Silly Grin!

The old oden vendor glanced at the high school couple. He wasn't stupid, so he didn't expose them and merely smiled kindly.

"I already gave it to you."

Natsume Chikage sighed in relief.

Unless necessary, accepting little favors from others wasn't really a good thing.

Money was easy to repay; debts of gratitude were not.

Even though he knew it was Kondo Miyuki's kindness, he had no intention of casually accepting it.

After all, he still needed to find an excuse later to ask her for that special equipment. If he started owing her favors now, it would only be harder to repay them later.

Kondo Miyuki helplessly took back the ten thousand yen.

"Then... I suppose there's nothing we can do about that."

"Still, Chikage... my daughter is really looking forward to having you over for dinner again. Make sure to come if you have time."

Natsume Chikage replied politely.

"If I get the chance, I will."

Fujiwara Aoi blinked. What daughter?

She probably meant that little girl...

Kondo Miyuki checked the delicate watch on her wrist and gently reminded them.

"Then it's a promise."

"It's already quite late, so you two should head home early too. Be careful, okay? I'll be leaving first, then."

Natsume Chikage gave a slight nod.

"Mm, goodbye, Aunt Miyuki."

Fujiwara Aoi enthusiastically waved goodbye.

"Goodbye, Auntie."

Some time later.

After finishing their oden, Natsume Chikage and Fujiwara Aoi once again walked side by side on the way home.

Natsume Chikage carried a takeaway portion of oden in his hand, intending to bring it back for his sister to try.

Meanwhile, Fujiwara Aoi's steps were lighter and bouncier than before, as if she had springs beneath her feet. Clearly, she was so happy she was practically ready to fly.

After all, not only had she taken the subway to work with Chikage today, she had also gotten off work with him and shared a late-night meal with him. Better still—he was personally walking her home now!

Even that lofty Tsukishima-senpai probably couldn't envy such treatment, no matter how much she wanted to!

Thinking of this, Fujiwara Aoi couldn't suppress the curve of her lips. Her mood was so good it was practically exploding.

However, good times always passed quickly.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, they arrived in front of the upscale apartment building where Fujiwara Aoi lived.

Bright lights outlined the building's imposing silhouette, while its marble exterior glowed softly beneath the moonlight.

Natsume Chikage stopped. Knowing he would be taking leave tomorrow for the competition, he didn't say he would see her tomorrow and simply waved naturally.

"I'll be going, then."

Fujiwara Aoi flashed a broad, energetic smile and waved vigorously at Natsume Chikage.

"Mhm! Bye-bye, Chikage! See you tomorrow!"

It was only after watching Natsume Chikage disappear around the street corner that Fujiwara Aoi began humming an off-key tune and skipped lightly toward the elevator.

Tomorrow... she'd get to see Chikage again!

Then she suddenly remembered that neither she nor Natsume Chikage was scheduled to work at the café tomorrow.

In other words, they wouldn't be working together tomorrow...

But that was okay!

She remembered Saionji Nanase saying that after school tomorrow, she would be going with Chikage to look around the club booths, and that she had promised to invite her along.

They would get to do something together again then. Maybe after looking around the clubs, she could find an excuse to head home with him again, or... simply drag him somewhere else to look around?

As beautiful scenes formed in her mind, Fujiwara Aoi couldn't help laughing out loud.

"Cackle cackle cackle... Heeheehee... Hehehe..."

Her laughter rang especially crisp and bright in the empty elevator hall.

Home.

Natsume Chikage pushed open the door with the packaged oden in hand, and the aroma of food drifted into the room with his steps.

Before him was still that cramped little room of barely three tatami mats, where Natsume Ruri was listlessly watching television.

At the sound of the door opening, she immediately turned her head.

"Big brother, welcome home!"

Natsume Ruri excitedly sprang up from the tatami and pounced on him like a cheerful little bird.

Natsume Chikage froze slightly. After his Spirit attribute had risen to 6, his reaction speed had indeed improved considerably.

He had meant to catch his sister at once, but his body reacted half a beat too slowly. He could only watch helplessly as she flew into his arms.

Fortunately, Ruri was very light. He only took one step back before steadily catching her in his embrace.

Seeing his sister's radiant smile so close before him, warmth filled his heart.

"I'm home." Natsume Chikage ruffled her hair with one hand while using the hand holding the takeout to close the door.

"Big brother, what's that in your hand?" Natsume Ruri blinked curiously.

Natsume Chikage gently shook the bag in his hand. "Oden. I bought it for you."

Natsume Ruri immediately began bouncing happily on the tatami. "Really? Ruri hasn't had oden in ages!"

Chikage gently pinched his sister's soft cheek, handed her the takeout, and smiled. "Go ahead and eat."

"Mm-hm." Natsume Ruri happily took the bag and immediately sat seiza-style on the tatami.

She placed the takeout on the low table, split apart the disposable chopsticks, and eagerly began eating.

After Natsume Chikage finished washing up, he looked up at the clock on the wall.

The hands had already passed ten forty.

It really was late.

He had barely gotten home, and it was already time to get ready for bed.

Although Natsume Chikage was not particularly sleepy yet, his sister was clearly exhausted.

He looked at Natsume Ruri and found her yawning as she rubbed her sleepy eyes.

"Ruri, are you already sleepy?"

"Mm..."

"Then I'll make the bed now. It's getting late."

But Natsume Ruri shook her head.

"You can't lie down and sleep within half an hour of eating, or you'll feel sick. And it's easy to gain weight too."

Natsume Chikage thought about it and nodded.

"Then let's watch TV for a little longer and sleep later."

Rubbing her eyes, Natsume Ruri patted the spot behind her.

"Big brother, sit here. Ruri wants to lean on you while watching TV."

Chikage did not refuse and sat down behind Ruri.

Natsume Ruri naturally leaned into his arms and held his arm against her chest.

On this slightly chilly night, she quietly watched the variety show on TV while feeling her brother's warmth.

Natsume Chikage did not rush to pull out his phone and write either, instead watching the variety show with his sister.

There had to be a balance between work and rest.

He had just gotten home from work. To be honest, he wanted to let his mind and body relax as well.

And so, a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere filled the tiny three-tsubo room.

From time to time, the sound of the two laughing at the comedy program could be heard.

Yet while Natsume Ruri watched TV, she would occasionally look up at Chikage.

That left Chikage somewhat puzzled.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Natsume Ruri's cheeks reddened slightly as she turned her gaze back to the television.

"It's nothing... I just didn't see you all day, so I was curious how your day went."

Natsume Chikage paused and thought back over everything that had happened that day.

He had spent nearly the entire morning being pestered by the girls in his class, with class time being the only time he could have any peace.

At noon, Tsukishima Rin had confessed to him, after which a group of people had gossiped and crowded around him with questions.

In the afternoon, he had used a Spirit attribute point, causing serious abnormalities in his body. No matter what he did, it felt as though his thoughts and body were lagging behind.

That discomfort had lasted all the way into the evening.

Especially while working at the café, he had made a few very basic mistakes because of it.

Fortunately, he eventually got used to it, so it was not a major problem.

Even so, that strange feeling of his body "lagging" behind still persisted.

He feared this uncomfortable sense of misalignment would persist until he gained his next attribute point...

Although a lot had happened, Natsume Chikage had no intention of telling Ruri about it. He merely smiled and rubbed her head.

"It's nothing special. Everything's fine."

"But there is something I want to tell you."

Natsume Ruri looked up at him curiously.

"What is it?"

Chikage smiled.

"That oden place I took you to just now was pretty good, wasn't it?"

"It seems pretty close to our home too—about a ten-minute walk."

"Want to go there together next time?"

Ruri nodded happily.

"Mm!"