By now, Mayumi had completely tuned out her surroundings, wholly absorbed in her culinary mission.
The sneaky grin on her face...
No, it had gone beyond a sneaky grin—it had evolved from a soft "hehehe" to a full-blown "hohoho" or even a "giggle giggle" level.
It was as if she were plotting to poison someone—just a teensy bit terrifying.
Then, out of nowhere, she pulled out a bottle of high-proof liquor and, before anyone could react, unscrewed the cap and poured it straight onto the grill.
Who the hell taught you to grill with high-proof alcohol?!
When the flickering flames illuminated that snow-white face, she looked just like a witch of fire.
Having a blast!
"Alright, come and try my cooking."
A moment later, Mayumi placed the skewers she had grilled on the table.
The problem was, rather than grilled meat, it looked more like some indescribable monstrosity—charred black all over.
"This..."
Miyuki hesitated as she stared at the plate of "grilled meat," but not wanting to reject the Student Council President's kindness, she picked up the smallest skewer.
Minami followed suit, cautiously selecting one as well.
As for the twins? They had already made a swift escape, hiding in a corner where Mayumi couldn't spot them.
And Mahiro?
Under Mayumi's intense gaze that seemed to say, "Why aren't you eating?" he bravely sacrificed himself, picking up the largest skewer.
Though he really wanted to ask, Is this even edible?
Under the sheer sincerity of Mayumi's expectant eyes, he swallowed his words.
Slowly, he brought the skewer to his lips.
"Whatever, if I die, I die! It's not like it'll actually kill me!"
Under the watchful eyes of Miyuki, Minami, and Mayumi, Mahiro took a bite.
Crunch!
Yes, crunch!
The moment it entered his mouth, an overwhelming crispiness assaulted his senses, followed by an endless bitterness and the lingering sharpness of alcohol, along with muscle fibers so tough they were nearly impossible to chew.
Looking down, beneath the blackened exterior, the meat inside was still a raw, bloody red.
A few droplets of blood even dripped slowly from it.
Just as expected...
"Mahiro-nii... are you okay?"
"Mahiro-sama... are you okay?"
Seeing his frozen-in-time expression, Miyuki and Mizuki's faces were filled with concern.
"I-I'm fine..."
Turning his head slowly, his lips smeared with blackened residue attempted to form a smile, but before he could even finish speaking, his vision suddenly went dark.
[Self-Repair Program, activating.]
[Backup system retrieving core individual data.]
[Magic sequence loading—complete.]
[Self-repair—complete.]
At the brink of collapse, the self-repair completed, and with a firm step back, he managed to steady himself.
"Um... Mahiro-kun? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
After one round of repairs, Mahiro had developed a slight resistance to this culinary abomination. Swallowing the half-raw meat, he smiled faintly.
"It's just... Senpai, I think this meat might be undercooked."
"Huh? Undercooked? No way! I followed the cooking time in the recipe book exactly!" Mayumi was baffled.
Leaving aside whether recipe books could actually teach someone to cook, grilling meat directly over an open flame while dousing it in strong alcohol was definitely not something any recipe would recommend.
Refusing to believe it, Mayumi picked up a skewer and took a bite herself.
President/Onee-san/Saegusa-sama, what a warrior...
For a moment, Miyuki, Minami, and the twins wanted to praise her like that.
But the next second, Mayumi's expression twisted dramatically. Her fair, rosy cheeks turned ashen, and she immediately spun around to spit out the mouthful.
She grabbed a drink and desperately rinsed her mouth.
It took her a long while to recover before she dejectedly placed the skewer back on the tray.
"Ugh... so gross... another failure... how embarrassing..."
"It's okay, senpai. If you're bad at it, just practice more. Practice makes perfect." Mahiro patted her shoulder, offering words of comfort.
Your friendly neighborhood "Expert at Conversation" has logged in.
With just one sentence, he had utterly defeated Mayumi.
Her resentful gaze bore straight into Mahiro, while her younger sisters struggled to hold back their laughter.
"Ah, no need to look at me like that. I'm just telling the truth. But the fire looks just right now, so let me show you how to grill properly."
As he spoke, the flames had gradually died down, leaving no roaring fire—only embers glowing faintly.
"Mahiro-kun, you can cook?!" Mayumi's eyes widened slightly, as if she had just discovered a new world.
Kasumi and Izumi exchanged glances, both seeing the word "unknown" reflected in each other's eyes.
This was the first time they had ever heard that Mahiro could cook!
"Of course. This time, I'll show you what real skill looks like!"
As he spoke, Mahiro picked up several skewers of meat and some seafood, arranging them neatly on the grill. Immediately, the sizzling sound of oil filled the air.
Golden droplets of fat dripped down as gentle flames rose from the embers, lightly licking the surface of the meat.
In no time at all, the aroma of grilled meat began to spread along the coastline.
Unfortunately, the seasonings weren't complete, so he only sprinkled a pinch of salt.
Luckily, the quality of the meat was excellent, making it delicious even without excessive seasoning.
"Here, try some."
Mahiro placed the perfectly grilled skewers and seafood on a tray, pushing it toward the group.
"(╯▽╰) So fragrant~~" Kasumi grabbed one of the skewers and took a big bite, instantly wearing an expression of bliss.
"Mhm, mhm! I never expected Mahiro-nii to not only be handsome and amazing at magic, but also so good at grilling meat." Izumi's eyes sparkled with admiration.
"Mmm~ Mahiro-nii's grilled meat really is delicious. Right, Izumi?"
"Yes, Miyuki-sama. The heat control is perfect. I'm no match for him."
Izumi and Miyuki nibbled on the meat, their faces blooming with happy smiles.
"Ugh... it's seriously so good."
Even Mayumi was moved by the taste, though inwardly, she felt a deep sense of defeat.
Strong magical power, skilled at magic, excellent in martial arts, and now even cooking...
She couldn't help but wonder—was there anything Mahiro couldn't do?
Seeing their happy expressions, Mahiro simply smiled indifferently.
As a transmigrator, wasn't grilling just an innate talent?
...
...
...
The next day.
Since they had already spent time at the beach yesterday, the girls decided to explore somewhere else today.
Although the island had a modest commercial center, upon hearing that the shopping district on nearby Nanton Island was livelier, they set off in that direction.
Perhaps due to its proximity to Southeast Asia, Nanton Island was brimming with a distinctly Southeast Asian atmosphere.
The only thing that stood out was the naval base not far from the shopping district.
"Mahiro-nii, hurry up, come here!"
Just as Mahiro had been gazing at the military base separated only by a narrow waterway, he was called away by the sisters Kasumi and Izumi.
Kasumi was pulling Izumi along.
Miyuki had Minami with her.
While he and Mayumi brought up the rear.
The group's composition of five girls and one boy formed an especially eye-catching sight on South Shield Island, with passing tourists unable to resist stopping to take a second look.
"You're really getting lucky here, so many beautiful girls and you're the only guy," Mayumi poked Mahiro with her finger.
"Like it's my fault~" Mahiro shrugged innocently, muttering under his breath, "Who asked me to be so charming?"
"Mahiro-kouhai, you're really narcissistic, aren't you?"
Mayumi huffed quietly, "In that case, let's leave it to our charming Mahiro-kouhai to carry our luggage and act as our escort then."
"Of course, no problem. Leave it to me."
Yet when he said these words, he had no idea how serious the situation would become.
He even came to regret it somewhat.
They say shopping is women's nature, and Mahiro came to fully understand the truth of this statement.
From morning until evening, these girls did nothing but shop, only stopping briefly for lunch at noon, they didn't pause for a moment!
Fortunately, most of the time they just looked without buying, so he didn't completely turn into a luggage carrier.
It wasn't until sunset that they leisurely made their way to the hotel Mayumi had booked in advance.
After dinner, as he returned to his room to rest, suddenly, there was a knock at Mahiro's door.
"Mahiro-kouhai, you're not asleep yet, are you?"
"Ah, not yet. Is something the matter, senpai?"
It was Mayumi.
Not only was she knocking on his door at night, but she suddenly wanted him to accompany her for a walk.
Though he didn't understand what this meant, he accepted the invitation.
Feeling the cool sea breeze under the night sky, he had to admit the seaside evening was much more pleasant than the daytime heat.
Mayumi was wearing a white sundress with a sunhat, her hair tied into a single strand resting on her chest.
Compared to yesterday's swimsuit sexiness, she now inexplicably gave off more of a married woman vibe.
Perhaps it was because of that dangerous "married woman" hairstyle?
But then Mayumi proposed something even more outrageous.
"A bar?"
Mahiro gave his senpai a strange look, saying, "...Senpai, are you joking? I know you're already an adult and about to graduate high school, but I'm still underage."
"Oh come on, it's fine to let loose occasionally~ Besides, Mahiro, you don't look underage at all right now~"
Indeed, just as senpai said.
He wasn't wearing beach shorts and a thin jacket now, but rather a formal suit the girls had forcibly made him buy at the shopping district during the day.
Wearing this, he truly no longer looked like an underage student, but more like a young, ambitious successful professional.
Thus, Mayumi forcibly dragged him off to experience nightlife—
Standing before a bar.
Just before entering, Mayumi turned back, stood on tiptoe, and whispered close to his ear:
"No calling me senpai here, call me Mayumi, okay? And I'll call you Mr. Mahiro too."
She'd really thought this through.
The place Mayumi had chosen wasn't rowdy at all. Though dimly lit, it was exceptionally quiet—more like a café open at night than a bar.
Mayumi led Mahiro straight to the counter and took a seat.
"Boss, one Alexander, please. Mr. Mahiro, what would you like?"
Mayumi sounded like a seasoned drinker, knowing exactly what to order right away.
This was a bit surprising. Who would've thought this seemingly well-behaved senior had such a rebellious side?
Under the bartender's gaze, Mahiro casually replied, "I'll have a Long Island Iced Tea."
The bartender gave him a slightly surprised look but said nothing, silently picking up the jigger to start mixing.
"Long Island Iced Tea? Is it non-alcoholic?"
Mayumi had never heard of it and was curious. Since it had the word "tea" in it, she assumed it must be alcohol-free.
Surely it wasn't like that flammable oolong tea, right?
"This drink isn't non-alcoholic, miss. It's actually a strong cocktail," the bartender explained while mixing. "It's made with vodka, white rum, lemon juice, gin, tequila, triple sec, bourbon, and brandy, plus a bit of syrup, cola, and ice.
I must say, this gentleman knows his drinks."
"Eh? Really?"
Mayumi blinked in surprise—first at the fact that Long Island Iced Tea was indeed like flammable oolong tea, and second at Mahiro's choice.
Crossing her arms, she let out a thoughtful "Hmm~" repeatedly, looking as adorable as a manga character.
"Don't look at me like that. I really am here for the first time," Mahiro said innocently, raising his hands. It was indeed his first time in this lifetime.
"Boss, make me a Long Island Iced Tea too."
"Don't be ridiculous."
As soon as she said it, Mahiro stopped his fearless senior. "Long Island Iced Tea has another name—'One-Night Stand.' Still want it?"
"Eh? O-One-Night Stand?!"
Mayumi seemed to realize something, her face instantly turning red as she shook her head. "Then… never mind."
"Heh, you two must be a couple, right?"
The bartender placed the freshly made Alexander in front of Mayumi.
It was a creamy, tea-colored cocktail with a sweet aroma wafting from the rim.
Mayumi took a sip from the stemmed glass, her mood lifting. "Boss, is it that obvious?"
"Heh."
The bartender chuckled and started mixing the next drink.
"Very obvious. Normally, if a woman orders a Long Island Iced Tea at a bar, the man with her wouldn't stop her. But your boyfriend is different—he's very considerate."
With just that one remark, Mayumi was thoroughly delighted.
"Boss, another one!"
She even ended up drinking a few more glasses.
Though Alexander was made with low-proof liqueur and cream, it was still alcohol. After three glasses, Mayumi was visibly drunk—her cheeks flushed, her wine-red eyes glazed over.
"What a lightweight…"
Looking at his barely conscious senior, Mahiro first apologized to the bartender, paid the bill, then carried her out of the bar and back to the hotel.
"Senpai, we're at your room. Wake up!"
"Mmm... thank you—Mahiro-kun."
Mayumi seemed like she was about to fall asleep any second.
As he set her down, she leaned against the doorframe and slowly slid down to sit on the floor.
"Senpai, where's your room key?"
"Here—"
Mayumi waved the keycard around.
Just when he thought she was about to hand it over, she suddenly tucked it into her clothes instead.
She seemed to want to wedge it in place, but it was too small—it slipped right through and fell straight down.
Mahiro: "..."
If you've got a small chest, don't try doing things like this!
Even drunk, she still remembers to play pranks.
"What a hassle..."
With no other choice, he picked Mayumi up again and gave her a little shake, causing the card to fall out from under her skirt.
But as he bent down to pick it up, Mayumi suddenly draped herself over his back and whispered softly in his ear:
"...Mahiro-kun, did you know? After you left that day, Dad talked to me and my sisters a lot..."
"He wants me and my sisters to marry you together..."
"As the eldest sister... I should have given this chance to my younger sisters, but I didn't... Do you think I'm a terrible sister for stealing the man from them...?"
"That's not your fault. You've never been a bad sister. On the contrary, if possible, I'd want an older sister just like you."
Beep! Mahiro swiped open the door.
"Is that so... But I already know you have Sayaka-chan... Yet I shamelessly still want to be part of this... Do you think I'm a disgraceful senpai with no morals...?"
"Not at all. Mayumi-senpai, you'll always be the best—First High's pride. If anything, the mistake isn't yours, it's mine."
Carrying Mayumi, he made his way to the bed and gently laid her down.
"Mayumi-senpai, it's better to take off your clothes. Otherwise, such a pretty dress will get wrinkled."
But Mayumi just raised her arms in front of him.
"Help me take them off—"
"..."
He should have expected this.
Too tired to dwell on the complications, he not only helped Mayumi out of her shoes and set them aside but also took off her dress, folded it neatly, and placed it on the chair.
Only now, Mayumi's appearance made his nose run hot.
White lace lingerie...
Her petite frame contrasted with her slightly fuller chest.
The curve of her ample hips and slender waist formed a perfect silhouette.
Her long legs, wrapped in sheer nude stockings, crossed and curled like smooth jade, giving off an impression of delicate purity.
"...Senpai, I should go now."
Just as he set the keycard on the bedside table and turned to leave, he suddenly felt a tight grip around his waist.
"Senpai, what are you doing now? You're playing with fire, you know that? And I'm seriously starting to doubt whether you're even drunk!"
But Mayumi didn't answer.
As his hand touched her pale arm, trying to pry it away, Mayumi's voice drifted softly to him again.
"Mahiro... stay with me tonight, please...?"
----------
For advance chapters join my Patreon.
[email protected]/Aarvan