"You're right! I almost forgot that could happen. If things go badly at Totsuki, you'll need someone to rely on. We'll always have your back!"
Ako nodded seriously after a few seconds of thought. She hadn't considered that possibility, but now she realized how important their support would be.
"By the way, I heard you're opening a restaurant nearby. Do you need waitstaff? I'd love to help out."
Holding his hand under the blanket, Riko remembered hearing about the restaurant outside the study. Their dad was gifting it to Sora, and other than chefs, what a restaurant needed most were servers.
"Me too!"
Not wanting to be left out, Ako quickly chimed in. Their mom had told them to get close to Sora. Plus, he was handsome and gentle—it was hard not to fall for him. That's why they were acting so enthusiastically.
Besides, their parents had subtly hinted that even marrying Sora wouldn't be an issue in this household.
Of course, what truly made the sisters fall for him was something else—an old-fashioned act of heroism.
Back when they had just met, the two were returning late from preparing for the school festival and got harassed by delinquents. Riko shielded Akk with a stick in hand, ready to fight to the end.
That's when Sora happened to pass by and rescued them, even calling the police afterward.
That one event shot their affection for Sora through the roof—and also played a big role in pushing their mom and Sora's dad together. All because they wanted to be a family with him.
Now, that dream had finally come true.
Sora, sandwiched between the two beauties, could've enjoyed the fantasy of every man. But since they were technically his older sisters, he didn't dare move.
He laid there stiffly, fully awake, feet bumping under the covers, arms bound on both sides. It took a long time before he finally drifted off.
The next morning, Sora was nearly smothered awake—or rather, if he hadn't woken up, he might've suffocated.
Right in front of his face: blue lace frills, faint warmth, and a sweet fragrance.
"Ugh… Riko-nee!"
"Ah! Sora, you saw that? Well, look at mine too!"
Chaos ensued. Sora scrambled out of bed to make breakfast. Since their parents weren't home, he made a simple dish—century egg and pork congee. Warm, hearty, and rich in flavor.
"Mmm… so good! I didn't know century egg and pork could make such an amazing porridge!"
Ako was practically glowing with happiness as she praised the dish. In Japan, breakfast was usually simple—toast and milk. Sometimes miso soup and rice if they felt fancy.
Porridge? That was practically heresy here. But if it tasted good, even heresy could be worshiped.
The rich aroma of century egg bloomed in her mouth. The finely cut pork added layers of texture. The slightly salty porridge made it impossible to stop. Even as steam rose, the girls kept eating.
"Another bowl!"
Riko stuck out her tongue and blew on her spoon while savoring each bite. One bowl wasn't enough. Her blissful expression didn't lie.
"Coming up. Careful—it's hot. No one's gonna steal it."
As Sora ladled out another bowl, he instinctively blew on the spoon, only to freeze mid-motion. Before he could swap the bowl, Riko snatched it away with a satisfied smile.
"Me too! I want you to blow on it!"
Seeing Riko's smug look, Ako tightened her grip on her chopsticks and quickly finished her porridge, holding her bowl out to Sora and staring at him with puppy eyes.
"Alright, alright… I'll blow."
Looking at Ako's almost teary expression, Sora sighed, blew on the porridge, and handed it over. Her delighted smile gave him a strange, warm feeling inside.
After breakfast, Sora noticed a note from his dad—technically, Ako found it while cleaning. It had been left on the coffee table.
The note said their parents had gone on their honeymoon and left him in charge of the sisters. Also, they'd left him a restaurant at the corner of Sanwa Street. It used to be a family diner, fully equipped and ready to open with a bit of prep.
"Mmm-hmm. Take good care of us, okay?"
Ako and Riko appeared beside him, nodding meaningfully as they read the note.
"Ako-nee, Riko-nee!"
Sora nearly jumped from being startled. He let out a long, exasperated sigh.
"Sanwa Street, huh?"
"Corner of the street—nice location."
"Doesn't seem like much prep is needed. Let's go now, Sora!"
"Gogogo!"
Before Sora could say anything, the girls grabbed his arms and dragged him toward the door with unstoppable enthusiasm.
"Wait! At least let me put on shoes—!"
---
They walked through a narrow alley, crossed the road, and arrived at an old street. This was the old market district. While the foot traffic couldn't compare to the newer bustling commercial areas, it wasn't bad either.
Standing at the corner of Sanwa Street, Sora looked at the slightly worn but clean shop in front of him, his face filled with excitement. Then he saw Ako step forward with a key to unlock the door.
No wonder he hadn't seen the key earlier—it was with Ako. If he hadn't brought them along, this trip would've been a waste.
As the shop door opened, a cozy interior was revealed. Though time had left some minor blemishes, they weren't significant. The shop was fully furnished with tables, chairs, and stools. A rough estimate showed it could accommodate around fifty people at once.
The hygiene inside was surprisingly decent—no visible trash in sight. It seemed the previous owner had cleaned up before leaving. The kitchen was fully equipped, the seasonings and ingredients were all well-stocked, and the knives hung in a neat row, their blades gleaming with a cold silver light.
There were three stoves in the back kitchen. Given the shop's size, that was reasonable. But with such a complete setup and attention to detail, was the previous owner really forced to transfer the business due to poor sales?
Could it be that his dad held a knife to the guy's throat, forcing him to hand over the shop out of desperation?
Sora couldn't help but complain in his mind. Rather than a failed business, this felt more like something his scheming old man had arranged through some backdoor deal. But that was fine—it saved him the trouble of finding and prepping a place himself.
Still, what dishes should he offer? His dad had said to refine the menu—keep the dishes high quality. That meant the number of dishes shouldn't be too many. With three months of time, he figured he should keep the menu to no more than fifteen items...