Evening.
Byakuya returned home carrying a large bag of groceries—the refrigerator had run empty.
"I'm home."
"I'm home."
Byakuya and Rize said in unison.
Seeing a pair of black and a pair of white shoes at the entrance, he knew Kurona and Nashiro had gotten home before them.
Hearing Byakuya's voice, Kurona and Nashiro emerged from the living room.
"Welcome back."
Though Kurona and Nashiro had only been staying at Byakuya's place for a few days, they seemed to have already adapted.
Nashiro considerately took the groceries from Byakuya's hands. "It's almost dinnertime. Please let me make dinner for you tonight, Byakuya-oniichan."
"Sure, though I could do it myself."
Byakuya noticed Nashiro had changed quite a bit. She used to be rather introverted and shy around strangers, but now she was even calling him "Byakuya-oniichan."
But why that form of address?
Byakuya wasn't the only one surprised—even Kurona hadn't expected Nashiro to suddenly address Byakuya this way.
But having been so close to Nashiro for so long, she could guess the reason. She knew well that Nashiro craved "love" from their "father" even more than she did. When that bastard had heartlessly abandoned Nashiro at her most helpless moment, perhaps Nashiro had developed a dependency on Byakuya?
Kurona wasn't entirely certain, but that seemed the most likely explanation.
And Byakuya's care for Nashiro truly did far exceed anything Kanou had ever shown...
"Please, let me do it. That way I can repay a little of what I owe you."
Nashiro spoke frankly.
Though her face remained expressionless, a faint blush colored her cheeks.
"Alright, but don't push yourself too hard."
Byakuya said.
As half-ghouls now, Kurona and Nashiro were no different from ghouls when it came to food. Normal food—even just the ingredients—would make them feel intensely nauseous.
So he didn't want Nashiro to force herself.
"I won't. I have this."
Saying this, Nashiro produced a face mask.
Apparently, wearing the mask would block the smell of the ingredients.
"..."
Byakuya couldn't help but chuckle. Nashiro's serious expression as she pulled out the mask was somehow adorable.
"I'll help Nashiro. After all, I owe you just as much."
Kurona then spoke up, her face equally expressionless.
"Okay, I'll leave it to you two then."
Byakuya said.
"Nashiro, do you have another mask?"
Kurona asked.
"Yes."
Nashiro produced another mask—she'd clearly planned ahead to cook dinner for Byakuya today.
The sisters then took the groceries into the kitchen.
Byakuya trusted their cooking skills and had no intention of checking on them.
After their biological father Nanao Yasuhisa's death, Kanou had forcibly taken over the Yasuhisa household. There was no way Kanou would cook for Kurona and Nashiro, so the sisters had likely been making their own meals since childhood.
...
Less than half an hour later.
Kurona and Nashiro emerged from the kitchen wearing aprons and masks, carrying plates of food. They'd prepared three dishes and a soup for Byakuya.
Seeing this, Byakuya moved to the dining table to eat.
Kurona and Nashiro also sat down, removing their masks. The smell of the dishes wasn't unbearable for them—as long as they didn't eat it.
Rize, unusually, also took a seat beside Byakuya. Normally, she wouldn't come near when he was eating.
Now Kurona and Nashiro sat perfectly straight, watching Byakuya expressionlessly, apparently waiting to see his reaction after tasting the food.
Yet despite there being four people at the table, only Byakuya was actually using chopsticks.
Only in Byakuya's household could you find such a peculiar situation: a family of four with him as the sole human.
"Is it good?"
"How is it?"
Byakuya had barely taken two bites before Kurona and Nashiro spoke up simultaneously.
"It's good."
Byakuya answered without hesitation.
He wasn't good at giving detailed reviews, so he could only express his appreciation through enthusiastic eating.
Both Kurona and Nashiro suddenly felt a pang of regret—if only they hadn't become one-eyed ghouls, they could be sitting here eating dinner with Byakuya like family.
True to their twin nature, they'd thought of the same thing at the same time, and faint, barely noticeable blushes appeared on both their faces.
But the blush faded quickly as they realized they could never go back. The half-ghoul transformation was irreversible.
"Do you like it?"
Rize, who had been calmly watching all of this, suddenly asked Byakuya.
"Hm?"
Byakuya didn't immediately understand what Rize meant.
"I mean, do you like having other girls cook for you?"
Rize clarified.
"It feels pretty nice."
Byakuya answered honestly.
"I see."
Rize nodded thoughtfully.
After dinner, Byakuya had intended to take the dishes to the kitchen himself, but Kurona and Nashiro beat him to it. They seemed determined to handle all the housework.
Afterward, Nashiro approached Byakuya. "Oniichan, how did I do?"
Her face showed no expression, but Byakuya could clearly sense the anticipation in her eyes.
"Very well done. You really helped me out."
Byakuya said immediately.
"Mm."
A joyful smile spread across Nashiro's face.
Seeing this, Kurona couldn't sit still.
She naturally wanted praise too.
But unlike Nashiro, she wasn't so straightforward. She casually walked over to stand beside Byakuya, trying to catch his attention without saying anything—clearly expecting him to read her mind.