Chapter 20: Chill Life Midst Chaos, she wants to move in.
In the quiet and serene kitchen of the Hoshino estate, Hayasaka Ai finished preparing dinner and filled the kettle to boil water.
Occasionally, she heard Utaha's yelps or Ren's laughter echoing from the hallway on the second floor.
After setting the dinner table and waiting ten minutes in her usual chair, Ai was about to go upstairs to call them.
Step, step, step.
Finally, Ren and Utaha rounded the corner and descended the stairs.
Ren sat next to his beloved maid, eyeing the array of dishes Ai had prepared with a touch of extravagance.
"Ai, fantastic as always," he praised her cooking.
Utaha took the empty chair beside Ren and Ai, momentarily stunned by the spread.
"Do you two always eat like this?" she asked, pointing at the lavish dinner with a mix of awe and disbelief.
Ai shook her head. "Usually, it's just me and Ren-sama. When his parents were still here, my mother sometimes helped. Since you're our guest, I decided to make something special." She nodded, as if affirming her own words.
Utaha listened, then quickly opened the notebook she had placed on the table earlier and began scribbling notes about her visit to Ren's home.
"Hmm, yes, yes… good," she murmured, her pen racing across the pages.
Ren and Ai exchanged a smile and waited patiently until Utaha set down her pen.
Once she finished, the three began their meal.
"Itadakimasu~!" they said in unison.
As they ate, they chatted about random topics, occasionally glancing at the TV. The atmosphere was warm and lively.
Utaha leaned back in her chair, patting her full stomach and trying to steady her breathing. She rarely ate this much, but the food was simply too delicious to resist.
Ai, ever composed, stood and moved between the kitchen and dining table, clearing plates and cups.
Ren, observing the contrast between the two girls' energies, smirked. It was the perfect moment to "gather material."
"Utaha, you said you wanted to observe how a young master of a wealthy family and his maid interact, right?" he asked, turning to her.
Snapping out of her food-induced daze, Utaha sat up slightly, opened her notebook, and looked at Ren. "Heh, yeah, that's right, Ren-kun. What's your plan?"
Noticing the shift in how she addressed him, Ren smirked again. He stood and approached Ai, glancing back at Utaha. "Watch and don't forget to take notes."
In the kitchen, Ai was calmly washing dishes when she felt Ren embrace her from behind.
He leaned his head on her shoulder, pressing her hips gently against the sink. His breath brushed her ear as he whispered, "Ai, our guest wants to see what we do when we're alone. What do you think?"
Ai dried her hands and leaned back into his chest, a blush creeping across her face. "R-Ren-kun, w-what would you like to show her?" she whispered back.
Ren turned her around, stepped back to the kitchen island, and hopped onto the countertop. Placing his hands under her shoulders, he lifted her gently and set her on his lap.
Experiencing a sudden elevation change, Ai placed her hands on Ren's shoulders, trying to stabilize herself.
Ren wrapped his arms around her waist, slipping his hands under her skirt to rest on her smooth skin. He began gently massaging her hips.
Bringing his face closer to hers, he brushed his nose against hers and lightly licked her upper lip.
Encircled by his embrace, Ai squirmed slightly as his touch stirred something between her legs.
When Ren leaned closer and she felt his lips graze hers, she threw her arms around his neck, pressing her lips to his in a bold response to his provocation.
smooch smooch smooch
As the duo continued to make out in the kitchen, Utaha stared wide-eyed, seated just a short distance away with a clear view of their side profiles.
Her hand froze in place, tightly gripping her pencil, while her other hand pressed against her skirt. She shifted uncomfortably, rubbing her legs together, caught off guard by the suddenness of the situation.
Just as Ren and Ai broke their deep kiss to catch their breath, Utaha finally processed the situation.
"Wa-wa-wa…" she mumbled, shaking her head rapidly. "What are you guys even doing?!" she suddenly yelled.
Startled by the third voice, Ai buried her face in Ren's shoulder to hide her embarrassed expression.
Ren, half-expecting such a reaction, turned to Utaha with a chuckle. "What's wrong? Didn't you ask to watch?"
Utaha shot to her feet, pointing accusingly at the pair. "That's not the point! Why did you start kissing and pressing your bodies out of nowhere???"
Ren tilted his head, still gently caressing Ai's hips, getting a slight twitch from her as she shifted on his lap.
"Did you get any ideas for your book? As you asked, Utaha, my maid, and I are just doing what we usually do," he explained as if their actions were perfectly ordinary.
"Huh?" Utaha paused, recalling their earlier conversation. Yes, she had asked to observe them, but… "B-but aren't you master and servant? Why are you doing all these strange things?" she stammered, managing to voice her confusion.
"Well, we like each other and recently decided to spice up our lives a bit," Ren said, turning to Ai and nudging her gently with his chin.
Ai, now somewhat composed, looked at Utaha. "Yes, Kasumigaoka-san, Ren-sama and I decided to try something new recently…" she said, playing along with the absurdity of the situation.
Utaha slowly lowered her hand, still struggling to grasp their explanation.
"So, wait, are you two, like, dating?"
Ren paused for a moment, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Hmm~, you could say we're partners. Setting aside the nagging from my parents, I'm pretty sure I'll need to have children someday. The Hoshino family wasn't built by my grandfather alone—each family head has to continue the family tree, one way or another." He nodded with a mock-serious expression, spouting some bs nonsense, no cap.
Utaha felt a surge of annoyance.
She had just met a man who captivated her entirely, only to discover he seemed to be already taken.
After a brief moment of hesitation, she steeled her resolve, deciding to act on her feelings.
Utaha circled the table, approaching the kitchen island where the pair sat entwined.
She stopped just short of the hugging duo.
Puffing out her chest, she displayed her 'confidence', fully aware of her charm and allure.
"S-so, if, for example, I ask for the same attention, would you be able to share your affection with me as one of your 'partners'?" With a slight blush on her face, she asked the most ridiculous question ever, cursing herself in her head.
Ren restrained himself not jumping to his feet and praying to whatever being that sent him to this world, just calmly smiled and deeply looked into Utaha's eyes.
"Are you sure? While I'm not a chaebol as you said, I do like beauty, you could say that is my biggest flaw, and I mean not just one or two beauties."
Utaha once again hesitated, thinking a little, she asked, "Does that mean, all beauties?" she probed.
Ren shook his head, "No, only the special ones," he carefully scooted down with Ai in his hands, letting her stand on her own.
Looking at the waiting figure of the annoyingly handsome young heir, Utaha came a little closer to him.
"Am I and Ai really that special?"
Ren nodded, "Ai and I were together since childhood, it's not surprising that we started liking each other, after coming back home from Europe, I simply couldn't wait anymore."
Ai's eyes widened at his words. 'Tch~, the gyaru outfit was unnecessary,' she thought.
He continued, "And you, Utaha, is special too. Beautiful, proud, not scared to express your thoughts, brave enough act in clearly unusual circumstances. I already feel like my parents will like you," he finished, coming yet again closer to Utaha, standing just an inch away from her, and looking at her, waiting for her decision.
"You will have to endure my nagging," she suddenly said.
"Okay."
"I will get jealous each time you are not paying attention to me," she continued.
"I will embrace you each time."
"I might abuse your family's wealth and power, you know, I am just a regular person," she looked up and stared at his face.
Ren chuckled. Utaha didn't know the full picture yet.
"Utaha..." Ren lowered his face and brought it close to hers, "If you want, I can outright gift Hoshin Shoten to you, as long as you agree to take the Hoshino family name one day, you can do whatever you want."
Not fully understanding what he meant, Utaha itched her face closer, harrumphed.
"Baka~, are you going to say it?"
Ren brought one hand around her waist, bringing them together.
"Say what?"
"Y-you know, in books, male leads usually say it first when they are asking a girl out."
"Kasumigaoka Utaha, turns out, I like you, would you spend your forever by my side?"
Ren whispered and leaned even more, their faces almost touching.
Utaha, understanding what comes next, "Um~," she closed her eyes.
"Me too, I like you."
Utaha said and continued.
"Your face, your perfect body, how you always pay close attention to other people's problems, your smile, and how gentle you are."
"You being rich was a small bonus too, tiny bit though," she finished meekly.
Quickly shutting her eyes tight, she put her lips on his, pressing their mouths together.
haha
Ren slightly laughed, a muffled chuckle came from his mouth, he cupped her chin in his free hand, and he broke their kiss.
Utaha opened her eyes suddenly, not understanding why he stopped the kiss.
"Utaha, relax," he propped her lips open with his thumb and went in for a deeper kiss.
smooch
With her mouth being invaded, she melted into his arms and threw her hands around his neck, deepening the kiss even more. After experiencing the kiss even more, she entwined his tongue with hers.
Enjoying the closeness a bit more, they broke the kiss, breathing heavily.
Ai suddenly clapped from the back, "Congratulations, Kasumigaoka-san, or should I say, Sister?"
Utaha, remembering that they were in the presence of another person, covered her red face in her hands and hid in Ren's broad chest.
Ren just smiled, hugging the lovable girl in his arms, he ruffled her hair.
Turning to look back at Ai, he asked, "Are you staying over?"
Ai shook her head, "No, yesterday when my mother heard that I was staying over, she outright suggested that I start living here once again..." she finished with an awkward expression.
"So we got caught this early, huh?" Ren thought about the ever-so-clever older woman.
"She suggested I return to retrieve some of my personal belongings and move into this house if I were to 'stay over' more often."
"Well, Nao-san might be right, you moving in?" Ren brought his other hand to Ai and took her into his embrace, together with Utaha.
Ai nodded, "Mmm ~, I am, Ren-sama, but I still need to go back home today."
Ren kissed her hair, "It's okay, go home and come back to me."
Utaha, listening to their conversation, looked up and pouted.
"Ren-kun, I want to live together here too!"
"You can, but maybe we first greet your parents? Don't think your parents will just hand you over to some unknown person."
"Maybe you're right," she leaned back into his chest, and looked at Ai, "Ai, can I stay over today then if you are leaving your master alone?" Utaha asked with a cheeky smile.
The ever calm maid simply nodded, "Mmm~, Sister, warm the bed of my master while I am away."
"Huuuh~?" Utaha exclaimed
Haha
Run laughed while hugging two beautiful girls as they continued to bicker in his hands.