As I busied myself studying general subjects, Kirino was busy furiously talking on the phone to whom I assume to be Kuroneko…
So yeah, we moved a far bit away from Chiba; Kirino now attends some local high school. Given the fact that our parents thought Kirino went abroad… it was wise to find a place to stay out of our parents' radar. Our mom is a housewife, she doesn't really go anywhere beyond a super market or local areas and our dad is too reserved to go to any place fancy… But if they were to bump into each other… now that would be a bit troublesome. Still if Kirino insisted on not living with our parents there weren't really anything they could do to argue against her… this girl is just that independent.
Well… to say a far bit away would be an understatement… we're now in Nishitokyo-shi…
AHHH what have happened to me!? To think I would actually elope with my sister! This is insane!
And the commute to my university, somewhere a bit less than two hours! Insane. The commute fees too! Gah!
Ahh… well it didn't really matter because back then I planned on commuting to my university from our parents' home and it'll cost approximately the same, roughly the same time, but I did the math, it would have been cheaper to commute than it is for room and board. Waking up early and coming home late was worth the money saved… except the fact that I paid for room and board anyway and I'm not even using it..!
"Ehh..? Why are you making so many stupid expressions? Stop being an idiot." Kirino waved me off from the distant. Gah this girl, to think I sacrificed my ease of life for you! Be thankful!
"I was thinking how long it'll take if I take the train to go to my university." I replied in a forlorn tone.
Sadly, my little sister is the last person to pity me over something as trivial as that.
"Learn to drive then, it'll take you half the time." She replied so nonchalantly, like it's some trivial task!
As if it was that easy! Not everyone is super loaded with talent like you! Ahh… wait, Kirino isn't really loaded with talent yet still she's a track star… Maybe I need to work towards driving with a passionate heart like she did with track.
"Plus, you need to know how to drive to take me to Akihabara!"
"D-don't make it sound so casual!"
"Eh! What's with that face! Don't tell me you don't plan to take your girlfriend shopping."
"Oh I will but Kirino. I have something to say."
"Wha—"
"Thank you Kirino, you had such a perfect life, a life any middle-no high schooler would want yet you chose this one."
I'm usually really dumb with women but when it comes to portraying my feelings to Kirino, it wasn't that bad. Probably because I have embarrassed myself in front of her enough already.
She looked at me with shock, I almost anticipated her to call me gross for being all emotional out of nowhere but instead she smiled, flashing that cute little canine tooth of hers.
"Thank you too Kyousuke."
Ahem
Funnily enough we both cleared our throats and glanced away from each other, we probably felt the same, too shy to continue looking at each other. It's like we're newly wedded couples haha.
Just when I was about to say something… Kirino went back to playing her eroges on her laptop. THIS GIRL!
She hasn't helped me unpack either! I thought Kirino was a very feminine girl who followed traditional femininity, at least that's what she appeared to be on our dates… but inside that's not case at all! Why am I surprised? I lived with her back then too.
Ahh… 6:30, it's about to be time for dinner… I snuck a glance at our kitchen… Not a single cooking utensil… No doubt the fridge is also empty… I thought Kirino unpacked… well actually she did… the walls are adorned with Meruru and eroge… The whole apartment even has her fragrance to it, the aromatic scent that is reminiscent of her room in our old house. But she didn't do anything to the kitchen… or the bathroom… W-whaaa!? Why can't she have some motherly instincts like Manami or Ayase!
I winced, that reminds me… if I demand too much of her I'll look like a freeloader… I shuddered remembering Mikagami's older brother. I definitely did not want to end up like that. Gah I kind of already am…
"W-whaaa 54692 yen each month for a place this small! That's insanity!"
"Hmph I kind of already expected that response from 'leave it to me' aniki."
"H—hey don't look down on me!"
"Whatever, take it."
"W-what's this!"
"Six month worth of rent, if you don't start paying yourself after that… don't call yourself a man."
I winced at that.
But to be honest Kirino was very considerate, to give me six months time! Then again maybe that's how little trust she had in my ability to get a job…
"Ahh so Kirino. Shall I treat you to a fancy dinner to commemorate this great day?"
"Haah..? What kind of excuse is that?"
"What kind of response is that?"
"Tch, you only said that because you didn't prepare any food."
D-damn she saw right through me! This must be what they call the female intuition!
"Come on don't be like that I'll treat you to a nice place! Promise!"
She narrowed her eyes and gave me quick glance before turning her head away. "Since when do you know a nice place to treat a girl?"
Ahh yeah she's right, before dating Kirino I only dated Kuroneko. With Kuroneko everything was easy, she decided what we should do and where we should go, I didn't need any experience in dating with her.
I could just do what I did with Kuroneko, go eat somewhere cheap since what's really important is the meaning and not the overpriced meal.
Of course I wasn't going to do that! I'm not some pathetic bastard who can't even take his girlfriend to a nice expensive place on a special occasion; even a poor college student like me can shed some money to make it good!
"Come Kirino, let's go!"
"Ughh, don't talk like that, it makes you sound like some perverted idiot."
S-she may appear to be a cute girlfriend but her snarky attitude is just..!
I impatiently glanced at the time, it had been an hour since then, 7:30, we don't usually eat this late… Well when our parents aren't home we do.
Gah why do women take so long to prepare, this is bordering on insanity, didn't you already have make-up on during school!?
Ahh..! She finally came out, what a beauty, I'm sure proud to have such a cute girlfriend. Kirino wore a black baggy shirt, almost like a robe daintily wrapped around her accentuating all her curves. And a cute white lacy heel to boot!
"Tch, stop staring pervert!"
I ignored that derogatory comment, since when was a boyfriend considered a pervert for appreciating his girlfiend!?
"What took so long?"
"Umm, I was picking out the right clothes to go… yeah mhmm." She nodded to herself with a slight smirk; I could see a faint hint of blush etched on her cheeks.
"Well you looked great." Still it's odd, I notice her make-up is the same so why did it take so long..?
"Thanks…umm I also finished an eroge, hehe."
"That's not funny!" what a troublesome girl! I waited this long so she could finish an eroge? I'm starving too!
She looked at me and clicked her tongue as if I did something to annoy her.
"Don't tell me you're planning to go out like that?"
"Yeah I did, is it bad?"
"You need a better fashion sense."
B-but this is what I wore on our last date! The clothes she picked out for me during Christmas shopping! Is it out of date already? Thankfully she didn't find anything new or better so she reluctantly allowed me to stay as I was.
"So where are we going?" she muttered with displeasure, flipping through my clothes in the closet.
"Oh excited are we?"
"Tch, you wish. I just don't want you taking me to some embarrassing place where I'm too overdressed."
"Why didn't you think of that during the first Otaku Girls Unite meeting?"
"Shut up."
Sometimes I wish for a more affectionate conversation… ahh well, Kirino does have her cute sides though; I just need to bring them out. Like when she asked me out the very first time, she covered it up as a fake date to avoid embarrassment…how cute indeed!
"Ah, we're here!"
"What is this place?"
"Its good trust me, sometimes the fanciest place isn't always the best."
"Shut up, you're just poor."
Why so blunt? I could see myself crying mentally!
…
Okay I admit, I actually never heard of this place, but it seems to serve some healthy portions and it's affordable too! Kirino is such a calorie freak that I know she won't have a problem picking what she wanted.
As I opened the door for my girlfriend so we could enter Mosburger. She grabbed my hand and pulled me back
"Y-you dare take me to a fast food chain!?"
"Ahh it's the best place! It's not like I know my way around this place yet!"
"Shut up! Didn't I tell you not to take me to fast food and family restaurants?"
Now normally outsiders would think that having a lovers' quarrel is cute, but for me I think we're having that just tad bit too much.
Kirino glanced around and with a triumphant smile she pointed at a reaaaally expensive looking Korean BBQ restaurant.
RIP my wallet.
So yeah, it doesn't matter if my sister wants her boyfriend to take charge of the relationship because in the end if she didn't get what she wanted… well let's just say she gets it some way or another.
Before we even enter the restaurant I could already feel the air of superiority that surrounded it. They were all fairly well dressed. While I may not have knowledge on the current fashion trends, I can tell Kirino fit right in with these people. However I wonder if I stood out…
"Welcome!" the waitress greeted us in a singsong voice, she lead us to a table where there was a grill. I honestly can't tell the difference between this and Japanese BBQ, but I guess it's the very tiny differences in sauces and seasoning? Side dishes? I don't know, but from the menu it's just as expensive…
It's quite awkward how Kirino just sat there, not saying a single thing. Actually she looks quite cheery but quickly turning into an annoyed scowl… maybe I should do something.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
Narrowing her eyes, she glared at me. "Stop looking so awkward."
"What?" I'm honestly perplexed, how am I looking awkward again? All I'm doing is going through the menu trying to find something that won't drain whatever's left of my savings!
"You keep staring at the menu like you're afraid or something."
"You can't blame me! The stuff here is expensive!"
"Tch be quiet will you?" She looked down at her lap as if I was embarrassing her or something.
Well I guess Kirino did deserve an expensive dinner… I mean she lied to our parents in the worst possible way, which in itself was commendable. Although I don't think something as vain as an expensive dinner could even hold a candle to what she did for this relationship.
"By the way, how do you plan on responding to dad if he decides to call you or something?"
"Ehh… well I'm just going to keep my act up, he won't notice anything different or visit me if I don't send him weird messages again…"
"Oh yeah that's true." While I nodded, I didn't fully trust that it'll go as smoothly as she thinks it will. Just how long can we deceive our parents anyway?
"I forgot to tell you but my roommate is a huge fan of your work—"
"Whaa? Why do I want to know what your perverted friends think of my photos?"
Gah, what cockyness! I didn't even say anything about that and already you're flattering yourself!
"No, it's about that novel you wrote."
"Oh that." Now she acts like she doesn't care even though she put all that effort into writing it… Still she seems quite proud of herself after I told her someone was a fan of her novel.
"He wants some autograph for his Maisora fan products, but I gotta tell you some of them are like M18 stuff."
"If he's a huge fan like that; I can sign it for him in person kyahaha!"
Okay, now you're way too overexcited. A-anyway, did she just say sign it in person? Meaning she will see t-that guy in person?
"Definitely not!"
As if I somehow spoiled the mood, she opened one eye to glance at me with an annoyed face.
"Why not?"
"Cuz that guy is a huge pervert that's why!"
"So are you and I'm dating you." She stuck out her tongue.
Gah so annoying… but I gotta admit her childish side is quite cute.
"Oh Kirino, I just remembered, since when did you start modeling for the screens in Shibuya?" I tried to sound casual but the pang of jealousy in my heart was hard to ignore. No I don't want to become a model myself, it's just mindboggling how successful she could be…
"Huh? How did you know?" she narrowed her eyes at me as if I wronged her in some way…
"Someone told me."
"It's nothing, I just got offered a job from Misaki and I took it, its better pay than just magazines…"
I wanted to say I didn't like it but they would make me sound petty. And no, I wasn't going to say that because of childish jealousy. I don't want Kirino being viewed around like that… selfish I know but I wanted to be the only one to have her.
"That was good wouldn't you say?"
Despite my carefree tone, I'm crying in the inside, my wallet is bleeding… and I'm already in debt!
"That's because I picked it out."
Yeah, you picked out the most expensive place! What a demanding girlfriend you are!
"Well you do have an eye for these things."
Ahh she seemed to be happy from my compliment, that's good. Hopefully no more arguments and I can go to sleep in peace… Got to wake up early in the morning to take a long train ride to school after all…
Our apartment was quite small, since I wanted an affordable one that fit under my budget. (although my little sister ended up paying for it anyway…) The apartment had one bathroom, one kitchen, a small living room and two bedrooms. Perfect for two people right? Or so I thought. Kirino brought everything over, and by everything, it means she brought over all her Meruru collections and Eroge. Our bedrooms are also much smaller than the bedrooms in our parents' house. So what ended up happening was both of our bedrooms are stacked up with her things. In other words, my room was Kirino's second storage room just like in our old home…
Sneaking a glance at Kirino's room, she was spinning around in her computer chair humming a happy tune while playing an eroge… some things just never change.
And then the incessant girlish giggle.
Yeah… some things definitely never change.
"Huh!?" in the corner of my eyes I got a glimpse of… of her bed but it was not properly made. As in lack of pillows bedcover or even sheets! Geez this girl, too busy playing eroge to even take care of her own stuff. She is definitely not suited for living without authority.
"Eh… what are you staring at?"
"Your bed, do you need help making your bed?"
"Tch, stop treating me like a kid, you know I have my priorities straight, why would you even assume I forget something as simple as making my bed?"
Damn it! I was just trying to help! No need to act so cocky!
"Then why?"
"You'll see." she flashed me a cute smile before returning back to her eroge… this girl I just don't understand.
Whatever I don't really care. I got more important issues to worry about. My weekend is coming up and I think it's only fair that I meet up with Saori and Kuroneko to update them on my current life situation… or rather our life situation.
I emailed both of them with our original meeting place in Akhibara, the time and exact date is still to be decided.
Gah I'm so full, I can't sleep on such a stomach.
"I can't eat all this; I have a strict calorie limit!"
Of course you do! You do both track and modeling! Gah in the end I was forced to eat majority of her portion too…
While I was busy groaning at my stuffed stomach my little sister made her way into my room. Her small frame was adorned with her signature pink pajamas, immediately a nostalgic feeling rushed back to me when I remembered how she wore the same thing the first time she entered my room.
"What's up?"
"Ueh…since we're living together… isn't it natural w-we umm sleep in the same bed? Hmm Hmm." She looked to the side and nodded her head like she's someone else agreeing with herself…
"Ahh well if that's what you want."
"Eeehh, don't sound so happy, pervert!"
There she goes again misinterpreting everything I say…
Ahh warm! The heater in our apartment isn't working at the moment, so this is the perfect solution. But still I'm afraid to get affectionate with Kirino's temper… So instead I said something stupid.
"Remember that time we did a similar futon date?"
Why did I say that again? Oh right, to hint that I want to snuggle again like that night, hopefully she gets the hint.
"Uehh! What about it?"
Aww she's blushing hahaha. She shyly hugged herself shrinking to the edge of our bed. Really just what did you think I'm going to do to you?
"Ahh nothing just forget about it."
"This isn't the same okay? Not the same!"
Well we ended up not touching each other, I didn't know about Kirino but stress from college just put me right to sleep.
Grumbling something incoherent I opened my eyes during what I assumed to be the middle of the night. Ahh the clock says 2:30… I don't know why exactly I woke up but it was a dreamless sleep so I assumed it was a good night's rest. In any case it was probably from the lack of space, I kept hitting my head against the wall. Looking to the side I saw Kirino's sleeping form.
…
It took a couple of groggy minutes but upon further inspection, her eyes were wide open. She was staring up at the ceiling for some reason.
"What's wrong?"
"Haaah? You're awake?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
"Tch, I'm only awake because you kept thrashing around the bed." It was hard to see in the dark but I could have sworn Kirino pouted.
"Oh sorry, do you want to go back to your bed?"
I don't know what her issue was but this isn't the first time we slept with each other, it wasn't a problem as far as lack of space goes.
She turned to look at me, her face softened up a bit as her eyes darted to my own.
"Shut up, you got school tomorrow."
"So do you."
Well whatever maybe she wasn't used to fact that we're living alone. I mean she is 15 after all. Although she may appear mature for her age the knowledge of living without parents is stressful for anyone at that age. I just hoped that our coming nights won't be this awkward.
The next day I awoke with a groan. I wonder if Kirino slept at all…
Gah! Wow this girl, what has she done to me!? Since when was my first thought after waking up about Kirino? She really has changed me hasn't she…?
I rubbed my temple; now usually early in the morning it is mom who prepares breakfast for both of us. But since we're living alone now… who would do that now?
Checking the time it was 7:30…
Crap! The subway takes almost two hours to get to our college, I need to eat right away and leave for school or I'll be late for my morning class! D-damn why wouldn't I have picked a easier schedule for my lazy self?
Wha… Kirino isn't in her bed..? I wonder—huh..? What's that smell? I walked to our living room and when I reached there…
Kirino was in her school uniform, ahh so she's already prepared for school. But what's this? She's wearing an apron over it!
…
B-but what is she doing? She was holding two plates with an English styled breakfast! This smell it's really good! And it came from… our kitchen?
"Oh you're awake."
"D-did you make this!?"
Her face turned to a scowl, probably because she thought I doubted her ability to cook. I actually did which was why I was confirming it. I mean I remembered the time when she baked that Valentine's Day cookie that ended up tasting like coal…
"Yeah I learned to make American breakfast while I was studying abroad."
"T-that's amazing, to think you would do this…"
"Tch, don't get full of yourself, I only did this because I know you have nothing prepared." She replied in an annoyed tone. Geez don't ruin the mood for me now!
Hah, Kirino may not act like it, but she's a very cute housewife! And here I was thinking she didn't have any of those motherly instincts. This girl just surprises me every day.
"It's really good."
"Really?"
"Yeah of course! It's better than what mom makes."
Kirino blushed before quickly turning into a scowl.
"Ehh, stop flattering me for favors, pervert."
"WHAT!?"
"Hmph."
Ahh well whatever, I know her long enough to know she only scold me when she's shy. I bet she's all jittery after my compliments haha. Ahh that's right it's time for me to go, even though I wanted to eat with Kirino a bit longer. Although I don't know why, it was really awkward without our mother breaking the silence with her silly questions.
"Thanks for the meal." I replied quickly before heading out.
As I arrived to my destination, I finally got a reply back from both Kuroneko and Saori. It seems Saori was busy while Kuroneko had time on Saturday.
"Oh! Kousaka!"
Great just what I needed… Seiryuu to ruin my morning.
"I'm surprise you woke up for your early class for once."
"Ah… yeah about that…forget it, you wouldn't care."
"You're right."
"What's with the attitude ahah, still in a bad mood after moving back with your girlfriend?"
You call that a bad mood? At least he's starting to pick up on social hints I suppose. Anyway I don't even remember telling him who I was moving in with. How can people even make broad assumptions like that!?
"How did you to come to that conclusion!?"
"Ahah, Kousaka you're such a naughty man, moving in with a girlfriend that young, are you taking advantage of her? Hehehe."
"Shut up."
"Kyousuke-kun!" a gruff heavy accented voice called me from behind. Ohh that voice… it could only be Randall…
"Good morning, Randall."
"Did you get the stuff signed yet?"
Wow this guy, skip all formalities and went straight to the point. Is that the mannerisms in America!?
"Uhh about that, not yet Rino is busy."
Eyeing me suspiciously he muttered something along the lines of lying to act cool.
As if I would! Like I wanted to show off in front of you. Be real please.
"Say Kyousuke. I forgot to tell you the party is this coming Sunday, I'll text you the time and location, be sure to come and take your girlfriend with you too!"
As if, I'll just make some bullshit excuse for why I didn't show up. The last time I've seen your friends it was a nightmare. And I didn't want to expose Kirino to your kind of life style.
"Can't make any promises I might be busy."
By might I meant 100% busy.
"Oh that's regrettable, you certainly don't wanna miss it, college experience is as important as the education itself!"
Really why do you clearly value one over the other then? Of course I didn't say that out loud, I just want to end this conversation as soon as possible.
After my general education classes, I tried really hard to figure out what to do for clubs. In a way college was a lot similar to high school, except being way more lax. But that freedom is costly; if you fail it's both your money and your spot in college on the line. High school may be more involved with your education discipline but it leaves far more room for error. If I don't keep a good work habit and try to be proactive during my stay in college I'll end up wasting my time since no one here would bother aiding me, after all who would? I'm an adult now. My life is in my hands.
And I still need to decide what my main point of study should be! So complicated! Ahh well… such is life. I'm honestly thankful for the life lessons Kirino brought upon me. With it I have gained my motivation and determination back, something I lost a long time ago. Although I'm still nowhere near as confident as I was when I'm a kid. Maybe it was old habits or maybe I'm just more realistic now that I'm older. Either way my drive to succeed has returned to me.
And it's all thanks to Kirino.
