Let's Put This Make-Believe Game to an End

A moment later, she heard Utaha and the other person's voices coming from the kitchen.

"Isn't it all ready already? Tsk tsk, just by the aroma, I bet it'll taste amazing."

"Based on my personal experience, this bowl is probably the spiciest. It's probably Makoto's portion for himself. These three bowls are for us."

"So what exactly did he go out to buy?"

"Hmm, maybe it's corn or seaweed? I heard from my classmates that their favorite things at the mala tang (spicy hot pot) restaurants in Ikebukuro are meatballs and corn."

Utaha peeked out from the kitchen and called out to Yukino, "Would you like to come and try some?"

"You mean sneaking food?" Yukino's face twisted into a mocking smile. "Should I praise my senior for being so good at this?"

"When it comes to stealing food, I'm not necessarily better than you," Utaha retorted.

Neither of them noticed that Nakano Nino secretly turned her head away, her face turning bright red with guilt.

When it comes to sneaking food, Nakano Nino is the real expert!

Even though Ichika got there first, Nakano Nino still managed to steal the Crystal Base using her own abilities.

To put it in a cringey way: Compared to me, with my countless experiences of sneaking food, you two have absolutely no chance of winning.

Because of her habitual clashes with Utaha, Yukino simply couldn't be bothered to stay in the living room and leisurely got up and went to the kitchen.

She first glanced at the mala tang that had been divided into four portions, and sure enough, it was ready to eat at any time.

This made her curious again about what Fushimi Makoto had gone out to buy.

Could it really be as Nakano Nino said, that he went to buy corn and other side dishes?

Even with the delicious-looking and fragrant hot pot in front of her, Yukino felt that she could enjoy a meal with a happy heart even without any other side dishes.

"Would you like to try some?" Utaha was already itching to take a bite.

Nakano Nino was also curious about the taste of the food, but seeing that Yukino hadn't touched it, she shook her head and said, "Let's wait a bit, there's no rush."

"Aren't you hungry?" Utaha asked, looking at her with surprise.

Yukino and Nakano Nino were even more surprised than her. "Senpai, didn't you eat lunch?"

"I ate, but not much..." Utaha said, her face looking a little embarrassed. "I was so focused on studying at noon that when I came to my senses, I barely had time to go to the cafeteria, so I just ate a piece of bread."

"Oh, Utaha- senpai is also responding to the recent rumors of a 'nationwide study craze' at school." Nakano Nino couldn't help but laugh.

The five of them would chat together after lunch or take a walk around the neighborhood, so they never entered the range of that buff.

Nakano Nino thought for a moment and said, "If you're really hungry, you can eat whatever you want first. Makoto won't mind these little things anyway."

Yukino stopped mocking Utaha this time.

People should eat when they are hungry; this is a basic principle, and she would not ridicule others on such matters.

"Then I'll try that meatball." Utaha eagerly picked up her chopsticks, picked up a meatball, blew on it to cool it down, and gently took a bite.

Nakano Nino and Yukino were also looking at her.

After Utaha swallowed her food, Nakano Nino asked curiously, "How did it taste?"

"It's a little spicy, but I can handle it. As for the taste... I'd like to have two more meatballs." Utaha said, taking another bite of a meatball, her delight clearly showing in her eyes.

Nakano Nino swallowed hard. She wasn't that hungry to begin with, but Utaha's satisfied expression made her crave food.

"Then I'll have a meatball too." She went to get her chopsticks.

Yukino was also quite curious about the taste of mala tang, but she was only a little hungry, not to the point of being as irresistible as Utaha.

So she stood there.

But as she looked around, she noticed something was amiss.

Although Nakano Nino and Utaha were clearly enjoying the delicious food, their faces grew increasingly red and their eyes became more and more watery.

This doesn't look like something caused by the food being too hot.

This is more like...

Yukino frowned.

Her personal experience tells her: these two have hit it off!

But how could such a thing be possible?

Chapter 313: Let's end the pretend play here.

At this moment Nakano Nino's Utaha grew increasingly red from eating, while Utaha's legs, clad in black stockings, were pressed tightly together.

They were unaware of anything unusual about their bodies; they only felt that they were sweating, which they assumed was because the hot pot had just come out of the pot and the temperature was too high.

So once they took their first bite, they couldn't stop.

Something's not right!

Something's definitely not right!

Yukino's not-so-curvy breasts heaved rapidly.

If she was only slightly unsure before, now her eyes and brain were telling her with absolute certainty: these two people had developed feelings for each other while eating.

But this is utterly absurd.

It's so absurd it defies all common sense.

As for whether Fushimi Makoto poisoned the food?

The thought had barely crossed Yukino's mind when she dismissed it without hesitation.

She knew Fushimi Makoto quite well; if he were truly lustful, he wouldn't resort to drugs, but would instead use concrete actions to achieve his goal.

Besides, it's not like she can't see what Nakano Nino and Utaha are thinking.

Nakano Nino is alright, she just seems to be a good friend of Fushimi Makoto.

Utaha, on the other hand, made absolutely no attempt to hide it.

Anyone with eyes could see her affection for Fushimi Makoto.

That's why Yukino firmly believes there's no possibility of her being drugged.

"If it wasn't drugged, then the food is fine, so... it's their own problem?"

Yukino's feelings were complicated at that moment.

She should have said something like, "Are you really that hungry?"

I was so hungry I felt that way...

She had seen that Chinese proverb in a book before. "When you're well-fed and warm, you think about other things."

But Utaha and the other person had only just started eating and weren't even full yet, so why did they suddenly start thinking about it?

Yukino silently left the kitchen, picked up her phone, and texted Fushimi Makoto: [When are you coming back?]

Fushimi Makoto replied quickly: [I'll be home in ten minutes at most.]

Yukino: [Oh, I have to tell you something, they stole all the spicy hot pot you made.]

As Fushimi Makoto was carrying groceries back home, he saw the message and immediately quickened his pace, pushing himself to the limit.

Seriously? They actually stole food?

That's not quite right. Under normal circumstances, this kind of thing is actually quite normal. I even let Ichika try the braised pork when I was cooking it myself.

But there's something wrong with this hot pot!

Fushimi Makoto ran all the way without replying to the message, his brain working at high speed.

Yukino's words contained a lot of information.

He was certain that Yukino hadn't eaten, so it must have been Utaha and Nakano Nino who started eating early.

Furthermore, Yukino must have already noticed something amiss; she might have even had a brainstorming session. It was precisely because she couldn't figure it out that she sent herself the message.

Fushimi Makoto practically ran to his doorstep before picking up his phone to reply: [I'm home.]

Yukino had just looked up when she heard a sound coming from the front door, and then Fushimi Makoto calmly walked in.

Huh?

He seems to be unaware of it?

Yukino couldn't find a clue on Fushimi Makoto's face, so she gestured towards the kitchen with her eyes. "Go and see for yourself."

Fushimi Makoto could even utter the word "okay," Utaha and Nakano Nino, having heard his voice, suddenly peeked out from the kitchen.

Two stunningly beautiful faces came into view.

Especially their watery eyes, which were now fixed intently on Fushimi Makoto's face.

As expected, a problem arose.

Fushimi Makoto's mind raced, but he remained calm and said, "I was originally planning to add a few more side dishes, but since you've all eaten, let's just finish them."

Since things have come to this, let's eat first.

As he finished speaking, Utaha and Nakano Nino's gazes seemed to burn even brighter.

The heat was so intense that Yukino was observing from the side, couldn't help but take a step back.

What kind of look is that?

I have a feeling they want to eat Fushimi.

Yukino deeply shocked.

She really found it hard to believe that Fushimi Makoto would drug food, but the looks in Utaha and the other girl's eyes seemed off.

At that moment, Fushimi Makoto's voice rang out. "You should eat slower. I only made enough for four people, and it's so hot now, you're all sweating, aren't you?"

"Hmm." Nakano Nino nodded, still not looking away.

Utaha had better self-control. She turned her face away with some difficulty and said softly, "I only ate one piece of bread for lunch..."

"It's alright, eat whatever you want, it's dinner for you anyway," Fushimi Makoto said with a smile.

Seeing his calm demeanor, Yukino's doubts gradually faded.

Utaha turned and went into the kitchen to continue filling her stomach.

Nakano Nino then stepped forward, her slender waist swaying gently, her face flushed with a captivating blush.

When she stood before Fushimi Makoto, her breathing became rapid.

But as if she was mindful of Yukino beside her, she slowly passed in front of Fushimi Makoto without saying a word.

Yukino glanced towards the kitchen instinctively. Seeing that Utaha hadn't come out, she hesitated for a second before deciding to go in and check.

Her thirst for knowledge was almost bursting; if she didn't find out the truth soon, she doubted she would be able to sleep well tonight.

It's even possible that she'll dream about the look in Utaha and Nakano Nino's eyes.

No sooner had Yukino left the living room than Nakano Nino stared intently at Fushimi Makoto, lowering her voice to say, "Makoto, I..."

Fushimi Makoto raised his hand to interrupt her, "I understand. Come with me to the bedroom, I'll give you a massage to relieve your discomfort."

"Massage?" Nakano Nino's breathing became increasingly heavy.

"Yes, you must have eaten too much. I happen to be an expert in massage, which can help relieve that uncomfortable feeling."

"I'm not stuffed... Wait, don't pull me, I can walk by myself."

Before Nakano Nino could finish speaking, Fushimi Makoto led her into the bedroom.

The moment she felt the warmth of the other person's palm, her body went weak, and the burning desire within her intensified.

As soon as the door closed, Fushimi Makoto tossed the bag aside and pointed to the bed. "Lie down."

"Oh."

Nakano Nino sat down on the bed with a flushed face and began to take off her skirt.

Fushimi Makoto: "..."

No wonder it's called "the Seven-Times-a-Night Spicy Hot Pot"—this stuff is really potent!

Stop.

Now is not the time to think about these things.