Stealing Spree

Chapter 2748: Preparing her breakfast

“Alright, I lost this time,” I murmured, leaning down to press my forehead against hers. “Let me heat this. But we’re talking about the ‘three o’clock in the morning wake-ups’ while you eat. Don’t deny it. I want to know what’s making you so busy and if I can at least help you with it.”

Mizuki rolled her eyes so hard I was surprised they didn’t get stuck, but the tiny smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. “Yes, honey.”

She stiffly added that endearment as her lips curved into a sarcastic and sweet smile at the same time. Then she wriggled out of my arms and pushed me on my back toward the kitchen like she couldn’t wait for the food I would prepare for her.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at that. The way she said ‘yes, honey’ with that deadpan sarcasm laced with genuine affection was something else. It’s one of those little things about Mizuki that made resisting her impossible. Even when she’s clearly deflecting.

“Coming right up, hon,” I shot back, matching her tone as I let her shove me toward the open kitchen. The place was as impeccably clean as I remembered. A spotless counter with everything in its place, like she’d spent the last hour stress-cleaning instead of just changing clothes.

She trailed behind me, barefoot steps light on the floor as she hopped up onto one of the high stools at the island counter. Crossing her legs, she rested her chin on her hand and watched me with those lovely amethyst eyes that missed nothing. It’s like having an inspector and a waiting glutton at the same time.

I picked up the bag and took out the bento box I used to put our breakfast leftovers.

Well, it’s generous to say that it’s just leftovers. Akane and Nao prepared a lot, and most of them only ate a part of it. Other than that, there were also cookies from the batch Nao and I baked last night.

I first opened the container for the cookies, picked up a piece and turned to Mizuki.

She raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow as she watched my hand move towards her. Like a quick cat snatching a toy, the cookie was immediately trapped between her teeth before her mouth slowly closed around the edges.

An audible crunching sound echoed as she took a bite from my hand, crumbs clinging to her lower lip for half a second before her tongue darted out to catch them.

“Come on, Mizuki. Will you hold it or do I feed you these cookies first?” I smirked, watching her eyes sparkle in delight. The sweetness was perfect for her taste, and the fact that I’ve brought it for her already passed all her standards.

Without breaking eye contact, she leaned forward just enough for me to feel the warmth of her breath when she spoke.

“Feed me,” She said in a tone as though she was issuing a challenge instead of asking for a favor. “You’re the one who brought them. Take responsibility.”

I snorted. As always, even when she was exhausted and clearly starving, she still had to make it feel like I had to serve her. Not that I’m complaining.

Seeing her smile was rewarding enough to do this for her.

“Whatever my Mizuki wants, she gets,” I muttered as I had her finish the first piece before picking up another cookie. This time, I broke it in half first, just to be a little mischievous about it.

She narrowed her eyes, but the way her lips parted told me she got a full read on my attempt to tease her.

I slipped the piece in, letting my thumb brush the corner of her mouth on purpose.

But Mizuki, instead of flinching or pulling away, closed her lips around the cookie and the tip of my thumb before pulling back with a tiny, smug smirk.

“Delicious. A little salty though. Should I have bitten your thumb, honey?” She licked a stray bit of chocolate from her lower lip like she knew exactly what that did to me.

“Mhm. You should have. Or maybe you’d prefer to suck something else?”

“Pfft. This pervert... Is the side effect of the tea still in your system? I thought you were getting squeezed by everyone in that house every morning?”

“Well, it got squeezed out already. But don’t forget the insatiable desire of your ‘honey’.”

“Indeed. That’s a bottomless pit. That’s why we kept growing in numbers. I’m regretting not leashing you sooner. Now it’s impossible to do so.”

I put on a slightly embarrassed smile before stuffing her mouth with another cookie, “Alright. Eat more. Anyway, leashing me won’t be enough. As if you don’t know how much of a menace I am.”

She tried to say something but with her mouth already filled with a cookie, her voice just came out muffled.

I then turned to her fridge and poured her a glass of milk before pushing the cookie container close to her and finally starting to prepare her breakfast.

Like she said, I’m still on the clock. I have more or less half an hour before my appointment with Tsubame. I could spare being a few minutes late but after recalling our conversation on the phone last night, I believe I shouldn’t be comfortable keeping her waiting.

I plated the reheated egg roll, grilled salmon and a few pieces of bacon first. The enticing aroma filled the kitchen almost instantly.

Mizuki’s nose twitched like a puppy’s. She then leaned forward on the counter, chin still propped on her hand as she slowly bit into another cookie while her eyes tracked every move I made.

“Hurry up, honey,” She said after downing half of the milk to clear her airways. She intentionally dragged the endearment like she was sharpening it into a weapon. Or maybe, she’s already planning to keep using it. Just like how Akane started calling me husband, while Haruko and Yae also came up with their own endearment for me.

“Your future wife is about to perish from hunger.”

“Future wife, huh?” I slid the plate in front of her with chopsticks and a reheated miso soup. “Well, that’s not entirely wrong. I’m planning to marry all of you, after all.”

She snorted, but the tips of her ears went pink. Victory.

With that, I turned to the stove again to turn the bowl of rice into fried rice. After all, I also had to contribute, right? It’s the breakfast my girls made.

Like a fascinated audience watching a cooking show, Mizuki kept her chin propped on one hand, the other lazily picking at the cookies while her eyes tracked the spatula like it was a butterfly.

Every time I tossed the rice with a flick of the wrist, her gaze followed the motion. You’d think I was performing open-heart surgery instead of making garlic fried rice with leftover egg and bits of salmon skin for crunch.

“Stop staring like that,” I muttered as I added a few drops of oil and soy sauce into the pan. “It’s not like this is the first time I did this for you.”

“Can you blame me? You’re the one who decided to play house husband in my kitchen,” She shot back, voice muffled around another cookie. “I’m just enjoying the rare sight of the great Onoda Ruki in an apron.”

“I’m not wearing an apron.”

“I know. Next time, I’ll prepare one. And you have to be naked to wear it.” She licked a smear of chocolate off her thumb, slow and deliberate, then flashed me that tiny, wicked smirk of hers.

Whatever she’s planning, it would still end up backfiring for her. But then again, she’s also planning to have me in a naked apron, huh?

A few minutes later, I slid the finished fried rice into a bowl, added a sunny-side-up fried egg and a sprinkle of chopped scallions as toppings. I set it in front of her like an offering to a very demanding goddess.

I set aside another bowl for Suzuki-san. That woman also deserved a treat, right?

Mizuki’s eyes softened for half a second before she caught herself and schooled her face back into cool indifference.

She picked up the chopsticks, snapped them apart with a crisp sound, and dug in.

The first bite was quiet. The second came with a tiny, involuntary hum that she tried and failed to swallow back.

I rested my hip against the counter, arms crossed, watching her like how she watched me. “How is it? Good?”

She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she scooped another bite, egg yolk breaking and running golden into the rice, then finally glanced up. The tips of her ears were still pink.

“...It’s acceptable,” she said, voice flat, but the way she immediately went for another mouthful betrayed her completely.

I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “You’re the worst liar when food’s involved. Told you, you should stop hiding that you’re a glutton when in front of me.”

“Shut up and sit down, idiot.” She nudged the stool beside her with her bare foot. “Fire your questions away. I get that I won’t be able to keep those things from you.”

“Heh. Fair point.”

“Hmph. You and your desire to help. Alright, I’ll give you a chance. By the way, turn on the TV and watch what I told you earlier.”

TV? Oh... The news regarding Mitsui Kyoka, huh?