Episode- 11

"I'm back."

　I open the door and come home.

　There were not a single shoe in the entrance hall, just a sad looking shoehorn hanging from the handle of the shoebox.

"Did she not manage to make it in time?"

　Feeling a sense of accomplishment, I sat down in the entrance and took off my loafers.

　I put my toes together, placed them on the right side, and muttered, "Okay." Just then...

"I'm back!"

　The door slammed open and a girl entered, making a flapping noise.

　The two strands of hair were swaying cutely, as if bouncing up and down.

"Oh, Umi ."

"Oh, it's my brother!"

　When she saw me, Umi smiled broadly and sat down next to me.

"That's unusual! For my big brother to be here at this time of night!"

　Umi dangles her feet happily.

"If I wanted to see the umi, classes would finish early. So--"

"That's great! I'm sure you finished early because of a test or something."

"...Y-You know a lot."

　My little sister can cut off even this love-obsessed foolishness with a single stroke.

　Yeah, maybe it's the effect of gifted education.

"By the way, big brother, were you able to take the test? You were sleeping in the living room all day yesterday too."

"You know Umi ? Humans have their strengths and weaknesses. So--"

"I don't know! Study up!"

"Ah, yes."

　...Umi may have had too much of an elite education.

"By the way, is there anything you want to eat for dinner tonight? I'll make you something you like."

"Eh, is that okay?"

"Of course. Because today is the anniversary of Umi's first time doing a back flip."

"I've never heard of it before!"

"By the way, two weeks from now will be the anniversary of the first time you was able to ride a bicycle without assistance, and three days after that will be the anniversary of the first time Umi became interested in red things."

"Big Brother, you really love me, don't you..."

"Isn't that obvious? It's biologically determined that an older brother dotes on his younger sister."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"When I think about how I did this to my brother, I feel a little responsible!"

"You're quite good at using difficult words, even though you're in the fourth grade."

　Maybe because I'm a lazy person, Umi is smart.

　It's often said that girls of this age group have a mental age that is older than their actual age, and I think this is particularly evident in Umi.

　I guess this is also thanks to me learning from a bad example...I can do it even without a license.

"Well, you want every day to be a special day, right? That would be more fun, and it would make those gloomy Mondays even more fun."

　Life is about how to enjoy each and every day.

　I think that with a bit of ingenuity, something like that can be managed.

"So, what do you want to eat? Don't be shy. Big Brother will make anything you want."

"Anything...gulp. Then I want to eat Onii-chan's special hamburger steak!"

"Is that okay? You could ask for a steak made with more expensive meat, you know?"

"It's fine! I like the hamburgers you make the best!"

"Umi... you really are a siscon maker."

"I don't know what it means! But it feels weird!"

"You've also mastered the classic push and pull pattern. Good job."

　My little sister is really great.

"Okay. If that's decided, let's go shopping."

"I'll go too!"

"Geez, Umi really loves me too."

"I'm only paying attention to you because I have no choice!"

"...You shouldn't mislead the boy."

"What are you talking about?!"

　After giving me a retort, Umi sighed in exasperation and said, “Oh my, Onii-chan…” She took off her shoes and ran up the stairs.

　I lined up my beach shoes and moved them to the right side, then followed her up the stairs.

"Thank you."

　Put your hands together and pick up your chopsticks.

　When I arrange the salad and rice on top like this, I think it makes a great hamburger plate.

"Mm! It's delicious, big brother!"

"Good. It looks like the secret ingredient is working."

"The secret ingredient?"

"Yes, that's――"

"Like, something to show your love for?"

"...The secret ingredient is a secret. It's called a secret ingredient precisely because it's hidden."

"I see!"

　Umi doesn't seem to mind and continues to eat the hamburger steak in front of him.

　...She's surprisingly good-looking for her age. Yes, she's cute. Let's leave it at that.

"By the way, hasn't dad come home yet?"

"...That's right. I think he will be late again today."

"I see! I wish I could have eaten hamburger steak with him!"

　The pure and innocent smile of the Umi.

　It was pointed towards a chair that looked as if it was natural for it to be empty.

　The person who should have been there is not there today either.

"Yes. I'll chill it and put it in the fridge."

"Yeah!"

　When I said that, Umi smiled contentedly and began to eat her food politely.

　…Indeed, she is becoming more and more like her mother.

"...You idiot."

　I muttered in a voice so Umi couldn't hear me, and broke the hamburger steak with my chopsticks to distract myself.

　　　　　♦ ♦ ♦

　The test is over.

　We had long passed the beginning of summer and before we knew it, we had stepped into the "summer" season according to the calendar.

　Fewer people are wearing blazers, and the classrooms are visually starting to feel like summer.

　The breeze coming in through the open windows and the sunlight also clearly contained signs of summer.

"After a hellish testing period, we have finally reached this moment."

　The class-chairman, Shimoda, places his hands on the desk and begins to speak in a solemn manner.

　He pushed up his trademark silver-rimmed glasses, took a deep breath, and spoke with great force.

"It's the sports festival!!!!!!"

"Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!""""

　The students respond to Shimoda's cry.

　Shimoda continues.

"Our class has been chosen to be on the red team! Of course, our goal is to win! We'll paint those on the white team red with our blood!"

"This is a bloodbath!!!!!!!!!!"

"...What kind of dangerous class is this?"

　There are too many militants.

　Suddenly, my eyes fell on the girl standing next to Shimoda.

"Yup yup!"

"Tohsaka is also motivated..."

　A flame burns in Tohsaka's eyes, just as hot as Shimoda's.

　I thought the same thing during P.E. class, but Tohsaka sure does like these kinds of competitions...although it's not surprising.

"Shimoda is so motivated! Hahaha! This is starting to get fun!"

　Nishihara, sitting diagonally in front of me, spoke with sparkling eyes.

"Are you going to make a bloodbath of Nishihara too?"

"A bloodbath would be a shame, so I think I'll stop at just a finger or two!"

"Yeah, it's best to keep it down there."

"You guys, your thinking is completely out of touch with the times..."

　Reo puts his hand on his chin in exasperation.

"Well, our school sports festival is always pretty exciting every year. Especially the third years."

"Sports, huh...I wonder if there are any sports that can be done in the shade?"

"There is! The only way to fulfill Rintaro's request is to rent out a covered stadium."

"Stadium?! Is the venue this year a stadium?!"

"Of course not."

"Public schools don't have that money."

"Tch, that's boring!"

　They looked genuinely disappointed, which made me think they must have really wanted to play at the stadium.

　Well, watching seems like fun, so I'd like to do that too.

　As the three of us were chatting, Shimoda spoke again.

"Fortunately, we have this prince in our class! We can definitely win!"

"Not for sure, but... well, I'll try my best."

　Tohsaka gives a refreshing smile.

　Suddenly, cheers rang out all around the classroom.

"That's right! If the prince is there, then everything will be fine!"

"I even overtook burdock in the school relay last year!"

"Morale is great! We can definitely do it!"

　Hearing everyone's voices of expectation, Tohsaka bashfully scratches her head and says, "Ahaha."

　I was vaguely thinking that Tohsaka was still as popular as ever, when suddenly my eyes met hers.

　--At that moment, in the midst of the noisy classroom, I could no longer hear the voices around me, as if a world had been created just for Tohsaka and me.

　Tohsaka raised the corners of her mouth, narrowed her eyes, and lip-synced as she whispered to just me.

"(Looking forward to it)"

　I smiled softly and returned to my normal world.

"Really, Tohsaka..."

　I muttered to myself and casually looked out the window.

　The vast blue sky stretches out to us in an endless way.

　I just thought to myself that if I looked up on the day of the sports festival, I'd probably see a view similar to this.