Chapter 5 – Oba-san and Photos
In the middle of December, the streets of Ikebukuro were already giving off the atmosphere of Christmas.
And of course, Tobu at the west pass and Seibu at the east pass, the two large department stores exhibited the style as the best recreational street in the country, having decorations hung everywhere, and fully presenting a multi-colored presence.
However, the problems of our family were stopped at a state where not even half was solved.
Although these problems might not be too much compared with our state in the summer break, as we aren’t encountering anything big, but even so, nothing can be over looked.
In the days when almost every day refreshes the record of ‘coldest in this year’, I hurried towards the garbage dump.
Although most of my reports had been completed, I still needed to deal with the reports that come with normal classes, so my state was still quite far away from the winter break.
To practice for the Christmas concert, Sora-chan went out even earlier than usual, which would be what we call as morning exercise. As Sora-chan’s end of the semester exams recently concluded, I was somewhat worried of the condition on her body.
Apart from that, Sora-chan had to practice cooking with Oba-san as well, so she was in a state where she was even busier than me. However, it was a happy thing for me instead.
Even though I was somewhat apologetic about this, I actually felt quite happy that Sora-chan could rely on me for the housework.
Even so, we still didn’t have any intention of coming to a consensus regarding Hina’s Christmas bento.
After tirelessly practicing, our skills had visible improvements…… That should have been so.
Speaking of which, the reason that I’m taking the trash out in the cracks of dawn is because Sora-chan already went out early in the morning for her morning exercise, and we already missed a day for rubbish collection this week. As the leftover food in the house increased due to the cooking lessons, Sora-chan and Miu-chan were fiercely scolded by Oba-san.
Although Miu-chan said that she would take it out, that’d be like putting the cart before the horse. On such a cold morning, of course I can’t just let a primary schooler take these unexpectedly heavy rubbish bags.
Just like that, I held three large bags of rubbish and walked quickly towards the rubbish dump.
That moment, I noticed a silhouette walking in front, a high school girl struggling to walk forward while holding rubbish bags that seemed to be as heavy as mine. It was Shiori-chan who lived opposite to us.
“Good morning, Shiori-chan.”
Hearing me speak from behind, she jumped slightly and turned around to look at me with a rather stiff expression.
“…… Morning. It seems like it isn’t Sora-chan today.”
“Haha, well aren’t you solemn, but I don’t let Sora-chan take the trash out every day as well.”
“…… Is that so?”
Shiori-chan’s somewhat stern manner on me wasn’t anything new, but I didn’t think I did anything to make her dislike me…… When I thought of that, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat sad.
That moment, I noticed something as well. Quite a few bags of trash were piled up before their house.
“Eh? Seems like there’s quite a lot of trash today. Are you taking them out collectively?”
“Ah…… My mother seemed to have forgotten to take out the trash, thank you for your concern.”
Shiori-chan’s face reddened in embarrassment, and said while shaking her head in helplessness.
Oh, so that’s how it is. If so, this is the time for me to take charge.
“Okay. Here we go!”
Apart from the three bags of trash that I was carrying, I lifted two more bags of trash as well.
“W- Wait a minute! You don’t need to trouble yourself!”
“Haha! Don’t mind about it, as I always trouble you to take care of Hina as well.”
“That’s not troublesome….. My mother felt happy about it instead…… Me too.”
“Thanks. But since there’s a chance for me to help, I’m happy as well, so please allow me to help out.”
Without waiting for her response, I walked away. It was my unconcealed gratitude. If not for Shiori-chan and her family living right opposite to us, our lives would definitely be harsher as we need to send and fetch Hina to and from the kindergarten.
Being able to repay them albeit a little at such a time really made me happy.
Naturally, we walked side by side on the road, but…… Uh oh, we don’t have any topics in common to chat about.
When I think about it, I don’t have much experience of speaking with women. If it were to be Nimura, he could probably think of an interesting topic that wouldn’t bore Shiori-chan……
“…… Why?”
When I was cracking my head thinking of a topic to chat about, the hesitant words entered my ears.
I wondered if Shiori-chan had a fever, as her face seemed to be somewhat red.
“Eh?”
“Why are you…… living with those children? Won’t living alone be easier?”
Shiori-san said with her head lowered as she carried an equally heavy bag of rubbish.
“Is it…… due to any reason?”
I felt mystified as I wasn’t really sure what Shiori-chan was saying.
“Um…… What are you talking about?”
As I grabbed on to the five bags of rubbish, I asked while walking by her side.
“…… It’s nothing.”
After we reached the rubbish dump, we dumped the large amouth of trash inside.
“Phew! That would probably be fine.”
“Nnn, thank you.”
Shiori-chan bowed to me with her head lowered while her face was still flushed.
“Don’t mention it. It’s nothing compared with the help that you usually give.”
With a smile on my face…… I spoke again after some thought:
“Shiori-chan, about your previous question……”
“Eh……?”
“I think, it’s probably for the same reason that you’re helping us.”
After saying that, I smiled. To be honest, I think I gained even more instead when I live with the three sisters…… Just looking at them made me feel happy, and want to help them automatically…… I think that it’s definitely the same for Shiori-chan.
“How can this……”
She looked at me in surprise. When you look at her from the front, she really is quite a cute girl.
“T- That’s not it! I’m not like that at all!”
For some reason, she suddenly denied in agitation…… Whoops, did I say anything wrong?
I headed towards my house, while Shiori-chan walked behind me.
She mumbled something that I couldn’t hear without stop.
Shiori looked at the unexpectedly wide back of Yuuta’s silhouette, and was unable to suppress her vigorous heartbeat.
“…… Sheesh, doesn’t it seem like you’re a nice person if so?”
Because of that, it was as though she kept imagining herself as the filthy person.
Apart from that, Shiori realized that Yuuta was completely different from the other males that she got to know in the past.
“Although I don’t like him that much…… He seems to be…… Quite cool.”
Shiori felt like she understood slightly the reason the three sisters liked Yuuta that much.
Speaking of which, if it’s just a conversation of this extent, I probably don’t need to think so much, huh? Halfway through her walk, Shiori started to think of things concerning Yuuta that would make people want to do a tsukkomi on her. A young man who stood up for his relative’s daughters…… When you think of it like that, he’s actually not bad.
Thinking of that, Shiori suddenly started to feel ashamed of her previous attitude.
As usual, Kitahara Shiori was a girl who easily falls into delusions.
At the same time when Shiori-chan and I reached the front door, a cheery voice rang behind me.
“Oji-san~ ? I’m almost late now, so I’m going to school first~”
After saying that, Miu hurriedly closed the steel door of the entrance.
“Oh, good morning. It seems like you didn’t forget to take out the trash today.”
Coincidentally, Oba-san appeared just that moment. She’s quite early today.
While Oba-san smiled wryly as though she saw through my thoughts.
“I have some other matters to attend to today, so I came over early. Besides, if Yuuta-san forgets to take out the trash today as well, that just won’t do.”
…… In other words, Oba-san doesn’t trust me at all? Whatever, I brought it on myself.
“Good morning, Oba-san.”
Miu-chan bowed with her head lowered as soon as she saw Oba-san, while Hina’s voice could be heard right after Oba-san nodded slightly in reponse.
“Oi-ta~n! Oi-tan ta~n ?”
Hina furiously waved at me behind the steel door that she was still unable to open. As I dozed off in the kitchen that morning, I hurriedly rushed to take out the trash as soon as I woke up, so it was the first time I saw Hina for the day. Hina is as cute as ever. Great.
After I nodded happily, Miu-chan, whose hair wasn’t the least bit messy, and was fully expressing the style of a young beauty, spoke to me right after that:
“Oji-san, I’ll count on you to send Hina to the kindergarten today.”
“Ah, nnn, take care on the road.”
I greeted Miu-chan and hurried to Hina’s side without even having the time to watch Miu-chan leave.
“Oi-tan and Shiori Nee-tan, good morning ?”
With a broad smile on her face, Hina looked cute no matter how you look at her from the top, from the right, from the left, or from the front.
“Good morning, Hina-chan.”
“Shiori Nee-tan’s unifom…… So good! Hina likes it!”
“The uniform of Hina-chan’s kindergarten is cute as well.”
“Hina likes this better~”
“Then you must grow up more, Hina-chan.”
The scene of a uniformed young beauty and a cute toddler in a kindergarten uniform praising each other is really one that people would smile at from the bottom of one’s heart when they see it.
“There’s drool on Oi-tan’s face~”
…… Eh?
“Yuuta-san, you’re probably wearing pajamas or casual clothing, aren’t you?”
“And also, your hair is messy as well.”
I was finally aware of my current appearance after Oba-san and Shiori-chan calmly did a tsukkomi on me.
Uh oh, after battling my pile of reports, I went outside in the casual clothing that I wore from the previous night. I got careless just by thinking that I was just taking out the trash.
“Ack! Ahh~ Wait, I still have to send Hina to the kindergarten!”
If so, that means I must hurry up and change at home.
“Uh oh, we’re short on time.”
While I muttered with my face pale, Shiori-chan squatted in front of Hina and waved her hand.
“Well then, Onee-san is going to school now. Good bye.”
“Nnn! Good bye~”
After bidding farewell to Hina with a smile, Shiori-chan smiled while bowing to Oba-san as well, and finally ignored my presence with her face red, leaving just like that. She seemed to have placed her bag before her house, how thoughtful.
“Oi-tan?”
It’s not the time for me to think about this now. Miu-chan already dealt with Hina’s preparations before going out, and what’s left was for me to change as soon as possible……
Oba-san looked at me as I was running around in circles, a strangely friendly smile on her face, even though there wasn’t any trace of a smile in her gaze.
“It seems like you still need quite some time to prepare. Allow me to take Hina-san to the kindergarten. Before I come back, you should change and wash your face along the way.”
“S- Sorry……”
“…… As for the problem of you not being able to manage your lifestyle properly, let us talk about that in detail after this.”
“Sorry!”
I could only press my head to a low position. The road to become an excellent…… No, to become a normal guardian is really full of hardships.
After ending her morning exercise for the Choir Club, Sora couldn’t help but sigh faintly on her seat in the classroom.
The morning exercise of the Choir Club forty minutes prior to lessons was still smooth as of now, the attendance record was quite good, and everyone had improved as well. As for Sora’s solo part, Kiyomi and Youko were both giving her special trainings.
Singing too much made Sora’s throat feel somewhat hot. It seemed like she should take note not to push herself too much, as it was easy for the throat to ache in such dry weather, but the reason for Sora’s sigh was not because of this.
“Is Onii-chan okay……”
Sora only found out that Yuuta slept on the sofa in the living room when she went to the restroom at the crack of dawn. Although she helped cover Yuuta with a blanket, she thought that it might have been better if she woke him up and asked him to sleep on his bed.
“I wonder if he managed to take out the trash on time……”
Sora could not bear to wake Yuuta, but if she took it out, Yuuta would definitely be unhappy. Recently, instead of saying that Yuuta was overprotective of Sora, she thought that it was more like…… he couldn’t trust her.
“Sheesh, why am I so troubled!”
When she thought about it, she felt like she kept arguing with Yuuta recently. Although they would reconcile very quickly, and all of them were trivial matters, they were quite important to Sora.
“Sigh……”
It seemed like she failed to grasp matters regarding timing. When Sora started to feel depressed on her seat, she noticed a silhouette before her eyes.
“Good morning, Sora-san.”
“Ah, Youko-chan, good morning.”
Sora was already used to the fact that she and Youko were calling each other by name. At the same time when she greeted Youko with a smile, she heaved a sigh of relief in her heart. One instant, Sora even thought that it was Daiki who was greeting her, causing her to feel tension.
While facing the somewhat rough Daiki, Sora did indeed feel disheartened, but she still understood that he was a kind person. Even though she knew that in her heart, she would still feel frightened on reflex when she hadn’t prepared herself mentally. However, she actually got used to it by now.
“Fufu, did you think that I was Maeshima-kun?”
“Sheesh! Don’t do that!”
Facing her friend who was smiling mischievously, Sora showed a somewhat displeased expression.
“I was just joking. You’re quite cheerful these days, that’s good. You seemed to have finished practicing in time, so as your friend, I’m quite proud as well. Judging from the current circumstances, there won’t be any problem regarding the Choir Club.”
When Youko speaks like this, it would mean that she has something else to say. Sora was gradually grasping the personality of her friend who shares the same interests and who was also quickly getting closer to her.
“…… Youko-chan, is there anything wrong with the Literary Club?”
“You’re so smart, Sora-san. Regarding an important event at the end of the year, I wish to discuss it with you.”
“Eh? Ehhhh!? End of the year as in the Christmas concert?”
“Of course, that’s important as well, but what I want to talk about is an event unrelated to the Choir Club.”
What kind of event is it?
“It’s the winter Comiket. I’m thinking if you’re able to go with me.”
What, so it’s just the winter Comiket? As she nearly responded like that, Sora’s thoughts stopped functioning for an instant. The said winter Comiket would be a large-scale doujinshi market held at the end of the year, which would be the type of event the event that Yuri, as Sora’s stepmother and Yuuta’s sister, once liked. Even though Yuri once promised Sora that she would bring Sora there one day, however……
“It seems like you never went before. If so, let’s start from cospla……”
“Y-, Y-, Y- Y- Y-, Youko-chan!”
Sora hurriedly stood up from the chair and planned to cover Youko’s mouth.
…… However, she couldn’t do such a vigorous act in the end, and could only gesture frantically to Youko. Sora really didn’t hope for Youko to speak of dangerous terms like winter Comiket, cosplay or the like in places like the classroom.
“Relax, nobody would hear.”
Youko stated so directly with a relaxed attitude, but to Sora, such a situation was so worrisome that it would make her heart accelerate in an instand, even feeling that the sound of her heartbeat almost spread through the whole classroom.
“How is it? You’re starting to feel tense? Then why don’t you officially become a new cosplayer at the winter Comiket, training your courage for your solo part in the Christmas concert?”
“Um…… Isn’t the winter Comiket after the concert?”
“You found out.”
Youko spoke as though nothing happened.
“…… Youko-chan.”
“I was joking about cosplay, but if it’s convenient for you, I wasn’t joking when I asked you if you want to go to the winter Comiket with me. Think about it.”
After saying that with a smile, Youko stood up from the seat and turned around to say to Sora as she returned to her own seat:
“Of course, if you’re willing to do cosplay, I welcome that very much as well.”
The bomb that Youko left caused Sora to feel dazed on her seat.
Just when Sora was in shock in her classroom, Miu, as the second sister of the Takanashi family, was situated in a commotion completely opposite to that of Sora’s.
“Miu-chan, you’ll join my party, right?”
“What are you babbling about! Miu-chan already promised to pass Christmas together with me!”
“You’re the one who’s babbling! Miu-chan told me she’s going to the Tokyo Disneyland with me……”
A crowd of boys that surrounded Miu’s seat was squabbling non-stop.
While the other girls looked from afar.
However, they did not give Miu, who gathered the goodwill of the boys in the class on herself, cold gazes. Their gazes were more like that of one who was thinking that it was hard for her.
Currently, the fact that Miu has an ‘old boyfriend who seems to be somewhat of a good-for-nothing’ had already been quite widespread, and even if that wasn’t the truth, the girls in the class bore goodwill on Miu as well.
Being cute, friendly and serious, Miu doesn’t have any quality that would make people dislike her. Although being the most popular person among the boys was a problem, Miu never once showed off to the others about this.
The other girls who saw this thought instead: This kind of beauty is indeed quite rare, so it can’t be helped that she would take the boy’s attention.
However, becoming friends or not was another story. To the girls, Miu’s presence was just too dazzling, causing them to lose any courage to even stand by her side, as though they were people from completely different worlds.
“Miu-chan! Please clear things up with this guy, he’ll give up if so!”
“You’re celebrating Christmas with me, right? Miu-chan.”
“No, it’s me!”
Miu gave the clamoring boys a rather regretful look.
“I’m sorry, I already decided to celebrate Christmas with my family.”
“ “ “H- How can this be……” “ “
She gave the forlorn boys an extremely radiant smile and repeated it again in her heart: I’m happy that you are willing to ask me this, but I already decided to celebrate Christmas with my ever important family.
Miu couldn’t help but feel grateful for Santa Claus for being able to end the year full of hardships with that sentence.
As I ended Oba-san’s lifestyle inspection and ‘special cooking lesson for the day’, I printed out the reports that I just finished and hurried to the college to hand it in. After that, I went home directly without even having energy remaining to show up at Roary.
That moment, my lethargy was already overwhelming. I tossed my bag to the floor and collapsed directly onto the living room sofa.
“I- I’m tired to death……”
As soon as I closed my eyes, I sank into a slumber without further ado.
I wasn’t sure how long I slept on the sofa.
“Onii-chan? You’re asleep?”
“It seems like he’s already asleep, since Oji-san looked quite tired in the morning as well.”
…… It was Sora-chan and Miu-chan’s voices.
When my consciousness was still hazy, I heard two familiar voices, a happy feeling welling up in my heart at the same time.
“Oi-tan is seeping~”
Ngh.
“Ah! Hina, don’t do that! You can’t pinch Oji-san’s nose!”
“Oh~”
Unknowingly, it seemed like it was already the time for their return.
“Nimura-san said that doing the reports is quite tiring. Onii-chan probably didn’t have the time to sleep well…… Ah! Hina! You can’t just hug him!”
“Hina, Oji-san is sleeping! You can’t disturb him.”
“Okay~”
In my hazy consciousness, I really wanted to stay in that comfortable space, but I still struggled to chase away that desire and opened my eyes. After all, I have to stand up and welcome them home properly.
“Wel….. come, hoo~……”
I couldn’t speak properly.
“Welcome home.”
After standing up and repeating my words, the three gave me different responses.
“Onii-chan, you’ll get a cold if you sleep here.”
“Your hair is messy, Oji-san.”
“Good morning! Oi-tan!”
I hugged Hina who sat down on my belly and raised my upper torso.
“As Oba-san came to teach today, I’ve already finished making dinner. Today, we’re having chikuzen-ni, boiled green beans, and tofu with meat floss.”
Although blowing one’s trumpet isn’t really nice, I think I did quite well. It’s all thanks to Oba-san.
“Uuu…… Onii-chan seems to be improving quicker than me……”
For some reason, Sora-chan muttered at a side with a convoluted expression. The living room was filled with friendly laughter. This kind of atmosphere is so nice. That moment, I suddenly thought of something. It was a great chance.
“Um…… Since everyone is here, I have something to ask you.”
I declared solemnly. Although I was troubling myself over this for a long time, I can’t drag this on anymore.
After all, Raika-san can’t help me out regarding this, so I can only choose to face it in front.
“Christmas is almost here. Hina, what present do you want Santa Claus to give to you?”
Miu-chan might still believe that Santa Claus exists, and although Sora-chan probably knows it already, I am sure that Hina most probably still believes in Santa Claus.
So, I thought that it would be best for me to ask like this. As expected, Sora-chan turned her gaze to me after glancing at Hina, and seemed to have understood what I meant.
“T- That’s right, you’ll have to ask for a present from Santa Claus. Well then, what do you want, Hina?”
“Uuu~ Hina wants…… Mr. Bunny!”
Hina spoke loudly while raising the bunny doll in her hand.
“Eh? You want another one?”
“Mr. Bunny’s friend~!”
Ah, I see. So Hina wants Mr. Bunny number two?
“What about Sora-chan?”
“…… I- I’m fine with anything…… As long as Onii…… Wait, as long as Santa Claus…… gives me something…… Anyway, anything would do.”
Seeing Sora-chan answer like that with her face red, I moaned in my heart. So she’s letting me decide?
That would be more troublesome.
“Um, what about Miu-chan, then?”
“Eh~ What should I choose…… Let me think for awhile~ ? Or perhaps I should leave this for Santa Claus Oji-san to decide?”
It seemed like Miu-chan’s Christmas present might be in my hands as well. But I asked exactly because I was unsure of what girls at Miu-chan and Sora-chan’s ages would want.
If so, I should just ask Oba-san instead. After all, she was once a ten and fourteen years old girl as well. Wait a minute, how many years was that again? I could almost hear Nimura do a tsukkomi on me from afar, but currently, I just need a person to depend on.
In any case, I’ll discuss things with her the next time she comes. I thought with a sliver of hope.
However, Oba-san did not come after that.
Even though she agreed to come over every three days, she never came although one week had passed, causing me to feel doubtful.
“…… That’s strange.”
At first, I had a message from Oba-san that she couldn’t come over temporarily because of some matters, but one week passed just like that. To be frank, I would be very nervous when Oba-san comes over for spot checks, and I would even feel impatient sometimes about her despairing nagging.
However, ever since Oba-san came over to teach Sora-chan and I how to cook every three days, and even preparing dishes for us after that, my fear towards her gradually weakened. The fact that a person that does things by the book like Oba-san didn’t come made me even more worried.
“…… Oi-tan, Oba-tan hasn’t come~”
Sitting on the sofa in the living room Hina placed Mr. Bunny on her lap and said in a somewhat lonesome manner.
“I can already cook the stewed meat with potato that Oba-san taught me before this quite well, but……”
“I’ve got a bit tired of that dish now. It’ll be better if Oba-san could teach Onee-chan some new dishes.”
Sora-chan and Miu-chan felt regretful for Oba-san’s absence as well. Seeing them in this state made me come to a resolution, and since the peak of my report completion had just ended, so I had quite a lot of time on my hands.
“Since tomorrow is a Sunday, let’s go visit Oba-san together.”
After hearing my proposal, the three sisters’ eyes lit up.
We took the train from Ikebukuro station.
Along the way, we changed from the faster train to the slower train that stopped at each station, using twenty minutes in total to arrive at the outskirts of Tokyo, and finally arrived here.
“It would take at least forty five minutes counting from the time we got out…… That’s about how long it is.”
I felt that it was a distance that was neither far nor near.
“Um…… As I recall, it’s probably this place.”
I actually thought of calling her before visiting, but her cellphone seemed to be switched off, while nobody picked up the phone in her house. Since it turned out like that, my originally doubtful emotions turned into worry, so we went for a sudden visit in the end.
“…… Eh?”
“Is this it……? Sahara Yoshiko…… That’s right, this is the place.”
But after seeing the building before us, all of us were dumbstruck.
The building located on the map was far older than we had imagined.
“Although it still doesn’t count as a broken down apartment, however……”
“It’s like our old house~”
That’s right, that was what I thought. That place reminded me of the apartment that Nimura is staying at now, and they’re almost exactly the same, except for the fact that the apartment that Oba-san was living at seemed even older. In any case, that was how it is.
“It’s quite unexpected. It’s somewhat different from the impression Oba-san gives us.”
Miu-chan spoke out the thought that we were thinking.
“Nn, I’m a bit surprised as well. To be honest, it’s the first time I came to Oba-san’s house too.”
It was an apartment with two floors. Although the stairs outside had already rusted, piled up fallen leaves and trash were nowhere to be seen outside, so that place was probably cleaned up on a set basis, an apartment that still had people taking care of it even though it looked old.
“Um…… Number five…… of the second floor?”
I walked up the stairs and knocked on the door with the doorplate 205.
“Oba-san, are you home? I’m Yuuta.”
Nobody answered.
“Oba-san, this is Sora, Takanashi Sora.”
“I’m Miu, Oba-san, are you home?”
“Oba-ta~n~ ?”
The three of them extended their cute hands to knock on the door.
However, there was still no response, but this time, sounds could be heard coming from the room.
“Oba-san? Are you in there? Oba-san, I’m Yuuta!”
It would be really embarrassing if I made a mistake, but I still decided to knock on the door once more. Just when I was raising my hand, the handle of the door started to move before my eyes, and the person who appeared after the door opened was Oba-san, who was dressed in cotton pajamas and a ice pack. By the way, the cotton pajamas had a pink background and pictures of yellow chicks.
We finally understood that Oba-san, who was wearing cotton pajamas that seemed to suit Hina’s interests, fell sick at home, as what we were worried of.
“You should have contacted us earlier.”
“It’s just a slight fever, so it’s fine. You don’t need to be so worried.”
Oba-san said while planning to pack away the futon on the floor. When they saw that, Sora-chan and Miu-chan immediately halted Oba-san’s hands from both sides.
“Oba-san, don’t push yourself. You should be lying down instead.”
“That’s right, Oba-san.”
“How can I lie down with guests here?”
Although Oba-san spoke in a stern tone as usual, a patient wearing cotton pajamas with pictures of chicks would only make the dignity unconvincing. Sora-chan and Miu-chan stopped Oba-san half by coaxing, half by force.
“Please don’t worry about this and lie down. Since you have a fever, you mustn't get up even more. We usually let you see many embarrassing sides of us already.”
“What does a small thing like this matter…… Oof!”
Oba-san’s ragged breathing showed the fact that she still had a fever.
Seeing Oba-san like that, Sora-chan and Miu-chan forcibly chivvied her back to her bed without further ado.
Compared with the house that we lived in before this, it was about one room larger at most, while the kitchen was just separated from the living room with a glass door. There was another room separated by a paper door as well. Now that there was a futon spread at the very center of the living room, the presence of the four of us and Oba-san caused the place to appear even more cramped.
“…… If I knew that you would come, I would have slept in the bedroom. As I live alone, it’s nearer to the kitchen like this, so it’s more convenient……”
As she spoke in a more harried manner than usual, she seemed to feel rather awkward as she spoke.
Oba-san probably felt that sleeping in the living room in a futon looked rather slovenly, but convenience is the most important thing when one’s body is sick, so she really needn’t mind at all.
“Oba-tan has a fever? Hot? Hina will help Oba-tan, ‘Pain pain go away’~”
Hina extended her small hand towards Oba-san, who was in the futon, making the action of chasing away the fever from her forehead.
“Let me make some porridge.”
“Onee-chan, I’ll help out as well.”
The two sisters determinedly stood up. I handed the kitchen to them and allowed Hina to sit by my side, looking at the condition around Oba-san after that.
There was a box of ice packs by Oba-san’s pillow, along with a hot water bottle containing tea and a cup. However, judging from the empty state of the ice pack box, Oba-san had probably been lying home for a whole week now.
“Did you eat properly?”
“…… I have been eating, so don’t worry.”
“We could’ve got something over as long as you mentioned this to us.”
“It’s just a small matter, there’s no need to call you over.”
Although Oba-san was as stubborn as ever, compared with her usual gaze while looking at us, she seemed to be much gentler.
“It often turned out like this if I fall sick when the seasons change. Even though it would be hard to go by at first, only a fever will be left after some time, and I’ll get better just by lying down.”
“But……!”
“Compared with me, Yuuta-san, you should’ve thought more clearly about bringing the children over. If I caught influenza, it’s very possible that they might be infected. You should have at least brought a face mask.”
Ah, I was too careless.
“Goodness gracious……”
Oba-san sighed in her futon, and seemed to be somewhat disappointed.
However, she looked at me with an affectionate gaze after that.
“However…… Thank you for worrying for me.”
“Eh?”
“Although it’s just a cold, it’s quite tiring when one is unable to move due to fever. It’s quite comforting for someone to be concerned for me at this time.”
“After this, please contact me if you’re in any trouble. Let me help. Besides, we’re living quite close to you as well…… Ah, Oba-san, is it okay that you didn’t contact your children?”
Well, perhaps I should call them my cousins.
“There is no such need, as they are currently out of Japan.”
“They went overseas? Did they go for a holiday or for a business trip?”
“Both are incorrect. They are working overseas. Both of my children are working for a foreign-funded enterprise, and were posted to the headquarters overseas at their end. They seem to be quite busy, and might not even come back every two years.”
Hearing the fact that I was never aware of, my eyes widened in surprise.
“After all, they’re more than ten years older than Yuuta-san…… Speaking of which, it doesn’t seem like you have many chances to meet. When Yuri-san got married, the both of them were still overseas, so they didn’t take part, and even their own wedding ceremony was held overseas, so I was the only person from Japan who took part.”
Speaking of which, the opportunities for my relatives and I to meet were only on an occasion of marriage or death.
When I thought of that, being able to meet Oba-san frequently like this made me feel that it was quite wondrous.
Miu-chan and Sora-chan were doing their best to cook in an unfamiliar kitchen. The fragrance drifting over from the kitchen made me understand that they weren’t just making porridge.
“Ah! The eggs already expired.”
“It’s fine if it only expired for a day or two.”
“That won’t do. Oba-san, it might be fine when you’re healthy, but it definitely won’t do when you’re sick.”
Miu-chan said unhesitatingly.
“Onee-chan, I’ll go buy some fresh ones immediately, so wait for me awhile.”
“I’m counting on you, Miu.”
Seeing Miu-chan, who planned to run out just like that, I hastily halted her.
“If so, I’ll go out then.”
“Mnn~ Would that be fine?”
“What is there to worry about? I’m just going to buy some eggs.”
“Ahaha! I was just joking! But since you’re going out, I have some other things to buy as well. Oji-san, can you buy them along the way?”
“No problem.”
Miu-chan speedily wrote out a note with a smile, and among them were sports drinks, bottled water, nutrient pills, flu medicine, and what seemed to be vegetables to be eaten with the porridge. I could see the results of what Miu-chan learnt when Sora-chan got sick before this.
“They might be slightly heavy. Sorry for that, Oji-san ?”
“…… I’m going out now.”
I went out holding the note that contained a startlingly large amount of groceries.
When I returned while holding a full bag that was almost sinking into my skin, the porridge had just been finished.
At the same time that I opened the door, the fragrance wafted into my nose.
“Oh my….. It’s delicious.”
“Well, Oba-san taught me before this that porridge will only be tasty if you cook it starting from the rice.”
“So you did master it. Thank you.”
“…… Ah, not really.”
“Oba-tan! Do your best! You’ll have to eat lots of it!”
Oba-san, who was sitting up on her futon, seemed to be satisfied with the porridge that Sora-chan and Miu-chan made, while Hina and Mr. Bunny were cheering on Oba-san as she continued to eat.
“I’m back. Did I come back with the eggs too slowly?”
“I’ll make egg porridge after this, so it’s fine, Onii-chan.”
Hearing Sora-chan say that, I placed the eggs that I just bought into the fridge. The fridge looked like it went through a huge spring-cleaning, as almost nothing was left in it. That made me fully understood that Oba-san couldn’t go out to buy anything at all while she was sick.
When I saw that Oba-san almost finished her porridge, I opened the canned peach that I bought. That would be a traditional patient’s meal. Oba-san looked somewhat surprised, but she still started to eat in satisfaction after taking the can of peaches in sweet syrup.
“Oi-tan! Hina too!”
And of course, Hina’s request was in my calculation, so I already bought two.
After opening the can of peach for Hina, Sora-chan and Miu-chan, a sweet fragrance wafted in the room.
“Cooking can only be counted as complete after the cleaning is done.”
That was Oba-san’s stern teachings.
The small kitchen seemed to be rather crowded as not only Sora-chan and Miu-chan, but even Hina went over to have a look. Even though I said that I wanted to help out, I was chased out as it was already full.
Seeing everyone’s efforts, Oba-san suddenly spoke:
“Are you surprised that this house is so small and dingy?”
“Eh? W- Why would we?”
“You don’t need to be polite. After all, this IS a small and dingy apartment. You may remember that my husband passed away shortly before your parents, right? That time, my youngest child was a college student as well, so it was a time when money was needed in many aspects. That was why I hurriedly moved to this house where the rent was cheapest, and I lived here since then.”
Oba-san said in slight nostalgia.
“…… That time, if I had just a bit more strength, I probably could’ve taken in you and Yuri-san. Seeing you now makes me feel that things might have been different if I worked harder that time.”
“Eh? Oba-san, you’re referring to……”
“I think it’s all thanks to your great efforts of wanting to protect them that the three sisters can live together right now. Even though you often hear people saying ‘when there’s a will, there’s a way’, putting it in practice is actually quite hard.”
Oba-san looked at me with a gentle smile. All of a sudden, her smile overlapped with that of my sister’s in my mind.
Even though their features weren’t alike, for some reason, I just felt like the smile on Oba-san’s face looked extremely similar to that of Nee-san’s.
“I think that there are probably quite a lot of aspects that you can’t handle right now, and living together means that you have to deal with each other’s troubles as well. However, if you are still willing to live together even so, you can probably bring happiness to each other.”
Oba-san spoke while looking at Sora-chan and Miu-chan’s silhouettes in the kitchen. Hina was playing around their legs as well.
“Stop that, Hina, the bubbles would splatter around~”
“Nee-tan, bubbles ?”
“No~ Hina~!”
The scene of the three sisters having fun together was commonly seen in the Takanashi residence.
But the said ‘commonly seen’ is actually an extremely precious thing.
“You did very well.”
The gentle words struck a cord in my heart.
However, before the emotion faded, Oba-san still gave me a warning.
“…… Even so, you still can’t live a messy life, especially regarding your meals. If they aren’t handled properly, they might affect everything. Of course, cleaning up after everything is important as well, and aren’t your socks almost having holes on them? You’ll have to take care of your clothing properly. Speaking of which, your messy appearance in the morning some time before this…… Hey! Yuuta-san! Are you listening?”
Although Oba-san switched to nagging mode halfway through, I think that not only can I listen to Oba-san’s scolding properly, traces of a smile could be seen on my lips as well.
Listening to Oba-san nagging Yuuta, sounding almost like background music, the hearts of the three sisters in the kitchen felt a hint of warmth. Sora felt mystified about that as well.
Actually, Oba-san is quite a stern person, and would make Sora extremely nervous whenever they meet.
However, although this isn’t a particularly beautiful apartment, Oba-san’s apartment gave off a warm presence, just like the apartment at Hachiouji that they dearly missed.
“…… Onee-chan, do you still remember?”
Miu whispered by Sora’s side while Hina was playing with bubbles around them.
“When Yuri-san just came, I accidentally drank a bottle of Papa’s beverage that he left around for a few days, giving me a huge stomachache, and causing her to be angry at him…… That incident.”
“Nn, I remember. Yuri-san looked quite scary when she was angry.”
“Even so, she was really thoughtful to us…… She really….. cared for us from the bottom of her heart.”
“Yeah. After all, Yuri-san was Hina’s mother.”
Not knowing if Hina heard her sister’s conversation or not, she continued to battle the bubbles.
“They just feel……. Similar.”
The stern voice that always made them feel warm in their heart made Miu remember the feeling.
“…… Nn, yeah.”
“Hina likes Oba-tan. Oba-tan, Oba-tan, look, Hina made Mr. Bunny!”
Hina’s innocent words, or perhaps the simplest and most correct answer.
Although the important people in their lives won’t return after they lost them, they still felt happy that they had someone who allowed them to visit her when she was sick.
Considering that we might make Oba-san even more tired if we stay too long, we left after about an hour. The three sister’s unwilling expression when we were about to leave left a deep impression on me.
“Oba-tan says that she would come over after this, yay~ ?”
Hina moved her hand that wasn’t held in excitement.
I thought about it for awhile and nodded.
“That’s right, Hina. Oi-tan hopes for Oba-san to get well sooner and come to our house as well.”
In the past, I might not have had such a thought, but the emotion right now is unmistakable.
Even in the past, I understood that Oba-san nagged us for our sake, but I just couldn’t rid the feeling that I was on surveillance. However, the feeling that Oba-san gave me that day was different, and I’m not referring to the fact that Oba-san lacked energy as she lied on the bed……
“After all…… We’re family.”
The words slipped out of my mouth.
“I probably like Oba-san as well.”
Sora-chan said with a smile.
“When Yuri-san was here, I almost never helped her cook, so…… It feels like I was taught by Mama when Oba-san was teaching me how to cook…… I like it.”
“Yeah….. It’s…… a strange, nostalgic feeling.”
Miu-chan added. I could understand their feelings more or less. Oba-san, who spoke to me of the past, made me remember Nee-san as well. Possibly because she was feeling bored, Hina started to express her opinions as well.
“Hina wants to learn to cook too!”
“Isn’t it a bit early for you?”
“Hina wants~ And then, when Papa and Mama are back, Hina will cook for them ?”
I was dumbstruck. And just when I was unable to respond immediately, Miu-chan held Hina’s hands moving in excitement.
“Hina, you’re not letting us eat them? That’s so mean~”
“I will!”
“Nn! That’ll be great ?””
“That’ll be great~ ?”
Hina hugged Miu-chan’s leg and imitated her.
“Stop that, it’s hard to walk.”
Miu-chan said while holding Hina’s hand, walking in front half skipping, half running.
“Oji-san! Onee-chan! We’ll leave you behind if you don’t hurry!”
After saying that, Miu-chan turned her head around slightly and gave a charming smile.
“But Onee-chan might like that better, right?”
“M- Miu!”
“Ahaha! I was just joking ?”
Miu-chan seemed to have said something to Sora-chan that only they could understand, and judging from the situation, she was really going to run to the station with Hina without us.
“Ngh! Wait a minute! Miu!”
“Hurry up and follow!”
“Hurry up and forrow~”
While being hurried on by Miu-chan and Hina, we ran to the station as though we were playing a mystifying game of tag.
Some time after that, the matter of Sora-chan refusing to let us go to the Christmas concert was solved in a flash due to Oba-san’s involvement after she recovered.
“Christmas concert? Then we must go watch that.”
“…… O- Oba-san…….”
Oba-san said with a smile while sipping tea on the sofa in the living room, with an apron on her.
“Is that okay? Sora-san.”
“Ngh~!”
Sora-chan, who was in an apron as well, gripped her skirt with her whole face red.
It seemed like Sora-chan, whom we were unable to convince, couldn’t refuse Oba-san’s direct decision.
“I’m looking forward to it. Speaking of which, I only notice the marking on the calendar about the recent Christmases……”
“N- Ngggh…… Fine……”
Seeing the flushed Sora-chan nod, Oba-san smiled happily as well. Although Sora-chan was embarrassed to let us see her on the stage, she seemed happy that we were willing to watch her anyway.
“Oba-san, we’ll be very busy on Christmas then. Having to go to Hina’s kindergarten in the day, and having to go to Sora-chan’s Choir Club concert right after that.”
“I shall take leave that day, so it’s fine…… Oh, speaking of which, what are you planning to do regarding Hina-san’s bento for her Christmas party?”
With a smile that would make people want to describe it as a sly smile, Oba-san looked at Sora-chan and I in turn.
Oh yeah, there’s still the matter of the bento.
The atmosphere tensed up. Because of Oba-san falling sick before this, we completely forgot about this.
“I’m making it.”
“I’m going to make it.”
Sora-chan and I spoke loudly at the same time. I don’t have any intention to give in regarding this matter.
“It seems like……. You’re quite stubborn regarding this problem.”
Oba-san pressed her finger between her brows, making an action that seemed to indicate that she was having a headache.
“Yuuta-san, why do you wish to make the bento so much?”
“…… N- Ngh~”
Even if I want to answer, it’s somewhat hard for me to answer before the three sisters as well.
“Because I’m their guardian. Wasn’t there a time when I didn’t even notice right until Sora-chan fell sick because of my business? That’s why…….”
“Sheesh! Onii-chan! You’re still mindful of that!? You don’t need to be so concerned at all!”
Sora-chan glared at me unhappily.
“I already said that I would work hard, so isn’t this fine!”
“But you still have the solo part for the Choir part, and you haven’t let me see your grades as well.”
“M- M- My grades are fine! I’m positive I’m getting in the school I want!”
Sora-chan shouted in slight surprise.
“I did take part in the morning exercise for the Choir Club properly, and Shiori-san is helping after school as well……”
“But……”
“No buts! Idiot Onii-chan! I want to make it!”
I really couldn’t understand what Sora-chan wanted to say.
“But you fell sick just because of this! If the same thing happens again, I won’t be able to face Nee-san and Nii-san! Besides, if you use the time before your practice to make the bento, you won’t have enough sleep!”
Look, no matter how you look at it, I’m the one who’s more justified. However, Sora-chan just couldn’t accept it at all, while Miu-chan shrugged at a side in helplessness. It seems like I hadn’t grasped the main point of the problem at all.
“Ah, I see.”
Oba-san nodded slowly, and seemed to have understood the situation.
“I understand both of your justifications now. However, it doesn’t seem like the both of you are right.”
Facing her calm accusation, we couldn’t help but shudder.
Oba-san turned around and looked at our cute princess.
“Hina-san, whose bento do you wish to eat?”
Being asked such a question , it caused Hina, who was playing with Mr. Bunny, to be startled for a moment.
“Bento? Christmas bento?”
“Hina, Hina! You want Oji-san’s, right!”
“Hina, Onee-chan will make a very tasty one for you!”
Hina thought for awhile and said with a radiant smile:
“Mama! Hina wants Mama’s bento!”
“…… Hina-san, this……”
Oba-san’s face fell, as though she found that she said something that she shouldn’t.
It was quite a reasonable answer, but we couldn’t do anything about it.
Up till now, Hina still can’t comprehend the fact that her parents are already not here, and we still didn’t know how to tell her the truth.
“Hina, about this……”
When they were still flustered thinking of how to explain things to her, I went forward first and hugged Hina while saying:
“Is that so…… Oi-tan understands. But that might be too hard to accomplish, and Mama said that she can’t come on Christmas as well.”
“Uuu…… Oi-tan…… Really……”
Seeing Hina’s sorrowful look, I lifted her up.
“…… I’m sorry, Yuuta-san.”
“No, that’s okay. Please don’t be mindful.”
I said to Oba-san with a smile. Today, let’s just hold the matter about the bento for now.
That night, I went to the dark living room after getting Hina to sleep, and flipped through the photo albums.
I looked at the photos of the three sisters and Nee-san, thinking of checking out if there were any photos of bentos inside.
It’ll be great if I can find any clues to satisfy Hina’s hope, albeit a little…… That was what I originally thought.
“…… Have trouble sleeping?”
The one who arrived at the living room with deliberately light steps was Miu-chan.
“Nn~ Since I was busy completing reports, it seems like I’ve turned into a night owl.”
“Fufu! Lies.”
In a practiced way, Miu-chan flung her blonde hair and sat down by my side.
“Regarding the bento, I’m sorry that Onee-chan didn’t want to give in.”
“Eh? N- No, actually you don’t need to be so mindful of this, but…… Why is it, I wonder?”
“I probably know, but…… It’s not a reason that I can tell you about.”
“How can this be……”
“Hehe! You’re really lacking delicacy for always relying on people, Oji-san.”
As I really wasn’t sure of the situation, I truly didn’t know what to do. Just at that moment, Miu-chan lowered her head slightly.
“Oji-san, can I go over there a little?”
“Eh?”
Before I even had the time to ask her about it, Miu-chan leaned her head on my shoulder.
“M- M- M- Miu-chan?”
“…… Sometimes, I think that Hina is so blessed to have so many people worry for her.”
“Eh!? B- But I care about Miu-chan a lot as well, you know!?”
“Hehe! I know. I don’t mean that.”
After saying that, Miu-chan extended her hand and started to flip through the photo album on my thigh.
“Having such happy memories…… and liking her mother so much, Hina must be very happy.”
I couldn’t see Miu-chan’s expression. That moment, she might even be shedding tears.
“Even though those are memories from before three, I wonder why I can’t remember anything at all.”
Miu-chan’s lonely voice moved my heart.
“My mother left when I was three, and after that…… we lost contact. However, I didn’t really feel lonely. After all, I really couldn’t remember anything.”
I finally understood the reason for Miu-chan not having photos of her three year old Shichi-Go-San.
However, at that moment, I didn’t know what I could say to comfort her at all……
The next day, after I watched the three sisters leave as usual, I made a phone call to Oba-san.
“I have something to ask of you, Oba-san. I want to remake Nee-san’s bento.”
That was the result for my night-long thinking. I finally understood what sort of bento I should make for Hina.
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