Chapter Fifty-Four: A “Warm” Dinner

"Miss Nadeshiko..."

"Yes? Is something wrong?"

Suddenly hearing her name, Nadeshiko Kurorai instinctively lifted her head and looked at Anhe, her face full of confusion.

Beside her, Rena Serizawa also glanced up with curiosity, her big eyes blinking at Anhe.

Seeing this, Anhe twitched his lips and waved his hand dismissively. "It's nothing."

Although Rena Serizawa found his response rather baffling, she obediently lowered her head and continued working on her piece. Yet Nadeshiko Kurorai, sitting next to her, began furiously winking at Anhe.

The next moment, Anhe felt the foot resting on his thigh begin to move restlessly. It was as if a feather were brushing across the surface of water—though separated by fabric, the faint, teasing sensation glided along his leg, tickling him, stirring something deep within.

Yet across the table, Nadeshiko Kurorai had returned to guiding Rena Serizawa with her drawing, her face a picture of calm, as though nothing untoward was happening beneath the table.

Because of Nadeshiko's special "attention," Anhe's progress on his drawing slowed to a crawl. Only when Sawu Amemiya and Yui Serizawa emerged from the kitchen did he finally finish the illustration of the Titan of Kai.

Just as the two entered the living room, Anhe felt the teasing foot beneath the table beginning to withdraw.

Trying to run away, are you?

Anhe smirked inwardly and, with a sudden motion, clamped his thighs together, trapping the mischievous foot before it could escape.

Immediately, Nadeshiko Kurorai, seated across from him, stiffened as if frozen in place.

Thanks to the table's thick blanket, no one else noticed the little game playing out underneath.

"So cold!" Yui Serizawa, upon entering the living room, darted over to the heated table like a kitten fleeing the winter chill. She plopped down, impatiently tucked her legs under the warm coverlet, curled up, and wrapped her arms around her knees.

Only after doing all this did she sigh with relief, "I feel alive again!"

Sawu Amemiya, far less dramatic, strolled leisurely to the opposite side of the table from Yui and sat with the poise of a proper lady, then tucked her legs under the blanket.

Beneath the table, this made for a rather interesting tableau.

Rena Serizawa, her thighs together and calves splayed outward, sat beside Nadeshiko Kurorai in a classic duck-sit.

Yui Serizawa, knees bent and arms wrapped around her legs, was seated at Anhe's left.

Sawu Amemiya, legs together and sitting to the side, was directly across from Yui—at Anhe's right.

As for Nadeshiko Kurorai, she sat with her legs stretched straight out beside Rena, one foot currently held fast between Anhe's thighs across from her.

Because Anhe had been sitting cross-legged, he couldn't maintain this position for long before his calves began to ache and go numb. Not wanting to let Nadeshiko escape so easily, he followed Yui's example and slipped his hands under the warm cover, pretending to warm himself.

But as soon as his hands disappeared beneath the table, he seized the struggling foot.

In an instant, Nadeshiko froze, as if spellbound.

He squeezed gently—the foot was supple and soft, even through the thin stockings, the smoothness and delicacy of her skin all the more tantalizing.

Unable to resist, Anhe began to caress it, just as Nadeshiko had done to him moments before.

At first, Nadeshiko would tremble slightly, but as she grew accustomed to the sensation, she became less sensitive. In fact, before long, she even slid her other foot over for him as well.

Does she take me for a foot massage therapist now?

Anhe couldn't help but smile, but he didn't refuse. In fact, he was rather enjoying himself.

About seven or eight minutes later, a beeping sound came from the kitchen. Sawu Amemiya and the nearly dozing Yui Serizawa both got up and hurried away.

The food must be ready!

Anhe thought to himself, withdrew his hands, and rose to help. Nadeshiko, catching his movement, also stood up.

Neither of them spoke; they moved in silent accord, one after the other, into the kitchen.

In the chill of November, with so many people gathered, nothing suited the evening better than sukiyaki.

Plates of freshly prepared vegetables were carried into the living room by Yui Serizawa and Sawu Amemiya, while Nadeshiko Kurorai followed with a small induction stove held in her arms.

As for Anhe, having washed his hands, he dutifully took up the heaviest pot.

Once in the dining room, Anhe saw Nadeshiko place the induction stove on a table against the wall, so he placed the pot atop it.

The vegetables were neatly arranged on racks, and as the oldest present, Nadeshiko naturally took charge of adding ingredients to the pot, seating herself at the head of the table.

Anhe had intended to sit beside Sawu Amemiya, but Rena Serizawa insisted on sitting with him, so he and Sawu ended up facing each other against the wall.

Soon, as the broth in the pot began to bubble, everyone reached for their chopsticks.

Yet Anhe soon found himself in an awkward spot: Rena Serizawa seemed to thoroughly enjoy feeding him, piling his plate with food and even raising morsels to his lips.

"Rena, I can manage myself," Anhe protested helplessly, but the slice of beef was already at his lips, leaving him no choice but to take a bite.

Seeing him eat what she offered, Rena's face flushed with excitement. But before she could continue, her sister Yui, sitting across from her, gave her a sudden kick under the table.

Huh?

Feeling the slight sting in her calf, Rena looked at her sister in confusion, only to meet a gaze brimming with expectation.

After a brief pause, she tentatively picked up a piece of meat and passed it over. Yui instantly opened her mouth wide, making an "ahh" sound, and bit down eagerly.

As she chewed, savoring the taste—so much better than anything she'd eaten before—Yui grumbled softly, "Sis, you've never fed me like this before."

At her words, Rena blushed to the tips of her ears, but she did not stop feeding Anhe, occasionally tossing a piece to her sister as well.

Anhe accepted Rena's attentions with resignation, numbly enduring her kindness.

Suddenly, his body tensed.

It's happening again!

But this time, unlike Nadeshiko Kurorai's tentative teasing, the new assault was bold and direct.

Anhe jerked his gaze up to meet Sawu Amemiya's eyes across the table.

She blinked at him innocently, her clear gaze unwavering, while her foot grew even more shameless in its caresses—pressing, kneading, rubbing.

In only a few moments, Anhe had no choice but to surrender.

Yet Sawu Amemiya clearly had no intention of letting him off so easily, soon bringing her other foot into play as well.

As General MacArthur of the United States once said: "If you can't resist, you might as well try to enjoy it."

And so, Anhe simply slid his chair a bit closer to the table, using it to shield himself from Rena Serizawa's view.