Kitchen.
After tying on the apron, Ichika didn't help Makoto with chopping vegetables.
She took off the wig without hesitation, puffed her cheeks, and glared at Makoto. The anxiety and frustration in her eyes were practically overflowing.
"Makoto, I'm not Nino, I'm Ichika!"
Afraid he wouldn't believe her, she added, "The one outside is the fake. I'm the real Ichika."
Her tone and expression oddly reminded Makoto of that viral internet meme before he transmigrated—"I'm the real milk dragon."
"So, you two switched identities?" Makoto responded as if he'd just realized.
Ichika nodded hard. "Right, it was just supposed to be a prank."
"Then who came up with the prank?"
"…Me."
"I see. So the one who came up with it was you, but the one who carried out the whole plan was Nino. That makes her the MVP, and you're just lying down to win."
"No way! I seriously played the role of Nino! I didn't want to ruin the prank. I was the one who proposed the plan and came over in the first place.
Without me, Nino wouldn't have had a chance to perform. Makoto, if you always look at things like this, it's easy to diminish people's efforts, you know?"
Ichika launched into a long rebuttal.
On the surface, she was defending herself.
But inside, she was thinking: Who's going to make up for the massage I missed?
Even though I haven't experienced it yet, Nino got there first!
As one of the five sisters who grew up together, she knew all too well how subtle their changes in mood were.
Just from the content and relaxed expression Nino had earlier, Ichika even suspected Nino was so pleased she might've been able to hear splashing water sounds.
After all, they were all teenage girls—having that kind of reaction was normal.
As the two talked, Itsuki's voice called from the living room: "Fushimi, I think you've got a visitor."
Makoto poked his head out of the kitchen. "Itsuki, could you help me get the door? I'm in the middle of cutting vegetables."
"Okay."
Itsuki popped another cookie into her mouth, then got up and walked to the door.
But as soon as she opened it, she exclaimed in surprise, "Ms. Matsukaze?"
Standing at the door was Mayu, wearing loungewear and holding a grocery bag.
"Eh? You're Itsuki?"
Mayu had met the quintuplets before, though she still had a hard time telling them apart.
But Itsuki, being Makoto's classmate and with that distinctive ahoge on her head, was easy to recognize.
As Mayu entered the living room, she noticed Nino and paused in surprise again.
Why are there two girls at Makoto's place?
And the next moment, Ichika poked her head out from the kitchen. "Oh? Ms. Matsukaze? Good afternoon~"
"Oh, hello."
Seeing a third beautiful girl appear, Mayu was finally starting to feel a little overwhelmed.
Did I come at a bad time?
That thought soured her mood just a bit.
At that moment, Makoto walked out. "Perfect timing, Ms. Matsukaze. I was just thinking—if you didn't come today, I was going to invite you over for dinner anyway."
"R-Really?"
Mayu couldn't help but smile. "Then I came at just the right time?"
"You could say it's perfect timing," Makoto smiled back.
That little bit of gloom in her heart instantly vanished, and she quickly handed him the bag. "I bought some beef. Let me help you in the kitchen."
"You're a guest today. Just relax in the living room," Makoto gestured toward Ichika beside him, indicating he already had help.
That's when both Nino and Itsuki realized Ichika had removed her wig—meaning the prank was over.
So Nino also took off her disguise.
Although Mayu noticed, she didn't think much of it. She nodded politely at Makoto, "Got it. Then I'll just wait for dinner."
She even gave him a sweet, generous smile.
That scene instantly sparked confusion among the girls of the Nakano family.
Ichika was thinking: So the rumored angelic teacher really is this gentle in person.
Nino was thinking: Ms. Matsukaze is so tiny. Paired with the way she just spoke, anyone who didn't know would think she's a little sister from next door.
Itsuki was thinking: Is it just me, or is Ms. Matsukaze way gentler with Makoto than she is at school? There's even a kind of… docile vibe?
After exchanging a few short words with Mayu, Makoto returned to the kitchen with Ichika.
"Ms. Matsukaze really is gentle," Ichika said while helping carry the plates, sighing emotionally.
Makoto nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Compared to her, your mischievous personality really makes her seem more like the younger one."
Ichika covered her mouth and giggled. "Can I take that as a compliment—that you're calling me mature?"
"Why are you as narcissistic as Yukinoshita?"
"Eh? Yukinoshita's a narcissistic?"
Ichika received new information.
Then she suddenly remembered to put aside Yukino and the like for now—she still had something important to do.
Without waiting for Makoto to speak, her eyes blinked, and her soft, fragrant body moved closer, making a very cute expression and tilting her head:
"You gave Nino a massage benefit, so what about me?"
Makoto put down the kitchen knife and opened his arms wide toward her.
Ichika's beautiful eyes lit up, and with a mock shy tone she said, "A hug? I think that's not enough."
Though she said that, her body was very proactive and leaned straight into Makoto's arms.
It had to be said, the five sisters really had well-shaped bodies.
Even though it was just a simple leaning-in action, Makoto could feel an astonishing springiness.
Holding her slender waist, Makoto lowered his head and leaned close to her shimmering little ear, saying, "Playing cute doesn't work on me."
Ichika's body trembled slightly.
The two were so close that Makoto's warm breath blew on her ear and neck, making this girl who was good at arguing but had no real experience blank out for a moment.
This time, the shyness on her face was genuine.
The watery color in her eyes rippled with bashfulness as she slowly raised her flushed cheeks and met Makoto's gaze.
"Why say I'm playing cute? Am I not cute?"
She bit back her shyness, trying to continue speaking.
Makoto laughed as soon as he heard that.
Trying to create a romantic atmosphere, huh?
Alright, I'll help you.
Makoto gazed into her eyes, tightened the hand around her waist, and deliberately said, "You look cute like this right now."
Ichika quickly responded, "Then what would be even cuter?"
Makoto never liked hiding things; he spoke frankly: "You're wearing knee-high socks today, and they really look great on you."
In an instant, Ichika's body tingled.
She almost collapsed softly into his arms.
Because she understood what Makoto meant: I want to play with your legs.
This simple and blunt straightforwardness immediately destroyed her immature disguise.
She instinctively glanced at the half-open door, pushed off from Makoto's embrace, then acted as if nothing had happened and walked to the door.
Her elbow bumped the kitchen door closed.
The next second, she sat on a chair, cheeks flushed red, kicked off her slippers, and slowly lifted her beautiful legs wrapped in knee-high socks.
She sounded like Mayu possessed her, speaking in a soft and sweet voice: "You're only allowed to play for a little while, big brother~"
Makoto was deeply impressed.
No wonder she was the eldest of the five sisters. Just that sudden soft change in voice was enough to make someone stand up!
At that moment, Ichika remembered something: Makoto had called her legs "delicacies."
Though she didn't dislike being licked by him, this was the kitchen, and there were others outside.
What if she got turned on while he was licking?
So she shyly added, "You're only allowed to play, no licking."
Small workshop, heavy-handed style!
___
Read 20 Advanced Chapters on p@ tr eon (.) com/HalflingFics
Also, please point out my mistakes in the comment, thank you!
Don't forget to leave a review too~ Actually, please leave one.
Check out the other translations too
___