Why wasn't I the one who got the male lead's script?

Another unexpected answer.

Kato was stunned for a moment, and looked at Futaba's complicated expression with a look of surprise, and did not ask any more difficult questions.

I don’t know if she heard someone’s whisper just now.

"Hey, if you ask me, you two shouldn't make any unnecessary assumptions. Qing's personality probably wouldn't be very appealing, so it's not certain whether any girl would be attracted to him. Why argue over something that doesn't even have the necessary prerequisites?"

Just at this moment, Miss Eriri, who was completely unaware of the atmosphere here, sat up from the bed and rubbed her protesting stomach with an impatient look on her face.

She was so engrossed in the TV show and distractedly playing games that she didn't notice the emotions mixed in the conversation between the other two girls.

"When is dinner supposed to be served? I'm starving! Qing! How long will it take? Hurry up!"

"Right away—clear the table so I can serve the sukiyaki."

After Eriri called out the boy's name at the top of her lungs, Hoshimi's response came from the kitchen. The conversation between the two was incredibly smooth and natural.

This seems like an everyday conversation between a stay-at-home dad and his grumpy daughter.

----

Isn't it nice to raise a daughter after just two or three weeks?

Kasumigaoka Utaha is unlikely to be out of ideas: Chapter 1: Today's meal at the Hoshimi family (Part 4)

Hearing this, Kato stood up and began to deftly put the clutter on the table aside. Futaba also stood up, stretched, and rubbed her eyes. It seemed that neither of them wanted to continue the previous topic.

"Okay—Sukiyaki is here!"

A moment later, Miss Hasaka came out of the kitchen carrying a steaming hot Japanese hot pot, and the boy Xingjian followed behind her and plugged in the induction cooker.

Eriri jumped off the bed impatiently, skipped happily to the table, and stared at the steaming sukiyaki like a hungry puppy.

——After an hour or two of preparation, the Hoshimi family’s dinner time can finally officially begin.

Everyone, who originally had different moods, restrained their thoughts, gathered around the table, said "I'm starting to eat", and then picked up their bowls and chopsticks to start enjoying today's dinner.

The seats of the people who sat down one after another around this not-so-big table were Ms. Hasaka and Ms. Kato Megumi, who were sitting on opposite sides of each other, and Futaba, who was holding a bowl with a nonchalant look on her face on the left, and Eriri, who was picking up a bowl and putting vegetables into the pot on the right.

"Well—I've waited until the flowers have all withered. I'm starving to death."

Miss Eriri, who picked up the meat slices and put them into her mouth in a somewhat uncouth manner, looked really hungry. She didn't care about her image at all and started to gobble them up.

"Not bad, I didn't realize you're such a good cook."

Futaba picked up the vegetables slowly and put them into her mouth while casting an undisguised look of approval at the black-haired boy beside her.

"Come on, your plan to hook up with a rich woman will succeed one day in the future."

"Hey, so Haru-kun's ultimate goal in life is to become a gigolo kept by a rich woman."

Miss Hasaka, who was smiling at the side, also gave Xingjian a teasing look - why are you pretending? This guy had just heard this sentence in the kitchen.

Ms. Kato was just concentrating on eating. She casually said, "Oh, is that so?" and continued to slowly pick up a piece of mushroom. She looked as nonchalant as a normal person would react.

Xingjian, who had been busy in the kitchen and finally had a break, watched as the guests started to eat, and wiped the sweat from his forehead with satisfaction.

No matter what, seeing so many people showing satisfied expressions when eating the food he cooked, he would feel a little satisfied in his heart.

"I thought the whole set of dishes I bought since I started living alone would just gather dust, but I didn't expect it to come in handy this time."

One day, Chef Hoshimi clapped his hands. Just when he was about to sit down and enjoy the big pot of sukiyaki he had worked so hard to prepare, another problem arose.

The four sides of the table were already occupied by several girls, so where should I sit?

"........."

After a moment's silence, the black-haired boy picked up the bowl and picked up some dishes from the pot. Then he sat down on a cabinet far away from the table with a somewhat reluctant posture.

No matter what, it would definitely make these four girls feel a little uncomfortable if a boy like me squeezed into their space.

Forget it, it’s better to stay here for a while to avoid any unnecessary physical contact with any of them and being misunderstood.

So, it would be more comfortable to stay somewhere far away from them.

"What are you sitting there for, Hoshimi?"

However, just as he made this decision in his mind, Futaba, who was leaning against him, put down her bowl and chopsticks, raised a question with a serious face, and looked a little unhappy.

"You are the host of this room, so you should act like a host and entertain guests. Sit in the middle of the table."

She patted the table lightly, motioning Xingjian to come and sit at the table.

"That's right. It was Haru-kun who was the most busy just now, wasn't he?"

Miss Hasaka swallowed the food in her mouth, then turned around, waved at Xingjian with a smile, and moved her body to make room for him.

"Chef, you should treat yourself. Besides, Qingjun, you've been busy and haven't had a chance to rest."

"Yes, Qing, why are you being so polite? Just sit down. This is your room, your table, and you cooked the food, right?"

Miss Eriri said this calmly and continued to eat heartily. It seemed that after her body recovered to the state of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old, her appetite also suddenly returned to that of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old.

"Yes, the host shouldn't sit in the corner, Hoshimi-kun. It would make us guests feel a little embarrassed."

Ms. Kato just smiled and shook her head, agreeing with Hasaka's words.

Seeing that someone had spoken and taken action, Futaba didn't say anything else. She lowered her head, drank a glass of water, and then wordlessly moved to the side, making the space a little wider.

"……All right."

Hoshimi, who was obviously used to being ignored, blinked and dragged her body rather stiffly to sit in the gap between Hayasaka and Futaba.

How should I put it, this feeling of being suddenly cared for by everyone present was really a bit strange to him.

A little flattered.

"Xingjian, stay away from me, or the soup will splash into my bowl or on my clothes."

However, not long after he sat down, he received a friendly reminder from Miss Futaba, who looked a little disgusted.

This also made Xingjian, who was secretly sighing at the fact that his treatment had improved so much, pull the corners of his mouth with tears in his eyes.

"Okay, okay, I won't splash anything in your bowl, please rest assured. By the way, Futaba, your mysophobia is still there."

"Originally, I was the only one using the lab equipment, and I disinfected it thoroughly after each use. But thanks to a certain gentleman who comes every few days for coffee, I've now stopped disinfecting it regularly. Aren't you going to reflect on yourself?"

"Hey, Futaba, you're really strict."

"Coffee, that's a drink I've never tried before. Haru-kun, could you recommend a brand to me next time?"

Miss Hasaka, who was filled with happiness after putting the meat slice into her mouth, suddenly had her eyes light up when she heard the word "coffee" and looked at the boy who was standing nearby with interest and curiosity.

Well... maybe for Hayasaka Ai, the all-purpose maid who works around the clock with almost no holidays, she also needs the buff of coffee while working.

"Ha, what's so good about that bitter stuff?... That woman Kasumigaoka Utaha is the same way, she always likes to drink black coffee. Isn't sour and sweet juice delicious?"

Eriri smacked her lips in a somewhat unpresentable manner, as if she had completely abandoned the dignified young lady image she usually pretended to be at school.

----

I've been busy lately, so I'm updating twice a day. But the bounties are still being offered until the 22nd, so let's all work harder together.

Kasumigaoka Utaha is unlikely to be out of ideas: Chapter 1: Today's meal at the Hoshimi family (Part 5)

"That's probably your personal taste, Sawamura-kun. You can't force people to have different tastes."

Kato said this in a very gentle tone while handing a tissue to Eriri, whose mouth was covered in soup. Finally, he stood up and handed two tissues to everyone.

"Thanks."

"Thank you, Kato."

"Wow, that's so thoughtful. Thank you, Kato-chan~"

The remaining three people also expressed their gratitude and placed the tissues on the table beside them.

This dinner party, which was not too awkward, gradually became relaxed after the innocent Miss Hasaka and the carefree Eriri Sawamura brought up the topic.

Hasaka would curiously ask everyone what new things were happening in school recently, and Eriri, who was already very interested in this aspect, would also respond politely.

Kato, who was concentrating on eating with small sips, would occasionally agree with a word or two. Only Futaba calmly finished the food in her bowl, slowly wiped her mouth with a tissue, and did not say a word from beginning to end.

Of course, she wasn't the only one who remained silent—the boy Xingjian, who was concentrating on eating, barely participated in the girls' conversation.

It felt strange to suddenly join a conversation with all girls—like walking naked into a bathroom with only girls. He decided to just be a good listener and eat his meal.

The pleasant dinner time was probably spent slowly in the harmonious and peaceful chatting among a few girls.

At this moment, Miss Hayasaka, who had completely entered the role of Hasaka, considerately took into account Hoshimi's reluctance to wash dishes. She considerately said, "Leave the cleanup to me," and walked into the kitchen with the dishes cleaned up. She even smiled and refused Kato's offer to help.

In order to prevent the already narrow room from being filled with the smell of sukiyaki, Xingjian walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and opened it. She involuntarily came to the balcony, breathing in the fresh air while looking at the sky that had completely darkened.

When he breathed a sigh of relief, Futaba, who had eaten to her heart's content, slowly came to the balcony and leaned on the railing like him.

"So, Miss Hasaka is the target that Xingjian specifically found at the girls' school?"

Futaba pointed in the direction of the kitchen and stared helplessly at the confused boy Hoshimi - after all, if they were just ordinary classmates, she wouldn't rush to do housework on the first day of visiting his house.

"Uh... that's not the case."

"Just be straightforward, Xingjian, and stop dithering. If you really want to develop a relationship with her, I can help you."

"No, I really don't have any improper thoughts about her."

Hoshimi looked at Futaba, who had become a little irritated for some reason, with a mixture of laughter and tears, and gave this explanation to calm her down.

Why do some people always think that he has special feelings for the girls around him?

"It's better to say that I haven't had any thoughts about girls so far, so just calm down."

"........."

Hearing this, Futaba's expression became much calmer, but it also developed in a somewhat subtle direction.

"...So, Xingjian, you actually prefer boys?"

"?"

"Um... I certainly hadn't thought of that. Of course, I don't have any prejudices on that matter... Well, well, as long as you're happy."

"It's not very convincing to say something like that while looking really shocked, Ms. Futaba."

Besides, why does not wanting to fall in love mean that you must have improper thoughts about the same sex? Can't you just not be interested in love? It's so infuriating.

"...Never mind. I was just testing you. If you have someone you like, I'll help you find a way, but if you don't have any such thoughts, that's fine too."

Futaba cleared her throat to cover up her slightly awkward appearance, and then her delicate face returned to its usual calmness.

She glanced at the boy out of the corner of her eye, and the latter had his chin in his hand with a faint but gentle smile on his face.

"Thank you for your concern, Ms. Futaba, but I think my life is pretty good now. There's no need to fall in love. Besides, you might end up arguing with your girlfriend and breaking up, right?"

When a young boy with a hint of childishness on his face smiles with his eyes slightly narrowed, he always gives people a youthful and warm feeling like a spring breeze.

"Compared to that, I still prefer being with you, Futaba. Chatting with you is effortless, and I don't have to guess your thoughts. We can be honest with each other. So having friends is enough."

"...Xingjian, your way of thinking is the fundamental reason why you can't find a girlfriend."

The gray-haired girl, who was about to turn around and go back to the living room, adjusted her glasses with her back to him. After a moment of silence, an intriguing and complex smile appeared on her face.

"—but I agree with that."

Despite this, she still calmly expressed her affirmation.

"Yeah, right~"

"That's what you said, but I always feel that Xingjian, your tone seems to think that being single is an honor."

"It's not about glory, it's more about risk aversion. If I don't have a girlfriend, I won't have to worry about cheating, arguments, breakups, and other such age-old problems. It would be a lot easier, wouldn't it?"

"It doesn't seem to be wrong from a logical point of view."

Futaba turned around and glanced at the black-haired boy whose smile was as sunny as a child. In the end, she just smiled and walked back to the living room.

"I forgot to mention it when we were eating just now. Thanks for the treat - your cooking is excellent."

"Haha, Futaba, I'm so happy that you're satisfied. So when you go back to school next semester, could you consider adding a pack of tea leaves to the lab? My stomach can't handle drinking coffee all the time."

"After getting free coffee, you want free tea now... Never mind, just remember to make it yourself. I don't want to waste my time helping you."

"Okay, I understand. Long live Futaba Amen!"

"Can't stand it, kid?"

Finally, Futaba smiled and closed the floor-to-ceiling window with her backhand, returned to the table and leaned on the edge of the bed, turning her bored gaze towards the TV screen.

Xingjian, with a hint of smile still on his lips, curled his lips, maintained a leisurely and relaxed state, and cast his gaze at the clear night sky again.