The old lady froze for a mont. Yuigahama, quickly returning to normal, set down her teacup and accepted the ga controller as if flattered.
"Th-thanks... But it’s my first ti playing this ga. Won’t I hold you guys back...?"
"What a coincidence."
Rarely, Sora smiled at her with a hint of pride.
"This ga is just like that. It’s no fun if no one’s holding you back."
(So she’s looking for soone to be the weakest link and increase the ga’s difficulty.)
Realizing this, Yuigahama gained confidence. She imdiately said with enthusiasm, "Great! Then I’ll show you just how bad I am! This isn’t bragging, but I rarely ever win at gas!"
"That’s not sothing to brag about..."
The winter sunlight filtered through the sheer white curtains, scattering pale golden fringes across the tidy living room.
With different feelings, the three-person kitchen team’s battle officially began at that mont—
But not long after.
"Shrimp! Hurry and give the shrimp! Stop using rice!"
"Shrimp, shrimp, shrimp, shrimp... Where’s the shrimp! How do I prepare it?!"
"It’s in the box next to it, then press the A button in front of the pan. Didn’t I just teach you? Hurry, ti’s almost up!"
"Sora-chan, I’m done! Rember to take it over there~"
"As expected of Yuu... No, you idiot Yuu! If you have ti to wander around, help teach your friend! Why’s it gotta be ?!"
"Oops, I’ve got other stuff to handle. Keep it up, Sora~"
"Nice! Sora-chan, I’ve got it done! Now I’ll pass the plate... Ahhh, what if the stuff falls into the water?! I have to remake it!"
"...Big chest, no brain."
"That’s so an!?"
"Indeed, big chest, no brain. Emotions can’t be equated with IQ..."
"Even Yuu-kun’s saying it! You siblings are too cruel, sob..."
"I knew you were bad, but I didn’t think you’d be this bad... My stomach hurts."
From noon to afternoon, Yuu’s house was filled with chaos. The desperate roars of the little girl and the panicked wails of the teenage girl mingled, occasionally interspersed with the light, pleasant laughter of the teenage boy.
After struggling to earn three stars in three levels, the ga controller fell to the floor helplessly. Sora collapsed exhausted onto Yuu’s lap, her gaze vacant as she stared at the ceiling.
"I didn’t expect playing a ga with a newbie could cause this much physical and ntal damage... Good thing I don’t play online gas."
Sneering in frustration, Yuigahama said weakly, "I got better toward the end... Besides, Sora-chan, you said not to worry about being bad and just follow orders... I tried my best!"
"Alright, I was too naive back then." Sora sighed. She seed too lazy to say anything more, rolling over like a lazy cat.
As she rolled, her face ended up right in front of Yuu’s stomach.
Her body stiffened slightly. Her nose seed to catch a scent. Her pale ears turned red instantly, but she didn’t intend to move away. She only shifted her head as if nothing happened, getting even closer.
Before her entire face buried itself in his stomach, Yuu pushed Sora off and stood up.
"It’s getting late. I’ll walk you ho."
"No need! It’s close, I can go back on my own."
While refusing, Yuigahama neatly placed the ga controller on the table. She grabbed her jacket and bag from the side.
However, the suitcase she hadn’t had ti to take ho was already picked up by Yuu.
"It’s almost dark. Better be safe."
Without giving Yuigahama room to refuse, Yuu nodded to his sister and pulled her suitcase outside.
"Ah, wait for ..." Just as she was about to follow, Yuigahama paused, unable to resist looking at Sora, who was tidying up and turning off the ga on the sofa.
After hesitating, she still spoke to her: "Um, Sora-chan."
"What?"
"Next ti, can I co over to play again?"
"..."
Her movents halted mid-action. Sora fell silent.
She seed to be weighing the pros and cons or guessing Yuigahama’s true intentions. Her small, pale face showed no expression. Her glance briefly landed on Yuigahama’s ample chest before she quickly looked away in disdain.
"Only if it’s for playing gas."
Saying that, Sora turned her back, tidying the items on the table.
"...Okay!"
The corners of Yuigahama’s mouth couldn’t help but curl into a smile. She waved cheerfully. Even though Sora wasn’t looking, she still said brightly:
"Then next ti, let’s play Overcooked again!"
Sora imdiately refused: "No. Pick a different ga."
"Eh? Why?"
"I just recovered. I don’t want to get sick again from being too annoyed."
"I-It’s not that bad..."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
After leaving the Tenkuji residence, on the way to Yuigahama’s house, the lancholic singing of a sweet potato vendor echoed.
Crows perched on utility poles. People walked slowly to their own lodies. Though no one was in a rush, in an instant, they vanished into another scene.
Under the sunset, the street clearly separated their two shadows.
"Congratulations. You’ve achieved a milestone: coming to my house and playing gas with my little sister—the number one legendary achievent worldwide."
Walking slowly in step with the girl, Yuu teased her with a laugh. His dark eyes were tinged with half the hue of the sunset.
"Legendary, my foot. Who even wants an achievent like that? So conceited." Yuigahama wrinkled her nose, complaining. But she couldn’t hold back her laughter. Her steps beca more spirited.
"But for , this kind of experience is a first too, you know? Even though Sora-chan chewed out during the ga, by the end, I felt like we really beca friends! Even though she’s younger than ..."
"Don’t mind it too much. As long as you’re happy, isn’t that enough?" Yuu patted her dango-styled hair. He smiled, squinting. "Thanks a lot for playing gas with my troubleso little sister... I hope she didn’t give you too much trouble."
"Of course not. If anything, I should be thanking you guys."
Yuigahama smiled and shook her head. She looked at the footprints walking in sync with hers. Her voice was soft: "This was originally just my selfish wish... After getting such an unexpected outco, how could I accept thanks from you?"
Yuu fell silent. He let her words drift with the wind, not holding them back.
"...Next ti, can I co over again?"
Facing Yuigahama’s hesitant gaze, Yuu pondered for a mont, as if observing sothing.
"If there’s ti, letting Sora talk more with people other than is a good thing."
"Pfft." Yuigahama squinted her crescent-shaped eyes and chuckled softly. "Sotis, you siblings talk in the sa stiff way~"
"I don’t think so." Yuu shrugged, speaking casually. "That kind of stiff tsundere character is outdated. I’m , a firework whose character can’t be pinned down."
Yuigahama stuck out her tongue: "Bleh~ I don’t get what you’re saying."
"Then give so of your chest to Yukinoshita."
Her face flushed, and Yuigahama covered her chest. "Pervert! I’m telling Yukinon!"
"Go ahead." The corners of Yuu’s mouth curved into a mischievous smile. His steps unconsciously quickened. "I’m curious what theory she’ll co up with to prove to that chest size has nothing to do with intelligence."
"Ugh, Yuu-kun, you’re hopeless..." While muttering complaints, Yuigahama looked at his back. She slowly lowered her hands from her chest. Taking a deep breath, she wanted to say sothing.
(What he’s thinking, whether he can keep liking her like this, if he’d go on a date with her, or who he likes more between her and Yukinon...)
There were so many things she wanted to ask him. So many things she wanted to tell him that this one street wasn’t enough.
But as she opened her mouth, before any sound ca out, the boy in front of her turned around.
With a faint smile on his face, standing at the edge of the sunset-lit street, he and Yuigahama locked eyes.
"Yui."
"Yuu-kun...?"
The sunset began to fade. The stars of the night started to appear.
At that mont, Yuigahama suddenly understood—
What Yukino and Sora ant by that deeply sad expression.
"Right now, do you still like , the sa as you did three years ago?"
Yuu asked calmly.
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