Shinomiya Yuko looked unconvinced, "Impossible. How could a boy possibly be better at cooking than a girl? And your mom's cooking experience has been building up for over ten years, it's even older than Hikari-kun's age!"
Shinomiya Natsuha looked helpless. With this average-minded old woman, there was just no way to communicate or explain. Whatever, let her think what she wants.
Natsuha couldn't be bothered to explain. And seeing that Natsuha wasn't responding to her anymore, Yuko grew even more worried about the cooking. She hesitated, as if any second she was going to get up from the sofa and go into the kitchen to replace Hikari at the stove.
But just as Yuko decided to stand up, suddenly a rich fragrance wafted out of the kitchen.
Gulp!
Yuko's throat swallowed unconsciously.
"So… so good!"
Her beautiful eyes widened, staring in surprise at the figure in the kitchen who was quickly flipping the wok.
"Mm… now you see just how amazing Hikari-kun's cooking really is, right? I told you, Mom, just sit tight and wait for the meal," Natsuha also swallowed a mouthful of saliva, then spoke proudly.
"Mm…", Yuko nodded perfunctorily, but her gaze never left the kitchen, her throat constantly swallowing.
Natsuha had eaten Hikari's food many times already, and of course Hikari himself too, so her tolerance was pretty high.
But she didn't realize how big the temptation of this aroma was to Yuko, who had never once tasted Hikari's cooking.
In this state of constant gulping, she waited anxiously for about half an hour.
Finally, Hikari came out carrying plates.
The moment he said it was time to eat—
Yuko on the sofa shot toward the dining table like a cat catching the scent of cat treats, faster than an arrow from the string.
"Sorry, Natsuha-chan, Hikari-kun, I'm too tired and too hungry from the long trip to Tokyo, I can't hold back, I'll start first!", She quickly scooped herself a bowl of rice and immediately began to eat like crazy.
But even in her rush, she still, almost absentmindedly, served rice for both Hikari and Natsuha too. Whether it was habit or just reflex, no one knew.
After untying his apron, Hikari sat down in his usual seat next to Natsuha.
Seeing Yuko eating like a starved ghost, Hikari didn't mind, only reminded her, "Aunt Yuko, slow down a bit, careful not to choke."
"Mm-hmm…", Yuko hummed vaguely twice, then continued to wolf down food.
Although Hikari knew his master-level cooking skill made everything he made top-class gourmet, incredibly tempting, still, Yuko's enthusiasm seemed a bit over the top. Either she was a real foodie, or she simply had never eaten anything like these dishes before.
Sure enough, after devouring for a long while, Yuko finally paused.
She lifted her head, eyes wide, and praised Hikari, "Hikari-kun's cooking is amazing! Auntie has never eaten home cooking this delicious before, never eaten Chinese food this delicious before either!"
"Chinese food is just too wonderful! Hikari-kun is too wonderful! Auntie has been completely conquered by your skill!"
Hikari thought, if he could actually see people's favorability stats, then right now Yuko's bar would be skyrocketing upward like crazy.
Just then, Natsuha, a little surprised, said, "Hikari-kun, today you only made Chinese dishes…"
Before, she'd eaten Hikari's cooking too. Although he mostly ate Chinese food himself, considering their situation he usually mixed in other cuisines as well.
Hearing her words, Hikari put down his chopsticks, about to casually explain.
But Yuko cut in first, "Of course today it's all Chinese food, because what I bought this time was all ingredients for Chinese cooking. Mom thinks Chinese food is so tasty, lately all I've been learning is Chinese cuisine~"
Hikari suddenly said, "Aunt Yuko, I think it's better if you don't learn Chinese cooking."
Yuko looked puzzled, "Eh? Why not? Does Hikari-kun think Chinese food isn't tasty?"
Hikari shook his head, "Of course not. Chinese food is delicious. But its methods, preparation, and seasoning are usually pretty complicated. Personally, I think Aunt Yuko is more suited to simpler, quicker cuisines that are also tasty."
'You just don't want her ruining your beloved Chinese food, right?'
The glance Natsuha shot him completely read his thoughts and silently transmitted the message back.
Meanwhile, Yuko, still chatting away while stuffing her face, didn't think that far. She just laughed and thanked Hikari, then went back to big bites of eating.
After dinner, Yuko happily chatted with Hikari for another two or three hours.
At last, she reluctantly said, "My train is about to leave. If I wait any longer I'll miss it. Otherwise, I'd really love to keep talking with you, Hikari-kun…"
Patting her still bulging belly, Yuko was clearly very satisfied with her daughter's boyfriend.
———
If there had been an earlier chance to meet, maybe even becoming Natsuha's stepfather wouldn't have been impossible.
After all, whether it was Hikari's handsome, honest looks, or his comfortable, easygoing character, everything about him was satisfying.
Not to mention his great cooking. After eating this meal, Yuko had basically already accepted Hikari as her son-in-law.
"Hikari-kun, please make sure to keep dating Natsuha. Mom wants to keep eating your cooking, I want to eat it for the rest of my life!", Yuko said reluctantly.
"Thank you, Aunt Yuko, you're too polite," Hikari casually replied.
Then Yuko turned to Natsuha, "Natsuha, if next time you come home without bringing Hikari-kun, don't bother coming back. Once you're of age, just go get the marriage license already."
"Or, when vacation comes, you could go back to the village early and hold the banquet too."
"Anyway, you can't lose Hikari-kun. He must become part of the Shinomiya family."
Hearing her mother's constant nagging, repeated dozens of times, Natsuha only gave perfunctory replies of "yes yes yes."
But looking at Yuko's expression, it was like, 'If you break up with Hikari-kun, I'll skin you alive and take him myself.'
Natsuha could only feel speechless.
Before today, she'd worried Yuko wouldn't approve of Hikari, maybe even clash with him. But after today's meeting, it seemed the two of them got along better than she, the daughter, did with her own mom.
Seeing Yuko like this, Natsuha believed that if she ever really broke up with Hikari, Yuko might actually make him her stepdad.
Of course, she herself would never, ever separate from Hikari.
'Hmph!'
Natsuha gave Yuko a little pouty glance.
But Yuko ignored her daughter, happily chatting with Hikari while packing her luggage.
After helping her pack, Hikari and Natsuha went downstairs with her.
Waiting for the taxi outside the apartment, a few passing tenants warmly greeted Hikari, and he politely greeted them back.
Hearing how they addressed him, Yuko couldn't help but ask curiously, "Hikari-kun, just now they called you the manager?"
Hikari nodded, "Mm, yes. For certain reasons, I'm temporarily managing this apartment."
Yuko asked curiously again, "You're studying and still working part-time as a manager? Do you have enough time?"
Hikari smiled, "It's fine, Aunt Yuko, don't worry. This apartment belongs to a… relative of mine. I'm just acting as temporary manager. Usually when I visit Natsuha, I just check on things along the way."
Hearing this, Yuko blinked, a little surprised.
But the way she looked at him became even softer.
After all, who wouldn't like a handsome, multi-talented son-in-law?
If his relatives were wealthy enough to entrust an apartment to him casually, that meant Hikari's future wouldn't lack money.
And whether from his speech or his presence, he didn't seem like a child of an ordinary household.
So Yuko was completely satisfied with this son-in-law.
Before the taxi arrived, Yuko smiled at Hikari, "Back in the countryside it was boring, but at least I had Natsuha with me. Now she's in Tokyo with such an excellent boyfriend, life's much happier for her, but for me, I'm even lonelier."
"In the future, if I grow old and lonely in the countryside, I might come find Natsuha. At that time, could I trouble you, Hikari-kun?"
Hikari smiled, "No problem, Aunt Yuko. You can come to Tokyo anytime, whether to see Natsuha-chan or if there's something troublesome you need help with. If I can, I'll do my best."
Hearing this, Yuko was moved. She grabbed his hand, "Natsuha-chan is so lucky to have a boyfriend like you. If only you'd been born ten years earlier, so I could've met you first…"
Seeing Yuko and Hikari so close, Natsuha suddenly felt a little jealous.
"Mom, stop dawdling! If you delay any more you'll miss the train!", She pulled them apart and hurried her mother into the car.
"Right, Aunt Yuko, here's a lucky charm for you," Hikari pulled a talisman from his pocket and handed it to her.
"Ah, thank you for the gift, Hikari-kun," Yuko accepted the jade-like charm, a little embarrassed, "Sorry, Auntie didn't bring a gift for you this time. Next time I come to Tokyo I'll make it up to you."
"No problem," Hikari waved his hand.
At last, Yuko reluctantly got into the taxi, stuck her head out the window to wave again and again, and finally left.
The first meeting between son-in-law and mother-in-law had finally come to a close.
"Phew… finally sent my mom off…", Natsuha grabbed Hikari's hand and exhaled.
"Thanks, Hikari-kun, for helping me deal with her all day," Natsuha leaned lightly into his chest with gratitude.
"No problem, it was a rare visit for Aunt Yuko. Better she go home happy," Hikari said casually.
"Then… Hikari-kun, what do you think of my mom?", Natsuha asked nervously.
"Hm?", For a moment it sounded like the usual question after meeting someone on a blind date, but seeing Natsuha's expression, Hikari quickly understood.
Yuko had shown plenty of satisfaction with him. Natsuha had worried about that before, though she'd also been confident.
But Hikari's own view of Yuko also mattered a lot to Natsuha.
Hikari smiled, stroked her cheek, "Aunt Yuko's really nice. She's got a good personality, funny to talk to, and she told me your last bedwetting accident was in sixth grade. I'm very satisfied with this mother-in-law."
"AHHH, that's not what I meant!", Natsuha blushed, raising her tiny fists to lightly pound his chest, then buried her face in embarrassment.
"But actually, Aunt Yuko was wrong about one thing," Hikari suddenly said seriously.
"Huh? What thing?", Natsuha grew tense.
"That your last bedwetting wasn't in sixth grade," Hikari looked mysterious.
"Eh?", Natsuha was stunned.
"Actually, your last bedwetting was three days ago, wasn't it?", Hikari suddenly grinned.
"Uhh… yip!", For a second she froze, then made an uncontrollable, bird-like squeak of extreme shyness.
"Hikari-kun, we're still outside, don't say weird things!", Face completely red, Natsuha clung to his arm and quickly dragged him upstairs.
Hikari didn't resist, smiling as he let her pull him along.
"I don't wet the bed anymore! Once we're back in the room, I'll prove it to you…", She tugged him upstairs with a voice that tried to sound defiant, but carried more excitement than protest.
After all, thanks to Yuko's visit, she hadn't been able to get close to him these past few days.
Now that Yuko was gone, Natsuha naturally felt thrilled.
"Alright, alright, I'll check later…", Hikari replied with a smile.
But just as Natsuha was dragging him back urgently, the door of the next room suddenly opened. A beautiful face peeked out.
"Hikari-kun~", Yukino called sweetly, stepping out and hurrying toward them.
"Yukino-chan," Hikari smiled back.
"How did it go, meeting Natsuha-chan's mom? Smoothly?", She already knew about it beforehand to avoid surprises, and now, seeing the two of them like this, she asked curiously.
"Quite smoothly," Hikari nodded, then noticed the trash bag in Yukino's hand.
"Yukino, are you going downstairs to throw out the trash?"
"Mm."
"Let Miss Kiriryuin take it out for you. She eats your cooking every day, she can't do nothing," Hikari said.
"Mm??", From inside the room, where she was supposedly watching TV not eavesdropping at all, Kiriryuin Kaede let out an unhappy grunt.
Yukino immediately smiled at Hikari, "It's fine, Hikari-kun. Kaede-chan and I are good friends, I don't mind. Besides, she's actually helped me a lot too."
"I see. I was thinking you could let Kaede take out the trash, then come play a three-some game with us. But since you insist, I won't push it," Hikari chuckled.
"Kaede-chan! Can you take these trash bags down? I've got something urgent!", Yukino tossed the bags into the entryway, then quickly ran to Hikari's side.
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