"Here, Mio-chan. Say 'ahh.'"
"Ahh!!"
Mio-chan opened her mouth wide and eagerly gobbled up the rolled omelet I offered. She puffed out her cheeks like an adorable little animal, chewing away with such gusto that I didn't even know what to say.
This was totally unfair! It was a foul, a total foul!
"Mmm, it’s sho good!"
Cradling her cheeks with her tiny hands, she swallowed and then leaned against my chest, nuzzling into me.
Yeah, I could totally understand that reaction. Sara-san’s rolled omelet was undoubtedly the best in the world (Kazunari-standard), after all!
And so, Mio-chan was currently in the midst of enjoying meal time while perched on my lap.
"It’s delicious, Big Brother!"
"It is, isn't it? It’s very tasty."
"Yeah!"
When I agreed, Mio-chan nodded vigorously with a happy expression. Then, acting spoiled again, she pressed her cheek against mine and rubbed it back and forth.
What was this?
She was too cute, in a completely different way from Sara-san. Seriously!
"Ahaha, Mio-chan is really stuck to Takanashi-kun, isn't she?"
"She really is. Even when I eat with her normally, she never gets quite like that."
"Is that so? But maybe it’s because she doesn't get many opportunities like this with Takanashi-kun?"
"Yeah. That might be part of it, but I think it’s probably more than just that..."
"...Marina?"
"Ahaha... Sorry, it’s nothing."
Tachikawa-san tilted her head in confusion at Marina-san’s vague murmur. Beside her, Hanako-san, who seemed to have been listening as well, looked like she was deep in thought.
I wondered what that was all about.
"Big Brother, Big Brother! I want that one next!"
"Haha, Roger that. Let me move it to the plate first..."
I was curious, too, but since Mio-chan was having such a great time, I decided not to worry about it for now.
"Mio, Big Brother won't be able to eat his own food if you keep doing that, right?"
"Ehh... But, Mio..."
"Fufu, it’s quite alright. I’ll take care of Kazunari-san... Here, say 'ahh.'"
"Chomp."
I bit down on—or rather, unhesitatingly gobbled up—the bite Sara-san held out. Immediately, the juices and tenderness of the meat spread through my mouth, complemented by the exquisite, crispy texture of the skin. It wasn't an exaggeration to call this the Ultimate Roast Chicken. In other words...
"So... de... li... cious..."
"Kazunari, no more than that."
"I’m sorry..."
Man, it was so good that I almost blurted out that famous quote and all the rest. That was just how delicious it was!
"Fufu... those two really are close, aren't they?"
"They really are. I never thought I’d see them doing 'ahh' right in front of us. And they don't even hesitate."
"Ahaha... doing 'ahh' in public is still just the beginning for those two."
"Eh? I-is that so?"
At Natsumi-senpai’s unnecessary comment, the mothers all turned toward us with surprised expressions. I was more than aware of it—in fact, I had nothing but memories of doing exactly that—so I couldn't deny it. Not that stopping was an option, anyway.
"...Ufufu♪"
"Y-you seem to be having fun, Yukie-san?"
"She’s just fantasizing about their future based on what she’s seeing."
"My, you figured it out, Hanako-chan?"
"How could I not?"
Hanako-san countered Yukie-san, who spoke nonchalantly, with a merciless scornful look. Putting that aside, it seemed like those two had hit it off before I’d even realized it.
In Hanako-san’s case especially, it was a bit unusual to see her interacting with Yukie-san, whom she’d just met, in her usual blunt manner. Of course, that in itself was a good thing, so I didn't see any problem with it.
"Hey, hey, Big Brother! Mio wants to try doing 'ahh' too!"
"Eh?"
"Mio wants to try doing 'ahh' for Big Brother, too... please?"
"Ugh..."
The way she looked up at me to stir my protective instincts, combined with her lisping, sweet voice, made me feel like there was something slightly 'little devilish' about her... No, no, I was sure she didn't mean anything deep by it. Definitely.
"U-umm."
I turned my gaze to the side, where Sara-san was watching over us with her usual goddess-like smile. When our eyes met, her smile grew even more radiant, but I didn't sense any particular reaction beyond that.
Well, since it was Mio-chan, that was only natural.
"Sara, is it okay?"
"What do you mean by 'okay'?"
"I mean, isn't doing 'ahh' for Takanashi-kun your special privilege, Sara...?"
"Sigh... Honestly, do you really think I would say something like that to Mio-chan?"
"Well, I guess that makes sense."
"Then, for other girls—"
"Do you really want to ask a question with such an obvious answer?"
""W-we're sorry, please forgive us!""
Sara-san’s intense pressure, known as her Ice Smile, instantly silenced Tachikawa-san and Natsumi-senpai. Its effects seemed to ripple through the surrounding mothers, too, who looked unable to hide their shock for a completely different reason.
But this was still on the milder side. If she were dealing with a total stranger, Sara-san would have been far more terrifying.
"Mio-chan is being so unfair! Sakura wants to do 'ahh' for Big Brother, too!"
"Yuki wants to do 'ahh' for Big Brother, too."
"No! Only Mio and Sara Onee-chan can do 'ahh' for Big Brother!"
"Muuu... Big Brother?"
"Big Brother..."
Faced with Mio-chan's absolute refusal, Sakura-chan puffed out her cheeks and Yuki-chan looked heartbreakingly sad as they turned toward me.
Umm... how was I supposed to answer that?
Technically, Sara-san was the only one allowed to do "ahh" for me, and since Mio-chan was a child, she fell into a Special Category or an Exception Category... so in that sense, Sakura-chan and Yuki-chan should have been the same, right?
However, in this particular case...
"Sakura! I told you not to trouble Big Brother anymore!"
"Buuu... but Mio-chan is the only one getting hugged by Big Brother! It’s not fair!"
"Yuki-chan, you mustn't be selfish, okay?"
"Uuu, I’m so jealous... Mio-chan."
Thankfully, the mothers of Sakura-chan and the others stepped in to mediate, so it looked like I’d be able to get through this somehow. But even so, why did Sakura-chan and Yuki-chan take such a liking to me when we’d only just met?
Of course, it didn't feel bad, but Yuji and Hayato were here, too.
"Fufu... Kazunari-san’s charm is something that those who can understand will naturally appreciate."
"From our perspective, it’s not strange at all that Mio-chan and the others would take to Kazunari."
"I-is that so?"
It seemed Sara-san and Hanako-san had some idea why... and even Nishikawa-san and Marina-san were nodding along.
Wait, was I the only one out of the loop here?
"Fufu... Kazunari-kun, you're fine just the way you are. I’m sure Sara-chan is happy that her future husband is so well-liked by children... right, Sara-chan?"
"Eh? Y-yes. I think it’s a very wonderful thing, Kazunari-san."
"S-Sara-san..."
Of course, I was happy that Mio-chan and the others were fond of me, and if Sara-san was happy for whatever reason, that was exactly what I wanted. It wasn't like I was doing it consciously, though.
"Big Brother, what do you want to eat? Mio will do 'ahh' for you!"
"U-umm... well then, what should I pick?"
"Ah, Sara Onee-chan, why don't you do 'ahh' with Mio?"
"Fufu... I understand. Shall the two of us do 'ahh' for Kazunari-san together, then?"
"Yeah!"
The two of them smiled at each other and looked at me, letting out giggling, happy voices. I was so glad to see those two smiling that I felt truly blessed.
"Marina-san, would it be okay if I got some for you?"
"Eh... H-Hayato-kun?"
"Ahaha, I can't do it like those two, but I thought we could do a little bit... you know?"
"A-auuu..."
"Now then, let’s leave the Stupid Couples alone and eat as much as we can!"
"Agreed! I still haven't eaten nearly enough!"
"Umm... Natsumi-san. At least try to have a bit of a mood..."
"Shut up! Don't go asking me for things like that!"
"Sigh... I suppose you're right."
"Fufu... Well then, shall we continue enjoying our meal? Right, Hanako-san?"
"I don't mind, but there’s no need to rush..."
"Pardon? I am not rushing at all."
"Oh... my mistake."
"Here, Big Brother, say 'ahh'♪"
"Kazunari-san, 'ahh'♪"
Being able to spend an irreplaceable moment overflowing with delicious food, bright smiles, and everyone's laughter together with the person I loved was a treasure.
As I savored that happiness once again...
"Fufu, this one is next, okay?"
"Big Brother, eat this one, too~"
"W-wait a sec, I still have some in my mou—"
"Here, 'ahh'!!"
"Say 'ahh'♪"
I really might need to watch out for happy weight gain at this rate...