The old woman returned, her gentle smile unwavering despite Ayane's volume. "Are you ready to order, honored guests?"
"PUT THAT BACK IN YOUR BAG, AYANE," Makoto grunted. Then he turned to the old woman to make the order. "Two sets for her," he pointed to Ayane, "One with a lighter flavor for her." He nodded at Mika. "Two with hot soup, and the original set for me."
Ayane's face lit up. "TWO SETS?! FOR ME?!" she shrieked, lunging across the table and grabbing his collar. "BOSS! YOU TRULY ARE THE KING OF GENEROSITY! I KNEW YOU LOVED ME THE MOST!" She planted a loud, smacking kiss on Makoto's cheek before retreating to her side of the table, cackling with glee.
"Hmph. Of course, you ordered two sets for her. That pig will eat anything that isn't nailed down," Yuna muttered, crossing her arms. But a pleased smirk tugged at her lips. "But spicy hot soba is a good choice, big bro. At least you remember what I like." She said it as if he had no other choice.
"Oh, hot soup sounds lovely, Makoto-san," Mafuyu said, her hands clasped in her lap. "It's such a comforting flavor. Thank you for being so thoughtful."
Mika gave a small nod of approval, her hand still resting possessively on his thigh under the table. "You're learning, darling. I'm impressed that you remember my preference for a lighter dashi. I'll add that to your list of good qualities."
The old woman, completely unfazed by the chaos, just smiled and bowed. "Two large sets, one with light broth, two with hot broth for the young ladies, and one original set. That was an excellent choice, sir. I will bring them right away." She shuffled away behind the counter, leaving the five of them in a buzzing, happy anticipation.
"Don't think this means I forgive you for skipping out on me earlier," Ayane said, pointing her chopsticks at Makoto menacingly. "But two sets of soba is a good start. I might even let you have a bite."
"Like hell you will!" Yuna snapped. "He's not having a bite of yours! He's having a bite of mine!"
"I think we should all share a little bit," Mafuyu suggested timidly. "So we can all try the different flavors."
"Sounds good, Mafuyu-nee," Mika remarked with a sigh. "But I get the last bite of Makoto's."
===
The bowls arrived in a cloud of fragrant steam. The soba noodles looked perfect, glistening in their respective broths.
"Smell nice, I'm starving already," Makoto said. His hand slid down under the table to tease Mika's thigh. As his hand landed on her thigh, Mika's entire body went still for a fraction of a second. He felt her muscle tense beneath his touch, an involuntary reaction that she immediately tried to control.
Mika didn't look at Makoto. She simply picked up her chopsticks. But under the table, her hand came down to rest on top of his, her fingers lacing through his in a tight, possessive grip. Then she leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear, her voice a dangerous whisper that only he could hear. "A bold move, darling," she purred, her voice equal parts warning and invitation.
"But don't think for a second that you're the one in control." She gave his hand a warning squeeze before releasing it, turning her attention back to her noodles with a look of calm concentration.
Meanwhile, the chaos exploded around them.
"SOBAAAAA!" Ayane shrieked, grabbing a massive mouthful of noodles and slurping them with an obscene volume that turned several heads. "OH GOD, YES! Makoto, this is better than your c… well, almost as good as… you know." She winked at him, a dab of broth on her chin.
"Oh, this is so good," Mafuyu said with a happy little sigh, her eyes closed in bliss as she took a small bite. "It's so warm, Makoto-san. It feels like it's warming you all the way down to your soul."
Yuna carefully dipped a single noodle into her spicy broth, her face locked in intense focus. She slurped it delicately. "Hmph. Acceptable," she declared. "The spice level is okayish. It's not as good as the one you make, but… it's fine for a restaurant."
She paused, glancing at Makoto suspiciously as he shifted slightly. "What are you doing over there? Stop squirming. Are you trying to steal my noodles?"
Mika took a delicate, measured bite of her own soba. She chewed slowly, swallowed, and dabbed her lips with her napkin. She looked at Makoto, cool and appraising, giving no hint of the secret teasing under the table. "Quite good, I should mention this place in my next livestream," she declared, her voice calm and clear.
"Well, it was delicious, indeed." Makoto ate and chewed, using Mika's napkin to wipe his lips after finishing the tea.
Mika watched him use her napkin with unblinking eyes. She didn't pull it away, and a dark flush crept up her neck. When he set it down, she immediately picked it up. Without breaking eye contact, she deliberately pressed the exact spot he'd used against her own lips, wiping them slowly.
"Direct and messy," she murmured, folding the napkin with elegant movements and placing it on the table. "But I suppose sharing fluids is something we already get used to."
"THAT WAS AN INDIRECT KISS, MIKA!" Yuna screeched, slamming her empty bowl down. "IN FRONT OF ME?! You shameless harlot! And you!" She kicked Makoto's shin under the table. "Why didn't you use mine?! My napkin is cleaner and softer! And smells like me!"
Ayane groaned, slumping over the table. "Unbelievable! The NTR energy is off the charts today, boss. I feel like the childhood friend who gets left behind in the ending credits." She looked at her empty bowls. "At least the soba loved me."
Mafuyu giggled, standing up and smoothing her yukata. She seemed blissfully unaware of the sexual tension, or perhaps she was just choosing to ignore it for her sanity.
As they all stepped out into the afternoon sun, the old woman bowed them off.
"Thank you for coming," she said, her eyes twinkling. "You have a very lively family, young man. Cherish them."