Tokyo: I took in a homeless girl

Shiori Minato ordered small pieces of steak with a baked rice dish for the two of them. Although it was a dish ordered by chance, it just happened to suit Haruno Sawayama's taste.

If he were to order something like snails, he might not be used to it. Of all the dishes in front of him, he probably doesn't eat foie gras much. But foie gras is actually similar to ice cream; even people who haven't had much experience with French cuisine can enjoy it.

Sawayama Haruno was no exception; once she had the knife and fork, she prepared to cut off a piece of foie gras to taste it.

Seeing his actions, Shiori Mine immediately began to imitate him in a very similar manner.

The petite girl gripped the cold silver knife and fork, carefully cutting open the perfectly seared foie gras. After putting that small piece of foie gras, still glistening with its own juices, into her mouth, her eyes brightened slightly.

As expected of a hotel located in such an expensive area, the chef they hired is clearly quite skilled. This small piece of foie gras not only had no fishy or burnt taste, but also had a wonderfully sweet, smooth, and melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Shiori Mine didn't even need to use her teeth to bite; with just a slight movement of her tongue, the small piece of foie gras melted instantly in her mouth, releasing a rich, meaty aroma that was simply irresistible.

"around the mouth."

Shiori Mimine looked very excited, and Haruno Sawayama, sitting opposite her, couldn't help but chuckle.

He pointed to the corner of his mouth, as if to remind the other person of the oil stains that had accidentally gotten on their lips.

Shiori Minami quickly realized she had made a fool of herself, but after so many things had happened, she wasn't too concerned about how she would appear in front of Haruno Sawayama.

She playfully stuck out her little tongue and quickly licked it around the corner of her mouth, "eliminating" the oil stain. This quirky and mischievous behavior was something Zeshan Chunye had never seen before, and he was momentarily stunned.

Don't look at me like that.

Shiori Mine's expression quickly began to heat up again.

Her actions just now were a bit bold, but what made her even more unable to resist rubbing her legs was the slightly surprised yet amused look in Sawayama Haruno's eyes. Ugh, that's so mean.

I'm following the instructions online, but why are they having the opposite effect? ​​It seems like I'm always the one who's at a disadvantage.

Shiori Mine felt increasingly embarrassed. To salvage the unnecessary awkwardness, she quickly picked up the wine glass beside her and said, trying to appear calm, "We haven't toasted yet, have we? Let's drink now."

"Shall we just toast like this?"

Sawayama Haruno rested her chin on her hand and said with a smile, "I thought Shiori would say something about drinking a toast together."

"I"

Once again, Shiori Mine was outmaneuvered by Haruno Sawayama. The girl's legs were clamped tightly together, and her eyes were so misty that they seemed to drip water.

That's too unfair! Even a casual remark from Zeshan Chunye was enough to overwhelm her. All those online guides were indeed lies; none of them actually worked.

Shiori Mine didn't realize that it was because her immunity to Haruno Sawayama was too low, and it wasn't the strategy's fault.

Regardless, since Sawayama Haruno had said so, she didn't want to be underestimated by him. For the first time in her life, Mine Shiori, who had never been angry with anyone, felt a desire to "challenge" him.

She came running over with a wine glass in hand, her face flushed as she looked at Sawayama Haruno.

"Come on." She pursed her lips, feigning composure, and said, "Since we're having a candlelight dinner, it's okay to be a little more intimate, right?"

"Ah, that's true."

Sawayama Haruno was somewhat surprised; the other party was actually serious.

He was just joking, after all, drinking from the same cup didn't really seem to go well with a candlelight dinner, but since the other person had already come all this way, he had no reason to refuse.

Without hesitation, he picked up his wine glass, then intertwined his arms with Shiori Mine's, and slowly brought the glass to his lips.

The dark red wine exuded an intoxicating aroma, but the two were only focused on each other from beginning to end. It wasn't until the incredibly smooth wine was swallowed down their throats that they belatedly realized they had finished the entire glass in one go.

What's going on, are we going to become sworn brothers?

Sawayama Haruno was a little unsettled; this development was far from a romantic candlelight dinner!

No, I can't tease Shiori Mine anymore.

If this continues, this petite girl, whose defenses are already incredibly weak, will probably overload her brain, and who knows what she might do in a moment.

Tonight is bound to see some "funny" things happen, but Sawayama Haruno doesn't want to leave the other person with any unpleasant or embarrassing memories, so she'll keep things in check and try not to tease them too much.

Just as he was making up his mind, Shiori Mine had already quickly turned back.

The petite girl's face was so flushed it was unbelievable, making it impossible to tell whether it was from drinking at close range or from drinking too much at once.

However, her flushed cheeks appeared exceptionally radiant under the dim candlelight, making it difficult to look away.

"cough"

Sawayama Haruno regained his senses a little. He cleared his throat and urged, "Let's eat first, or it'll get cold."

"Um"

Shiori Minami lowered her head and responded softly.

Apart from the foie gras, they haven't touched anything else yet.

After all, if even the appetizers were made to such a high standard, the main courses would certainly not disappoint the two of them.

Australian Wagyu beef is considered one of the highest-grade beef varieties, while island nations are also known for their Wagyu beef, but the two are naturally different.

To be precise, Australian beef tends to be more fatty, which is why chefs often choose it as an ingredient in their dishes because it is very versatile.

The beef from island nations is famous for its cooking methods, such as sukiyaki and sashimi. They are very good at using limited ingredients and the simplest yet most exquisite processes to bring out a different flavor.

Each has its own advantages, and at least for Sawayama Haruno, it's hard to find fault with either one.

The Australian Wagyu beef in front of us has also been carefully prepared by the hotel's head chef. It can be seen that it has been grilled at a low temperature for a long time with a blowtorch, resulting in a slightly charred outer shell and tender meat inside. With the sauce, you can also taste the unique light aroma of butter with every bite.

This is a common practice used by chefs in many European and American countries. Of course, because it is so well-known, chefs all over the world basically know how to cook it, but it takes several years of honing one's culinary skills to achieve this level of perfection.

Given Sawayama Haruno's current skill level, replicating it after eating it once wouldn't be too difficult.

Seeing that Shiori Mine seemed to enjoy the flavor of the beef, he secretly made a note of it, intending to use this trick to "win her over" when he returned to Japan.

He couldn't let the rewards from the system go to waste. Anyway, it wasn't too difficult for him. The real challenge was the sea urchin and black truffle baked rice later on.

Many people might think that rice is easier to handle than beef.

In fact, many chefs believe that rice is the most difficult dish to cook with the right heat.

Many ordinary chefs can make a simple dish, which is to put together the three elements of sea urchin, black truffle and baked rice. However, such a dish would be full of flaws when presented to the world's top chefs.

Simply combining ingredients doesn't allow their flavors to meld together. While it may seem like there's sea urchin and black truffle, the goal is to imprint the flavors of both into every single grain of rice.

This involves a little-known secret, which Sawayama Haruno only understood after "improving her skills": the most crucial step in making baked rice is the stir-frying process before baking.

First, stir-fry the rice to lock in the flavors of the other ingredients into every grain of rice. Then, bake it in the oven at a low temperature. This ensures that the rice grains are full of aroma and have a much better color than before.

Clearly, the sea urchin and black truffle baked rice in front of them did not disappoint either. The plump grains of rice, with their pale golden sheen, emitted wisps of steam under the candlelight, releasing an irresistible aroma that made their mouths water.

Shiori Minato carefully scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth, immediately tasting the pure aroma of cinnamon. Paired with the slightly sour yet sweet wine beside her, it was hard not to be captivated by tonight's candlelight dinner.

Sawayama Haruno's eating speed was certainly no slower than the other person's. To be honest, he had tried his best to control himself and eat slowly, after all, he didn't want to make Mine Shiori feel a little embarrassed if he ate too fast. However, this amount of food was still a bit too little for him.

Fortunately, the meal didn't take too long. After enjoying it for almost an hour, the two had almost finished the appetizers and main courses, and all that was left were cakes and desserts.

There's no rush to eat this.

At some point, the two slowly moved their chairs together and sat down facing the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, looking at the night view of Niagara Falls in the distance. They leaned against each other without saying a word, only occasionally making playful clinking sounds with their glasses.

The ambiguous atmosphere continued to rise, just as Shiori had anticipated. She wished time could stand still at this moment, yet she also hoped the next moment would come sooner.

Finally, after leaning on each other in silence for most of the hour, Haruno Sawayama spoke first.

"Shiori, it may seem a bit redundant to ask now, but are you happy?"

He turned his head, chuckled softly, and asked, "Will you be happy with me?"

"Of course."

Shiori Mine turned her head away shyly, tugging at the ends of her bangs, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm very happy. I really like being with Haruno, no. I really like Haruno."

The words that had been buried for so long were finally spoken at this moment.

The promise that should have been kept, the promise that should have been made last year—or rather, last year—was finally made.

Although she was a little late, Shiori Mine felt that the loneliness she had endured had been well compensated for, and now all she wanted to do was to throw herself into Haruno Sawayama's arms and act spoiled.

As for whether she would regret it, she never considered it, because she had suffered too much from regret before, so she decided from then on not to consider factors like whether she would regret it.

She believed that Haruno Sawayama would definitely take responsibility for her.

With a slightly uneasy feeling, Shiori Minami put down her wine glass.

Like a cat, she tugged at Haruno's sleeve, then slowly reached down to his body, and after locking onto Haruno's lips, she carefully kissed him.

Unlike the sweetness I had tasted before, this time it was the loneliness in my heart that was comforted. The young girl's heart, which had been wandering for so long, finally found its home at this moment.

Sawayama Haruno gently picked up the petite girl and slowly moved her to the large couple's bed next to him.

The nearly two-meter-wide bed could easily accommodate them, not to mention that Mine Shiori was so petite, like a delicate porcelain doll, that even Sawayama Haruno felt a little reluctant to hurt her.

Tonight is destined to be a long, but sweet, night.

Chapter 375 The Second Time We Stick Together in the Morning

The next morning, the chirping of birds outside the window was the first thing to wake up Sawayama Haruno.

He frowned slightly, and when he slowly opened his eyes, he saw a delicate, pretty face that was fast asleep.

Shiori Minami was sleeping soundly in his arms, her adorable appearance making him feel like he couldn't get enough of her. She seemed to be dreaming of something wonderful, as even in her sleep, Shiori couldn't help but have a sweet and happy smile on her face.

"."

Sawayama Haruno was somewhat lost in thought. Recalling what had happened last night, a knowing smile slowly appeared on his lips.

After going through so much, things finally came to a natural conclusion between him and Shiori Mine. Although the process had been quite lengthy, it was the best possible outcome.

Thinking this, Haruno Sawayama tried to put the other girl down from his arms, but this slight movement seemed to wake the girl who was still fast asleep.

Shiori Mine murmured something unconsciously, then slowly opened her eyes. When she saw Haruno Sawayama's helpless yet doting smile, she was clearly stunned for a moment, and it took her two seconds to realize what was going on.

"Well"

Shiori Minami immediately pulled up the blanket and shyly covered herself with it.

However, such actions seem somewhat like an attempt to cover up the truth, especially considering how unusually proactive she was last night.

Seeing this, Sawayama Haruno couldn't help but grumble to himself for a moment, but he wanted to be more considerate of her shy feelings, so after a brief pause, he smiled and asked, "Are you still feeling unwell?"

"Oh, that's all."

Shiori Mine's eyes darted around a little, and she said softly, "Is it almost time to check out now that you've recovered enough?"

The two of them had booked a room until noon today. They could have had breakfast and then gone back to their room to rest for a while, but last night's activities were too intense, so they both slept until after 11 o'clock. Now there was not much time left before check-out, so it was time to get up and pack their things.

Sawayama Haruno glanced at the clock on the wall and casually said, "We're almost there. Shiori, you should continue to rest. I'll pack your luggage."

"That's troublesome."

Shiori Minami initially wanted to say she would tidy up herself, but considering that she had become Haruno Sawayama's woman, she felt it would be better to listen to him. So she obediently agreed and continued to lie on the bed to recover her strength.

Meanwhile, Sawayama Haruno got out of bed, took out her phone, and sent a message to the driver. It would take more than an hour to get from the villa to the scenic area, so it was better to contact him in advance than to check out and wait foolishly downstairs.

In addition, his phone contained many unread text messages, most of which were sent by his four daughters.

Due to the time difference between Canada and the island nation, they rarely have the opportunity to chat online at the same time, and they mainly communicate through messages.

After a few days of patient waiting, the real estate agent finally managed to arrange all the furniture and belongings for the house that Haruno Sawayama bought in Minato Ward.

The girls moved into their new homes almost without hesitation, and even Mana Miyazawa somehow convinced her parents to let her live with them in Minato Ward.

The only one who was somewhat dissatisfied with this was probably Miyazawa Maki. However, given that Ayano Yui was always there to help this person and that person, perfectly upholding Sawayama Haruno's principle of treating everyone equally, Miyazawa Maki found it difficult to complain and could only accept this reality.

As a result, most of the text messages that Sawayama Haruno received on his phone were about the girls taking pictures of their new homes. It seemed that they had already started planning how to decorate the villa, which made Sawayama Haruno feel somewhat helpless.

I'm the owner of the house, so let them do what they like. After all, I bought the house with their preferences in mind.

"Straight leaf."

Sawayama Haruno's gaze skipped over the photos of her new home and went straight to the text message that Esaki Suguha had sent her.

The other party has already returned to the Ezaki family and plans to stay at the original residence for a couple of days. It seems that her brother, Ezaki Naoto, will also be coming back to stay for a while. I wonder what it will be like when the two of them meet again.

The text message revealed Suguha Ezaki's underlying worry, and also mentioned visiting her mother, wondering if another argument would break out.

However, Suguha Ezaki has her own unique characteristic: she can cheer herself up on her own without Haruno Sawayama's comfort. In her last text message, she told Haruno not to worry about her and to enjoy her trip in Canada.

After reading everything, Haruno Sawayama began preparing his reply when Shiori Mine, who was lying on the bed, couldn't resist coming closer.

"Did Suguha go home?"

Minato Shiori, who was standing next to her, saw the text message from Sawayama Haruno and asked curiously, "Is she okay on her own? Didn't she say she had a very unpleasant falling out with her family?"

"No matter what, they are still family. It's impossible for us to never see each other again until we die."