242 [242] Adding More Nutrition (2)

Chapter 242: Adding More Nutrition (2)

"Kotonoha? Why are you here, and what exactly are you doing..."

Hearing this voice, Kotonoha's hands trembled slightly, and the fork she held almost dropped to the ground.

Turning around, she couldn't help but exclaim.

"Mom... Mom!"

Huh?

The way the girl addressed her mother made Hachiman raise an eyebrow. He turned his head to see a mature woman with slightly curled short hair standing not far from them.

Brown eyes, delicately applied makeup, a necklace adorned with gemstones around her neck, and a white dress – though the low neckline revealed the ample curves and a deep cleavage.

This was Kotonoha's and Kokoro's little friend's mother, Katsura Manami.

[Image]

Looking at the beautiful woman before him, Hachiman nodded inwardly.

Although he knew she was Kotonoha's mother, the pronounced curves on Katsura Manami's chest were undeniably captivating. As a man, his gaze couldn't help but be drawn to it.

After all, ample assets attract attention.

Moreover, in terms of scale, it was the largest Hachiman had ever seen, surpassing even Leonora.

"Kotonoha, what are you doing here?"

Seeing her daughter standing there in a daze without answering her question, Katsura Manami furrowed her brow.

"Uh, Mom... this..."

Faced with her stern mother, Kotonoha felt a bit uneasy for a moment. Fortunately, Hachiman promptly spoke up to diffuse the situation.

"Aunt, hello. I'm Hachiman Hikigaya, Kotonoha's boyfriend."

"Oh? A boyfriend?!"

Hearing this, Katsura Manami shifted her gaze to the young man in front of her.

"Yes," Hachiman nodded.

Having done what needed to be done, he straightforwardly admitted their relationship. After all, he wasn't the kind of guy to eat and run without taking responsibility.

"Why didn't Kotonoha mention this to me?"

Being a strong and assertive woman, Manami wasn't easily fooled. If her daughter had a boyfriend, why hadn't she mentioned it before?

"Perhaps it's because of your busy work schedule, and Kotonoha hasn't found the right time to tell you," Hachiman said with a faint smile. "Also, we only confirmed our relationship not too long ago, so you weren't aware."

From the beach incident until now, it had only been a little over half a year—not a particularly long time.

"I see."

Hearing this explanation, Manami nodded understandingly but couldn't help feeling a bit melancholic. Due to her demanding job, she hadn't been home for a long time. There was a sense of apology in her gaze when she looked at her daughter. However, she still had some concerns.

"Why are you both here? Where's Kokoro? You didn't leave her alone at home, did you?" Unconsciously, Manami's tone became stern.

In her view, if the older daughter left the younger one alone at home and went on a date with her boyfriend, it would be quite irresponsible.

"N-No, we didn't." Feeling a bit frightened by her mother's stern expression, Kotonoha stammered.

Hachiman intervened to ease the situation. "We're here because of my cooking skills. Totsuki invited me to be a guest lecturer for this session, so I invited Kotonoha and other friends to join us at the Totsuki Resort."

"As for Kokoro, she's here too, probably spending time with my sister."

"I see." Manami nodded and then looked a bit surprised. "It seems Hikigaya-kun's cooking skills must be quite exceptional."

Those participating in this breakfast assessment were either employees of Totsuki Resort or its collaborators. Manami's company happened to have a collaboration with Totsuki, so she was invited to participate. She was aware that those invited as guest lecturers were all highly skilled chefs.

So, seeing that Hachiman, a boy of the same age as her daughter, could be invited as a guest lecturer for this assessment, Manami was genuinely surprised.

"Haha, Aunt Manami, you're too kind," Hachiman responded modestly.

"Hehe, Hikigaya-kun is being too modest," Manami smiled in response. However, whether she truly believed him or not remained uncertain.

"Well then, you two enjoy your time together. I won't disturb you further," she said, turning her attention to her daughter.

"Kotonoha, I'll be coming home for a visit in a little while. When that happens, make sure to invite Hikigaya-kun to our house."

"I understand, Mom." Kotonoha nodded quickly in response.

"Great." Manami nodded as well, then turned and left the scene.

As Kotonoha watched her mother depart, she visibly relaxed, and Hachiman couldn't help but find her reaction a bit perplexing.

"What's bothering you, Kotonoha? Are you afraid of your mom?"

After a moment of hesitation, the girl decided to open up, "It's not exactly fear, but my mother has been strict with me since childhood, making me learn a lot, so..."

Understanding her concerns, Hachiman nodded; it seemed the strict upbringing had left an impact on her.

"Take care, Hachiman-kun. My mother is very strict. If you visit our home, it might be..."

Before Kotonoha could finish, Hachiman reassured, "Don't worry, Kotonoha. I'll definitely live up to your mother's expectations."

His confident words eased Kotonoha's unease.

Yes, Hachiman is exceptional; her mother would surely be satisfied.

Thinking this, the girl's gaze toward Hachiman softened.

"Yes, I believe Hachiman-kun can handle it," she said, resting her head on his chest.

Feeling the softness of the girl in his arms, warmth surged in Hachiman's heart.

"If I pass your mother's test, Kotonoha, remember to reward me."

Blushing, Kotonoha lightly pounded his chest with her hand.

Seeing this, Hachiman felt a bit pleased.

Well, it seems there will be a few new unlocked moves.

The two resumed wandering around the venue, trying out any interesting dishes they came across. They also encountered Yui's group, and naturally, the girls joined the team.

As time passed, Dojima announced the names of the qualifiers on the broadcast. However, to the worry of the Polar Star Dormitory members, there was no mention of Soma.

Just as everyone silently prayed, Dojima finally spoke again with only a few seconds left.

"Soma Yukihira, qualified!"

"Assessment complete!"

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"One Punch Man" emerged as the winner for Hachiman's first manga. Apologies to those who recommended other options that weren't chosen.