My roommate turns out to be the heiress of a triad!

Seeing that Yukiko Higuchi had been looking rather down these past two days, her mother, Yuka Higuchi, specially prepared to make her favorite hamburger patties tonight.

Mix ground pork and beef to make a mixed meat filling, then add chopped cooked onions, soft breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, salt, and other seasonings, and mix well by hand.

Pinch off a handful of appropriately sized minced meat and pat it between your hands to squeeze out the air.

Continue cooking until the meat filling becomes sticky and forms a patty shape.

Once the oil in the pan is hot, add the meat patties.

The meat patty sizzles the moment it hits the hot oil, and soon the aroma of meat fills the room.

"Honey, go call Yukiko, it's time to get ready for dinner."

Higuchi Yuka was busy in the open kitchen, giving instructions to Higuchi Toshiyuki, who was looking at the Yomiuri Shimbun in the living room.

After hearing the instructions, Higuchi Toshiyuki put down his newspaper and looked towards the second floor.

Even if you say that…

He looked resentful and couldn't help but start complaining.

The daughter upstairs was once his dear little darling.

[Daddy, happy to be home!]

[Hahaha. Dad, what did you bring back today?]

[Dad, can you come to school for the parent-teacher meeting tomorrow?]

[Huh? Could you please wash my clothes and my dad's clothes separately?]

The relationship between his daughter, who is entering adolescence, and her father is becoming increasingly strained, to the point where they are about to start arguing over the slightest disagreement.

And she doesn't seem to be in a good mood lately.

If I go up and knock on the door now, my daughter might dislike me again.

"Souichiro, go upstairs and call your sister down for dinner."

Higuchi Toshiyuki set his sights on his two-year-old son.

Higuchi Soichiro, who was sliding his wooden pony on the carpet, immediately put down his toy upon hearing his father's words.

I ran barefoot on the hardwood floor, step by step, up the stairs, and knocked on my sister's door. There was a sign with panda and bamboo elements hanging on it, and the words "No Entry" were written on it.

Then she took a deep breath and shouted in a childish voice.

"Sister, come out for dinner!"

"Okay~~~"

A drawn-out reply came from inside the room.

Standing at the door, Higuchi Soichiro could still hear his sister getting out of bed, putting on her slippers, and walking step by step toward the door.

With a click, the wooden door was unlocked from the inside, and a blonde girl who had changed into pajamas and removed her makeup came out.

Because she had removed her makeup, Yukiko Higuchi's eyes looked much softer, and her overall demeanor changed from that of a fiery and passionate glamorous girl to that of a cute girl next door.

The only constant is its towering grandeur, far surpassing that of its peers.

However, since he was wearing loose loungewear at the time, it's not noticeable now.

"It was Soichiro who called me to dinner."

Yukiko Higuchi picked up her younger brother in a childlike voice, closed the door, and went downstairs.

"Mommy made hamburger patties today, and they smelled so good!"

"Really? How many pieces will Soichiro be able to eat today?"

Soichiro was held in Yukiko Higuchi's arms, his innocent eyes rolling around.

Then he stretched out his little right hand and showed three fingers.

"Three pieces!"

"Wow. Three pieces! Soichiro is amazing!"

Higuchi Yukiko's exaggerated tone gave Soichiro a great emotional response, making him laugh heartily and extremely happy.

After going downstairs, she found her father sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper.

Then, for the first time ever, I greeted him.

"Wow, Dad's home really early today."

"Hmm, um. The company project is progressing faster than expected, so I'm leaving get off work on time today."

strangeness.

Normally, Yukiko would ignore him as if he were invisible whenever she saw him.

In order not to be disliked by her, I rarely talk to her.

Why did you take the initiative to say hello today?

Could it be that something good has happened?

But that's not right.

If something good has happened, why do you seem so downcast these past few days?

Higuchi Toshiyuki had doubts, but he really couldn't guess what these teenage girls were thinking.

"Come wash your hands, everyone. It's time to eat."

Mother Higuchi Yuka poured the prepared sauce over the portioned hamburger patties and gave instructions to everyone.

After she had set out the sumptuous dishes for tonight on the table, the three of them, including the little one, had already washed their hands and settled into their respective seats.

Tonight, the Higuchi family's meal is hamburger patties with vegetable salad and rice.

It's a dish that everyone can be satisfied with.

······

Generally speaking.

No one speaks during the Higuchi family's mealtimes.

This was a rule set by Toshiyuki Higuchi, the head of the family.

The saying goes, "One should not speak while eating or sleeping."

He believes that eating food with greater focus is a sign of respect for the cook and the ingredients, and it reflects the strictness or laxity of a family's upbringing.

But young people these days don't buy into his act at all.

After being disliked by his daughter, Yukiko Higuchi, he has loosened some of the rules he had set before over the years.

The way Yukiko Higuchi is doing now, using chopsticks to break a large hamburger patty into small, easy-to-eat pieces, was not allowed in the past.

She put a hamburger patty into her mouth and chewed. The thick, meaty texture and rich, flavorful juices instantly filled her mouth, bringing her great satisfaction.

"Mmm~ Mom's hamburger patties are so delicious."

"Hahaha, if it's delicious, Yukiko, eat more."

When Higuchi Yuka saw her daughter's happy smile, her worries vanished.

During the meal, Yukiko Higuchi chatted with her mother the whole time.

Today, on the train from my home in Shibuya to Kitasakano High School, I heard that the female lead in a certain morning drama had really beautiful makeup, and I hope my mom can teach her how to do it.

Or you might feel like you've gained weight recently, all because your mom's cooking is so delicious.

While talking about interesting things that had happened at school recently, she paused unexpectedly, and her expression changed from excitement to calm.

That's the problem.

Here it is.

The two parents discovered the root cause of their daughter's recent unhappiness in an instant.

Something must have happened at school.

"You said that the Kitasakano basketball team added a few handsome and good-at-basketball guys this year, what happened next? Don't leave us hanging."

Her mother, Higuchi Yuka, cautiously probed her.

The problem probably lies with these few boys who are good at basketball.

"Oh? Ah, that's not important. I suddenly remembered a question I wanted to ask Dad and Mom."

Yukiko Higuchi suddenly put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a napkin, straightened her back, and said solemnly.