Three people.
Even with Miyajima Tsubaki, who hadn't arrived yet, there were only four people dining at Miyajima.
But there were eight dishes on the dining table, four meat and four vegetable, plus two soups, also evenly balanced between meat and vegetable.
Hayato was momentarily at a loss for words; it seemed Miyajima had really put in a lot of effort to welcome him.
He was about to express his "utmost honor" and gratitude when he realized he was wrong, and terribly so.
Because both Miyajima Kiichiro and Miyajima Sakura ate at a speed that could be described as a whirlwind, their hand speed like professional e-sports players, flashing past Hayato, and both of them had large appetites.
Furthermore, Miyajima's family rule had always been "no talking while eating or sleeping," so once they were at the table, they didn't politely serve Hayato; they just ate with their heads down.
Before long, half of the dishes on the table were already gone.
Looking at the side, the wooden bucket that was originally overflowing with rice... now the white at the top of the bucket had also receded.
And both of them still seemed unsatisfied, neither their hands nor their mouths showing any intention of stopping.
Miyajima Kiichiro's eating posture was unrestrained yet not impolite; just from this demeanor, he deserved the title of "great master."
Miyajima Sakura's chewing and swallowing movements were both very graceful; just by looking at the perfect Connection of these two movements, one would never imagine how much she could eat.
But the truth was, the amount of food that went into her stomach was definitely no less than Miyajima Kiichiro's.
...They are truly healthy.
Hayato thought as he looked at Miyajima Sakura's well-proportioned figure, it seems the nutrients from the food all went to where they should.
He had eaten out with Miyajima Sakura once before, that was the "Perfect Defense. Ramen" time.
It seemed that Miyajima Senior had slightly sealed off a bit of her appetite then.
However, Kendo is inherently a sport that requires extreme physical fitness, so it was reasonable for Miyajima Sakura, being a master of it, to eat so much.
Hayato quietly ate his rice.
After eating for a while, he felt that he had eaten his fill and was content.
Miyajima Sakura and Miyajima Kiichiro also placed their bowls on the table.
Then, both of them put their hands together in a prayer-like gesture:
"Thank you for the meal—"
After saying this, Miyajima Sakura extended her slender hand to Hayato: "Come, Lin-kun, I'll get you more rice."
"No, no need." Hayato quickly shook his head.
If he forced himself again, something white would overflow from his esophagus.
—referring to rice.
"Hmph, young man." Miyajima Kiichiro put his hands back into his sleeves and said indifferently, "Don't underestimate our Miyajima! We can certainly make sure you eat your fill!"
"No, I'm really full." Hayato said.
Miyajima Sakura, however, chuckled.
"I didn't expect Lin-kun's appetite to be so small."
"..." Hayato was speechless.
Damn it.
How can a man be called small? This is a normal size... no, a normal appetite.
It's clearly you who are too big!
His gaze subtly fell upon Miyajima Sakura's chest, which rose and fell with her laughter, creating a beautiful curve like waves.
Big, truly very big.
It seems she inherited Miss Tsubaki's genes very well.
However, Hayato quickly retracted his gaze.
Firstly, as a gentleman, he naturally wouldn't be too interested in a young lady's chest; his previous reaction was merely an appreciation for the greatness of human genes, with almost no impure thoughts.
Secondly, Miyajima Kiichiro was glaring at him from the side.
Very dangerous.
"Would you like some tea?" Miyajima Sakura brought over a steaming cup of tea.
She first placed it in front of Hayato, and then poured another cup for her grandfather.
Miyajima Kiichiro was clearly very displeased with this order, so he glared at Hayato again.
Preferring females over males.
Hayato thought, this is clearly your granddaughter's fault, why blame me!?
Miyajima Kiichiro blew on his tea and asked indifferently:
"So, young man, where do you live? And what do your parents do for a living?" As he asked, he suddenly let out a 'hehe' sinister laugh, as if implying something, and continued: "There are differences between people, young man, you should understand, since you and Sakura are so close, at least your family background shouldn't disgrace our Miyajima!"
"Grandpa!"
Even though Miyajima Sakura respected Miyajima Kiichiro immensely, she rarely showed a displeased side.
Saying such things right after meeting was truly disrespectful to Lin-kun.
Miyajima Kiichiro, however, uncharacteristically did not listen to his granddaughter's opinion, but instead stared intently at Hayato.
He had already been fooled once in this matter.
He couldn't let Sakura get involved this time too.
"I live in Shikenjaya." Hayato said.
"Shikenjaya?" Miyajima Kiichiro thought for a moment and said, "A good place. There's a coffee shop there, the old man is quite familiar with the owner, it's called 'LeBlanc', I wonder if you've heard of it..."
He paused, then angrily said, "Don't change the subject, don't try to get close to the old man by rambling! That trick won't work on me! Quick! What do your parents do for a living?!"
Hayato was dumbfounded.
He just answered "Shikenjaya," where did he try to get close to this old man?
Stop self-strategizing and self-aggrandizing there.
What a shrimp head.
"I don't have parents, my guardian is my aunt, who is currently working in Hawaii." Hayato added.
"Hmm!?" Miyajima Kiichiro pursed his lips.
"Eh?" Miyajima Sakura's eyes widened even more.
She had heard Hayato say that his family members worked abroad, and she had originally thought he was a rich young master (second-generation rich) with a well-off family, or at least middle class.
She never expected him to be so poor? This, this is truly...
Due to her mistaken perception, Miyajima Sakura's expression was filled with emotion.
"That's incredible!" She almost cheered.
"?"
Hayato was puzzled; what was so incredible about not having a mother?
"Sakura!" Miyajima Kiichiro actually reprimanded his granddaughter, whom he always doted on.
Miyajima Sakura, as if realizing her rudeness, quickly bowed her head and apologized.
"I'm sorry, Lin-kun, I spoke without thinking.
I, I just thought that Lin-kun, you are so strong, it's truly amazing, I, I didn't mean anything else."
"It's fine." Hayato smiled.
So that was it; he had thought Miyajima Sakura had some special affection for orphans, in which case Miss Tsubaki would probably be in danger.
Miyajima Kiichiro took a sip of tea, pondered for a moment, and said:
"Whether one's family is poor or rich, in the end, one must still rely on oneself.
Poverty merely means enduring more hardship, while wealth often breeds arrogance and indulgence.
Our Miyajima is not so blind as to look down on those who can endure hardship... but, young people must conduct themselves with strictness!"
Hayato gave the old man a strange look.
He had seen many who favored the rich and disdained the poor.
Those who disdained the rich and favored the poor were probably only this one family, right?
In fact, for Miyajima Kiichiro, whether Hayato's family was rich or poor did not change his impression of him; what could change his impression was only the family's conduct.
If he had answered proudly that his parents were a certain boss or a certain politician, Hayato's image score in Miyajima Kiichiro's mind would definitely have dropped significantly.
Conversely, if he had stammered and dared not explain, whether his family engaged in some disgraceful business or he was self-conscious due to poverty and unwilling to speak much, Miyajima Kiichiro would also look down on him.
The young man's answer was neither servile nor overbearing, which made Miyajima Kiichiro regard him even more highly.
"...Uh." Hayato nodded.
"That, that..." Miyajima Sakura, to alleviate the awkwardness of her earlier slip of the tongue, put her hands together and said, "Should we start eating watermelon?"
Hayato: "?"
Miyajima Kiichiro smiled slightly: "Excellent!"
Hayato: "??"
Miyajima Sakura then turned to go to the kitchen refrigerator to get it, and Hayato quickly called out to her: "That, Miyajima Senior, aren't you full yet?"
Miyajima Sakura turned around and smiled:
"Eating only until you're seven-tenths full is a long-standing tradition of Miyajima."
Hayato was dumbfounded.
Are you Miyajima a Saiyan!? Who can afford to feed you—oh, she's a little rich woman herself, then it's fine... no, it's not fine! Your stomachs are made of iron, he doesn't have such a terrifying bloodline inheritance.
So, Hayato raised his hand bitterly,
"I request a temporary break here, to go to the restroom..."
"Ah." Miyajima Sakura quickly said with a smile, "The restroom is on the second floor; turn left after going up the stairs, and it's the first room."
Then she used her eyes to suppress her grandfather's desire to speak.
Actually, there was a restroom on the first floor, of course; ordinary guests, and even family members, would usually only use the restroom on the first floor.
Because only Sakura's room was on the second floor, that restroom was only used when she got up at night.
But this time was different, because Hayato was coming, she had specifically cleaned her little space on the second floor, including the restroom... Although the restroom on the first floor was also clean, it wasn't cleaned by her, so she was still a little uneasy.
Since Lin-kun rarely came, she naturally wanted to make him feel at home.
Hayato sighed, you see, wealthy families are just different.
If Miyajima Sakura were to go to his house and need to use the restroom, it would be truly simple and clear: the restroom is right after entering the door, and the room is right after coming out of the restroom.
Walk up the stairs.
Turn left, first room.
Hayato turned the doorknob with his right hand.
Then,
"Ah?"
"...Ah?"
He and Miyajima Tsubaki, who was already in the restroom, met each other's eyes.
Hayato was standing.
Miyajima Tsubaki was sitting.
Hayato was wearing pants.
Miyajima Tsubaki was exposing her pale buttocks.
Miyajima Tsubaki looked at Hayato's face.
Hayato also looked at Miyajima Tsubaki's face, then subconsciously looked at her long pants, which were pulled down to her knees, and then his gaze moved up.
A trickling stream.
Miss Tsubaki...
It seems she's been a bit too passionate lately.
Miyajima Tsubaki finally understood what had happened. Her pale face flushed from her ears to her neck, and her pupils darted around in confusion.
"Ah—!"
She had originally intended to scream that out.
But footsteps from outside abruptly stifled her thought.
"Murae-kun? Did you find it?"
Miyajima Sakura, still a bit uneasy, walked up from downstairs.
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