He knew both Kagura sisters liked sour and spicy dishes.
"Aiden, you've been very thoughtful."
Maki looked up at Aiden, her eyes full of pleasant surprise. Usually, Chizuru always liked to make sour and spicy dishes. She thought Aiden had carefully remembered their preferences.
But actually... Aiden had previously looked up their information and knew they both liked sour and spicy flavors.
"The number of dishes I know suitable for breakfast isn't large, so I also made some dumplings, using the same dipping sauce."
"However, I didn't add any strongly aromatic seasonings to any of them, since you both have to perform blessings today... And also this..." Aiden continued, pointing to the other dishes on the table.
But, come to think of it, this breakfast he made consisted mostly of meat dishes. Mainly, he considered that the Kagura sisters probably wouldn't have much time to rest today, and thought meat dishes would be more filling. However, the sisters didn't seem to notice this point.
After introducing so many dishes, Aiden also started eating. The food he made himself still suited his own taste better. But judging by the frequency the Kagura sisters helped themselves to the dishes, the food he made this time was quite successful.
Just then, Yumiko, who was kneeling to the side and hadn't left, suddenly spoke.
"Eldest Young Miss, Second Young Miss, actually, Mr. Aiden started preparing yesterday. After dinner last night, Mr. Aiden specifically went to the kitchen, saying he needed to prepare the rice for tonight's egg-fried rice. He was really very thoughtful."
It wasn't particularly astonishing words, but both sisters paused their movements simultaneously, their eyes revealing touched expressions.
"Aiden, really, we've caused you too much trouble." Maki even put down her chopsticks and bowed slightly to Aiden.
"Uh... It's no trouble." Aiden scratched his head, then glanced at Yumiko.
'Although your words provided a good assist, the fact is, I prepared the rice last night to ensure the egg-fried rice would have separate, distinct grains. Egg-fried rice is best made with overnight rice.'
That's how he always did it at home.
However, doing this resulted in an increase in the Kagura sisters' favorability. It was really quite worth it.
———
Soon, breakfast ended.
But the Kagura sisters both showed expressions of regret. In fact, they wished it could have lasted longer.
Apart from having to start a day of arduous activities after breakfast, there was also the fact that Aiden was going out to spend Tanabata with other women.
Especially Maki. Her face was expressionless, but her hands under the table were clenched tightly.
She didn't understand where she... or her sister... fell short. Although their chests weren't as big as that woman's, their legs were definitely longer than hers. More importantly, they had met Aiden a day earlier than Mai.
Could it be because that woman dressed more revealingly than them?
'Clearly, we were first. Yet, she's the one spending Tanabata with Aiden. Really...'
Maki could only think that she and her sister lacked enough appeal, and could only acknowledge that Mai indeed had her merits. But regarding Aiden's playboy nature, she didn't have the slightest objection.
Just as she was thinking resentfully, Aiden, after drinking a cup of tea, stood up.
"Maki, Chizuru, I'll be going now."
"Even though it's a holiday, don't overwork yourselves."
"I'll come back early tonight. I've already instructed Yumiko to prepare ingredients for me. I'll make you a big meal when I return."
Honestly, when saying this, Aiden felt very guilty. It was equivalent to telling his wife, "I'm going out to spend the day and half the night with my lover. Wait obediently at home, and I'll compensate you by cooking a meal when I get back."
Although, who was the wife and who was the lover wasn't exactly clear either.
At this moment, Aiden was also thinking, 'If this were Bayonetta, and I told her I was going to spend the holiday with Jeanne, she'd definitely shoot me with Scarborough Fair, right?'
But the Kagura sisters just gave him a resentful look and didn't say anything more.
Well, not exactly. Chizuru might complain about him a few times in her heart, but Maki said softly, "Aiden, remember to have a good time."
Hearing this, Aiden clutched his chest. It hurt, it really hurt.
———
When Aiden drove away from the shrine, his mood was extremely complex. A voice in his ear kept reminding him that perhaps staying would have been better, but another voice reminded him that he must keep his promises.
So, even after parking the car in a space near the Shiranui Dojo, Aiden still sat in the car without getting out.
"Ah, this is something I still need to learn. He wouldn't have such psychological pressure."
After a while, Aiden rubbed his face with his hands, sighed, picked up the gifts for Mai and Yuri Sakazaki, and got out of the car.
Since he felt sorry for them, he would just treat them even better in the future.
Anyway, that's what he did for the other women too.
'Hmm, set your heart at ease!'
Comforting himself like this, Aiden pushed open the dojo's gate.
Because it was a holiday, and she was spending it with Aiden, Mai had long since dressed up. At this moment, she was sitting in the dojo drinking tea with Yuri Sakazaki.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, Mai and Yuri both looked towards the entrance, and their voices rang out one after the other.
"Aiden, good morning!"
"Onii-chan,good morning! Onii-chan, why didn't you come yesterday?"
"Mai,Yuri, good morning." Entering the dojo, Aiden directly sat down next to Mai.
While taking out the gifts, he answered Yuri's question, "There was a small matter yesterday. I informed Mai. Didn't your Mai sister tell you?"
"Mai didn't tell me, and she wouldn't even give me Onii-chan's phone number... Huh? Onii-chan, what's this?" The cute girl's expression changed rapidly, from unhappy to curious in the blink of an eye.
"Gifts for you."
Aiden pushed two gift boxes in front of them.
"That won't do, Aiden. I haven't even given you a gift yet." Mai felt a bit embarrassed to accept.
But Yuri paid no mind to this. She opened the box and cried out happily, "Wow, what a pretty bracelet! There's even a lily flower on it."
The young girl held the bracelet high, as if admiring it, then immediately put it on her wrist. After that, she turned and pounced on Aiden.
"Onii-chan is so good, even better than my stupid old brother to me. Mwah."
Mai, too late to stop her, scolded loudly, "Yuri! How can you do that?"
She felt like she had let a wolf in through the door.
"This is a reward for Onii-chan's gift! Mai sister, you can do it too." Yuri climbed off Aiden, speaking with righteous assurance.
"But... even so, you can't kiss him... that's just not okay..." Mai became embarrassed again.
Despite her bold clothing, she was actually more traditional than anyone.
'Mai, you're overthinking it. I can guarantee she doesn't have any ulterior motives right now.'
Aiden wiped the saliva from his face, mentally defending himself.
Suppressing the wild thoughts in his head, Aiden looked at Mai. But before he could speak, Mai misunderstood his gaze.
"Right now... it's still not okay." Mai said somewhat awkwardly. She wasn't as outgoing as Yuri Sakazaki and felt too shy to kiss him in front of others.
'Young lady, what are you imagining?'
Seeing her like this, Aiden laughed. "Mai, that's not what I meant. Never mind, just look at your gift first. See if you like it."
"Whatever Aiden gives me, I will like it."
Mai said this, but her face showed clear expectation as she opened the gift box, immediately revealing an expression of delight.
At this time, Yuri Sakazaki, leaning on the table with both hands, peeked over. She saw that the box contained an exquisite red hair ornament.
Looking up at Mai's red yukata, Yuri exclaimed, "Onii-chan really knows how to pick gifts! It matches Mai sister's red yukata so well."
Then she raised the arm wearing the bracelet and continued, "The bracelet he gave Yuri also matches very well."
Like Mai, she was also wearing a yukata, except hers was white.
By now, Mai had already taken the hair ornament out of the box. After thinking for a moment, she took off all the other hair ornaments from her head, wearing only the one Aiden had given her.
Then, pursing her lips, she looked at Aiden and asked somewhat shyly, "Aiden, does it look good?"
Probably every girl asks this, so Aiden nodded vigorously. "It looks good."