Seeing her big bad wolf of a sister, An Akiyama shrank back, burrowing even deeper into Shuichi Chiba's arms.
Shuichi's eyelid twitched. The girl's sweet scent and squirming, soft body were a bit much to handle.
"Get up already—what's this look?" Tsuki Akiyama, knowing Shuichi wasn't one to stay tame, saw this as teasing that'd surely stir him. She quickly yanked her sister off him.
"Mom, look at Nee-san bullying me again…" An stood, pouting and tattling.
"Mom's an adult. I don't meddle in kids' stuff," Mrs. Akiyama said, brushing it off. She was in hot water herself.
Her haphazard responses to the camera might earn her a lecture from her eldest soon. An drawing fire now was perfect.
"Chiba-kun, save me~" An reached for Shuichi, acting like it was a life-or-death parting.
Shuichi, amused, said to Tsuki, "Let her go. We've got business to handle. Your ramen shop's fame is about to skyrocket. We need to prepare now to avoid a mess."
Tsuki smacked An's butt twice, shooing her upstairs to study, then nodded to Shuichi, asking for the rundown.
After his brief explanation, she nodded gravely. "Thanks to you, calling the health department right away clarified things. If baseless rumors had spread unchecked, it could've been bad."
"No big deal. Food safety issues always lead to health department checks," Shuichi said, shaking his head.
Tsuki's expression stayed serious. "It's not the same. Early or late seems similar, but who knows what rumors might've brewed in the meantime? Clearing those up would've been tougher."
"Alright, then… How's the president planning to repay me? Help doesn't come free—you'll have to pay a price," Shuichi leaned in, lowering his voice.
Tsuki glanced at Mrs. Akiyama, busy nearby, and bit her lip. "I'll have Mom make sushi. She's usually too lazy, but she'll agree this time, and…"
Shuichi wasn't satisfied—it was just yesterday's plan. He drawled, "Eating without the class rep… won't she get mad?"
Tsuki's heart skipped, her pulse racing. "That's… not quite right, is it? Even if An's a dummy, she'd find it weird…"
"Nothing weird about it. I got media to promote the ramen shop. You think this repays the favor—any issue?"
Tsuki nodded slowly, hesitating, looking like she was bearing a heavy burden. "So… this settles the debt?"
"Yep, settled."
Shuichi thought to himself, The pervert president's acting is getting sharper. Her role-switching is so fast, I can barely keep up.
"What're you two whispering about? Keeping secrets from me?" Mrs. Akiyama suddenly approached, leaning over the counter.
Shuichi quickly pulled his hand back, and Tsuki hurriedly smoothed her rumpled skirt.
But Mrs. Akiyama was no fool—she'd long known about their little games. She eyed their expressions suspiciously.
"Ahem, we're discussing the ramen shop's next steps," Tsuki said earnestly. "That customer's situation was a wake-up call. We should limit orders to one bowl or one set per person to serve more customers and boost fame. As for shop decor and service improvements, I've been working on those. I'll tweak them later, and Mom, you start implementing them tomorrow."
Mrs. Akiyama puffed her cheeks, nodding reluctantly.
"Mm, your performance today… was decent. Keep it up," Tsuki added.
Mrs. Akiyama instantly perked up at the praise.
"Also, since Chiba-kun helped so much, we should treat him properly. Mom, make sushi tonight."
Mrs. Akiyama scratched her head. "That's fine, but my sushi's not as good as my ramen…"
"Doesn't matter. Sushi's perfect," Tsuki decided firmly.
*
Sushi takes time to prepare, and Tsuki's preparations took even longer. Shuichi went upstairs to wait.
He waited until 7 p.m. when a knock finally came.
Tsuki arrived alone, carrying a food box.
She wore a blue floral yukata, like one for a summer festival, her feet wrapped in warm white tabi socks, stepping in cool wooden geta.
Her hair was pinned up, not with a hairpin, but… a pair of chopsticks.
"Looks like the little maid's disobedient, coming alone," Shuichi said, grazing her tender cheek with the back of his hand.
No shampoo scent on her. He leaned in, sniffing her neck—faint fragrance, maybe her natural scent, but he wasn't sure.
"No need to call that dummy. She'll come running soon enough since I brought most of the good food," Tsuki said, knowing her sister like the back of her hand.
Shuichi nodded, understanding. Sisters really knew each other best. He stepped aside to let her in.
Tsuki slipped off her geta, padding in small steps to the dining room. She glanced at the table. "Here?"
"Need help setting up?" Shuichi asked.
"No, young master, just wait," Tsuki said, opening the food box and arranging its layered contents neatly by the table.
Then, biting her lower lip, she gave a pitiful look and slowly untied her yukata's sash.
The fabric parted, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of fair skin.
Tsuki slid off the yukata, folding it carefully and placing it on a chair, completely bare. She tiptoed to sit on the table's edge, removing her tabi.
"I washed thoroughly and wore tabi and geta to avoid sweat," She explained, revealing a delicate, rosy foot, its five petite toes glistening under the light, dainty and adorable.
Maybe because they were at the dining table, Shuichi actually felt a twinge of appetite.
No, can't get any weirder. Even if literary masters did this, it's no excuse. I'm already depraved enough.
Shuichi snapped himself out of it.
After shedding her tabi, Tsuki sat on the table's edge, popped a piece of sushi in her mouth, and looked at him expectantly, lashes fluttering.
Shuichi, marveling at her preparation, leaned in to eat the sushi…
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