[Warning 15+]
Part Four
"―From Now On, You Better Treat Me with That Same Energy, Too!"
Chapter 134
Big Sis
"―From Now On, You Better Treat Me with That Same Energy, Too!"
Chapter 134
Big Sis
"I'm back."
Hayato's low voice echoed through the dim entryway, followed by three quiet whispers of "'scuse us" from behind.
But there was no reply.
Looks like Himeko was still totally crashed out.
To be fair, the only reason they were whisperin' in the first place was 'cause Hayato was 💯% sure Himeko was still sleepin'.
By the way, Hayato'd headed out without even lockin' the door. Around Tsukinose, folks rarely ever bother with locks. That's exactly how both Haruki and Saki were able to just waltz right in.
Then Hayato made his way straight to the kitchen.
After havin' walked a heck of a distance since early mornin', Hayato's stomach was startin' to growl.
Thinkin' 'bout what to whip up for breakfast, Hayato started lookin' through the cabinets while dealin' with his hunger.
Problem was, Hayato'd tossed a ton of stuff before the move, so there wasn't much left worth mentionin'.
All Hayato had were long-lastin' basics like salt, sugar, pepper, and oils, plus some instant ramen and canned goods for emergencies.
And then, there were the summer veggies from Old Man Gen's place that Saki had hooked Hayato up with yesterday.
Hayato crossed his arms and let out a long, "Hmm..."
Right then, a tentative-*ss voice called out to Hayato from behind.
"U-Um, is there anything I can do to help?"
"Murao-san?"
It was Saki.
While Hayato was surprised by the unexpected offer, he shot a quick glance toward the livin' room and saw both Haruki and Shinta starin' intensely at the Miyama beetle inside the bug cage.
With Himeko still totally crashed out, she probably felt like a total third wheel with nothin' to do.
Hayato turned back toward Saki with a wry-*ss smile.
Just like yesterday, Saki wasn't rockin' her usual middle school uniform or miko outfit; Instead, she was wearin' an elegant frill-sleeve top and a calf-length tulle skirt that completely covered her knees.
The outfit really made Saki's pale features look way more grown-up and sophisticated.
It wasn't like Saki was showin' much skin or anythin', but the fresh look still made Hayato's heart skip a total beat.
Saki'd probably picked that outfit out specifically for the day Himeko came back to Tsukinose.
Hayato felt a bit hesitant 'bout the idea of Saki's messin' up those brand-new clothes while fixin' breakfast, and just as he was wonderin' where the heck Himeko's home ec apron was, he had a total lightbulb moment for the mornin' menu.
"Alright, first off, could you wash and chop the veggies... ...but before that, since the place was empty for a bit, it's probably a good idea to give the plates a quick wash too, right?"
"Alright!"
Then they started cookin' together.
First, the eggplant was sliced in half lengthwise and then cut into half-moons, while the cucumbers were sliced thin, tossed in a bowl, and massaged with salt. Once they softened up, the water was squeezed out, and they were mixed with canned mackerel—drained of its liquid—and some sesame oil.
After throwin' in some roughly chopped tomatoes and garnishin' it with parboiled okra and shredded shiso leaves, the refreshin' mackerel and summer veggie salad was done—perfect for gettin' your appetite goin' even on a scorchin' summer mornin'. It'd probably taste k*ller with some wasabi soy sauce, too.
Since that wasn't quite enough, Hayato took those banana sponge cakes he'd grabbed at the station for himself on the way back to Tsukinose, lined 'em up on buttered foil, and popped 'em in the toaster oven.
In no time, a sweet-*ss aroma filled the air, and two cute little stomach growls echoed from the livin' room. Both Hayato and Saki looked at each other and shared a laugh.
And it wasn't just both Haruki and Shinta who were lured in by the smell; The sound of someone paddin' down the stairs started ringin' out too.
"Big Bro, I'm hungry~... ...wait, why the heck is everyone here!?"
As soon as she hit the livin' room, Himeko's messy-ass bedhead poof'd up in total shock.
◇◇◇
While they all sat around the low table in the livin' room havin' breakfast, Himeko was busy complainin' with total side-eye.
"Seriously, man! I was totally shocked to see everyone here so early, or like, I wish someone would've at least said somethin'... ...I bet this was all just one of Haru-chan's random-*ss ideas, wasn't it!?"
"W-Well, it's been seven years, so I guess I just got a little too hyped up..."
Himeko wasn't even tryin' to hide how annoyed she was.
But instead of lookin' actually pissed, Himeko just seemed like she was sulkin' 'cause she felt left out of the group.
Even now, Himeko was still actin' all pouty, mutterin', "It's not like I'm even into bug huntin' or anythin', but still."
"I just thought it'd be a total pain to wake Hime-chan up..."
"I mean, yeah, but still~~!"
While chowin' down on his breakfast, Hayato just watched with a mix of disbelief and a "Not my problem" attitude as Haruki tried her best to calm Himeko down.
Then, maybe 'cause she didn't dig Hayato's attitude, Himeko noticed him, pouted her lips, and shot him a sharp look.
"Big Bro, you gotta keep a tighter leash on Haru-chan―wait, what the heck happened to your elbow!!?"
"Huh? What's this? ...Did I scrape it somewhere?"
Himeko leaned in without even thinkin', pointin' at the scrape on Hayato's elbow.
It was all bruised and dark red, spread out 'bout as wide as two 500-yen coins side by side, and it looked pretty d*mn gnarly.
But it didn't actually hurt as bad as it looked; In fact, Hayato hadn't even noticed it until just now.
Looks like Hayato picked it up while he was busy savin' Shinta.
"Hey, Big Bro, you sure you're okay?"
"Whoa, Hayato, that's a pretty legit-lookin' wound there."
"Eh, I'm fine. If I just put some spit on it, it'll eventually—"
"No!"
Hayato was just 'bout to say that this kinda thing happens all the time and was no big deal—but he was cut off by Saki raisin' her voice.
With a level of speed and pushiness you'd never expect from someone as laid-back as Saki, she dragged Hayato to the kitchen in a heartbeat and started washin' out the wound.
Even Hayato couldn't hide how rattled he was.
"M-Murao-san? Look, I'm tellin' you, I'm okay, though..."
"You don't look okay at all! Geez, just show me the wound properly already!"
"O-Oh, okay."
Saki wasn't takin' no for an answer.
After washin' the wound, Saki quickly patted it dry with a handkerchief, then started treatin' it with some portable disinfectant and ointment she'd pulled out of her pouch.
Saki was surprisingly well-prepared.
And it was a side of Saki Hayato'd never seen before.
"I'm so sorry, this is all Shinta's fault..."
"...Oh."
But those words made everythin' click for Hayato.
The first-aid kit tucked away in Saki's pouch, and that oversized Band-Aid she just slapped on Hayato's elbow with the cute-*ss cartoon fox on it.
Who were those things actually meant for in the first place?
As Hayato caught a glimpse of this new side of Saki, a faint smile started creepin' onto his face.
"There, just make sure you change the Band-Aid pretty often, okay?"
"Oh—anyway, thanks, yeah."
"Don't mention it, it's really nothin'..."
"You're a real Big Sis, aren't you, Murao-san?"
"Huh?"
Big Sis.
Saki blinked her eyes in total confusion, not catchin' the meanin' behind Hayato’s words.
But when Hayato flashed a grin and looked over at Shinta chowin' down on breakfast in the livin' room, Saki's face turned bright-*ss red in a heartbeat.
A bit pushy, but lookin' after someone like Saki's got their back—that was Saki in her element as a big sis, and to Hayato, it was both sweet and somethin' he could totally relate to as a fellow firstborn with little siblings.
"I get it now, no wonder you're so on top of things."
"Huh!? O-Oh, wait, I mean—!"
Saki had no idea how to take the look Hayato was givin' her, and she started total fluster-talkin' at the top of her lungs.
Hearin' the commotion, both Haruki and Himeko poked their heads into the kitchen with total "What the heck" faces.
"Hayato, what're you up to? Did you mess with Saki-chan or somethin'?"
"Big Bro, did you like, hit on Saki-chan again? ...That's seriously cringe."
"Nah, you're wrong. I just said that unlike both Haruki and Himeko, Murao-san's actually got some legit feminine charm."
"Big Bro! Don't group me in with Haru-chan and her non-existent feminine charm!"
"Hime-chan!? Look Hayato, there are just some things you should never compare people on, okay!?"
"A-Aw..."
And just like that, Saki got dragged right into their usual back-and-forth drama.
Shinta, who was just watchin' the whole scene play out like a total outsider, looked at the pincers of the Miyama beetle in its cage with a confused-*ss face.
"...Feminine charm?"
Author's Notes:
Pre-orders for Volume 3 are officially live.
The release date is October 29, (2021).
Hope you guys check it out.
Meow.
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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