Chapter 49: One for One, No Loss

Senzaemon Nakiri hummed a little tune, his white hair indicating his excellent mood. Rina and Haruki played with small toys in the room. Erina had asked him to look after them. The more Senzaemon Nakiri looked at these two little ones, the more he wanted to be close to them.

"Grandpa, Grandpa, what are Mom and Dad doing?" Rina asked curiously. Technically, he was her great-grandfather, but Rina found "Grandpa" easier to say, so that's what she called him. However, perhaps because he was her great-grandfather, Rina was a bit more well-behaved. She might not be as adorable in front of her mom and dad.

"They went to work," Senzaemon Nakiri said, stroking Rina's hair.

"What kind of work? They've been out for so long," Rina complained. She wanted to be with her mom and dad more than her great-grandfather.

"Work is work. Who will feed you if they don't work?" Haruki glanced at Rina. The siblings' daily bickering was never absent.

"Grandpa, I'm hungry," Haruki said, reaching out. "Please make something to eat!"

"Eat, eat, eat, that's all you do. Why don't you turn into a pig!" Rina's voice was quite childlike. Although it was an insult, it sounded rather innocent and cute.

"Pigs are lazy and greedy. I like to eat, but I'm not lazy," Haruki was a bit upset. Being called a "pig" was the most evil species in their child's world.

"When I grow up, I'll learn to cook for Mom and Dad," Haruki shared his small dream. "I'll become a culinary master!"

"If you want to eat my cooking, you'll have to beg me, or I won't give it to you," Haruki said seriously.

"Who cares!" Rina shouted loudly.

"Hahahaha, then I look forward to Haruki becoming a great chef," Senzaemon Nakiri smiled and nodded. "That's a very good idea."

Rina obviously wanted to receive Senzaemon Nakiri's praise too, but Grandpa seemed more focused on Haruki. Rina, who was still "arguing" with Haruki, suddenly burst into tears of injustice. With a slight sob, she said, "Then I'll be one of those food judges, and I'll give all of Haruki's dishes bad reviews!"

Exactly like Erina when she was little! Senzaemon Nakiri didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Rina, what do you want to eat?" Senzaemon Nakiri asked with a smile. "Grandpa will personally cook for you! Haruki, tell me what you want too."

"Eh, really?" Rina's slightly reddened eyes immediately brightened at his words. "Um, I want... egg fried rice! Yes! Egg fried rice!"

"Alright!" Senzaemon Nakiri stood up. "Come, follow Grandpa to the kitchen. Haruki, do you want to see Grandpa's cooking skills?"

"Yes!" Haruki waved his hand.

Just then, at the doorway, Alice walked past with a gloomy expression. Seeing Haruki and Rina walk out of the house, her expression worsened. Alright. I admit, I'm a little bit jealous. Damn it. I wish I had a boyfriend. Thinking about it, Alice walked faster and faster.

Senzaemon Nakiri was a bit puzzled but didn't ask further. He slowly proceeded towards the kitchen, with Rina and Haruki trailing behind him with small steps. After turning a few corridors, they arrived at the front door of their family's kitchen. Senzaemon Nakiri seemed to hear some movement inside, what sounded like Renz and Erina's voices. He frowned slightly and said, "You two little ones, will you wait for Grandpa here?"

"Okay!" the two childish voices said in unison.

Senzaemon Nakiri quietly walked inside. Reaching the edge of the doorway, a single sentence from within instantly made his expression lose its composure.

"Come on, hug me!"

??? Senzaemon Nakiri's face was filled with astonishment and 100% confusion. He remembered he had just reminded the couple to be moderate. How could the young couple be so impatient right after returning home, even in the kitchen? The moment he opened the door, it was a shock! He quickly thought about taking the children and leaving.

Wait a minute! It didn't seem to be what he initially understood! Senzaemon Nakiri paused.

Inside the kitchen, as Renz reached out to embrace Erina, his entire spine felt like electricity was constantly coursing through it, a slight numbness, an indescribable sensation—soft and warm. Especially their close breathing, it felt as if the distance between them had been drawn even closer. No wonder such intimate gestures were said to effectively increase understanding. In the embrace, they could not only smell each other's breath but also clearly feel each other's heartbeats. And after holding tight, his body instinctively secreted an emotion, making him not want to let go for a single moment.

Wait. A face appeared in Renz's peripheral vision.

He had a look of profound satisfaction, as if saying, "Youth is truly wonderful," and "This old man is very pleased with your affection, you two." The warm smile couldn't hide the thousand gentle lights in Senzaemon Nakiri's eyes.

Oh no, oh no, oh no. What do I do?! They were caught by an elder. Renz was stunned. The very first embrace on "Hug Day" was observed by an elder.

The temporary stiffness in his body during the embrace startled Erina.

"What's wrong?" Erina whispered.

"Your grandfather is at the door," Renz said, lowering his voice, close to tears. Erina's expression froze. She hadn't expected this situation either.

"But his expression seems... seems very satisfied?" Renz subtly deciphered the meaning of his expression, making a rough judgment. He decided to test if his deduction was correct.

He leaned his face closer to Erina.

Erina was instantly startled. She hadn't anticipated this twist either. She immediately reached out and lightly pinched Renz's soft flesh at his waist, but there were no other signs of rejection.

There were no further, deeper actions.

One second, two seconds, three seconds. Time slowly passed. Senzaemon Nakiri nodded contentedly and quietly exited the kitchen. Renz breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling as if he had narrowly escaped a disaster. Erina, however, was still breathing heavily. The stimulation she felt was even more intense. If her heartbeat before was like a fluttering deer, now it felt like it was going to leap out of her chest, thumping continuously. She didn't know why her heart was beating so fast.

"Your grandfather ran off," Renz said, relieved. "Alright, you can vent any anger you have now, but I must warn you, if you say this is your first time, it's actually my first time too."

"One for one, neither of us loses out."

"And just now, you already pinched me. If you count that as revenge, you've already had it."

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