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Chapter 323: Everything Here
🕑 Added 2025-05-03 07:58:07 +0000 UTC"Minami-kun! Minami-kun! Minami-kun! Come over here! Sit down!"
Without hesitation, Chisato Shouji stood up and grabbed Minami's hand.
Her lively smile, bright enough to make anyone smile along with her, curved at the corners of her lips.
Pulling Minami along, she led him toward where they were sitting.
Takina Shouji also rose quietly, giving up her seat for him.
Her elegant wisteria-colored eyes scanned the area, as if searching for someone.
But after a sweep around, she didn't find who she was looking for.
Her beautiful eyes lowered slightly, and she couldn't help but ask:
"Minami-kun, where's Nijika-chan? I thought she went to call you?"
"Nijika wasn't feeling too well, so I sent her to bed to rest."
Minami casually answered while tossing a few more charcoal pieces into the grill's firebox.
Nijika's pregnancy was probably common knowledge within the Shouji family.
There was no need for him to hide it but right after he finished speaking, Chisato burst into mischievous giggles and not just giggling, she winked exaggeratedly at Minami, her playful, scheming expression so blatant that Minami couldn't help but reach out and pinch her cheek, asking flatly:
"What are you laughing about?"
"Hehe..."
Even with her cheek squished, Chisato showed no shame, grinning cheekily:
"It's nothing~ I was just thinking... Minami-kun must've worked really hard, huh? Poor Nijika-chan couldn't even escape your evil clutches."
As she spoke, she playfully traced a finger across Minami's chest:
"She was even saying she couldn't take it anymore, but you just kept going, huh, Minami-kun?"
She didn't finish the sentence, but her fiery eyes gave him a look that said you know exactly what I mean.
"..." Minami.
Honestly—
After getting married, Chisato had become even more daring and shameless.
She could even shamelessly joke about such bold things right to his face now.
Luckily, Minami himself could handle it but Takina couldn't.
She shot a sharp glare at Chisato.
"Enough, Chisato."
Even though Takina had matured, when it came to topics like this, she still showed the same shyness from her teenage years.
"Ehh? Why are you telling me to 'shut up'?"
Chisato crossed her arms, looking completely unconcerned:
"I'm doing it for your own good, Takina! You obviously want to be like Nijika-chan too, don't you? I'm just helping you build up some tolerance for embarrassment! Otherwise, how are you ever gonna loosen up?"
"...That's different! That's a totally different matter!"
Takina huffed, thoroughly exasperated:
"I do like children, sure—but not to the point of being desperate! And besides, I trust Minami-kun! I'm not in any rush!"
After finishing her little outburst, she glared at Chisato again.
Then, trying to compose herself, the black-haired girl carefully picked up a perfectly grilled skewer and handed it to Minami:
"Here, Minami-kun. Please enjoy."
"Ah... thanks."
Minami accepted it, feeling genuinely satisfied inside.
Sure, Chisato was wild and uncontrollable but thankfully, there was still Takina.
With the serene and steady Takina around,
Even Chisato probably wouldn't be able to act up too outrageously.
Thinking this, he casually took the skewer Takina offered him and just as he was about to take a bite—
"Uh..."
Minami froze.
Because he saw what was skewered on the stick in his hand.
"It was a skewer of something you'd often see at backyard barbecues—and a favorite green veggie among many guys: garlic chives."
Sure, supermarkets in Japan sold garlic chives, and they were grown locally too.
But that had nothing to do with it.
In truth, Minami rarely saw garlic chives at Japanese barbeques.
That alone made him immediately raise his guard.
He set the skewer down and glanced sideways at the items grilling on the barbeque.
Chisato's side looked normal enough.
Corn, potatoes, marinated pork all skewered together, a perfectly balanced nutritional combo.
She had laid out a good variety.
There were even a few steaks still searing on the side.
Clearly, she had considered not just herself but also Minami and Takina.
Pretty standard barbeque fare.
As for Takina's side...
Minami's gaze paused.
Because he clearly saw what she was grilling.
Carefully selected large oysters,
Several skewers of garlic chives brushed with oil,
And some very solid-looking pieces of what he assumed were kidneys—but he couldn't tell from which animal...
Most outrageous of all...
Beside the grill was a small camping pot, bubbling with a goji berry tomato soup, sprinkled with scallions, and giving off a mouth-watering aroma.
"..."
Taking it all in, Minami silently chewed the garlic chives he already had in his mouth and gave Takina another look.
"Mm?"
Takina's soft, wisteria-colored eyes blinked at him, confused:
"What's wrong, Minami-kun?"
"..." Minami.
No, Takina...
This is you saying you're not desperate about having kids?
Looking at this entire feast that boost sex drive...
Was she planning on not sleeping tonight?
Minami stayed silent.
He understood now.
If Chisato, post-marriage, expressed her emotions openly and exaggeratedly,
Then Takina was the type to bury all her intentions deep inside—and act on them quietly.
"Minami-kun, would you like more? There's still plenty."
Seeing Minami finish his skewer,
Takina brightened a little.
Her delicate features softened into a gentle, elegant smile as she quickly plated up more grilled items and passed them to him.
"Uh... Takina, you worked so hard grilling, you should eat too."
Seeing a full plate piled with garlic chives, oysters, and grilled kidneys made the corner of Minami's mouth twitch.
You rarely saw a combination like that at Japanese barbeques.
He coughed lightly and split the plate in half, pushing some toward Takina.
"Ah... you're right."
Receiving his kindness with a graceful nod, Takina lifted her snow-white chin,
Murmuring almost to herself:
"I should eat a little too... to build up my stamina for tonight..."
The last part was said too softly—Minami didn't catch it.
But...
Guys only needed to hear the first half to guess what the second part implied.
Minami rubbed his forehead.
Takina after marriage was way bolder than before.
Probably corrupted from hanging around Chisato for too long!
Thinking that, Minami reached out and flicked Chisato on the forehead without hesitation.
Her pale forehead turned red instantly from the sudden smack.
"Ow?! Why'd you hit me, Minami-kun?!"
"Ask yourself."
Minami took a sip of the goji soup Takina handed him and shot Chisato a glance.
"Eh?"
Chisato, confused about her random punishment, looked like she wanted to say something—
Until she spotted what was on Minami's plate and suddenly wore a knowing grin.
This woman...
Minami shook his head helplessly and popped an oyster into his mouth.
The moment the tender oyster slid across his tongue, he raised an eyebrow, a little surprised:
"This oyster's really good."
Though Japan's coastal cities had their fair share of oysters,
this level of smooth, fresh texture was a first for him.
Finding oysters of this quality wasn't easy.
"It is! I specially asked Ryo-san's dad to bring over oyster seeds from France. Remember when we ordered those big water tanks? It was for raising these. I even cleared out a space in the backyard to grow premium green garlic chives."
Takina said this while shyly smiling:
"Since you like Chinese food, Minami-kun, I also found a chef to teach me how to make dishes like enoki mushroom hotpots and rich bone broths."
"..." Minami.
Wait.
Takina.
You're telling me... you started self-supplying?
Two giant water tanks?
And you cleared out a patch to grow garlic chives??
Minami looked at Takina in disbelief.
In that brief moment, his impression of Takina made a dramatic triple jump.
Under his gaze, her shy smile almost seemed to sprout a little succubus tail wagging behind her.
Daily supplement meals like these?
Could his kidneys even survive?
Minami was briefly at a loss for words.
But faced with Takina's expectant gaze, he could only sigh and polish off the food on his plate, while listening to Chisato and Takina's chatter.
What would two newlywed women talk about?
Naturally—
About Ryo and Akane's kids, about Hitori's baby, or how sometimes kids on the street still called them "big sisters" even though they were married.
About scary movies they watched at night.
How they'd sometimes sneak into Minami's bed when they couldn't sleep.
Or other casual girl talk.
Listening to them gossip like that was surprisingly heartwarming.
Even though Minami had experienced many direct simulations before, there were few moments when he could chat this intimately with the girls after marriage.
Hearing them talk about their lives now felt incredibly real.
"Ah, but really—"
Chisato suddenly hugged Minami from behind, resting her smooth chin on his head:
"Minami-kun, thanks to you, I'm really, really happy now."
She said it with so much tenderness.
"Happy?"
Hearing Chisato say that, Minami lifted his gaze.
"Of course I'm happy."
Chisato clung to him shamelessly, smiling brightly:
"If it weren't for you, Minami-kun, I really can't imagine what my life would be like now.
Even Takina can't deny that, right?"
She glanced over at Takina.
"...Mm."
For once, Takina didn't argue.
Her wisteria eyes softened as she looked at Minami:
"We're very happy, Minami-kun."
"I see..."
Minami nodded slightly.
The girls living happily with him.
Just hearing that—
Minami felt a deep reassurance welling up inside.
It confirmed that everything he had been chasing after had not been wrong.
He could truly bring happiness to these girls.
Even after marriage, that hadn't changed.
He felt strangely at peace.
So light and spirited inside that even his soul seemed to soar.
Although...
There was one tiny, tiny downside.
He was way too full.
Stuffed with garlic chives, oysters, sea cucumbers. Not a single good chunk of meat skewers.
Especially because Takina, with her gentle smile, never let him rest.
Every time he finished something, another serving would magically appear on his plate.
Minami had nearly eaten enough oysters to make himself sick.
In the end, he really couldn't eat another bite.
It wasn't until Chisato Shouji and Takina Shouji finally cleared their plates that the meal ended.
Thus concluded the barbeque lunch filled with the overwhelming scent of garlic chives and oysters.
Already stuffed, Minami slumped back into the soft chair Takina had prepared for him.
He sat there, watching his two wives tidying up the table.
Even though they looked a bit tired themselves, they still prioritized his comfort first, insisting he sit and rest.
Minami let out a slow breath.
His clear, clean gaze slowly moved away from Chisato and Takina.
Honestly—
As a man, he was undoubtedly in the happiest, most fulfilled state possible right now.
He had beautiful wives who satisfied him in every possible way.
He had sensible daughters.
He didn't have to worry about houses or cars.
There were no sick relatives burdening the family.
Everything at home was perfectly taken care of.
Life itself was smooth and untroubled...
It was the kind of life almost every man dreamed of.
And yet—
"I still haven't figured out where exactly I am..."
Minami muttered under his breath.
Yes.
Even now, he hadn't gotten a full grasp on the situation.
Was everything here real?
Or was it fake?
Could he truly survive in this world indefinitely?
Most importantly...
Could he ever return to the real world he came from?
These were all things Minami needed to figure out.
