In a wealthy residential district stood the Yuuki residence.
Ever since Asuna revealed that she had a personal connection with Kaguya Shinomiya, her life at home had become considerably easier.
At her request, many of the demanding extracurricular lessons that had once filled nearly every gap in her schedule were reduced, and even her father had become far more lenient toward her than before.
In matters where he would once have refused to compromise, he had gradually begun making concessions.
The change made Asuna incredibly happy.
For the first time in her life, she had begun to experience a genuine sense of freedom within her own home.
It was completely different from the suffocating pressure that had surrounded her for as long as she could remember.
Rather than constantly feeling as though invisible restraints were tightening around her, she could finally breathe freely enough to smile from the bottom of her heart.
Yet Asuna understood perfectly well where this newfound freedom had come from.
If she had never met Yuto...
Perhaps she would never have experienced anything like this throughout her entire life.
Everything had begun with him.
Her connection with Kaguya had only been possible because of him, and the greater importance her family now placed upon her had likewise begun because of that connection.
For that reason alone, Asuna felt nothing but sincere gratitude toward Yuto.
However, beneath that gratitude was another feeling—one she was far too embarrassed to put into words.
If she had not been so busy helping her father prepare for the banquet taking place in a few days, she probably would have gone to the restaurant every single day simply to see him.
Even being able to eat a single bite of his cooking had somehow become one of the happiest parts of Asuna's life.
She had already made up her mind.
Once this busy period finally passed, she was going straight back to the restaurant and enjoying a proper meal.
And afterward...
She would take her time looking at him again~~~
Tonight, Asuna was still occupied with preparations for the banquet when her father unexpectedly asked to speak with her about something else.
Curious about what he wanted, she made her way to his study.
Shouzou Yuuki sat behind his desk with a smile on his face—an expression Asuna had rarely, if ever, seen from him in the past.
"Dad, what is it?"
Shouzou put down the documents in his hands, rose from behind the desk, and walked over to sit opposite his daughter.
As he looked at Asuna, clear satisfaction could be seen in his eyes.
His daughter had actually managed to become friends with the young lady of the Shinomiya family.
Even now, it still felt almost unbelievable.
"Asuna, you have worked very hard these past few days."
"It is nothing. I am your daughter, Dad. Helping you with your work is only natural."
"You really have grown." Shouzou's smile deepened slightly. "It feels as though it was only yesterday that all you knew how to do was cling to me and act spoiled. Now you are already capable of handling so many things on your own."
"Hehe. You are exaggerating, Dad."
"Actually, the reason I called you here tonight concerns the banquet next Monday."
"Mm. Go ahead, Dad."
"First of all, I have to thank you for inviting Miss Shinomiya."
Shouzou's expression became more serious, although the satisfaction in his eyes remained.
"With her attending, there will undoubtedly be many more guests at the banquet, and most of them will probably come from families we would normally have to look up to. After all... that young lady of the Shinomiya family can now be considered one of the people who truly holds authority within the family."
"You do not need to thank me so much, Dad. I am your daughter. This is simply something I should do."
Asuna smiled.
Being praised and thanked by her father filled her heart with a kind of joy and pride she had rarely experienced before.
"Mm. No matter how you put it, you have been an enormous help."
"It really was nothing."
"Then let us talk about the other matter."
"Okay."
Shouzou paused briefly before continuing.
"There will probably be many sons from prestigious families attending the banquet. I want you to look among them and choose someone suitable to become your future husband."
The smile remained on his face.
The smile on Asuna's face, however, immediately froze.
"Although we now have a connection with the Shinomiya family, that relationship is still too fragile. We need to take advantage of the momentum Miss Shinomiya has given us and establish a marriage alliance with another major family. Only then can our position truly become stable."
Shouzou looked directly at his daughter.
"Asuna, you understand that, do you not?"
The girl fell silent.
"I originally believed Sugou would make a suitable husband for you, but now that better choices have become available, there is no reason for us to insist upon him."
Shouzou spoke with perfect calm, almost as casually as though he were discussing what should be served for breakfast the following morning.
"Asuna, you have always been a sensible child."
His smile remained unchanged.
"So do not disappoint me."
"You have never disappointed me before, after all..."
The words sounded gentle.
Yet beneath that gentleness was an inexplicable pressure that Asuna could feel all too clearly.
Sitting across from him, she slowly lowered her head.
She said nothing.
...
The restaurant was exceptionally lively that evening.
The people from Gensokyo alone were enough to fill the entire place with noise.
Reimu and Marisa were bickering as usual, Yuyuko was enthusiastically devouring one dish after another, and countless conversations overlapped until the restaurant could almost be described as chaotic.
Then again, for a restaurant, the absence of that kind of liveliness would probably have felt even stranger.
Yuto carried a plate of freshly steamed flower cakes out of the kitchen and placed it in front of Yuuka.
The soft sunflower cakes had only just come out of the steamer.
Their golden, tender surfaces were decorated with tiny flower petals, while the fragrance of the rice cake blended naturally with the delicate floral aroma, the two scents coming together as harmoniously as melodies within the same song.
"Your flower cakes."
Yuto smiled as he set the plate down.
Lately, he no longer felt awkward when spending time around Yuuka.
What had happened the last time he became drunk had already settled into the category of memories he knew he would probably never forget.
Whenever it came back to him, he still found himself smiling almost unconsciously.
"Mm."
Yuuka responded quietly.
She picked up one of the cakes and took a small bite.
At that moment, the phrase a feast for the eyes suddenly seemed remarkably appropriate.
When her soft pink lips touched the golden cake, the sight resembled a spring flower touched by fresh morning dew—quiet, delicate, and exceptionally beautiful.
Very few people could remain completely unmoved by such a scene.
Then again, very few people would ever have the opportunity to witness Yuuka eating so quietly in the first place.
Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say...
Yuto alone had somehow gained the privilege of seeing this side of her so often.
"How is it? Does it taste all right?" He asked with a smile.
"Mm. It is delicious."
Yuuka nodded calmly.
"That's good."
Yuto relaxed slightly.
He cared about every customer's opinion of his cooking.
But when it came to Yuuka...
Perhaps he paid just a little more attention than usual.
Slide~
The restaurant door opened.
"Welcome."
Yuto looked up.
"Kamisaka-kun! I'm here!"
A cheerful girl's voice immediately rang through the restaurant.
Golden hair fluttered behind her as she entered.
It was Kaori Miyazono.
She was as energetic as ever, practically glowing with enthusiasm.
A bright smile covered her face, her cheeks were faintly flushed, and her eyes shone with unmistakable happiness and excitement.
Her parents followed beside her, wearing equally helpless smiles.
She was their daughter, after all.
No matter how energetic or troublesome she became, they could never bring themselves to scold her too harshly.
"Wow, there are so many people today! I never imagined Kamisaka-kun's restaurant could become this lively!"
Kaori hurried over to the counter and grinned at him.
A violin case was strapped securely across her back, and judging from its familiar shape and size, there was no mistaking what it contained.
"Kaori, that is rude!"
Her mother stepped forward and lightly tapped her daughter on the head.
The mischievous girl merely narrowed her eyes and smiled, clearly having no intention whatsoever of reflecting on what she had just said.
"Sorry about that, Kamisaka-kun. Kaori is a little overexcited today because she is going to play the violin."
Her father stepped forward as well, looking every bit as helpless as his wife.
"I am not!"
Kaori stubbornly protested.
The deliberately defiant expression on her face somehow only made her appear even cuter.
"It is fine." Yuto smiled before glancing at the violin case on her back. "But speaking of that... Miyazono, are you planning to play your violin here?"
Kaori stared at him.
The expression in her eyes was exactly the sort one might reserve for an idiot who had suddenly forgotten something painfully obvious.
"Seriously, Kamisaka-kun, why are you suddenly being so dense? I told you the day before yesterday that I was going to play the violin here. Miku and the others were there too."
She leaned forward slightly.
Her brows, which were rarely seen furrowed like this, drew together as she examined him suspiciously.
"Kamisaka-kun... you did not forget, did you???"
"How could I possibly forget? Of course I remember."
Yuto smiled with complete "confidence."
His expression was flawless.
He looked exactly like someone speaking the absolute truth.
Kaori continued studying him suspiciously for another few seconds before finally turning her gaze away.
Yuto quietly relaxed.
Good.
She had not realized that he genuinely had forgotten.
"That is good. Miku and the others have not arrived yet?"
Kaori looked around the crowded restaurant but saw no sign of Miku or the other Vocaloids.
She turned back toward Yuto.
"They are celebrities, so they are probably busy most of the time. Let us wait a little. They may come later."
Yuto smiled reassuringly.
Kaori visibly deflated.
"Then let us sit down and wait for a while. At least we can use the time to eat Kamisaka-kun's cooking again~~"
Mr. Miyazono laughed cheerfully.
"Ah~ Ever since eating here the other day, I have had absolutely no appetite for the food at home."
Unfortunately, the moment those words left his mouth, Mrs. Miyazono slowly turned toward him.
"My, my... dear~"
Her smile was exceedingly gentle.
"Are you saying my cooking does not taste good?"
The "gentleness" in his wife's eyes immediately sent a wave of panic through Mr. Miyazono.
He hurriedly raised both hands and desperately attempted to explain himself, but the words tangled together before they could properly leave his mouth.
Before he could organize them—
A sharp pain suddenly exploded at his waist.
Mr. Miyazono stiffened.
He desperately endured the pain while forcing himself to maintain a calm expression.
Even Yuto could not help feeling sorry for him.
"But Kamisaka-kun's food really is delicious," Mrs. Miyazono continued with a regretful sigh. "I would love to make dishes that taste like this too, but no matter how hard I try, I never seem able to reproduce the same flavor."
As she spoke, the hand pinching her husband's waist quietly released him.
Mr. Miyazono finally relaxed.
He opened his mouth as though he wanted to say something.
After carefully considering the possible consequences, however, he wisely chose to remain silent.