Without any hesitation, Shinobu admitted defeat. After Mitsuri released her, Shinobu glanced at her opponent.
She hadn't expected that such a crude martial art technique could defeat her—a fully trained Demon Slayer. True, she hadn't used her real sword or her poison, but a loss was a loss. And it didn't even seem like Kanroji had used her full strength.
Unlike Shinobu's silence, Mitsuri Kanroji was beaming with joy. She trotted over to Yohan's side and, with a bright smile, exclaimed, "How was that, Yohan? Wasn't I amazing?"
Yohan had confidence in Kanroji's victory, but he hadn't expected her to finish the match so swiftly and decisively. He reached out and ruffled her soft pink-green hair, his voice filled with indulgence.
"Mmm, you were fantastic!"
Then, with a teasing smile, he added, "As a reward for winning, I've got a surprise for you later!"
At this moment, Mitsuri Kanroji was still just a young girl—if one were to compare, in his past world, she'd still be a minor. It was his responsibility to make sure she was happy and carefree.
Kocho Kanae approached, bringing Shinobu along with her.
"…I'm sorry."
Shinobu lowered her head slightly, her voice carrying an unwilling but sincere apology. "I shouldn't have belittled the techniques you taught her."
"It's alright. I never took it to heart."
Yohan didn't want things to turn tense between them. After all, he knew that the girls in front of him were all kind at heart. Even Shinobu, who was currently hot-tempered and competitive, would one day become a gentle and wise person.
After checking with the system about the portion size of his Fugu Whale dish, Yohan decided to extend an invitation.
"Since we're all here, why don't we have a meal together?"
He wasn't a petty person, after all.
…
Thus, the dinner hosted by Yohan began.
Gathered at his home were the Kocho sisters, a heavily bandaged Rengoku Kyojuro, Mitsuri, and Yohan himself.
"So, what exactly are we eating?" Mitsuri's face was full of curiosity, echoing the thoughts of everyone present.
When they first received Yohan's invitation, Kanae had been hesitant. As hosts, it felt improper for them to let a guest treat them to a meal, especially since her younger sister had spoken so rudely earlier.
But when Yohan insisted that he had a "super delicious" dish prepared, Kanae relented. She wasn't the type to argue over such things, and since Yohan was so determined, she decided to go along with it.
Rengoku Kyojuro, on the other hand, had accepted the invitation without a second thought.
"Haha! A meal among friends? What's there to hesitate about? Let's eat!"
And so, despite needing rest, the group found themselves gathered in Yohan's home, waiting in anticipation.
With the guests and tableware ready, only one thing was missing—Yohan's promised "super delicious" dish.
"Alright, Yohan, let's eat already!" Rengoku, never one for patience when it came to food, declared loudly.
Seeing that everyone was prepared, Yohan finally brought out his reward from the system—Fugu Dish.
The first dish he served was an otherworldly delicacy: Fugu sashimi.
The moment he placed the platter on the table, everyone's eyes widened. The thinly sliced, translucent white fish was arranged elegantly atop fresh green lotus leaves.
"…Oh, it's just sashimi?" Shinobu's excitement visibly dropped.
She had been curious when Yohan hyped up his mysterious dish, but in the end, it was just raw fish? That hardly seemed special.
This time, however, she held her tongue. After all, Yohan had invited them for a meal—it would be too rude to complain.
Kanae gently knocked on Shinobu's head.
"Shinobu, look carefully. Have you ever seen sashimi like this before?"
Taking a closer look, Shinobu realized that the fish slices gleamed like gemstones. There was an alluring freshness to them, as if they were crafted from crystal.
"…Fine, I suppose I'll give it a try."
"Why don't you all taste it first before saying anything?" Yohan said with a knowing smile.
One by one, everyone picked up their chopsticks and placed a slice of Fugu sashimi into their mouths.
And then—
"Delicious!!!"
A chorus of exclamations erupted from around the table.
At that moment, no one had the time to make further comments—they were too busy stuffing their mouths with more fish.
Rengoku and Kanroji, being the two biggest food lovers, practically turned it into a competition, racing to devour as much as possible.
The Kocho sisters, though more reserved, abandoned any pretense of etiquette. Instead of picking up slices one by one, they began grabbing whole bunches of sashimi with their chopsticks.
Even the usually timid Kanao, who had been uneasy in the presence of so many strangers, was now entirely focused on the dish before her.
"Hahaha! Don't worry, there's plenty! Eat as much as you want!"
Seeing their reaction, Yohan knew his Fugu sashimi dish had won them over. Laughing, he joined in and enjoyed the meal alongside them.
…
The feast lasted until sunset.
By the end, every single person was sprawled out on the floor, completely unable to move.
"This… was… amazing!"
Rengoku Kyojuro attempted to roll onto his side but found himself stuck, his round belly preventing him from shifting.
As a warrior, he had always appreciated good food, but today's meal—this luxurious, fatty fish that melted in his mouth—had redefined his understanding of culinary perfection.
Kanroji, clinging to the edge of the table, managed to nod in agreement. "Yes! And it was so sweet too!"
The others didn't even have the strength to respond. All they could do was lift their heads slightly in acknowledgment before collapsing again.
The overwhelming satisfaction of a truly divine meal had left them all in a state of blissful food-induced exhaustion.
Yohan chuckled.
"This Fugu Sashimi isn't just delicious, you know."
Still sprawled on the floor, the group blinked in confusion.
"Huh?"
"Why don't you all take a moment and feel your bodies?" Yohan said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.
At his words, the room fell silent.
And then—
"…Wait… this feeling—?!?"
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