Shirosaki Haruka didn't expect her daughter to be so well-behaved and understanding! She didn't show the slightest bit of reluctance, just so she wouldn't worry. How...!
"Wah! Mommy will work hard and come pick up Hana-chan. You have to be a good girl while you're away, okay?"
Shirosaki Hana, who was suddenly hugged by her mother, was a bit taken aback, but still nodded emphatically.
This is great! I can eat Ryo-oniichan's snacks again~
Shirosaki Haruka: "Then I'll have to trouble you to pick up Hana-chan from elementary school tomorrow afternoon, Young Master Ryo."
Uchiha Ryo: "Leave it to me."
With that, Uchiha Ryo stood up and walked over to Gotou Hitori and the other three.
"Is the band formed already?"
Kita Ikuyo looked over. "It's the Class A student, Uchiha-kun! And he's an exchange student from Shuchiin!"
Uchiha Ryo: "...You're just now noticing me?"
Kita Ikuyo shook her head. "No, I just didn't have a chance to talk. By the way, Uchiha-kun, since you're here, are you also a member of the Kessoku Band?"
"Not really. I don't play any instruments. But what about you, Kita-san? Are you planning to join?"
Kita Ikuyo smiled awkwardly. "Um, I don't play guitar either...."
Ijichi Nijika: "That's totally fine! You can have Bocchi-chan teach you~"
Yamada Ryo: "Mhm, problem solved perfectly."
Gotou Hitori: "???"
Uchiha Ryo smiled. "Then it's settled. Good luck. I'll be listening to your performance as a fan."
And, before the Kessoku Band gets popular, I'll have them make the soundtrack for my game circle. A perfect way to save money on hiring a band.
Yamada Ryo suddenly thought of something and looked at Uchiha Ryo.
"The Kessoku Band will set up a fan club in the future. The annual membership fee is 10,000 yen. You can pay in advance. Since you're the first fan, I'll give you a friendship price. How about 9,800?"
Ijichi Nijika: "No, no, we don't need to think that far ahead, do we?"
Seeing that Uchiha Ryo had no intention of paying in advance to become a member, Ryo was slightly disappointed.
Yamada Ryo: "Alright then...."
.....
Uchiha Ryo, having left STARRY, didn't go back to his apartment, but went to Takashi's house.
"Aunt Touko, I'm back. Is Takashi feeling any better?"
Fujiwara Touko was in the yard collecting the laundry. Seeing Uchiha Ryo come home, she also smiled and said.
"That child is much better. Although I was thinking of having him take another day off tomorrow, Takashi still wants to go to school."
Uchiha Ryo looked up at Takashi's room on the second floor.
"Aunt Touko, if he hasn't fully recovered by tomorrow morning, then just have him take another day off to rest."
After entering the house, he went straight to the door of Takashi's room on the second floor and knocked lightly. Takashi's gentle voice came from inside.
"Come in. I'm fine now."
Opening the door, Takashi was sitting on his bed, with Nyanko-sensei lying on his stomach, and a worried-looking Rakuzakura sitting on the windowsill.
Because Uchiha Ryo often came to transfer plant life energy to the cherry tree in the yard, Rakuzakura's youkai power was also gradually recovering.
But no matter how strong a youkai was, they couldn't stop the simple cycle of human birth, aging, sickness, and death. Even a youkai didn't have the ability to instantly cure something like a cold.
Uchiha Ryo: "Feeling better? A lot of classmates were asking about you."
Takashi nodded and picked up Nyanko-sensei, placing him on his lap.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. As long as I get a good rest tonight, it won't affect me going to school tomorrow."
Uchiha Ryo sat on the floor.
"Where's Enyun-chan?"
Nyanko-sensei opened his eyes. "Sleeping in your room, probably. But... you're really lucky compared to Reiko, Natsume."
Natsume Reiko had basically no human friends, which is why she went around looking for youkai and eventually created the Book of Friends. But Natsume Takashi had so many family members and friends who cared about him.
Hearing Nyanko-sensei's words, Takashi couldn't help but lower his head, his expression becoming complicated.
"Grandmother... she didn't meet anyone gentle?"
Nyanko-sensei closed his eyes again, as if reminiscing.
"Reiko preferred to be friends with youkai rather than those humans."
Nyanko-sensei didn't answer Takashi's question directly, but his words had already said a lot.
Time passed to the next morning. Although Takashi had improved, he still looked a little weak. So Uchiha Ryo forcibly forbade him from going to school. You're to rest at home.
Fujiwara Touko: "Are you taking a day off too, Ryo?"
"Mhm, I'll stay and take care of Takashi. Aunt Touko and Uncle Shigeru can just go back to your room and rest. I'll fry some eggs for everyone's breakfast in a bit."
Fujiwara Touko gently stroked Uchiha Ryo's head, then looked at Takashi in the room.
"Alright then. I'll look forward to tasting your cooking, Ryo."
Takashi sighed and looked at Uchiha Ryo at his bedroom door.
"Even if I take a day off, you don't have to stay with me, Ryo-nii?"
Uchiha Ryo: "It's fine. I've pretty much mastered all the school knowledge anyway. Compared to my studies, family is the most important thing."
Takashi looked up and met Uchiha Ryo's gaze.
"Ah, family is more important.... I'm looking forward to Ryo-nii's breakfast too."
Uchiha Ryo: "I'll make you the perfect sunny-side-up egg!"
In the Fujiwara family kitchen, Uchiha Ryo prepared ten slices of bread, five eggs, and a bag of bacon. Because Nyanko-sensei ate human food, and Enyun-chan was a real cat, she could just eat cat food.
Bacon and eggs on toast will be this morning's breakfast.
Uchiha Ryo tied on an apron. Speaking of which, this was his first time cooking for his family. Although bacon and eggs were simple, Uchiha Ryo had to make it perfectly for Takashi!
He put the bread slices into the toaster, heated oil in the pan, and began to fry the bacon. Two slices per person, so eight slices in total.
"Very good! Next up are the eggs."
Uchiha Ryo's mind was highly focused. He washed the frying pan used for the bacon, preparing to fry the eggs!
Uchiha Ryo's Fried Egg Class—is now in session~
The moment the oil temperature is just right, crack an egg. Remember to use low heat. Then, just as the bottom of the egg is set, sprinkle a little salt, pour a small spoonful of water into an empty spot, and finally, cover the pan!
The purpose is to let the evaporated steam cook the egg white, allowing the fried egg to cook more evenly.
But! Timing is the secret to a fried egg. If you cover it for too long, it will be overcooked or even burnt on the bottom. If you cover it for too short a time, the egg won't be set, and the yolk will easily break.
So!! Now is the time!
"Hmph, a mere fried egg. I, Uchiha Ryo.... hmm?!"
On the surface of the perfect fried egg, a small, tiny piece of eggshell had appeared!
I... I made such a mistake?! No... the tip of the chopsticks is too thick, it's not good for picking out this small piece of eggshell.
Uchiha Ryo thought for a moment, then suddenly flipped a kunai into his hand and picked out the eggshell.
"This one is for Aunt Touko."
He took out the toasted bread, placed the bacon and fried egg on it, and brought it to Fujiwara Touko.
"Continue!"
The same steps. Uchiha Ryo took a deep breath. Drop the egg!
The timing—is now! He quickly flipped the lid. The perfect egg made Uchiha Ryo show a delighted smile.
"What!"
The yolk had suddenly broken, and the thick yolk flowed out.
"Another failure... Then I'll take this one to Uncle Shigeru."
Third fried egg—
Hot oil, in goes the egg!
But, frustratingly, the yolk of the third egg must have already been broken, because it instantly turned into scrambled eggs when it hit the pan.
"Ah...."
Uchiha Ryo gritted his teeth, picked up the chopsticks, and began to stir like he was venting, turning the fried egg into scrambled eggs.
"This one's for Nyanko-sensei...."
Closing his eyes, Uchiha Ryo willed himself to calm down. Frying eggs was a skill, and he absolutely could not fail again!
Opening his eyes again, the three-tomoe Sharingan was clearly visible in his pupils.
The moment the oil temperature was right, in went the egg! This time, I will make no mistakes!
Just as the egg was in mid-air, not yet touching the bottom of the pan, Uchiha Ryo's keen eyes spotted two tiny, imperceptible pieces of eggshell clinging to it.
His right hand, holding a kunai, suddenly approached the egg with a whoosh, and with a skillful flick, he picked the eggshells out.
A moderate sprinkle of salt! Add water! Even if the lid was covered with a layer of white mist, these eyes could see the exact state of the yolk.
"Whew.... I did it!"
A perfect bacon and egg on toast. This was what his otouto, Takashi, deserved.