Anime Collector: Starting With the Malevolent Shrine

"My, everyone's cooking skills are so impressive! Miss Miku's tempura shrimp looks absolutely mouthwatering. I wonder who'll be lucky enough to marry someone as caring and skilled at cooking as her."

The dishes placed on the table filled the air with an enticing aroma.

Haruno, fresh from the bathroom, couldn't help but gush with praise, her hands pressed to her cheeks.

The naturally shy Miku became too embarrassed to look up. Her face flushed crimson, making everyone's mouths water even more.

The direct praise left her with mixed feelings — happiness that Haruno's words might make Daiki see her in a better light, but guilt because the tempura shrimp had actually been made under Yukino's careful guidance.

She couldn't even distinguish between sugar and salt on her own.

"No... not at all... It's really thanks to Yukino's expertise. I just followed her instructions." Miku stammered through her shyness, deflecting praise to the other's cooking abilities.

"Don't be so modest! Little Yukino's cooking is decent enough, though she needs more practice. Poor me — being her sister, I've never even tasted her cooking." Harano lamented.

"That's because you're always pestering me. It's annoying." Yukino replied icily.

Ichika, exhausted beyond words, watched in silence as Haruno continued chatting cheerfully, her expression unchanged.

Setting aside the woman's shameless "food"-snatching habits, she truly lived up to her "Universal Beauty" title in other ways.

This was precisely why Ichika felt so uneasy. Haruno could manipulate Miku with just a few choice words.

Without her big sister around to protect this innocent girl, who knew how often they'd take advantage of her?

"Haha, let's sit down quickly — I'm famished!" Ichika's sudden interjection redirected everyone's attention to the dining table.

Miku naturally took her place beside Daiki. The real question was who would claim the remaining empty seat beside him.

As Haruno stepped forward, the sharp-eyed Yukino yanked her back. If she couldn't sit next to him, neither could her sister.

"Hehe..." Ichika snickered behind her hand, eyeing the woman smugly.

She could tell both sisters were interested in Daiki, with Haruno clearly having the upper hand over the naive Yukino.

Though the finer details escaped her, she could see the sisters had reached an uneasy equilibrium.

"Miss Haruno, since you don't want to sit, I'll help myself." Just as Ichika took a step toward the empty seat, she felt herself being pulled back.

It was Nino, wearing a fake smile. After the incident at the hospital, Miku had grown wary of her, who naturally couldn't sit next to Daiki.

But Nino hadn't forgotten Ichika's bold move earlier and wasn't about to let her sister take advantage again.

"Miss Ichika, why aren't you sitting? Don't you like sitting next to Daiki-kun?" Haruno said with barely contained laughter.

The pot calling the kettle black — they were all equally guilty.

While the four remained deadlocked, Rizu simply sat down.

"Why is everyone still standing? The udon and tempura shrimp will get cold." She asked with genuine curiosity.

They all knew this science genius didn't understand social cues. Having her sit next to Daiki would actually help neutralize the others' schemes.

Haruno and the others finally took their seats, each choosing what they considered a strategic position.

"Daiki-kun, try my family's udon. The noodles are firm, and we're known for their quality. I think you'll enjoy the taste." Rizu lifted some noodles with her chopsticks and offered them to him.

She was simply returning his kindness from yesterday when he had fed her beef, believing in fair exchanges.

Miku, who had just picked up some tempura shrimp to offer, froze mid-motion.

She stared at the famous Sōbu High School genius, wondering if her social obliviousness was genuine or an act.

"Thank you."

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Daiki accepted and tasted the noodles.

The udon's rich flavor stood out compared to others in the market — Rizu's family shop clearly had a special touch.

"Miku's tempura shrimp is also excellent, you should try some." Daiki's words slightly soothed Miku's jealousy as he picked up a piece, intending to feed his girlfriend.

"Really? Thank you, Daiki-kun." But Rizu assumed it was for her and opened her mouth expectantly, just as she had done with the beef.

Daiki hesitated, taken aback by her innocent gesture.

Not wanting to embarrass her unintentional mistake, he placed the tempura shrimp in her mouth.

"Oh, delicious!" The little girl's face lit up at the taste.

Sitting nearby, Miku watched in disbelief, feeling she belonged not at the table but underneath it in some dark corner.

Who was the girlfriend here anyway?!

Daiki picked up another piece of tempura shrimp for Miku, but she turned her head away, her cheeks puffed up like a steamed bun.

She was jealous! Without some comfort from him, she wouldn't speak to him for the rest of the day!

Before Daiki could speak, Rizu poked her head out again.

"Miku-san doesn't like it? I think Miku-san's cooking is really good. If you don't want it, why don't you give Daiki-kun's tempura to me? I think this tempura shrimp pairs perfectly with our udon."

Rizu savored the tempura shrimp, already planning to add this dish to their shop's menu, sensing it would sell well.

Not knowing her thoughts, Haruno and the others could only stare wide-eyed. Though they often stole "food" themselves, at least they did it discreetly.

Who would have thought this science genius could be so bold and fearless?

She was openly asserting dominance right in front of Miku, the actual girlfriend!

As she spoke, Rizu even started to stand up to bite the tempura.

Catching this from the corner of her eye, Miku panicked.

"I want it!" She blurted out, quickly biting the piece of tempura shrimp from Daiki's chopsticks.

Rizu paused, genuinely confused by her agitation.

"Then I'll let Miku-san have it." Being a guest, she thought she should be polite.

'This was mine to begin with!' Miku's eyes grew as wide as bells, leaving her speechless.

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