"Mhm... Hah~"
Yawning leisurely, Yutsuki rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up from the kotatsu.
"What ti is it now?"
"It's already seven o'clock, Biri-chan."
"Nia..."
Yutsuki wasn't surprised by Honjou Nia, who was sitting next to her at so point. Her lazy gaze swept around. She saw Origami and Tohka sitting in front of the TV, battling it out in a fighting ga on the console.
"Take this, take this! How's that! Now you know how strong I am! Origami!"
"Your movents and moves are too simple. There, an opening."
"Wah—damn it."
"Do you still want to continue? Yatogami Tohka."
"Of course, the match has only just begun!"
(Should I say this is a common sight or a rare one? Well, the relationship between these two has always been unclear whether it's good or bad.)
Or should I call them rivals? Such thoughts casually crossed her mind. Yutsuki withdrew her gaze and stared at Nia with a suspicious look.
"My~ what's wrong? Staring at with such passionate eyes, could it be you've fallen in love with ? That would be quite embarrassing."
Nia scratched her hair, looking a bit shy.
"No... I'm just a bit surprised that you didn't take a marker or sothing and doodle on my face while I was asleep."
Picking up her phone to use as a mirror and checking her face, Yutsuki said, puzzled.
"Wait! Biri-chan, that's going too far. How could a beautiful, sincere, honest, kind, and pure girl like do sothing as despicable as doodling a prank on a good friend's face!?"
Hearing her character and credibility questioned, Nia imdiately protested with righteous indignation.
"...And the truth?"
Yutsuki asked faintly.
"I originally wanted to draw lace panties on your forehead, but I figured I'd get beaten up really badly when you woke up and found out, so I stopped at the drafting stage."
After saying that, Nia laughed awkwardly and looked away.
"You're smart... Ah, co to think of it, I forgot to prepare dinner."
Stretching slowly, Yutsuki looked at the pitch-black sky outside the window and suddenly realized.
"Ah, you don't need to worry about that."
"Hm?"
Before Yutsuki could figure out what Nia was talking about, an enticing aroma slowly wafted from the direction of the kitchen.
"Oh, Yutsuki, you're finally awake. Dinner is just ready too."
Saying this, Shido walked into the living room holding a large tray.
"Dinner!"
Hearing this, Tohka's eyes instantly lit up. Without hesitation, she dropped her half-played ga console, quickly walked over to the kotatsu, and sat down properly.
"Shido, what's for dinner today?"
"New Year's soba. I'm very confident in this."
Placing the noodles in front of everyone, Shido said proudly.
"Ooh, I'm really looking forward to this. Itadakimasu!"
Looking at the fragrant noodle soup in front of her, Nia couldn't help but feel her appetite stirred. After hurriedly putting her hands together in a quick prayer, she picked up her chopsticks and was the first to taste it.
"So hot, so hot! But—the seasoning of this broth is just right. So hot, so hot! But—the soba noodles are smooth and have a great texture. So hot, so hot! And—the shrimp tempura on the side is fried to a crisp, and every bite is so plump and juicy. Oh, my appetite is wide open!"
"If it's hot, blow on it before you eat, and there's no need to give your impressions so seriously."
Watching Nia complaining about the heat while stuffing soba noodles into her mouth, Shido said with a bitter smile.
"Mhm—It's incredibly delicious. As expected of Shido!"
Tohka said with a blissful expression.
"Thanks, Tohka."
"As long as I have Shido as a side dish, I can eat however many bowls of soba."
Origami said seriously.
"Well... as long as it suits your taste, Origami."
Answering Origami with a dry laugh, Shido turned his gaze to Yutsuki. Seeing that she hadn't touched her chopsticks yet, he couldn't help but ask, puzzled.
"What's wrong, Yutsuki? Doesn't the soba suit your taste?"
"No, no. It's just that..." Waving her hand in denial with a bitter smile, Yutsuki scratched her cheek and said sowhat awkwardly, "Sorry, Shido. Even though it was my turn to cook tonight, I slept in until now."
"What's that? Don't worry about such a small thing." Shido chuckled, shook his head, and replied, "Cooking has always been my responsibility anyway. You've always been kind enough to help . Even if you don't want to cook, Yutsuki, I have no reason to bla you. Rather, I feel a bit bad always pushing extra work onto you."
"Is that so..."
Hearing this, Yutsuki couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Ah! Of course, if possible, when things get really busy, please do help out."
Seemingly worried that Yutsuki wouldn't do any housework because of those words, Shido hurriedly put his hands together and added.
"Yes, yes~ I know. Leave it to ."
Sighing helplessly, Yutsuki looked at Shido for a mont, then nodded in understanding.
"Eat the soba quickly while it's hot."
"Understood, Itadakimasu~"
Putting her hands together and making a proper prayer, Yutsuki picked up her chopsticks, blew on the hot noodles, and slurped them into her mouth with a slurp.
"How is it?"
"Mhm, it's delicious."
Hearing Yutsuki's evaluation, Shido's shoulders relaxed slightly, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ah—It's so cold, so cold! Damn it, that stupid host actually treated , the Child of the Typhoon, like a troublemaking brat. Roaring so loudly, he splashed with cold water."
"Shivering. Yuzuru wants to quickly find a place to warm up."
Just then, the living room doors were suddenly pulled open. Kaguya and Yuzuru walked in with pale faces, complained, and dove straight into the kotatsu without another word.
"Ah... I feel that there is still a sliver of warmth left in this world."
"Intoxicated. Yuzuru feels like she could stay in this kotatsu for a lifeti."
These two guys who tried to drag Yutsuki out of the kotatsu this morning, at this mont unhesitatingly chose to beco kotatsu hermit crabs.
"You two..."
Yutsuki felt the corners of her mouth twitching slightly.
"I'm back! Onii-chan, what's for dinner today?"
"There's a... really nice sll..."
"Ah... so cold... kotatsu... where is my kotatsu..."
Imdiately after, Kotori, Yoshino, and Natsumi returned one after another. Suddenly, seven or eight people all squeezed into one kotatsu.
"Hey! You guys, it's too crowded!"
Feeling like she couldn't even stretch her legs for a mont, Yutsuki complained dissatisfiedly.
Seeing this scene, Shido couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"Well... I rember there's another kotatsu in the closet, I'll go get it."
At 7:23 PM, after finishing dinner, Nia stood up and prepared to leave.
"Oh? Aren't you going to stay a little longer?"
Yutsuki asked, sowhat surprised.
"Although I'd like to, if I don't go back and rush the manuscript, the editor will probably explode."
Nia shrugged, glanced at Shido who was diating the dispute between Tohka and Origami at the other table, and a satisfied smile appeared on her lips.
"Besides, I finally got so good inspiration, so I want to hurry back to the studio and work."
"Hoh... Then I'll look forward to your next new chapter."
By the way, before leaving, Nia deliberately put on the airs of an elder and gave everyone a ten thousand yen New Year's money gift. Yutsuki accepted it without hesitation.
Free money is free money.
At 8:15 PM, Izayoi Miku, after finishing a series of idol activities like photoshoots and handshake events, imdiately took a private express car and rushed to the Itsuka household. Because it was too sudden, Natsumi couldn't hide from Miku like last ti.
"Y-You, why are you here?! D-Don't co closer! You cow tits!"
"Ah~ Rub rub~ Natsumi-chan's body is so warm, all the fatigue from work is healed. Lick~"
"Nooooooooooooo!"
Yutsuki silently thanked Natsumi in her heart for becoming her scapegoat.
Then, the ti reached 9 PM. Since there was still so ti before bed and everyone was reluctant to leave the kotatsu, Kotori brought out a Sugoroku to help everyone pass the ti.
"Shido, it's your turn to spin the wheel."
After finishing her turn, Yutsuki urged Shido.
"...Phew"
"Shido?"
Hearing faint breathing sounds, Yutsuki turned her head in confusion. She saw Shido lying on the table, drool dripping from the corner of his mouth onto the table.
"He fell asleep?"
"Looks like it." Kotori sighed softly. Looking at the sleeping Shido, she said with a helpless look, "This guy has been working since getting up at 4 AM, and hasn't rested all day."
"Well, it's only natural that he'd be tired."
Yutsuki said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Leaving Shido to sleep here like this, I don't think it's good for his health."
Just then, Tobiichi Origami suddenly raised her hand, panting heavily, and proposed,
"I'll... take responsibility for taking Shido back to his room."
"Rejected!"
Everyone denied it in unison.
"Well, although we said that, Origami isn't wrong. The weather gets colder at night, I'll take Shido back to his room."
Saying this, Yutsuki crawled out of the kotatsu.
"Mhm, sorry for the trouble, Yutsuki-nee."
"I object! Why is Ryougi Yutsuki allowed, but I'm not?"
Origami protested very dissatisfiedly.
"The difference in accumulated trust. Touch your own chest and reflect on it first."
Kotori sighed helplessly and answered. In response, Origami actually pinched her own chest, and then answered very seriously,
"Because I lost in bust size by six centiters?"
"..."
Although there were many things she wanted to retort to at this mont, sensing the inexplicably silent atmosphere in the living room, Yutsuki decisively chose to pick up Shido and slowly left the living room.
"—Heave-ho!"
Arriving at Shido's room on the second floor, Yutsuki gently laid Shido down on the bed and tucked him in.
(Honestly, just when I thought he had finally beco a bit more reliable, he's still the sa as always.)
Looking at Shido's sleeping face, Yutsuki couldn't help but think helplessly in her heart.
"Mhm..."
The sleeping Shido suddenly frowned slightly. Seemingly having a dream, he mumbled brokenly in his sleep.
"No problem... Yutsuki... everyone... I will protect..."
"..."
After a silent pause, Yutsuki let out a long, speechless sigh.
"Honestly, there's no need to think about such things even in your dreams. Although I'm very happy you feel that way, you're being a bit too hasty, Shido."
Of course, the sleeping Shido didn't hear Yutsuki's soliloquy.
Rather than how to protect and save others, Yutsuki wished more that the boy before her would learn to value himself.
(It can't be helped... I'll just have to try a little harder.)
After secretly making up her mind, Yutsuki felt she had regained her usual motivation.
"..."
Standing silently by the bed, Yutsuki looked at Shido, who was fast asleep, and fell into a brief silence.
After a mont, seemingly having figured sothing out, Yutsuki slowly bent down, gathered her long hair, and, like a dragonfly skimming the water, gently planted a kiss on Shido's forehead.
(...Doing this shouldn't count as jumping the gun, right?)
Her cheeks slightly hot, Yutsuki touched her lips and looked around a bit guiltily. After confirming there was no one around and Shido hadn't woken up, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Turning off the room light, looking at Shido's peaceful sleeping face illuminated by the moonlight, Yutsuki couldn't help but reveal a happy smile.
"Good night~ Sweet dreams, Shido."
TL:originally this is an encore side story but it fit the tiline so I kinda just rge it in mukuro volu
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