In This World That Favors Men, I... ~Starting a Sweet School Life in a World With a 1:8 Gender Ratio~ - 26

Chapter 26: A Family Road Trip

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Mom, who was usually busy, was going to be home for a week during summer vacation.

“Since it’s summer vacation, why don’t we go somewhere as a family?”

She suddenly suggested it during breakfast.

“Where to?”

Considering it was such short notice, an overnight trip was impossible, and at our age, a family trip to an amusement park didn’t seem right either.

“How about a drive? It’s been a while since we went for a drive.”

“A drive, huh? That might be nice. What do you think, Onii-chan?”

“I’m fine with it, but who’s going to drive?”

Of course, neither Yui nor I had a license.

“That would be me, of course.”

I figured as much. Mom would be driving. But…

“I haven’t seen you drive at all recently.”

A Sunday driver? I was a bit worried if we’d be okay…

“It’ll be fine, it’ll be fine. It’s not far, and I’ll drive safely.”

And so, we went for a family drive. Our destination was the Ano Island area, but we weren’t going for a swim. We had plans at Muromachi Mountain, which was just before the coast. After getting off the highway and driving on local roads for a while, we came across a road where a suspended monorail ran overhead.

“You don’t see this kind of monorail much these days.”

The car continued smoothly beneath the monorail. Despite my earlier concerns, it seemed Mom’s driving skills were fine.

“We’re here.”

Our first stop was a well-known but somewhat hidden cheesecake shop. It was a small shop, but its calm, museum-like appearance made it stand out. Built on a slope, the ground floor was a takeout area, while the half-basement level served as a café area.

The café had large glass windows, allowing us to enjoy a view overflowing with lush, deep green summer scenery while having tea. The three of us ordered a rather expensive cake set. The price was something I’d hesitate to pay myself, but with our reliable mother here, I planned to enjoy it without holding back. What arrived was a baked cheesecake. It was a tall cake, with three layers from top to bottom: sour cream, cream cheese, and a biscuit base.

Chop! First, I made a vertical chop at the tip and brought it to my mouth. I wondered how they were able to make the layers look so perfect like this? 

Delicious! What’s with this cake?! It’s so delicious!

“I’ve never had anything like this before.”

“It’s amazing, right?”

The middle cream cheese layer was incredibly rich, yet the texture was shockingly smooth.

“This is incredible. How did you find this place?”

“At work. A business associate once brought a whole one of these cheesecakes.”

The top sour cream layer added a refreshing accent, while the biscuit base provided a toasty fragrance and a soft, crumbly texture.

“If you buy a whole one, how much does it cost?”

“About four to five times the price of a regular decorated cake?”

Whoa. That meant it was over five figures.

“No wonder it tastes so good.”

It was expensive but completely justified. Despite its strong flavors and aroma, the aftertaste was light. I could keep eating this endlessly.

“The ingredients are on a different level, so it’s not something you could just make yourself.”

Right… I need to savor this slowly. …Munch, munch.

“Yuusei, you’ve got cream on your mouth.”

“Huh?”

“That’s right. Here, let me wipe it for you.”

Yui reached over and gently wiped my mouth with a napkin. Having my little sister wipe my mouth with a napkin was a little embarrassing.

“Whenever you eat something really good, you suddenly go silent, Yuusei. It’s like you’re in a trance.”

“Onii-chan is easy to read.”

After leaving the shop, we continued our drive. The ocean was already quite close.

We passed through Hachirigahama and Inamuragasaki, both famous from songs, before arriving at Ano Island. The beach was, as expected, packed with people, but the island itself was slightly better. It was moderately crowded rather than overwhelmingly crowded.

In an air-conditioned restaurant’s second-floor seating, we enjoyed a view of the vast Pacific Ocean while eating grilled squid. This felt great. That fragrant soy sauce flavor was irresistible. Grilled clams, turban shells, and crab miso soup followed suit. It was a feast of seafood. Yay!

“Onii-chan, you’re eating way too much.”

“I get that it’s delicious, but if you overeat now, you won’t have room for dinner.”

Dinner?

“What’s for dinner?”

“The main dish is meat and not just any meat. It’s top quality meat.”

Top-quality meat, huh… I definitely wanted to eat that. But I also wanted to enjoy the grilled seafood. Hmm…

“Onii-chan is seriously struggling with this decision.”

“Yuusei is such a foodie. Well, we still have time. You should be alright as long as you eat in moderation… I think?”

In moderation, huh? But how far could I go? What was the end line of this ‘moderation’?I’d have to negotiate with my stomach.

Afterward, we toured the island and visited a nearby aquarium before dinner time approached. Our destination was Muromachi Mountain again. The restaurant was in a quiet residential area, looking like a summer villa. Walking through the large gate and along the pathway to the entrance, we finally arrived at a stately building that suited the term “mansion.”

The room we were led to had a large, polished wooden table arranged spaciously, offering a view of a grassy courtyard while we dined. We had pre-ordered a course meal, starting with an appetizer centered on fresh sashimi. The sashimi was amazing!

Next came a luxurious bouillabaisse made with Ise lobster. A small black iron pot held the lobster, submerged in a thick, rich American style sauce. The flavor of the concentrated lobster essence was incredible. Leaving any behind would be a waste, so I wiped the pot clean with bread.

Then came the main dish: roast beef. A large slab of meat was brought to the table, and the chef cut it in front of us. It was cooked rare, the pink meat glistening with juice. The marbled slices were carefully placed on large plates. The sauces were either gravy or ponzu. I chose gravy, with horseradish on the side. Cutting a piece and placing it in my mouth, I felt the rich wagyu fat melt into my bloodstream. Whoa, this was almost brain-meltingly good. Just pure deliciousness.

“Onii-chan, do you want to try the ponzu one too?”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I’m starting to get full.”

“I’ll share some too.”

Yay! More meat! A meat feast!

After we finished the meal, a dessert cart was brought in, filled with colorful cakes. We were told we could pick a few, and despite claiming they were full, the two girls still ended up choosing three kinds each.

I had a small piece of shortcake.

Yep. I’m completely satisfied.

Even the after-dinner coffee was delicious. Now I was truly stuffed.

“Today was a luxurious and delicious day. Thank you for the meal!”

“Thanks, Mom!”

And so, our wonderful family trip filled with great food came to an end.

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