"You were just talking about me behind my back, weren't you, you little thing?!"
Paimon stiffened her neck. "N-no, I wasn't!"
Yuna pinched the soft flesh on Itto's back hard, making him yelp in pain.
"Boss, you're not allowed to bully Paimon!"
As if she'd found a protector, Paimon immediately scurried from behind Lumine to hide behind Yuna.
Lumine: "..."
"Paimon, don't mind the Boss. He just likes to play around, he's got a childish heart. He's just teasing you."
Paimon glanced at Itto. Truth be told, his massive frame did look rather intimidating.
"I can't believe you two showed up just at the right time! I was just about to come looking for you if you hadn't shown up. Since everyone's here, let's have a barbecue party today! I even prepared lots of snacks~"
The completion of the Statue of the Omnipresent God was only a day or two away. After that, it would be much harder for everyone to gather again.
"Yay! A barbecue party!"
Paimon was enthusiastically supportive, her big eyes sparkling with excitement.
Lumine brought out the ingredients she and Paimon had collected. After inspecting them, Yuna gave them a thumbs-up.
"These are all incredibly fresh and high-quality ingredients! They'll make for an absolutely delicious meal!"
Since everyone hadn't arrived yet, Yuna instructed Itto and the others to start preparing the ingredients. Lumine and Paimon joined in to help.
Lumine was quite skilled in cooking, but compared to Yuna's expertise, she still had some catching up to do. However, when it came to handling ingredients, she was a true expert.
Little Paimon, cradling a Lavender Melon nearly as big as herself, assisted Lumine with the preparations.
Seeing this, Itto seized the opportunity. While Paimon was distracted, he crept up behind her and whispered, "What are you doing, Flying Lavender Melon?"
"Wah!"
Startled by Itto's sudden appearance, Paimon dropped the Lavender Melon. She whirled around to glare at him, her small face flushing with anger.
"You jerk! How dare you scare me? And I'm Paimon, not some 'Flying Lavender Melon'! You're making me so mad! I'm giving you a nasty nickname—Big Dummy! From now on, you're Big Dummy!"
Paimon stomped her foot emphatically. She vowed to devour every last scrap of food belonging to Big Dummy later.
"Not leaving him a single bite!"
With plenty of ingredients and many hands helping, the preparations were completed quickly.
Meanwhile, Kuki Shinobu arrived with her guest.
"Wow, there are already so many people here! Am I late?" Yoimiya exclaimed, rushing over to Yuna as soon as she arrived to ask if there was anything she could help with.
Yuna pointed toward Lumine. "Yoimiya, go help Lumine skewer the ingredients."
Ayaka and Thoma also arrived, along with an unexpected guest: Kamisato Ayato.
"Little Yuna, I hope you don't mind me inviting myself."
Yuna waved her hand dismissively. "Of course not! I thought you'd be too busy to come, Ayato-nii. I'm surprised you found the time."
Ayato smiled faintly. "How could I miss a party where Little Yuna is doing the cooking herself? I'd be missing out on something truly special."
Yuna chuckled, accepting Ayato's compliment.
"Ha ha, Ayato-nii's here too!"
"It's a pleasure to join you, Itto-nii."
Thoma went to help wash the vegetables, while Yuna assigned Ayaka to make the ice cream.
Make the most of everyone's skills.
Before long, everything was prepared. Yuna unleashed her culinary prowess, starting to cook.
Barbecue, rice wine, snacks, desserts...
When the feast was finally laid out on the table, everyone present gasped in awe.
Each dish was a masterpiece of color, aroma, and flavor. Paimon and Itto, perched at the table, swallowed repeatedly, their mouths watering.
"Don't be shy, everyone. Dig in!"
Yuna knew everyone was waiting for her to start, but grilling was best enjoyed hot off the fire. Plus, cooking didn't stop her from eating.
Seeing Yuna start eating, the others abandoned their reservations and eagerly reached for the delicacies they had been eyeing all along.
Just as Itto was about to grab a skewer of grilled meat, a white blur flashed across the table, and the freshly cooked skewer vanished in an instant.
Itto glared angrily at Paimon, who stood triumphantly with a skewer of grilled meat clamped in her mouth, her hands on her hips. That's for bullying me earlier!
The Kamisato siblings initially favored the desserts, but when they tasted Yuna's grilled skewers, they were instantly hooked and joined the barbecue feast.
Yoimiya held a bowl of rice wine—though its flavor was more akin to a sweet beverage than proper wine. She loved it, especially when paired with grilled skewers.
Lumine sampled every dish and loved them all, eating with gusto.
For a time, hosts and guests alike reveled in the lively atmosphere. Even Ayato set aside his usual composure, his smile becoming genuinely warm.
"Oh my, throwing a party without inviting your big sister? Don't you know that would make her so sad?"
Yuna immediately greeted the newcomer.
"Lady Guuji! I never expected you to have time for this!"
Yuna spoke truthfully; she genuinely hadn't anticipated Lady Guuji's presence, nor that she would actually attend.
Sensing Yuna's sincerity, Yae Miko chuckled softly. "Since little Yuna was thinking of her elder sister, I'll forgive you this time."
Yae Miko settled into a seat with effortless familiarity, her gaze sweeping the table until it landed on her favorite fried tofu. She winked at Yuna.
Lady Guuji's arrival caused a momentary stiffness in the previously lively atmosphere.
"Please don't let my presence dampen your spirits, everyone. I'd be so sad if you did!"
"Mm-hmm! Lady Guuji is just a big sister here, so everyone, don't feel constrained!"
This party is all about having fun. No need to worry about anything else.
With Yuna's words, the atmosphere quickly warmed up again.
"Lady Guuji, would you like to try this?"
Yuna approached Yae Miko with a bowl of rice wine. Pleased with the honorific, Yae Miko took a delicate sip.
"Hmm, not bad. Quite delicious, actually."
After all, everyone here was a friend, so there was no need for formality. Although Yae Miko held a higher status, neither Lumine nor Yoimiya were the type to feel constrained.
The Kamisato siblings were naturally similar.
Yuna, of course, was even more carefree.
Itto and his three carefree followers wouldn't care much about such formalities either.
If anyone was most affected by Yae Miko's arrival, it was Kuki Shinobu.
As her former superior, it was only natural for Kuki Shinobu to feel a bit awkward.
She only felt a slight unease, not enough to make her want to flee.
At the party, Paimon ate the most. The little one even drank quite a bit of rice wine, her cheeks flushed and looking adorably tipsy.
As the party broke up, everyone wore satisfied smiles.
Yae Miko packed up plenty of leftovers before leaving, taking all the fried tofu with her.
She still loves fried tofu so much!
Yuna carried Paimon back to their newly renovated home and gently laid her on the bed.
"Yummy... Paimon... more..."
As expected of a true foodie—even her sleep-talking is about food.
Yuna shook her head and stepped outside.
"It's getting late, Lumine. You should rest too."
Lumine stared intently at Yuna until the latter grew slightly embarrassed. Then she smiled. "Thank you, Yuna!"
Lumine suddenly hugged Yuna, who froze, afraid to move.
After a brief embrace, Lumine released her and whispered in Yuna's ear, "Good night."