Episode 145: Satou family's dining table

"I'm home!!"

"I'm home."

"Hmm."(TN:Shia's already part of the family, so natural.)

Nanami and I open the front door of our brand new home and enter the house. Shia follows behind us.

"This is an amazing luxury residential area, isn't it?"

"I wonder why they're in this place, but after seeing that today."

"I have no choice but to agree ..."

Amane and Rei, who don't show any signs of coming inside, are talking to each other in secret.

"Oi, please come inside quickly."

"Uhyaaaaa!! D, don't call out to me all of a sudden."

"Hii!! I, it's true, please."

When I call out to them from behind, the two of them flinch, then turn to me, their eyes looking around nervously, and they respond with flustered responses.

Aside from Amane, Rei is a cover explorer. I don't think she should be so surprised.

Even so, the two of them are sneaking around, but are they planning something?

No ... I don't know that yet, but it looks like the two of them are on guard at the moment.

"Welcome home, Fuhito. You look like you're doing fine today."

"Oh, Mom, I'm home. I'll introduce you again, but this is the S-rank explorer Rei who volunteered to lead our party. Also, Amane, the other member of the explorer party I'm forming at school."

When I return to the entrance with the two of them, my mother is there to greet me, so I introduce Rei as an explorer, not as a staff member, and Amane, who she hadn't met yet.

"Satou-san, thank you again. I will support your two children as an explorer from now on."

"My name is Shimotsuki Amane!! I'm indebted to Fuhito-kun in 'various' ways!!"

Following my words, the two introduce themselves.

Amane, stop emphasizing the 'various' part. Other than being in the same party, I don't take special care of you.

"Ara, ara, thank you very much for taking care of this stupid son of mine. Even so ... it's amazing that Fuhito's party members are all girls."

"I'm not really doing anything though, am I?"

Mom mutters something like that when she sees my party members, but I didn't do anything, and everyone except Nanami came along without my permission.

"Who do you take after, after all."

"I don't know."

Is she maybe remembering my father, I shrug my shoulders when she says that.

"Well, it's fine. Choose one person or all of them, but decide properly."

"Why is it such a thing."

"Because explorer parties often are like that."

Somehow I've seen people like that, words carry weight. My father was an explorer, but my mother is different. She may have had a lot going on there.

"I'll think about it. What about food?"

"It's ready. Wash your hands and come to the living room."

"Understood."

When I change the subject and ask about dinner, I am immediately urged to go to the living room, and my mother leaves.

"I'm sorry that Rei and Amane also got involved in my Mom's strange story. Come inside for now. There's a washroom just around the corner, so wash your hands there."

"No, no, I don't mind. I'll be in your care."

"Yeah, I don't mind either. I, I'll be in your care."

When I turn around and urge the two of them with a wry smile, they blush a little, arrange their shoes in a suspicious manner, and go up into the house. After that, I also went up into the house, washed my hands, and entered the partition to the living room.

The Temaki-style Chirashizushi was prepared in the living room. The colorful ingredients are lined up, and it's a choice that will be appreciated when such a number of people gather.(TN:Hand-rolled sushi-rice, google it.)

As expected of Mom.

"Onii-chan!! Chirashizushi today!! Hooray!!"

"Is there something to celebrate?"

I wonder alongside Nanami's happy voice.

Chirashizushi is a dish we often eat when we have celebrations.

"Fufufuu. The whole family can be together, and the first exploration of Nanami has ended successfully. Can't we celebrate a little?"

While I am deep in thought, my mother calls out to me.

Now that you mention it, that might be true.

"It's certainly as Mom says. Besides, everyone is standing the whole time. Shia, sit over there, Amane over there, and Rei over here."

I agree with my mother's words and assign seats to the three people who are still standing without taking a seat.

If I ask them to sit freely, they won't be able to decide.

"Hmm."

"Got it."

"Understood."

The three of them each reply and sit down at the designated place.

"Let Fuhito take the lead."

"Me!?"

When everyone sits down, my mother suddenly says something like that to me, and I'm confused.

"You're the leader, right?"

"Don't be humble 'Fu-kun'."

"I'm just watching over you."

Shia was supposed to be the leader, but Shia covers my words and makes me the leader.

What a brilliant technique.

I take my hat off to that too beautiful application.(TN:Not sure what they're trying to make a pun of here, application is 擦 with なす above it. If you have a clue, let me know.)

"Haa ... I understand. Then, thanks to Rei's efforts, we and my family are able to be close to each other like this. Thank you very much. Also, thank you for joining us on our first exploration with Nanami today!! And please continue to support the party!! That's it, Kanpai."

""Kanpai!!""

We hold up glasses of juice and bump them into each other. After that, we have a good time for a while eating delicious Chirashizushi that my mother made.