Makoto finished drying Yuna and Mika, then wrapped them in their yukatas.
Yuna immediately cinched her obi belt tight, puffing out her chest as if preparing for battle. "Hmph. Acceptable service, big bro," she muttered, though she lingered, straightening Makoto's collar. "You look good in a yukata, by the way. Better than your usual otaku shirts."
Mika tied her sash with ease, smoothing the fabric over her small bump. She stepped close, her voice a low whisper for his ears only. "You're lucky you're cute when you're being domestic, darling," she murmured. "Now, let's go eat. I need energy if I'm going to get my revenge tomorrow."
Makoto gave Mafuyu an appreciative nod, not forgetting to take in her curves alongside Ayane's as they stood together, and waited for the group to assemble. "Let's go," he said, leading them out of the suite.
The walk back through the ryokan was a strange kind of chaos. The five of them moved through the hushed hallways of polished wood and rice paper screens, their noise completely at odds with the atmosphere. Soft paper lanterns cast a warm glow, highlighting the carefully arranged ikebana in alcoves along the way.
Mika led the groups, her steps silent and sure, already in her zone. Yuna was glued to Makoto's side, her arm locked tightly with his. "I'm so hungry I could eat a whale, big bro," she grumbled, still pouting a little from the taxi incident. "This dinner better be awesome. I'm not impressed so far."
Ayane was practically skipping behind them. "Whale? No way! We're getting high-class kaiseki, Yuna! That's, like, a dozen tiny courses of edible art! I hope they have foie gras and uni! And maybe a course where they just put gold onto a steak!"
Mafuyu walked beside Ayane, her hands clasped in front of her. She was looking around with wide, wondering eyes. "It's so beautiful here, everything is so calm. It feels like we've stepped into another world."
Makoto pulled them all into a brief group hug right there in the quiet hallway. Ayane and Yuna squawked in protest, Mika let out an exaggerated sigh, but Mafuyu just melted into it with a happy breath.
"It's beautiful because you're all here," he said simply. They all fell silent for a second, even Yuna, a flicker of genuine emotion crossing her face before she recovered. "Yeah, well, of course it is. You're getting sentimental again, pig bro." She sniffed.
Mika slid open a set of ornate double doors, revealing the private dining room. It was stunning: Low, lacquered tables were already set with a dozen tiny, exquisite dishes on each. The far wall was a single massive pane of glass, overlooking the dark, rock-strewn garden, lit by a single lantern.
"Okay," Ayane breathed, her eyes wide. "Now I'm impressed."
Mika gestured to the cushions. "Sit. Let's begin. I want to see if their food is as good as the reviews say." She looked at Makoto, a smirk spreading across her face.
Makoto looked away, avoiding Mika's gaze. "Ehem, when I booked this trip, I didn't know about everyone's pregnancy yet. Luckily, they have multiple menus for different dietary needs," he chuckled dryly.
Mafuyu just smiled, her eyes soft and warm. She placed her hands in her lap and looked at him. "That's so thoughtful of you, Makoto-san," she said, her voice gentle and sincere. "Even if you didn't know then… It's still sweet. It makes me feel cared for."
Mika's smile softened into something more appreciative. She picked up her lacquered chopsticks and examined them. "You got lucky, darling," she said smoothly. "Chances of a high-end ryokan having pre-planned menus for expectant mothers are low. It's a good thing you booked a place with a reputation for excellence, otherwise we'd be having a very difficult dinner."
"Oh my god, yes! Options!" Ayane cheered, rubbing her hands together like a cartoon villain. She leaned over to inspect Mika's plate. "Ooh, is that a simmered egg custard? Can I have a bite? I'm eating for… well, for me and Asuka's emotional support!" She winked at Makoto.
"Hmph. It's about time he thought about our needs," Yuna muttered, already poking at one of her small dishes with a chopstick. She picked up a glistening slice of lemon. "They'd better have something really sour. I'm craving pickled plums like crazy."
The aroma from the dozen tiny dishes began to fill the air: an enticing blend of dashi, grilled fish, sesame oil, and mountain vegetables. Mika took a delicate bite of her appetizer, her eyes closing for a moment in concentration.
"Excellent," she declared. "The chef's skills are authentic. Eat up, everyone. We have a long day of wholesome activities and less wholesome ones tomorrow." Her gaze landed on Makoto again like a silent promise hanging in the air.
Makoto slowly chewed and enjoyed the high-end food, making sure to look at each of the girls. "Oh, that chawanmushi looks nice, Mafuyu-nee. Can you feed me while saying 'eat up, my dear husband'?"
A deep blush immediately spread across Mafuyu's cheeks. Her hands flew to her mouth, and her eyes widened in panic. "Eh? M-me?" she stammered, looking at him, then at the small steaming bowl of savory egg custard on her plate. "B-but… I… everyone is watching!"
"Ho ho ho! YES! DO IT!" Ayane shrieked, slamming her hands on the table and making the dishes rattle. "Feed the king, Mamafu! Give him the loving husband line! I'm so ready for this! I'm recording!" She frantically fumbled with her phone, almost dropping it in a dish of pickles.
"You're so embarrassing!" Yuna snapped, leaning forward with a look of captivation and disgust on her face, her chopsticks paused midair. "Don't do it, Mafuyu-nee! It's cringe. Don't feed that fat pig! He can feed himself."
Torn between Makoto's request and the overwhelming, chaotic attention from everyone at the table, Mafuyu looked frozen. Her hands trembled as she picked up her small ceramic spoon. She scooped up a tiny wobbly bit of the chawanmushi, her hand shaking so much Makoto thought it might fall.
Then she lifted the spoon, bringing it towards his face. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her face the color of a ripe tomato. She tried to open her mouth, but the words got stuck. She just held the spoon there and shook.
Finally, she took a deep, shuddering breath. Her eyes flew open, locking onto his with desperate determination. "Eat up," she whispered, her voice so soft it was almost lost in the room. "My dear husband."
The words came out as a squeak, but they landed like a thunderclap.
Ayane let out a triumphant "WOO!" and dropped her phone. Yuna made a sound like a deflating balloon. Mika nodded slowly with a satisfied smile on her lips.
Makoto opened his mouth to let Mafuyu feed him the chawanmushi. It was savory and absolutely delicious. "It's creamy and soft, not bad," Makoto said, swallowing the bite. He then picked up a piece of half-seared scallop with his chopsticks. "Open up too, my Mama-fu."
Mafuyu froze, hearing that nickname from his lips with that affectionate, possessive tone hit her harder than the strongest sake. Her lips parted obediently as she leaned forward, her hands clutching the fabric of her yukata at her knees.
Makoto slid the scallop into Mafuyu's mouth. It was perfectly seared, warm on the outside and soft on the inside, tasting of butter and ocean brine. Mafuyu chewed slowly, a tear leaking from the corner of her eye. She swallowed, then looked at him with an expression of complete, worshipful devotion.
"It's… it's the best thing I've ever tasted," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you… honey."
"OH MY GOD, MY HEART!" Ayane clutched her chest, falling backward onto the tatami mat with a dramatic thud. "The sweetness is too wholesome! I'm melting! Someone call an ambulance, I'm dying of diabetes!"
"HEY!" Yuna slammed her chopsticks down on her small table, rattling the dishes. Her face was puffed up in a fake furious pout, her cheeks bulging like a chipmunk. "That's unfair! What about me?! I'm the one carrying your baby too, pig bro! I want a scallop! No, I want your scallop! Feed me right now, or I'm flipping this table!"
She opened her mouth wide, pointing at it aggressively. "Aaaahh! Hurry up! The baby is hungry!"
Mika calmly picked up a piece of well-done marbled wagyu with her chopsticks, dipping it in sauce. "You're making a scene, Yuna!" she noted dryly, though her eyes were dancing with amusement. "Though I suppose, seeing as you lost the bet earlier, you need a consolation prize."
She raised her eyebrow and looked at Makoto. "Well? Are you going to feed the angry bird, or let her starve to death out of spite, darling?"