Chapter 3
"Nii-ni, where are you going?"
"Nii-ni, take me with you too."
"Nii-ni, I'm scared of thunder."
Always grabbing the hem of his clothes and following behind,
Erika would quickly hide behind Shota's back when she felt shy.
She clung to her brother, timid and tearful. That was
Erika, his little sister.
It wasn't that she couldn't make friends. Her pale hair,
shining like the moon, appeared strange to young children's eyes, making her a
target for exclusion and bullying. Shota vowed to protect his little sister as a
shield, as a brother should.
"---san."
A small existence to protect.
That's how it should be. That's what it should be.
However, the sight of the maturing body of a girl he
glimpsed last night greatly shook Shota's vows and emotions.
Softly, gently swaying.
If he let himself go, he might be swept away in the wrong
direction, just like being gently carried away by ripples, toward something
forbidden.
"---ssu?"
That would be unacceptable.
Hadn't Erika just said, "Take care, big brother"?
Betraying that expectation would be excruciating.
Suffocating. It felt like drowning. Unable to breathe. Needing oxygen---
"---Pfft!?"
"Oh, you're awake."
"...E-Erika? Um...?"
"Good morning, big brother."
"Ah, um, good morning, Erika."
Feeling physically suffocated, Shota gasped for air as he
opened his mouth, only to find Erika's face peering in front of him.
Caught off guard in his groggy state, Shota couldn't quite
grasp the situation at first. Erika, seemingly in a good mood, slightly
lowered her eyelids while playfully poking Shota's nose.
Checking the time, it was already past 10:30. Well, it was a
decent hour despite having trouble falling asleep last night. She must have
come to wake him up.
Erika, on the other hand, wore a calm outfit - a camisole
dress over her t-shirt, suitable for going out without any problem.
The situation of being woken up by such a neat and tidy girl
still didn't feel real, leaving Shota somewhat confused. In contrast to his
pajamas, he felt a bit embarrassed.
As he thought about the events of last night in the bath,
his cheeks began to flush with heat.
Meanwhile, Erika calmly delivered her message.
"Mii-chan wants to finish breakfast quickly."
"W-Wait a moment."
"...Big brother?"
As Erika was about to leave after stating her business, Shota reflexively grabbed her arm.
Erika tilted her head in confusion. Shota struggled to find
the right words, rolling vowels in his mouth. Finally, he managed to speak.
"S-So, uh, about last night... I'm sorry."
"!"
Last night.
With those words, a slight blush tinted Erika's cheeks, and
she averted her gaze from Shota, clearly flustered.
Despite maintaining her usual demeanor, it seemed she hadn't
entirely brushed off what happened last night.
Suddenly overwhelmed by guilt for seeing something he
shouldn't have, Shota hastily began to justify himself.
"Um, I-I didn't do it on purpose. I didn't know you
were in there, and yeah, it's my fault for not being careful..."
"It's okay, really. I understand. We used to bathe
together when we were kids."
"But still, it was wrong of me to see it, and, um, I
was just surprised by how... um, how you've become so girly and beautiful
compared to when we were kids..."
"E-Erika!"
"!"
Seemingly, Shota had been too honest and said more than
necessary.
Erika's face turned as red as if she had a fever.
Pulling her hand from Shota's grasp to her chest, she puffed
her cheeks in a pout and uttered one word.
"You're such a dummy, Niisan."
With that, she hastily left the room, as if unable to bear
the embarrassment.
Shota stood there watching her leave, then collapsed onto
the bed, vigorously scratching his head.
"Ugh, why me?!"
After confirming that Erika's presence was in his room,
Shota sighed heavily and left his room.
As he descended the stairs, he heard the sound of someone
moving around downstairs. It must be Mio doing something.
Entering the living room, he found cold pizza toast and a
milk-heavy café au lait on the dining table. Reheating it seemed like too much
trouble, so he decided to eat it as it was.
Despite being a bit soggy from the moisture of the onions
and bell peppers over time, he was quite hungry and quickly devoured it,
washing it down with the lukewarm café au lait.
As he was about to take the dishes to the sink, Mio poked
her head out from the hallway and spoke.
"Oh, Shota, you're awake. Can you bring the sheets from
your futon? We won't have a chance to wash them once school starts, so I want
to wash them now while we can."
"Yeah, sure."
"Throw them in the washing machine for me~"
With that, Mio, carrying a laundry basket, headed off to the
garden.
Mio, with her bangs tied up in the same ponytail as last
night and dressed in sweats, seemed completely at home without any sense of
discomfort, which was reassuring for Shota.
Shota, after returning to his room and removing the futon
sheets, decided it would be a good idea to wash his pajamas as well. After
changing, he made his way to the fateful bathroom. Standing in front of the
door, he cleared his throat and took a deep breath before knocking.
Naturally, there was no response or indication of anyone
inside. After all, coincidences like last night were not so common. With that
in mind, he slid into the bathroom---
"!?"
And then he froze upon seeing something carefully placed on
top of the washing machine. He was completely frozen.
Perhaps it was because he had let his guard down.
But could anyone imagine finding not just one, but two sets
of women's undergarments, neatly arranged in such a conspicuous place?
One set was a delicate shade of blue, adorned with cute lace
that exuded purity and elegance, giving off a refreshing and girlish
impression.
The other set was black, with a subtle red ribbon
accentuating its allure and adding a touch of cuteness within the sensuality,
perfectly showcasing the unique charm of a girl who embodies both adulthood and
childhood.
Regardless, these were items that Shota had never been close
to before, and they strongly reminded him of the opposite sex. His heart
pounded so fast it felt like it was about to burst.
Was this some kind of trap? Was he being tested? Why were
they so unusually cute? Wasn't black a bit too mature?
As Shota kept his gaze fixed on it, spinning around in
perplexed thoughts, Mio, who had somehow come up to him, whispered with an
oddly serious voice.
"Isn't black, like, super cool?"
"M-Mio!?"
"Y'know, even though we're gonna be high schoolers
soon, it's still kinda early... But, well, Eri-chan looks mature, so, like, I
get it, you know?"
Saying that, Mio nodded while lifting up her bra.
Apparently, black belonged to Erika. Truly, as her brother,
this was unacceptable.
But it might indeed suit the slender Erika. It was a
troubling thought. If only he had gone to the bathroom just a little earlier
last night, he would know the answer—no, wait, what am I thinking? Shota shook
his head vigorously, deliberately adopting a sullen tone and avoiding looking
directly at the item.
"What's up with that?"
"Oh, this? I bought it to match with this outfit of
mine."
"I didn't ask!"
"Well, but isn't it cute? I thought if I'm getting one,
might as well get something nice even for the parts you can't see... Ah! I get
it now! This is what they call 'battle lingerie'!"
"What are you talking about, dummy? I mean, why did you
just leave it there like that?"
"Oh, well, I was going to wash it, but I couldn't find
the laundry net."
"Laundry net? Come to think of it, I've never seen
one."
"You know, if you wash it without one, the straps and
stuff get all tangled. Oh, it's not like I don't want to wash it with Shota's,
so don't worry, okay?"
"Okay,
okay."
"Hm, but
I just thought, you know, washing something that's been pressed against your
private parts all day in one washing machine and having it all mixed together,
isn't that basically, like, a ──"
"Hey,
what are you saying!?"
"Ow,
that hurts."
I gave Mio's
head, which was saying incredibly stupid things with seriousness, a light tap
and interjected with a retort.
Mio flashed a
teasing smile and stuck out her tongue playfully. Though there was a slight
embarrassment and guilt for inadvertently witnessing that, it faded away in the
familiar exchange between them. Honestly, it was a bit of a relief.
"Got it.
I'll go buy one then. But where can I get it?"
"Hmm,
they sell them at the 100-yen store, supermarkets, drugstores, and stuff like
that."
"They
sell them in a lot of places, huh. Alright, I'll be off then."
Shota said as
he tossed the sheets and pajamas into the washing machine and headed out of the
bathroom. Just then, Mio, looking unusually cheerful, called out to him.
"By the
way, you were looking at them quite intently earlier, but which color do you
prefer, Shota-chan?"
"What!?
H-How should I know!"
"Giggle."
Shota, teased
and embarrassed, flushed red and hurriedly left the bathroom.
Shota didn't
go to the supermarket near the station but instead rode his bike all the way to
the county mall. It was to cool down from the embarrassment earlier.
Stepping into
the laundry section of the 100-yen store, a place he rarely visited, he found
exactly what he was looking for: laundry nets. There were plenty of them.
With various
options ranging from different colors to character-themed motifs, it's
understandable to feel bewildered about which one to buy.
Resting his
chin on his hand, Shota pondered for a moment. Although he felt a sudden rush
of heat in his cheeks when considering the intended use, he quickly decided
that anything would do as long as it was functional. He chose a plain one of
suitable size and made his purchase. Since he was already at the county mall,
he decided to stop by the bookstore and picked up some manga magazines he
usually reads.
When Shota
returned home, Mio was just hanging the sheets he had tossed into the washing
machine earlier in the yard. Upon noticing him, Mio waved her hand and called
out, "Hey there, Shota-chan. Did you find it?"
"Here
you go."
"Oh,
thanks!"
With a wry
smile at his childhood friend's thoroughly domesticated appearance, Shota
tossed the laundry net he had bought into the house from the entrance, and Mio
caught it skillfully. She then entered the house through the sliding glass door
in the living room and headed to the bathroom.
Determined
not to repeat the mistake he made earlier, Shota made his way straight to his
room after slipping through the entrance.
"Huh...?"
"Erika...?"
And then, as
if by chance, when he absentmindedly opened the door, Erika was there.
Sitting in
front of the bookshelf in a cute girl's pose, with a manga in hand and a pile
of manga next to her, Erika blushed slightly as if she had been caught in
mischief. She tried to justify herself while hiding her mouth behind the manga.
"Mii-chan,
this one's really interesting."
"Oh,
that one?"
It was a
series that Mio had taken from Shota's room without permission yesterday. It
seemed she had introduced it to Erika.
"I got
curious about the beginning..."
"Haha,
yeah, that part is interesting. Feel free to read it."
"Mm."
With a
pleased nod, Erika returned her gaze to the manga. It seemed she intended to
stay and read it here.
Shota
couldn't help but smile at Erika's absorbed expression in the manga and felt
glad that she liked the series he enjoyed.
However, on
the other hand, the situation of having a beautiful girl in his room, even if
she was technically his little sister on paper, felt a bit awkward and unsettling.
Yet, he
didn't want to suddenly leave his own room, feeling like he would be overly
conscious if he did so.
Moreover,
considering the items he had just put in the laundry, he hesitated to return to
the living room.
So, Shota
decided to pretend as usual, sat on his bed, and started reading the manga
magazines he had bought.
At first,
Shota felt a bit nervous, but once he started reading, he was gradually drawn
into the world of manga and became less aware of his surroundings. It seemed
Erika was the same, as she concentrated on reading, and only the sound of
flipping pages echoed in the room.
However, even
so, if something soft suddenly touched his shoulder, he couldn't help but raise
his head to see what it was.
"Huh!?"
And if he
found the beautiful face of his little sister, with whom he had a distant blood
relationship, so close that he could hear each other's breaths, he would be
startled and jump in surprise. The distance between them was very close.
"...Onii-san?"
"Huh,
oh, um, when did you get here?"
"A while
ago?"
"Weren't
you reading just now?"
"I
finished reading. When I asked you where the continuation was, you stayed
silent, Onii-san."
As she said
this with a slightly sulky tone, Shota couldn't help but furrow his eyebrows
with guilt.
It seemed he
had been so absorbed in reading that he didn't hear her at all.
But that was
beside the point.
"Oh...
well, all the volumes are there."
"What a
shame."
"So,
Erika-san? Isn't that too close?"
"Hmm, is
it hard to see?"
"I-It's
not like that."
"We used
to watch like this together back in the day."
"...Yeah."
With Erika
smiling softly in an unusual way, Shota found himself unable to say anything.
Her face overlapped with the one from the past, making it even more poignant.
"It's
nostalgic."
"Yeah,
it is."
Feeling that
his own consciousness was impure for being overly aware of the innocent smile,
they exchanged glances, shyly but amiably resuming their reading.
Shoulder to
shoulder, with breaths almost intermingling, they simply read their manga
together.
However, it
wasn't as simple as getting completely immersed in the world of manga without
any distractions or stray thoughts.
(So close, so
soft, the scent...)
Being pressed
against her delicate yet soft body, with her head resting gently on his
shoulder, a sweet scent that appealed to his instincts tickled his nostrils,
making him feel dizzy. The warmth radiating from her hand resting on his knee
made his entire body feel hot, and staying calm became increasingly difficult.
Trying to
concentrate on the manga and not think about anything unnecessary, but his
consciousness completely slipping away.
For Erika,
she was just seeking comfort like in the old days.
However,
everything was different from those times.
Unwanted
emotions swirled in his chest towards his little sister, and he bit his lip hard to
suppress them, turning the pages of the manga with an almost meditative state.
It felt like he was a monk in training.
"...Heh."
"Huh!"
Suddenly,
Erika shook his shoulder.
Shota
involuntarily trembled, and Erika peered into his face.
They stared
at each other for a moment.
Eventually,
Erika loosened her cheeks slightly and whispered.
"It's
interesting."
"Uh,
yeah, it is."
It was a
mischievous smile. For a moment, Shota misunderstood, thinking she was teasing
him, but then he quickly realized she was referring to the manga and awkwardly
returned the smile.
An
uncomfortable atmosphere filled the air.
"...What
are you two lovebirds doing?"
"M-Mio!?"
"Mii-chan..."
Mio's
exasperated voice interjected.
Having
appeared at the entrance of the room unnoticed, Mio glared at Shota and Erika.
"I've
been calling you guys for lunch multiple times, and I thought you weren't
coming... I'm amazed. Getting lost in your own little world... Oh, did I
interrupt something?"
"No,
you're totally misunderstanding! We were just, uh, reading manga together!
Right, Erika?"
"Yeah..."
"Huh?"
Though Shota
hastily spun out an excuse, Mio responded with a noncommittal hum, clearly not
believing him. Shota couldn't blame her, considering how they were staring at
each other as if they were about to embrace.
Meanwhile,
Erika tilted her head slightly, as if sensing something odd in the exchange
between her brother and childhood friend.
Observing
this, Mio let out a wry smile and sighed heavily.
"Well,
it's great that siblings are close, but you'll lose your appetite if you keep
it up. Hurry up and come eat."
"Alright."
"Mm."
Lunch,
according to Mio, was a hearty fried rice dish made with various ingredients to
clean out the refrigerator.
"Thanks
for the meal."
"It was
delicious."
"Thanks
for the meal."
As Mio brewed
tea after the meal, she suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, by
the way, we're out of rice already. Soy sauce, oil, and mirin are running low
too."
"Got it,
I'll handle the shopping."
"You're
quick to agree. Is there anything else you need while I'm out? Erika, since you
just arrived, there might be things you're missing, right?"
When asked,
Erika lowered her gaze for a moment and then hesitantly spoke up.
"Cotton."
"Cotton?
Like the mascot character?"
"...Cosmetic
cotton."
"Cosmetic
cotton? Oh, you mean cotton pads?"
Seeing Mio's
surprised reaction to the unfamiliar term, Erika widened her eyes in surprise.
"Cotton...
Oh, you meant cotton pads?"
Shota
couldn't help but burst into laughter at this, causing Mio to puff up her
cheeks in annoyance.
"Come
on, it's not that big of a deal. She's still new to this area, after all."
"Mii-chan,
is it for skincare, perhaps...?"
"Ah,
haha... Well, I guess I'll stop by the pharmacy on the way back from the
supermarket."
Feeling like
she was still being interrogated, Mio abruptly cut off the conversation and got
up from her seat.
Shota
chuckled awkwardly and followed suit, grabbing his wallet and heading towards
the door together.
However, when
Erika saw Mio, who still had her bangs tied up in a messy bun and was wearing a
sweatshirt, she let out a surprisingly loud voice.
"M-Mii-chan?"
"W-What's
wrong, Erika-chan?"
"You're
going out like that...?"
"Huh?
What's wr--"
"E-Erika-chan!?"
As if she
couldn't believe her eyes, Erika grabbed Mio's hand and dragged her back into
her room, leaving Shota dumbfounded.
From the
room, amidst the sounds of shuffling and things being overturned, Mio's voice
could be heard attempting to resist, saying things like, "N-No, I'm just
going to the neighborhood!" "Isn't this a bit too short!?"
"Even my hair!?"
Shota watched
with a half-hearted sympathy, observing the room he was brought into with a
sidelong glance.
As Erika
emerged from the room with a somewhat satisfied expression, pulling Mio along,
who seemed embarrassed and shy, Shota couldn't help but catch his breath.
"This...
is..."
"Yeah,
it's perfect."
"Uh..."
Her outfit,
consisting of a neatly designed T-shirt paired with a fluffy, short skirt
adorned with flowers, embodied the epitome of modern cuteness. With her hair
perfectly styled, even though he knew it was Mio, Shota couldn't help but
exhale in admiration, captivated by her appearance.
As was the
case when they first met yesterday, seeing Mio transform into this familiar yet
unexpectedly stunning form stirred up an inexplicable restlessness in Shota's
chest.
Half
impressed and half overwhelmed by a complex mix of emotions that seemed to lead
him to distant places, Shota was suddenly addressed by Erika.
"Brother,
how does Mii-chan look to you?"
"Oh, she
looks cute."
"Sho-chan!?"
Thrown off
guard by the words from Erika, which seemed to come from outside of
consciousness, Mio found herself uttering words she wouldn't normally say.
Before she
could think "Oh no," it was too late.
Instead of
hurriedly searching for words to correct herself, Mio, whose face had turned
beet red as if she had been teased, came up close and kicked Erika squarely in
the shins with a swift motion.
"Ow,
that hurts!?"
"Come
on, I'll go buy it right away!"
With an
appearance contrasting her cute attire, Mio left the house with an irritated
expression, leaving Erika and exchanging a wry smile before following after
her.
Together with
Mio, who had been waiting at the entrance with her hand on her waist, they
headed to the supermarket.
"By the
way, is there anything you want for dinner?"
"I'm
fine with anything."
"That's
the most troublesome answer."
"Even
so, I never go wrong with what Mio makes."
"Oh,
you're saying something nice. Well then, shall we decide based on what's on
sale or has discount stickers in the aisles?"
Despite her
vibrant and cute appearance, her actions and words resembled those of a capable
housewife, which felt oddly out of place. As Erika furrowed her brows, still
not quite accustomed to her childhood friend's behavior, her left hand suddenly
felt something cool wrap around it.
"Ah!?"
"Mm."
When she
turned around, Erika was holding her hand with an innocent expression.
It's natural
to do this, but she seemed to be asking why I was surprised with those eyes.
It's not like
I dislike it. We were holding hands just yesterday.
But today,
Mio is right next to me.
When we were
young, it might have been normal, but now, holding hands with a girl feels
special.
Moreover, I
can't recall ever holding hands with Mio, even after digging through my
memories.
But then
again, is it normal for siblings this age to hold hands?
But Erika
wanted to hold hands, didn't she?
As I pondered
these thoughts, Mio's loud, ostentatious sigh of "Phew" reached my
ears.
"Sho-chan,
is this some kind of 'she's mine' statement? Well, Eri-chan is cute, so I can't
blame you for feeling that way."
"N-no,
it's not, it's just... um..."
"Yeah,
it's a 'we're close' statement."
Mio shrugged
her shoulders along with her hands and shook her head as if to say "Oh
brother." While Shota contemplated how to correct the misunderstanding,
Erika proudly raised the hand she was holding and said.
Upon hearing
that, Mio seemed to have her tension eased, as she chuckled and playfully
turned around, taking Erika's other free hand.
"Well
then, I'm on this side. Now I'm close to both of you!"
"Mm."
And just like
old times, they joined hands and headed off for shopping together.
While it
might be an exaggeration to call it a shopping district, the area near the
supermarket where they bought groceries daily was lined with facilities such as
a post office, bakery, florist, and a private clinic, which didn't quite
overlap with the Gurin Mall.
This was an
area frequented by the residents of the neighborhood, including Shota and the
others, who had been coming here since they were young.
Naturally,
Mio, who had been handling household chores single-handedly since middle
school, was somewhat of a minor celebrity in this area. Both customers and shop
assistants often encountered familiar faces.
When Mio suddenly dressed up, it naturally drew the interest of people starved for
entertainment.
Every time
they encountered acquaintances, they were greeted with affectionate questions
like, "What's going on?" "Have you met someone nice?"
"Oh, is that so? How delightful!" accompanied by warm smiles.
So, they
spent more time and energy than usual on their way back home, constantly
meeting acquaintances. Upon returning to the Katsuragi residence, Mio immediately dropped her belongings and collapsed onto the sofa with a sigh.
"I'm
exhausted!"
Mio domineering behavior at the Katsuragi household was nothing out of the
ordinary. That was fine.
However,
today Mio was wearing a miniskirt, which was not something she usually wore.
Naturally, as it fluttered and almost exposed the light blue fabric at the base
of her thighs, causing a flutter of surprise, suddenly everything went dark.
"Oh,
what!?"
"Brother,
no."
Followed by
Erika's words and sigh directly into his ear. Then, the slight but definitely
perceptible pressure on his back from her twin peaks would understandably cause
some agitation.
Erika, in a
somewhat reproachful tone, directed her words at Mio
"Mii-chan,
it's visible."
"Oops, I
forgot about that."
After Mio's
oddly deflated response and the rustling of fabric, the light returned after a
moment.
Feeling a
sense of loneliness as warmth retreated, when he turned back, Erika's eyes,
filled with a reproachful color, were directed at Mio with a somewhat sullen
expression.
"Mii-chan,
that's a little indecent. Shota is here too."
"Oh,
well, it's okay if it's Sho-chan, right?"
"No,
it's not."
"Eh,
isn't it a bit late for that, Sho-chan?"
"...Don't
drag me into this."
Terrified by
Erika's overwhelming presence, Mio sought help, but Shota only shook his head,
keeping his distance as if to say he didn't want to get involved.
Mio continued to be stared at by Erika.
Finally, with
a soft groan, Mio raised both hands lightly in surrender, as if resigned.
"Okay,
I'll be careful when wearing skirts from now on."
"...Mm."
Erika nodded
in a somewhat indifferent manner to Mio words.
Mio, breathing a sigh of relief, looked at Erika intently and casually remarked.
"You
know, Eri-chan seems more like a girlfriend than a little sister."
"Wha..."
"Mmm..."
Those words
sent a slight chill down her spine. Even from the perspective of Mio, who was
a little sister with a brother, perhaps the closeness between Erika and Shota was too
much?
As for Erika,
she furrowed her brows in a troubled manner.
Unaware of
the situation here, Mio, still sitting cross-legged on the sofa, stretched out
with a loud "guguu" and murmured with a troubled expression as she
looked out the window at the sky.
"Hmm,
the weather seems a bit suspicious. They said it would be sunny today."
"Should
we bring in the laundry then?"
"Oh,
please... huh?"
"I-I
didn't mean it like that!"
"Haha,
I'm kidding. I meant the sheets and clothes, please."
"Mm, me
too."
As soon as
they finished bringing in the laundry, it started to rain. Fortunately, the
sheets were dry. Shota returned to his room, rearranged the futon, and then lay
down on his bed, listening to the rain tapping on the roof as he pondered,
mainly about Erika.
"...She's
quite dependent, isn't she?"
Reflecting on
past events and putting his feelings into words, Shota wondered if Erika was
also referencing their past experiences, which wasn't entirely off-base.
However, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was different, not quite
the right solution.
Suddenly, he
glanced towards Erika's room through the wall.
Although he
faintly sensed a presence, it didn't seem like anything in particular was
happening.
He picked up
the manga magazine he had been reading earlier, but once again, the contents
failed to register.
With a sigh
that seemed to contain various emotions, he brought his smartphone closer,
playing some recommended videos while he continued to spin his thoughts around
Erika.
Then, he
heard Mio's voice from the living room, saying, "It's ready!" He
hadn't realized it, but it was already dark outside, indicating that quite some
time had passed.
"Ah."
"Mm."
As he left
his room, he coincidentally encountered Erika.
Despite
having been thinking about her all this time, he couldn't find the words to
express himself in the spur of the moment.
Instead, he
gestured for her to go ahead on the stairs and followed behind.
His mind was
still a mess, but when he saw the large plates spread out on the dining table,
all those thoughts flew away in an instant.
"Oh,
fried chicken!"
"It was
on sale, you know."
Although he
had many favorite dishes, Mio's fried chicken was exceptional among them. When
it was laid out generously on the central platter, it was impossible not to
feel uplifted.
Feeling
restless as he took his seat and received the rice served by Mio, he noticed
Erika standing still.
"Erika?"
"...Did
I make too much?"
With surprise
evident in Erika's voice, Mio laughed softly and waved her hand.
"No, no,
this isn't enough. If Shota and my brother were here, we'd easily eat three
times this amount!"
"That
would be impossible unless it's after a match. Besides, Mio, you eat quite a
lot too."
"Hehe.
Well, anyway, Eri-chan, please take a seat and eat?"
"...Mm."
With that,
they exchanged words of thanks and began to eat, immediately helping themselves
to the fried chicken onto small plates.
The succulent
juices overflowed with happiness as they took the first bite, quickly followed
by scoops of white rice. The combination of white rice and fried chicken
created a harmonious blend of flavors, elevating the experience to another
level of deliciousness. Whenever the fried chicken seemed to be running out,
they promptly replenished it from the large platter, and when the rice was
running low, they called for reinforcements from the tea bowls.
Their
chopsticks didn't stop moving.
Although it
was already delicious enough on its own, they desired a change in flavor.
"Mio,
where's that thing?"
"That
thing?"
"Ah,
that thing, yes, yes!"
Erika tilted
her head at the mention of "that thing." Mio, on the other hand,
seemed accustomed as she fetched mayonnaise from the refrigerator and handed it
over.
For Shota,
mayonnaise was indispensable for Mio's fried chicken. It not only added an
accent to the flavor but also paired excellently with rice. His chopsticks
seemed to move faster.
Observing
Shota, Mio expressed her disbelief with a single word.
"Using
mayo with fried food will definitely make you gain weight, right?"
"I'm too
afraid of gaining weight to eat fried food! Taste is more important than
anything, and besides, Mio, you're using ponzu sauce, aren't you?"
"Ponzu
sauce, you see, it neutralizes the greasiness, making it practically low in
calories, right?"
"But in
the end, wouldn't you be adding extra calories from the ponzu sauce?"
"Eh..."
In this way,
to an outsider, Shota and Mio seemed to exchange banter in a light-hearted
manner.
"Well, I
also quite like adding lemon."
"There's
a similarity to ponzu, right? It's bothersome to buy and cut lemons just to
squeeze them!"
"By the
way, Erika, do you put anything on your fried chicken?"
"Not
really. This already has enough seasoning."
"Oh, you
understand!? But aside from that, it's fun to change the flavor. How about
trying some ponzu sauce?"
"Mayonnaise
is the best! Its richness is divine!"
"Calories,
the arch-nemesis of maidens!"
"Who
cares about that when it's so delicious!"
"You'll
gain weight if you're not careful!"
Shota and Mio turned their attention to Erika, teasing each other about their
preferences.
Watching them
for a moment, Erika narrowed her eyes and then spoke up.
"Mi-chan
and Onii-san are--"
She paused,
searching for the next part of her sentence, then bowed her head for a moment.
After a few
moments, she raised her head again and deliberately spoke in a cheerful tone.
"Two of
a kind."
"Well,
yeah, Sho-chan."
"Yeah,
well, we've been together for a long time."
"Hehe."
Although it
was an unexpected assessment coming from Erika, they didn't feel bad about it.
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