Ding-Dong!
The sharp, clear chime of the doorbell echoed through the lively Yuuki household, cutting through the bubbling sounds of the kitchen.
"Looks like our guests are finally here, perfect!" Rito said, turning toward the hallway and wiping his hands on a kitchen towel. "I'll go get the door!"
Rito stepped out of the living room, the rich, mouth-watering aroma of sweet soy sauce and caramelized sugar following him down the hall. He reached for the handle and pulled the front door open, welcoming the cool evening breeze.
"Ritooooo-kuuun!"
Before Rito could even utter a word of greeting, a blur of vibrant light-green hair launched itself directly at him.
Oof!
"Whoa!" Rito gasped, stumbling back half a step as Run Elsie Jewelria threw her arms around his neck, burying her face into his chest. She clung to him like a koala, her soft, ample breasts pressing firmly against his shirt.
"I made it! I made it on time!" Run cheered, looking up at him with her hot pink eyes. She was wearing a stylish but casual off-the-shoulder summer blouse and denim shorts, perfectly blending her idol fashion with a relaxed, domestic vibe. "My manager tried to book a last-minute radio interview, but I told her absolutely not! I completely cleared my evening schedule just so I could come have dinner with you! Aren't I amazing? Praise me, Rito-kun! Praise me!"
Rito couldn't help but chuckle at her boundless energy. Despite her status as a rapidly rising, galactically beloved idol, the moment she was alone with him, she instantly reverted to the affectionate, needy girl who had boldly claimed her spot by his side.
"You did great, Run," Rito smiled softly. He raised his hand and gently patted her head, running his fingers through her soft, green hair. "You must be exhausted from working so hard lately. I'm really glad you could make it tonight."
Run's cheeks flushed a brilliant shade of pink at the headpat. She let out a contented, bubbly sigh, nuzzling her cheek against his chest. "Ehehe... Rito-kun's headpats are the best..."
"Excuse us for intruding, Rito-kun," a polite voice called out from the pathway.
Rito looked up to see Haruna walking up the steps, accompanied by Sachie and Mami. Haruna offered him a sweet, beaming smile, her eyes filled with warmth as always.
"Ah, Haruna, Sachie-chan, Mami-chan! Welcome, come on in," Rito greeted them warmly, gently detaching a pouting Run from his arm so the others could enter.
"Wow, it smells absolutely amazing in here!" Mami exclaimed, taking off her shoes at the genkan. "I could smell the broth from halfway down the street!"
"We've been looking forward to this all day," Sachie added with a polite bow. "Thank you so much for inviting us."
Just as the girls were slipping on their indoor slippers, a quiet rustle of fabric caught Rito's attention. Stepping silently out of the evening shadows and into the warm porch light was Golden Darkness.
Yami was dressed in her iconic black gothic dress with star shaped gap at the chest of her clothing. Her golden hair flowed beautifully down her back, her blood-red eyes avoiding direct eye contact as she stopped at the threshold.
"Yami-chan! You made it," Rito smiled, his golden-brown eyes lighting up with genuine happiness.
Yami hesitated for a fraction of a second before stepping into the entryway. She looked slightly reserved, her usual stoic assassin facade warring with the faint, tell-tale dusting of pink on her pale cheeks. She slowly raised both of her hands, presenting a small, neatly wrapped cardboard box to him.
"I... read in a book that it is customary on Earth to bring a host gift when invited to a home for a meal," Yami said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "So... I brought this."
Rito took the box, recognizing the logo of the local bakery immediately. The box was pleasantly warm to the touch.
"Taiyaki?" Rito guessed, his smile widening.
Yami nodded once, looking down at her shoes. "It is... the best food I know. I hope it is an acceptable offering."
"It's perfect, Yami-chan. We'll have it for dessert later," Rito said, incredibly touched by the gesture. Knowing how much she loved taiyaki, the fact that she went out of her way to buy some specifically to share with them was a massive step for the formerly isolated weapon. "Thank you. Come on in, everyone is waiting."
Rito led the group of girls down the hallway and into the living room.
The moment they entered, the sheer scale of the feast became apparent. In the center of the room sat the large, low table. At the heart of the table was a massive, shallow cast-iron skillet, already bubbling and hissing with the dark, rich warishita broth.
Bubble... sizzle... pop!
Surrounding the skillet were veritable mountains of fresh ingredients: perfectly chopped green onions, decorative shiitake mushrooms, blocks of firm tofu, and bundles of translucent konjac noodles. And resting on a massive wooden platter, looking like a culinary masterpiece, were five entire kilograms of A5 Wagyu beef, its intricate marbling glistening under the living room lights.
"Whoa..." Run, Mami, and Sachie gasped in unison, their eyes practically bulging out of their heads at the volume of premium meat.
"Welcome, everyone!" Lala cheered, jumping up from her spot on the floor. Her tail swished back and forth in a frantic arc of excitement.
"Please hurry up and sit down, the broth is at the perfect temperature!" Momo urged with a graceful smile, patting the cushion next to her.
Immediately, a battle for seating commenced.
"I'm sitting next to Rito!" Run declared, darting forward to claim the cushion directly to the right of the head of the table where Rito would sit.
"No fair, Run!" Lala pouted playfully, rushing over to stand behind the cushion on the left side. "I'm Rito's first fiancée, so I should get to sit close to him too!"
"I don't mind sharing, Lala! We can flank him!" Run laughed, linking her arm playfully with Lala's. The two energetic girls engaged in friendly, giggling banter as they established their territory around Rito.
Mikan walked out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her yellow apron. She let out a fond, exasperated sigh at the chaotic energy filling her living room.
"Honestly, you two, let Rito sit down first so he can actually cook the meat," Mikan chided gently, though she was smiling. She walked over to the table carrying a tray of small ceramic bowls and a basket of fresh eggs.
"I'll help you, Mikan-chan," Haruna offered immediately.
Together, Haruna and Mikan moved around the table, ensuring that every single guest had a bowl.
Clack! Crack!
They deftly cracked a single raw egg into each bowl, handing out small bamboo whisks.
"Everyone, make sure to beat your eggs thoroughly," Haruna instructed politely, taking a seat next to Mikan. "The raw egg acts as a dipping sauce. It cools the hot meat down and coats it in a rich flavour."
Clink, clink, clink, clack, clack!
The room filled with the rhythmic, frantic sound of chopsticks and whisks beating raw eggs against ceramic bowls. Even Peke, who was currently resting in his compact robotic form on Lala's shoulder, seemed to buzz with anticipation.
"Peke is ready to eat too!" the little robot chimed.
Rito finally took his seat at the head of the table, flanked by Lala on his left and Run on his right. Nana and Momo sat beside Lala, while Haruna, Mikan, Yami, Sachie, and Mami filled out the rest of the circle.
"Alright," Rito announced, picking up a pair of long, wooden cooking chopsticks. He looked around the table at his sister, his friends, his fiancées, and the girls who had become his family. "Let's get started."
*****
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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]