Chapter 127: Beach Volleyball
After the satisfying lunch, many of the girls felt quite full. It was merely from indulging in delicious food, not due to any other thoughts.
For those who hadn't previously experienced Hachiman and Erina's culinary talents, their dishes were so delectable that the girls couldn't resist having more than their usual share.
Gourmands like Yui, Yumiko, and Hina, who had an appreciation for fine cuisine, found it impossible to resist such culinary delights.
Even Utaha, who came from a family with its own restaurant and had savored numerous exquisite dishes, was pleasantly surprised. She could discern the remarkable culinary skills of Hachiman and Erina, surpassing even her father, who was a chef at a restaurant preparing for next year's Michelin star evaluation.
Particularly, Hachiman's cooking seemed to outshine Erina's, which was evident from the slightly resentful expression on Erina's face.
"Ah, that meal was incredibly satisfying. You're truly a culinary wizard, kid," Shizuka remarked, reclining in her chair after finishing her meal, her usual elegance temporarily set aside.
"Yeah, it was utterly delicious."
"Absolutely, Onii-chan's dishes are the best."
Not only Shizuka but even Kokoro and Komachi, the two endearing young girls, were brimming with contentment.
Erina couldn't help but furrow her brow and remain silent as she observed the scene. It was unclear whether her disapproval was directed at Shizuka's departure from her usual decorum or if she was unhappy with the praise showered upon Hachiman's cooking.
Although she had already lost to Hachiman twice, the determined young woman wasn't ready to concede defeat so easily.
"Onii-san is truly amazing. His cooking surpasses Onee-chan's by a mile. I wish we could enjoy it every day from now on."
After indulging in the feast, Kokoro playfully sighed while casting expectant glances around.
"Kokoro, let's not say things like that," Kotonoha gently reproached her younger sister.
As the older sibling, Kotonoha couldn't help but discern Kokoro's underlying intentions. Expressing a desire to have Hachiman's cooking every day essentially meant wishing to live together, and that was a significant step.
Living together...
Kotonoha couldn't help but wonder how her mother would feel about Hachiman. The thought brought a slight blush to her cheeks.
Meanwhile, Komachi, the observant younger sister, also caught onto Kokoro's unspoken message and shot her a knowing look. It seemed that she, too, was concerned about her sister's feelings.
"Onii-chan, what are we going to do this afternoon?" Komachi inquired, shifting the conversation.
During the morning, everyone had pursued their own activities without any group plans. Komachi hoped for more interaction with her brother and the other girls in the afternoon.
"This afternoon? Well, you girls can do whatever you'd like. I plan to lounge on the beach chair and relax." Hachiman, having just enjoyed a satisfying meal, appeared quite content with the prospect of a leisurely afternoon.
His primary reason for coming to the beach had been to appreciate the sight of the girls in their swimsuits, and he wasn't particularly interested in beach activities.
"Come on, Onii-chan, we're here to have fun. You can't just lie around all the time," Komachi pouted, looking somewhat dissatisfied.
Komachi couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated. Hachiman had been lounging around, and it was challenging for her to create opportunities for him to bond with her future sisters-in-law if he remained inactive. She was concerned about her brother's approach.
Not only Komachi, but even some of the other girls were beginning to feel a bit annoyed. They had come to the beach with the intention of getting closer to Hachiman. If he continued lying there without participating, what were they supposed to do?
Understanding this, Komachi felt compelled to take action as the assistant master. Most of these sisters had feelings for her Onii-chan, so she couldn't let Hachiman be a total slacker.
With an inward sigh, she approached Hachiman's side, taking his hand and putting on a cute act.
"Onii-chan, let's play together."
"Uh... okay," Hachiman reluctantly agreed, unable to resist his sister's cuteness.
"That's great," Komachi said, turning back to the girls and subtly giving them a V-sign. She then asked Hachiman, "So, Onii-chan, what do you want to play?"
Hachiman pondered for a moment, looking at the girls gathered in the living room.
"How about playing volleyball? We have enough people for a beach volleyball match."
"Volleyball! Sounds great! Wait, Erina, I'll definitely defeat you this time," Alice exclaimed enthusiastically, her competitive spirit ignited.
"Don't get too ahead of yourself, Alice. Even in volleyball, you won't beat me," Erina retorted confidently, and the two sisters began to banter with each other.
It wasn't just Alice and Erina; the competitive spirit ran high among all the girls. None of them wanted to lose in front of Hachiman, which added to the excitement of the upcoming volleyball match.
After the afternoon nap, everyone gathered on the beach, ready for the game.
Naturally, the girls needed to be divided into two teams, but there was a slight challenge when forming them.
Leonora, as the elder, chose not to participate. Komachi and Kokoro were considered too young and excluded. Hachiman, being the only boy, would unbalance any team.
After some discussion, they settled on two teams. The first team included Yui, Yumiko, Hina, Saeko, and Alice. The second team consisted of Erina, Hisako, Kotonoha, Utaha, and a somewhat bewildered Shizuka, who had been drafted to even out the numbers. This arrangement aimed to balance the teams, with Saeko and Shizuka emerging as the respective aces.
Hachiman took on the role of the referee, eagerly anticipating this volleyball match.
With the teams decided, they set up a volleyball net in the middle.
"Heh heh, just you wait, Erina. Even with a teacher on your team, I won't lose."
"That's what I was going to say. Even with Saeko-neesan on your team, I'll definitely win."
Before the match even began, the two sisters were already engaged in a playful quarrel, their competitive spirits igniting the atmosphere like sparks.
"Oh my, oh my, those two sisters have such a unique bond," Leonora commented with a playful tone, her hand supporting her delicate cheek, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.
Hearing this, Hachiman, who was serving as the referee, couldn't help but shake his head. How could anyone describe their relationship as good? Perhaps this lady had a natural talent for dark humor.
But come to think of it, even though Erina and Alice were the type of sisters who seemed to argue and not get along all the time, they did care about each other quite a bit.
Indeed, you could see that they cared for each other from the worried expression on Erina's face when Alice almost drowned in the morning.
But now, with their warm-up exercises completed, there was no need for further talk.
"!!!!!!!"
With Hachiman's sharp whistle, the "ball" game officially began!