「Shidou! Wait a moment! The options are out!!!」
The slightly magnetic voice of Kannazuki came through the earpiece, and Shidou Itsuka felt an inexplicable unease for no reason.
The real world isn’t a gal game where you can save and start over.
Just like now, in theory, he was on a date with Tohka, but across the table sat his little sister and another spirit he’d only met yesterday.
And she was smiling as she spoke to him, saying she wanted the kids’ meal flag in his sister’s hand.
「① My cute little Kotori, can we share one flag with Kyoumi? (In a consultative tone)
② Boss, two more deluxe kids’ meals! (Order directly)
③ Good things should be shared with friends~ Be good, hand over the flag! Kotori! (Just assert big brother authority like this)」
「All members, vote!!!」
“The result is ② with the most…” Murakumo Reine listlessly raised her head, looking at the results on the big screen.
Option ② took over sixty percent, while ③ had only a measly single vote.
“If we go with option ①, Tohka might also become curious about the commander’s flag. If she wants one too, it won’t just be splitting one into two. The date target this time isn’t Beast; there’s no great need to rush raising her affection.”
The 【Dimensional Transcender】 Nakatsugawa, who had a hundred wives (all anime girl merch and figures), pushed up his glasses and began analyzing from the perspective that one leads to two.
“As the saying goes, the man who pays the bill best shows his charm! Coming to a family restaurant is ultimately about eating. From prior observations, with Tohka’s appetite—even if Beast ate earlier—our Princess can easily finish the remaining meals. It’s the safest option.”
The 【President】 Senbon, beloved by Filipino nightclub regulars, chimed in, backed by his ample bill-paying experience, sounding especially convincing.
“In comparison… ③, no matter how you look at it, would just get the commander to scold him, right?”
“Big brother authority isn’t something you flaunt in front of others. The kind of person who’d make such an annoying option…”
As the elite crew exchanged views, their gazes gradually turned toward the most likely voter for that single ticket—
It was Kannazuki Kyouhei, standing at the commander’s side.
This handsome man’s face carried a slight flush, his body trembling faintly.
Those somewhat familiar with the vice-commander already sensed trouble.
【Early Burnout】 Kawagoe and 【Dimensional Transcender】 Nakatsugawa stood up almost simultaneously, while 【Hour of the Ox Girl】 Chizaki pulled out a straw doll labeled with Kannazuki’s name.
“Shidou-kun, choose ③!”
Yet this man made his decision without a shred of hesitation.
“Shut up!!!”
Rising from her seat, 【Protective Surveillance Disposition】 Minowa pulled out hemp rope from under her chair and swiftly approached the beloved vice-commander of Fraxinus.
「Shidou-kun! Choose ③! The commander’s scolding and contemptuous gaze are the world’s treasures! As her brother, you must also want to be looked at like trash!! This is my lifelong req—you guys, what are you doing, hey, wait, you can’t—」
「Sorry, Reine, there’s a slight issue here. Just go with ②…」
After an indescribable perverted wail came through the earpiece, the sweating Shidou Itsuka finally heard the voice of the most reliable analyst, Murakumo Reine.
Working at Fraxinus is tough too…
Such a sentiment flashed through Shidou Itsuka’s mind.
Surprisingly, the boy who usually empathized with others’ pain felt no pity for Kannazuki—probably because that pig-like howl sounded both painful and happy.
More important than that was acting on the chosen option right now, but when his eyes met the purple-haired girl’s, Shidou Itsuka’s about-to-speak motion froze.
“Sorry…”
Apologizing for who-knows-what, Shidou Itsuka withdrew the arm pressed by Kyoumi’s fingertip and reached for the bulge in his waist pocket, fingers delving in.
With astonishing focus and homemaking skill, Shidou Itsuka mentally imaged the value of the few bills his fingers could touch.
“Um… Kotori?”
His movements stiff, Shidou Itsuka looked up at his sister.
“What is it, Shidou?”
Puzzled by the boy’s unnatural behavior, Kotori Itsuka raised a brow and asked.
She could hear Fraxinus’s conclusion too, and the girl had no objections to choice ②.
“…The price of the deluxe kids’ meal is…”
“One thousand yen.”
As a homemaking young man, Shidou Itsuka had full confidence in his judgment.
Without affecting the Itsuka household budget, judging from wallet thickness, he could only pull out three thousand yen.
Ultimately, it was just a kids’ meal—enough for a middle schooler like Kotori, but too little for himself.
And as a witness to Tohka’s eating spree, Shidou Itsuka had no doubt that two thousand yen worth of meals wouldn’t fill Princess’s stomach.
Ordering more would mean downgrading the Itsuka household’s meal standard for the next period.
For the boy somewhat obsessed with nutritional balance, this was undoubtedly a painful decision.
“…Ahh… geez…”
Apparently seeing through her brother’s intent, Kotori Itsuka shot Shidou a look like he was a hopeless idiot child and clapped her hands.
“Order here!”
…There are only four people in the restaurant to begin with.
Whether ordering was necessary was obvious, but the girl’s meaning was clearer still—that is—
“Congratulations, dear customers! You are today’s 100th ordering lucky customers. All meals at this table are free—”
“And here are lottery tickets for the shopping district! After leaving this store, go straight along the right-side street to reach the lottery center. This is a customer benefit—please do us the honor!”
It no longer sounded like a waiter’s attitude. No, fundamentally, they weren’t waiters at all.
The four colorful tickets respectfully presented on an iron tray pressured the boy.
It wasn’t a suggestion to use the lottery tickets—it was a must.
Not only getting the meal comped but even the next date route prepared, Shidou Itsuka once again felt Ratatoskr’s reliability.
“But this way…”
「It’s fine, Reine. The ingredients used and the cost of this meal will go straight into the store’s revenue. No pressure.」
“Is that so…”
It felt inexplicably like parental assist; Shidou Itsuka scratched his cheek, his peripheral vision catching Tohka’s shining eyes as she rapidly devoured the pudding in small, quick bites.
“Then I’ll respectfully accept.”
He couldn’t support it with his own wallet—no way.
For the Itsuka household budget, he had to accept this heavy assist.
Thus, Shidou Itsuka resolutely picked up the menu:
“Two deluxe kids’ meals, please. For me, an omelet and an omurice, a tempura. Tohka, order whatever you want!”
“Eh?! Really!!”
“Really!”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.