Chapter 73: Afternoon Time18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPU38814PvO
In the living room.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRH8H92ztW
"Ahhh! The time for a showdown is here!" Little Hinata pumped her fist with infectious energy, her small face flushed pink with excitement. "Go, onee-sama! You can do it!"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy84wlQ6D7J
On the screen, the two fighters stood on the edge of defeat. Their health bars were nearly empty, their movements sharp and tense. The first to miss an opening would fall. The air in the room felt charged, like a storm about to break.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEx8H9wJRS
After a brief stalemate, the Miko girl’s character suddenly lunged forward. She rolled gracefully across the digital arena, dodging a counterstrike by inches. Her character’s movements were elegant and precise—like a dance. With a quick kick to unbalance her opponent, she spun to the back, her long sleeves fluttering onscreen as she unleashed her ultimate move. Fists like wind, kicks like thunder, her attacks filled the screen with a dazzling flurry of light and motion.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbG3pxRDuv
But just before the final blow landed, Kouya’s character sprang into the air. For a split second, the screen froze—the lightning crackled, the atmosphere thickened—and then, his avatar descended like a thunder god, a storm of power and rage. The sound of impact roared through the room.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2UyBkYQdC
Both fighters’ health bars vanished.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjg1Y5Bn9L7
The screen blazed white, then slowed into dramatic animation. Two silhouettes collided midair, suspended for a heartbeat, before both were sent flying backward.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jlvdU5MSe
All three spectators held their breath. Even the catgirl’s tail stiffened, her ears twitching as her golden eyes widened.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZnt11QrzP
For a few seconds, the world felt frozen.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTT9TrRyHW
Then, the announcer’s voice blared—Victory!18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmnm5xpjkB
Onscreen, Chun-Li’s elegant figure crumpled to the ground, while her opponent staggered upright with a single sliver of health.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvXqAIjyFo
"Wow! Oni-chan won again!" Hinata squealed, bouncing up and down on the sofa.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HvtDeysDw
Kouya leaned back, grinning. "Victory!" The satisfaction of such a hard-fought win made the blood in his veins hum.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluDU9329nq
The Miko girl, usually calm and gentle, puffed out her cheeks in frustration. Her graceful composure cracked for once. "Again!"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODJ1DKUUp5
Her voice carried a rare spark of competitiveness.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwT9lydkz9W
Kouya chuckled. "Wait a second, you’ve got taiyaki crumbs on your lips…"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1sxJFIdO5
"Eh?" The Miko girl blinked, then instinctively stuck out her tongue and licked the crumbs away. The motion was natural, almost unconscious—but when she realized what she’d just done, her eyes went wide and her cheeks turned scarlet.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ972KM59E5G
Her flawless skin took on a soft blush that spread down her neck, glowing like sunset across fresh snow.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1KDWjjXns
Kouya couldn’t help smirking. Perfect.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPBGG0nl6n
She straightened, pretending composure. "You saw wrong. Start the game."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6W5FKngsrl
"Hehe, onee-sama is such a tsundere!" Hinata teased.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmCLJq6qGM
"Chiba Hinata!" The Miko girl’s tone dropped several degrees. Her aura turned menacing.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkMk1iecUR
"Waaah! I’m sorry, onee-sama! Don’t pinch my cheeks, I’ll look weird!"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJNjPVjJMU
...18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmA4aJQASiF
After a few more rounds, laughter and shouts filled the living room. When the Miko girl finally set down her controller, her breath came lightly. "It’s getting late, I should start cooking. You two keep playing."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbxZoGrg4i
"No way!" Hinata waved her hands frantically. She didn’t want to get destroyed again by her brother’s merciless combos. So she swapped games, loading up a cute two-player co-op shooter instead. Bright colors flashed across the screen as the siblings worked together this time, dodging bullets and cheering through each stage.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9YyEiXuth
Meanwhile, the little catgirl sitting on the rug nibbled at her taiyaki. The moment Kouya’s gaze shifted toward her, she froze, let out a soft "meow!" of panic, and scampered off—her tail puffed up like a dandelion.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SCM4nUaup
By the time they cleared the boss stage, Hinata set her controller down with a satisfied sigh. "Oni-chan, you should play by yourself now. I’ll go help onee-sama cook."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIusKcmHmpS
Kouya smiled faintly. "Let’s go together."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYT4lf6hyXI
She beamed. "Yay!"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDVuGbW6IN
The two of them headed toward the back yard kitchen. The scent of miso and fresh vegetables drifted from the open window. Hinata bounded ahead like an eager puppy. "Onee-sama! We’re here to help!"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBlcWYiMOv
The Miko girl turned from the counter, her long black hair swaying with her movement. "Oh? Then wash those vegetables first."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYTVSTvCkw
Hey, I didn’t agree to anything yet! Kouya thought helplessly. What happened to ‘guests just sit and eat’? Since when did I sign up for free labor?18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpqPytIuDY
The kitchen was surprisingly roomy, with warm light spilling across polished counters. The Miko girl wore a white apron over her outfit, perfectly framing her slim waist and graceful posture. The red ribbon tying her hair added a splash of color that made her seem both traditional and lively.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhsUvSZrYD
"Oni-chan, hurry up!" Hinata urged.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycDVLVhBP2
Kouya sighed but smiled, rinsing the vegetables under cold water. As droplets splashed against his fingers, a quiet nostalgia rose inside him.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOepadK1Ge6
How long had it been since he last shared something as simple as cooking with others?18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3f96SmBF5q
There was a strange warmth to it—a calm rhythm he hadn’t realized he missed.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpy5bEudmw
"Meow wants to help too!" came a timid voice from the doorway.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxRV2UTlCh
The catgirl peeked in, clutching her taiyaki with both hands. Her golden eyes darted nervously between them.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLcYXpCgOy
Kouya turned, arching an eyebrow. "What are you looking at me for?"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwMIhBjuKv
"Meow~!" She yelped, crouching and covering her head. "Don’t meow! If you do that, meow will break!"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SPaszx65q
Kouya nearly choked with laughter. "What does that even mean?!"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUIdPe6EzA
He could feel a vein twitching on his forehead. This cat was going to be the death of him.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyyakVoujN
The Miko girl hid a small smile behind her sleeve, then her expression turned serious. "Kou-kun, I invited you to lunch partly to thank you for helping us last time—and also because of Rina. Even though she said you could do anything, she’s still a child. You can’t…"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYOMoNowp7
Can’t your ass! Kouya groaned inwardly. You’re definitely thinking of something indecent, aren’t you?18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoGYa4y3qM
What do I look like to you—a pervert preying on a flat-chested catgirl? That model doesn’t even match up—it’d literally break her!18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mThAhwkF2
The Miko girl’s cheeks turned pink. She hesitated, then muttered, "Then why do you have those catgirl manga, hmm?" Her tone dripped with suspicion. "Anyway, Rina’s still a kid…"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bu2tMyv8E
Kouya sighed. Ah, what a noisy wind today.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfAhCV5jBN
...18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdU07hMWjY8
Half an hour later, the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the house.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUkXXHQR72
Hinata, unable to resist temptation, reached out to snag a piece—only to get flicked sharply on the forehead.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0AfeZCDp4
"No stealing."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkc4JOkgCYJ
"Oww! But onee-sama’s food smells too good! I can’t help it!"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9DmIYzew2
"Wash your hands first, then bring the dishes over," the Miko girl ordered, though her lips curved faintly in amusement.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgOvJxqCMi
The table soon filled with four dishes and one soup—each plate colorful and delicate, the fragrance enough to make anyone’s stomach growl.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8gqh10z6g
Kouya took a bite and paused in genuine surprise. The taste was refined, balanced—better than Vigne’s cooking, leagues beyond Gabriel’s disasters.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeDSg906pa
"Oni-chan, is it good?" Hinata asked eagerly.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vpmjcMewQ
"It’s amazing," Kouya admitted. "Onee-sama’s got skill."18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4oUZrTbUh
Hinata puffed up proudly. "Told you! Onee-sama makes the best food in the world!"18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJhqiDOw9D
The Miko girl stayed silent, though her gentle smile deepened.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22uKHBGAhy
After lunch, the group cleaned up together. Hinata soon flopped onto the sofa, turning on a children’s program, her eyes sparkling with childish joy. The Miko girl prepared tea, pouring it into delicate cups and setting them neatly on the low table. Rina quietly padded back into the room, her tail swishing contentedly as she joined them.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3XWtV0Bc0
The afternoon light filtered through the shoji screens, golden and soft. Dust motes drifted lazily in the air. The house was peaceful, almost dreamlike.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSLmsXZOSE
Outside, the sky was crystal clear, the world still and bright. The scent of fallen cherry blossoms lingered faintly in the air.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NMtUnh5v3
Rina, now convinced Kouya wouldn’t actually “break” her, curled up beside Hinata. Her small body relaxed completely as she purred quietly, drifting into sleep.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppMcWknUHy
The sofa was large enough for everyone to fit comfortably. Kouya leaned back, the warmth of the moment seeping into his bones.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYI0i3nOkgF
After a while, just as his eyelids began to droop, something soft and warm pressed against his arm. He turned and saw Hinata asleep, head resting against him, her breathing soft and even.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96SeNYHJ0K
Hey, I’m not a pillow!18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8ApZyE7ne
Weren’t you just wide awake a second ago?18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8cubyfiXc
Kouya sighed. Next to her, the catgirl had already dozed off too, her whiskers twitching as she leaned her head against Hinata’s shoulder. Typical cat—daytime naps were sacred.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFhm1Bamk2
He glanced over at the Miko girl.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7AveZ4Oiu
She hadn’t fallen asleep yet, but her eyes were heavy with drowsiness, her head bobbing slightly. A faint smile played across her lips, gentle and serene.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ymS0szzbB
Hey hey, are you really that relaxed around me? I’m still a guest here! What if I suddenly went wild and pushed all three of you down? From the elegant black-haired beauty to the adorable loli to the cat-eared girl—that’d be a legendary triple kill.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnhsjgDe6t
Kouya chuckled softly, shaking his head. He picked up the remote and lowered the TV’s volume, letting the quiet settle in.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkR1IhzBu4N
Outside, a breeze stirred the trees, scattering petals and sunlight across the garden floor.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepIdN2KAVf
The air was calm.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7XdPUR7cK
And in that stillness, Kouya realized something simple yet rare—that a peaceful afternoon like this could be its own kind of happiness.18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KODiP8Gz4
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