Just as the serious discussion about Koushi and Chinatsu in the kitchen temporarily concluded, and the heavy atmosphere had not yet completely dispersed, the bathroom door slid open with a "whoosh."
Steamy vapor wafted out of the door like a thin veil, accompanied by a faint, clean fragrance, a mix of shower gel and the unique scent of a Spirit. Immediately following, a figure, like a cheerful fawn, ran over with wet footprints, making a "pat-pat-pat" sound.
"Shido! It smells so good! Is dinner ready?"
It was Tohka. She had just finished bathing; her night-colored long hair was damply draped over her shoulders, the tips still dripping clear water droplets that soaked a small patch of the bathrobe fabric on her shoulder. Her amethyst-like eyes looked especially clear and bright due to the hot water, and her fair cheeks held a healthy blush, like a ripe peach that made one want to take a bite.
She was loosely wrapped in only a white bathrobe, the belt casually tied at her waist, outlining the girl's youthful and beautiful figure. Below the hem of the robe, a pair of straight, smooth legs were completely exposed, her bare feet stepping on the cool floor, leaving small, damp footprints. The neckline of the bathrobe was slightly open, revealing her delicate collarbone and a patch of fine, smooth skin. One could even feel the warm, moist heat radiating from her body.
She was like a peerless precious jewel, freshly washed with clean water and still carrying dew, pure, vibrant, and exuding a natural, innate allure.
"Toh... Tohka!" When Shido turned around and saw such a vibrant, alluring sight, his mind instantly went "buzz," and his blood rushed "whoosh" to his head. He fumbled, nearly dropping the spatula, his eyes darting everywhere but unable to focus on Tohka, especially not on the neckline of the robe or her bare legs. "Why... why did you come out like that! Your hair isn't even dry! You... you'll catch a cold!"
His face flushed crimson, even his earlobes were colored, and he started to stutter. The pure, inexperienced boy had never encountered such a sight; he felt his heart was about to leap out of his throat.
In stark contrast to Shido's flustered state was Tohka's complete obliviousness. She didn't find anything wrong with her appearance; her small nose eagerly sniffed the aroma of the food in the air, her face radiating pure anticipation and satisfaction, her gaze fixed firmly on the wok by Shido's hand.
"It's fine! Shido's cooking smells too good, I couldn't wait!" she said, moving two steps closer, curiously watching the dishes being stirred in the pan. The neckline of her robe swayed slightly with her movement.
Shido felt like his eyes had nowhere to rest. He could only stiffly turn his back, pretending to focus on the stir-fry, but his crimson neck and slightly trembling hands betrayed his nervousness.
"Pfft—"
A clear puff of air, carrying a hint of playful laughter, came from the side.
Kotori, who had put away her terminal at some point, was leaning against the refrigerator with her arms crossed. She was chewing on a precious jewel, her face sporting an undisguised, sly smile of someone enjoying a show. Her head, tied with black ribbons, was tilted slightly, and her gaze swept back and forth between the blushing Shido and the naturally alluring, tempting Tohka.
"Oh my, oh my~" Kotori spoke in her characteristic, slightly teasing tone, "It seems our clumsy Idiot Older Brother doesn't have enough self-control when facing a 'delicious meal,' does he~?"
She deliberately emphasized "delicious meal," her eyes meaningfully glancing toward Tohka, who was only wrapped in a bathrobe.
"Kotori! Don't... don't talk nonsense!" Shido nearly jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, hastily refuting her, but his guilt made his denial sound even weaker.
"Huh? Self-control? What does Shido need self-control for?" Tohka blinked her amethyst-like eyes in confusion, completely missing the hidden meaning in Kotori's words. Her attention was still mostly on the food. "Does cooking require a lot of focus? Shido is amazing!"
Seeing Tohka's pure, innocent, and completely naive expression, and comparing it to Shido's awkward look—as if he wanted to find a hole to crawl into—Kotori's smile grew even brighter, as if she had witnessed something extremely entertaining.
"Ah, that's right, that's right~" Kotori played along with Tohka's words, nodding seriously. "Cooking really requires a lot of 'focus,' especially when dealing with certain...'special' distractions~" As she spoke, her gaze swept over Shido's crimson earlobes again.
Shido: "..." (Internal thought: Kotori, please shut up!)
Finally, under Kotori's semi-coercive guidance, using the excuse that "you can't eat until your hair is dry," Tohka finally left the fragrant kitchen temporarily and was led to the living room.
Kotori unusually adopted an older sister's demeanor, patiently helping Tohka dry her night-colored long hair and skillfully tying it into her signature ponytail with a white ribbon.
Next, she found a soft, comfortable-looking nightgown printed with a bear pattern for Tohka to change into.
When Tohka returned to the dining room, she was no longer in the casual state of a "bathing beauty" but had transformed into a neat, refreshing, and obedient young girl carrying the fragrance of a recent bath (at least externally).
The wet footprints and the glimpses of allure had been properly dealt with, leaving only her amethyst-like eyes, which still shone like the brightest stars, firmly locked onto the dishes on the dining table.
The three sat around the dining table. Shido finally recovered from his earlier embarrassment. Looking at the steaming, carefully prepared meal before him and Tohka, who was now in a clean nightgown with soft, fluffy hair, a sense of satisfaction and gentle warmth welled up in his heart.
"I'm going to eat!"
Tohka put her hands together, said the phrase in a clear, loud voice, and then eagerly picked up her chopsticks, aiming decisively for the largest piece of fried pork cutlet.
She shoved the cutlet into her mouth. The crispy exterior made a slight "crunching" sound, and the tender, juicy meat inside, along with the perfect seasoning, instantly burst forth in her mouth.
Tohka's eyes suddenly lit up, as if stars were sparkling within them. She squinted in satisfaction, her cheeks puffed out, and she mumbled an appreciative "Mmm~!"
"It's so delicious! Shido!" She quickly chewed and swallowed, then immediately targeted the next dish. "This is delicious too! And this one!"
Watching her devour the food, yet eating every bite with immense happiness and focus, Shido couldn't help but smile. His previous nervousness and embarrassment had long since vanished.
"Slow down, Tohka, there's plenty more."
Kotori, meanwhile, ate the food in front of her in small bites, her gaze shifting between Shido and Tohka. Seeing Shido's smile, which held both indulgence and accomplishment, and Tohka's unrestrained joy, her own lips curled slightly. However, deep within the eyes beneath her black ribbons, a trace of the Commander's calm observation remained.
Tohka tasted every dish like a whirlwind, almost swallowing her tongue in the process.
When she was satisfied and temporarily slowed down to drink a mouthful of miso soup, she looked up at Shido. Her purple eyes were filled with a pure happiness that was nearly overflowing, and she spoke in a tone that was incredibly natural yet profoundly serious:
"The food Shido makes really smells good and tastes so delicious..." She paused, as if searching for the most appropriate words to express her feelings, then said clearly and firmly:
"—I feel like I will never forget it for the rest of my life."
She said this sentence so naturally, as if stating a simple fact like "the sky is blue."
There were no flowery words, no deliberate sentimentality, yet it carried a heavy weight, an imprint stemming from the instinct of life itself.
Shido froze, his hand holding the chopsticks suspended in mid-air. He looked into Tohka's incredibly serious eyes, and the softest part of his heart was gently touched.
He knew that for a Spirit like Tohka, who had once been lonely and filled with unease about the world, "never forget it for the rest of my life" was not just a compliment to the food, but more like a vow of "warmth," "security," and "belonging" imprinted deep within her soul.
(This girl... she can always do this, using the simplest words...)
A warm current spread through Shido's heart, causing him to involuntarily display an extremely gentle smile.
Kotori, sitting across from him, paused her chewing when she heard the sentence. She looked at Tohka's cloudless smiling face, then at Shido's gentle eyes, and her gaze flickered slightly.
(Never forget it... for the rest of her life?)
(For a Spirit with a near-eternal lifespan, the term 'for the rest of my life' carries a considerably heavy weight... Idiot Older Brother, do you realize how deep a mark you have carved into her heart?)
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