Chapter II | A Love That Lasted Too Long

♣♣♣

After leaving Araki-sensei’s place, we arrived at my house.

It was just past noon.

My family is running on business as usual today, working at our convenience store. Being a family-run business, we stock rare local souvenirs for tourists heading home, so we get a lot of customers even at this time of year.

So, the reason we stopped by here is for Himari and Enomoto-san to greet my parents.

My mom, who’s usually out on business, is taking it easy at home today. In other words, this is a rare time when both my parents are around.

Himari is the type to observe these formalities, so she comes to greet them like this every year. Well, last year was an exception for various reasons.

Himari and Enomoto-san went over to the house to meet my mom and dad.

I didn’t want to get an earful, so I decided to go check on the convenience store. There are some people over there I need to greet.

As I entered the store, a cheerful voice called out to me.

“Yuu-senpai! Happy New Year!”

“Shiroyama-san, Happy New Year to you too.”

That’s Shiroyama Mei-san.

She’s a first-year at our high school who originally started making accessories because she looked up to Himari. With Himari busy with modeling, she’s been a huge help supporting our flower accessory activities. On top of that, Shiroyama-san also works part-time at our convenience store.

During New Year’s, the other part-timers take a break, so it’s usually just my family running the store, y’know. But this year, Shiroyama-san offered to watch the shop.

…The problem is, well, that.

The problem is that, for some reason, Shiroyama-san is wearing a shrine maiden outfit.

It’s not the kind the part-time shrine maidens I just saw at the shrine were wearing, but a cosplay-style one. To be specific, it’s the type where both her shoulders are exposed, showing off her slender arms, and the hakama is a miniskirt. The kind you’d see in an anime or something.

As always, she’s picking a fight with General Winter in a test-of-endurance style. I’m cold even with a down jacket on, but as expected of a hardcore fashionista, she’s on another level…

“Did you make that outfit yourself too?”

“Yes! I pulled an all-nighter for today!”

“That’s amazing. I don’t get the reference, but I think it’s cute.”

“Ehehe. Thank you…”

The way she bashfully fiddles with the sweet pea-themed cloth accessory on her head is so earnest and cute.

Talking with this girl is really soothing. Especially after witnessing the grim love story of a math teacher in his thirties…

“You could’ve taken the day off on New Year’s Day, you know.”

“It’s fine, I don’t have anything to do at home anyway, ss’!”

“Don’t you go for the first shrine visit of the year with your older sister or anything?”

“My big sis goes on a ski trip with her university friends this time of year. I used to go with her, but I wasn’t really interested, y’know.”

Ah, I see.

People have their preferences when it comes to sports. Shiroyama-san is an otaku type, so she’d rather stay home if it’s something she’s not into. The fact that she can now stay home alone since becoming a high school student is probably a big part of it too.

Still, a ski trip over New Year’s is pretty stylish.

Our hometown, despite being in the south, has a pretty big ski resort in the mountains, and apparently, enthusiasts from all around come to visit during this season. It’s called Japan’s southernmost ski resort, and at the end of the year, they even feature the accommodations on TV. A warm cottage with a fireplace… I’d like to stay there someday, too.

As I was having a calm chat with Shiroyama-san, the backroom door opened, and a girl with a medium bob peeked her head out.

The moment she saw me, her face twisted in disgust.

“Geh! What are you doing here!?”

“This is my house, you know…”

This one is Mera Kamako-san.

A second-year girl from our school. A lot has happened with her: I made her a custom accessory, it got broken, her design was stolen during the cultural festival, and I had to make her apologize with me because of something Makishima did… Seriously, this girl has been through a lot. Honestly, in terms of sheer event density, she’s way more intense than Shiroyama-san.

Well, anyway, after all that, she’s also working part-time here with Shiroyama-san. She’s technically my colleague… or rather, a fellow slave to Saku-neesan, but the distance between us isn’t shrinking one bit.

No, that’s not the issue here.

The biggest problem here is probably this.

That Mera-san is wearing the same cosplay shrine maiden outfit as Shiroyama-san.

…That’s weird~.

Was today a cosplay day at our convenience store? Isn’t it a bit too aggressive to make two part-timers cosplay on the very first day of the new year? Is this okay? Doesn’t this violate some law? Isn’t there a future where my dad gets taken in by the police right at the start of the new year?

“…Mera-san. You had this kind of hobby?”

At my words, Mera-san’s face turned bright red.

“Sh-shut up! Mei made this, so I just wore it because I had to!”

“Yeah, right. But isn’t that a little out of character for you?”

“Don’t say it’s out of character!”

As we were having our usual, in a sense, back-and-forth…

Shiroyama-san looked a little shocked, her eyes welling up with tears as she spoke.

“K-Kaako-senpai, you didn’t actually want to wear it… ss’ka?”

““…!??””

Both Mera-san and I flinched and turned around.

We both frantically started patting Shiroyama-san’s head to soothe her.

“I-It was a joke! Mei, you’re so earnest~!”

“R-Right! It was my bad for playing along too!”

Crap, I was having too much fun teasing Mera-san and let my guard down. I hastily took out my phone and suggested.

“S-Since we’re at it, why don’t we take a commemorative photo?”

At that, Shiroyama-san’s face lit up.

“Let’s do it!”

“Ah, wai—…!”

Mera-san looked like she had something to say, but she was silenced by Shiroyama-san’s puppy-dog aura.

What a display of violence by ‘purity’. Well, I feel like it’s not right for me to say that since I’m the one who used it, but there was no other way to calm the situation. Seriously.

When I held up my phone, they both made a peace sign toward the camera.

“Yay~!”

“Y-yay…”

They struck a pose as if they were mirror images… well, not completely, since Mera-san’s face was twitching.

Even so, the two of them looked like a pair of close sisters. It’s been a year since these two became friends… The Mera-san who was called a wild beast back then is no more. Not that anyone ever called her that.

When I took the picture, Shiroyama-san was checking it with a huge smile.

“Yuu-senpai! Can you send it to me, ss’ka!?”

“Yeah. I’ll post it on LINE right away.”

Then, Mera-san casually jabbed my side with her elbow.

So that Shiroyama-san couldn’t hear, she groaned in frustration.

“Aargh, damn it! I really should’ve just skipped my shift today!”

“Hey, even if you say that, you put yourself on the schedule, didn’t you, Mera-san…?”

Apparently, all of this girl’s school friends were going to their relatives’ houses or whatever for New Year’s, leaving only Mera-san and Shiroyama-san with no plans.

I think they could’ve just gone out somewhere together, but it seems they came to the conclusion that they’d rather earn some money together. Thanks to Saku-neesan’s policy, our store has a system where the hourly wage gets a bonus during events. The two of them were a huge help during Christmas too.

By the way, this year she was feeling extra generous, and it’s a whopping fifty percent increase. Apparently, the appraisal is sweeter when the subject is a pretty girl. With all this kindness, I wonder why my own part-time pay is in the negative.

“By the way, Mera-san. You always complain like that, but do you want me to be nice to you?”

“Eh?”

Whatever she imagined from my question,

Mera-san’s face went pale, and she shivered. Taking a small step back, she muttered with a look of utter disgust~.

“Yeah, I’m good with how things are…”

“Why does it feel like I’m the one getting hurt here?”

Seriously, what am I like in Mera-san’s imagination…?

I feel like the distance between us has shrunk a tii~ny bit since the incident with Makishima before summer break, but at the same time, it means Mera-san’s sharp tongue has become more frequent. Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing is something to think about.

Shiroyama-san said with a wry smile.

“By the way, Yuu-senpai, weren’t you supposed to go to Himari-senpai’s house today, ss’ka?”

“Himari and the others are here to greet my parents. I’m planning to go to Himari’s house after this, but… I feel bad about being the only one skipping my shift. Shiroyama-san, you wanna come too?”

“Ahaha. You don’t have to worry about me, it’s alright, ss’yo! I’m supposed to go to Kaako-senpai’s house tonight.”

“Oh, is that so. Well then, I’ll leave things to you today.”

From the side, Mera-san was complaining, “Invite me too!”, but I decided to pretend I didn’t hear her. Because I don’t want to.

However, as expected of New Year’s Day.

Absolutely no customers are coming. I mean, there aren’t any cars at all on the road in front of the convenience store. Everyone’s probably relaxing at home for the New Year.

Such a calm atmosphere must make the young part-timers let their guard down. Mera-san stretched with a “guuuh” behind the register. A shrine maiden slacking off behind the counter is just too much of a fetish-fest.

“Haa~. But the chief isn’t here today, so we won’t get yelled at for slacking off. Lucky~ ♪”

“Saku-neesan isn’t here?”

“Yup. She said she won’t be back until tonight and just left a little while ago.”

“Seriously? It’s rare for her to go out on New Year’s Day.”

Especially since she’s a natural homebody.

She’d definitely never go out during New Year’s.

“Huh? Then who’s in charge of the store?”

“The manager’s reading the newspaper in the back.”

“Dad’s over here?”

The fact that she recognizes it’s okay to be lazy in cosplay as long as it’s in front of my dad means she’s perfectly grasped the hierarchy of our convenience store…

Then, Mera-san grinned.

“By the way, senpai. Aren’t you forgetting something?”

“Eh? Was there something?”

Did she maybe ask me to get her a good luck charm from the shrine visit?

I don’t have any memory of that, though. And besides Mera-san, if Shiroyama-san had asked me, I definitely wouldn’t have forgotten.

Then, holding out both hands, she flashed a full-faced smile.

“New. Year’s. Gift. Money. ♡”

“Come to think of it, Mera-san, you’re the same tribe as Himari in that regard…”

What are you saying with that nice smile?

We’re only a year apart, you know?

“I don’t have any.”

“Eeeh! You’re supposed to prepare it for the kouhai you dote on all the time!”

“You sure know how to spin things to your advantage…”

“Ah, then it’s for damages from earlier! That makes it perfect, right!”

“Why on earth do convenience store part-timers have to face off in court…?”

The only difference from Himari is that Mera-san’s coyness tends to be more of a brute-force approach. For the record, Himari’s style is to cut off all escape routes with cunning tactics. The fact that these two are similar yet polar opposites is something I find a little interesting.

“Ah, that’s right.”

“Eh! What, what!? You do have it after all!?”

And so, I placed a small “pochi” envelope into Mera-san’s outstretched hands.

Mera-san’s eyes sparkled for a moment, and then… noticing the texture, she tilted her head with a “Hmm?”. She opened the seal and turned the contents out onto her palm.

Flower seeds trickled down.

“These are flower seeds!?”

“Yeah. I got them from Araki-sensei’s place earlier.”

“I don’t need something like this!”

“Hey, nobody said I was giving them to you. I want you to plant those in the school’s pots after winter break is over. I might use them for the competition against Murakami-kun and the others if they’re ready in time.”

“Hey! Getting someone’s hopes up just to push work on them, isn’t that just the worst!?”

Mera-san, aside from this convenience store, also has a part-time job taking care of the flowers I use for my accessories. Her salary comes through Saku-neesan, though.

“In that case, give me my New Year’s gift money too!”

“You’re getting extra pay from Saku-neesan, aren’t you…?”

“This is separate from that! New Year’s pricing!”

“Is this a supermarket’s New Year’s sale or something?”

As we were having this fruitless exchange…

“Hey now. Even if there are no customers, don’t make a racket inside the store!”

“Ngh!?”

In tune with Himari’s words, Enomoto-san’s iron claw descended upon the back of Mera-san’s head.

The first one of the new year is Mera-san, huh. That’s good luck. In the sense that I wasn’t the one to get it, it feels more precious than anything.

Himari, with a scaa~ry smiling face, put pressure on Mera-san.

“Nfufu~ ♪ Kamako-chan? Even if Sakura-san isn’t here, you’re still being recorded on the security cameras, you know?”

“Ugh! I-I’m sorry…”

Once released, Mera-san fled with, “Ah, I’ll just go tidy up the back~…”

That girl is still not good with Himari and Enomoto-san, huh. Well, she gets hit with an iron claw every time they meet, so it can’t be helped.

“You two came over here?”

When I asked, Enomoto-san said, waving her hand nonchalantly.

“Yeah. We came in through the back and were greeting Yuu-kun’s dad… but that girl, she’s the same as always, huh.”

She sighed in exasperation. Why do I feel like I’m hearing a sub-voice saying, “I have once again cut a worthless object…”?

Himari also said, looking troubled.

“Honestly. Trying to get New Year’s money from a school senpai, what kind of ethics does she have?”

“I wonder who it was that just swiped some New Year’s money from Sasaki-sensei…”

There’s no one else who can handle a boomerang as freely as this girl. Well, the problem is that she can’t control it properly and it ends up sticking in the back of her own head.

Then, Shiroyama-san, beaming, struck a salute pose.

“Himari-senpai! Rion-senpai! Happy New Year!”

“Mei-chan, happy new year~. That shrine maiden outfit is cute too~♪”

“H-Himari-senpai… it’s embarrassing if you pat me there~ ss’yo…”

These two are as lovey-dovey as ever over here.

If I stare too much, Enomoto-san gets scary, so I averted my gaze and looked down at my phone. My girlfriend’s censorship is too strict…

“Umm. It’s about time, so shall we head to Himari’s place?”

♣♣♣

And then, around the time the sun began to set.

Accepting Hibari-san’s invitation, I visited Himari’s house.

It’s the Inuzuka family’s New Year’s party… or rather, the ‘Let’s Feed Yuu a Lot of Food Party’.

As the name suggests, it’s a party where they invite me over to feed me delicious things. The unique members of the Inuzuka family each bring ingredients they’ve gathered and treat me. It all started back in middle school when I carelessly let slip, “Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever eaten osechi.”

…No, at first it was just a heartwarming meal where we only ate the osechi that Ikuyo-san had prepared.

But then I, without thinking, said something like, “This is the most delicious thing in the world!”, and from the next year, the head of the family, Gorouzaemon-san, started competing and began ordering rare delicacies from all over Japan, which then lit a competitive fire in Hibari-san, and now it has turned into a banquet of carnage to see ‘who can satisfy me’. I now attend this New Year’s party, which has lost its initial heartfelt purpose, praying “I hope no one dies this year…”.

I didn’t participate last year because Himari and I were in a state of semi-breakup… but I wonder what will happen this year.

I got out of the taxi in front of the Inuzuka residence and passed through the gate.

Himari, grinning, nudged me with her elbow.

“Whoa, it’s gonna be amazing this year~. My brothers were super fired up, trying to make up for last year too, y’know~ ♪”

“Seriously, stop raising the bar through the roof…”

Just what kind of ridiculously extravagant dishes would be lined up?

Will I be able to survive this banquet of carnage? Will my values not be brutally shattered? To be specific, when I leave this gate, will I have turned into a cheeky brat who proclaims things like “Caviar is the only way to go for TKG in the morning, right?” I still want to remain a commoner…

Enomoto-san gave me a gentle smile.

“Don’t worry, Yuu-kun.”

“Rion!”

That’s right.

I have such a reliable girlfriend. No matter how much Hibari-san and the others try, if Enomoto-san chides them, they won’t go too far…

“Whatever comes out, I’ll eat it all.”

“Ah! The ‘don’t worry’ was in a gastric sense!?”

Phew. If I’m not mistaken, didn’t you eat about twice as much as me at the food stalls during lunch? I also saw you getting a second helping of ozoni at Araki-sensei’s house. No matter how much food is prepared, with you by my side, we can overcome it, my honey.

As we were talking about that, we opened the entrance door.

“Huh…?”

I immediately noticed the sense of unease.

While the Inuzuka residence has a large property, it’s not a house with a lot of people coming and going.

Apparently, when the family head Gorouzaemon-san was still active, his disciples lived and worked here, but now it’s just the family living here. Other than that, maybe an older girl who attends the nearby welfare university comes as a part-time housekeeper?

Despite being the Inuzuka house, there were many shoes lined up at the entrance today.

“Himari, are there guests?”

When I asked, Himari also tilted her head, looking puzzled.

“Huh~? That’s weird~. I haven’t heard anything…”

“Maybe relatives came to give their New Year’s greetings?”

“No, no. Today is the party to entertain Yuu, so even if visitors came, they’d definitely be turned away. No doubt about it.”

“I really hope you’re mistaken about that!”

I don’t think that’s something to prioritize over work, no matter what!

“Right. What about your eldest brother’s family?”

“Then it’d be weird for me not to have heard about it, right?”

True…

Himari’s eldest brother works in Fukuoka. Like Hibari-san, he’s a super busy person, so he apparently only comes back around New Year’s. I’ve only met him once, myself.

Enomoto-san said, a little hesitantly.

“Hii-chan. Are we sure it’s okay to just go in like this?”

“That should be fine. If it’s an acquaintance of Grandpa’s, we can just give a casual greeting.”

As expected of Himari, she’s used to this.

As told, I also took off my shoes and was about to go up.

(…Hmm? These women’s boots, they look kind of familiar?)

Looking closely, the other shoes also had designs that looked young.

Or maybe they’re Hibari-san’s guests, not Gorouzaemon-san’s.

A pair of men’s sneakers, and two pairs of women’s shoes. The women’s pair consists of familiar-looking boots and a pair of white heels that also look familiar.

And then there’s the information I heard at the convenience store earlier, that Saku-neesan was unusually out on New Year’s Day.

(…No way.)

We headed for the drawing-room.

The fusuma of the large room was open, and we peeked inside from there.

The spacious drawing-room of the Inuzuka residence.

For some reason, there was our Saku-neesan, stepping on the head of a prostrating Yatarou-san, and emitting a pitch-black aura like a malevolent demon.

…What is this situation?

The scene was so utterly ridiculous that we slowly pulled our faces back. The three of us put our index fingers to our lips, gesturing “shhh~”.

We began a strategy meeting in hushed whispers.

“I don’t get it at all, but I have a really bad feeling about this.”

“I feel the same way.”

Let’s run, Himari and I agreed telepathically with a nod, but…

Enomoto-san’s eyes were sparkling!

“I’d like to watch a little longer.”

“Rion’s romance-loving brain has been ignited!?”

Damn it! This girl pretends it’s not the case, but she’s super interested in other people’s love lives!

…As we were doing that, a woman’s voice came from behind us.

“What are you doing? All three of you, if you’re here, hurry up and come inside.”

““…!?””

Turning around, Himari’s mother, Ikuyo-san, was standing there holding the ingredients for a crab hotpot. Her cool and beautiful ‘beautiful witch’ vibe is still going strong this year.

“Um, what is this situation…?”

Ikuyo-san glanced into the guest room and then turned to face me again.

And with a crisp, beautiful, determined look, she said.

“Sakura-chan and the others are here for a visit after a long time.”

“I think there are more important things you should be telling me…!!”

This person is way too magnanimous!

As expected of the monster mom who single-handedly raised fierce warriors like Himari and Hibari-san. When people are in touch with Mother Nature, they don’t get fazed by minor troubles. Let’s just go with that.

Then, as if she heard our voices, a voice called out from inside the guest room.

“Ah~. Himari-chan, Yuu-chan. Hey there~☆”

“Kureha-san!?”

The shock from Saku-neesan and Yatarou-san was so great I didn’t notice, but Kureha-san was there too.

She was sitting in front of a large table, pouring sake from a tokkuri. She seemed to be tipsy, her cheeks tinged a pale pink.

“Kureha-san, you’re here too…”

“Of course I am~. This is my hometown, after all~.”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

This is the Inuzuka residence, you know? Weren’t you banned from here?

And the moment she recognized Kureha-san’s presence, Enomoto-san’s mood instantly soured.

“…Onee-chan. I didn’t hear you were coming home.”

“Ufufu. Rion is scary, so maybe I won’t go home~?”

Wait, wait, wait.

Enomoto-san, stop cracking your right knuckles silently. This is a New Year’s gathering. Please keep the sisterly feud on the down-low for today!

“Now, now~. Make yourselves at home~☆”

It’s definitely not Kureha-san’s house, at least… I thought, as I looked around the drawing-room again.

There were four people there.

Hibari-san and Kureha-san. And for some reason, Yatarou-san, who was prostrating, and Saku-neesan, who was stepping on his head with her arms crossed like a Nio statue.

On the table, a lavish meal was laid out.

Layers of osechi boxes handmade by Ikuyo-san were arranged, a large pot filled with dashi was placed, and of course, there was some expensive-looking sushi as well.

Sitting at the head of this paradise-like table was Hibari-san. He, too, was looking extremely handsome as he tilted his sake cup.

“H-Hibari-san. Happy New Year…”

“Hey, Yuu-kun. Happy New Year.”

I tried to ask Hibari-san, who was smiling as refreshingly as ever, about this situation.

“Um, what exactly is this situation…?”

“Eh?”

And then he stated it without a hint of hesitation.

“Sakura-kun and the others are here for a visit after a long time, you know?”

“Please tell me the more fundamental part of the story…!!”

Even if this is a daily occurrence for you guys, for us it’s on the level of wandering into another world!

Hibari-san laughed cheerfully and said to Saku-neesan.

“Sakura-kun. Yuu-kun and the others are here, so how about you let him off the hook soon?”

At that, Saku-neesan, who had been motionless in a demon king pose until just now, slowly turned around.

“Huh?”

With a voice that could make you wet your pants, she glared at us and—.

“How strange. I can see my foolish little brother…”

“Huh? Saku-neesan? I’m seriously right here though…”

“What a strange thing to say. My foolish little brother was supposed to have stayed behind alone to stop the enemy’s home base from self-destructing.”

“There’s some kind of grand story unfolding in your head!?”

I don’t think I could do something so manly as to risk my own life like that!

But something feels off.

For Saku-neesan, who’s so bad at taking a joke that I suspect she was a stone statue or something in a past life, to say such a prankish thing… Hmm?

The numerous empty beer cans rolling at Saku-neesan’s feet.

And her unfocused, suspicious eyes.

This is—.

“Ah! Saku-neesan, are you maybe drunk!?”

Enomoto-san asked back, sounding surprised.

“Sakura-san is a lightweight with alcohol?”

“No, she’s incredibly strong. Saku-neesan takes after my mom, so she doesn’t get drunk that easily, but…”

She can drink without showing it, and her tolerance is high. However, once she crosses a certain line, she suddenly becomes completely wasted.

And the number of empty cans rolling around here… if she drank all of these, even Saku-neesan would be in trouble. Seriously, how much did you drink at someone else’s house? This person is usually sensible and should be able to control her drinking.

Even Himari was taken aback by this situation and asked.

“Yuu, can’t you do something about this…?”

Saku-neesan continued to reign supreme, still stepping on Yatarou-san’s head.

And Hibari-san and the others, who could probably stop Saku-neesan, were just watching with cheerful smiles.

To put an end to this hell, I racked my brain.

“Umm… I’ll borrow this for a bit.”

I took a pair of disposable chopsticks from the table.

“Saku-neesan. Look at this.”

“Huh?”

I slowly approached Saku-neesan, who was still emitting an aura so scary it could make you pee your pants. Why do I feel like a safari researcher just for approaching my own relative?

Anyway, I slowly waved the chopsticks in front of her eyes. Like a metronome. The drunk Saku-neesan stared at it intently, but…

“Ugh.”

She suddenly covered her mouth and crouched down on the spot.

“Whoa! Saku-neesan, not here!”

“Mom! Take her to the washroom!”

After Ikuyo-san led Saku-neesan out, saying “Oh my,” Himari said, dumbfounded.

“Yuu, what was that just now…?”

“Momo-neesa… my eldest sister taught me that this is what you do when Saku-neesan gets drunk and becomes unmanageable, but…”

I never thought it was a countermeasure in that direction…

From now on, I’ll lead her to the front of the washroom before I do it. Well, it’d be better if an opportunity like this never comes again…

And then the freed Yatarou-san approached me, his face pale.

“Noppo-kun. You really saved me…”

“Um, that’s fine and all, but what is this situation?”

I thought it was rare for Saku-neesan to be out on New Year’s Day, but she was drinking here. If she knew we were coming, she could have told me beforehand.

As I was thinking that, Hibari-san explained with a laugh.

“Do you know that we have a reunion with our high school club members every year?”

“Ah, I’ve heard about that from Saku-neesan.”

“This year we timed it with Kureha-kun’s homecoming, but today was the only day that worked, you see. Yuu-kun and the others were scheduled to come too, so we were planning to have a big celebration, but…”

Then he looked in the direction Saku-neesan was taken and continued, looking troubled.

“She drank too much before you guys arrived and ended up like that.”

“I-I see…”

Still, it’s rare for Saku-neesan to get that drunk.

As I was wondering about it, Kureha-san giggled.

“Sakura-chan was being so noisy about bringing Wan-chan along, so we came back together like this~.”

“H-Hah…”

“It seems Sakura-chan got all nervous about meeting Wan-chan, even though it’s not like her~. She misjudged her drinking pace and got totally wasted~☆”

“Heeh…”

It seems to be related to Yatarou-san somehow.

He’s the mentor of my creator friend Tenma-kun… and yet, he’s a person who has been giving off strong vibes of having some past history with Saku-neesan. I’ve been dodged so far, but this might be my chance to hear the truth.

“Um, is it finally okay for me to ask about your relationship with Saku-neesan?”

“…!”

Yatarou-san flinched.

Usually, he would have brushed me off with “shut up, kid,” but this time is different. After all, I saw him prostrating and having his head stepped on. The curtain has risen on a mystery I can’t leave until it’s solved.

Then, in place of the reluctant Yatarou-san, Hibari-san spoke.

“Yuu-kun. Do you know that Yatarou is an unsuccessful author?”

“Ah, well, I kind of…”

Adding “unsuccessful” makes it really hard to answer…

Hibari-san continued nonchalantly, “Then this will be quick.”

“He has a promise to marry Sakura-kun if his book sells a million copies.”

A shock like a bolt of lightning ran through us!

At the same time, Saku-neesan, who had recovered from her drunkenness, burst in, her face beet red, and yelled.

“Why do you know about that!?”

“Eh? No, in the first place…”

Hibari-san tilted his head as if it were nothing.

“Sakura-kun, you always talk about this when you get drunk, don’t you? Huh? Were you maybe trying to keep it a secret?”

“…!?!?!?!?”

At this staggering fact, Saku-neesan froze, her mouth agape.

She looks like a carp begging for food. A pun on koi, meaning love, you see. Just kidding. …Shut up. I’m shaken up too from having my own family’s embarrassing dark history exposed!

“…………”

Well, I did have a vague feeling about it.

But you know, it’s Saku-neesan… I thought, ‘no way, that can’t be it,’ but it seems it’s for real.

Hibari-san tilted his sake cup and nodded slowly, as if reminiscing about the past.

“Four years ago, when I found out that Yuu-kun was Sakura-kun’s actual little brother, I thought to myself.”

And his eyes sparkled.

“—The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, huh.”

Stop it!

Any more than that is overkill! Saku-neesan and Yatarou-san already look completely and utterly uncomfortable!

I tried to smooth things over… well, I know it’s impossible at this point. But I know I’ll be killed out of frustration when we get home, so at this point, I might as well see it through to the end.

I asked with an awkward laugh.

“Uhm, so… how’s the progress on that?”

This time, Kureha-san, who’s Yatarou-san’s lifeline, answered with a smile.

“His new work came out a while ago for the first time in a year~, but out of about ten thousand copies printed, not even a thousand sold, right~? So that means it was a huge loss~☆”

“…………”

That merciless reply.

The reality was too harsh… so brutally harsh that the feeling of awkwardness broke through its limits. Saku-neesan, trembling with a bright red face, lunged at Yatarou-san.

“In the first place, it’s your fault for never selling any books!!”

“It can’t be helped! Luck is part of the game!”

“Don’t you dare make excuses for not selling like a pro! Luck isn’t something you wait for, it’s something you pull in!”

“Hah!? Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a project proposal approved at a meeting!?”

“I told you, you’re finished as a writer if getting your proposal approved becomes your goal! That ‘I’m trying to write something good’ vibe of yours gets on my nerves! I’m telling you to just hurry up and write a light rom-com!”

“There’s no point in writing the same thing as other writers!”

“Say that kind of big-shot author stuff after you’ve made it big!! Just use the women who swarmed you like moths in high school as models and have them strip!”

“Those girls are the complete opposite of rom-com heroines!!”

It was a catastrophe.

I’ve never seen Saku-neesan like this before. The gap between this and her usual self is so big I think I’m going to catch a cold. Seriously, I’m glad I didn’t bring Shiroyama-san and Mera-san today…

Ignoring Saku-neesan and the others, Hibari-san lit the tabletop stove where the pot was sitting.

“Well then. Now that Yuu-kun and the others are here, let’s all have some crab.”

“What a switch!!”

Is this heaven and hell?

“Shouldn’t we stop them…?”

“Hahaha. That was a daily occurrence back in high school. Ah, Yuu-kun. Could you pass me the vegetables over there?”

So used to it~.

I passed over the colander filled with home-grown vegetables that Ikuyo-san had raised. Then Hibari-san, with a practiced hand, started adding vegetables and tofu into the dashi.

Meanwhile, Saku-neesan and Yatarou-san’s lover’s quarrel was heating up. They’re like weapons of destruction that will keep moving until they run out of energy…

“It’s kind of surprising to see Saku-neesan arguing like that…”

“It just means Yatarou is someone she can be herself around. Those two had their share of things happen back in high school, you know.”

He arranged thick, succulent crab legs on top of the vegetables in the pot.

The sight alone was enough to be a winner, but as the dashi gradually warmed up, the umami of the crab melted into it, making it absolutely perfect. The fragrant aroma tickled my nostrils… huh? I wasn’t hungry just a moment ago, but seeing it right in front of me, it’s surprising that I feel hungry now.

Yeah. I’m starting to not care about Saku-neesan’s situation anymore. As expected of crab. All we needed to do for world peace was to eat crab.

Hibari-san took a bowl and portioned out some Chinese cabbage and tofu from the bubbling pot. Finally, he boldly placed the thickest crab leg on top and offered it to me.

“Here you go, Yuu-kun. Don’t hold back, eat up.”

“Thank you very much!”

Steam was rising from the vibrantly colored meat.

It looks so damn good. I’d never get to eat something like this at home. Deeply moved, I bit into the meat.

…So good!

What is this, the meat is so plump. And the flavor is so rich. Is this what crab tastes like? I’m not in a position to have eaten it many times, but I can tell this is in a league of its own.

Himari, being used to it, has a composed attitude, saying things like “It’s delicious, isn’t it~”.

Enomoto-san is also blushing as she deliciously devours the crab. …Huh? In the time it took me to eat one crab leg, about five empty shells have piled up next to her? You ate so much at the food stalls and at Araki-sensei’s house, right? Was everything I saw just a hallucination? If this were an ability battle, this would be an unsalvageable pattern, you know?

W-well, for now, let’s avert our eyes from reality and enjoy the crab.

“Hibari-san, this is incredibly delicious.”

“I’m glad to hear that. There’s plenty, so eat as much as you like.”

“Thank you very much!”

With the intention of building up my strength before the exams, I helped myself to the crab without holding back.

As I was doing so, Ikuyo-san returned to the drawing-room.

“Oh, it seems to be a hit with everyone.”

“It does. We have the fishermen who shared it with us to thank.”

Ikuyo-san smiled happily as she sat down at the table.

She took some items from the osechi box, placed them on a small plate, and offered it to me.

“Here. Yuu-kun, have some of this too, okay?”

“Thank you very much!”

Whoa.

This is Ikuyo-san’s special roasted game meat. The intense aroma of the spices whets my appetite. Since the crab is so elegant, the synergistic effect makes me feel like I could eat endlessly.

“How is it?”

“Yes, it’s delicious!”

Is this venison, I wonder?

It’s super tender, and there’s no gamey taste at all. Our convenience store gets it wholesale, so I’ve tried grilling it myself, but I can never cook it this well. As expected of Ikuyo-san.

Other New Year’s staples like kuri-kinton and black beans are also all handmade by Ikuyo-san. My mom would never make them. I have to eat my fill on this occasion.

Watching me eat, Ikuyo-san’s eyes softened gently.

“Fufu. I wonder if this is what it would be like if I had a son…”

“You do have one? You have two splendid sons, you know???”

No matter how you look at it, her memory alteration is going too far. And Hibari-san, this is not the time to be laughing so cheerfully…

While we were enjoying the meal like that, the angry voices continued from the other side of the room.

“And another thing, Yatarou! What’s this about you being indebted to Kureha!? Have you no pride!?”

“It’s better than sweet-talking some woman I don’t know to take care of me!”

“You could just get a part-time job or something! This is why you f-ing normies are…!”

“As if I can pay Tokyo rent with a part-time job!! This is why people who’ve never left their hometown are…!”

…They’re still arguing.

The grudge between those two seems to have been stewing for a long time. As I thought, crab couldn’t solve a romantic trouble after all. If this had been live-sliced carp, perhaps… well, a pun on koi and love. I get it, I won’t say it again.

Kureha-san sighed, “haa~”, while picking at her crab meat.

“Jeez~. Both Sakura-chan and Wan-chan, could you please be quiet during a meal~.”

“Shut up! In the first place, it’s because you spoil him that he never feels a sense of crisis!”

“But, but~, even if you ride the popular genre wave and sell, it’s more often the case that it doesn’t last long, you know~? A million copies nowadays is not something that sells so easily~?”

Well, there’s some truth to that, which is what makes it tricky.

I can also understand that a match depends on the luck of the moment. Even if things are like this now, something might click one day and he could suddenly blossom. The important thing is to build up your skills for that moment. No, I’m saying something that sounds profound, but it’s all just secondhand information from documentary shows…

However, as a little brother, I do think it would be nice if they settled it rather soon.

Why, you ask? Because as it stands, the successor to our convenience store hasn’t been decided. For now, Saku-neesan is running it, but the promise that I’ll obediently take over if I can’t make a living as an accessory creator by the time I’m thirty is still active.

If Yatarou-san were to come, that promise might become null and void. Fufufu, I’m quite brilliant, if I do say so myself. It’s all thanks to the cunning I’ve learned from Himari.

As I was thinking wicked thoughts, Kureha-san said with a laugh.

“Anyway~, Sakura-chan, you really were waiting for Wan-chan, weren’t you~? I thought you’d deny it, but you love Wan-chan that much~?”

“…!?!?!?”

Ah, she said it.

I was thinking the same thing just now, but I was trying not to say it out loud!

“I-I wasn’t waiting! There’s no way I’d take what this guy says seriously!”

“But, but~. The opposite of love is indifference~, and you were the one who taught me that just by saying you hate someone, you’re already conscious of them, right, Sakura-chan~?”

“Th-That was about you guys…”

“Besides, Sakura-chan, you were originally planning to go to a university outside the prefecture after graduating high school, right~? But you changed your plans right before graduation to help out at your family’s convenience store~.”

There, Kureha-san continued as if she just remembered something with an “Ah”.

“By the way, I heard from Momoe-san~. That you get invited out by the male regulars at the convenience store all the time, but you turn them all down~. And what’s more, your excuse for turning them down is ‘I have a prior engagement’, isn’t it~?”

“~~~~~~~~~~ !”

Ah.

A landmine was stepped on with full force, and Saku-neesan exploded with a ‘kaboom’.

“You damn normie! It’s because you went home that I got embarrassed────────!!”

“In the first place, you were the one who told me to show my face, weren’t you!?!?!?!”

With a force that you wouldn’t expect from grown adults, the two of them disappeared down the hallway in a clatter.

The well-worn house creaked and groaned.

I was stunned into silence by the conclusion, holding my glass so it wouldn’t tip over. And Hibari-san, used to this situation, tilted his sake cup with a calm smile.

“My, my, what are we being shown here, I wonder.”

“Don’t put it like that.”

I, too, felt somehow embarrassed and covered my face with both hands. …I see. So this is what they call ‘sympathetic embarrassment’. I’ve become an adult in one more way.

To clear away this feeling, I have no choice but to rely on the power of crab.

Just as I picked up the serving chopsticks and was about to take a cooked crab leg from the pot…

“Hibariiii!! You bastard, you kept quiet from me that Yuu-kun was coming today, didn’t youuuuuu!!”

With that roar, the fusuma slid open violently.

It was the head of the family, Gorouzaemon-san.

I was thinking it was awfully quiet today for New Year’s Day… but seeing Hibari-san nonchalantly whistling, he must have kept my visit a secret.

For some reason, Gorouzaemon-san gestured with a smug look at a line of chef-like men lined up behind him.

“This year for sure, I’ll make it clear which of us can satisfy Yuu-kun’s stomach!”

“Hahaha. How many times do I have to tell you that I know Yuu-kun’s preferences best? Well, it’s a good opportunity to put an old fool out of his misery. —You’re fine with that too, right, Yuu-kun?”

No, just let me eat in peace…

But my true wish went unanswered, and this New Year’s Day, too, I was fed until I was on the verge of passing out.