Chapter 09 - Spicy and Marshmallow Steamed Meat Buns

The school bell rings, signaling the end of today's lessons.

"Hey, Yuki-san." Yōta called out to the eccentric girl seat next to him.

"Yes~? Yes~?" Koyuki replied with a sing-song manner as usual.

"Me and Miyako are going to the base. Are you gonna coming?"

Koyuki sways her whole body side-to-side while humming thoughtfully at the suggestion, "Sure~ It's been a long time too for me~"

"Oh, you're going home with Yōta today, Yuki?" Touma asked as he approaches the group with Jun following behind him.

"Yes! To the base~" Koyuki raised both of her arms in joy.

Touma and Jun smiled gently at the sight of Koyuki's dancing around with Miyako in the background.

Touma then looks at Yōta, "I don't think I need to say it. But please take care of Yuki, Yōta."

"We're counting on you, Young Emperor-dono." Jun added.

"Of course, she's family too." Yōta closes his eyes and smiles at the two. There's no way he would let anything happen to Koyuki when he's around.

She's a family to him, and Yōta's pretty much can be overprotective when it comes to what he holds dear.

Touma and Jun smiles back at the man before they pats the swordsman's shoulders at the same time, "We'll leave her to you."

With that, they're heading out of the classroom after saying their goodbye to Koyuki.

"Let's go." Yōta called out to two girls behind him and they nods their heads in response before they skip their way to Yōta's side.

""Go, go~""

With both girls locking his arms with theirs and pushes their boobs on his arms, they leave together while getting quite a look from the students.

-Scene Change-

"It seems a few others will be coming later on, like Moro." Miyako started the conversation as she looks at her phone.

The first thing the trio were doing after they get out of their classroom is to visit the 2-F.

But when they visited, Mayo, the class rep of 2-F, was telling them that the Kazama Family already left on their own.

Since there's nothing they can do about that, the trio just went on their own as well heading out to the base.

"I see. That's good then." Yōta nods his head in response with Koyuki following in suit but with more energy.

Miyako's lips tugged upwards at the sight, "We need to go shopping for more materials, by the way."

"Materials~?" Koyuki tilts her head curiously. What kind of materials they need?

""Yes, materials."" Miyako and Yōta said at the same time with grin on their faces, clearly doesn't want to give the precise answer to the curious girl just to mess with her.

And as they expected, the girl pouted cutely as her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel.

"Aww, so cute~"

"She is~"

"Muu! Miyako and Yōta is a meanie! Hmph!" Koyuki crosses her arms below her chest and humphed away from them.

Yōta and Miyako laughed at the sight as they walk on to the station area, while on the way there, they're bantering with each other as usual, running around the riverbank like a child.

This is their life. This is their city. And they love everything about it.

Kawakami City.

It's an ordinance-designated city in the southern part of the Kanto region with the 9th highest population in the country.

The Tama River is the northern border to the Tokyo metropolitan area, and to the east is the Tokyo Bay.

This is a town with history that has prospered from the Edo period. There are many families of warriors here, and the river was named Tama River because there used to be many horses here.

There are many quiet neighborhoods, but the area was modernized recently because it's close to Tokyo, and it's now called the town for the young.

There are so many people around the station day and night.

The lowlands by the Tama River away from the station are a quiet rural area, but the reclaimed land by the Tokyo Bay is a large industrial area.

The Kawakami Temple is famous for being the headquarters of martial arts, and there are many people who come here to challenge them.

That's why there are many people here that have the blood of families of warrior.

...

"We're done shopping."

"Done~!"

Miyako and Koyuki said respectively as they both raised the plastic bags high up together.

Yōta smiles and takes the plastic bags from the girls carefully, "I'll carry the bags."

"We also bought some steamed meat buns. Do you want one?" Miyako said as she takes out a wrapped meat bun from one of the plastic bags.

"Here~ Here~ Eat mine too, Yōta." Koyuki also following Miyako's lead as she takes one of the meat buns. They've been buying a lot, so it's okay to give some to Yōta.

"Sure, just don't push it at the same time..." Yōta smiles wryly at their sudden enthusiasm for trying to feed him, "Um... Why are your meat bun is red, Miyako-san?"

"It's better when it's spicy. It'll sting your brain."

"..." Yōta rumbles his throat, looking like he's trying to fight for his life, "A-Aaah..." But in the end, he yields for Miyako's sake.

Miyako couldn't stopped the big smile to form on her face as her cheeks heating up, this is her Yōta, a man who would do anything to make everyone near him happy. He's just the best.

And there's no way she can't stop herself from loving such best and kind man like this.

Miyako pushes the meat bun into Yōta's mouth with care, and the swordsman take a bite of the red steamed meat bun.

He can feels how hot his tongue is right now, the spice slowly but surely burns him from inside but he fights it out and eat half of the meat bun through will power.

"I-It's quite spicy, but it's indeed delicious." Even wit big tear in the corner of his eyes, Yōta put a smile on his face.

Miyako who sees that smiles back bashfully at him, her cheeks also turn red rose in response. She could even feel her ears heating up as well.

After finishing fed the man she loves, she quietly eat the half of meat bun and feels so giddy about the indirect kiss they just shared right now.

"My turn~" Koyuki raised her arms high with big smile before she pushes the normal-looking meat bun in Yōta's direction, "Aaah~"

Yōta takes a breath first to control the heat in his stomach before he exhales it, and then looks at Koyuki.

"Aah..."

He takes the bite out of Koyuki's meat bun and he can feel something stuck in his teeth when he chews it.

It's the taste of sweet and bland mixed up together. There's only one sweet that he knows had this kind of taste.

"D-Did you put marshallow inside the meat bun, Yuki-san?"

"Un!" Koyuki nods excitedly in response.

If Miyako is addicted to spicy food, then Koyuki is addicted to marshmallow.

After all this sweet is the first delicious food that someone ever give to her in her entire life back then.

The texture when the first time she bites into it is the best thing she ever felt. She was bawling her eyes out a lot that time.

That's the first time she ever eat something sweet and delicious.

That's the first time when someone being kind to her.

That's the first time she ever thought she's happy to be alive in this world. That her life is not worthless like what her parents always said to her.

That's the first time when someon said it's okay for her to live on, to lead a happy life like everyone else.

That's how powerful that gift was to her back then.

A simple gift like that and a simple word of 'I'll be your friend' is what save fragile girl like Koyuki from breaking down.

Nagakura Yōta is a safe haven for her. Back then and now. Wherever Yōta is, that will be her safe haven and home.

Nothing can change that.

And from there she starts to love the marshmallow with every fiber of her being.

Yōta once again take a bite of the bun and carefully chews it so the marshmallow won't stuck in his teeth again, "Not gonna lie, this is kinda delicious... The combination of the juicy meat and sweet-bland marshmallow, yes it is weird but it's still delicious somehow..."

"Hehe~ I know right~ Marshmallow is good for everything~" Koyuki sings in cheerful manner before she takes the bun herself and relishes every taste of it, "Mmmm~~"

On the edge of Kawakami City and by the Tama River stands one abandoned building.

It's a pretty modern building, but when companies were setting up here, the economy went into a slump after the bubble burst, so they went under.

It instantly became an abandoned building.

That's when the Kazama Family found it, back when they were searching for secret base.

"From here, it may look like the place is sealed off, but..." Yōta paused his sentence as he observes the building.

"There's one door in the back you can go in from." Miyako continued and looks at the camera(?)'s direction before gives a thumb up.

"Who are you guys talking to?" Koyuki on the other side tilts her head curiously.

Why both of them suddenly explain that's kind of thing when there's only three of them are here? Weird~

"Nah, it's nothing."

"Yes, you don't have to worry about it, Koyuki."

Koyuki tilts her head for one final time before she nods her head, if they're saying it's nothing. It means it's nothing.

"Then let's start guarding this place like always." Yōta said as he takes his step inside the building.

They hear the owner of this building lives in Tenjin, Fukuoka. He's a rich person who owns a lot of buildings and land.

And he's not interested in this building anymore because it's been abandoned for such a long time.

But the building requires administration as long as it's there. That's where the convenient system 'let people in the neighborhood monitor the place' comes in handy.

That's the job the Kazama Family have here as part-timers.

As the trio walking inside the building with steady pace, they also check if there's any prowlers. And they also clean the place from time to time.

And in return, they're allowed to use this place as their secret base.

They were lucky because the owner of the land is the head house of the Shimazu family, meaning they're Gakuto's relatives.

They accepted this special exception for the Kazama Family.

Well, Yōta sure they considered the security would be perfect if there's the successor of the Kawakami Temple among them.

"I heard Yamato thoroughly checked the owner of the building too." Miyako said as she looks at the window, staring at the scenery behind it.

"Well, it's a good idea. Even though it's a mere kids' secret base and we have permission, it would've been hell if this building belonged to nasty kinds of people." Yōta replied.

"Nasty~? A bad guys~?" Koyuki asked as she sways her whole body rhythmically.

"Yes, Yuki-san. A bad guys. It would be bad if there's a bad guys behind this building, don't you think?" Yōta smiles at the girl and pats her head, this creature is just so cute like Kazuko.

"Un! That's bad. No bad guys allowed to mess our secret base~!" Koyuki throws her hands up and sporting a glare on her face, but her expression just too cute to be scary.

Miyako shakes her head fondly at Koyuki, "I'm sure they wouldn't expect students to be maintaining this place."

"The place is starting to be too large-scaled to be called a secret base now, too."

It's a great hideout because there's nobody around this place. It's also fortunate that Yōta and the girls are all physically strong.

"Nothing's wrong up to the fifth floor."

"Nothing's wrong~"

"We've been arrived at the destination floor."

"Yay~!"

Miyako and Koyuki said respectively, while Miyako half serious and half playful reporting the situation, Koyuki on the other side simply following after what Miyako's saying or doing.

Yōta simply chuckles at the cute sight.

The fifth floor of this building is their secret base. They've cleaned this room and brought in their personal belongings.

There's no electricity here, of course. But it's strange how the place has running water.

"Oh, welcome, you three." Cookie suddenly showed up from the corner and greet the trio. This convenient robot is usually here during the day, "I've cleaned this room perfectly. A clean place is the best."

"Cookie~" Koyuki suddenly jumps in on the egg-shaped robot and glomps him with enthusiasm, the she starts giggling at the cold sensation on her skin when she touches Cookie.

"Koyuki, it's nice to see you again." Cookie replied as he twirls around together with the girl who's giggling uncontrollably right now.

"Thank you as always, Cookie. You're a nice, super robot." Yōta said as he drops the plastic bags on the table near the sofa.

"I love your honesty, Yōta." Cookie said as he stops twirling around with Koyuki, but the girl still hugs the robot from the side, almost covering all of his body with her limbs. "Can you please get off of me, Koyuki? I want to clean the rooftop."

"Ehh~" Koyuki whines lightly before she yields and let Cookie go. "Come back quick~!"

"Since Cookie already did the cleaning..." Miyako trails off before she takes out some books she bought earlier and starts setting them up on the shelf.

"Are those new volumes?"

"Yeah. They're Kitakata-san's historical novels. I recommend them."

"You have some refined taste as always, Miyako-san." Yōta said as he sit down on the sofa and relax.

Miyako and Koyuki positioned themselves fast by Yōta's side.

The reason why they got all kinds of furniture here is because when a recycle shop Shōichi worked at closed up, the owner gave everything to Shōichi.

As expected from someone who born under the lucky star. His luck stat is over the charts.

"This place is relaxing..." Yōta drinks the green tea and looks up at the ceiling, shutting his eyes down in relaxation.

This place always bring peace in him for some reason.

"It is~" Koyuki chimed in quietly as she rested her head on Yōta's shoulder but slowly her head slids down and lands on his laps.

Her breath starts stabilizing and getting slower and slower as she rested on Yōta's laps comfortably, and before they know it, she's already fall asleep.

Miyako also leans her head on Yōta's shoulder, basking in his warm presence, "I like how it's cut off from the outside world." She looks below and notices her best friend is already fall asleep.

She smiles fondly at Koyuki and gives a gentle pat to the girl's head before she starts changing the batteries of the lamps.

"Hey, Yōta." Miyako called out to him quietly, "They're about to start the career survey."

Yōta nods his head in response while caressing Koyuki's head in gentle manner, making the sleeping girl curls up with big smile on her face, "I know. I once think about to be the successor of the dōjō after I successfully granted the name of Nagakura, but..." he pauses and closes his eyes once again, sighs tiredly at the thought.

Miyako understands what he's trying to say, she then grabs Yōta's free hand and squeezes it in comfort manner, "I understand. It must be hard."

Relationship between Yōta and his family is never good. All of his close friends already knew about it.

Because of how Yōta's grandfather had so much legal wives and concubines, so the kids between them are always trying to fight over the position of being the heir of the head of Sugimura family.

Since Yōta's parents are born from the concubine, and because of his parents also are not born with talent for swordsmanship or any martial arts like many in the family, their power in family is not that strong.

They are the lowest and weakest in family branch. So the chance for Yōta to be the heir of Sugimura family is almost nihil.

At least his parents and grandparents are still nice to him and he can counts on them when in needs.

"I guess, I'll going on to a university."

"For me, I think I'll become a housewife."

Yōta couldn't stopped himself from chuckling at that and Miyako counted that as a win to lift Yōta's mood up which very successful by the way.

"I'm sure you'll be a great wife and mother." Yōta whispers in weak voice before he plants his face into the crook of Miyako's neck.

She quietly squeaks out by the sudden skinship, but she happily accepts the gesture and hugs Yōta, caressing the man's back in comfort manner.

This is the rarest moment of Yōta's feeling so weak and fragile. So weak that it's easy for him to break down at any moment now.

Despite always looking so cheerful and everything in outside, Nagakura Yōta is very fragile inside. His weakness is more bigger than people would think and it's always eating him from the inside.

Which is why the reason why he never consider himself to be a good and strong man like his friends always told him.

There's nothing good about this failure and defective man, after all.

"Man, I lost. It feels like only good people come to the arcade these da...ys." Takuya stopped himself from talking as he's looking at the sight of Yōta's holding Miyako and Koyuki sleeps peacefully on the man's laps.

It's not because the sight of two girls surrounding Yōta that makes him stop talk, but it's the sight of Yōta's weak back.

He's quick in understand the current situation, and shuts his mouth while giving a thumb up to Miyako which the girl replies by nodding her head back.

He then puts the manga he just bought in the bookshelf. After done with that, Takuya turned to Miyako's direction and mouthing 'I'm going home now. Take care of Yōta'.

With that, Takuya leaves the base without making any loud noises.

It's comfortable enough for the trio even though there isn't any conversation with how both of the tenants are currently sleeping right now.

Yōta already fall asleep when Miyako starts humming some lullaby song to calm him down and it's never failed to achieve the intended result.

By the time he's falling asleep, Miyako simply kills her time while reading the book in her free hand and caressing Yōta's back, until Cookie comes back to the room after he's done cleaning the rooftop.