Chapter 19: I'm Not Interested in Outsiders!
After a few people worked for a while doing some basic cleaning, they moved all the tables and chairs to the activity room. After cleaning the activity room, everyone was satisfied with their new gathering place.
Homura looked at the time and said, "It's already this late, I should start preparing dinner!"
"How about you guys start working first?" Homura suggested. "I'll come to get you when the dinner is ready."
Seeing that some of them wanted to say something, Homura raised his hand to stop them.
"I know what you're going to say..." He said, with a mischievous smile on his face. "Both of you are not good at cooking, except for Megumi, right?"
The light novel author, Kasumi Utako, and the doujinshi artist, Kashiwagi Eri, remained silent.
"And besides, you're both guests today!" Homura looked at Megumi and suggested, "Megumi, why don't you go to my room and check out some of the light novels and manga that interest you?"
"Anyway, leave dinner to me! I'll let you taste my cooking!" Without giving anyone a chance to object, he finished speaking and slipped away.
In the kitchen, Homura spoke into his phone, "Sagiri, I'm hanging up now, Nii-san is going to cook!"
After he finished, he put down his phone and began preparing the meal.
===
"I suddenly feel so useless..." Eriri said somewhat helplessly.
"Ara, how rare! Sawamura-san actually saying something like that," Utaha looked at Eriri with some surprise.
"I'm completely useless. Unlike Megumi, who might be able to help him," Eriri explained before turning to Utaha in frustration, "What about you? Don't you feel frustrated too?"
"I'm okay. After all, if we can't help, then we can't help. It's no use worrying!" Utaha had a rare good attitude and didn't worry too much.
"Well..." Megumi spoke up, "I think Eriri-san is worrying too much."
"You guys can help with everything, though. Your work on the character and script is all helping Homura-kun," Megumi comforted Eriri, but she was also telling the truth.
"I'm the one who can't help. I can only do what Homura-kun says, read manga and novels, and learn more," Megumi said, not sure what her mood was.
"Megumi, you're worrying too much! As that guy said, there's still so much you can do. You're an irreplaceable member!" Eriri told Megumi not to underestimate herself and not to rush. It wouldn't be long before she could make a difference.
"By the way, just call me Eriri. No need to use honorifics," she added.
"Ara, what about me?" Utaha was also interested in this topic and asked curiously.
"Hmph! When have I ever used honorifics for you, you sly woman?" Eriri wasn't fond of her at all since she never won an argument with her.
"Hmm? That's true. Without realizing it, we've already become so 'close' with each other" Utaha said, somewhat 'surprised'.
Almost driven crazy, Eriri shouted with a red face, "Who says I'm close to you!!!"
Give it up, Eriri. You can't win against this sly one...
Megumi also looked helplessly at the two who were arguing again and didn't bother to remind them that they were in the Minamiya Family's residence.
Because if she did, they would just start arguing again. It was better to let them be.
===
Homura, who was cooking, listened to Eriri's shouting and shook his head speechlessly. He didn't expect them to start fighting again as soon as he left. They were really a pair of rivals!
He decided to finish cooking dinner as quickly as possible, or else they would likely make no progress today.
With that thought in mind, Homura hastened his pace.
===
Sagiri felt a little uneasy in her heart. She didn't expect all the people who came to be girls, and they seemed to have a special relationship with her brother...after all, they were calling him by his first name!
She punched her pillow and grumbled, "Baka Nii-san! Baka Nii-san!"
Haru beside her opened her eyes and looked at the human strangely, turned over with a puzzled face, and went back to sleep.
Although she was unhappy, she didn't show it on the phone because Sagiri loved her brother the most!
Sagiri secretly made up her mind to get out of the room as soon as possible! Only then could she watch them clearly. If she didn't watch, what if something inappropriate happened!?
Thinking of this, Sagiri punched again, "Nii-san Baka! Baka! Baka!"
*Knock! Knock! Knock!*
There were knocks on the door.
Homura's voice came from outside the door, "Sagiri, I brought dinner. Open the door for your Nii-san!"
She quickly threw the pillow aside, slapped herself in the face, and rushed over to open the door.
Looking at the huge tray her brother was holding, Sagiri quickly took it, and looking at the six different dishes and a bowl of soup, Sagiri asked sleepily, "Nii-san, why are there so many dishes today?"
Homura smiled and replied, "Because all the members of the club gathered today to celebrate the establishment of the club, so I made a little more. I've separated some of each dish for you, so it turned out like this."
"In fact, it would be great if you could come out and have dinner with us, but Nii-san won't rush you. You are already working hard to change yourself, so keep it up!" He then rubbed Sagiri's small head.
"Well... thank you, Nii-san!" Sagiri blushed with embarrassment and quickly lowered her head, afraid of being seen by her brother.
"Haha, there's nothing to thank me for. As your Nii-san, this is what I should do!" Looking at Sagiri's lowered head, Homura also understood something and continued, "Alright, hurry up and eat. Nii-san is going downstairs now."
After speaking, he shouted into Sagiri's room, "Haru! It's time for dinner!"
The little one ran out quickly and headed straight downstairs. Homura looked at her with a smile, shook his head, and also went downstairs.
===
Eriri, Utaha, and Megumi were called out.
The three of them looked at the exquisite dishes on the table and smelled the tempting aroma, feeling a bit discouraged.
"This guy's skills are just too many, right? He's even so skilled in cooking?" Eriri asked tentatively.
"Yosh! What are you all waiting for? Let's eat!" Homura urged them.
"You're really full of surprises. Can you tell me something that you're not good at?" Eriri continued.
"There are plenty of things I don't know, but I still can learn them! I wasn't born knowing and mastering all of this," Homura replied.
Unintentionally showing off, the three women shook their heads repeatedly, realizing they couldn't compare.
Seeing Haru, the little cat, waiting patiently beside him, Homura felt touched and urged them to eat.
"Alright, Haru's waiting for us! Let's eat!"
The three women looked at Haru and were increasingly fond of the little one's sensible behavior, so they sat down quickly.
"Itadakimasu!" Homura said, and the dining table became a battlefield for everyone, while Haru lowered his head and happily ate his cat food.
"Oh, it tastes great, Minamiya!" Eriri praised. "Your cooking skills are good enough for you to work as a chef in a five-star hotel!"
Utaha and Megumi also nodded and agreed with Eriri.
Homura snorted, "Hmph, forget it, I only cook for my own people. I'm not interested in outsiders!"
Although they knew what he meant, the three women couldn't help but fantasize about 'it'.
The dinner ended with the complicated emotions of everyone except Homura.