Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818622175101614715
“I-Itadakimasu”
“Please, help yourself. Eat as much as you like, Aira-chan.”
Hey, Nee san. I’m the one who fried it, you know? In fact, I’m the one who prepared it yesterday and made the sauce.
You’ve never even touched it, but at times like this, you act like it’s all yours… I can’t forgive that.
Still, since we’re sharing a meal together, I don’t like it when you’re so reserved.
“…Did you make this, Hayami?”
““Eh? What?””
My sister and I answered at the same time. After all, there are two Hayamis in this room.
“Um, it’s the younger brother…”
“Mm, it was me. Shiramine-san and I made it. This one just watched.”
“Excuse me. I gave it a proper taste, didn’t I?”
this person just touched the sake.
“you don’t like it?”
“No, it’s delicious.”
“Is something wrong?”
It seems awkward. Or rather, has she been glancing at my neighbor since a while ago?
I quietly looked over at the seat next to me.
“Huh!?”
There was Shiramine, with an incredibly stern look on her face.
It looked like she was about to growl.
“Shiramine-san? Is something wrong?”
The moment I spoke to her, the anger in Shiramine’s expression vanished.
“Nothing’s wrong, senpai. …Oh, look, the fried chicken is getting cold. Here you go.”
With a smile, Shiramine picked up a piece of piping hot fried chicken with her chopsticks.
“Eh, um, yeah… Eh, that’s freshly fried…”
“Here, open your mouth.”
“I definitely going to burn myself with that.”
She’s angry. …Right?
“Ren. Normally, you can’t get such a cute girl to do that for you. Not even if you pay her.”
That may be true, but… Hot oden is one thing, but fried food is dangerous, isn’t it? Can I really eat it?
“…I see. You’d fight for other girls, but you can’t eat my fried chicken?”
Huh? What do you mean? What does that have to do with anything? You’re talking nonsense, you know that?
“Hisui-chan, in times like this… mumbled mumbled.”
My sister seems to have some kind of plan, and she leans across the table and whispers something to Shiramine.
“…I see. Is that an option?”
“Go for it, Hisui-chan.”
“Yes”
What are you going to do? I’m scared.
“Really, You’re such a handful, Senpai.”
Shiramine breathed heavily on the fried chicken and glanced over at me.
Her mischievous smile was strangely cute.
“There, that should be fine, right? Here, ahhn”
“Ugh, I-I’ll take it.”
There was no escape now.
＊＊＊
By the time we finished eating and took a break, it was almost 8 o’clock.
“Thank you for the meal. Well, I’ll be going now.”
Nishimiya took the trouble to clear the table and wash the dishes before bowing and picking up her belongings.
“Ren. Give her a ride home, okay?”
“I know.”
“Senpai. I’ll go too…”
“It’s okay. I’ll be back soon, so take your time.”
“But… I…”
“Come on, Hisui-chan. I’ll show you something cool, okay?”
Mumble, mumble. They were whispering to each other again. …No, were they really whispering?
As I tilted my head in confusion,
“…Mmm, okay then. I’ll wait for you.”
Shiramine reluctantly backed down.
“Well then, I’m off.”
“Be careful.”
I slipped out the front door and went outside.
The night breeze was a little cold.
Nishimiya and I walked along the streetlights in the residential area.
“Your girlfriend is cute, and your sister is a nice person too. I envy you.”
“Shiramine isn’t my girlfriend. Besides, my sister is only a nice person when someone is visiting.”
Being treated like a workhorse, being harassed when drunk—maybe that’s just the fate of a younger brother.
“Hmm, I see. Whatever.”
“Isn’t that a bit harsh?”
I don’t really care, but it felt a little off. It sounded like she was jealous.
“…It was fun. It’s been a while since I ate with someone else.”
“Do you live alone?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
If you’re a high school student, it’s not unusual to go out to eat with friends.
“Why did you help me earlier?”
“Huh?”
“You know, at the supermarket. Normally, you’d just look the other way, right? But you didn’t.”
I couldn’t tell if she was disappointed or grateful.
But I knew what I should say here. Or rather, I knew what I had to say.
“Do you need a reason or some kind of benefit to help someone?”
I’m not trying to say that helping others is a virtue or that people should help each other to live.
I just…
“I’m living my life with the intention of repaying a debt of gratitude.”
“…To whom?”
“Well, who could it be?”
It’s not something I’d go out of my way to tell anyone, so I haven’t even told Aota about it.
“Hmm, Hayami, you have a lot of friends, don’t you?”
“Huh? Well, not exactly few…”
“I guess so, that’s how it seems. I’m so jealous.”
“Nishimiya is popular too, so it’s mutual, right?”
I was trying to be supportive, but Nishimiya didn’t seem to like it.
“I don’t care about that… Well, I’m here.”
Saying that, Nishimiya pointed to an apartment building near the station. It was a building that stood out from the others around it.
“I see. Then, I’ll leave you here.”
“Yes, I guess… Thank you.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Hey! Don’t talk to me so familiarly at school!”
After getting angry, Nishimiya quickly walked away. It was less than 100 meters away, so I didn’t need to watch over her.
I turned on my heel and left.
“C-Cute…!”
Meanwhile, at that time… Hisui was in Ajisai’s room.
There was an electronic piano leaning against the soundproof wall, and a shelf and desk filled with sheet music.
“Look, this one is really good, isn’t it? he who just turned seven.”
“Cute!!”
The two of them were looking at an album with the word “Ren” written on the back cover.
“It was around this time, I think. He started playing soccer and was really lively.”
“I see.”
It was certainly cute. But.
“Ajisai-san. Can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”
“Why are there no photos from before he was three years old?”
Hisui regretted asking the question as soon as she said it.
After all.
“That’s…”
Ajisai’s face fell as she hesitated to answer, and she seemed to be overcome with sadness.
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