Returned from Another World, Earth Turned Out to Be Quite the Fantasy Too. Also, Losing Heroines, Stop Looking This Way. - V5 Chapter 22: “Gyoza and Fried Rice Are the Best, Right?” ①

Chapter 22: “Gyoza and Fried Rice Are the Best, Right?” ①

“I’m hoooome~!”

After stepping through the door, Natsuki washed up and headed to the living room, where Koume and the others—who’d gotten back a bit earlier—were already lounging around.

“Oh, you’re late. We’ve got fried rice and dumplings today.”

“Koume-san and I worked hard wrapping those dumplings, y’know? So make sure you really savor them!”

“For real!? Man, I’ve been looking forward to this!”

Natsuki’s eyes lit up at the thought of those handmade dumplings, lovingly prepped by Koume and Ginko.

He kinda wished he could’ve helped too.

But thanks to Kin Doji, he’d totally missed his chance.

Stupid oni.

Behind his smile, Natsuki silently vowed—

Shuten Doji’s crew is seriously gonna pay for this.

“We’re making a big batch of fried rice in the pan, and cooking the gyoza on the hot plate over here!”

Kazuto peeked out from the kitchen, rocking a frilly pink apron like it was the most normal thing ever.

Right beside him, Satan wore a matching frilly apron, expertly flipping a legit wok like a seasoned pro.

The Yura family’s kitchen was usually IH-style, but it looked like someone had brought in a gas stove from… somewhere.

Given the weirdly ominous aura it gave off, it was probably imported from the Underworld or something.

Natsuki decided not to ask.

“Can’t wait for some cold beer tonight~”

“My stomach is literally roaring for barley juice right now~”

“You two are total boozehounds!”

Koume and Ginko adjusted the hot plate’s temperature, already holding those super-thin, fancy beer glasses—the kind that looked like they’d shatter if you so much as breathed on them.

Natsuki watched the whole thing with a small smile.

Man, they always look like they’re having such a good time.

It made him wonder—

Will I be like that when I’m older too?

It was kinda exciting… and kinda scary.

“Wait, where’s Senju-san, Yusuke-kun, Seishiro-san, and Yoshimasa-san? Did they head home already?”

“Why the heck are we putting -san on the kid? No, I get it though. He’s got this weird dignified aura that makes you wanna treat him with respect.”

“That kid’s totally a reincarnated salaryman. Like, mid-thirties, dropped dead from overwork—guaranteed.”

“Okay but—shouldn’t he be way more overpowered if that’s the case!?”

Apparently, Senju and Seishiro had taken Yoshimasa out for dinner while doing a bit of sightseeing.

They’d said it’d be rude to crash the Yura house again tonight, but promised to grab dinner together another day.

Sure enough, there was a message about it waiting on Natsuki’s phone.

As for Yusuke—he’d gone to eat with his family.

He’d spent a while holed up after his whole otherworld trauma thing, so he didn’t want to make them worry anymore.

“Oh yeah, Mama messaged me earlier.”

“Wait—Mama as in Lilith-san?”

“Yep. She finished interviewing the succubus candidates for Yusuke. Now he just gets to pick his favorite. Like a menu.”

“That’s insane… in a kinda awesome way.”

“Are the succubi cool with being treated like a lineup?”

“Succubi love humans, y’know. Unlike the lower-tier sex demons, they only go nyan-nyan with someone who really makes their heart flutter.”

“…Nyan-nyan? Koume-san, how old are you again?”

“Born sometime B.C., sweetie!”

“…I apologize for questioning you.”

Natsuki chuckled as Koume and Ginko kept bantering—but then something clicked.

“Wait, where are Jack and Nancy?”

“Oh, the Gray couple? Apparently Papi sent them a message from space.”

“They said we should go ahead and eat without them.”

“Clearly, the space pirates we crushed are now out for revenge! The survivors must’ve regrouped and come to Earth! Which means—it’s time for season two of Space Kappa Hero: James N.Y. Kappa II!”

“James N.Y. Kappa?! What kind of name is that!?”

“‘Space Kappa Hero’ doesn’t even make sense!!”

“Make sure to watch season one before jumping into season two, okay?”

“…Natsuki, why are you so emotionally invested in kappa?”

“I’m honestly a little freaked out right now.”

“W-What did you just say?”

They just didn’t get it…

Natsuki felt a little lonely, realizing the girls in his life didn’t quite understand the pure heart of a boy.

Maybe…

To move forward with his Invite-the-Kappa-Over-for-Dinner master plan, he needed to help them understand the magic of kappa a bit more.

“Dinner’s ready~!”

“…Is it just me, or is it kinda weird seeing Satan acting like a mom?”

“I wanted to say it’s a big ‘no’ from me as his daughter, but honestly, that guy’s always been like this…”

“Satan-san… can you please protect your image a little more?”

Completely ignoring the commentary from Ginko and Koume,

Satan cheerfully helped Kazuto set the table—totally in full-on domestic mode.

“Hold it, you clueless old man. Mama Haruko’s not even home yet.”

“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, Koume-tan. With the legendary nose of the Demon King of the Underworld, I can already detect the scent of her return. Three… Two… One…—Come on in!”

“I’m hoooome! Ooh, smells amazing in here!”

Just like he predicted, Haruko walked through the door right on cue.

Koume stared at her dad, completely horrified.

“Creeeepyyyyy!!”

〜〜Afterword〜〜

Next time: The Mom Boss Battle Begins!