The few people sat down on the chairs in order.
Eri Ri sat with her mother, and facing them were Mochizuki and Miku.
Perhaps because she wasn't very familiar with Eri Ri's family, Miku seemed a bit reserved.
However, soon, everyone was attracted by the aroma of the delicious food wafting from the dining table.
The food on the dining table was neatly arranged, each dish presented exquisitely, and each dish displayed a unique charm.
First was sushi.
Sushi rolls made from ingredients like vinegared rice, seafood, and vegetables.
On the side of the sushi platter, condiments like soy sauce, wasabi, and ginger were thoughtfully prepared, together forming a colorful food picture.
Then came tempura.
The tempura was deep-fried until golden and crispy, each piece of ingredient wrapped in a thin batter, the outer layer crispy after frying, and the inside retaining its original flavor.
Of course, miso soup was indispensable.
A soup based on miso paste, the soup's color was dark brown, with ingredients like tofu, seaweed, and green onions floating on the surface, presenting a simple beauty.
The main dish was curry rice.
Curry rice is a dish combining rich Japanese curry with rice, to which some fresh vegetables and meat were also added.
Moreover, the dark curry sauce was drizzled over the snowy white rice, creating a sharp contrast with the colorful ingredients.
There was also a specialty dish from Hokkaido - durian crab, where steamed crab was mixed with durian flesh, creating a rich combination of seafood and fruit flavors.
Even Eri Ri hadn't expected her mother to prepare such a lavish meal today.
"Let's eat!"
"Let's eat!"
"Let's eat!"
"Let's eat!"
...Mochizuki and Miku picked up their spoons and scooped a spoonful of rice covered in curry sauce.
Then.
"Delicious!"
"It's really good."
Mochizuki and Miku both generously expressed their praise.
To some extent, Mochizuki felt this might be even more delicious than what Shiina Mahiru cooked.
And Miku felt this was even tastier than what Nino made.
After all, Sawamura Sayuri already had many years of cooking experience, so her culinary skills were naturally much more refined than those of two high school girls.
Hearing their praise, Eri Ri's little face also showed a smug expression.
Aunt Sayuri: "If it's delicious, you have to eat it all, okay?"
"Yes!"
The two nodded heavily.
The few people happily enjoyed the delicious food.
But it was almost always Aunt Sayuri setting the pace.
For example.
"How are Nozomu's grades now?"
"Well... they're alright."
"Have you gotten a girlfriend at school?"
"No..."
Sawamura Sayuri: "Oh my, how about considering our Eri Ri?"
Mochizuki: "Huh?"
Mochizuki suspected he had misheard, Aunt Sayuri was truly saying something shocking.
Miku showed an even more nervous expression.
Fortunately, Eri Ri's mother, who was about to continue speaking, was interrupted by a shamefully angry Eri Ri: "Mom! Don't talk nonsense."
"Yes, yes, yes, look, Eri Ri is shy, hehehehehe..."
"But if Nozomu wants to get a girlfriend, he can discuss it with Auntie, okay?"
"Are you properly participating in club activities?"
"Are you used to living alone?"
"If Eri Ri were to live by herself, she definitely couldn't do it."
"Ah, I'm really worried sick about Eri Ri."
After being teased by her mother like this, Eri Ri felt the rice in her bowl no longer tasted good.
She picked up a large crab, preparing to taste it.
...Meanwhile, Mochizuki was listening to Aunt Sayuri's teasing.
While preparing to taste the tempura.
Then, because the tempura was relatively far from Mochizuki, he tried to pick it up but couldn't.
So, Miku picked up the tempura in front of her and placed it in Mochizuki's bowl.
"Nozomu... here you go."
"Thank you."
Helping Mochizuki with food made Miku a bit shy as well; she hadn't done such a thing when they ate at her own house last time, and now they were in someone else's home.
"Oh, Miku is really thoughtful, unlike our Eri Ri, this idiot."
This made Miku lower her head even more shyly.
Sawamura Sayuri said this deliberately, wanting to see what her own Eri Ri's reaction would be.
Eri Ri naturally also noticed Miku's action and couldn't help but think, if she also gave Mochizuki food, wouldn't that be too embarrassing!
She absolutely couldn't do it!
Forget it, it's just adding a dish!
Can't see, can't see...
Why is this crab so hard to break open? Even a mere crab is going against her, Miss Eri Ri.
Aunt Sayuri saw that Eri Ri was actually indifferent and was still struggling with the crab in her hand.
In her heart, she was very disappointed.
Oh, my poor silly daughter!
You're too naive!
You're too lax, you've let your guard down.
Tell me, how are you going to win!
Moreover, based on your mother's many years of experience, looking at how this little girl looks at Nozomu, what those watery eyes reveal.
And the shy look when she just added food, isn't that being overly concerned?
"Eri Ri should eat more too, otherwise you won't grow taller."
Mochizuki: "That's right."
Mochizuki also joined in the teasing.
Sawamura Sayuri also added some food for Eri Ri, hoping that Eri Ri would quickly realize and not fall behind Miku.
Another reason was, of course, hoping that Eri Ri would feel like she was growing a bit taller.
Sawamura Sayuri: "Even if Eri Ri doesn't grow taller, Nozomu won't dislike her, right?"
Sawamura Sayuri started stirring the pot again.
"What are you talking about!"
Unfortunately, Eri Ri didn't understand her mother's hint and continued to pick at the crab by herself.
Even if she had understood her mother's hint, Eri Ri couldn't have done such a thing at this stage, especially in the presence of others.
...After dinner, Mochizuki and Miku rested for a while, preparing to say goodbye and leave.
Sawamura Sayuri was very regretful, saying there were many spare empty rooms and kept urging the two to stay overnight.
However, Mochizuki firmly refused.
"Oh Nozomu, you always disappoint my good intentions!"
"I was also thinking you two could share a room with Eri Ri, otherwise she'll be too bored by herself."
"Fine, in that case, I won't force you to stay. Let's add each other on Line before you leave."
Just like that, Mochizuki was forced to add Sawamura Sayuri's Line account.
When they were leaving, Sawamura Sayuri also wanted to arrange for a driver to take the two away.
However, Mochizuki and Miku decided to take the train themselves, as it wasn't a very long distance anyway.
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