“I’m ho… oh.”
When I got back home from grocery shopping, for some reason, Kaori was in the living room, tutoring Kokoshiro and Minoru-san.
She wasn’t in her school uniform but wore a casual, spring-like hoodie and wide-leg pants.
“Oh, welcome back, Ao-kun!”
…I’d like to hear that from my parents once in a while, you know.
There’s no car in the carport out front, so my parents probably aren’t home yet.
My mom’s a caregiver, and my dad’s a police officer. They both earn well, but they’re rarely home, so I handle most of the household chores.
But if Kaori’s here, that means—
“Is Dad back?”
“Hm? You’re the only one who’s come back, Ao-kun.”
Nope, I was wrong.
I wondered why the heck she was here but kept my mouth shut. I started putting away the groceries, sorting out what I wouldn’t need for dinner and stashing the rest in the fridge.
“Oh, Kokoshiro-chan, that’s not quite right. I messed up a similar problem on a test once, but it’s actually like this—”
I had no idea what they were studying. Peeking from the side and getting caught would be embarrassing, so I just stole quick glances from a distance.
Yeah, this is basically stalker behavior. Better stop.
“Kaori-chan, you mess up on tests too?”
“Of course. I’m confident I pick things up quickly, but I forget just as fast. If I don’t review properly, I’ll slip up. That’s why last year, I never once got first place on a final exam, you know?”
True, when it comes to studying, Kaori diligently previews and reviews to keep her grades up.
Though, when it comes to sports, she says ridiculous things like, “Once I learn it, my body just moves on its own!”
More than that, I can’t bring myself to believe the Kokoshiro I ran into at the front door and the one now are the same person.
She’s so quiet with her big brother, so why can she chat so casually with Kaori?
As I chop onions, my eyes sting and tears fall. Is it the onions, or is my heart aching? I can’t tell.
“You’re chopping a ton of onions… What’re you using them for?”
Out of nowhere, Minoru-san, maybe bored with studying, wandered into the kitchen and peered at what I was doing.
“…You mix this with flour, salt, dashi, and water to make a batter, then cook it on both sides, cut it up, and add a special sauce. Don’t know the name of the dish.”
“Ooh, cool!”
Stuff like this or potato galettes are great to have on hand. My parents, coming home late at night or in the morning, can reheat them and eat.
Since they’re made with potatoes or flour, they’re filling, and if you season them boldly, they apparently pair well with drinks.
Personally, I like galettes made with buckwheat flour, topped with ham or eggs.
But buckwheat flour is so expensive…
“They’re so chewy and delicious. I like the ones with cheese!”
“Kaori-chan, you’re eating here?”
“Yup. That’s okay, right?”
“Do whatever you want.”
Since Minoru-san said she wanted to eat here, I was already planning to make extra.
More than that, Kokoshiro, could you maybe—just once in a while—show me that happy expression too?
I can’t say that out loud, but for some reason, I feel a bit awkward under the trio’s gazes as I keep cooking.
“Kaori-san, that hairpin is so cute!”
While I was finishing up cooking and Kaori was helping with plating, Minoru-san suddenly said that to her.
A hairpin? No way Kaori’s wearing one, I thought, but my eyes instinctively darted toward her.
“This? Hehe, I got it as a birthday present from my best friend.”
She traced her finger over a three-prong pin adorned with a blue glass flower.
It was just a small accent, but seeing Kaori pin her bangs back by her ear was incredibly rare.
“I know I don’t usually wear stuff like this, but she told me to put in a little effort with my style.”
“Kaori-chan, you’re cute just as you are!”
“Thanks, Kokoshiro-chan. But there’s more—she said, ‘That’s just an excuse. Honestly, I just had a feeling it’d suit you, so I really wanted you to wear it.’”
The friend Kaori mentioned—I’ve been hanging out with her a lot lately, so I know a bit about her.
With that in mind, I let a thought slip out quietly.
“…That’s pretty cool of her.”
No wonder she didn’t say that to me back then.
“Right? It kinda made my heart skip a beat!”
Wanting her to wear it because it felt right—I could never say something like that.
Felt right for a hairpin, huh…?
Haha… ha. Thank goodness I didn’t say that out loud.
Feeling oddly down, I glanced back at Kaori.
“Seriously, Kiritsuki’s got great taste. It really suits you.”
“Wha!? I-I mean, really…? Ehehe…”
Why’s she so surprised? She could just look in a mirror to see how good it looks on her.
Still, I get it now.
With Kaori’s fair, almost translucent skin, cool-toned accessories like that really pop.
That’s why I can’t help but think—
“…Kaori, you’ve got all this going for you, so it’s such a waste you don’t dress up more…”
“Huh? W-Wait, what…?”
It’s not like fashion is just about makeup. If that’s not her thing, clothes, accessories, hairstyles, even shoes—they all matter.
But if someone as naturally stunning as her, already out of reach, started mastering fashion, she might truly become untouchable, like a flower blooming on a distant peak. So maybe it’s balanced as is.
Still, this might spark her interest in styling her hair more.
That’s a good trend, I think.
“Kokoshiro, take these to the table. Minoru-san, you can sit.”
“No, I’ll help!”
“…Alright, then take these, please.”
“Got it!”
Leaving Kaori, who’s frozen for some reason, I move on with dinner prep.
Actually, her standing there is kind of in the way.
“Kaori, what’re you doing?”
“Huh? Oh, nothing… maybe?”
“If it’s nothing, go sit down.”
I have no idea why she was so stunned, but whatever—dinner time.
I mutter a quiet “Itadakimasu,” and the three of them follow suit.
The meal is quiet. All three of them are so well-mannered it’s almost refined.
I’m not saying this is bad, and I don’t dislike it.
But for a moment, I imagine Minoru-san and Kaori as my parents.
I know it’s complicated, and I’ve accepted it. It’s always been this way, so I’m not about to complain now.
Still, it’s only when someone comes over that Kokoshiro’s lonely expression finally fades.
When it’s just the two of us, she seems a bit anxious, a bit lonely.
Thinking about that, I can’t help but wish my parents would pay just a little more attention to her.
It’s true she’s not their biological child.
There are bound to be differences compared to their own son. Maybe her shy nature makes it hard for her to speak up.
Even so, they chose to be her parents, so I wish they’d treat her like their own.
I’m not saying they don’t care, but I want them to show her more love.
I’m fine without their attention, and I can look after Kokoshiro, but that’s no reason to spend less time with her. I want them to make time to be with her.
Looking at us, it’s clear Kokoshiro and I are completely different.
Plus, she might even dislike me, so I wish they’d put in a good word for me.
Not because I’m asking, but because, as her parents, they should recognize the responsibility they carry.
Since I was born early in the year, Kokoshiro and I are two grades apart, but we’re really only a year apart in age.
To me, that small gap doesn’t make me above or below her.
I’ve tried to be someone she can rely on, but the unease she feels daily is something I can’t fix.
As the quiet dinner passes and I’m washing dishes, the intercom chimes.
My hands were free, so I head to the front door and open it.
“Yo, Aoi. Minoru’s here, right?”
“Tomiya, you came to pick her up?”
“Yup, on my way back from extra practice.”
No wonder he’s in a tracksuit—he was still at school.
It’s past 8 p.m. now. Seems he stayed practicing right up until the school’s final dismissal time.
Probably training for summer, but that’s some serious dedication.
“Wanna stay for dinner?”
“…That cool?”
“Yeah, come on in. I’ll reheat some stuff, so sit and wait.”
“Thanks, Aoi. My parents aren’t home tonight, so I was wondering what to do.”
I let Tomiya in and bring him to the living room, where the three who were helping clean up all turn to look at him.
“Big brother!”
“Oh, Rikuto-kun, good evening. Here to pick up Minoru-chan?”
“Kinda. Then Aoi said he’d feed me.”
“Ao-kun’s cooking is amazing~”
Is a regular high school guy’s cooking really amazing?
I mean, I try to make stuff good enough to serve, but most people could probably manage decent food if they followed a recipe.
So what makes cooking good or bad?
Personally, I think it’s all about picking the right ingredients and planning. Seasoning and heat control come down to the cook’s taste and who they’re serving.
“I know Aoi’s a great cook. Last year, whenever we had practice matches at our school, he’d always bring snacks.”
“Wait, Himura-senpai did that?”
Would it be weird if I did?
“Huh, I didn’t know that. That’s surprising.”
I like to think I’m the type to value the few friends I have.
I don’t play sports, but I enjoy watching them.
Do people really see me as some cold, dead-eyed jerk?
My sister keeps her distance, and now I’m about to cry.
…Wait, is that why she’s avoiding me?
Does she keep her distance because I come off as a cold, dead-eyed jerk?
“Huh? Aoi, you okay? You’re kinda staring off into space.”
“…Nah, it’s nothing.”
☆Afterword──────────────────
We’ve hit single-digit weekly rankings, 400 stars, and 1,000 followers—thank you so much!
I feel joy every time I get to write this afterword.
I’ve also resumed updating my status notes, so I’ll be jotting down random thoughts there. No plans for subscriber-only content for now.
I’d be thrilled if you’d check those out when you feel like it.
