"Phew! Ane-san's cooking was the absolute best!"
"Totally! Onii, I'm so jealous you get to eat like this every day!"
"Oh, you're exaggerating. I only started learning to cook a few days ago."
No, it really wasn't an exaggeration—it was genuinely delicious. Honestly, to get this good in just a few days, she must have a serious talent for cooking.
"It was great. Thanks for the meal."
""Thanks for the meal!""
"Hehe, it was nothing much."
Having finished dinner, we all put our hands together. By the way, tonight's dinner was all Chinese. It was quite a luxurious menu with Mapo Eggplant, Chili Shrimp, and Sweet and Sour Pork.
"Riran, thank you. You must be tired, so I'll bring out some tea and sweets. Just relax and rest."
"Okay. Then I'll take you up on that offer."
In the last few days, the division of roles between Riran and me has become fairly established. Riran handles meal preparation. I handle serving sweets after the meal and doing the dishes. For laundry, we put it in the drum-style washer, and it's fully automatic from washing to drying. Once it's done, the two of us fold it together. Cleaning is done by both of us on Saturdays and Sundays. Other than that, we just clean up whenever we notice something needs doing.
Thanks to this, we've been living together without any stress.
"Whoa. That self-indulgent Senpai is actually working...!"
"Onii is really growing up. It's like I'm both sad and happy... *sniff sniff*."
"Do you two realize how rude you're being?"
I'm not the type to just leave everything to Riran, you know.
I brewed black tea from leaves and arranged the tea cakes they had brought onto a plate. It was a party-set style assortment with cookies and madeleines. Riran looks like she’ll enjoy it too.
Watching the three of them chatting excitedly, they looked less like a parent and children and more like three sisters. Three beautiful sisters. It really makes for a picturesque scene.
"Here, sorry to keep you waiting."
"Thanks, Akito."
"Senpai, you actually know how to make tea! Thanks a bunch!"
"Tea made by Onii... Wait, that's weird. Tears are coming to my eyes."
Seriously, do you two realize how rude you're being?
"Good grief..."
"But Akito, you really haven't been as self-indulgent lately. In middle school, you were much more of a slacker."
"That's... oh, you're actually right."
I hadn't been doing it consciously, but I felt like I'd become much more proactive since starting high school. Could it be because I can now see the 'Red Thread of Fate'?
Come to think of it, Sanzenin-sensei mentioned it early on. She said that because people don't want to sadden their fated partners, things like bullying, suicide, and crime have plummeted. In other words, I might have been unconsciously acting to avoid making Riran sad or making her lose interest in me.
...Yeah, that's possible. The 'Red Thread of Fate' is a terrifying thing.
"Whoa. Onii, don't you like Riran-tan a little too much?"
"I have such complicated feelings right now. Senpai, please take responsibility."
They stared at me with deadpan eyes. I don't get it.
"You guys don't understand. This is what happens when the Red Thread appears. This time next year, you'll be the same way."
"Hmph. I won't change at all!"
"I'll be exactly the same as I am now!"
Well, I'd actually be in trouble if you didn't change.
"Akito, you're as popular as ever. It's kind of annoying."
"Riran, what are you even saying?"
Wait, ow, ow! Don't kick me under the table.
"Honestly... hn!"
"Ugh...!?"
"? Onii, what's wrong?"
"N-No, it's nothing."
"???"
Wait, Riran... don't entwine your legs with mine under the table...! Eek!? S-So skillfully...!?
I looked at Riran next to me. She abruptly turned away. However, I could see the corner of her mouth curling up slightly. This girl... she's in prankster mode right now... wait, ooh!? S-Stop that, stop that sliding sensation! Stop the sliding...!
"Y-You two, you can go ahead and take a bath first. T-The bath is huge, so you can go in together...!"
"Oh, right. Noa, let's go!"
"Totally! Later, Senpai, Ane-san! We're heading in!"
The two of them left the living room holding hands. Those two are getting closer by the day.
"...So, Riran?"
"............ (Hmph)"
"Hey, look at me."
"............ (Double hmph)"
"............"
Tickle, tickle, tickle, tickle!
"Nyaah!? H-Hiu! Ahya, hi! S-Stop...!"
"You're the one who started it. You were prepared for this, weren't you?"
"Ahyahyahyahya! Hee, hee! It's too ticklish, stop! You pervert, where are you touching... hyaaa!"
"I'm only touching your armpits."
This little prankster. I'll give her a thorough tickling—.
"Onii, can I use a bath towel... ah."
"Kotono? What's wro—ah."
"Ah."
"............ (Twitch, twitch)"
Kotono and Noa had come back to the living room. Me, with my hands thrust into Riran's armpits. Riran, twitching and completely exhausted. This is definitely a scene that invites misunderstanding. Thank you very much.
"...It's not what it looks like."
"No, no matter how you look at it, you're 'out', Senpai."
Yeah, I know.
"Onii. I know you and Riran-tan are connected by the Red Thread, but while we're here, it's a bit much..."
"At this point, you're not a closet pervert, you're an open one."
"No, I'm telling you, it's not like that! Hey, don't back away, listen to me!"