but take care of her.
"What's the second step, Onii-chan?"
"It should be to add the provided garnishes (like wasabi, green onions, and seaweed) for a fresh, spicy kick."
"Let me try!"
"Are you okay with the wasabi?"
Nifuji was startled when Chika tried to put a lot of wasabi on her dish.
"I am!"
Chika had always been Chika. She wasn't afraid of a challenge, but even so, as expected—
"My nose!"
The spicy kick hit her nose and made her cry, as the wasabi was just too intense!
"Here, drink some water first."
"T-Thank you, Onii-chan."
Fortunately, Nifuji was there, watching her when Chika messed up.
"What about next?"
"The next is to pour the hot dashi broth over the remaining rice and eel to finish it as a comforting ochazuke."
"O-Oh..."
Chika did as she was told, then ate the comforting ochazuke, feeling how warm her belly was.
"It's like... it's like... I am being wrapped in kindness."
"Is that good?"
"It is!"
"It's good, then."
Nifuji showed a gentle smile, but Chika just couldn't look away from him; her heartbeat became faster, and she felt like... the complete part that she missed.
It was said that in Greek mythology, a human had two heads, four legs, and four arms, but Zeus split them in half out of fear of their power, creating our longing for our "other half" or soulmate.
So, was he her soulmate?
It might be!
It must be!
Chika wished that it was how it was, but somehow, when she thought that Nifuji was just away with someone else, his girlfriend, and did something lewd, it gave her a punch in the gut. It was as if she felt an intense helplessness, yet even so, with him by her side, that feeling disappeared, and because of that, she wished to be with him forever.
"How is the raw oyster, Nii-chan?"
"It's okay."
"Can I try it?"
"...are you sure?" Nifuji looked at Chika in surprise.
"Yes."
"Let me give you the cooked one."
"No, it's fine for a raw."
"..."
Nifuji could tell that Chika wanted to fix herself, to become her better self, and the first step was to conquer her hate toward oysters, so he nodded and picked up the best one for her.
It might be a small step, something that was ordinary, yet when one collected all of those small victories, it became a huge victory, right?
"Here."
"Thank you, Onii-chan."
Chika was a bit nervous, but the smell of the oyster wasn't bad, as it didn't smell fishy. Instead, it had a gentle scent that strangely made her hungry, but she knew that it was still an oyster, something that she wasn't good at, so she closed her eyes, then swallowed it whole.
Chomp!
Chika started to chew, and the intense sweetness, creamy texture, and tender consistency filled her mouth before she gulped as she looked at the distant ocean with a sigh.
"How is it?
"Exquisite." Chika's eyes shone brightly as she asked, "Onii-chan, can I ask more?"
Yup, like how she swallowed Nifuji's thick liquid, she could now swallow an oyster, too.
"...." Nifuji.
Regardless, without a doubt, he made a plan to invest in the oyster business.