"Shichen-nii… what do you mean?" Kotegawa Yui looked at him in confusion, not really understanding.
Make her "the same as everyone else"?
How?
Become what?
A guess flashed through her mind, but she immediately denied it. No way it could be that easy.
"Hehe~ no rush. I'll tell you later. For now, let's just enjoy the crab feast. You haven't had enough yet, right? You can eat more later."
"…Alright… but I haven't even digested what I ate this afternoon. I'm going to get fat." Kotegawa Yui pressed a hand to her still slightly rounded belly, looking gloomy.
As a girl, nothing is scarier than getting fat.
"Don't worry, I'm here. I won't let you put on weight," Shichen reassured her.
"Shichen-nii can do that?"
"It's easy. I can even help you empty your stomach so you can eat as much as you want later."
"That's amazing!" Yui almost jumped up.
Being able to eat without worrying about getting fat—no girl doesn't dream of that.
"You'd better be careful," Frieren warned.
"Eh? Why?" Yui looked at her.
Frieren replied with a blank expression, "From what I know of him, he'll definitely do something like… rubbing your belly."
"Rub my belly… if it's just that…" Yui thought about it and decided she could probably accept it. He'd already groped her chest; what's a little belly rub in comparison?
And at least having her belly rubbed didn't mean being watched by everyone while blushing.
"Huh? Belly rubs? Brother-in-law, I feel kind of stuffed too. Could you help me digest later as well?" Momo immediately piped up.
"Hey! Your intentions are way too obvious," Nana couldn't help complaining.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Momo played dumb.
"You… you…" Nana struggled for a long while and still couldn't find the words. It's not like saying anything would stop her. She knew too well how strong her twin's "follow-through" was—once Momo decided on something, she would do it.
Which meant: now that she was interested in Shichen, she'd fully set him as her target. In the end, she'd join their big sister as his girlfriend too.
So what about her?
Wouldn't he end up being both her brother-in-law and her "little brother-in-law"?
And he'd clearly said he wanted to date her… Three sisters all caught in the same net?
No way. Absolutely no way.
That idea was way too ridiculous.
"You've got nothing to say about this?" Nana turned her fire on Shichen.
"Me? Then… Momo, just eat all you want later and leave the rest to me."
"Okay~ thank you, brother-in-law~"
"That's not what I meant!" Nana snapped.
"Then you… ah, I get it. I'll help you with your digestion too later, alright?" Shichen smiled slightly, pretending not to understand.
"Who wants you touching my belly?!" Nana yelled, face red.
"Don't listen to Frieren's nonsense. It's not necessarily about belly rubs."
"Eh?" Nana froze.
"Eh?" Momo also froze, then asked uncertainly, "It's not… belly rubs to help us digest?"
"There are lots of methods."
"Let's stick with belly rubs. That sounds simplest," Momo suggested.
"Hey!" Nana glared at her. Could you be any more obvious? Where's your shame?
And how is this girl different from the one I used to know?
"What's the problem? I just want to make things easier on brother-in-law. Unlike you—all you do is trouble him," Momo said sweetly.
"…!" Nana shivered; goosebumps rose all over her arms. What was that? Why did it sound so gross?
"Alright, you two, enough. Just decide for yourselves later what method you want," Shichen cut in.
"No way!" Nana vetoed immediately. She couldn't just let Momo fool around with him.
"Why not? Nana, you don't want brother-in-law rubbing my belly… are you jealous?" Momo teased.
"Of course not! What would I be jealous about!" Nana denied at once.
"Then why meddle so much? Sis hasn't said a thing."
"That's… you're sis's little sister. What does it look like, letting him rub your belly?"
"What's wrong with that? We're going to be one big family. What's wrong with being a little more close and loving?"
"What kind of 'loving' is that? You think this is normal? Do you even believe yourself?"
"Of course I do," Momo nodded seriously.
"…."
Nana's mouth twitched. Sure, like that would fool a ghost.
"You really think people here don't see what you're plotting?" she muttered, deciding to just say it.
"What plot?" Momo blinked innocently.
"You… Fine. Sis, you can't tell what Momo's after?"
"Hmm? After what? Getting along well with Shichen? That's great," Lala replied cheerfully, unconcerned.
"…Frieren?" Nana turned to their mage in despair.
"I'm not getting involved," Frieren sniffed, turning away.
"…Yui-nee?"
"Um, I don't really have the standing to say anything," Kotegawa Yui answered awkwardly.
She'd long since noticed Momo's feelings—though it had shocked her at first; a little sister having a thing for her sister's husband? But at this point, she'd let it go. They were aliens after all—being more open-minded was normal.
"…Yami?" Nana pinned her last hope on Yami.
"…Don't ask me. And don't drag me into this," Yami answered gravely.
"D-drag you into it?" Nana blinked.
"As long as everyone's happy, that's enough," Yami said.
She had no intention of stepping into Shichen's love mess—that was just asking for trouble. If she was going to be bullied, she'd rather it be because he was in the mood, not because she got blamed for something.
And speaking of relationships, she hadn't even sorted out her own. She knew she'd be stuck with Shichen forever anyway—and everything that was "meant" to happen between them already had. No point overthinking.
As for how close she was with Shichen—beyond the half-cooperative willingness—there was no need to examine that too closely.
"…What's wrong with all of you? Is this way of thinking really okay? Especially you, Yui-nee—you should be the most conservative one," Nana said, looking around in disbelief.
"Um… I've already given up," Yui replied, embarrassed.
If she'd gotten to Shichen before Lala, she might have cared. But she'd fallen later, been gradually "won over" and brainwashed with strange ideas. At this point, she didn't have much to say.
"Why?" Nana was lost.
"Give it up—you're the odd one here," Momo said, patting her shoulder.
"…"
"Nana, just be yourself. Don't worry about everyone else. Relax. Let's focus on crab meat over rice later," Shichen said gently, then turned to the crabs.
He'd been craving something like this—time to satisfy his old self. The grill could fit both snow crab and king crab, but he wanted some little blue lobster in the rice too. So half the grill for crab, half for shrimp—crab meat, crab roe, crab butter, shrimp flesh, shrimp fat… mixed into rice—pure heaven, and no need to worry about catching a cold.
Ordinary grilling would take ages, so he used holy fire instead—fast and flavor-enhancing. Now that was using powers properly—to make life easier.
Soon the smells of shrimp and crab were winding through the air, making Lala's nose twitch and everyone's mouths water.
Compared to noon's shrimp smell, this was on another level. With the crab aroma, it was like the scent had multiplied several times over.
When the first snow crab and king crab were ready, Shichen didn't mash them into rice—he just handed them out as-is.
First, taste the original flavor.
None of the girls held back: sucking meat from crab legs, scooping up crab butter with spoons, smiles plastered on their faces. The joy of seafood needed no explanation.
Even Nana gave up correcting everyone's twisted "values" and surrendered to the food.
"Brother-in-law, you've worked hard. Have a bite too," Momo said sweetly, holding a crab leg up to his mouth to feed him.
If she hadn't already taken a bite out of it, it would've been even more touching.
Shichen didn't mind—he just leaned in and took a bite. The meat was tender and delicate, with a natural salty sweetness. The simplest ingredients really did need only the simplest cooking.
"Mhm. Good," he nodded in satisfaction. Worth the hype.
"Want another bite, brother-in-law?" Momo asked, eyes full of expectation.
She seemed a little addicted to feeding him—there was a strange shivery feeling in her chest.
Everyone else was busy eating for themselves; only his little sister-in-law was this attentive. Of course he indulged her, leaning in for another bite.
"Brother-in-law~ want some crab butter?" she asked, already scooping up a spoonful and holding it to his lips—using her own spoon, naturally.
Shichen didn't hesitate; he took it in one go—rich, ocean umami exploding across his tongue.