"Alright, let's head to my house's gate first," Hina declared, leading Kaoru and the others toward a double door crafted from cedar wood.
The doors, tinged with a bronze hue, subtly announced the owner's affluence. Hina produced a key, inserted it into the lock, and with a soft click, the two panels swung inward.
Before Kaoru and his companions lay a sprawling courtyard, bisected by a pathway of meticulously laid bronze bricks.
The scene was understated yet exuded an undeniable air of grandeur.
Despite the courtyard's impressive size, it was conspicuously devoid of people.
"Miss, you've returned," a woman in a maid's uniform, appearing to be in her early twenties, emerged from a building.
Upon seeing the entourage accompanying Hina, she exclaimed, her surprise evident, "Miss Hina, weren't you expecting only one guest? How did so many arrive?"
"Then I suppose you'll have to prepare a bit more food..." Hina responded with a cheerful smile.
"Oh, there's really no need," the maid countered, waving her hands dismissively. "I've already prepared a generous amount today; it should be more than sufficient. Please, come inside!"
With a graceful gesture, the maid extended an invitation, beckoning Kaoru and the others to enter the building.
They proceeded a short distance further, eventually arriving at the entrance to a room.
"Everyone, this is where lunch will be served today. Please, feel free to indulge yourselves," the maid announced with a warm smile, as she pushed the door open.
Immediately, a wave of enticing aromas wafted from within, filling the air with a fragrance that was both invigorating and soothing.
"Wow, it smells heavenly!" Wan'er exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement any longer. She promptly pushed the door open and stepped inside, with the others close behind.
However, as they entered the room, the group was taken aback by what they found.
The entire space was shrouded in semi-darkness, the curtains tightly drawn, and a pair of crimson candles flickered atop a long, elegantly set dining table.
Adding to the peculiar ambiance, only two chairs were positioned at the table, each adorned with a bouquet of vibrant red roses.
The entire scene was undeniably romantic and intimate, reminiscent of a secluded haven for a clandestine rendezvous.
It was unmistakably the setting for a romantic candlelight dinner.
"Oh, come on! Ms. Ponytail, you said you weren't harboring any ulterior motives, but isn't this whole setup designed for a romantic candlelight dinner with my brother!"
Wan'er exclaimed, her words sharp and accusatory.
The others exchanged puzzled glances, directing their curious gazes toward Hina. Kaoru, too, felt a surge of awkwardness.
"N-no, that's not it at all!!!" Hina stammered, her face flushing crimson. She hadn't orchestrated any of this; she was just as baffled as everyone else.
"Hey, Asatsuki, what exactly is going on here..." Hina whispered urgently, sidling up to the maid.
"Miss, you mentioned that you were inviting someone very special to dinner, so I arranged all of this for you!" the maid replied, her voice brimming with pride.
Kaoru couldn't help but roll his eyes inwardly. This maid was going above and beyond to cater to her mistress's desires, perhaps a bit too far.
"Please, take all of this away! They're getting the wrong idea!" Hina pleaded, her voice laced with desperation.
"Of course, Miss!" The maid named Asatsuki, noticing the distress in Hina's expression, nodded quickly.
She promptly summoned several other maids, instructing them to remove the roses, extinguish the candles, open the curtains, and bring in additional chairs.
As the curtains were drawn back, the gourmet spread on the table was fully revealed, confirming Hina's earlier description: lobster, abalone, foie gras, and other opulent delicacies were lavishly displayed.
"So much, so much delicious food! I can't resist any longer, I'm going to dig in!"
Wan'er exclaimed, completely disregarding the purpose of their visit. She lunged toward the table, snatching a lobster claw and devouring it with gusto.
"Wan'er, this is someone else's home, please try to be a bit more mindful of your manners!" Kaoru chided Wan'er, but the young girl seemed oblivious, already reaching for a second claw.
"I suppose girls should be raised in luxury," Kaoru thought wryly, observing Wan'er's ravenous appetite.
He suspected that anyone who offered her a large lobster would be able to win her over instantly.
"I apologize, I haven't properly trained my sister, so her manners are a bit rough around the edges," Kaoru said to Hina, offering a sincere apology.
"It's perfectly alright," Hina replied, shaking her head dismissively. "Let's all start eating, shall we?"
With that, the rest of the group settled around the table, and with Hina's implicit permission, they began to indulge in the lavish spread.
Wan'er grabbed the most food, followed closely by Shin, who, having grown up as an orphan, was understandably excited by the sight of such extravagant delicacies.
Ino and Sakura, conscious of their ladylike image in Kaoru's presence, refrained from competing for the food, while Hinata maintained her usual air of refined elegance, eating everything at a leisurely pace.
As for Kaoru, despite possessing the soul of an adult, he understood the importance of decorum.
He ate with measured grace, though the allure of the gourmet meal was no less potent for him than it was for Wan'er.
"I think I'll have a pair of claws as well," Kaoru said, noticing how much Wan'er seemed to be enjoying herself.
He reached for a large claw, cracked it open, and the succulent lobster meat was revealed, glistening with savory juices and exuding an irresistible aroma.
"I won't be shy, then," Kaoru said with a polite smile, as he prepared to savor the delectable shrimp meat.
"Hina!" At that moment, a melodious voice rang out from the doorway, causing everyone to turn their heads in unison. A beautiful woman stood in the entrance to the dining room.
The woman appeared to be in her early twenties, with flowing purple hair that cascaded to her shoulders.
Her eyes sparkled with warmth and mirth, and her entire demeanor exuded an air of grace and ethereal beauty.
"Cousin Yūgao!" Hina exclaimed with delight, as she leaped from her chair and rushed to embrace the newcomer.
"Yūgao... Could that be Uzuki Yūgao, the lover of the often-overlooked Moonlight Hayate?" Kaoru wondered, carefully observing the woman. He quickly identified her.
"Alright, alright," Uzuki Yūgao said gently, patting Hina's head affectionately.
"Cousin Yūgao, what brings you to my house today?" Hina asked, after lingering in Yūgao's embrace for a moment.
"Just came to see you!" Yūgao replied, playfully tapping Hina's forehead with her fingertip. "I heard you were inviting someone very special to dinner, and I simply had to see who it was!"
Hearing Yūgao's words, Hina immediately released her embrace and lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Don't listen to Asatsuki's nonsense. He's merely someone who saved my life," Hina said shyly.
"Then, which of the people present is he?"
Yūgao asked, disregarding Hina's protestations. She scanned the room, her gaze lingering for a moment on each of the guests before finally settling on Kaoru.
"Ah, it must be you, the handsome young man, right?"
Yūgao said to Kaoru with a warm smile. Shin, who was seated nearby, inwardly lamented his perceived lack of attractiveness.
"Hello, my name is Uchiha Kaoru," Kaoru said, reluctantly putting down his chopsticks and rising to greet Uzuki Yūgao.
"Well, you certainly have good manners..." Yūgao said with a sweet smile, but her expression suddenly turned serious.
"Come outside with me for a moment, I have something I need to discuss with you!"
Kaoru was taken aback. He had never met Yūgao before, so what could she possibly want to talk about?
However, considering that she was Hina's cousin, Kaoru decided that there was no harm in hearing her out. He nodded politely and stood up to follow her.
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