1
"You want me to teach you how to cook, Yuki-san?"
"That's right"
Yuki nodded.
That day, there weren't many people at the Toujou household.
Basara and Mio, as well as Zest went out to buy storage boxes needed
for Zest's room, Kurumi had some business with the Village and was
gone in the morning.
Maria finished her chores, and once she got to the living room after
that, Yuki suddenly asked her that question.
"Why... Can I at least ask that?"
"Yes. Because I want to cook for Basara"
Yuki affirmed without embarrassment.
"A very girlish wish. But, why suddenly?"
Maria tilted her head.
"As far as I know, it's not like you don't know how to cook... In fact,
if you take out myself and Zest-san, you're probably the best in this
household"
"That's because I lived alone while observing Mio"
"And you've cooked for Basara-san before too"
"Yes. But, it's not enough."
Yuki shook her head.
"Not enough?"
"I watched TV last night"
Yuki used the remote control for the TV, and turned it on.
Then, she showed a drama that was on the DVR.
Although the actors are japanese, the setting is medieval Europe.
While wearing a western style armor, this Japanese actor looked calm,
then, a good looking young actor appeared.
Even though the film was set during some sort of conflict, he looked
very much like a cook.
He was wearing an apron, and what he was holding in his hand was a
kitchen knife.
"A Japanese cook time traveled to medieval Europe, to the time of the
hundred year war"
"So it's like travel in a sense"
"And then to end the war, he fights against Jeanne d'Arc. Through his
cooking that is."
"That makes no sense!"
"Cooking... can change people's hearts. It can change the world"
With her usual cool expression, Yuki clenched her fist.
"I didn't think he would be able to save Jeanne d'Arc from her fated
death"
"...You really got into this huh?"
Maria was at a loss for words.
"Basara is always happy to eat Zest's cooking"
"That's true... Zest-san is so good it surprised even me. I can see what
you mean"
Maria sighed.
"Having to reach a man's heart through his stomach is truly a
primitive way to go about it. However it's definitely effective."
She nodded wholeheartedly.
"I understand. So, this succubus who supports love, will help with
Yuki-san's cooking, full of love!"
"Thank you"
Yuki clasped her hands.
2
To the right and left of Maria as they walked were various shops,
salons, florists, bakeries, butchers, fish markets, vegetable stands and
more.
They're currently at the shopping district by the closest train station.
The colorful signs, the old buildings, all of it brought an aged feeling
to the shops.
Yuki tilted her head, as she looked at Maria leading the way.
"Why the shopping district? Isn't the supermarket closer?"
"The supermarket is super convenient. Truth is, I often make use of
their service too. Their opening hours are from morning to late night
too, and their ingredients are fresh"
Then, why? Yuki asked again,
As that happened,
"Ah, Maria-chan!"
Someone called out to them.
After noticing it, the fish shop owner was smiling at Maria.
"Good afternoon," Maria replied.
"What are you up to today?"
Maria stopped to look at the fish on display.
As far as Yuki could see, they're all fresh.
"You, girl right there, are you Maria's older sister? No, I haven't seen
you before, are you her cousin?"
"...I am"
"She's my relative, because of school, she's living with us"
"Ohh, Maria-chan is a good girl"
Even though she's somewhat confused, Yuki nodded along.
"Anyway, gramps, I was thinking of oyster today"
"That's good, but it's a bit early season-wise"
"Yes. I want to eat Fried Oyster"
"In that case, it's fine with what I have now. Thanks as always! I also
through in some extras"
"Thank you"
Maria's face was brightly shining as she received a large amount of
oysters.
Yuki bowed to the shopkeeper and then started walking again with
Maria.
"It's Maria-chan! You're such a sweet girl, shopping today too"
It didn't take long for the owner of the vegetable stand to call them
over.
Smiling, Maria went over to the stand.
The vegetable stand also gave them extras.
3
"You know a lot of people"
After they finished shopping, Yuki said that while carrying the cooler
bag full of ingredients.
Even after the vegetable stand, they kept going and Maria kept
chatting with various shop owners with a smile.
It was easy to tell just from how much she's enjoying herself and how
familiar they act around her that they like her.
"Everyone is so kind"
Maria said in earnest.
"When you're cooking with ingredients you might not be familiar
with, they'll even give you tips on the best way to cook with them"
Maria looked towards the shopping district.
"The supermarket is convenient since it's close to home and cheap.
However there's benefits to shopping at the shopping district since you
can get more service out of it."
"Yeah. I understand"
Yuki had a gentle look on her face.
What she's seeing right now is not Toujou Basara's little sister, not the
demon maria, not even the loli ero succubus who's always plotting
something.
What was before her right now isn't Toujou Basara's little sister, not
the demon Maria, or even the ero loli succubus who's always plotting
something.
It was the Naruse Maria who works hard every day doing the chores.
"But.. Why?"
Yuki asked quietly.
"What do you mean?"
"I asked you to help me with cooking. And I'm happy you're willing
to help... But really, you're on Mio's side"
Maria grinned with a" fufu", showing a bit of surprise on her face.
"That may be so", Maria said, narrowing her eyes.
"But more than that, a succubus is the ally of a girl in love. And
besides that, a lewd bitch's"
Even if her expression didn't change much, Yuki blushed.
4
There's the sound of a kitchen knife against a cutting board.
"Mm. As expected it should be like this or, maybe like that..."
Maria's fussing voice could be heard in the kitchen.
In the Toujou household kitchen, Yuki is cooking, wearing an apron
over her uniform.
Yuki, wearing an apron over her uniform, is cooking in the kitchen of
the Toujou household.
She used the knife safely without any hesitation.
She cut the vegetables at regular intervals, making clean cuts without
using too much power.
"You can match up with Basara-sama in multi-saber swordplay,
concentrating on techniques, so perhaps it's natural"
"I'm not picky with the sword. I can fight even without Sakuya"
Yuki said with a sigh.
"This isn't a battle"
"In a way, it's a battle of love"
"I see, if so..."
Maria noticed that Yuki's level of precision further increased. The
radish was well cut. Furthermore, the onion was cut thinly, and the
tomato and lettuce were cut perfectly to just the right size, and even the
more confusing avocado was in an instant.
After swapping cutting boards, she prepared the chicken, separating
them into good sizes.
"Ah. We're using the chicken skin this time, so leave it in the freezer"
"Got it"
Maria continued to watch over Yuki as she cooked.
After a bit, the sound of cutting stopped.
"As expected of you. So then, let's make a meal that would be healthy
for Basara-san"
"Yes"
Together with the just-cut ingredients, the necessary cooking tools
were already lined up.
Maria had prepared them beforehand.
"The menu for tonight's dinner is "Filling the stomach, warming the
insides! Fried Oyster", "Perfect for winter, honey and ginger warming
the body, radish with honey ginger soup!", "The butter of the forest—
thick avocado and cheese! Caesar salad" and the desserts are "harmony
of taste and sweetness! Loved even by the goddess of childbirth,
pomegranate smoothie" and "even though it's simple it's sweet and
bitter, chocolate cake!" We will deliver this five course meal"
"We will"
Yuki answered while breading the oysters in breadcrumbs.
"It's a nutritious meal. For Basara-san's sake, and for Yuki-san's sake
too, I will work hard to help"
"Please do"
With a super serious face, Yuki bows her head, not letting her eyes
leave her cooking.
5
The sweet scent of the chocolate cake
Maria, who's watching Yuki's back as she works with the chocolate
cream, let out a coughing noise.
Yuki who was still busy with the cake didn't take notice.
In order to not show her expression, Maria hid her face with her
hands.
"Everything is going according to plan"
Maria's expression turned into a glossy smile as she peeked through
her fingers.
There was no love in her thinning eyes, and her lips curled to a
sardonic smile.
It's the expression of a devil who succeeded in tricking a human.
"So it's Yuki-san's turn to cook dinner today"
As a voice interrupted her, Maria's face changed back to her usual
expression.
Zest had just returned home from shopping.
Wearing her maid uniform, she took interest in Yuki who was hard at
work in the kitchen.
"Should I help too?"
"Don't worry about it today. Yuki-san said she wants to make it
herself."
"I understand"
Getting her assent, Zest continued watching Yuki.
"Yuki-san's cooking is quite charming, isn't it"
"There's no wasted movement. The arrangement of the food is rather
plain, but there's a logic behind it"
Seeing the finished fried oysters on the plate, as well as the finished
cake, Zest didn't bother to hide how impressed she was.
Within that, Yuki took a break.
She finished getting the cream for the cake, and now it just has to
cool.
"Not enough"
Yuki said sharply.
She glared at the cake like she's in the middle of a battle with it.
"No. I've seen it on TV. ...That's a magic spell. Of love."
And then, breathing in.
"—Put it in. Be delicious, be delicious"
With both hands making a heart shape, she wriggled around like that.
The love is probably poured right into the cake.
"Here it comes...! With a serious expression, your shining love!"
As if holding back her heavy breathing, Maria's back trembled.
"This is it...! I see, this is the way"
Zest who was next to her made a confused face, thinking that this is
something she should make note of.
6
"Amazing... Did you make all this, Yuki?"
Basara let out a surprised voice at the spread of food on the dinner
table.
Basara along with everyone else are all at the dining table.
The hot fried oyster on each plate was accompanied by homemade
tartar sauce. The plentiful batter was fried well, looking shiny.
In the soup bowls was the honey ginger soup. The radish and onion is
in it, alongside small-cuts of chicken thighs. The scent of ginger is gentle
and soft, filling the room.
The salad bowl was in the middle of the table, it was filled with the
Caesar salad complete with homemade dressing. With half-cooked egg in
it, the dressing was accompanied by onion and lettuce.
Their glasses were filled with a red-colored pomegranate smoothie.
Then, the scent of cheese does not lose out to the sweet and sour scent
of the fried food.
Yuki said the chocolate cake is in the fridge.
"...That's tastes pretty good"
Mio gulped down.
Kurumi was just in awe.
"Maria taught me"
"No, I just helped with the shopping, Yuki-san did all the cooking. I
didn't really teach much"
Maria gives a wry smile.
"So... Let us eat"
At Maria's words, the rest gathered around.
After saying "thank you for the meal", Basara put a fried oyster in his
mouth.
"—!? It's good!"
The oyster spilled out into his mouth from the batter.
The taste spreading in his mouth fit well with the tartar sauce.
Without thinking, he took a second bite, finishing his first fried
oyster. In no time at all, he started onto the next fried oyster, and he also
began working on his caesar salad.
Mio tasted the honey ginger soup.
"The soup is delicious as well. It really warms up the body. It's cold
outside so this is good, especially after having just come back from
outside"
Kurumi also could only mutter "delicious…" as she was at a loss for
words.
"There's still more. I prepared chocolate cake for dessert"
"Prepared?"
While nodding confidently, Yuki took out more caesar salad and fried
oyster.
The hands of Basara and the others weren't stopping.
The day's dinner for the Toujou family proceeded quietly.
7
"Thank you for the meal"
Basara clasped his hands together again and took a breath.
Mio and Kurumi did the same.
Even though there's more food than usual for dinner, nothing remains
of the fried oysters, the soup, the salad and even the pomegranate
smoothie.
After finishing the chocolate cake for dessert, they were now in a state
where they had truly ate too much.
Softly, Basara's eyes met with Yuki's.
Even after parting her lips, Yuki said nothing.
But Basara continued looking at her kindly.
"Yuki. It was really delicious. Thanks"
"I-is that so... if so, I'm glad"
A smile surfaced on Yuki's face.
Her smile, together with her faintly blushing cheeks, show that she's
happy.
"It's really delicious"
Mio said, but she then looked away, and muttered "...maybe I should
get Maria to teach me too"
"Onee, it was all delicious. You're amazing"
Kurumi said with admiration in her voice.
"I also learned what I was lacking when it comes to myself"
Zest put her hands in the shape of a heart, but the embarrassed Yuki
didn't notice that.
Among everyone, only one remained quiet.
"Maria? What's wrong?"
Basara said to Maria who didn't seem like herself, her tension
extremely low.
"Why?"
Maria said.
"If it's like this"
When looking at her, it appeared as if she was shaking, with a bit of
sweat on her face.
"What is?"
"It was delicious, Basara-san! Today's dinner of oysters, pomegranate,
avocado too! And on top of it, honey and chocolate too!?'
"...? Yeah that's true"
"Oysters, pomegranate, honey and chocolate, it's not just nutritious!
She was showing her confusion.
"They're nutritious but...! But more than that, they're food from the
human world which is supposed to have an aphrodisiac effect!"
"Aphrodisiac!?"
"That's right! Aphrodisiac! When it comes to nutrition, it has
additional sexual nutrition to it on top of regular nutrition, making it a
succubus-like food!"
"This is the first time I heard of succubus-like food"
"For instance, if I put in a magical aphrodisiac into it, Basara-san and
Mio-sama would be protected from it"
"We would be. Without question"
Mio answered with no hesitation.
"That's why I've been thinking about using an aphrodisiac in food for
a while now. However, there's a problem with that. What might that be?
What do you think, Kurumi-san?"
"Why are you asking me! A problem huh... Aphrodisiac food huh,
well it's something you would do, so you'd get found out right away?"
"Exactly. If I'm the one that prepares it, then there's a chance it'll get
found out as succubus-like food."
"Hold back from this whole succubus-like food thing. No, it's best
you don't do it at all"
"That's why I used Yuki-san. If I did it, you would be careful, but if I
use Yuki-san's cooking, I'd be able to let this ship sail"
Her small hands slammed the table.
"So… What's the point of all this?"
"It's really pointless. I don't understand what she's trying to say"
"Having eaten so much natural aphrodisiac, you all just give normal
reactions to it, It's going against my expectations! It shouldn't be like
this!"
"What were you expecting?"
"Mid-way through the meal, Basara-san you should be feeling the
effects and turning into a monster with his arousal, attacking Mio-sama
or Yuki-san, and making them submit without any hesitation. Of course,
with me involved, it would feel good and I'd get a power up as a
succubus! That was my plan! Doesn't it feel good with the honey ginger
soup heating up your body? I was thinking you could've used that as an
excuse "
"I wouldn't do that. Eat normally. You don't need to be thinking like
that"
"Yuki-san"
Their eyes met, as Yuki smiled.
"You told me you're 'the ally of a bitch in heat' right?"
"Yeah"
"Wait. Nothing good can come from words like that"
"In short it's like that isn't it? Basara san ingested the food, but he's
just playing it straight, it's so uncool"
"Why are you saying it like it's my fault!?"
"If Basara-san is more of a monster... Hah!?"
Maria put her hands over her mouth.
"I see... So that's the case"
"Did you realize something else?"
"No. I just had a ridiculous misunderstanding"
She cleared her throat.
"I used these aphrodisiacs to turn Basara-san into a dog-like monster, I
thought it would work out that way. But... What if Basara-san has always
just been a hungry monster? His default mode being one of a sexuallystarved hungry beast! That's Toujou Basara!"
"That sounds like an insult"
"To give such a monster and aphrodisiac is something that's bound to
fail. Kuh... This is Naruse Maria's failure in life"
"Please only make this kind of mistake once in your life. Other than
that, what do you think about me?"
Basara shook his head with a sigh.
"No, to begin with, it's not even a magic aphrodisiac. There's no way
normal food has that kind of effect. If a salaryman eats fried oysters gets
that kind of effect, it would be a problem.
He said with a straight face.
Maria slapped herself on the palm of her hand, causing Kurumi to
make a truly tired expression on her face.
Zest continued taking notes.
"That's true...! Even if this is an aphrodisiac it's still normal food"
Maria fell into a frenzy.
"This is exactly what it means to be drowned in succubus magic and
aphrodisiacs..."
"Is that some sort of demon realm idiom?"
"I've never heard of it. I'm learning yet again"
Zest nodded.
"Then, I'll be the one cleaning up"
"I'll help too"
Mio and Basara picked up the empty eating utensils.
As that happened, someone gently patted Maria's shoulder.
When she looked back, it wasYuki.
"Yuki-san..."
"Thank you"
Yuki had a genuine smile on her face.
At those words, Maria was unable to hold back her tears.
"It can't be helped"
She let out a sigh and stood up.
"Just today, it's fine without doing anything lewd"
She said in a voice sounding as if she was refreshed.