Utaha and Eriri had known each other for a long time—starting off as the revered "twin ice queens" of their school, and now, through their shared connection with someone else, had practically reached the level of sleeping in the same bed.
While they might not know every single detail about one another, they had a pretty good idea.
The moment Utaha leaned in with that teasing tone and mischievous smile, Eriri knew exactly what was coming—she was about to get playful again.
Hot milk, huh? As if that really counted as milk!
Sure, it was definitely warm and it looked similar enough at a glance, but the implication was completely different!
"You're really turning into some kind of hentai heroine," Eriri mumbled under her breath before turning to leave.
"If I am, then you're no different," Utaha shot back lazily, prompting Eriri to stop, turn, and stick her tongue out at her.
Hmph, childish.
Utaha casually stabbed a straw into the milk carton, waiting for the others to finish changing so they could leave the dressing room together.
After a long and exhausting day of fun, the sun was setting—it was time to reward their stomachs.
Chisato led everyone out of the hotel to a local specialty restaurant to try a dish called "Genghis Khan Barbecue."
This dish had its roots in an old legend—when Genghis Khan and his army lacked proper cooking pots on the march, they ended up using iron helmets to grill food.
It turned out to be unexpectedly delicious.
Over time, that makeshift method evolved into the barbecue style they were now enjoying, eventually being recognized as one of the 52 Hokkaido Heritage cuisines.
For many, it was a must-try experience when visiting Hokkaido.
Inside a private room, everyone took the hot towels offered by the servers to wipe their hands. After the tea and side dishes were served, the main event finally arrived.
Red-hot charcoal burned beneath a special iron grill with a domed center and sloped edges, designed with narrow slits and grooves, perfectly fitting into the table's sunken middle section.
At last, the high-quality cuts of beef and lamb—white and pink marbled—made their long-awaited entrance, much to Ryo's delight.
The waitress explained how to properly grill the meat, and once she confirmed they didn't need further assistance, she smiled and left.
"Open the window, the smell of charcoal is a bit strong," Seika said to Nijika, who obediently complied.
Nowadays, many places opted for more cost-effective electric grills, and while those were tasty in their own right, something always felt lacking compared to traditional charcoal grilling.
"Can we start oiling the grill and putting on the meat now?" Ryo asked impatiently. The milk she had earlier after the hot spring was just an appetizer to her.
"Nope. The grill isn't hot enough yet. If you want the best-tasting barbecue, you'll have to wait just a little longer."
Chisato placed the fruit platter on the table in front of Ryo, telling her to have some first to fill her stomach a bit.
Ryo nodded reluctantly and started gnawing on a piece of cucumber, chewing dryly.
"Even though it's a bit chilly with the window open, the view outside is really nice."
Seika looked out the window, warming her hands under the table.
The dining table used in this restaurant was also quite old-fashioned, with a design different from most modern tables.
It resembled a household kotatsu, except instead of using electricity for heating, it relied on a charcoal grill placed in a sunken area at the center of the table to warm the lower half.
Since the recessed center didn't touch the ground, and the protruding section under the tabletop was wrapped in a special layer of heat-resistant cloth, there was no danger of burns as long as you didn't press your feet directly against it while wearing socks.
The warm covering around the table edges could also be removed and washed freely, so it could be used comfortably even in spring and summer. The design was quite clever.
"I did my research before we came—this place has great reviews online. Otherwise, I wouldn't have chosen it."
Chisato reacted in the same way as Seika, pulling his neck in and tucking his legs under the table, then sliding his hands in as well, unwilling to get up.
"The background by the window is really nice. Anyone want to take a photo here?"
Nijika, not tempted by the warmth under the table, eagerly picked up her phone and headed to the window.
After snapping a few pictures of the great view outside, she waved her phone toward the others.
"I wanna take one, I wanna take one."
Ikuyo raised her hand.
"My socials haven't been updated in a while. Let's take one together, Nijika! Oh, and Eriri, come join us too!"
"Eh, you're gonna post it online?"
"Don't worry, I'll only post the one with me and Nijika. The photo with you won't go up—just a little memento from our outing."
Ikuyo noticed Eriri's hesitation and reassured her proactively.
"Actually, I'm not really into posting pictures of myself on social media..."
Before she could finish, Ikuyo hugged the softly murmuring Nijika tightly.
"What are you saying? You're the leader of Kesshoku Band, the core figure! Fans following your account would be so disappointed if they couldn't see you for too long."
"...Alright then."
Watching them energetically posing for selfies with the scenery outside as the backdrop, Seika couldn't help but smile.
"This kind of thing is nice every once in a while."
"It really is."
Chisato held a teacup in both hands like an old man, gently blowing and sipping.
"We can't just bury ourselves in work and study forever. If we have the time, we should do more of this kind of thing."
"That just means you're gonna have to foot the bill more often."
"I've told you a hundred times already—don't call me 'President' in private... Hm?"
"?"
Seika looked at Chisato in confusion.
Chisato was feeling something brush lightly against the arch of his foot from under the table.
Without giving anything away, he casually kept chatting with Seika, but his gaze slowly shifted to Utaha.
When Utaha noticed his look, she expressionlessly bit her lower lip ever so slightly.
Chisato instantly realized who the foot beneath the table, silently teasing him with subtle toe movements, belonged to.
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50 advanced chapters on p@t re on (.) com/SenatusTheta
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