Villain: Your Heroines Were Delicious - Chapter 167 - 32

Chapter 167: Chapter 32

The heavy, aromatic tension that had been building in the Kageyama kitchen finally snapped when the doorbell rang for the last time.

Touka stepped inside, slightly breathless, her eyes bright and her posture radiating a new kind of confidence that didn’t need the shield of her bangs.

In her arms was a massive box of her family’s specialty pastries, the sweet scent of vanilla and warm sugar cutting through the savory fog of the stew.

“I’m here! Sorry I’m late, the café was a madhouse!” she announced.

“Perfect timing, Touka-chan,” Yuko called out, her hands deftly transferring the final pot of simmering beef to a heat-resistant trivet. “We were just about to serve. Boys! Please be a dear and clear the table or I’m decrease your portions!”

That threat immediately triggered a localized riot as Sakai and Renji, who had been hovering near the appetizers like hungry vultures, practically dove for the dining table, clearing away the stray notebooks and pens with the speed of a pit crew.

Seijirou stood up from the sofa, stretching his limbs with a lazy, cat-like grace, and made his way to the head of the long, mahogany table.

The food spread on the table was truly befitting that of a feast.

In the center sat Yuko’s very own special beef Stew, with its dark, rich broth bubbling gently.

Surrounding it were platters of golden-fried karaage, bowls of crisp salad prepared with Rindou’s surgical precision, and delicate sides of grilled fish and pickled vegetables.

Haruka had even contributed a “precisely balanced” miso soup, which she claimed contained the exact electrolyte count to optimize brain function for the coming study session.

“Alright,” Seijirou said, looking around at the gathered group, “It’s been a long week, so let’s eat.”

“Itadakimasu!” The chorus of voices echoed through the high ceilings of the estate.

The first ten minutes were a blur of clinking chopsticks and muffled sounds of satisfaction.

Sakai looked like he was having a religious experience with a piece of wagyu.

“I think… I think I just saw the gates of heaven,” he whimpered, tears of joy threatening to spill. “Yuko-san, please adopt me. My mom’s cooking is great, but this is a crime against humanity.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Sakai,” Suzune laughed, her mouth half-full of rice as she reached across the table to steal a piece of Renji’s chicken. “You still have to survive the night. If you pass out from a food coma, Haruka’s going to use you as a footrest while she corrects our exams.”

“I would not, I have heard some perverts rather enjoyed being used as a footrest by beautiful women,” Haruka noted tonelessly, though she was carefully peeling a shrimp for Seijirou.

“I’m not that desperate!” Sakai glared at her.

“Pfft! Yeah right! You definitely are!” Renji laughed.

“I think the two of you are both that desperate,” said Shou, quietly munching on a piece of beef.

“Like you’re any better!” Sakai and Renji retorted, glaring at him.

“Boys, don’t argue over the dining table.” Yuko sighed, and wondered if this is what it feels like to have a son.

Thank god Haruka was a very sensible child. Her white hair would probably turn black from stress if she had to deal with this every day.

To the side, Rei, seeing Haruka put food on Seijirou’s plate , immediately grabbed a choice cut of fish and placed it on his plate as well.

“You should eat your proteins first, Seijirou. You looked tired this morning.”

Erina chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she sipped her tea. “My, my, it seems the competition is heating up even during the meal. Should I contribute as well?”

“No need.” Rei glared at her.

“Fufu, I’m talking about some intellectual stimulation while we dine. Did you know that the history of the 24th District’s founding is actually linked to a dispute between two merchant families in the Meiji era?”

“Save it for the history section, Erina,” Yukina groaned, her face buried in a bowl of rice. “My brain is already full. I just want to taste this stew and pretend that math doesn’t exist for thirty minutes.”

“Math always exists, Watanabe Yukina,” Haruka said from the corner of the table, her expression as flat as ever as she carefully organized her side dishes by color. “It is the language of the universe. For example, the angle at which you are currently holding your chopsticks is highly inefficient for maximum gravy retention.”

“Haruka, I love you, but shut up,” Yukina replied, though she was smiling.

“Rice please…” Emi suddenly called out, handing her plate to Yuko who took the plate and took scoopfull of rice and placed it on the plate before handing it back.

“You really eat a lot Emi-chan,” Said Yuko, smiling.

“Hmm, like my glorious King of Knights once said, Hunger is the enemy.” Said Emi, before once again devouring her rice.

“Don’t you have to chew?” Asked Yukina.

“Hmm, because of Seijirou, I have trained to restrain my gag reflex, so there is no need to worry.”

Cough! Coughn

A collective coughing resounded as almost everyone turned towards the stoic girl who simply kept eating as if she didn’t just throw out a bombshell.

But seeing that she herself shows no sign of embarrassment, they decided to continue eating.

As the initial hunger was sated, the conversation turned from the meal to the chaotic events of the week.

Touka leaned toward Seijirou, her voice lowering slightly. “I finished the preliminary projections for the Saint Shinomiya collaboration, Seijirou-kun. And I have made sure that you’ll get the most benefits, I’ll show you the contract later. Following my plan, I believe their revenue increase could be as high as 300% within the first quarter.”

Seijirou nodded, impressed. “Good work. Sosuke is desperate for the funds to stabilize his district before the Rebels move in. We hold the leverage over him.”

“Oh?” Rindou asked, her brow furrowing. “Is that what the two of you are talking about at that time? You actually planned on making an alliance with them?”

“It’s an alliance of convenience, Rindou-chan,” Suzune chimed in, leaning her head on Seijirou’s shoulder. “Plus, it keeps them from poking their noses into our business. A busy enemy is a quiet enemy.”

“Order is easier to maintain when everyone’s pockets are full,” Seijirou added, his gaze drifting to the window.

He shook his head and turned towards Rindou, “Besides, I really am too lazy to deal with the war between the Bully Society and the Rebel Council, having Sosuke hold the fort is far more convenient, so helping is actually also very beneficial to me.”

“That makes sense.” Rindou nodded. She just hope they actually don’t do something like exchange student programs or something of the like.

After all, she really doesn’t want to deal with that crazy woman Kasumi.

Just like that, the meal continued in a beautiful, disorganized harmony.

Rei and Erina had started glaring at each other, or rather, Rei glaring at Erina as Erina herself began to feed Seijirou.

Sakai and Renji actually began to cozy up with Shou, calling him brother-in-law when Seijirou offhandedly mentioned that Shou has a beautiful older sister.

Haruka and Rindou were discussing about School, with Rindou asking her for opinions on how to increase security and even invited her to join the disciplinary committee.

Unfortunately, Haruka was not interested and refused, but she did offer some advice.

Suzune and Touka were discussing about the cakes that Touka had brought with her, after all, Suzune has a bit of a sweet tooth.

Yukina was staring silently and in shock at her friend Emi who keeps devouring food like a vacuum.

Yuko moved between the guests, her face glowing with a quiet, maternal pride.

She caught Seijirou’s eye and offered a small, secret nod—a silent thank you for bringing this much life into the house.

Yes, this was her truest, and most purest feeling. After all, the only time she remembered such a harmonious atmosphere like this was when she was still a young girl, living with her parents.

She couldn’t help but wonder… Should she visit them? Will they still forgive me?

By the time the main courses were cleared and Touka’s pastries were distributed out, the atmosphere was already filled with warmth and camaraderie.

Seijirou watched all of this, and couldn’t help but think that his house was now no longer just a cold house of a wealthy heir where he would bring girls to have fun with, but a home where can enjoy his time with his friends.

“Okay,” Seijirou said, pushing back his chair as the last crumb of cake was devoured.

He then looked at the mountain of study materials Haruka was already beginning to sort. “This little festive phase is over. Clear the dishes. Haruka, hand out the diagnostic tests.”

A collective groan of despair filled the room, but nobody moved to leave.

“My, you don’t need to bother. I’ll handle the dishes, you kids go and study.” Said Yuko, smiling at everyone.

“Let us help auntie!” Renji offered, already moving to clear the dishes.

“No, no, there is no need. Truly. I enjoy doing this.” Said Yuko, before she turned towards Seijirou.

Seijirou stared at her eyes and nodded, “Alright, everyone. Leave it to Yuko and move to my game room upstairs, don’t play though.”

Sakai and Renji, who had been excited, finally sighed in disappointment hearing his last words.

“Alright, alright, you can play after you finished studying.”

With that, the group went upstairs to the start their grueling study session for today.