Reiko Onodera shook her head helplessly at the nervous girl.
"Just call me Sister Reiko, Risa, you need to relax. Treat this place like you're with your own family. There's no need to be so formal."
"Okay, okay, Sister Reiko."
Although the meal was delicious, Yaguchi Risa just wanted to cry (╥﹏╥), she felt so constrained and uncomfortable! She was on pins and needles, and even with the presence of delicious food, she'd rather be at home eating instant noodles!!
"That's right, that's right, Risa, just help yourself, make yourself at home, mmm mmm!"
Misaki Saki, who was sitting nearby, chimed in with agreement, her pouting little mouth covered in sauce, which made the food she was enjoying look even more appetizing.
In the future, if Misaki became a successful professional, becoming a food vlogger would be quite nice!
"If you don't want to go home, you can stay over tonight and sleep with me, my bed is really, really big!!"
"Ah?" Yaguchi Risa froze on the spot, completely flabbergasted.
Why would they insist I stay overnight?!
How, how can I refuse this?!
"What's the matter?" Misaki Saki cocked her head and blinked her big eyes, the circle of grease around her lips looking rather comical.
She was looking forward to spending the night with little Risa and then, hehehe, carrying out the grand Misaki Dango Plan!!
If possible, she wanted to turn little Risa into a devoted follower just like Hoshina, hehehe!!
"No, it's nothing, I just..."
Facing the little one's query, Yaguchi Risa's cheeks flushed with a hot, hot blush in an instant, and she stammered without being able to articulate her words, her mind spinning rapidly as a faint wisp of smoke seemed to drift above the girl's head.
My brain... has gone into standby...
"Does eating not even keep your mouth shut?"
It was obvious to Haruka Yuzan what silly things were running through the little one's head, and without any courtesy, he gave her a chop to the head,
"Just eat your food and stop talking about other things."
Misaki Saki yelped in pain, clutching her head, the big eyes now misting with tears of indignation, "Mmm! Risa is still here, can you at least save me some face!!"
"Just eat your food nicely."
"Hmph! Hoshina, Haruka is picking on me again!!" Orıginal content can be found at novel{f}ire.net
Watching the two start to bicker in front of her, Yaguchi Risa let out a sigh of relief, glad that she wouldn't be pressured into staying overnight.
However, for some reason, she felt a faint sense of disappointment at Haruka Yuzan's decision not to let her stay.
Could it be... that I'm really not valued in his heart?
This is just how a young girl's mind works; even though she was helped out of an awkward situation, her thoughts would always drift into unrelated corners.
The meal went on for a long time, and the overall atmosphere was joyful and pleasant.
By seven in the evening, night had fallen, and the gentle streetlights slowly came on.
"It's so late now, Risa, how will you get home? You really should stay here..."
Reiko Onodera glanced at the evening sky, unable to hide the worry in her brows.
"Ah? I, I can go back on my own, there's no, no problem,"
Yaguchi Risa hurriedly explained, "Today, I've already caused, a lot of, trouble, there's no need for this."
"No, it's too dangerous for you to go home alone."
Without explaining, it would have been fine, but once she spoke, stammering and fumbling her words, how could they let such a shy and restrained girl go home alone?
"That's right, that's right, Risa, stay here tonight!! My bed is really big!! And, I'll let you in on a secret, the Roast Meat can do backflips, I'll have it perform for you tonight."
The persistent Misaki Saki stepped forward again, bouncing and tugging at the little employee's clothing, her bright eyes filled with innocence.
It was clear that she was determined to have Risa stay the night!
Yaguchi Risa looked even more anxious.
At that moment, Haruka Yuzan stood up and walked naturally to the villa's entrance, saying softly,
"If Risa doesn't want to stay, she must have things to do tonight; it's better if I just drive her home."
With that, not giving the girl a chance to speak, he walked out the door, "I'll wait for you outside."