Chapter 10

A/N: Short interlude-like chapter since, honestly, this probably should have been part of the last chapter. I may have another chap ready later today depending on how the editing goes, but I might post it tomorrow depending on how long it gets since it will start to dig further into the main plot. Anyway, happy reading. 

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It indeed turned out to be a very normal dinner. At least on the surface.

Ken blew on a spoonful of piping hot spicy curry while glancing over at Haruka who sat down on the seat to his right. Then, his gaze shifted to Kaolla and Motoko seated across from him. Whereas Motoko ate serenely with impeccable table manners, Kaolla dug into her curry like a starving dog. To his left, he also heard the voices of Naru and Mitsune discussing the 'gas explosion' that happened yesterday.

'Nobody here is normal.'

Shaking his head a little, he ignored the surroundings and slowly ate his first bite of curry while maintaining his act of not being able to see. The moment the curry touched his tongue, he felt the searing heat of the spices. His taste buds popped with excitement. His eyes widened slightly. Despite the burning sensation on his tongue, he couldn't help but savor it before swallowing.

Before taking another bite, he turned his head toward Haruka and mumbled, "Miss Haruka…"

"Hm?" Haruka responded simply due to still having food in her mouth.

"Are you single by any chance?"

Haruka stopped chewing and stared blankly at him for a moment. 

From the opposite side, Naru dropped her spoon on the table. Both her eyes and mouth gaped at her cousin's question.

"Hmm. I am. Why do you ask?" Haruka calmly responded while raising a brow.

"How would you feel about marrying a younger guy?"

In an instant, Ken grit his teeth and sucked a sharp breath. Two fingers pinched his side like a lobster's pincers.

"What is that for?"

"Nothing, pervert. Just because she can cook, huh?"

"I maintain the right to silence."

Naru immediately tackled Ken and rolled him into a headlock from behind. 

"You little rascal. This is what you get for flirting in my dorm! Just because she can cook!"

"Ugh. You're repeating yourself! Okay! Stop, stop. I give. I give!"

Even while saying that, Ken pulled up Naru's sweatshirt a little and started tickling her sides with both hands. She squirmed and giggled uncontrollably yet refused to let go.

Still seated at the table, Haruka's lips rose into an amused smile while watching the two cousins wrestle on the floor.

"How youthful."

"It's cute. I wish I had a cousin to play with, too," Mitsune responded while taking another swig of a fresh sake bottle.

"So he really is a pervert… No, a scumbag playboy. Even worse," Motoko unhesitatingly profiled Naru's cousin while glaring at the two people rolling around on the floor.

"What's pervert mean?" Kaolla asked. 

"You're too young to learn that, Su. Forget I said anything."

Clapping a fist into her palm and widening her eyes with realization, Kaolla grinned and commented, "So it's a sex thing! I understand!"

Flabbergasted by the tan blonde girl nodding sagely as though she just comprehended a complicated sutra, Motoko shook her hands and exclaimed, "No, Su! Where did you even hear that?!"

Mitsune turned her head and avoided Kaolla's innocent eyes. Once again, she sipped from her sake bottle which did not do much to hide her smirking lips.

"Mitsune!"

"Do you need something, Motoko?"

"Ah! Everyone here is crazy aside from me and Haruka."

"Everyone is normal in their own way, Motoko," Haruka commented. The woman casually ate her curry without minding the chaos behind her.

Eventually, things calmed down. Everyone returned to enjoying the meal while occasionally engaging in light conversation such as asking about Ken's eyes, where he went to school, whether or not he was single…

The last one was asked by Mitsune who couldn't hide another playful smirk directed at Naru, who in turn glared silently in reciprocation.

Still rubbing his side where Naru pinched him earlier, Ken inwardly complained, 'Why are all the questions directed at me? Talk about something else and let me eat this wonderful curry in peace, ladies.' 

After dinner ended, Naru led Ken around the building to show him everything of note. First, she led him to an outdoor garden. She also pointed out a windmill in the distance since she knew he would be able to at least see the outline. Finally, she led him to the outdoor hot springs adjacent to the building. 

"Since you will only be here for a few days, there will be a specific bathing time for you. I'll let you know whenever that is so that you don't go in when the other girls are here."

"Hot springs, eh? How fancy."

"Yeah… So, uh… since you can sort of see a bit… Are you going to need me to ba- ahem- bathe you or something? Unless you can do it on your own," Naru hesitantly asked while twirling one of her braids around her fingers.

"If you want to take a bath with me, why would I say no?"

"Pervert. I shouldn't have asked."

"I'm not a pervert. I just like spending time with you. Makes me feel like this world is more real."

Naru quietly stared at Ken's smile that carried a hint of loss and loneliness. She hadn't seen him smile like that since the day after his parents' funeral.

"Okay. We'll come back here tonight after the others are done."

"Got it. Also, Naru nee-san, I know I'm weird at times, but I appreciate you sticking with me anyway."

Placing a hand over her chest as though trying to calm her own heart, Naru quietly responded with a simple, "Un."