After his shower.
Ren, now dressed in a clean black shirt, noticed that Mahiru was busy in the kitchen. Not wanting to disturb her, he went to the study and casually picked out a book. He returned to the living room and found a seat by the window.
Ren propped his head with one hand on the desk, leaning sideways as he flipped through the pages. Because he had only given his long hair a quick dry with the blow dryer without styling it, the loose strands fell randomly over his shoulders and back in a messy, effortless drape.
It gave Ren a different kind of disheveled charm compared to his usual self.
The light rain showed no signs of stopping, pitter-pattering against the window in its own rhythmic melody. Ren quickly became immersed in the world of the book, with the sound of the rain outside serving as a background track that set the mood.
Having finished cooking and taken off her apron, Mahiru crept up behind Ren and hugged him.
"Ren, dinner is ready."
Mahiru rested her head on Ren's shoulder, waiting for his response. She had simply removed her school blazer before heading into the kitchen, so she was currently wearing a long-sleeved white shirt with a light beige vest over it.
The "Angel" aura of the school was gone, replaced by the vivid image of a devoted wife.
Coming back to his senses, Ren tilted his head to the right, rubbing it against Mahiru's.
"Ren, it's time to eat."
Wrapping her arms around Ren's neck from behind, Mahiru began to snuggle with him as well.
"Alright."
Closing the book, Ren agreed. He patted Koharu, who had been keeping watch by his side, signaling that it was time for her to eat as well. As for Mochi? By the time Mahiru had filled its small food bowl, the little glutton had already scurried over to start eating.
Candy, meanwhile, was still curled up in Ren's lap.
Compared to the food-obsessed Mochi, Candy was much more of a lady. Although she was close to Mahiru, she mostly revolved around Ren. In that regard, she was very much like her mother, Ling, who had always revolved around the Old Man.
Inheritance... is truly a heavy thing.
Ren picked up Candy with one hand and took Mahiru's hand with the other as they walked to the dining table. Koharu, that lovely and loyal girl, stayed right by Ren's side. Wherever Ren went, she followed.
"Ren, stop putting food in my bowl! You should eat too!"
Covering her porcelain bowl, which Ren had already piled high with food, Mahiru puffed out her cheeks like an angry little pufferfish. She felt she should be the one taking care of Ren, yet he had started serving her the moment they sat down. More than half of the middle-joint wings she had specially made for him had ended up in her bowl.
"Fine, fine. I'll stop. I'm eating too."
Amused, Ren watched as Mahiru picked up her bowl and turned her body away to prevent any more "attacks." He picked up a wing and put it in his mouth.
Seeing that Ren was indeed eating properly and had no further intention of serving her, Mahiru finally placed her bowl back on the table.
"Ren!!!"
The moment the bowl touched the table, Ren's hand moved with lightning speed, dropping another wing into it.
This time Mahiru was truly flustered. Ignoring the food that was now peaking over the rim of the bowl, she frantically tried to pry away Ren's large hand, which was now covering his own bowl while he suppressed a laugh.
Realizing she couldn't pry it away, Mahiru picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a wing from her bowl, and stuffed it into Ren's mouth. Ren hadn't expected her to be so bold and was caught off guard. Mahiru held the wing and the chopsticks in Ren's mouth until she was sure he couldn't move, then she pulled the chopsticks out.
Now on high alert, Mahiru stood up, moved away from Ren, and sat directly across from him. This way, there was no way he could reach her bowl.
"Mahiru, come back and sit here. I won't give you any more."
Ren patted the empty chair beside him and spoke with a smile to the wary Mahiru across the table, swallowing the wing in his mouth.
"Really?"
Having been tricked once, Mahiru was clearly skeptical.
"Really."
"Ren, promise me!"
"I promise."
Only after receiving Ren's promise did Mahiru slowly move back to her original seat. She still kept a wary eye on him, afraid he would break his word again.
Ren took a new bowl, filled it with soup, and pushed it toward Mahiru. He smiled and pointed at her overflowing porcelain bowl. "Eat slowly."
"This is all your fault, Ren!"
It was fine until he mentioned it; now Mahiru felt a surge of annoyance. She picked up a mouthful of tomato and egg stir-fry and stuffed it into Ren's mouth.
Ren was too annoying!
"Do you need a fresh pair of chopsticks, Mahiru?"
Ren accepted the feeding happily and then asked casually. He didn't mind, but he wasn't sure if Mahiru would feel uncomfortable about it afterward. He chose to ask to respect her feelings.
"Ugh... no need..."
Mahiru looked at the chopsticks that had been in Ren's mouth. After a moment of hesitation, she shook her head. Ren had already eaten food she had touched; why should she be the one to find him distasteful? Mahiru couldn't bring herself to be like that.
Besides... Ren was her fiancé! It was only a matter of time!
"Ah~"
Ren picked up some vegetables from the soup and held them to Mahiru's lips. Without any hesitation, Mahiru accepted the feeding. Because Ren did it on purpose, these chopsticks also entered Mahiru's mouth.
"Now Mahiru and I are the same."
Ren shook the chopsticks that Mahiru had just eaten from and then buried his head to seriously tackle the feast. Mahiru's face turned slightly red, but she didn't refute him and began to eat quietly as well.
Meow~
Mochi, who had finished eating long ago, stood by Mahiru's feet and blinked its large, innocent eyes at her.
Compared to Ren, who ate normally and never gave extra treats, Mahiru—who had even tried to feed it while she was eating noodles last time—was clearly more soft-hearted. Mochi knew exactly who to act cute for during mealtime to get a bite.
Sure enough, hearing Mochi's pleading meow, Mahiru couldn't resist those innocent eyes. She was about to pick up a wing from her bowl to feed the cat.
"Go ahead, Mahiru. Give it one bite, and I'll give you three more bites back."
Ren noticed Mochi's request and spoke nonchalantly.
The chopsticks mid-air paused. Mahiru used a clever maneuver to divert the chicken wing she was about to give Mochi back into her own mouth.
Sorry, Mochi.
If I feed you, Ren is really going to feed me until I get fat.