With the oil properly heated, I placed the pork chops into the pot one by one, making sure not to overcrowd it.
A few minutes later, the golden colour appeared.
Perfect.
I lifted them out and placed them on a rack so the excess oil could drip away before serving.
Soon the final batch was finished.
'Done.'
I carried the plate back into the kitchen.
'How's the soup, Kasumi?'
Kasumi was stirring the pot with full concentration.
Saki was attached to her like a parasite.
'I-It's good.' Kasumi said.
'Hiss! Don't get close, you bastard!' Saki warned while clinging protectively to Kasumi. 'I will not allow you to corrupt her purity!'
Kasumi… Thank you for everything.
Even though Kasumi was technically a kid, she was surprisingly mature.
Saki, on the other hand…
I still hadn't figured out what mental illness she had.
How did Hina even find someone like this?
Ignoring the two of them, I placed the pork chops on the chopping board and sliced them into strips.
'Alright. All done.'
I arranged the cabbage on the plate and placed the pork on top.
Kasumi scooped the miso soup into bowls.
Saki finally contributed by carrying one bowl to the table.
Progress.
'Do you want me to scoop the rice for you or self-service?' I asked Kasumi.
'S-self service.'
Of course, I didn't bother asking Saki.
I grabbed my bowl and filled it with rice.
A mountain of rice.
When I turned around, both girls were staring at my bowl.
'Y-you eat that much?' Kasumi asked.
'Yeah.'
I flexed my arm.
'Need fuel for these muscles.'
Kasumi looked impressed.
Saki looked offended.
We sat down.
I glanced at their bowls.
Then I looked again.
'What the hell?'
They had almost no rice.
Their portion could fit in my palm.
'You know you can take more, right?'
Both of them shake their heads.
'This is how much we eat.'
I stared at their bowls.
Then at mine.
Then back at their bowls.
Were they feeding themselves or feeding a hamster?
Whatever.
More rice for me.
'Oh, right. Drinks.'
I stood up and went to the fridge.
I grabbed several cans: soda, tea and herbal drinks.
'What do you want?'
'I-I'll take this one.' Kaasumi picked the herbal drink.
'I'll take this.' Saki grabbed the soda like it was a trophy.
I left one herbal drink for myself and put the rest away.
When I returned to the table, neither of them had started eating.
'…Why aren't you eating?'
'W-we were waiting for you.' Kasumi said.
By 'we', she definitely meant herself.
Saki was just copying her.
Honestly, Kasumi felt like the mother here.
Saki was an overly attached child.
'Then let's eat.'
'Itaadakimasu.' Kasumi said politely.
Saki followed.
I picked up a slice of pork, dipped it into the sauce and took a bite.
Perfect.
While I was appreciating my cooking…
Saki was inhaling food like a vacuum cleaner.
'Nanase san, you should slow down.' Kasumi warned. 'You might choke.'
'Fuck, that bastard can cook.' Saki said with a mouth full of rice.'
'Y-you shouldn't talk with your mouth full.'
'I can't let Hina eat this. If she does, he'll win her stomach.'
She stuffed another huge bite into her mouth.
Then…
'Cough!'
'See!!' Kasumi quickly patted her back. 'Slow down.'
'S-Sato san… I love you.'
Kasumi nodded like a confused mother.
'Okay, okay. Don't talk while choking.'
A moment later Saki recovered.
'Ahh, I'm alive.'
She grabbed Kasumi's hands dramatically.
'Thank you Sato san! I love you from the bottom of my heart!'
Kasumi turned bright red.
'E-eh?! I-I… umm… thank you?'
'To repay your kindness,' Saki declared while striking a heroic pose, 'I shall protect you forever!'
She pointed dramatically toward the ceiling.
'I will defend your purity with my life!'
I snapped out of my daydream.
Saki was posing like a low-budget anime protagonist.
Kasumi for some reason had tears in her eyes.
'What the hell happened in the last few minutes?'
'Kasumi, did Saki bully you?'
'Me? Bully?!' Saki waved her arms wildly. 'Don't you dare accuse me, you accuser!'
Then she saw Kasumi's watery eyes.
Saki froze.
She slowly dropped to her knees.
'What… have I done?'
She stared at her hands like a tragic hero.
'To make such a pure soul cry…'
Please, can someone explain what's going on?
'I swore to protect the innocent!' Saki cried. 'Not become the villain!'
Then suddenly her face went serious.
'I understand now.'
She grabbed her own neck.
'To protect you from harm… I must eliminate the harm.'
She looked upward.
At the ceiling.
'Goodbye… world.'
She started choking herself.
'GWAHWHUWHH!'
'Hina,' I muttered, 'where did you find this lunatic?'
After a few seconds, she lost strength and collapsed.
'Cough! Cough!'
'Stop, Nanase san!' Kasumi said quickly. 'You didn't bully me!'
Saki slowly recovered.
Then clasped her hands like she had achieved enlightenment.
'Thank you, Kami sama, for giving me a second chance.'
I stepped in quickly before round two could begin.
'Why were you crying, Kasumi?'
Kasumi wiped her eyes.
'I just feel… really happy.'
'It's my first time feeling this cared for.'
Saki immediately blushed.
'You're making me shy, Sato san.'
She covered her face.
'Can I call you Kasumi?'
Kasumi smiled.
Then can I call you Saki?'
'Of course!'
Saki instantly hugged her.
For a brief moment, she looked at me.
And gave me the most smug expression imaginable.
Then she hugged Kasumi tighter.
'Let's eat before the food gets cold.' I sighed.
Between Saki and Kasumi, I was already mentally exhausted.
Dinner continued with Kasumi constantly lecturing Saki about not talking with her mouth full.
————————————-
'Burp. I'm stuffed.' Saki said. 'Oh! Thank you, Kasumi.'
Kasumi carried the dishes to the sink.
'Do I leave them here, Ku-reiji?'
'Yeah.'
I washed the dishes while Kasumi helped clean the table.
Saki supervised from the chair.
Lazy bum.
'Kasumi, when you're done, you can eat dessert first.'
'I'll wait.' She said.
'Did someone say dessert?!'
Saki instantly revived like a zombie hearing fresh meat.
'It's in the fridge.'
She sprinted to it.
Moments later she returned with pudding, cake and red bean soup.
'Can you finish all that?' Kasumi asked.
'Of course, light work.'
Five minutes later…
'Fuck… I'm dying.'
Saki collapsed in her chair.
'I told you.' Kasumi sighed.
She sat down and helped finish the dessert.
'Thanks, Kasumi. You're the best.'
——————————-
Later.
'Bye bye, Ku-reiji.' Kasumi waved.
'Bye, bastard.' Saki waved.
They refused my offer to walk them home.
Kasumi said it was nearby.
Saki said she would protect Kasumi with her life.
Just to be safe, I secretly called a few of my boys to keep an eye on them.
Back in the fantasy world, I had seen too many kidnapped victims.
Most of them were young women.
Maybe this world was safer.
But I wasn't willing to gamble on it.