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Slowly, I kept walking. Even with the end of that conversation, in my mind, the words we shared stayed fresh.

(We ended our talk...I ended it, maybe not with a valid reason, but perhaps because I just didn't want it to continue)

I stopped walking. I looked down and saw my hands slightly shaking. This jittery sensation, it wouldn't stop, it was difficult to breathe, with my heart beating faster than normal.

(I couldn't let this go, even after I left minutes ago. When I was beside her, I just couldn't not feel tense at the time, one of the very few times when I didn't know what to do)

(Hopefully I won't meet her again anytime soon)

I continued to stroll.

*Step*

*Step*

But then I was provoked by a thought.

(Wait...am I forgetting something?)

I pondered this with a blank face, then my eyes widened when I realized what it was.

I took my phone out of my pocket and my fingers went to work. Once it made a sound, I placed the phone near my ear.

[Onii-chan! Where are you?]

[What about you?]

[I'm at the grocery store, I just went to buy something. Also, you weren't there]

[Uhhh...I got...bored...anyway, just stay there, I'm coming to you]

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"Hrrnn, I'm done waiting!"

She pouted when she came into view. Not only did she have her bag hanging on her shoulder, she also held two plastic bags while standing there, looking at her made gave me the feeling that she could've given out at any moment.

"My bad"

Honestly, I felt somewhat guilty, though I still went to her and she walked towards me to close the distance.

"So, what's for dinner?"

"Fufu, rejoice! Tonight we're having Zaru Soba with Tempura!"

"Ohh? You learned how to make that?"

I was surprised, I almost applauded. Since when did she learn to make that? Never...from what I remembered, so I naturally felt admiration for her.

"Of course!"

With her hands on her waist, she sported a triumphant look.

"Anyway, we have to hurry, I still have to cook"

"Wait"

Before she could walk, I reached for her hands and slid mine around them to take both bags from her. The heft that they posed wasn't a burden for me, though for her, it was different.

I started to walk, yet she didn't. I turned and shot her a glance, and what I saw was a Komachi with an amazed expression.

"Let's go"

She continued staring at me for awhile before her stare suddenly changed to a more cheerful one.

"Nnn!"

She exclaimed in delight and soon walked to my side.

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.

Evening came.

The moon shined bright, in that void sky, it was lit by the distant stars it was glittered in. The streets would've been dim, if not for the streetlamps that were all around us, paving the streets with light so as to guide us through the dark.

Except for our footsteps, everything else was devoid of sound, while the lit houses on our sides surely had matters of their own, outside there was nothing to be heard.

"Onii-chan, thanks"

"Hmm, for what?"

As we walked, she gently placed her head on the side of my shoulder, and she closed her eyes, all while bearing a joyous smile.

"Just...for listening to my request"

(Surely, I could brush it off as just a shallow reason to get me out of the house, but, I know full well what her intentions are)

I closed my eyes as well and warmly answered her:

"Well, it wasn't bad...I got good cardio from it"

"Fufu, you're not even going to admit it?"

She giggled without even trying to hide her smug face.

"Admit what?"

"Nothing~"

She uttered it so casually that it didn't convince me at all, still, getting into it with her seemed worthless, and so we continued our walk until we reached our house.

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.

.

.

.

"We're back"

"We're back"

We opened the door. Desolate of any radiance and drained of warmth. With a single flick, it all changed in a flash of light that almost blinded the eyes, the room was illuminated.

We entered another room and did the same.

As soon as we could see, we saw Kamakura lying on the sofa, quietly and comfortably.

"We're back, Kamakura-san"

"We're back"

*Meow*

I went to the kitchen, and laid the plastic bags on the table. I sat on the sofa in comfort, letting the fatigue dissipate from my body.

I then heard Komachi humming while cheerfully putting her apron on. Kamakura moved to my lap and expressed his comfort by purring.

(Ah, yes, this is it, this is what they call it, right? The castle in the sky that all men dream of, right? It's granted by this alone)

I closed my eyes and basked in the leisure of the moment, as this was the parallel of my past, but also its contrast.

(Surely, I thought a moment like this would never happen again...with days that resembled nothing like this. This image that I once gave up on, you're always wrong, past me...always)

It was soft, it was warm, it was delicate, I gently caressed Kamakura's fur with my hand. The brushing contact was, in a way, therapeutic, it was blissful.

The sink that gushed out water, the smell of deep fried food, I'm satisfied.

Then another noise came, not from the kitchen, but rather, the sound of the door being opened.

I heard the footsteps of two, slowly approaching, it sounded as though they had no shoes, as the noise wasn't all too strong, then the living room door was opened.

"We're home"

"We're back"

"Welcome back"

Komachi casually greeted them. While I sat there somewhat dumbfounded at this conversation, both of them? Here? This early?

"Now this is a rare sight"

I wasn't sure of what to say, but I still said it, nevertheless, the fact that these two were here this early was peculiar.

"What is?"

Mom spoke innocently, as if there wasn't a problem at all. All while she lowered her bag.

"Well, this has been happening lately, we can't work forever"

Dad spoke of the real reason. Thinking about it, he made a fair point. The corporate slaves were starting to become less like slaves.

"Oh, what a nice smelling dinner we're having, ey?"

He dropped his suitcase and removed his tie so quickly it almost went by in a flash. These working adults were not to be messed with.

With their uniforms taken off to a degree, they seemed more at ease as they also sat on the sofa.

Both of them looked sluggish, as surely work would've taken the life out of them, like a car with no more gas. Komachi was different from them, and I could definitely understand why.

Still, they had easy going expressions, with that sense of accomplishment embedded on their faces.

"Dinner's ready"

Komachi called out to us, it was more than obvious, as the smell was already enough to lure us in.

We went to the table, almost in unison, and sat in our chairs. The alluring aroma got stronger as the plates drew closer.

When it reached our table, our nostrils flared in bliss. The glistening golden of the tempura and the soba that was appetizing grayish brown, it was very inviting, as one of us surely would've licked their lips by now. After all was set, we dug in.

"Thank you for the food"

"Thanks for the food"

"Thanks for the food"

The moment it entered my mouth, my teeth bit into the crunchy exterior and as soon as it all went in me, my tongue clutched it as a monkey would to a tree.

I started chewing and the flavors gushed forth, the sweet fried batter, and the briny shrimp inside culminated in a combo of sweet and salty. My sister was already good at cooking before, but to think she'd improve to this level...

Her wife points were through the roof, so much so that, undeniably, this could capture the stomach of any man.

(As if I'd let them!)

It didn't need to be said out loud, Komachi could already predict the face that I was going to make before it formed.

The same as the soba, with its soft silky texture, it flowed in my mouth like a stream.

I looked in front of me and the two were the same, mom and dad looked ecstatic even as they chewed.

Komachi now joined the table, with a bowl of her own, and started eating.

(This view...this is the very definition of what I never yearned for, probably because I thought it was a hopeless endeavor, still, I appreciate this)

"So...what did you two do today?"

Mom asked in curiosity. Like a mother asking her children of how school went. Though, humorously enough, that was the case.

"Well, I brought Onii-chan to work"

(You make me sound like your kid)

"Oh? You went there? What did you do?"

She asked yet again, while occasionally chewing.

"Nothing much"

I answered casually. It was the truth after all, as nothing was ever worth mentioning-

"Onii-chan met up with Yukino-san"

*Pfffftttt*

I almost spat out my food and consequently, I started to cough. The cliché! The mental recoil that I received was massive.

"Komachi! How did you?!"

"Huhuhu, don't underestimate me, Onii-chan, I'm everywhere! And also because I saw you on the bridge with Yukino-san"

"Why didn't you come?"

"No, no, no, I couldn't get in the way"

As soon as they heard it, both mom and dad looked at me with a curious gaze, but it also seemed as though they knew more than enough, while they covered their smirks with their hands.

(Don't look at me like that)

I processed what I heard, yet still, I had no more energy left, and questioning her felt meaningless. It was annoying since it caused more of a hassle for me, but trying to fight it felt so useless.

Still, dinner went on as usual. From time to time the three of them shot curious and mischievous glances towards me, it was futile to hide it, and they merely continued.

.

.

.

"Hnnggg"

"Hnnnnggg"

"Hnngg"

The three of them stretched their bodies so efficiently and so well, that it was clear they'd made a habit of it.

(Working adults are scary)

Komachi got up and went to the fridge, with one hand, she grabbed a beverage. Some beer.

"Komachi"

I called her name, and it was enough for her to understand.

"It's summer break, Onii-chan, we take breaks too, y'know"

I didn't have any convincing arguments, and so, just like before, I let her off. Frankly, I didn't have the right to go against it.

As soon as she opened the can and started drinking, mom and dad shot her a fixed gaze, perhaps these two could tell her off?

"Komachi, there's beer?"

Dad asked first. His tone was unusual, and it surprised me, as he seemed baffled at such discovery.

"Yeah, there are still six"

"Can I have some?"

"Me too"

"Sure"

She casually took two for both of them and handed it to them.

(Oi! That's my beer)

As soon as they started drinking, they drank hard.

"Puuuaah"

"Puuuaah"

"It's been a while, hasn't it?"

Dad asked mom in a nostalgic tone, and she nodded in response.

After they finished their cans, they stood up and walked up to the fridge. When they did, they opened it and took more beers so casually.

They took everything.

"Hey, isn't that a little too much?"

"This much won't hurt"

His reply was so blatant that I just sat there, and didn't speak anymore.

With the cans in their hands, they walked to the door and left the room without a word.

(Are they really working adults? Wait...actually, this IS something that a working adult would do)

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It was tranquil, my ears were only filled with the sound of water flowing from the sink and the occasional noises from Kamakura. It was serene and soothing.

Though not for long, as the door opened, I saw mom and dad with slightly flushed faces, and they looked at me in confusion.

"Huh? Where's Komachi?"

"Already in her room"

"And you?"

He looked at me with a puzzled complexion, and his eyes were squinting as if he was having trouble focusing on me.

I could already tell what he meant, as this was surely unexpected for him.

"Just cleaning up"

"I see"

"Well, the two of us are going to bed as well, so goodnight"

"Goodnight"

As they both spoke that word to me, it echoed in my ear.

"Yeah, goodnight"

I replied, and when the door closed, yet again...it was silent.

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*Splash*

"Fuuuuuuhhhh"

A heavy sigh that escaped my mouth, this was a day that was filled with events, most of which were unconventional.

The hot water relieved and soothed my muscles, that tense aching I'd felt faded in seconds, all the way to my toes.

My heart beat gradually slowed down and went at a more passive pace. I only heard the drips of water all around, and surrounded by the many thoughts that I held away.

(I wasn't prepared at all for that, it was so sudden, I barely kept myself intact, and...well, I should stop this wishful thinking, it won't get me anywhere at all. Still, if I had time, if I knew it was coming, I could've prepared, it could've gone smoother...if I had time, I wouldn't have had to lie to her)

Suddenly, I heard the bathroom door open, and with a turn, I saw dad, naked, only draped in a towel.

"Oh, you also went for a midnight wash?"

"Yeah"

As I continued to look at him, I saw that in his hand was a can of beer.

"You're still not done drinking?"

"You need to drink when you can"

He then washed himself and sat on a stool. He no longer spoke, but, from time to time, he took sips from the beer.

"Thanks for looking after Komachi"

While I couldn't see his face, I imagined the profound expression on it through his tone.

"It's nothing"

"Yes it is. She couldn't have possibly ended this way without you"

It felt like he believed in his words entirely, and was willing to back them up. So trying to deny him was something that wasn't only worthless, but also insulting to him.

"It's not like I was forced to do it"

"Actually, you were"

"I don't blame you"

"The fact still stands"

He shot me a single glance, it lasted only a second, nevertheless, I saw so many things from his expression.

*Sigh*"Well...it's not like I hated doing it, quite the opposite"

"That's the point"

I stared at him, yet I never said anything, I just looked at him and questioned both him and myself as I felt dumbfounded.

"You took the burden, you never complained, you never said no. You could've abandoned it and gotten a life of your own, but you didn't do so and, I wondered why...but then I realized..."

He turned, and looked me dead in the eye, and said:

"You did it not because you needed to, but because you wanted to. You wanted the burden, right? I'm happy that you did...but think about yourself...what did you miss? A lot. Don't think that I don't know, because I know it, and you do too"

"I don't need much at all...even now, if Komachi could feed me every day, then that's good enough"

"Well that's how you see it, but probably not for everyone. You shouldn't do it just because no one's willing to, or because it's the only choice...Son, right now, you should do it how you see fit"

"..."

"..."

"Well, I just came for a quick wash, don't stay here for too long. I'm going to bed, goodnight"

He started to wash himself again until finally, he left.

(Well...that was rather unprecedented. Normally, he'd spout useless stuff whenever he had the chance, now all of a sudden he's like that? What's next?)

(Thinkng about it, he made his points so valid I couldn't even counter. Touché)

(But, well, I at least listened, and for saying those things to me, dad...)

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(Thanks)


It's been a while, gents. Anyway, yes, the parents make a Reapappearance...that was dumb...

Kiryu.