Faced with Kazami Kazuki's suspected invitation for them to join Jhin's harem party, Kasumigaoka Utaha and the others fled in total disarray.
They truly understood now that the special relationships between Jhin and these girls were born of sincere hearts and could not be shaken by any other factors. Even Michiru Matsushima, who usually seed to have the IQ of a fool, was able to leave Kasumigaoka Utaha speechless on this matter.
The investigation into Jhin's harem thus ca to a swift conclusion. After Utaha returned, she inevitably had another 'peachy' dream that left her feeling ashad and indignant. She turned that grief and indignation into motivation, continuing to vent those emotions onto her manuscript paper.
Eriri's impression of Jhin in this regard was much more complex. She regarded him as a fellow otaku friend whom she acknowledged, while simultaneously keeping his harem-building behavior at arm's length.
However, after hearing the heartfelt feelings of so many girls, Eriri suddenly felt that the relationship between them seed to make at least a little bit of sense.
Because she had finished her professional illustrations and the doujinshi for the convention ahead of schedule, Eriri rarely took the initiative to chat with Jhin after the safety training camp began. Firstly, she was too busy, and secondly, she didn't know how to face him. Regardless, for the current her, this was a good thing.
"Jhin, what dishes are you planning to make today?"
Kato gumi chatted with Jhin in the kitchen as if nothing had happened. Today, it was her and Jhin's turn to be responsible for the kitchen duties. She didn't know what Kanae Maekawa was thinking; even though it was Christmas, she hadn't arranged for Suou Amane or Komine Sachi—both of whom had better cooking skills than her—to help out.
"It's a rare holiday where everyone is gathered together to play, so I'm planning to make roast chicken and other dishes suitable for a party. A holiday cake is also a must," Jhin replied.
Judging by his appearance, it seems Kazami-san still hasn't told him about us secretly investigating him?
Kato gumi didn't quite understand Kazami Kazuki's approach. Based on her impression of Kazami Kazuki, this person who doted on her younger brother to an extre degree should have told Jhin these things right from the start. It couldn't be that he was using Oscar-level acting skills to pretend he knew nothing, right?
"Was the birthday cake Shiraishi-san ntioned before also made by you?"
Jhin nodded. "Yeah."
Shiraishi Yuzuki had run over to thank him with tears in her eyes at the ti. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought Jhin had bullied her.
"Was it so delicious that it made her cry?"
"My culinary skills haven't reached the level of being able to make 'Sorrowful Rice' yet. It was because Tamaki-san and the others celebrated Shiraishi-san's birthday and officially beca friends with her; that's why she cried."
"Officially beca friends?" Kato gumi didn't quite understand that phrase.
Does becoming friends distinguish between being 'official' or 'unofficial'?
Jhin explained the situation between Shiraishi Yuzuki and Tamaki Mari's group to Kato gumi.
Kato gumi then rembered the heroine of the 'Puberty Syndro' story he had told before. She seed to be an idol as well, and similarly had no true friends. The similar encounter led Kato gumi to remark, "Being an idol isn't that easy, after all."
"Indeed. Once they have children, if they aren't careful, a fanatic fan might find their ho and leave them with a 'white blade in, red blade out' situation, screaming sothing about how you betrayed the fans, leaving behind twin children to track down the killer after they're gone."
"Are there really such extre fans? And why do you say it like you've seen it with your own eyes?"
"The forest is large, so there are all kinds of birds. I've only heard rumors, that's all. You don't need to worry about it."
"Gotoh-san seems like she could be considered the idol type too, right?"
"The nature of rock band fans and idol fans is quite different. The forr are there for the performance and the songs, while for the latter, looks are one of the mandatory conditions. Besides..."
Jhin paused, then continued chopping vegetables, speaking in a casual, indifferent tone, "Do you think I would let sothing like that happen?"
Kato gumi suddenly shuddered. The temperature inside the kitchen dropped several degrees in an instant before returning to normal in the blink of an eye. She had never so directly experienced the concrete feeling of the words 'killing intent.' Although this aura wasn't aid at her, the aftershocks were enough to make her entire body turn cold.
"To be valued so much by you, they must be very happy."
"Being able to et them... I'm the one who is the happiest."
"Sorry, let's just end this topic. I'm not used to hearing you say such cheesy lines with such a serious face," gumi said.
Jhin let out a helpless sigh. He stopped what he was doing and complained to Kato gumi, "gumi, by saying it out loud like that, I'm the one who ends up even more embarrassed."
"I'll be careful in the future."
"You should talk less and work more. Here, these are the ingredients that need processing. Go wash them, peel them, and chop them up."
"You're ordering around without any hesitation, aren't you?"
"What, should I let you continue to rain on my parade?"
Kato gumi chuckled softly, picked up a basket full of ingredients, and went to process them.
Yumiko Sajima walked into the kitchen at that mont. Seeing the two of them who had already started preparing, she quickly apologized, "Sorry, you two. There were so matters with the expedition team that I only just finished handling. The others will be over in a mont."
"Sister Sajima, there's no need for apologies. Hurry over and help take over a couple of these dishes."
"On it!" Yumiko Sajima tied on her apron, rolled up her sleeves, and dove into the kitchen work. The rest of the people arrived successively afterward, beginning the preparation for today's sumptuous Christmas dinner.
When dinner ti arrived, the expedition mbers gathered for the al dressed in Santa Claus, reindeer, and blue penguin costus. They were full of praise for the tempting delicacies on the table.
After enjoying the feast, there were supposed to be various small performances and ga segnts... Or at least, that was the plan. However, most of the team mbers were dead drunk, leaning haphazardly against sofas or chairs.
Today was a rare holiday, so they had gone all out with their drinking.
"Honestly, drinking like this in front of so many high school students... it's just unseemly." As soone who had to stay sober, Yumiko Sajima hadn't touched much alcohol, but she felt a headache coming on as she faced the scene in the hall, which was thick with the sll of booze.
"Haha, it is Christmas after all. It's good for everyone to relax. Sister Sajima, I have so things to do, so I'll leave the rest to you."
"Mhm, go ahead. The cream cheese baked rice you made today was delicious."
Most of the girls had returned to their rooms early because they couldn't stand the sll of alcohol. Jhin went to the kitchen to take out the fernted sweet wine, notified the girls of Kessoku Band via phone, and then headed to the Antarctic Villa together.
Once inside the villa, Jhin used the sweet wine along with small glutinous rice balls, raisins, and osmanthus honey to make a dish of 'Fernted Sweet Rice Balls' for them.
The fragrance of rice mixed with the unique scent of osmanthus drifted through the air with the rising steam. The glutinous rice balls, floating like pearls in the golden honey, were plated with a golden sheen, looking extrely inviting.
Jhin watched as they happily began eating the fernted sweet rice balls. As their faces turned red one by one, a slight sense of unease rose in his heart.
____
👻🔥Here: Walnut-chan🔥👻
🔥 New history: Group chat of the Dead
✅ Gain early access to 40 chapters for all stories.
✅ Enjoy exclusive content and special announcents.
We have set new community milestones:
🎯 100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter for all readers
👻 P - Walnut-chan
User Comments
0 comments from readers