Japanese hot pot is famous for varieties like Sukiyaki, Shabu-shabu, Soy Milk pot, and Ishikari pot. Each base offers something different. Take Sukiyaki, for example: it uses a broth of Japanese soy sauce, mirin, and sugar to create a unique flavor. The most common way to eat it is by dipping the cooked beef into a bowl of raw whisked egg. The combination of savory meat and silky egg is intoxicating.
However, Fei-yu's goal wasn't Japanese hot pot. He wanted Chinese hot pot—specifically, an authentic Sichuan-style "Mandarin Duck" (Yin-Yang) split pot. If he hadn't considered that the two girls might not handle heavy spice and oil well, he would have gone for a full-on, numbing-spicy mala base dripping with thick oil.
"Chinese exports? Please follow me, sir. We usually keep the Chinese hot pot bases in a separate section to make it easier for Chinese residents in Japan to find them," the sales clerk said. Her eyes crinkled into crescents as she bowed slightly, responding with professional humility.
"Alright, thank you," Fei-yu replied with a calm smile. The two girls pushed the shopping cart together, following behind.
Under the clerk's guidance, Fei-yu finally found the star of the night: a Yin-Yang split pot base! He scanned the ingredients and happily tossed it into the cart.
"Do you girls want to look around some more? The basement level has a lot of food. If not, we can head home," he said to them.
"Our basement floor is a massive food court with a wide variety of delicacies. Not only can you find jewel-like cakes, traditional Japanese sweets, high-end teas, and fresh seafood, but there are also free samples of the latest snacks for our valued customers to try," the clerk chimed in with a professional smile.
Yui-shin's eyes sparkled like stars. She looked tempted. Fei-yu and Minato weren't as excited. Yui-shin looked at their expressions, then at the full shopping cart, and hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. She was afraid that if she filled up on free samples downstairs, she wouldn't be able to eat the hot pot Fei-yu was making. She didn't want to waste his hard work—especially since she had a specific "goal" for the evening and didn't want to ruin her chances by getting full too early.
"If you want to check it out, Yui-shin, Fei-yu and I will go with you," Minato said kindly, noticing the younger girl's hesitation. Fei-yu nodded in agreement.
"Hehe, it's okay! Let's just go home. I want to eat Fei-yu's hot pot soon and see Hanabi too," the girl replied firmly.
"In that case, let's head back."
"Mmh!"
After paying, the three of them left the supermarket accompanied by the polite bows of the cashier. On the way to Minato's house, Yui-shin looked at the mountain of bags and tried to offer some money to cover the costs.
However, she was "forcefully suppressed" by Fei-yu's threat: "If you don't behave, you're only getting the broth and none of the meat."
Minato, who knew his personality well, also felt like offering to pay but swallowed the thought after hearing his words. The girls did insist on carrying some of the bags, though. Fei-yu didn't refuse that, handing the lighter vegetables and snacks to them.
"Excuse me for the intrusion," Yui-shin said with a polite bow as she stepped into Minato's home.
"Hehe, don't be so formal, Yui-shin. Just make yourself at home," Minato replied with a gentle smile.
Compared to Yui-shin, Fei-yu was much more relaxed. While the girls were exchanging pleasantries, he had already changed into his slippers. He didn't head straight to the kitchen; instead, he stood by quietly. His gaze drifted downward, unblinkingly staring at the girls' feet, waiting for the moment they slipped off their shoes to reveal their bare, white skin.
With Minato's encouragement, Yui-shin's nervousness faded. Looking at the cute, fluffy slippers Minato handed her, she leaned over slightly. Her toes touched the floor as she used her small hands to pull her shoes off her ankles. Minato did the same.
Neither of them noticed Fei-yu looking down from his vantage point. His eyes were burning as he watched their movements. When those sock-clad feet finally emerged from their shoes, he held his breath.
Minato's feet were in pure white socks, making them look like soft mochi or delicate tofu. Whether holding them in his hands or tasting them with his mouth, they were a source of absolute satisfaction.
Yui-shin's feet were in adorable pink socks. Initially hidden by her "loose socks," she now pulled the outer layer off and tossed them aside, revealing the true shape of her feet. They looked like a piece of fresh, sweet pink cake, making his mouth water.
In that instant, Fei-yu felt that hot pot wasn't nearly as delicious as what was right in front of him.
The girls stood up after changing into their slippers. Fei-yu had already regained his composure, looking straight ahead like a perfect gentleman. However, when the girls looked at him, their faces both turned bright red. Their eyes darted around, not daring to hold his gaze for too long.
"You two rest in the living room for a bit. Once the hot pot is ready, I'll bring it up," Fei-yu said softly. He picked up the groceries and headed for the kitchen, leaving the blushing girls behind.
Minato thought about it for a second and realized exactly why Fei-yu was acting like that. He had definitely been staring at her and Yui-shin's feet. Being Minato, she figured it out instantly. After all, she knew how he felt about her feet, so seeing two pairs at once probably hit him hard.
If Fei-yu behaves well today, maybe I can treat him... she thought dotingly.
"Minato-.. Fei-yu... what was... that about?" Yui-shin asked shyly.
"Hehe, Yui-shin, didn't I tell you? Fei-yu loves feet more than anything. He was probably peeking at ours just now," Minato said with a playful smile, her eyes curving like crescents. She knew the truth would come out eventually, so she didn't bother hiding it.
"Oh..." Yui-shin was stunned. She thought Minato was joking when she said Fei-yu had a foot fetish. She figured it was just a minor quirk, not something as intense as Minato described. But looking at Fei-yu's behavior just now, it seemed she wasn't exaggerating at all.
She looked down at her fluffy slippers. Her toes curled inside. Her mind unintentionally flashed to a mental image of him sucking on them, and a wave of heat washed over her body.
Later... maybe I could try...