Shiro, Mio, Yuki, and Ketsueki were sitting on chairs around the dining table that had a dozen pizza boxes scattered in the middle. In front of them was a plate with a burger, a slice of pizza, and a side of fries. Yuki was holding onto her burger that had a couple of big bites taken out of it, she said. “It’s too bad your vegetable gyoza wasn’t available, Mio.” She took another big bite of her burger while Mio was holding a fry in her hand and used it to point at her, she said. “It’s fine, I’ll just try to-.”
Reiki came from the kitchen with Cherry on his right shoulder while carrying a large tray, he made his way to the table and said. “Food is ready.” He placed down four bowls that were used for miso soup filled with sauce near them along with a large bowl of potato salad in the center and a large plate of wedge-cut fries. Reiki continued. “I made some honey mustard, some fries, and potato salad if you don’t feel like eating something fried in oil.” Ketsueki was holding onto a half-eaten pizza with her right hand as she reached out with her left to pick up a wedge cut fry and dipped it in honey mustard.
Shiro picked up one of her fries on her plate and did the same while Mio and Yuki stared at the odd yellow dip with a hint of confusion on their faces. Reiki smiled at them and said. “Try it, I can guarantee it’s good.” Cherry flapped her wings as she let out a soft caw and turned into a streak of white. Mio picked up a fry on her plate and dipped it in the sauce while Yuki copied her friend and waited for her to taste it first.
Reiki made his way back to the kitchen while Mio took a bite out of her fry as her expression turned into surprise. Yuki did the same as her expression turned on with delight, she thought. Honey mustard is pretty good. Ketsueki was in the middle of chewing as she picked up a napkin with her left hand and wiped her lips clean, she said. “You two got any more stories I should know about?” Shiro picked up the pizza on her plate as a faint blush appeared while she used the pizza she picked up to point at her and said. “Onee-chan!”
Ketsueki moved her gaze onto her little sister, she raised a brow at her and said. “What? Are you hiding something from me?” Yuki slightly squished the burger she was holding with her right hand, she said. “What kind of stories do you want to hear?” Shiro picked up a wedge-cut fry and threateningly pointed it at her friend, she said. “We shook on it!” The corner of Ketsueki’s lips curled upwards while Mio stared at the potato salad and thought. Are those baby potatoes? She said. “There was that one time a boy told her he liked her and she-.”
Shiro panicked as she leaned forward on the table and covered her friend's mouth using the slice of pizza she was holding, she said. “Nothing! Absolutely nothing happened!” Reiki came from the kitchen while using the same tray with a pitcher that was filled with soda and some ice, he said. “I brought the spoons.” He made his way to the dining table and placed a spoon on top of the neatly folded napkin beside them. Mio picked up the serving spoon from the mashed potato as she placed some onto her plate.
Reiki’s eyes were on his little sister who was covering her friend's mouth with a slice of pizza, he said. “That’s an odd way to feed someone.” Ketsueki was holding onto what was left of a pizza slice as she pointed the crust at his shoulder and said. “Where’s Cherry?” Reiki placed the pitcher filled with soda in the middle as he used the tray behind him, he said. “She’s eating by the sink.” He picked up a handful of wedge-cut fries and ate them one by one. Yuki moved Shiro’s hand away from her, she said. “Why didn’t you make anything special this time?”
Reiki used the wedge-cut fries he was holding to point at all the food at the table while Mio ate a small spoonful of potato salad. Mio gulped down a mouthful of salad and said. “It’s the first time I’ve seen potato salad using whole baby potatoes.” She used her spoon to scoop some on her plate as she continued. “Especially with the skin on.” Reiki tossed a wedge cut fry into his mouth, he thought. Oh yeah… Potato salad here is commonly served mashed. He wiped the corner of his mouth using the back of his hand and said. “If you don’t like how it looks I’ll make it different next time.”
Mio shook her head sideways while Yuki picked up another slice on her plate while simultaneously placing some potato salad on it. Mio said. “It’s fine how it is, I think it’s good.” Shiro was acting shy as she nibbled on her slice of pizza while Reiki opened the box on the top and made a sandwich with the toppings in between, he said. “I’m only staying for a couple more sandwiches, I need to pay a visit to someone.”
He took a big bite out of the pizza sandwich in his hands as the cheese oozed to its sides, Ketsueki dipped the pizza crust into some honey mustard as she glared at him from the corner of her eye. Reiki pretended not to notice the glare from her as he moved his gaze onto Shiro who was oddly silent, he said. “Shiro, you’ve been quiet for a couple of minutes now.” He saw his little sister jolt in her seat. Shiro glanced at Yuki who was stuffing herself with food while she wiped her mouth clean with a napkin and said. “It’s not-.”
Before she could finish Yuki gulped down a mouthful of food as she interrupted her friend, she said. “Oh, she’s hiding the fact that a boy confessed to her once.” She reached her hand, grabbed the pitcher filled with soda, and poured some into her own glass. Shiro's eyes widened as she quickly turned her head onto her friend as she looked like she got her tail stepped on. Reiki thought. Oh yeah, I completely forgot that a boy in her class confessed to her… If I remember correctly it was a simple one that she refused.
Ketsueki raised a brow at Yuki and thought. She’s similar to Namida in that regard. She picked up a fry on her plate and dipped it in some sauce, she said. “How was the confession?” Reiki made another pizza sandwich while Mio used her spoon to scoop some potato salad on her plate, she had a thinking expression on her face and said. “I wouldn’t even call it a confession.” Shiro was glancing at her older brother from the corner of her eye while Yuki picked up her glass filled with soda and started chugging it.
Mio continued. “We were on our way to the cafeteria for lunch when one of the boys sitting in front just asked Shiro all of the sudden if she liked him.” Ketsueki was in the middle of chewing, she thought. Yeah, that sounds about right. She swallowed and said. “And here I thought the boy put in some effort.” Yuki placed her glass back on the table as she let out a sigh of satisfaction, she picked up the pitcher, poured more soda into her glass, and said. “I don’t even know why she’s embarrassed by it when the confession wasn’t even sincere.”
Ketsueki glanced at her little brother who had already finished his second pizza sandwich as he picked up the pitcher of soda and looked around the table. Reiki said. “Onee-chan, do you mind if we share a glass?” Ketsueki shook her head sideways and said. “It’s fine.” Her gaze wandered onto her Shiro who tried to maintain a straight expression while repeatedly glancing at her older brother that finished pouring soda into a glass. Shiro’s gaze moved to the slice of pizza she was holding, she said. “I think he just asked me on a whim.”
Reiki let out a burp and said. “Excuse me.” He reached for a handful of fries as he moved his gaze onto Yuki, he said. “Oh, and to answer your question a couple of minutes ago. I got my hands on some beef shank.” Yuki had some melted cheese on the corner of her mouth, with her brows slightly furrowed she said. “Then why didn’t you make something with them?” Mio ate some mashed potato using her spoon while Reiki dipped the two pizza crusts into some honey mustard and said. “Oh, you two aren’t staying for dinner?”
Mio was in the middle of chewing and gulped the contents inside her mouth, she said. “I can’t, I have homework to do.” Yuki was about to say something when a thought came into her head she slightly slumped forward and let out a sigh. Yuki said. “I have to get home before the sun sets.” Reiki finished off the pizza crusts, with a furrowed brow and said. “You have curfew?” Yuki shook her head sideways, she said. “No, my parents have a… Thing and me and my brother have to be there.” She reached out and grabbed another slice of pizza.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Reiki reached his hand out and grabbed a couple of slices of pizza as he sandwiched both of them together with the toppings in between. He said. “All the more reason why you two should relax here given the chance to do so.” He used his thumb to point behind him and continued. “And I have somewhere to be.” Reiki did a half turn as he made his way to the staircase to the second floor. Ketsueki who was holding onto a half-eaten wedge cut fry with her left hand as her right hand blurred as she grabbed the collar of her little brother’s shirt.
She said. “And where do you think you’re going?” Reiki looked up to his older sister and said. “It’ll be just a short visit, you won’t even notice I was gone.” Ketsueki’s eyes squinted as she gave her little brother a scrutinizing glare. The three little girls felt the atmosphere turn heavy as Shiro raised her hand that was holding onto what was left of a slice of pizza. Shiro said. “O-Onii-chan, Yuki had something to ask you.” Reiki pretended to not feel the gaze that was piercing him, he turned his head sideways and said. “Yuki, feel free to ask anything.”
Mio placed her spoon onto the neatly folded napkin near her, she thought. Shiro, in situations like these you’re not supposed to do anything. Yuki’s eyes slightly widened as she looked around the room using the corners of her eyes in a panic, she quickly said. “I was wondering if you could also make our bentos for school?” She let out an awkward laugh as she felt the stares of her two friends and Reiki’s on her. Yuki thought. Don’t just stare at me, say something! Reiki nodded and said. “Oh, sure thing. Just leave your bentos to Shiro before you leave and write what you want to eat.”
Yuki’s eyes had stars in them as they sparkled, she said. “Really?! That easy!?” The two slices of pizza pressed together that Reiki held with his hand as some of the cheese started to make its way toward his left hand, he continued. “Yeah, it’s not like you’re asking for something impossible.” He sneakily raised his hand as he used his index finger to slowly and repeatedly make circles inside the palm of Ketsueki’s hands. Mio had a hint of worry on her face and said. “Are you sure? We don’t want to impose.”
A faint blush appeared on Ketsueki’s cheeks as her grip that was holding her little brother’s collar slightly loosened. Reiki made sure to keep drawing circled on his older sister’s palm as he kept his gaze on his little sister and her friends, he said. “It’s fine, it gives me an excuse to make more food for breakfast.” Yuki did a small fist bump in success as her mouth formed a big smile, she said. “Now my lunch won’t be bland chicken breast tomorrow.” The corner of Reiki’s lips curled, he said. “If you get permission from your parents, I won’t mind always making both of your bentos.”
The stars in Yuki’s eyes shined even brighter as she excitedly said. “Really?!” Reiki nodded at her as he glanced at his older sister using the corner of his eye as he noticed the blush on Ketsueki’s cheeks becoming more prominent. He thought. Getting closer. Mio had a hint of uncertainty on her expression she was about to say something when Shiro leaned closer to her friend's ear and whispered. Shiro softly said. “If you let your parents taste what Onii-chan made would they allow it?”
Mio moved her gaze onto her friend as she spoke in a soft voice and said. “How would I let them taste Reiki’s cooking?” Shiro kept a straight face and spoke without missing a beat, she said. “You can just not eat everything in the bento and bring it home.” Mio was about to say something but stopped herself, she thought. I… Didn’t think of such a simple solution… Reiki moved his gaze onto the three girls and said. “Now maybe you two won’t steal Shiro’s side dishes.” Shiro dipped her pizza crust into some honey mustard while Mio moved her gaze onto him.
Mio had a straight expression on her face and said. “... We don’t steal Shiro’s side dishes…” Yuki had a surprised expression on her face, she said. “How did you know?!” Mio placed her left hand on her forehead and massaged it, she thought. At times like these, I wonder how she’s supposedly the smartest out of the three of us. Reiki gave Yuki a knowing smile and said. “You two ate my cooking, it’s not that hard of a guess.” Shiro used the half-eaten pizza crust she was holding, she used it to point at her friends and said. “Which one of you stole one of my fried shrimp and egg roll?”
Reiki let out a chuckle as he glanced at his older sister from the corner of his eye and stopped drawing circles on Ketsueki’s palm. His lips curved into a mischievous smile as Reiki slowly drew a heart and said. “I’ll be back before you know it.” Yuki and Mio started laughing while Ketsueki suddenly let go of his little brother’s collar as she held the back of her left hand with her right hand that was still holding onto the half-eaten fry.
Ketsueki watched her little brother make his way up the stairs as she held her left hand and thought. All he did was draw circles on my palm… Why did it feel wrong?... Shiro was still using the half-eaten pizza crust to point at her friends, she said. “I’m serious.”
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Arashi’s Apartment
Reiki made his way in using the window as he closed it behind him, he looked around the room and said. “Hey, Arashi. I got some souvenirs.” The door that could lead into the closet was opened as Asami walked out of it while Arashi was a few steps behind. Arashi wiped some sweat from her forehead as she took a few deep breaths and said. “See… I-I told you I could keep up.” She let out a fast breath as her shoulders slightly slumped forward. Asami glanced at Reiki who was standing by the window and said. “How was visiting the elves?”
Reiki made his way toward them while rummaging through his pocket, he said. “Nothing much, I did make sure to get your wine.” He took out a tattered pouch from his pocket and placed his hand inside. Asami's lips curled into a mysterious smile, she said. “You didn’t mention my name, did you?” Reiki took out a bottle of 100-year-old flower wine, he shook his head sideways and said. “I forgot, why? Is it something important?” Asami didn’t respond as she took the bottle of wine off his hands. Arashi managed to catch her breath as she stood up straight and closed the closet door.
Reiki glanced at the door and saw that it led into a desert, without turning around Arashi moved the doorknob to the left side and said. “Reiki, perfect timing. I have a great idea of how the two of us can bond.” Asami waved her hand as an empty wine glass appeared as she held it by the stem, she used her thumb to remove the cork as she poured herself a generous glass of wine. Reiki caught a small whiff of the wine, he thought. Hmm… Smells like a well-maintained garden… And I do not like what Arashi has planned.
Asami glanced at Reiki from the corner of her eyes while Arashi opened the door revealing the same large closet he saw before with a few punching bags that had visible wear and tear on them. Reiki thought. Oh great. Arashi walked inside the large closet, she opened one of the drawers revealing boxing gloves, and threw a pair of boxing gloves at him. Arashi closed the drawing and started rummaging through the other cabinets, she said. “We are going to do a couple of rounds of boxing.” Reiki examined the gloves Arashi tossed at him and thought. Straps and I think these are 16 ounces?
While he was staring at the gloves Reiki heard Asami mutter, she said. “This is going to be good.” Arashi didn’t bother to close some of the drawers she opened as she found a light blue pair of boxing gloves and took it out, she said. “Found them.” She made her way out of the closet and closed the door using the back of her foot, Arashi said. “I’ll give you a handicap and use 18-ounce gloves.” She placed her hand on the doorknob and moved it back to the right side, Arashi continued. “I’ll try not to give you a black eye.”
She held one of the boxing gloves using her armpit while putting on the left boxing glove and strapped it properly. Asami took a sip of her glass of wine, she said. “I’ll be the referee.” Arashi turned the doorknob and revealed a large gym room with a boxing in the middle, she said. “Feel free to walk in.” Reiki walked in alongside Asami and thought. Now this is what I’d call a gym. Asami gently swirled the red liquid in her glass as she took a small whiff of it and said. “Don’t worry about getting hurt. I can easily heal a limb back in place.”
Reiki looked around the state-of-the-art gym, he thought. Treadmills, dumbbells, and barbells in all sizes… He saw three punching bags that were attached via chains that were connected to the ceiling. The three made their way to the boxing ring in the middle as Arashi lifted some of the ropes to get in, she had a smug grin on her expression and said. “Can you even last a round?” She started putting on the right glove and strapped it on. Reiki let out a sigh and thought. Well… This is going to end with me getting injured.
Reiki grabbed one of the ropes to get on the ring and easily managed to get in between them, he said. “Can you keep up?” Arashi let out a confident scoff as she leaned on the ropes using her left elbow, she said. “Oh, I can keep up just fine.” Reiki easily strapped on both gloves as he made a few clenching movements with his fist, he thought. Alright… Time to bruise someone's ego. Arashi stopped leaning on the ropes of the ring as the two of them walked to the center, she said. “First lesson, how to throw a punch.”
Reiki held out his right hand as a hint of confusion appeared on Arashi’s expression, she said. “What?” Reiki rolled his eyes and said. “Touch gloves, you know as a sign of sportsmanship?” Arashi smiled at him, she said. “Sure, why not.” Arashi stretched out her right hand as the two gloves lightly grazed each other. The two of them made sudden movements as they appeared on opposite sides of a corner. Reiki looked at Arashi’s form and thought. Peek-a-boo style huh… He copied her boxing style which made her let out a chuckle, Arashi thought. Cute, he’s copying me.
Asami was in the air as she sat on a faintly glowing outline of a chair while holding onto her glass of wine, she thought. Oh… Trying to beat her at her own game… Interesting.