[Warning 15+]
Part Two~Save That Old Energy Only For Me, Seriously!~Chapter 55Himeko's Big Bro
Lunch break. That glorious moment of freedom from the boring-*ss shackles of class.
It's the same deal at Himeko's middle school—you've got people sprinting to the cafeteria, groups of buddies huddling in the classroom to pop open their lunches, and others wandering off to different rooms or club activity hangouts. Everyone's doin' their own thing.
Just like everyone else, Himeko lived for this time of day.
Especially since Himeko got to bring a bento.
Back in Tsukinose, where the elementary and middle schools shared a building, they had school lunches provided. But here, it's either hit the cafeteria or bring your own.
A home-cooked bento instead of a school meal—that was the part that made Himeko feel a bit more "grown-up," and she totally dug it.
Himeko was pretty simple like that.
"Ugh..."
But the second she opened her bento, Himeko made a face and let out this weird groan.
Wondering what the heck was wrong, Himeko's buddy Torigai Honoka leaned in for a look. All Honoka saw was a totally normal bento with omurice as the main event, plus some cherry tomatoes and broccoli for a pop of color.
"What's up, Himeko-chan? That bento looks fire, though."
"Ugh, I'm just not down with tomatoes, y'know?"
"Oh, so it's just a random veggie you hate that ended up in there?"
"Not random at all. This is totally Big Bro gettin' back at me. I complained that the dinner he made yesterday looked like hot trash, so he's definitely petty like that."
"Wait... ...Hold up. No way. This bento... ...Was it seriously made by your Big Bro?!"
"Yeah, I mean, Big Bro always makes 'em for me, but still... ...Eh, hey, wanna try a bite?"
"Heck yeah!"
Himeko folded under the sheer pressure of Torigai Honoka's hype and handed over a sample on her bento lid.
Honoka stared it down like a hawk, letting out "Whoas" and "Ohs" while she inspected the goods.
Being watched that intensely made Himeko feel kinda embarrassed, even though she wasn't even the one who cooked it.
"Down the hatch... ...Whoa! Is this! Tofu?! Wait, okara?! It's loaded with mushrooms, and instead of chicken rice, it's got this Japanese-style seasoning... ...Man, this is delicious! Himeko-chan, isn't your Big Bro like, a pro chef or something? He's insane!"
"Eh, I mean, Big Bro can cook, but it's mostly just bar snacks for when people are drinkin', y'know? Plus, he's super rough when he wakes me up in the morning, and he's always barging in to clean my room. It's honestly a pain."
"Say... ...what now? Not only is your Big Bro a pro cook who makes your lunch, but he wakes you up, cleans your room, and basically dotes on you..."
"H-Honoka-chan...?"
Himeko was just trying to vent about her annoying Big Bro.
But Himeko must've hit a nerve, because Honoka's eyes went wide as saucers, and Honoka leaned in hard, grabbing Himeko's hands.
And apparently, Honoka wasn't the only one who got hooked.
"Kirishima-san, tell us everything about this Big Bro of yours. Now."
"What's your Big Bro like? Is he tall? Where's he go to school? Got a pic? And most importantly—Is he single?!"
"A real-life Big Bro with a face like Kirishima-chan's, plus he cooks and cleans... ...that's a top-tier husbando right there..."
"Hey, can you introduce us to your Big Bro this weekend or something?!"
"U-Um..."
Himeko was totally lost. To her, her Big Bro Hayato was just a nosy, overbearing boy who had zero sense of boundaries.
Sure, Himeko was grateful for the food, but her Big Bro had a "look" that was just... ...yikes. He'd let his hair grow into a messy nest and actually tried to head into the heart of the city wearing a straw hat. His fashion sense was straight-up tragic.
So, Himeko couldn't wrap her head around why her friends were so into her Big Bro.
But for Torigai Honoka and the rest of the crew, it was a whole different story.
I mean, even if Himeko had her weird moments, she was still a total beauty in their eyes. There was no way their expectations for a Big Bro with the same DNA were gonna be low.
"I-It's really not all that! Big Bro's only one year older than me but acts all high and mighty. Plus, his clothes are so dorky—he's never had a sweetheart, and I don't see that changin' anytime soon."
"No, no. Himeko-chan, don't be like that!"
"Next time, bring your Big Bro along to hang out with us."
"Even just going to karaoke would be cool!"
"Eh, Big Bro is... ...Wait, karaoke?! You mean actual karaoke?! Not the kind where you sing in a community hall or on a tour bus, but those private rooms—like, a real karaoke box?!"
"""…"""
Now it was Himeko's turn to lean in with hype.
In the middle-of-nowhere Tsukinose, karaoke joints didn't even exist. At best, there was some ancient machine at a senior center, and you definitely couldn't find any of the latest hits.
So, the idea of hitting a karaoke spot with her classmates was basically a dream come true for Himeko.
Seeing Himeko's eyes sparkle like that, Torigai Honoka and the others just gave Himeko these super warm, "Oh, honey" looks.
"Heck yeah! Let's just hit up karaoke on our way home today."
"The place in front of the station's cool, right? I've actually got some coupons."
"Alright! Your Big Sis Squad is gonna treat Himeko-chan to her share!"
"Wait, what? Huh? For real?"
Totally ignoring Himeko's confusion, her friends just kept hyping it up.
And just like that, the after-school plans for today were set in stone.
◇◇◇
Summer twilights just drag on forever.
Even after an hour and a half of belting out songs with three other girls, it looked like the sun was nowhere near ready to call it a day.
Having said goodbye to the others who were headed in different directions, Himeko was trudging aimlessly through the shopping district near the station, looking totally wiped.
"...Sigh."
Thinking back to that karaoke session just now made Himeko let out a massive sigh.
(Man, everyone was so d*mn good...)
And it wasn't just that—Himeko's friends were all totally in their element, keeping the energy high like it was nothing.
Torigai Honoka was on another level, though. She was a total pro and knew exactly how to get the whole room hyped.
On the flip side, you had Himeko, who was having her literal first-ever karaoke experience. She wasn't just fumbling with the touch panel like a total klutz; The second she grabbed the mic, she let out this ear-splitting screech of feedback. Since she had zero clue how to actually sing, it sounded less like a performance and more like she was just muttering under her breath.
Himeko's friends weren't even making fun of her—they just thought she was being adorable—but in Himeko's head, they were totally smirking at her.
No wonder Himeko was feelin' a little down in the dumps.
(I-I gotta drag Big Bro and Haru-chan to practice with me before next time!)
Quick to bounce back, Himeko was just getting her hype up when she bumped into a familiar face.
"H-Hime-chan?!"
"Wait, Haru-... ...-chan...?"
It was Haruki, on her way home from school.
Himeko was about to say hi, but she was instantly swarmed by a panicked-looking Haruki and a pack of girls who suddenly popped up from behind Haruki. Caught totally off guard, Himeko's voice trailed off into a whisper.
"Oh, hey! It's that childhood friend of Nikaidō-san's!"
"Oho! So this is Kirishima-kun's girl, huh!"
"She's a third-year middle schooler, right? That uniform—yo, she's totally my kōhai!"
"Wow, she's actually pretty tall. Looks like a model. Now I get why Kirishima-kun was so hesitant to introduce a beauty of this level to the boys."
"Um, eh, wait... ...Haru-chan?!"
"Aha, ahahahahaha..."
Getting suddenly swarmed by older girls with zero way to escape, while being poked and prodded with zero chill—Himeko had no clue how to handle this.
I mean, Himeko was already the type to get super shy around strangers to begin with.
Himeko shot a "Help me" look at Haruki, but Haruki herself was just laughing nervously, trying to play it off with a face that basically screamed she was the one who needed saving. Talk about useless.
(H-Haru-chan, help me!)
Both Haruki and Himeko just stared at each other, totally lost and overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, the girls surrounding them had the hungry eyes of predators who'd just cornered their prey.
Author's Notes:
Everyone, go ahead and drop those reviews and comments~
∧＿∧
（。・ω・。)つ━★・*。
⊂ ノ ・゜★.
しーＪ °。+ *★¨)
.· ´★.·´¨) ¸.·¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·'* ★
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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Lunch break. That glorious moment of freedom from the boring-*ss shackles of class.
It's the same deal at Himeko's middle school—you've got people sprinting to the cafeteria, groups of buddies huddling in the classroom to pop open their lunches, and others wandering off to different rooms or club activity hangouts. Everyone's doin' their own thing.
Just like everyone else, Himeko lived for this time of day.
Especially since Himeko got to bring a bento.
Back in Tsukinose, where the elementary and middle schools shared a building, they had school lunches provided. But here, it's either hit the cafeteria or bring your own.
A home-cooked bento instead of a school meal—that was the part that made Himeko feel a bit more "grown-up," and she totally dug it.
Himeko was pretty simple like that.
"Ugh..."
But the second she opened her bento, Himeko made a face and let out this weird groan.
Wondering what the heck was wrong, Himeko's buddy Torigai Honoka leaned in for a look. All Honoka saw was a totally normal bento with omurice as the main event, plus some cherry tomatoes and broccoli for a pop of color.
"What's up, Himeko-chan? That bento looks fire, though."
"Ugh, I'm just not down with tomatoes, y'know?"
"Oh, so it's just a random veggie you hate that ended up in there?"
"Not random at all. This is totally Big Bro gettin' back at me. I complained that the dinner he made yesterday looked like hot trash, so he's definitely petty like that."
"Wait... ...Hold up. No way. This bento... ...Was it seriously made by your Big Bro?!"
"Yeah, I mean, Big Bro always makes 'em for me, but still... ...Eh, hey, wanna try a bite?"
"Heck yeah!"
Himeko folded under the sheer pressure of Torigai Honoka's hype and handed over a sample on her bento lid.
Honoka stared it down like a hawk, letting out "Whoas" and "Ohs" while she inspected the goods.
Being watched that intensely made Himeko feel kinda embarrassed, even though she wasn't even the one who cooked it.
"Down the hatch... ...Whoa! Is this! Tofu?! Wait, okara?! It's loaded with mushrooms, and instead of chicken rice, it's got this Japanese-style seasoning... ...Man, this is delicious! Himeko-chan, isn't your Big Bro like, a pro chef or something? He's insane!"
"Eh, I mean, Big Bro can cook, but it's mostly just bar snacks for when people are drinkin', y'know? Plus, he's super rough when he wakes me up in the morning, and he's always barging in to clean my room. It's honestly a pain."
"Say... ...what now? Not only is your Big Bro a pro cook who makes your lunch, but he wakes you up, cleans your room, and basically dotes on you..."
"H-Honoka-chan...?"
Himeko was just trying to vent about her annoying Big Bro.
But Himeko must've hit a nerve, because Honoka's eyes went wide as saucers, and Honoka leaned in hard, grabbing Himeko's hands.
And apparently, Honoka wasn't the only one who got hooked.
"Kirishima-san, tell us everything about this Big Bro of yours. Now."
"What's your Big Bro like? Is he tall? Where's he go to school? Got a pic? And most importantly—Is he single?!"
"A real-life Big Bro with a face like Kirishima-chan's, plus he cooks and cleans... ...that's a top-tier husbando right there..."
"Hey, can you introduce us to your Big Bro this weekend or something?!"
"U-Um..."
Himeko was totally lost. To her, her Big Bro Hayato was just a nosy, overbearing boy who had zero sense of boundaries.
Sure, Himeko was grateful for the food, but her Big Bro had a "look" that was just... ...yikes. He'd let his hair grow into a messy nest and actually tried to head into the heart of the city wearing a straw hat. His fashion sense was straight-up tragic.
So, Himeko couldn't wrap her head around why her friends were so into her Big Bro.
But for Torigai Honoka and the rest of the crew, it was a whole different story.
I mean, even if Himeko had her weird moments, she was still a total beauty in their eyes. There was no way their expectations for a Big Bro with the same DNA were gonna be low.
"I-It's really not all that! Big Bro's only one year older than me but acts all high and mighty. Plus, his clothes are so dorky—he's never had a sweetheart, and I don't see that changin' anytime soon."
"No, no. Himeko-chan, don't be like that!"
"Next time, bring your Big Bro along to hang out with us."
"Even just going to karaoke would be cool!"
"Eh, Big Bro is... ...Wait, karaoke?! You mean actual karaoke?! Not the kind where you sing in a community hall or on a tour bus, but those private rooms—like, a real karaoke box?!"
"""…"""
Now it was Himeko's turn to lean in with hype.
In the middle-of-nowhere Tsukinose, karaoke joints didn't even exist. At best, there was some ancient machine at a senior center, and you definitely couldn't find any of the latest hits.
So, the idea of hitting a karaoke spot with her classmates was basically a dream come true for Himeko.
Seeing Himeko's eyes sparkle like that, Torigai Honoka and the others just gave Himeko these super warm, "Oh, honey" looks.
"Heck yeah! Let's just hit up karaoke on our way home today."
"The place in front of the station's cool, right? I've actually got some coupons."
"Alright! Your Big Sis Squad is gonna treat Himeko-chan to her share!"
"Wait, what? Huh? For real?"
Totally ignoring Himeko's confusion, her friends just kept hyping it up.
And just like that, the after-school plans for today were set in stone.
◇◇◇
Summer twilights just drag on forever.
Even after an hour and a half of belting out songs with three other girls, it looked like the sun was nowhere near ready to call it a day.
Having said goodbye to the others who were headed in different directions, Himeko was trudging aimlessly through the shopping district near the station, looking totally wiped.
"...Sigh."
Thinking back to that karaoke session just now made Himeko let out a massive sigh.
(Man, everyone was so d*mn good...)
And it wasn't just that—Himeko's friends were all totally in their element, keeping the energy high like it was nothing.
Torigai Honoka was on another level, though. She was a total pro and knew exactly how to get the whole room hyped.
On the flip side, you had Himeko, who was having her literal first-ever karaoke experience. She wasn't just fumbling with the touch panel like a total klutz; The second she grabbed the mic, she let out this ear-splitting screech of feedback. Since she had zero clue how to actually sing, it sounded less like a performance and more like she was just muttering under her breath.
Himeko's friends weren't even making fun of her—they just thought she was being adorable—but in Himeko's head, they were totally smirking at her.
No wonder Himeko was feelin' a little down in the dumps.
(I-I gotta drag Big Bro and Haru-chan to practice with me before next time!)
Quick to bounce back, Himeko was just getting her hype up when she bumped into a familiar face.
"H-Hime-chan?!"
"Wait, Haru-... ...-chan...?"
It was Haruki, on her way home from school.
Himeko was about to say hi, but she was instantly swarmed by a panicked-looking Haruki and a pack of girls who suddenly popped up from behind Haruki. Caught totally off guard, Himeko's voice trailed off into a whisper.
"Oh, hey! It's that childhood friend of Nikaidō-san's!"
"Oho! So this is Kirishima-kun's girl, huh!"
"She's a third-year middle schooler, right? That uniform—yo, she's totally my kōhai!"
"Wow, she's actually pretty tall. Looks like a model. Now I get why Kirishima-kun was so hesitant to introduce a beauty of this level to the boys."
"Um, eh, wait... ...Haru-chan?!"
"Aha, ahahahahaha..."
Getting suddenly swarmed by older girls with zero way to escape, while being poked and prodded with zero chill—Himeko had no clue how to handle this.
I mean, Himeko was already the type to get super shy around strangers to begin with.
Himeko shot a "Help me" look at Haruki, but Haruki herself was just laughing nervously, trying to play it off with a face that basically screamed she was the one who needed saving. Talk about useless.
(H-Haru-chan, help me!)
Both Haruki and Himeko just stared at each other, totally lost and overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, the girls surrounding them had the hungry eyes of predators who'd just cornered their prey.
Author's Notes:
Everyone, go ahead and drop those reviews and comments~
∧＿∧
（。・ω・。)つ━★・*。
⊂ ノ ・゜★.
しーＪ °。+ *★¨)
.· ´★.·´¨) ¸.·¨)
(¸.·´ (¸.·'* ★
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Your donations really support us to finish this novel from here until the end, so please consider to support us.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages: