After a moment of stunned silence, Satoru still couldn't believe his cold cousin could say such deep words.
"Eiji, tell the truth, you heard those words from someone else, didn't you?"
"Nii-san guessed correctly. Those were all the words of a housewife named Yuzaki Tsukasa."
Eiji admitted easily. He didn't like lying, and he wouldn't lie if he could help it.
"My assumption was right. It's hard to believe a teenager like you could think about marriage to that extent. By the way, what's your relationship with that woman? Don't tell me, you like someone else's wife? Well, not that I have any right to comment on your hobbies, Eiji, but NTR isn't good."
"Nii-san, stop talking nonsense."
The women around them who overheard their conversation looked at Eiji with strange looks.
"Ahaha... Just kidding, don't take it too seriously."
Feeling his joke went a bit overboard, Satoru stopped teasing him.
"..."
Staring at him expressionlessly, Eiji couldn't wait to chase away his mischievous cousin.
(No wonder Utahime-san always gets emotional every time she interacts with Nii-san), He thought to himself.
"One last question, where will you stay?" Satoru asked, finishing Eiji's drink.
"At a hotel."
"Well, with your financial situation, it seems I don't need to do anything."
"Sorry to interrupt your conversation."
Eiji and Satoru turned to see Kosaki suddenly speaking up.
"What's up, Kosaki-chan? Is Nanako mad because I didn't order anything?" Satoru joked as usual.
"Not at all. I accidentally overheard your conversation. Instead of staying at a hotel, Kamiki-kun can stay here. We have a spare room that's not being used."
Since Kosaki knew a lot about Jujutsu, Eiji and Satoru didn't lower their voices when she passed by.
"Isn't this inappropriate?"
A single man staying in a house filled with women, Eiji felt it wasn't good.
What if this caused bad rumors for the Onodera Family?
"Kamiki-kun is our benefactor. Though it's just a little, I want to repay your kindness. This is the least we can do for you, I'm sure Mother and Haru feel the same way."
Without consulting her mother first, Kosaki invited Eiji to stay at their house. It took a bit of courage on her part, and her face flushed with embarrassment.
"But—"
"Eiji agrees. Kosaki-chan, he'll be a little trouble for you for now."
Satoru slapped Eiji's head, stopping him from being too long-winded.
"Really, Kamiki-kun?"
Hearing that, Kosaki looked at Eiji with anticipation. She wanted to hear directly from the person involved.
"..."
Ignoring his cousin's foot being stepped on under the table, Eiji stopped objecting after coming this far.
Since Kosaki herself didn't mind letting the man stay at her house, as a man, why did he keep refusing?
"Thank you, Kosaki-san. In that case, please advise me while I stay here."
"Me too, please advise me, Kamiki-kun."
After that, Kosaki no longer chatted with them; she informed her mother of this.
As she suspected, Nanako didn't mind Eiji staying at their house. On the contrary, she strongly supported her eldest daughter's decision.
At the table, Satoru smiled broadly.
"What?"
Eiji was somewhat disturbed by his cousin's cheerful expression.
"Not bad, Eiji. To make a girl take the initiative to invite a guy to stay at her house, my teachings to you weren't in vain."
Satoru seemed like a father seeing his son grow up.
"My relationship with Kosaki-san isn't what Nii-san thinks. We're just—"
"Yeah yeah yeah, I get it. Don't say anything else. This is for you."
Taking his wallet out of his pants pocket, Satoru took something from it and placed it in Eiji's palm.
"This is... a condom?"
"For precaution, safety measures need to be prepared."
"Wait, I—"
"Remember to use it when engaging in intimate activities. I don't want you to have a child before me. Well then, I have other matters to attend to, see you later."
Not letting Eiji speak, Satoru stood up and hurried away.
"..."
Staring at the condom in his hand, Eiji sighed and decided to keep it in his pants pocket instead of throwing it away.
"As usual, Nii-san's actions are unpredictable."
...
6 p.m.
Supermarket.
With Kosaki by his side, Eiji bought everyday items like toothbrushes, towels, etc.
If he stayed at a hotel, he wouldn't have to go through this hassle. But fate always works in strange ways.
Who would have thought Kosaki would be so bold as to invite him to stay at her house? Moreover, she got her mother's approval.
Even childhood friends who have a close relationship like in manga, the girl's parents wouldn't allow it.
"What does Kamiki-kun want for dinner?"
"It's up to you."
"That really puts me in a difficult spot... Then what's Kamiki-kun's favorite food?"
"Curry rice."
"In that case, tonight's dinner menu is curry rice. Let's buy the ingredients."
Getting the answer she wanted, Kosaki walked ahead, and Eiji pushed the cart to follow her.
"Since I'm staying over, let me pay for it."
Seeing her considering the chicken in her hand, Eiji didn't want to eat for free.
"Uh, that can't be. You're a guest, you shouldn't spend money." Kosaki waved her hand and refused.
"Just accept it, consider it rent. If you don't want to, then I'd rather sleep at a hotel."
"Sigh... Fine."
Reluctantly, Kosaki agreed to his suggestion.
"Great."
Eiji picked up the most expensive chicken and put it in the cart.
"That's too expensive..."
"Don't worry about the money, I'm not short on cash. Come on, I don't know much about cooking. You pick the best ingredients."
"Because Kamiki-kun insisted."
Considering the resources of the Gojo Family, Kosaki was no longer hesitant.
Next, every time she wanted to choose ingredients, Eiji would take the most expensive ones without a second thought.
"Onodera-san, what's this about?"
As they were about to head to the cashier to pay for their groceries, they heard a girl's call from behind.
They turned around, seeing a girl with bobbed hair.
The girl's eyes sparkled seeing Eiji, and she was mesmerized.
"Sumika-san, what a coincidence. You're also shopping."
Kosaki recognized the girl, who was her classmate. Their relationship could be considered normal, not too close, but not too distant either.
"It really is Onodera-san! Good evening, the man next to you... could he be your boyfriend?"
Although she was speaking to Kosaki, Sumika couldn't take her eyes off Eiji.
"No, you misunderstand, Sumika-san. He is Kamiki Eiji, we are... friends."
Thinking about their relationship, Kosaki could only define it as friends.
"Um."
Used to the hot gazes of women, Eiji just nodded in greeting.
"Sumika-san, is there something?"
"Ah, no, I just wanted to say hello."
"In that case, we'll take our leave. See you tomorrow."
"Um, see you tomorrow."
Kosaki and Eiji headed to the cashier under Sumika's jealous gaze.
"Friends, huh? Who's she trying to fool? No wonder, Onodera-san rejects the advances of many guys. Turns out she already has a guy she likes in her heart. Well, if that guy is my boyfriend, I might not be interested in other guys either."
After complaining, Sumika continued buying cosmetics.