Chapter 660

Home.

Natsume Chikage pushed the door and entered.

What came into view was that familiar and slightly crowded three-mat room.

The air was filled with the faint scent of pencils and paper, mixed with a faint, girl-like fragrance.

In front of the only small low table in the room, Natsume Ruri and Kaga Reisa were sitting side by side, facing away from the door, focused on the drawing drafts in front of them.

Their slender backs looked exceptionally focused under the warm glow of the lights.

Natsume Chikage habitually took off his shoes and said softly:

"I'm home."

Natsume Ruri looked up at the sound, and the moment she saw her brother, a happy smile bloomed on her face:

"Brother, welcome home!"

Kaga Reisa also turned her head, a clear joy appearing on her shy face, her voice soft:

"Brother Natsume... welcome home."

And just at this moment.

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui nimbly poked her head out from behind Natsume Chikage, carrying the cool air of the outdoors, and smiled energetically:

"Ruri-chan, Reisa-chan, I'm here to bother you again!"

Natsume Ruri and Kaga Reisa already knew from Natsume Chikage's message that Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui would come, and that she was specifically coming to check their manga progress, so they naturally welcomed her warmly.

"Sister Fujiwara, come quickly! We just finished drawing the newly revised parts today, and we were just wanting to hear your opinion!"

"Yeah, yeah... we think it's pretty good ourselves, but we don't know what it will look like in other people's eyes..."

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui giggled, turned sideways to squeeze into the room, and closed the door behind her:

"Then it seems I really came at the perfect time!"

Saying this.

She naturally took off her shoes, leaned over to the small table, bent down, and started to examine the drawing drafts spread on the table earnestly.

Natsume Chikage looked at the three girls who were already chatting hotly, the corners of his mouth raised slightly, and he didn't disturb them.

However, after being busy all day, a sense of hunger indeed came from his stomach.

He looked at the cramped kitchen area and suggested:

"Ruri, you guys keep chatting. I'll make the late-night snack."

However, his suggestion was immediately met with opposition from all three in unison.

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui stood up straight, put her hands on her hips, and complained feignedly:

"Eh—! Natsume-kun, did you forget? You clearly promised me outside just now that I would be the one cooking tonight's new dish!"

Natsume Ruri also puffed up her fair cheeks, like a little hamster protecting its food, and muttered:

"That's right!"

"Brother, you've been busy from morning till night today, with matches and work, you must be very tired! Leave the late-night snack to us!"

"If you ask me, the thing you should do most right now, Brother, is go take a comfortable bath first! By the time you're done washing and come out, our loving late-night snack will definitely be almost ready!"

Kaga Reisa also raised her eyes, and although her tone was still weak, her attitude was very firm as she nodded:

"Yeah... Brother Natsume, please go take a bath."

"The late-night snack... please rest assured and leave it to the three of us."

Natsume Chikage looked at the three pretty faces in front of him, all written with "no room for doubt," and knowing that resistance was futile, he had to surrender:

"Alright."

"Then I'll go take a bath first."

Hearing this, the three of them finally showed satisfied smiles.

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui said happily:

"Then let's pause the manga seminar for now!"

"The primary task is to get the late-night snack done!"

"Only after eating our fill will we have the energy to work!"

Natsume Ruri chimed in happily:

"Yeah, yeah!"

Kaga Reisa also showed a shallow, compliant smile:

"Okay..."

Soon.

Natsume Chikage took his change of clothes and walked into the cramped bathroom.

Before long, the sound of trickling water came out, accompanied by the steaming hot air carrying the fresh scent of body wash, drifting out through the crack in the door.

When Natsume Chikage finished his bath, wiped his dripping black hair with a towel, and came out in comfortable loungewear.

What he saw was the scene of the three girls squeezed into the mini kitchen where it was difficult to even turn around, busily working away with chatter and nimble hands.

In the small space, the "sizzle" sound of ingredients hitting the pan, the light clinking of bowls and dishes, and the girls' lowered-voice giggles and discussions filled the air.

Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui was waving the spatula, and when she turned her head, she happened to see Natsume Chikage, who had just come out of the bath, with water droplets still hanging from his hair tips, his skin slightly flushed from the steam.

For some reason, some strange fantasies flashed through her mind instantly.

Her healthy, wheat-colored face "popped" and faintly flushed with a blush again.

She averted her gaze in a panic and coughed:

"N-Natsume-kun... you take a bath... really fast."

Natsume Ruri, while washing the green vegetables, smiled and explained without turning her head:

"Brother always takes baths this fast, unless..."

Halfway through her sentence, she suddenly remembered that night when her brother's bath time was unusually long, and her cheeks couldn't help but flush slightly.

However, since then, her brother's bath time had returned to normal.

She secretly glanced at her brother who was drying his hair, thinking that her brother probably... belonged to that "ascetic" type with very strong self-control, right?

Kaga Reisa didn't understand; she just looked at Natsume Chikage shyly, only feeling that every time she looked, she was very moved... she wanted a brother like this.

Natsume Chikage was completely unaware of the symphony the three girls were playing in the kitchen and their subtle thoughts.

He dried his hair and walked to the only small low table to sit down.

He picked up the remote control and turned on the old small television.

The television was playing a late-night comedy variety show, and the artists' exaggerated laughter and canned sound effects instantly filled the small room.

He, however, turned a deaf ear to it, just reached out and picked up the copy of "Cicada Shower" placed on the corner of the table.