"Shiro Sakamaki, over here!"
Before Shiro even reached the door, he spotted Itsuki waving at him from a distance.
"I didn't expect you to come so early, Itsuki. Sorry for making you wait," he said as he approached her.
Itsuki shook her head. "No, I just got here. I had already asked my father's driver to contact the landlord. He's waiting for us now."
"Great, let's go." Shiro glanced behind Itsuki. "What about your sisters? I heard you all usually go to and from school together."
Upon hearing that, Itsuki's face turned sour. "Ichika has been acting mysterious lately, and the others are busy with their own things." She looked down, her mood darkening. "And then there's me, I don't know what to do. I just know how to eat... Shiro Sakamaki, do you think I'm useless?"
Shiro bent down slightly, gently patting her head. "No, everyone has their place in the world. You just haven't found yours yet."
"Really?" Itsuki's eyes lit up with a spark of hope.
"Really," Shiro reassured her with a smile. "I've read a lot of books, and I wouldn't lie to you."
However, as soon as he touched her head, he realized his action might have been a bit too familiar. Quickly, he pulled his hand back, but Itsuki seemed completely unaware. She quickly stepped forward, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, though she kept her back to him, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Let's hurry up and go," she said, her voice slightly flustered. "Shiro Sakamaki, don't make the landlord wait."
Shiro blinked but didn't comment, following her as they both headed to a taxi.
Like Shuchiin Academy, the area where Itsuki and her sisters lived was a high-end district in the heart of Tokyo. The apartment Shiro was considering was located just across from theirs, and the layout was very similar to theirs—luxurious and spacious, with a large balcony. It was originally the landlord's own home, but due to work commitments, it was now available for rent.
After a quick tour, Shiro was satisfied with the place and immediately signed a one-year lease with the landlord.
"Thanks so much, Itsuki," Shiro said. "If it weren't for you, I'd probably still be looking for a place."
Itsuki, her cheeks flushed, avoided looking at him. She kept fiddling with the ends of her hair, clearly embarrassed.
"As thanks, I'll treat you to dinner tonight. You pick the place, and I'll handle the bill," Shiro offered.
Itsuki paused, considering. "Can you... call the others too?"
Her voice was a bit shy, clearly not wanting it to seem like a date, as she knew her sisters would have plenty to say if she went out with Shiro alone. Although she liked him, it wasn't enough for her to be ready to date.
"Of course," Shiro replied with a grin. "Don't worry about the money. I've got it covered."
Itsuki knew he wasn't short on cash—after all, he'd signed the lease without a second thought. She hadn't even tried to negotiate the rent, as she'd suspected Shiro would have no issue with it.
She sent a message to her sisters' group chat, confirming the plans. Once she got the responses, she smiled. "I heard there's a place called the Foggy House nearby. It's run by a former graduate of Tōtsuki Culinary Academy. Would you like to try it?"
She hesitated slightly. The Foggy House was on the expensive side, and she had been eyeing it for a while, but she also didn't want to seem greedy, especially with so many people.
Shiro, seeing her worry, reached over and flicked her forehead gently.
Itsuki winced and shot him a playful glare.
"Don't worry about it," Shiro said, chuckling. "You can eat whatever you want. Foggy House? No problem, we can go there every day if you like."
Itsuki blushed but said nothing, nodding as she followed him.
The two of them walked around for a bit, then headed to the Foggy House when it was close to dinner time.
When they arrived, they found a place to sit, and Shiro immediately began reading the menu. As expected, the head chef was Hinata Inui, the "Empress of the Fog," known for her culinary prowess. It wasn't easy to get a meal from her unless you were an important guest, or you had a personal connection. The alternative was to request a custom-made dish, which came at a significant premium.
Excusing himself to the bathroom, Shiro discreetly approached the chef and arranged for a custom dish, paying the necessary extra fees.
As he turned around, he was surprised to see a familiar face.
"Sorry I'm late, Shiro Sakamaki," said a smiling Ichika.
"No problem, the others haven't arrived yet. Let's go sit down," Shiro replied, leading her to their table.
The rest of the sisters trickled in, and once everyone was seated, Itsuki's eyes gleamed with excitement as she looked at the menu, already imagining all the food she wanted to try.
After a brief moment of settling in, Ichika raised her glass and said, "Let's welcome Shiro Sakamaki!"
"Welcome!" the rest of the sisters echoed.
Shiro raised his glass and grinned. "I should be the happiest person here, being neighbors with such beautiful girls."
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