Chapter 116
Seeing Mineo's curious expression, Erina pressed her lips together and gave a faint smile.
"Alice and I didn't have any activities this afternoon, so we took some time to go to the kitchen and make a few snacks."
"Showing up at your restaurant to eat empty-handed would make Alice and I feel a bit awkward."
"Therefore, we thought about bringing some dessert here..."
Hearing Erina's explanation, Mineo smirked and said:
"Feeling awkward? In that case, I wouldn't mind if you two were willing to pay for this meal instead!"
"I would definitely accept it without any hesitation!"
"And considering we're all good friends, I could even give you a twenty percent discount..."
"..."
Before Mineo could even finish his sentence, Erina's face suddenly turned incredibly grim.
"Accepting... money?"
"Mineo-kun, could you repeat what you just said one more time? It seems... I didn't hear it clearly!"
"A real man never repeats words he's already spoken!"
"Even if you threaten me, Erina, there's no way I'm repeating that..."
Seeing the smug grin on Mineo's face, Erina turned to Alice, who had just walked in from outside.
"Take the desserts back!"
"Eh?? Take them back? Why? Isn't this the sweet snack we spent all afternoon making for Mineo-kun?"
"Do you know what Mineo-kun just said?"
"What did he say!?"
"He told us both to settle the bill for our last visit to the restaurant, and he also said that out of friendship, he'd give us a twenty percent discount on this visit!"
"What on earth?"
"Pay the bill?"
"A twenty percent discount!?"
Hearing Erina's words, Alice's eyes instantly flashed with murderous intent. She slammed the lunch box in her hand down hard onto the dining table.
"Mineo-kun, what do you think about a fifty percent discount instead?"
"Fifty percent? Fifty percent is fine too. Do you want to pay by card or cash?"
"No card, and no cash! What I mean is breaking a scoundrel like you's legs until the bones snap! Left leg or right leg, pick one!"
"..."
After sitting in her chair with a huff of irritation, Alice opened the lunch box.
"Erina, I suddenly feel like it would be better if we just ate these snacks we worked so hard on ourselves!"
"Let that annoying jerk just eat air!"
"Great idea! Let's start eating..."
"Don't be like that! I was just joking with you two!"
"Being able to taste a lunch filled with affection, made directly by your own hands—it actually makes my heart feel very touched..."
Mineo immediately pulled the lunch box on the table toward him.
"Whoa! Is this Tiramisu?"
"And this one... it looks like Baked Matcha Cheese with Evaporated Milk..."
"Quite the luxurious dessert spread!"
"My Lady, Second Young Lady, thank you!"
"I shall happily accept your gifts!"
Picking up a knife and fork, Mineo immediately popped a piece of the dessert into his mouth. A delicate sweetness bloomed on the tip of his tongue.
The cooking skills of Erina and Alice were truly top-tier. Both dishes were clearly made with high levels of dedication by the two cousins.
Watching Mineo taste her creation, Erina sipped her black tea gracefully. A moment later, the Young Lady asked in a tone that seemed entirely casual:
"How does it taste?"
"The taste is truly wonderful! If only I could taste a lunch filled with affection made by your hands every day, that would be delightful..."
"Since it tastes good, could Mineo-kun answer one question for me?"
"Answer a question?"
Mineo popped the last piece of cake into his mouth. After swallowing it in one go, he grabbed a tissue and wiped his mouth.
"Erina wants to ask why I know Kobayashi Rindou, right?"
"Yes, I did want to ask that. I don't know if Mineo-kun would mind answering..."
"I don't mind; there's nothing to hide regarding a question like that. Kobayashi-senpai is also an internet friend of mine. Technically, the length of time I've known her isn't any shorter than how long I've known you two..."
Hearing Mineo's words, Erina's mind jolted. After exchanging a glance with Alice, she continued her questioning:
"Are you and Kobayashi-senpai also friends on the internet?"
"You've known each other for... three years?"
"Correct, it's been roughly three years... I'm someone who usually doesn't have any special hobbies; I just like chatting with beautiful girls."
"Even though Kobayashi-senpai is a bit older than me, communicating with her is quite pleasant..."
"Mineo-kun, is your hobby chatting with beautiful girls?"
Hearing Mineo's answer, Alice and Erina's faces slowly began to darken.
"If I don't chat with beautiful girls, am I supposed to chat with men?"
"Please, My Lady, I'm not into the same sex!"
"I don't have weird hobbies like that."
"Didn't I tell you guys before?"
"I don't just chat with anyone, either."
"At the very least, my conversation partner's visuals have to be at least half as beautiful as you two, but then I realized that people like that are truly very rare..."
"Mineo-kun! I want to ask, up until now, how many female friends do you have?"
"Maybe a few dozen!"
"..."
Upon hearing Mineo's answer, Alice and Erina's faces grew even darker!
Alice searched for words as she gnashed her teeth and glared at Mineo.
"I've finally realized it now!"
"You are nothing but a philanderer!"
"A few dozen beautiful female internet friends?"
"Are you even capable of dividing your attention?"
"Quick, spit back out the food I made!"
"I suddenly feel that making a lunch personally for a jerk like you is the stupidest thing I've ever done in my life!"
"The food is already in my stomach and you're telling me to spit it out? Alice, just how much do you hate me!"
"Didn't I just tease you both with a few sentences?"
Mineo rolled his eyes at Alice.
"I was originally thinking about giving you two a return gift, but seeing the situation now, I'll have to reconsider whether a return gift is even necessary."
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
50 Power Stone = 1 Bonus Chapter (Up to 5 bonus chapters per week).
Read ahead and support the story on Patreon: patreon.com/FaaanzKun
✅ 95+ chapters ahead of WebNovel
✅ 2-6 new chapters every day (Monday–Saturday), exclusive on Patreon
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —