"I'm actually out right now... how about 9:00 PM tonight?"
"Perfect."
Rin received the call from Ryo's father while he was in the middle of cooking at the Nakano apartment. He hadn't thought much of it until Mr. Yamada mentioned his friend had quintuplets. Rin's interest peaked instantly, and he set the meeting for that night.
But for now... he had to focus on the meal.
Ichika had briefed him on everyone's tastes. Ichika liked pickled things, like octopus or salted fish. Nino, Miku, and Yotsuba weren't too picky, though Nino was the most critical because she cooked so often. Itsuki, the "Meat Bun Monster," was strictly carnivorous.
Since he hadn't prepared, Rin had to use whatever was in their fridge. Luckily, they were a household that cooked frequently. There were steaks and frozen shrimp in the freezer, and various vegetables in the crisper.
Rin decided to keep it simple: butter-seared steaks, fried shrimp, a stir-fried green vegetable, and a tomato and egg soup.
"You made Chinese food for me at your place once. Make some tonight, too~"
"Ugh..." Hearing Ichika act so spoiled and "lovey-dovey" made Nino's skin crawl. "So gross..."
In reality, Ichika's own skin was crawling. She'd never acted this way with anyone, but she had to stay in character for her sisters' sake.
"In that case, I'll make a garlic sauce for the steamed shrimp... and use the shrimp heads to make a savory broth for a braised dish. That'll save us having to make a separate soup."
Rin shooed the clumsy Ichika out of the kitchen and got to work. He defrosted the steaks and shrimp in water, using the time to prep the garlic.
Nino and Itsuki couldn't help but hover near him. Nino was annoyed by his presence, but as a cook, she was genuinely curious about Chinese techniques. Itsuki, a famous food blogger under the alias "M.A.Y.", was simply there for the aroma.
"What are you making?" Nino asked.
"Garlic sauce. You fry half the garlic and mix it with fresh garlic to steam seafood or veggies. It's a shame you don't have vermicelli; it would soak up the juices and be the best part."
Gulp. Itsuki's mouth watered.
Rin worked quickly, explaining the process as he went. "You fry the shrimp heads to get the oil out, then add hot water for a rich broth... you can do this with crab or lobster shells, too. If you have fresh fish, you can slice it thin and cook it just by pouring the boiling broth over it."
Nino sniffed the air, the scent of the frying shrimp oil filling the kitchen. She gave Rin a sidelong glance. "It's rare to find a guy who actually knows his way around a kitchen."
"I grew up having to take care of myself, much like you girls."
"Oh... sorry." Nino paused. Being the most sensitive of the sisters, she immediately understood the implication of his words—referring to the loss of their mother.
"Don't worry about it," Rin said, not looking up from his work.
Though it was only a few dishes, cooking for six took time. By the time they sat down, it was past 7:00 PM—much later than their usual dinner.
The girls ignored their steaks at first, reaching for the garlic-steamed shrimp. Even the discerning Itsuki's eyes lit up after the first bite.
"How is it?"
"It's amazing!" Itsuki beamed. This was the legendary "M.A.Y. Smile," reserved only for the finest delicacies.
"What about you, Nino?"
Rin looked at her playfully. Nino looked away, her "tsundere" nature flaring up. "It's... it's average. I could do better if I tried... What are you laughing at!?"
Rin couldn't help but chuckle at her stubbornness. In truth, with high-quality ingredients like these, the flavor was hard to mess up.
"I'll look forward to your cooking next time then, Nino."
"Hmph..."
Nino went back to eating without a word. The other three were much friendlier, asking Rin how he met Ichika. Seeing them warm up to the "thief" stealing their sister made Nino feel betrayed, but she couldn't complain with her mouth full of his delicious food.
She just had to be angry while she ate.
Rin's meeting with their father was at 9:00 PM. After finishing dinner and helping clean up, it was time for him to go. He had accomplished his goal: making an appearance and planting the seeds of a "crisis" in their minds.
Nino looked like she couldn't wait to see the back of him.
After leaving the apartment, Rin headed to the tea house the Yamadas had specified. It wasn't far, just a short train ride away.
He arrived exactly at 9:00 PM. Sliding open the door, he saw the Yamadas sitting next to a middle-aged man with a crisp shirt and a perfectly groomed center-parted hairstyle.
The Yamadas introduced Rin to Maruo Nakano. After the formalities, Rin sat down. Maruo was having a minor internal crisis. He was a student of Ichika's mother and wasn't that much older than Rin. They were practically of the same generation... He's supposed to have no gap with my daughters, but I do?
Still, since the Yamadas trusted him, Maruo decided to listen. Before he could speak, Rin took the initiative.
"Mr. Nakano... is your eldest daughter's name Ichika?"
Rin didn't plan on hiding anything. He was, after all, her "boyfriend" now.
Maruo's brow quirked—a rare show of emotion for him. "You know them?"
"Yes. To be honest, I just came from your apartment."
"...." "...." "...."
Maruo stared in silence. My house was raided while I was at dinner!?