Chapter 4 | “Exploring Okayama with British Charm”

“Wanna go have fun?” Emma-chan asked, tilting her head as she stood at my feet, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. It was the day after I’d asked Charl to hold back, and I’d just finished getting ready to head out.

“Yup, let’s get in the car,” I replied.

“Mhm! Hug…!” The moment she realized we were going out, Emma-chan’s face lit up, and she stretched her arms toward me, demanding a hug.

“Emma-chan’s as clingy as ever, huh?” Charl remarked, watching us with a wry smile. I’d worried she might still be upset from last night, but she seemed to have moved on effortlessly, her expression free of any lingering dissatisfaction.

“Charl, you ready too?” I asked.

“Yes, how do I look?” She spread her arms, showing off her outfit—a fluffy white sweater paired with a light blue miniskirt. It was clearly the ensemble Shimizu-san and the others had gifted her, already put to good use.

“It suits you really well. You look cute,” I said honestly.

“Ehehe…” Charl’s cheeks softened into a goofy grin, and for a moment, I had to resist the urge to pull her into a hug.

“Lady Charlotte,” Kaguya-san called, drawing Charl’s attention. She turned with a puzzled look.

“Yes?”

“I haven’t given you my birthday present yet. Please, take this.” Kaguya-san held out a small paper bag, but Charl shook her head vigorously, her hands waving in protest.

“N-No, I can’t accept it…!” Her voice was thick with guilt. Kaguya-san, as Kanon-san’s maid, held a position that made such a gesture feel undeserved to Charl. Even though Charl was like a younger sister to her master, there was no obligation for Kaguya-san to prepare a gift, and Charl’s sense of propriety made it hard for her to accept.

But I knew better. Having known Kaguya-san for years, I could tell she wasn’t acting out of duty. She only went to such lengths for those she genuinely cared for, and Charl—cute, kind, and undeniably lovable—had clearly won her favor.

“Am I the only one whose gift you won’t accept…?” Kaguya-san asked, covering her face with her hands, her tone dripping with feigned hurt. What an actress.

“Eh!? N-No, that’s not…!?” Charl stammered, thrown off by the usually composed Kaguya-san’s dramatic reaction.

“Lottie, you’re mean…! Bad girl…!” Emma-chan, who had been quietly observing, pointed at Charl with puffed cheeks. Having grown close to Kaguya-san while living together, she was clearly upset on her behalf.

“It’s okay,” I said softly, patting Emma-chan’s back to calm her. Whether it was my words or the gentle touch, she settled down, pressing her face into my chest. I kept stroking her head, my attention split between her and the unfolding scene.

Charl’s pleading eyes met mine, silently begging for help. “Just accept it,” I told her. “Kaguya-san gave it to you out of affection, so there’s no need to feel bad. It’s the best thing for her right now.”

“Then… thank you…” Charl relented, accepting the gift with an apologetic expression. I couldn’t help but think Kaguya-san would’ve been happier if she’d taken it with joy, but that was just Charl’s nature—earnest and unchangeable.

“Please open it,” Kaguya-san urged with a gentle smile, sensing Charl’s hesitation. Prompted, Charl peeked into the bag, and her apologetic look melted into a radiant smile.

“Could it be, you went out of your way yesterday?” she asked, her voice bright with realization.

“With so many people giving gifts, I checked to avoid duplicates, and it worked out well,” Kaguya-san replied. “I believe it will suit you.”

Curious, I leaned in, wondering what Kaguya-san had chosen. Noticing my gaze, Charl gleefully pulled the item from the bag and placed it on her head. “How does it look?” she asked, showing off with a playful tilt.

It was a fluffy white knit hat, the kind you’d see in snowy countries, perfectly matching her sweater. The design complemented her effortlessly, and I realized Kaguya-san must have chosen it with the gift from Shimizu-san and the others in mind. She’d likely picked it up after dropping Livi off at the hotel near Okayama Station.

“It really suits you,” I said, smiling. “You look adorable.”

“Ehehe… Thank you, Kaguya-san,” Charl beamed, her gratitude as warm as the hat now perched on her head.

Charl beamed with delight, her lovely smile radiating gratitude as she thanked Kaguya-san. In return, Kaguya-san’s cool facade softened for a fleeting moment, a gentle expression flickering across her face before she reverted to her usual composed demeanor. Charl, caught up in her own joy, likely missed it. But when Kaguya-san caught me watching, her gaze turned icy, a sharp, unimpressed glare that could freeze anyone in place. As always, her treatment of me was worlds apart from how she handled Charl.

“It’s so unfair,” I muttered under my breath, half-resigned to her coldness.

“I’ll bring the car around. Please get ready,” Kaguya-san announced, her tone clipped as she turned to leave, perhaps to mask a hint of embarrassment.

“She’s so kind, isn’t she?” Charl said, her voice warm with admiration.

“To you and Charl, sure,” I replied with a wry smile.

Living together, I’d seen Kaguya-san’s kindness toward Charl and Emma-chan countless times. Not that she was openly doting—she’d do small things for their sake or speak softly, all while maintaining that cool, collected air. But with me? She’d been ruthlessly strict since I was a kid, a Spartan trainer when it came to chores or anything else.

“Well, whatever. Let’s hurry before she gets mad,” I said, shrugging it off. Used to her ways by now, I gathered Emma-chan and the others and headed to the car Kaguya-san had prepared.

◆◆◆

“—Wow, Lottie, you look adorable!” Livi’s eyes sparkled as we arrived at the hotel and she caught sight of Charl’s outfit.

“Hehe, thank you, Livi. You look cute too,” Charl replied, her smile bright as she returned the compliment.

“No need for flattery,” Livi said, waving a hand dismissively.

“It’s not flattery,” Charl insisted, shaking her head.

Honestly, I thought Livi looked cute too, but saying so would only make Charl sulk, so I kept quiet. Livi, however, had other ideas.

“More importantly…” she said, stepping closer to Charl with a mischievous glint. Before anyone could react, she planted a quick kiss on Charl’s cheek.

Charl yelped, jumping back and covering the spot with her hand. “I told you not to do that in front of A-kun!”

“It’s fine, just a little peck. Akihito wouldn’t get mad over something so small,” Livi said, brushing it off with a casual grin.

Truth be told, I didn’t mind. If it were a guy, I’d be furious—not at Charl, but at the guy. But this? It was just Livi being Livi.

“I don’t want it in front of my boyfriend!” Charl protested, her cheeks flushing.

I’d noticed before—she was fine with Livi’s kisses as long as I wasn’t around. They were close, and it seemed like this was just their thing. Thinking back, Charl had once kissed my cheek as a thank-you, probably influenced by Livi.

“Okay, okay, I get it,” Livi said, laughing it off. Then she sauntered toward me, and for a moment, I tensed, wondering if she’d try it with me while Charl was right there. But instead, she leaned toward Emma-chan in my arms. “Emma, here—”

“No!” Emma-chan squeaked, burying her face in my chest to escape.

Having seen Charl’s kiss, she must’ve known she was next. Livi’s face fell, genuinely shocked. “I thought we were getting close…!”

For Livi, cheek kisses were a normal greeting, so Emma-chan’s rejection stung like a refused handshake. “Emma-chan doesn’t really like that kind of thing, so it can’t be helped,” I said, trying to soften the blow. It was better than the full-on slap Sasagawa-sensei once got, so Livi should count herself lucky.

“Ugh, well, I guess it can’t be helped. I don’t do it to kids who dislike it—that’s my rule,” Livi said, recovering with a shrug.

“Wait, I dislike it too, don’t I!?” Charl cut in, pouncing on Livi’s words.

“But Lottie, you don’t really dislike it, do you?” Livi teased, her tone exasperated.

And that was the heart of it. Livi’s rule about avoiding kids who disliked it was genuine, and Charl only got kissed because, deep down, she didn’t mind when it was Livi.

“I do dislike it…!” Charl insisted, puffing out her cheeks.

“Sure, sure, I get it,” Livi said, brushing it off with a playful grin. I had to stifle a laugh—seeing this new, pouty side of Charl when Livi was around was honestly fun.

“The maid’s getting the car, right?” Livi asked, changing the subject.

“Yeah. Oh, and a heads-up—probably don’t try kissing her,” I warned. I didn’t know for sure, but Kaguya-san would likely get mad. Or dodge it with ninja-like reflexes.

“Haha, don’t worry, I won’t. I only do it with close girl friends,” Livi said, chuckling.

Yesterday, she’d barely spoken to Kaguya-san, mostly chatting with Kanon-san, so she clearly knew where to draw the line. Wait—did that mean she’d try it with Kanon-san? That’d probably set Kaguya-san off too. Good thing Kanon-san wasn’t here today.

“Alright, let’s head to the car,” I said, leading Livi and the others to where Kaguya-san waited in the parking lot.

“—Huh, Akihito, you’re in the front seat?” Livi asked, noticing the seating arrangement.

The car wasn’t a limousine this time but a five-seater sedan, likely chosen for flexibility. “Given the group, I figured the front seat’s best for me,” I explained. Emma-chan was in her car seat in the back, and putting Livi in front would feel awkward and a bit sad for her. But if Charl sat up front, I’d end up next to Livi, and Charl would never stand for that. So, front seat it was. Emma-chan was a bit upset, but it couldn’t be helped.

“So, you want to see the castle first, right?” I confirmed, recalling Charl had checked Livi’s requests via the chat app.

“Yup! You can’t come to Japan and not see a castle!” Livi nodded enthusiastically.

I glanced at Kaguya-san. “From here, Okayama Castle is the closest, so that should work.”

“Sounds good, please take us there,” I said. It was only a five-minute drive, so we’d arrive in no time.

As Kaguya-san started the car, Charl spoke up, a hint of worry in her voice. “It’s the end of the year now, so will it be open?”

“It’s fine. I checked—it’s closed from the 29th to the 31st,” I reassured her. Today was the 26th, so we were safe. Three days later, and we’d have missed it.

“Ooh, that was close… Lucky us. Must be because we’re good kids every day,” Livi said, flashing a bright smile, already in high spirits.

“I’d tilt my head at whether Livi’s a good kid,” Charl teased, a rare mischievous glint in her eyes. Her playful side meant she was in a great mood.

“That’s harsh! I might not beat Lottie, but I’m a model student, you know?” Livi retorted, puffing out her cheeks in a mock sulk.

Model student? That didn’t quite fit Livi’s vibe. She was considerate and kind, but her energy reminded me of Akira. “Are you quiet at school?” I asked, curious.

“Not at all,” Charl answered before Livi could, her tone matter-of-fact.

“Lottie!? That’s not true, right!?” Livi protested, leaning toward Charl with wide eyes.

“You didn’t cause trouble, but you were always making noise and getting scolded. You even stirred up the others,” Charl said, relentless.

“That’s… I can’t deny it…” Livi mumbled, deflating quickly.

The more I heard, the more she sounded like Akira—minus the troublemaking. With Akira, he sometimes went too far and landed in hot water.

“But, but, my grades are great! I’m always second after Lottie! And now that Lottie’s not there, I’m number one!” Livi declared, puffing up with pride as she bragged to me.

So that’s where she differed from Akira. Sharp, quick-witted, and careful not to cross lines. “Charl, you were number one over there, huh?” I said, impressed. As expected, she was brilliant.

“We’re talking about me!?” Livi exclaimed, caught off guard by the shift to Charl.

“Here, I’m second after Akihito-kun, though,” Charl said calmly, referencing the test before winter break.

“Eh, Akihito, you beat Lottie in a test!? That’s amazing!” Livi said, her eyes wide with interest. She’d probably never beaten Charl herself.

“Well, even though the questions were in Japanese, our scores were almost the same. I don’t know how the next test will go,” I said modestly. We were neck-and-neck in most subjects, but classical literature—Charl’s weak spot—tipped the scales. Without that, it was a razor-thin margin. Beating Charl, who was at a language disadvantage, wasn’t exactly a brag-worthy feat.

“Still, just winning is incredible… I’m jealous…” Livi said, pouting.

“Our scores were never that far apart, were they?” Charl said, offering a gentle smile to reassure her.

Livi’s lips pursed. “Lottie’s always so composed. It’s like there’s this uncrossable line I can never beat.”

She didn’t deny the close scores, so Charl was likely right. Never winning despite being so close must sting. I caught a glimpse of Livi’s hidden struggles.

Before long, we reached the parking lot at Ujo Park near Okayama Castle. “Hug…!” Emma-chan demanded, eager to be freed from her car seat.

“Emma really loves hugs, huh? She used to beg Lottie for them all the time too,” Livi said warmly.

“I think it makes her feel secure,” Charl added, her voice soft.

As I held Emma-chan, Livi and Charl watched us with fond smiles. Like Charl said, Emma-chan probably sought hugs for comfort, a habit Charl might’ve started.

“Shall we go?” Kaguya-san asked, locking the car and glancing at us. She was doubling as our escort, and with her around, I felt completely at ease about Charl and the others’ safety.

“We have to walk to the castle, huh?” Livi noted.

“It’s close, though,” I replied.

As we started walking, Livi’s voice piped up. “That pond’s huge!”

“That’s the castle moat. It was built to keep out enemies or animals,” I explained.

“Oh, there’s a swan. So cute!” Livi said, her excitement infectious. Emma-chan, too, stared at the swan, utterly captivated.

“I’ve seen them in period dramas or anime, but seeing it in person is really moving…” Charl murmured, her eyes fixed on the moat and bridge. As a foreigner, castles must feel like stepping into a story.

“A-kun, have you been here before?” she asked.

“Yeah, on a field trip in elementary school,” I said, memories of eating bento with Akira and friends flickering back.

“A field trip with A-kun… I’m jealous…” Charl said, her voice tinged with genuine envy. We hadn’t shared any school outings yet.

“In February, we have a school trip, kind of like a field trip,” I said, grinning. Thanks to its odd timing, I’d get to go with my fiancée, which thrilled me.

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it…” Charl said, her cheeks flushing as she met my gaze with anticipation.

“—Um, you two? We’re here too, so could you not slip into your own little world?” Livi cut in, giving us an exasperated look. Kaguya-san sighed, and Emma-chan, in my arms, looked excited, probably thinking she’d join the trip.

“S-Sorry…” Charl stammered, her face turning crimson as she shrank in embarrassment.

“Sorry, I’ll be more careful,” I said, feeling sheepish. Livi gave a resigned smile and shrugged.

“You look happy, which is great,” she said, her earlier look clearly just teasing.

“Well, I’m used to it,” Kaguya-san added dryly, unfazed by our antics.

“They seem like they’re always flirting, huh?” Livi said, grinning.

“Of course. They flirt everywhere, all the time,” Kaguya-san said with a straight face, dropping an outrageous line.

““Kaguya-san!?”” Charl and I exclaimed in unison.

“Please, keep it down,” she said, placing a finger to her lips to shush us. I wasn’t entirely convinced she meant it.

As we bantered, we crossed the bridge over the moat. “Ujo Park?” Charl read aloud, noticing the characters carved on a large rock. “Isn’t it Okayama Castle?”

“Oh, apparently Ujo is another name for Okayama Castle. I think it’s because of the black exterior?” I said, vaguely recalling my elementary school trip.

“To be precise, it’s from the black lacquered exterior panels,” Kaguya-san clarified, filling in the gaps. The black color likely evoked crows, hence “Crow Castle.”

“Wow. By the way, there’s a lot of stacked stones everywhere. The sizes are so varied too,” Livi said, eyeing the stone walls.

When I first saw them, I was amazed they didn’t collapse despite their uneven sizes. “In Japanese, they’re called ‘ishigaki.’ They’re built for defense, marking boundaries, or preventing landslides. Stacking stones like this—people back then were incredible,” I said, marveling at the craftsmanship.

“There are said to be three types of stone wall construction used at Okayama Castle. Would you like me to explain?” Kaguya-san offered, glancing at Livi.

Livi shook her head vigorously. “I’d get confused, so I’m good…!”

Sensing something, I asked, “Livi, do you hate studying?”

“Yes,” Charl answered for her, nodding instantly.

“And yet, she’s second in tests…” I said, impressed.

“She works hard because she wants to beat me,” Charl said, her tone fond. It was endearing—Livi’s drive to surpass Charl, whether out of love or stubbornness, made her oddly charming.

Touring with Kaguya-san’s explanations would’ve been fun, but today, we’d just soak in the sights and history. As we walked through Ujo Park toward Okayama Castle, parts of the castle came into view, and Livi and Charl looked around with wide-eyed curiosity. Emma-chan, however, succumbed to sleepiness, pressing her face into my chest for a nap.

“The castle’s in sight…!” Livi exclaimed, her face lighting up as the keep appeared.

“It’s really black…” Charl said, gazing at it with admiration. The sleek, dark design seemed to captivate her.

“Built so long ago, and it’s so beautiful…! Japanese technology is amazing!” Livi said, clapping excitedly.

But I had to clarify. “I think this is a reconstruction. The original didn’t survive.” I kept it vague, avoiding mention of the war to spare Livi or Charl any discomfort. It’d been rebuilt and recently repainted, anyway.

“Oh, really? But being able to reconstruct it like this—Japanese technology is still amazing…!” Livi said, her enthusiasm undimmed. She was such a good kid.

“Alright, let’s head inside,” I said, leading the group into the keep. Inside, we rested at a café, savoring a newly launched parfait while recovering from the walk. Afterward, we explored the exhibits. With few visitors and photography allowed, Charl and Livi giggled as they snapped pictures, even roping me into some shots. Kaguya-san’s expert photography captured great moments, making it a truly wonderful time.

◆◆◆

“I’m hungry…” Emma-chan said, her voice small. After leaving Okayama Castle, we’d planned to visit Korakuen, one of Japan’s three great gardens, since it was nearby. But Emma-chan, now awake, was clearly starving.

“Emma, can’t you hold on a bit longer…?” Charl asked gently.

Emma-chan’s teary, pleading eyes met hers. She seemed to understand we were here for Livi and was trying not to be selfish, but her hunger was winning.

“Why not? Let’s go eat lunch,” Livi said with a smile, unable to watch Emma-chan struggle.

“Livi… But…” Charl hesitated, clearly torn. She’d wanted to prioritize Livi’s visit.

“It’s not like we can only come to Korakuen today. We can come back another time. Besides, I’m getting hungry too,” Livi said, her tone reassuring.

She was being considerate, but she was right—we’d have other chances to visit Korakuen. I glanced at Kaguya-san, who gave a small nod. “Charl, let’s take her up on it and have lunch. We can come back another time,” I said.

“…Livi, I’m sorry…” Charl said, her voice heavy with guilt.

“It’s fine, really. So, what should we eat? I’m feeling ramen,” Livi said brightly, trying to lift Charl’s spirits.

“Ramen!?” Emma-chan piped up, her eyes sparkling.

“Emma wants ramen too…!” Charl said, glancing at me and Kaguya-san to gauge our reactions.

“Of course, I’m good with it. Kaguya-san, how about you?” I asked.

“I have no reason to object,” Kaguya-san replied, as expected. She rarely showed her own preferences in moments like this.

“It’s settled then! There’s actually a place I’ve been curious about—can we go there!?” Livi said, her excitement palpable. She’d probably researched ramen spots at the hotel.

“Sounds good. Where is it?” I asked.

“Here!” Livi showed me the shop’s name and photo on her phone. I searched the route on mine.

“It’s close, nice. I’ve wanted to try this place too,” I said. It was less than ten minutes by car, perfect for Emma-chan’s patience, and a famous shop featured on TV.

“Really? We’re on the same wavelength!” Livi said, grinning.

“Totally,” I agreed, amused by our shared taste in ramen.

“…I like ramen too, you know…?” Charl murmured, tugging at my sleeve. Was she feeling left out—or jealous? She’d said she was over her intense jealousy, and she hadn’t shown it today, but maybe this moment got to her.

“Jealous Lottie is too cute…!” Livi squealed, covering her mouth with both hands, utterly charmed.

I got it—Charl was adorable. “Yup, I know, so don’t worry,” I said, carefully patting Charl’s head while balancing Emma-chan.

“Oh…! He patted her so naturally! Head pats!” Livi’s excited squeal echoed through the parking lot.

“Please, keep it down,” Kaguya-san scolded, her tone sharp.

It was rare for her to reprimand anyone but me or Akira. “Sorry…” Livi said, shrinking with a dejected look. As the cause, I felt a bit guilty.

“Patting another girl’s head is something I can’t overlook…?” Charl said, her tone oddly warning. She must’ve thought I’d pat Livi too.

“I wouldn’t, even without the warning,” I said with a wry smile.

“A-kun, you can be a bit oblivious sometimes,” Charl shot back, her words pointed.

Did I really have so little trust in moments like this? “Onii-chan, ramen…” Emma-chan tugged at my shirt, her sad expression reminding me she was the one who’d sparked this.

“Sorry, we’ll be there soon, so hang in there,” I said, patting her head and leading Kaguya-san and the others to the car.

◆◆◆

“Ramen…!” Emma-chan’s face lit up as we reached the restaurant, her eyes glued to the building.

“Onii-chan, hurry…!” she urged, spreading her arms for a hug.

“I know, I know,” I said, smiling as I lifted her. She clung tightly, her gaze still fixed on the restaurant.

“You really look like a dad, huh?” Livi said, her tone warm.

“And Emma gets to be as spoiled as she wants,” Charl added, her eyes soft.

Their stares made me itchy, so I took the lead and walked inside to escape. “—Niboshi ramen, might be my first time trying it,” Charl murmured as we settled at a table, her eyes scanning the menu.

“Same here. I wonder what it tastes like?” Livi said, her excitement clear.

“Onii-chan, what’s this?” Emma-chan asked, pointing at a menu photo of tsukemen—a bowl of brown dipping sauce with a half-boiled egg and bamboo shoots, paired with plain noodles.

“That’s tsukemen,” I said.

“Tsuke…men? Not ramen?” she asked, tilting her head. If it wasn’t ramen, she probably wouldn’t want it.

“It’s a type of ramen. I’m getting that one. Wanna try it, Emma-chan?” I offered.

“Mhm…!” she nodded eagerly, likely swayed by my choice.

“I’m kinda curious about this one,” Livi said, pointing to a menu sheet for mazesoba—a no-broth dish piled with chashu, bamboo shoots, nori, green onions, and a vibrant yolk.

“That looks… heavy…” Charl said, eyeing it warily.

Emma-chan, intrigued, stared at the mazesoba. I’d never tried it myself, so I couldn’t judge if it was too rich for her. “I can share some with you if I get it?” Livi offered with a smile.

“Mhm!” Emma-chan nodded happily. It was rare for her to accept food from anyone but me, Charl, or Sophia-san, showing she was warming up to Livi.

But knowing Emma-chan, she might devour it all, leaving Livi with nothing. “No, it’s fine. I’ll get the mazesoba, and we can split it, Emma-chan,” I said. I’d give her tsukemen as her main portion and share the mazesoba. If she loved it, I could give her the rest and eat the tsukemen.

“Mhm…!” Emma-chan nodded even more eagerly, clearly preferring this.

“Akihito, stealing Emma from me is a grave sin…?” Livi said, her tone half-joking but with a hint of resentment.

“Stealing, you say…” I said, chuckling awkwardly.

“I was building rapport with her, and you swooped in… It was my chance to share with Emma and get her cute smile…” Livi said, pouting. She was probably the nurturing type, likely the one who’d spoiled Charl as kids.

“What should I do…” Charl murmured, still undecided as she stared at the menu. Kaguya-san, already decided, sat with perfect posture, her stillness almost intimidating.

“There’s regular ramen, and they’ve got niboshi soba that’s not tsukemen, so it’s tough to choose. If you’re stuck, why not try tsukemen since it’s a rare chance?” I suggested. Tsukemen was less common in the countryside, making it a good opportunity.

“If A-kun says so, I’ll go with that,” Charl said, her smile adorable.

“Lottie, trying to be dyed in her boyfriend’s colors,” Livi teased, grinning mischievously.

“Wha!?” Charl yelped, her face flushing bright red.

Kaguya-san shot Livi a sharp glare. “I believe I warned you to keep it down?”

“Eek!? S-Sorry…!” Livi squeaked, tearing up and stiffening like a deer in headlights. She slumped, dejected.

She’d only been teasing, so it felt a bit harsh. Still, Kaguya-san was right—being loud could disturb others. “Livi, Kaguya-san was just warning you—she’s not mad, so don’t feel down,” I said, trying to lift her spirits. Kaguya-san wasn’t truly angry; she’d just issued a stern warning to avoid bothering the staff or other customers.

“Really…?” Livi asked, glancing at Kaguya-san.

“I understand students banter. However, disturbing others is a different matter, so please be mindful,” Kaguya-san said. In short, teasing was fine if it didn’t disrupt anyone. She was surprisingly lenient—except with me and Akira.

“Thanks, Kaguya,” Livi said, smiling gratefully.

“It’s not something to thank me for,” Kaguya-san replied curtly.

“Shall we order soon? Emma looks like she’s at her limit…” Charl said, noticing Emma-chan’s teary gaze. We’d kept her waiting too long, and the tense atmosphere probably silenced her.

“I’ll place the order for everyone,” Kaguya-san said, taking charge after hearing our choices. The tsukemen arrived first, followed by the mazesoba. Once everyone’s food was served, we clasped our hands.

“““Thank you for the meal!”“” we said in unison.

Livi, watching closely, mimicked us. “Thank you for the meal!” she said, stumbling over “itadakimasu” but trying her best. She was honestly adorable, though I’d never say it aloud.

“Emma-chan, wanna mix it?” I asked, knowing mazesoba needed stirring and thinking she’d enjoy it.

“Mhm…!” she said, taking the chopsticks and mixing eagerly.

“Let’s see who can mix it prettier!” Livi said, smiling as she started mixing hers, turning it into a playful challenge. Emma-chan, spurred on, mixed even faster. Livi was great with kids.

“It’s hard to believe Emma-chan used to dislike her,” I whispered to Charl.

“Back then, Emma refused anyone outside the family, so there was no getting through to her. The fact that they’re having fun like this is thanks to you, A-kun,” Charl said.

I didn’t quite get how it was thanks to me—I’d just played with Emma-chan. “Well, if I’ve had a good influence on her, that’s great,” I said.

“Yes♪” Charl said, her smile radiant.

“That’s enough, thanks,” I said to Emma-chan, seeing the mazesoba well-mixed. She nodded happily. I portioned some onto a kid’s plate for her, then added tsukemen noodles to another, placing the dipping sauce between us. “You dip these noodles in this sauce to eat, okay?”

“Mhm!” Emma-chan said, stabbing her fork into the mazesoba first. “Yummy…!” she exclaimed, her cheeks softening adorably.

I tried some too. Despite the rich flavor, it wasn’t heavy, likely thanks to the yolk. It was delicious—I could get hooked. “It’s really good. This was the right choice,” Livi said, beaming as she ate her mazesoba.

Charl eyed the mazesoba longingly. “Wanna try some, Charl?” I asked.

“Eh!? But…” she hesitated, likely worried about taking my share.

“It’s fine, give it a try,” I said, sliding the bowl toward her.

“Then, I’ll take you up on that…” Charl said, cautiously picking up some noodles and bringing them to her mouth. “Mhm…! It’s really delicious…!” she said, her eyes widening in delight.

“…A natural indirect kiss…” Livi muttered under her breath.

“—!?” Charl’s face turned scarlet.

“Is the tsukemen good?” I asked quickly, changing the topic to distract her.

“Oh, it’s delicious too…! Would you like to try some…!?” Charl said, still flustered but seizing the chance.

“It’s fine, I’ve got my own,” I said, since I was sharing with Emma-chan.

“Oh…” Charl said, shrinking in embarrassment as she came to her senses.

“Thanks for thinking of me,” I said, smiling.

“No…” Charl mumbled, still flustered.

“Hey, Lottie, I wanna try the tsukemen too,” Livi said.

“Oh, sure,” Charl said, offering her tsukemen and dipping sauce, her blush lingering.

“Want some of mine?” I asked Livi.

“No, I already had some from A-kun earlier,” she said, reaching for Charl’s tsukemen. “Mmm, this is delicious in its own way! It’s ramen, but different from ramen, and so good!”

Charl watched Livi’s happy smile with a warm, contented expression, finally calming down. I turned to my portion and saw Emma-chan silently devouring her tsukemen and mazesoba, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel’s. Her adorable focus warmed my heart during this joyful lunch.

◆◆◆

“—Thanks for today, it was so fun! Let’s do it again tomorrow!” Livi said, hopping out of the car after a full day of ramen, Korakuen, more sightseeing, and dinner. She was brimming with satisfaction.

“I’ll walk you to the hotel,” I offered.

“No, no, it’s right there! See ya!” Livi said, waving with a bright smile before dashing off. Always so easygoing.

“She’s lonely,” Charl murmured as we watched her go.

“Huh?” I asked, turning to her.

“She may not seem like it, but she’s a lonely girl. She actually wants to stay with us longer but acts like that so we don’t notice,” Charl said, her voice soft.

Lonely, huh? Livi’s bright energy made it hard to see, but if Charl said so, it must be true. “If only she’d told us before coming to Japan…” Charl added, a touch of regret in her tone. She likely wanted more time with Livi.

If Livi had contacted us earlier, Charl would’ve probably invited her to stay over. But with Livi’s guilt toward Charl, it made sense she hadn’t reached out. “Well, she wanted to surprise and make you happy, so it can’t be helped. Besides, we’ve got plenty of time to hang out starting tomorrow,” I said.

“Yes, you’re right,” Charl said, nodding with a smile, though her expression held a hint of loneliness.

“Can you take us to Karin’s house from here?” I asked Kaguya-san. Karin had texted that she was home, and with it being dark, I didn’t want her walking or taking the train alone.

After parting with Livi, we headed to pick up Karin at her house.

◆◆◆

“Oh… Onii-chan, Onee-chan, good evening…” Karin-chan greeted us shyly as we arrived, her voice soft. As promised, she called me Onee-chan when our school friends weren’t around, her slight bashfulness utterly charming.

“Good evening, Karin,” I said warmly.

“Good evening,” A-kun added.

I noticed the door behind Karin-chan was slightly ajar, revealing a glimpse of a woman’s face—Karin-chan’s mother. I glanced at A-kun, and his gaze shifted from Karin-chan to behind her. Then, his warm smile faltered, replaced by a hollow, formal one, like a stranger’s courtesy. It carried a quiet rejection, and my chest tightened. A-kun still hadn’t resolved his issues with his real parents, had he?

“Karin, let’s get in the car,” A-kun said, his tone gentle but firm.

“Oh, mhm…!” Karin-chan replied, her adorable smile oblivious to her mother’s gaze. A-kun bowed stiffly to Karin-chan’s mother, and I followed suit before we headed to the car.

“Emma-chan’s asleep, huh…” Karin-chan said, spotting Emma in her car seat and looking disappointed. Being close, she’d probably hoped to play with her.

“She’s tired and fell asleep, sorry,” A-kun said.

“Mhm, she’s little… so it can’t be helped…” Karin-chan said, nodding with a smile. As she said, Emma often dozed off, her young stamina giving out quickly.

“Is it too cramped?” I asked, sitting in the middle.

“Mhm, it’s fine… I’m excited for the sleepover…” Karin-chan said, her focus on the sleepover rather than the space. Her enthusiasm for joining us, even just for the night, was heartwarming.

“Let’s take a bath together, okay?” I said, inviting her to a sleepover staple.

“Mhm…” Karin-chan nodded shyly, unused to such things. Despite being my age, she was just too cute.

In the rearview mirror, A-kun looked away, slightly embarrassed by our talk. He was probably imagining it—boys, after all. But when his switch flipped, he became intense, almost a different person…

“Why… is your face red…?” Karin-chan asked, tilting her head.

“Eh!? N-No, it’s nothing!” I said, brushing it off. I’d been thinking of Christmas Eve, so I needed to be careful. Praying we’d get home soon, I endured Karin-chan’s curious stare.

◆◆◆

“Please use this room for sleeping. I’ve prepared two sets of bedding,” Kaguya-san said, showing Karin-chan to an empty room when we arrived home. Tonight, Karin-chan and I would sleep here together.

“Onii-chan’s not sleeping with us…?” Karin-chan asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice, expecting A-kun to join us.

“At our age, even real siblings don’t sleep together, so sorry,” A-kun said, his excuse polite. But it wasn’t the real reason. He saw Karin-chan as a sister, but not having grown up together, he also saw her as a girl. Plus, he was likely being considerate of me. Our usual triple bed could fit four with effort, but I’d feel uneasy about Karin-chan, with her striking figure, sleeping beside A-kun.

“Until bedtime, let’s hang out in our room together,” I said. We’d only sleep in this room; otherwise, we’d be in our room so Karin-chan could spend time with A-kun.

“This is Onii-chan and Onee-chan’s… room…” Karin-chan said, stepping into our room for the first time, her eyes wide with curiosity. Suddenly, she smiled awkwardly. “When you think about it… living together in the same room as classmates… that’s amazing…”

““Haha…”” A-kun and I let out dry laughs in unison. Even as fiancés, our situation was unique, so her reaction was understandable. For me, living with A-kun was pure happiness—I couldn’t bear being apart from him. Without this, I’d probably cry into my pillow every night, missing him.

“So, what should we do for fun?” A-kun asked, sitting on the bed.

Karin-chan’s gaze fixed on his lap. “I wanna sit on your lap…” she said boldly, likely recalling the last time.

A-kun’s lap was too popular… “Sure, come here,” he said, glancing at me but spreading his arms without hesitation, perhaps because it wasn’t new. Karin-chan happily sat sideways on his lap. Feeling a bit miffed, I sat beside A-kun, careful not to bump her legs. Sitting behind her would’ve been closer to A-kun, but it’d make talking awkward, so I faced her.

“Mhm…” Karin-chan nestled her face between A-kun’s neck and shoulder, rubbing against him like Emma did. She was acting spoiled, like a little sister with her big brother. Even knowing that, seeing another girl so affectionate with A-kun stirred complicated feelings. I’d said I’d stopped being overly jealous, meaning I didn’t mind casual talk or light contact—but this? It still hurt, even if it wasn’t as sharp as before. How could I not feel jealous when it looked like NTR right in front of me? I was absolutely against NTR or cheating—got that, A-kun!?

Holding those feelings in, I stared at them. Then, a hand reached for my head. “Mhm…” I murmured, tickled by A-kun’s gentle stroke. His wry smile seemed to say, “Sorry for making you jealous.”

What a sly guy. So casual, he could probably charm countless girls besides me. I was glad I’d started dating him before this turned into a rom-com heroine race or love triangle chaos. “Onii-chan and Onee-chan are really… close, huh…” Karin-chan said, smiling happily, unfazed by being ignored for my head pat. Her composure made me feel a bit embarrassed.

“We’re engaged, after all. Karin, do you have anyone you like?” A-kun asked, curious about his sister. It was rare for him to start a love talk—I’d planned to ask her at bedtime, so he beat me to it. Naturally, I was curious too.

“Umm… I don’t really get that stuff…” Karin-chan said, shaking her head. So pure, she probably didn’t grasp love yet.

“What about Akira? He’s pretty cool, right?” A-kun said, testing her reaction by mentioning Saionji-kun. From school, I knew A-kun wanted to pair them, likely hoping to entrust his sister to his most trusted friend. That’s why he often had them hang out together. But to me, Karin-chan and Saionji-kun didn’t seem compatible.

“Saionji-kun… his voice is loud…” Karin-chan said, intimidated by his energetic demeanor. Beyond his looks, his boisterous nature didn’t leave a good impression. Even I, once scared of boys, had found Saionji-kun daunting, though that wasn’t an issue anymore since dating A-kun.

“He’s a good guy, though… Lately, he’s been trying not to be so loud, right?” A-kun said, quick to defend his friend. As he noted, Saionji-kun had been speaking more softly around Karin-chan, reducing her discomfort. But in class, his loud side still dominated, so her overall view hadn’t shifted much.

“…” Karin-chan buried her face in A-kun’s chest, signaling she was done with the topic.

Can’t be helped. “Love isn’t something you’re pushed into. Isn’t it fine for Karin-chan to go at her own pace?” I said, supporting her over A-kun’s matchmaking.

“Yeah, sorry,” A-kun said, not intent on forcing it. He apologized and gently patted Karin-chan’s head, soothing her. She narrowed her eyes happily, her mood restored.

…My head pat got stolen…

“Besides, isn’t it possible Saionji-kun already has a girlfriend?” I said. I’d heard from Shimizu-san that he was popular when he enrolled. Though girls now avoided him romantically, he was well-liked and had fans at other schools. He seemed the type to get a girlfriend quickly.

“If he had one, with Akira’s personality, he’d tell me right away,” A-kun said with a troubled smile. True enough.

“He’s reliable, but he’s a bit sloppy with girls… I just hope he doesn’t fall for the wrong person,” A-kun added.

“That said, I’d be troubled if he went after my best friend,” I said, smiling. A-kun looked surprised, sweat trickling down his cheek. He hadn’t expected that. But at the birthday party, Livi had been inwardly troubled despite smiling, so I needed A-kun to warn Saionji-kun against bold moves. Even if he was A-kun’s friend, that was separate.

“Are you mad…?” A-kun asked.

“I’m not mad. But when someone comes on strong, speaking a language you don’t understand and you can’t communicate with, it’s troubling,” I said. Livi was used to guys hitting on her and could brush them off, but language barriers made it hard.

“I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again. Sorry,” A-kun said.

“No, no, thank you,” I replied.

“—Lady Charlotte, the bath is ready, so please go ahead,” Kaguya-san said, knocking at perfect timing. With our talk wrapped up, it was ideal.

“Thank you, Kaguya-san. Karin-chan, shall we go?” I said.

“Oh, yeah…” Karin-chan said, reluctantly climbing off A-kun’s lap.

I grabbed our bath things and picked up Emma, who was sleeping on the bed. “Emma-chan’s joining us too…?” Karin-chan asked.

“Since Mom’s away,” I said. Even though she was young, I couldn’t leave her with A-kun, and asking Kaguya-san felt rude, so I’d bathe her.

“Emma, it’s bath time. Wake up,” I said.

“Mmm…? Sleepy…” Emma mumbled, reluctant.

“No, we’re taking a bath,” I said, heading to the changing room with Karin-chan, trying to rouse her.

“—Muu…” Emma puffed her cheeks, glaring up at me discontentedly in the changing room, clearly grumpy about being woken.

“Haha… Emma-chan’s grumpy, huh…” Karin-chan said, chuckling.

“She’s always cranky when she wakes up. But we can’t skip the bath,” I said, smiling wryly as I undressed.

“I had this image… that people overseas don’t bathe much…” Karin-chan said, undressing as well.

“Well, there are reasons for that… And many misunderstand, but not bathing often means not soaking in a tub, not that they don’t shower. Some do shower daily. It depends on the person… I showered every morning,” I explained. Water quality, conservation, and other factors differed from Japan. Thanks to Mom, who’d lived in Japan, we had a bathtub, but many homes didn’t. With hard water in our area, Mom limited soaking to protect our hair and skin. Being able to take long baths daily in Japan was a joy.

“I see…” Karin-chan said, nodding.

Suddenly, her chest—far too large for our age—caught my eye, and I gasped. I was jealous… Facing a size rivaling Mom’s, I couldn’t help but speak. “What did you eat to grow them that big…?”

“Eh!? I-I guess… genetics…?” Karin-chan said, blushing as she covered her chest.

“Genetics… But I…” I muttered, glancing down. Compared to Mom’s, mine were still far too small…

Something felt off…

“Onee-chan’s are plenty big… right…?” I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Well… maybe…” Karin-chan replied, her tone soft but uncertain.

When Kanon-oneesan showered me with cosplay outfits for my birthday and took my measurements, I was a D-cup. Compared to other girls at school, I was on the larger side… but standing before Karin-chan or Mom, that confidence crumbled.

“We’re still students,” Karin-chan continued gently. “They’ll grow more… though I don’t want mine to get any bigger…”

Her kind reassurance carried an unwitting sting. I’d gone from a C-cup to a D-cup in the short time since arriving in Japan, so I wanted to believe there was room to grow… yet a sense of defeat weighed on me. Why did it feel like I’d already lost?

“Besides,” she added, her voice brightening, “Onii-chan probably doesn’t care about chest size… right?”

As expected of A-kun’s sister. Karin-chan was usually gentle, even oblivious, but in moments like these, she struck true. She’d even seen through my unspoken wish—to be loved by A-kun—which was why I fretted over size in the first place.

But… saying A-kun didn’t care was a lie. I hadn’t forgotten how his gaze lingered on Karin-chan’s chest. He denied it, of course, but he’d been drawn to Mom in the past too. There was no denying it: he was into bigger chests.

“Onii-chan seems… like he has it tough…” Karin-chan muttered, her eyes flicking toward me. My sharp ears caught every word, leaving a tangle of emotions in their wake.

—By the way, while we were lost in conversation, Emma had drifted back to sleep. Waking her again was such a hassle that I couldn’t help but wonder if this was my punishment. Still, afterward, I shared a lively bath with Karin-chan, and we spent a delightful evening before bed, giggling and chatting about love.