The rich and tempting aroma of seafood rice filled the kitchen and drifted into the living room, wrapping everything in a warm, mouthwatering fragrance. Just breathing it in was enough to make anyone's stomach grumble with impatience.
Kasumigaoka Utaha's delicate nose twitched as she followed the alluring scent like a cat drawn to fresh fish. She leaned lightly against the bar counter, her wine-red eyes narrowing playfully at the boy working over the stove. "Touji-kun, what's for lunch?" she asked, her tone casual, but the faint growl of her stomach betrayed her.
"Seafood rice," Kasumigaoka Touji replied without turning, his voice calm but brimming with quiet confidence.
After sorting through the mountain of ingredients earlier, he had discovered a forgotten jar of saffron tucked away in the cupboard. With that, he decided—why not treat Onee-san properly today? Thus, he was in the middle of preparing an extravagant seafood rice worthy of a high-end restaurant.
King crab legs, sweet shrimp, plump clams, oysters that shimmered like jewels, scallops, squid, and even rockfish all simmered together, their natural flavors fusing with the golden saffron broth. No matter how one looked at it, this was a feast fit for royalty.
Touji thought to himself with a wry smile: If I opened a restaurant, this dish alone could easily go for at least 5000 yen. The ingredients themselves cost about 2000 yen, the rest would be labor and expenses… Haa, I'm really too conscientious sometimes.
Utaha's eyes lingered on the bubbling clay pot, then shifted back to him. "How much longer until it's ready?" she asked, her voice slightly impatient now, her stomach reminding her of its emptiness.
"Ten minutes or so," Touji answered casually, finally glancing her way. "Why, hungry already?"
Utaha nodded, her long hair swaying slightly as she moved. "Mm, very. Did you grab a bite earlier while you were out?"
Touji shook his head. "Nope."
"I see. Then I'm not the only one suffering." Her lips curved into the faintest smile as she leaned closer, her gaze soft but intent. It was already past one o'clock—far later than their usual lunch hour. Even for someone as composed as Utaha, her patience was wearing thin.
Touji chuckled softly, set down the ladle, and waved her over. "Come here, Onee-san. I'll treat you to something good."
"…Hah?" Utaha didn't move an inch. Instead, she folded her arms beneath her chest, her slender fingers brushing against her chin as she gave him a suspicious look. "Do you even know what you look like right now, Touji-kun?"
Touji tilted his head. "Like what?"
Utaha rolled her eyes and replied coolly, "Like some shady old uncle trying to lure a high school girl with candy."
"…Oi, that's harsh," Touji deadpanned, then clasped his hands together in mock desperation. Bowing his head dramatically, he said, "Please, Onee-san, just once… let me experience what it feels like to be a perverted uncle."
"Baka." Utaha's cheeks puffed slightly as she gave him a sharp glare, but her tone carried more amusement than anger. "Get lost already."
Touji straightened up, grinning. The teasing words might have sounded harsh, but he noticed her eyes soften for the briefest second before she masked it again. That fleeting warmth tugged at his chest.
Still, Utaha quickly buried that flicker of emotion. Ugh, I'm hungry, not thirsty. And lately, I've already been 'fed' far too much… She shook her head faintly, recalling how her so-called plan to "drain" her younger brother had completely backfired. Instead, she had been the one utterly overwhelmed, thoroughly disciplined by his relentless energy.
The truth she had slowly come to accept was simple: Touji's talent, stamina, and drive weren't ordinary in the least. That knowledge left her with mixed feelings. On one hand, it brought happiness—being blessed with such a capable partner meant she had little to worry about for the future. On the other hand, it made her anxious. Could she really keep up with him? Could she truly satisfy someone like Touji forever?
That doubt gnawed at her heart. Because if she couldn't fulfill her role as his closest partner… then what right did she have to stop him from seeking someone else?
In a society like theirs, where polygamy was legal and even somewhat normalized, the balance of power wasn't on her side. If she faltered, the chances of Touji taking another partner would rise. That was precisely why Utaha's once-icy attitude toward Kani Nayuta had softened bit by bit.
Of course, Touji's daily efforts also played a part. Whether it was cooking elaborate meals, indulging her whims, or quietly supporting her work, his actions had chipped away at her resistance. She found herself in an uneasy middle ground—she hadn't fully accepted it, yet she wasn't outright rejecting it anymore either.
A contradiction, a battlefield of emotions—Kasumigaoka Utaha now lived in that complicated space, where desire, love, and fear of loss intertwined.
"…Geez, what a troublesome Younger brother you are," she murmured under her breath, her gaze softening as she stole another glance at him tending the pot.
Touji, oblivious to her tangled thoughts, simply hummed while checking the flame, the corners of his mouth lifting in quiet satisfaction.
.....
About ten minutes later—
"It's ready, let's eat!"
Turning off the stove, Kasumigaoka Fuyuki poured half a cup of white wine over the clay pot's lid, letting the fragrance bloom before calling out to his elder sister. "Nee-san, dinner's ready!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha responded with her usual grace, walking into the kitchen with calm, elegant steps. She grabbed the bowls, chopsticks, and rice scoop with practiced ease, while Touji carefully placed a folded dishcloth on the dining table. With a firm but gentle movement, he set the clay pot down on top of it.
Then, with a deliberate flourish, he lifted the lid—
A puff of white steam burst out, clouding the air, and a thick, mouthwatering aroma instantly filled the room. Both siblings reflexively swallowed their saliva, their stomachs rumbling in unison like some sort of comedic skit.
Utaha squinted her eyes, peering through the veil of steam. The sight was dazzling. Beneath the rising white mist lay golden-yellow rice, gleaming as though kissed by the sun, its surface crowned with a bountiful treasure trove of seafood. Shrimp, scallops, clams, and tender fish glistened, piled so generously it seemed almost excessive.
It looked, without exaggeration, like a feast worthy of kings. A real-life King's Treasure Chest laid out before them.
Touji picked up the rice scoop with the air of a seasoned chef and carefully served two bowls of the steaming seafood rice. Alongside, he ladled out two portions of chicken soup—yesterday's broth, which he had cleverly used while cooking the rice to intensify its umami.
"Well then… itadakimasu!"
Their voices overlapped, both clasping their hands together with practiced formality before diving in.
The very first bite was a shock to the senses. The rice was fragrant, each grain fluffy yet chewy, perfectly soaked in the rich flavors of the sea. The freshness of the seafood had seeped deep into the rice, layering saltiness, savoriness, and subtle sweetness into one irresistible harmony. Just the rice alone was enough to devour a whole bowl.
Utaha closed her eyes slightly, savoring it with a satisfied hum. Her refined demeanor wavered as joy spread across her face, her thoughts bubbling up unconsciously. This… this is worth every second of waiting.
She then sampled the seafood one piece at a time, pairing it with mouthfuls of rice. The texture of tender fish, the briny juiciness of clams, the springy bite of shrimp—all of it made her heart dance. Too blissful! To eat something this delicious every single day…
And of course, she thought of the chef—Touji.
Her younger brother really was remarkable. Talented, hardworking, endlessly capable… if only he weren't such a hopeless playboy. But then again, wasn't that a flaw shared by most men? Their father too had wasted far too much time and money at questionable establishments.
Still… she recalled Touji's efforts to win her favor over the past week. She remembered how he'd looked at her, how persistently he hovered close, never wavering in his pursuit. And despite herself, Utaha began to wonder—maybe she couldn't keep rejecting him forever. Maybe… she should just accept it.
Her heart tipped, ever so slightly, toward him.
"…"
"How does it taste?" Touji's voice cut into her thoughts, teasing yet hopeful.
Utaha glanced at him sideways, her lips curving faintly. "Out of ten? I suppose I can give you a nine."
She followed it with a graceful sip of chicken soup, as though to cool her throat and hide her smile.
Touji's chest swelled with satisfaction. A nine from his ever-critical nee-san was practically perfection.
Once Utaha had eaten her fill, Touji cleared his throat lightly, his eyes glinting. "Nee-san, for tonight's live stream, I was planning a full-course seafood feast… something truly luxurious."
"Mm. That's fine. Very good," Utaha nodded, a spark of excitement lighting her eyes. "I'll be looking forward to it."
But when she noticed him still staring at her, she tilted her head, an elegant brow rising. Narrowing her eyes in suspicion, she smirked. "You're not… thinking of bringing certain people home, are you, Touji-kun?"
Her voice was sweet, but the chill behind it could freeze a lesser man on the spot.
Touji just laughed awkwardly, scratching his cheek. "Heh… as expected of nee-san, you see through everything…"