"Rito, what did Sora-san give you?"
After putting her own gift away, Mikan was also curious about what her brother had received. She leaned her little head over, wanting to see.
However, the Rito who snapped back to reality bristled like a startled cat and shrieked—
"Don't look!!!"
Sora seemed to have expected this and just watched with the expression of someone enjoying a good show, while Mikan was startled.
A tic mark appeared on her forehead, and she was about to question what had suddenly gotten into him, but Rito had no intention of explaining. With a demonic howl, he clutched the gift and fled into his room as if escaping for his life.
Her mouth twitched. Mikan-chan just couldn't understand. She just wanted to see what it was, did he really need to make such a fuss?!
"Um, Sora-san, what was the gift you gave to Rito?"
Her curiosity now even more piqued, the girl looked at him with a questioning gaze.
"Mikan-chan, that's a secret between us boys. I can't tell you. If you want to know, you'll have to ask Rito-kun yourself!"
Shaking his head, Sora had a mysterious smile.
"Tch, you're so stingy, Sora-san!"
She couldn't help but roll her eyes with a pouting, speechless expression. But since it was a secret between them boys, she didn't press the matter further.
Putting her gift away, Mikan invited Sora to sit down, made him a cup of hot tea, and told him to make himself at home before she went back into the kitchen to get busy.
"Rito-kun, you don't dislike my gift, do you?"
Sitting on the sofa, Sora glanced towards Rito's room, an evil smile forming on his lips...
…
"Hah... hah... hah..."
Leaning against his door and panting heavily, Rito, having hidden in his room, felt his whole face was red and hot.
He had actually wondered what kind of gift Sora would give him. To his near-breakdown, it turned out to be an 18+ doujinshi!!!!!
He couldn't imagine that the usually gentle and upright Sora-san would give him something like this! If Mikan had seen it just now... he couldn't even dare to imagine the consequences!
A bitter smile appeared on his face. Although he knew Sora-san was joking with him, this kind of joke was a bit too... too impure, wasn't it?
He instinctively prepared to throw this impure thing away, but just as he raised his hand, he stopped. No matter what, this was a gift from Sora-san. It didn't seem right to just throw it away, did it?
Besides, for some reason, remembering the cover he had glimpsed, Rito's heart began to race, his mouth went dry, and he secretly gulped.
There's no one else in the room right now. Just one look... just one look... it won't be a big deal, right?
Gulp...
He struggled internally, but in the end, the pure-hearted teenager couldn't resist the devil's temptation. With trembling hands, he opened the doujinshi...
…
"Time to eat!"
On the dining table, the capable Mikan-chan had already laid out a full spread of dishes. The three of them, seated around the table, clapped their hands and eagerly began to eat.
"Rito, what took you so long in your room? We have a guest, and you didn't even come out to entertain him."
Rito only emerged from his room when dinner was almost ready. Looking at her good-for-nothing brother, Mikan-chan grumbled with a little dissatisfaction.
With his head down, Rito didn't reply, just stuffing his face as if he hadn't heard her at all. But if one looked closely, they would see that the tips of his ears were an unnatural shade of red.
Not noticing his strangeness, Mikan-chan was quite annoyed by his dismissive reaction. Just as she was about to scold him again, Sora's voice cut in:
"Mikan-chan, Rito-kun probably came out late because he really liked the gift I gave him. Why don't you forgive him this once?"
With a gentle smile, Sora pleaded for Rito while sampling the girl's cooking.
"Mmm..."
His head was bowed so low his expression was hidden, but after a slight pause, Rito began to nod repeatedly.
"Really?"
A suspicious look appeared on her face. I also really like the gift Sora-san gave me, but I didn't act like you, Mikan thought. Even if you like it a lot, you can look at it later. Do you have to be so impatient?
Rito couldn't answer. And with his guilty conscience, he didn't dare to even look up, let alone reply!
Fearing Mikan would see through him, he felt his heart was about to pound out of his chest.
Taking in Rito's reaction, a curve formed on Sora's lips, and he spoke again:
"Rito-kun, you really liked my gift and couldn't put it down in your room, that's why you were late, right?"
He could clearly feel Rito's whole body stiffen. But thinking about the frustration, panic, and even the urge to curse that Rito must be feeling, Sora couldn't help but want to laugh out loud.
"I... I... I really like it..."
Under Mikan-chan's scrutiny, after a long struggle, Rito finally blurted it out, though he looked completely defeated afterwards.
He felt that in that moment, he had thrown away the dozen or so years of innocence he had preserved. But if he didn't play along with Sora to fool Mikan and she found out the truth, he couldn't imagine how embarrassing it would be.
The thought of Mikan looking at him with contempt and disgust made him want to go bang his head against a wall...
"Hmph, since Sora-san is pleading for you, I'll forgive you this time. But don't be so rude when we have guests in the future."
Looking at Rito's state, Mikan didn't suspect anything further, but she still lectured him a bit.
Nodding repeatedly, Rito finally managed to get past Mikan's questioning and breathed a secret sigh of relief. He wanted to shoot a grateful look at Sora, but when he remembered that all his embarrassment was thanks to him, his grateful look immediately turned into one of endless resentment.
Although Sora saw Rito's resentful gaze, he pretended not to notice. Even though he was laughing his head off internally, the great Demon King maintained a calm, smiling expression...
The rest of the time was spent enjoying the delicious meal. It had to be said, Mikan's cooking was truly excellent, completely unlike what one would expect from such a young girl.
For such an outstanding and virtuous girl, the great Demon King felt nothing but praise and an endless desire for possession...
The atmosphere at the table was very pleasant as they chatted while eating. However, Rito was still lamenting his lost innocence and was a bit quiet, so most of the time it was just Sora and Mikan talking.
Of course, although he was enjoying this interaction with the girl, Sora hadn't forgotten the true purpose of his visit. Even while chatting with Mikan, he was constantly sensing the situation outside.
Around nine o'clock in the evening, something finally happened outside:
CRASH!!!!!
A loud bang, like some huge object crashing to the ground, came from the street outside.
"What was that?"
The Yūki siblings were both stunned. They quickly stood up and went to the window to check, while Sora's eyes flashed, and he thought to himself, "She's here!"
"Rito-kun, Mikan-chan, did something happen?"
Despite his inner excitement, Sora remained calm on the surface, wearing a look of confusion.
"Not sure, maybe a car accident, but it's not on our street."
Shaking their heads, the Yūki siblings didn't see anything. Although they felt sorry for whoever might have been in an accident, since it didn't concern their family, they didn't pay it much mind and returned to their seats.
"Mikan-chan's cooking is truly delicious. Could you please get me some soup?"
Sora naturally didn't ask any more questions, but instead smiled at Mikan.
"Here you go, Sora-san."
She had been praised by him countless times tonight, but the girl still felt a little happy. She quickly ladled a bowl of soup and handed it to him.
Thanking her with a smile, Sora took the bowl from her, but his hand "slipped," and the entire bowl of soup spilled onto him.
"Ah, I'm sorry! Sora-san, are you okay?"
Fearing he had been burned, Rito and Mikan both jumped up with a cry, and Mikan looked especially apologetic and guilty.
"Don't worry, Mikan-chan, Rito-kun, I'm fine. And it's not your fault, Mikan-chan. I just didn't hold it steady."
"Um, Mikan-chan, could I borrow your bathroom? I feel pretty uncomfortable with my clothes soaked in soup."
Using a perfectly valid reason, Sora requested to use the bathroom.
"Sora-san, the bathroom is this way. Go clean yourself up. I'll get some of Rito's clothes for you to change into."
Seeing that he was really okay, the Yūki siblings breathed a small sigh of relief, though Mikan's expression was still apologetic.
"Hehe, thank you for the trouble, Mikan-chan."
Not refusing, Sora thanked her and walked towards the bathroom.
"Rito-kun, oh Rito-kun, I'm so sorry. I'll be taking Lala off your hands, if you don't mind."
Looking at Rito, who was still oblivious and enjoying Mikan's cooking alone in the living room, a wicked curve formed on Sora's lips. Without further hesitation, he walked into the bathroom and closed the door...