Chapter 108: Fuutaro Uesugi... You Have No Chance!

After taking a sip, Shiro's eyes lit up as the rich, full-bodied flavor of the coffee spread across his tongue.

It was unlike any coffee he'd ever had at his usual hangout, 0.2 Cafe.

He'd heard that Italian coffee was exceptional, but even though this was a Spanish restaurant, he couldn't resist giving it a try when it appeared on the menu.

At first, he didn't think much of it, but now, after tasting it, he could tell this was the real deal.

The flavor was distinctly different from what he usually drank, and there was a surprising fruitiness that lingered on his palate.

As he swallowed, he noticed the aftertaste—it was subtle, almost like the delicate notes of tea.

For a mere 200 yen, it was a steal. He was honestly surprised.

The coffee was leagues better than the watery stuff he usually got from Xingke. In comparison, that was more like drinking pot water.

However, not many seemed to order it. Most people probably didn't come to a restaurant like this to have coffee before their meal.

Despite that, Shiro enjoyed his coffee, especially paired with one of the squid ink pasta dishes.

It was the highlight of his meal, even if the rest of the experience didn't quite live up to the previous dining experience at Fog House.

Kanna, on the other hand, had no hesitation when it came to food. She devoured everything in sight like a whirlwind.

Despite her small size, her sharp teeth tore through anything she ate, making it clear that her appetite was anything but childlike.

Before the meal started, Shiro had warned the sisters about the "big appetites" in his family, but even so, Kanna's hunger shocked them.

Only Nino watched her carefully, her brow furrowed in thought.

Given their commitment to the cultural class event later, the group didn't linger long after finishing their meals.

---

"How's it going? Are you all full?" Shiro asked, wiping some sauce from the corner of Kanna's mouth. He glanced at the Nakano sisters, who had finally stopped eating.

The table had been cleared and refilled multiple times, mostly due to the voracious appetites of Shiro and Kanna.

By the second round, the sisters had mostly sat back, watching the two eat, though Shiro still asked out of politeness.

"Huhu~ I'm full, I'm full, I'm satisfied!" Itsuki said with a bright smile.

Sanjiu sipped her tea, nodding in agreement. "Thank you, Mr. Shiro, for the hospitality!"

"I'm full too." Itsuki chimed in.

"Same here." Miku smiled lightly.

Seeing the girls signal their contentment, Shiro nodded in satisfaction before heading to pay.

As they exited Taki Amarillo, the evening sky had completely darkened.

Despite the earlier timing, both Shiro and Kanna had ended up eating more than they planned, causing them to be delayed.

It was almost 8 PM, and Shiro realized they were cutting it close.

At just the right moment, Itsuki's phone rang.

"Oops, it's Dad! We're late!" she exclaimed.

The sisters, uncomfortable with being scolded, pretended not to hear the phone ring, quietly continuing their chat. No one was willing to pick up.

Itsuki puffed up with frustration, her cheeks turning red. "How rude! We made a plan, and now this!"

With a huff, she finally picked up the phone. From the other end, Nakano Maruo's deep voice sounded, sharp and direct:

"Itsuki-chan, where are you? We agreed on 8 PM, right?"

"Ebata's already at your apartment."

"Dad, we just finished dinner and are heading back now. Tell Mr. Ebata, we'll be there soon."

"I'll give you half an hour. Don't be late."

"That's fine. Thank you." She hung up the phone with a firm click.

Looking at her sisters, she said, "We have half an hour. You all know how Dad is. If we don't show up soon, he'll just let Mr. Ebata take over."

The sisters collectively sighed in relief. Taki Amarillo wasn't too far from their apartment, and even with a half-hour walk, they'd have plenty of time—especially if they took a taxi.

---

Meanwhile, in the apartment, Futaro Uesugi sat awkwardly across from Ebata, who had just hung up the phone.

"Mr. Ebata, what's the situation now?" Uesugi asked, his voice laced with frustration.

"I'm sorry, Uesugi-san. The ladies have just finished their meal and are on their way back. They'll be here shortly."

"But we agreed on 8 PM." Uesugi's impatience was evident.

Ebata didn't argue, instead apologizing again. "I'm sorry. Perhaps they simply lost track of time."

Uesugi's jaw clenched in irritation. Time was precious to him, especially considering his part-time job and the debts he had to pay off. Wasting time like this was unacceptable.

Still, he gritted his teeth. The five-times-higher pay for this tutor position made it all worthwhile. He just had to hold on a little longer.

Twenty minutes later, the sound of a door opening echoed through the apartment.

The Nakano sisters finally returned, the door clicking shut behind them. Futaro stared in disbelief, his eyes widening as five identical beautiful girls entered the room.

He nearly pinched himself to check if he was dreaming.

Ebata stood up and greeted them. "Ladies, you're late. I assume the tutor you're expecting is on his way now?"

Ichika smiled cheerfully. "Oh, Shiro-kun is settling his sister and will be here soon."

Futaro couldn't hold back a scoff at this. He'd been waiting forever, and now even his opponent was being delayed.

"Damn it, can't anyone respect the schedule around here?" he muttered, barely containing his frustration.

"Hmph~ You're the one who intervened, and now you're complaining?"

Nino shot back sharply, making sure to get her dig in while she had the chance.

Futaro flushed, but it was Itsuki who quickly intervened.

"Don't be too harsh, Nino. Shiro-kun will be here soon. Mr. Uesugi, please just wait a little longer," she said, trying to smooth over the situation.

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