Chapter 144: Yurine, When Are You Two Getting Married?
'This is truly...'
The old man, Hanazono Kentaro, picked up a piece of the salt-grilled salmon with his chopsticks, full of anticipation, and gently placed it in his mouth.
The moment he began to chew, his pupils contracted sharply, then relaxed. The wrinkles on his face rippled and softened. He slowly closed his eyes, his consciousness seemingly transported to a distant shore.
Beneath his feet were coarse, crystalline grains of sea salt, sparkling under the midday sun like scattered diamonds. The salty, humid sea breeze washed over his face, carrying the crisp scent of crashing waves. In the distance, the tide whispered, white foam churning before breaking into countless glittering bubbles.
The old man, now clad in beach shorts in his vision, continued to chew the fragrant fish. The crispy skin crackled between his teeth with a faint "crunch," like stepping on a thin salt crystal. The coarse salt dissolved on his tongue, and in the next second, it was gently enveloped by the layer of golden, translucent fish oil just beneath the skin. The high heat had rendered the fat, which had then crisped the skin into an amber shell as thin as a cicada's wing—aromatic but not greasy, crispy but not burnt.
With a gentle bite, the snow-white flesh of the fish flaked apart like layers of silk. The outer layer was firm, but the inside remained as tender as a soft-boiled egg yolk. The moment his tongue touched it, it melted into a creamy sweetness that spread silently through his mouth. The sharp edge of the salt faded away, leaving only a subtle savory note that perfectly highlighted the deep, rich flavor of the salmon and the fragrance of its fat.
"Truly delicious!"
The old man opened his eyes, the deep blue of the sea and sky still lingering in his gaze. He let out a long breath, the look of bliss on his face lasting for a long while. "No unnecessary seasoning, and the cooking time was perfect... The natural flavor of the salmon has been brought out to its fullest potential..."
Crunch—!
On the other side of the table, Hanazono Yo was munching on a piece of fried chicken karaage like a greedy squirrel, her fair cheeks puffed out adorably.
'The tender thigh meat and savory juices are bursting out from the crispy fried coating...'
All he had done was make a few minor adjustments to her marinade, yet the fried chicken he made was leagues better than her own. Yo was truly in awe of Ryohei Tanaka's culinary skills.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
It was as if she were on an ancient battlefield. Ryohei, clad in armor and riding a tall warhorse like a great general, waved his hand, and the deliciousness of the fried chicken transformed into a volley of arrows, raining down upon her.
"An unparalleled flavor!" Yo cupped a hand to her cheek, her brown eyes reflecting the sky full of fried chicken arrows.
"Whoa! This Chikuzen-ni is also amazingly delicious! The lotus root is crisp, the taro is soft and starchy, the shiitake mushrooms are tender, the carrots are sweet and crunchy... This is just fantastic!"
"..." Yurine listened to her family's praises, her heart filled with joy. She picked up her spoon and took a sip of the clam miso soup.
The warm broth slid into her mouth, and a sweet, savory flavor instantly bloomed on her tongue. The rich umami of the miso and the oceanic freshness of the clams blended perfectly. Her teeth sank into the plump, tender clam meat, and with a light bite, its juices burst forth, a wave of sweetness intertwining with the salty fragrance of the miso to create a sublime balance. The light scent of green onions and the subtle spice of ginger danced in the background, adding even more layers to the flavor.
Yurine couldn't help but take a few more sips, and an image of her future married life with Ryohei inexplicably flashed through her mind...
"Hey... Yurine, when are you two getting married?"
Hanazono Toshio suddenly turned his head and asked the question to Yurine, who was sitting diagonally across from him.
"Pfft—!"
The moment she registered her father's question, Yurine spat out her soup. She instinctively turned her head toward the aisle just in time. She quickly grabbed a napkin from the table, covered her mouth, and began to cough violently. Her pale face flushed crimson, and even the tips of her ears were dyed the color of a sunset.
'Marriage?'
Ryohei was also taken aback. 'So suddenly? Isn't this a bit too fast?' he thought, completely bewildered. He never expected to be pressured into marriage on his first visit to his father-in-law's house. But, on the other hand, it meant her father was very satisfied with him, right?
He raised a hand and gently patted Yurine's slender back a few times.
"What are you saying all of a sudden?" Yo turned and chided her husband. "It's not like you've been drinking!"
The grandfather also gave his son a weary look. "You're a grown man, but you still can't watch your mouth." After scolding him, he looked at Ryohei, as if waiting for his answer.
"Well... we should at least wait until Yurine graduates, right?" Feeling the old man's gaze, Ryohei's Adam's apple bobbed. He braced himself and answered.
Yurine, who had just recovered, felt her cheeks grow hot again.
"Aha—! It's up to you two to decide!" the old man said with a hearty laugh.
...
By the end of the meal, Ryohei felt that his relationship with Yurine's family had grown much closer. After all, they had already "discussed marriage," so it was only natural. After lunch, Ryohei proactively helped clear the table and clean the kitchen, earning another huge wave of approval.
Afterward, he followed Yurine to her room.
"About earlier..." Yurine turned on the air conditioner, put down the remote, and turned to Ryohei, embarrassed. "That's just how my dad is. Don't mind him."
"Mhm," Ryohei chuckled, his left hand resting casually on his hip. "I actually think it's great. At least my father-in-law is satisfied with me, don't you think?"
"Father-in-law... I dare you to call him that to his face!" Yurine blushed a faint pink and chided him playfully.
"Alright! I'll start calling him that next time I see him!" Ryohei was never one to back down from a verbal challenge. He paused for a moment, then looked at Yurine, seeking praise. "I did pretty well today, right? Is there a reward?"
"How about a kiss as a reward?" Yurine tilted her head. Before Ryohei could answer, she stepped forward and wrapped her slender, snow-white arms around his neck like a koala.
"That's it?" Ryohei wrapped his arms around her slim waist, looking down at the delicate face just inches from his, unsatisfied.
Yurine blinked, her long eyelashes fluttering. A smile played on her lips, her wine-red eyes reflecting his image. She deliberately drew out her words. "Well—what else does Tanaka-kun want?"
"I want to unlock all the content between couples..." Ryohei whispered softly in her ear, his words heavy with suggestion.
(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)
Yurine's soft body instantly stiffened. Her face flushed a deep red, the color spreading down her neck. She stammered for a rare moment, "Th-that's not... impossible..."
"But not today!" the girl quickly added. After all, they were at her family's house. She just couldn't let herself go. It would be too embarrassing if they were discovered! She would die of social anxiety!
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