The Sainan Shopping District was bustling with late-afternoon energy. The lively shouts of vendors promoting their daily specials mixed with the clatter of bicycles and the chatter of housewives doing their evening grocery runs.
Buzz.
Chatter.
Clatter.
Rito and Haruna walked side-by-side through the vibrant arcade. Their hands were still tightly linked. For Haruna, walking like this with Rito always felt like a dream. She didn't care who saw them. She was proud to be by his side.
"Alright, let's see," Rito hummed, using his free hand to pull a small notepad from his pocket. "For a proper sukiyaki, we need a lot of things. Let's start with the vegetables and the sides."
"We'll definitely need plenty of spring onions," Haruna pointed out, guiding him toward a bustling greengrocer's stall.
"Welcome! Welcome! Fresh produce today!" the burly vendor shouted cheerfully.
They picked out several bundles of thick, crisp negi (spring onions), followed by large, plump shiitake mushrooms. Haruna meticulously inspected the mushrooms, ensuring they had the perfect, wide caps that would soak up the savoury broth perfectly.
Next, they moved to a specialized tofu vendor, where the scent of freshly pressed soy filled the air.
"We need firm tofu for sukiyaki, right?" Haruna asked, pointing to the display.
"Yeah, momen tofu holds its shape the best when it simmers," Rito agreed, buying two large blocks. He also grabbed several packages of shirataki (konjac noodles), knowing that Lala and the twins absolutely loved the chewy texture of the translucent noodles when they soaked in the sweet soy sauce.
Finally, they arrived at the district's most renowned butcher shop. The glass display cases were lined with beautifully marbled cuts of meat, illuminated by bright overhead lights.
"Okay, the main event," Rito smiled, stepping up to the counter. "Excuse me! I'd like to order some beef for sukiyaki. The A5 Wagyu, please. About... let's see, with Lala, Run, the twins, Mikan, Sachie, Mami, Yami, you, and me... better make it five kilograms."
Haruna's jaw practically dropped. "F-Five kilograms?! Of A5 Wagyu?! Rito-kun, that's going to be incredibly expensive! Are you sure? We could easily get a cheaper cut—"
Rito chuckled, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "It's fine, Haruna. You know how successful the Dragon Ball Z serialization has been lately. The royalties from the last volume alone were massive and there has also been talks about anime adaptation. I work hard on my manga specifically so I can treat the people I love without having to worry about holding back. I want tomorrow to be a feast."
Haruna looked at him, completely awestruck. Seeing this mature, providing, and confident side of him made her heart race all over again.
"You really are amazing, Rito-kun," she whispered, leaning into his shoulder as the butcher happily wrapped up the incredibly expensive, beautifully marbled slices of beef.
The walk back to their respective homes was peaceful. The sun began to set, painting the sky in brilliant hues of orange and purple. They shared quiet conversation, laughing about the day's absurdities and planning out the cooking schedule for the following evening. When they finally parted ways at the intersection near Haruna's house, Rito pulled her in for one last, lingering, deeply affectionate kiss, leaving her blushing and breathless under the twilight sky.
…
The next day, shortly after school ended, the Yuuki household completely transformed into a hive of lively, domestic activity.
In the kitchen, the rich, mouth-watering aroma of soy sauce, sake, and caramelized sugar filled the air.
Chop! Chop! Chop!
Mikan stood at the cutting board, her knife moving with practiced, rhythmic precision as she sliced the thick spring onions into perfect, diagonal pieces. She was wearing her favourite yellow apron, her brown hair tied back to keep it out of her face.
Right beside her, Rito was manning the stove. He poured a mixture of high-quality soy sauce, mirin, sake, and a generous amount of sugar into a saucepan, stirring it slowly over the open flame.
Sizzle... bubble...
"How is the warishita coming along, Rito?" Mikan asked, transferring the chopped onions to a large platter already filled with the neatly arranged shiitake mushrooms and firm tofu.
Rito lifted the wooden spoon, blowing on it gently before taking a small taste. "It's perfect. Sweet, salty, and just rich enough to complement the beef without overpowering it. Your measurements were really spot on, Mikan."
"Of course they were," Mikan smirked playfully, bumping her hip gently against his. "Though I have to admit, seeing you buy five kilos of A5 beef is still a bit of a shock. You're really going all out for this."
"Well, I want them to experience the best food I can prepare," Rito smiled, turning the heat down to a low simmer. "And besides, with the appetite of the Deviluke sisters and my evolved body, five kilos might barely be enough."
Meanwhile, out in the living room, a completely different kind of chaos was unfolding.
"No, no, Nana! The dipping bowls need to go exactly two point five centimeters to the left of the chopsticks!" Momo instructed, pointing a sleek, high-tech Devilukean measuring device at the large, low table situated in the center of the room.
"Why does it have to be perfectly measured?!" Nana groaned, slamming a stack of ceramic bowls onto the table. "Earthlings, hell no one in the galaxy, measure their tableware like this, Momo! You're overthinking it!"
"It is about aesthetic presentation, Nana," Momo replied smoothly, a sly, mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Rito-san went through a lot of trouble to prepare all these. The least we can do is ensure the table is set flawlessly. After all, a proper wife must excel in presentation."
Nana rolled her eyes, her face flushing slightly. "You're not his wife, you sneaky fox!"
"Oh! Oh! I'll plug in the electric skillet!" Lala cheered brightly, completely ignoring her younger sisters' bickering.
The First Princess of Deviluke trotted over to the wall outlet, holding the plug for the large, shallow cast-iron sukiyaki pot that sat in the middle of the table. She plugged it in, humming a happy, energetic tune as the metal began to warm up.
"Everything is looking great out here, Rito!" Lala called out toward the kitchen, her tail swishing happily behind her.
"Thanks, Lala!" Rito called back, carrying the massive, beautifully arranged platter of vegetables and tofu out into the living room and setting it on the table.
Mikan followed close behind, carrying a tray of small bowls, each containing a perfectly fresh, raw egg, an absolute necessity for dipping the hot, savoury meat.
Finally, Rito returned to the kitchen and brought out the crown jewel: a massive wooden tray laden with row after row of thinly sliced, incredibly marbled A5 Wagyu beef. The meat was so rich it practically melted at room temperature, the white fat contrasting beautifully with the deep red muscle.
Gulp.
Nana, Momo, and even Lala stared at the meat, their mouths visibly watering.
"That looks incredible," Momo murmured, her eyes wide.
"Alright, the warishita broth is ready, the table is set, and the skillet is hot," Rito announced, wiping his hands on a towel and looking around the lively, bustling room with a deep sense of satisfaction.
Just as he finished speaking, the clear, sharp sound of the front doorbell echoed through the house.
Ding-Dong!
Rito's face lit up with a welcoming smile.
"Looks like our guests are finally here, perfect!" Rito said, turning toward the hallway. "I'll go get the door!"
*****
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✓ Killed For 100 Years in Hueco Mundo, Aizen Invited Me To Soul Society!
✓ Naruto: Senmei Asahi
✓ Naruto: Uchiha's Intelligence Dealer
✓ Naruto: The Fifth Hokage Is Naruto's Uncle
✓ Naruto: Who Made Him a Ninja?
✓ Bleach: In My Second Reincarnation, I Became The Ninth Kenpachi
✓ To Love-Ru: Spoiler Route [R-18]
✓ Naruto: The Accidental Incubus [R-18]