Tokyoites don't have martial virtue

"I want smoked salmon with flannel bread, creamy seafood soup, red lobster baked pasta with cream for the main course, and tiramisu ice cream for dessert."

"Okay, please wait a moment, guests." The waiter left with the menu.

The dishes were served one course at a time according to Western dining etiquette: first, a non-alcoholic welcome drink and an appetizer, followed by soup, then the main course, and finally dessert.

Perhaps because he is a martial arts practitioner, Kyushu Makoto eats with a very bold and unrestrained manner.

Holding a knife and fork, he entered a battle as if on the battlefield, ruthlessly cutting, chopping, and mincing the food on his plate before putting it into his mouth and chewing vigorously, absorbing its nutrients and essence to fuel his martial arts.

Mizuhashi Ei-hee has excellent table manners; she eats slowly and deliberately, always chewing in small bites, and appears refined and serene.

After Kyushu Makoto finished the main course, Mizuhashi Eiki barely managed to finish the appetizer—and that was only after she shared some of the food with her senior.

Faced with the steaming, fragrant lobster pasta, Mizuhashi Eiki only managed two bites before pouting uncomfortably, seemingly not wanting to eat any more.

"Hide-chan, are you not feeling well?" Kyushu asked with concern.

“Um…senpai…” Mizuhashi Eiki pushed the plate to the other side with some difficulty: “If you don’t mind, please have some, senpai.”

Kyushu Makoto was naturally willing to help her finish all the food, but he knew that such a small appetite was not something a teenager should have.

The junior student has such a small appetite; she's definitely going to suffer from malnutrition.

"Ei-chan, eating so little isn't good for your health," Kyushu Makoto said earnestly, looking at her.

Mizuhashi Eiji turned her head away and whispered, "It's alright, senpai..."

But as she was still talking, her stomach made a slight rumbling sound at an inopportune moment.

"Are you still hungry?" Kyushu Makoto chuckled, then lectured:

"Your figure is already great, you don't need to lose weight at all. Don't pretend to have a small appetite in front of me, just eat until you're full."

Mizuhashi Ei-hi, however, turned her head away as if to avoid suspicion, and said softly, "Really... it's not necessary."

Kyushu Makoto noticed that she seemed troubled and asked, "Is there something wrong?"

“I…” Mizuhashi Ei-hi hesitated.

"Feel free to speak your mind and discuss it with me," Kyushu Makoto continued. "You should be able to trust my character, right?"

Upon hearing this, Mizuhashi Eiji hesitated for a moment before softly saying, "Actually... whenever there's a particularly delicious dish, my family won't let me eat a third bite; they always save it for my younger brother..."

"And... if my younger brother doesn't have enough to eat, I have to give him my share too..."

"It's probably become a habit, but I can't eat a third bite of any delicious food; I feel like throwing up."

After saying that, Mizuhashi Eiki sighed and gave a helpless bitter smile: "Senior, don't worry about me, you can have all of these."

"..." Kyushu Makoto remained silent for a moment with a serious expression, then picked up a few strands of pasta with his fork and held them to his junior's mouth.

"Eat," he commanded.

"Eh...! It's really okay, senpai, please eat!" Mizuhashi Eiki quickly waved her hand and shook her head.

"Eat." Kyushu Makoto continued to stare at her with his deep eyes.

“But I…” Mizuhashi Ei-hime couldn’t refuse her senior, so she had no choice but to reluctantly open her mouth and chew the pasta.

The food was being chewed in the girl's cherry-like mouth, causing her cheeks to puff out slightly.

Mizuhashi Ei-hi frowned and pouted, revealing a pained expression that tasted like chewing wax.

Human psychology can influence people's sense of taste. For example, some fitness enthusiasts will constantly convince themselves that "vegetable salads and chicken breasts are good things," and eventually they will gradually come to love the taste of vegetable salads and chicken breasts.

However, Mizuhashi Eihi's upbringing instilled in her a sense of aversion and guilt towards "the third bite of food," making what should have been delicious food difficult to swallow.

"Can you describe the taste in your mouth?" Kyushu Makoto asked, resting his chin on his hand and curiously observing his junior.

"Gulp..." Mizuhashi Eiki swallowed the noodles and replied weakly, "The seafood tastes... a little salty... very fresh... the noodles have just the right firmness, not too soft and not too hard..."

"Judging from your description, it must taste delicious, but your expression tells a completely different story." Kyushu Makoto sighed.

Are you afraid your parents will scold you after you finish eating?

“I…don’t know…” Mizuhashi Eihi lowered her head in frustration.

Kyushu Makoto forked another piece of lobster meat and shoved it near Mizuhashi Eiki's mouth: "Eat it, and then tell me how it tastes."

"Hmm... very tender meat... chewy... salty."

"Keep eating and tell me what it tastes like."

"The pasta had tomato sauce on it..."

"continue."

"Mmm~ It smells like cheese..."

"continue."

"Good job, Tsukiyaki..."

"..."

By the time Mizuhashi Ei-hee came to her senses, there was only one small piece of spaghetti left on her plate.

Kyushu Makoto used two forks to twirl a bundle of noodles, handing one to his junior and stuffing the other into his own mouth.

"Hmm, not bad. It has lots of spices, giving it a very layered flavor." Kyushu Makoto praised as he chewed, "If I wasn't worried about too many carbs, I'd order this too!"

As Mizuhashi Ei-hee ate the last bite of pasta, her eyes welled up with tears.

"Waaah..." She swallowed the pasta with lingering relish, finally bursting into tears: "So delicious..."

"Actually, you have a big appetite, it's just in your mind. If you distract yourself a little, you'll be able to eat." Kyushu Makoto handed her a few napkins.

“I would like to talk to your family. Although I have no right to judge your family situation, this kind of education is just too distorted.”

Mizuhashi Ei-hee shrugged her shoulders and sobbed softly, looking pitiful.

"Don't cry yet, your ice cream is melting." Kyushu Makoto scooped another spoonful of ice cream for her.

"At least when you're with me, you can eat as much as you want."

"Mmm~" Mizuhashi Eiki burst into laughter through her tears, gently biting the spoon with her silver teeth, then pursing her lips, her eyes revealing a look of ecstasy.

......

As dusk fell, the two sat side by side on a bench in a nearby park, feeding the pigeons together.

This was the last stop on the itinerary arranged for him by Master Suzuki, much like the final scene of many classic date scenarios, much like the idea that "after eating hot pot, you must use noodles to rinse the soup base."

After a long day of activity, Mizuhashi Eiji looked exhausted, her eyelids almost closing.

"Are you very tired?" Kyushu Makoto asked with concern. "Should I take you home now?"

"Hmm... I only slept for three hours yesterday..." Mizuhashi Eiki rubbed her sleepy eyes.

"Hey, this won't do!" Kyushu Makoto raised his eyebrows and said seriously, "How can someone your age sleep so little? You must get at least eight hours of sleep every day!"

"Hmm..." Mizuhashi Eiki shook her head wearily and nodded.

“If you’re tired, you can sleep here for a while,” Kyushu Makoto suggested. “I’ll take you back when you’re feeling better.”

"Really...is it okay?" Mizuhashi Eiji asked shyly.

Kyushu Makoto sighed softly and smiled, "It's alright, you can lean on my shoulder—"

Before she could finish speaking, Mizuhashi Eiji had already gently rested her head on her senior's lap.

Kyushu Makoto didn't say anything, but simply took out a keychain from his pocket.

He bought this at the aquarium. A blue cartoon jellyfish made of sponge hangs from the button. The shop assistant said it could be used as a stress ball, but the price made him feel the pressure.

[At the end of a date, you absolutely must give your partner a gift! This is a very important ritual, like rinsing ramen noodles in the broth after a sukiyaki meal! Remember that!]

[Also, next time Tang Ze tells you he wants to use wheat porridge to make soup base, you absolutely have to pin him to the ground!! I will never forgive that heretic who just dumps all the wheat porridge into the soup without thinking!!!]

"Ei-chan, this is for you." Kyushu Makoto held the keychain up to Mizuhashi Ei-hime's eyes.

"Eh~ So cute~" Mizuhashi Eiki dazedly took the little jellyfish and carefully held it in her palm.

"Thank you, senpai..." Holding the jellyfish to her chest, Mizuhashi Eiki once again felt her heart racing.

"I will cherish it..."

"Oh, by the way, let me offer you a lap pillow next time..."

As if murmuring in her sleep, Mizuhashi Eiki closed her eyes wearily and fell asleep on Kyushu Makoto's lap.

Kyushu Makoto gently stroked the girl's head. Her hair was a little dry but had just the right amount of roughness, and it felt surprisingly nice to the touch.

After today, their "simulated romance" will temporarily come to an end.

He would then change his address to "Mizuhashi-kun," but Mizuhashi Eiki would always call him "senpai."

Their relationship will revert to that of ordinary classmates and friends, and everything will return to normal.

The only difference is that Mizuhashi might have inspiration for light novels, and perhaps he can write a work that will be approved by editors.

This relationship is nearing its end, but Mizuhashi still has a future and everything she loves.

And I, Chen Jiuzhou, will protect all of this until she can spread her wings and fly high like a fledgling eagle leaving the nest.

It wasn't for any utilitarian reason; it was simply because she needed help, and I happened to be able to help her.

Just like when my master brought me back to the martial arts school that year, I learned martial arts so that I could become like him and then save more people like myself.