"Rito-kun, I need to go to the supermarket to buy some groceries. You head on home first."
As they neared the intersection to his house, Sora suddenly stopped and spoke to Rito.
"You're working hard, Sora-san. I'll head back then."
Nodding, Rito didn't think much of it. His own sister, Mikan, also went grocery shopping every few days.
"Well, it's alright. I don't have a capable little sister like your Mikan-chan. You're a guy to be envied!"
"Hahaha... that's true. Unlike her useless older brother, Mikan is the pride of our family."
After a bit more small talk, they waved goodbye and parted ways at the intersection. Rito went straight home, while Sora headed towards the supermarket in the other direction.
"If I'm not mistaken, Mikan-chan should be going grocery shopping today too..."
A curve formed on his lips. As for how to get into Rito's house to wait for Lala's arrival, Sora already had a plan...
…
"Yo, Mikan-chan!"
"Sora-san, are you grocery shopping too?"
In the supermarket, Sora and Mikan, each carrying bags of groceries, had a "chance" encounter. Sora wore a gentle smile, while the girl was pleasantly surprised.
"I was running out of groceries at home, so I came to stock up. But you're really amazing, Mikan-chan, taking on the cooking duties for your family at such a young age."
He gestured with his own bags and spoke with admiration.
"It's nothing... Mom and Dad are often away for work, and that Rito is so clumsy he can't even take care of himself, so I have to do it."
Blushing slightly, the girl was a little shy but also pleased by his praise, replying modestly.
Mikan was about 150 cm tall, with a proper, pretty face and a cute bun hairstyle. For a girl who wasn't even in middle school yet, she was already quite tall.
"Hehe... you're too modest, Mikan-chan."
"Well, let's walk and talk. I've finished my shopping. If you're done too, let's head back together."
"Mm, I'm done too. Let's go back together."
The two of them walked towards the checkout, paid for their items, and left the supermarket together.
"Have you gotten used to life here, Sora-san? It must be tough living alone."
Mikan asked as they walked, looking at him with a mix of admiration and sympathy. In her sentimental heart, she felt it must be very hard for him to live alone.
Although she was very curious about his circumstances, she felt it would be rude to ask directly, as it might touch upon painful subjects he didn't want to discuss, so she held her tongue for now.
"Hahaha... it's not that bad. I'm used to it. It's not really tough, but it's definitely not as easy and happy as Rito-kun's life. After all, I don't have a cute and capable little sister like Mikan-chan!"
He replied in a joking tone, but his praise and acknowledgment of her were completely genuine. She was indeed a very, very capable girl, which made him think of his own Shizuka-chan.
"Sora-san, you're teasing me again. You're the one... If that Rito was even half as good as you, I'd have a lot less to worry about."
Sighing and shaking her head, she couldn't help but compare him to her good-for-nothing brother again, feeling incredibly frustrated.
"Mikan-chan, even though you often say that, you actually care a lot about Rito-kun, don't you?"
"Besides, Rito-kun has many good qualities. He's honest and gentle, and kind-hearted. Although he doesn't stand out much, he's the type you can rely on in a pinch. As his sister, you know this very well, don't you?"
With a slight smile, Sora seemed to have seen right through her thoughts.
Although she often complained about how useless Rito was, she actually cared for him deeply. If Sora had been dense enough to actually start bad-mouthing Rito, the favorability he had painstakingly built with her would have vanished instantly, and he would have been labeled a bad person forever!
"Sora-san..."
Sure enough, hearing him praise her brother, Mikan blushed even more than when he had praised her, and she was even happier. The way she looked at him became even more favorable, and her good impression of him rose again.
Seeing her reaction, a curve formed on Sora's lips...
"You bought quite a lot of groceries, Sora-san. You must be good at cooking, right? For a boy, you're really amazing."
Changing the subject, Mikan looked at the various bags in his hands and said with interest.
"Hehe... I'm not bragging, but my cooking is amazing!"
Without a trace of modesty, Sora puffed out his chest with a proud and smug expression.
"You're so confident, Sora-san. But when it comes to cooking, I'm very good too, you know. I wonder who's better?"
Slightly stunned, but finding this version of him quite handsome and amusing, Mikan blinked and replied playfully.
Although she was still young, just as she said, she was very confident in her cooking skills!
"Heh... interesting. But I still think I'm better."
He stroked his chin with a dead-serious expression.
"Hahaha... well then, Mr. Confident Sora-san, are you by any chance free this evening? This humble Mikan would like to invite you to our humble home to taste my cooking, and we can see who's better then!"
The girl was amused by him. Her big, watery eyes darted around, and thinking of something, she proposed the invitation.
Although they both knew they were joking and didn't really intend to compete, she thought that since he had been here for a while, and Rito often said he helped him at school, she could use this opportunity to treat him as a thank you and deepen the relationship between their families as neighbors.
"Well, since it's such a gracious invitation from Mikan-chan, I'll consider it. But if it doesn't taste good, I won't eat it, you know."
A glint flashed in his eyes. Sora gave her a thumbs-up in his mind. He had been waiting all this time for her to say that. But on the surface, he maintained his smug expression, which made the girl giggle again.
The two chatted and laughed all the way, feeling they had gotten to know each other much better. They were both in a great mood. In no time, they were home.
They said their goodbyes and parted ways for the moment. Since Mikan had invited him over for the evening, she had to go home and prepare, and he had to put his groceries away.
Besides, if he was going to be a guest at someone's house, he had to prepare some gifts, right? Rito didn't matter, but improving his impression and favorability with Mikan-chan was very important!
After putting away the groceries at home, Sora thought for a moment, then vanished in a flash of light speed. When he reappeared a short while later, he had two things in his hands.
One was something wrapped like a book, and the other was a delicate and beautiful box. Nodding with satisfaction and checking the time, he headed out to the Yūki residence next door...
…
Arriving at the Yūki's front door, Sora rang the bell.
"Rito, go get the door! It should be Sora-san."
"Ah, coming, coming."
The voices of the Yūki siblings came from inside. A moment later, the door opened, revealing Rito.
"Yo, Rito-kun. Sorry to impose tonight!"
Raising a hand, Sora said with a smile.
"Sora-san, please come in! We've been waiting for you."
Scratching his head, Rito was a little embarrassed. He had been quite happy when Mikan told him Sora would be coming over for dinner.
The great Demon King Sora was not a good person. His friendship with Rito was for ulterior motives, and he had even secretly screwed him over several times. But the evil thing about this bAstarrd was that he was too good at pretending. To anyone else, everything he did looked like he was helping and taking care of Rito. Never mind what others thought; at least in his own heart, Rito was full of gratitude for him!
Led by Rito, Sora didn't stand on ceremony. He changed into slippers and entered the house, just in time to see Mikan in a small apron, placing dishes on the table in the living room.
His eyes flashed with a brilliant light. He felt this outfit suited her perfectly. When she grew up, she would definitely be a graceful and proper, good-wife-and-wise-mother type.
He praised her inwardly, and at the same time, resolved that he would absolutely not let anyone else touch this girl. He would use any means necessary to make her his!
Mm, after I recruit Mikan-chan in the future, I can take her back to Kouten to be a companion for Shizuka. They should get along well...
"Rito-kun, Mikan-chan, a small gift, just a token of my appreciation."
The Yūki siblings welcomed him warmly. Sora smiled and presented the gifts to them.
"Sora-san, you're too kind."
After some polite refusal, they both accepted. Although they didn't think it would be a particularly valuable gift, they had received the sentiment.
"Wow... this... this... it's beautiful!!!"
Opening the box, Mikan let out a gasp. A finely crafted brooch with an inlaid black pearl was revealed. Her eyes lit up with absolute delight.
"Sora-san, is this a pearl? This gift is too expensive!"
Hearing his sister's voice, Rito quickly craned his neck to see. When he saw the lustrous black pearl, he was completely stunned.
Although the Yūki family wasn't wealthy nobility, he had seen something like this on TV before. It was said to be extremely rare. A single one might be worth more than their entire house.
The initially excited Mikan's expression changed when she heard Rito's words, and her hands trembled, almost dropping the box. Although she loved the gift, if it was really that valuable, she absolutely couldn't accept it.
Sora saw their reactions and thought to himself that Rito actually had a good eye sometimes. He naturally wouldn't be careless with a gift for Mikan-chan. It was indeed a real black pearl, one he had found in a giant clam after searching the ocean for half a day.
Of course, although it was real, he couldn't say that—
"Rito-kun, Mikan-chan, I don't know if it's a black pearl, but it didn't cost much. I just thought it was pretty and bought it for Mikan-chan. If you don't like it, you can just throw it away."
Sora said to the Yūki siblings with a teasing smile.
"I love it!"
Hearing him say that, Mikan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly hugged the box to her chest.
She didn't care if it was a pearl or not; she simply loved the gift. And hearing it wasn't very expensive, she could accept it without worry.
But remembering her own reaction just now, she couldn't help but huff and shoot a fierce glare at her brother for overreacting.
Scratching his head, Rito was also a little embarrassed, feeling that his over-the-top reaction just now was quite shameful.
Seeing how much Mikan loved her gift, Rito couldn't help but feel a little expectant. What would Sora-san's gift to him be?
He eagerly tore at the wrapping paper, wanting to see what it was, but Sora's voice cut in:
"Ahem... Rito-kun, it's probably better if you open your gift in your room."
After a couple of dry coughs, Sora suggested with a strange expression.
Confused, although Sora had told him to open it in his room, the wrapping was already half-torn, and Rito couldn't resist taking a peek.
However, that one peek was all it took. When he saw clearly what was under the wrapping paper, he froze completely, and then his face turned bright red!
His mouth twitched and his eye jumped. Rito looked at Sora with an expression of endless resentment, because the gift he had received was...