Instead of watching what the new tenant next door was doing, Shinichi spent his afternoons between naps and reading.
The sunset was shining outside the window, and the summer sun was always hotter than at any other season.
"Alright, then I'll see you at the cram school entrance tomorrow."
The girls' voices came from the cell phones placed on the table and opened the group chat.
"Too bad the classrooms are different."
"After all, the subject I teach is science, Ricchan is liberal arts, and Asada-san is a general subject. It would be nice if we could meet before class and at lunch."
"When class is over. Even though the time is a bit short, if we have any questions after class, we should be able to ask Asada-san right away."
Shinichi closed his book, shook his head and replied: "This is very difficult. We have different times for class and out of class. If you want to ask a question, you should write down the question first, then go to a family restaurant or other place to communicate with each other when class is over. Discussion this way there is more time."
"So. Class ends tomorrow at 6pm, so let's have dinner there. Let me tell my dad first... Or should I just come to my house? I can treat udon!"
Rizu's voice looked forward to it.
"Okay, I also kinda miss the curry udon from Ricchan's house~ Mmmmm, just thinking about it makes my mouth water!" Fumino giggled.
Rizu said earnestly: "Recently, our family launched a new nameplate – the Whirlwind Typhoon Ogata Udon Accelerated Jet. Please come and try it. I can give you a discount."
"This, this name was Ricchan's idea..."
"Hah? Why does Fumino know..."
Shinichi put the novel [Love Must After Study] into the bookshelf, and stretched.
At this time, there was a sudden knock on the door.
"Come down to eat."
Shinichi asked suspiciously.
"Have you ordered takeout yet?"
"I did. The contract says that the kitchen can be used. I was bored, so I made dinner first. Come down if you want to eat."
After Rui finished speaking, she went downstairs without minding the answer.
"She's tired of making dinner...?"
Shinichi looked at the door. This girl, if she spoke well, she wouldn't make people feel uncomfortable.
But had he really seen her before? A very unique person, he must not forget after seeing her...
Six years ago...
Shinichi felt his head starting to hurt again, he stopped thinking about it, picked up the phone on the table,
"Sorry, I'm going to have dinner, you guys talk to yourself."
The conversation stopped at some point, and the two fell silent.
As Shinichi wonders if the call was cut off by mistake, Fumino asks a tentative question.
"Asada-san, that was…"
"The cousin who came to play, from my mother's side."
Shinichi doesn't hide anything, he just tells the truth.
After that, he seemed to hear the sound of the two sighing in relief, and the atmosphere heated up again.
"I didn't expect Shinichi-san to have a cousin. It felt like brother and sister would come to play at home. Would have been nice..."
Maybe because she remembered the scene where she could play a board game with her relatives, Rizu was envious
"Although I also have cousins, I haven't seen each other in several years. I always feel like I don't have one!"
Fumino spoke cheerfully, belittling her relative with the most innocent laugh.
"Wait, then... Asada-san, why don't we go to your house together next time. Say hello to your cousin, and stop by Aunt Kazumi!"
Rizu immediately agreed: "I agree, Shinichi-san's cousin should be a junior high school student or elementary school student, right? Please let me go and play around with it."
"Rizu, have you bullied the children..." Shinichi sighed, "My parents are overseas now, even if you come, you still won't be able to meet."
He exited the group call and put his phone back in his pocket.
Then he went down, and the smell of food permeated the room. He went into the living room and saw that there were five plates of home cooking on the dining table, three bowls filled with white rice, and the two Tachibana sisters already sitting at the dining table and looking at him as he walked.
Seeing that sight, Shinichi sat down on the chair next to Rui. Compared to mature women, this kind of immature girl made him more relaxed.
"Sorry to bother you two."
"Mu~ Shinichi-kun, didn't you say don't use honorifics when speaking, and don't be too polite!"
Hina pretends to be angry.
"Forget it~ After all, it was sudden, and it's really hard to change it."
Then she lifted a can of beer with a smile, and said boldly.
"Then, in order to celebrate the three cousins who finally had the honor of reuniting today since we separated six years ago, we also hope that we can get along well and make good memories of each other in the future. About a month, let's-"
"Cheers!!"
After finishing speaking, Hina drank half a can of beer. Two blushes appeared on her pretty face, and she put the bottle down on the table.
"Nice~ cold~ ah~"
"Sorry, I forgot you can't drink alcohol, so you can't make a toast~ Do you want me to pour you a drink? I went to the supermarket to buy a lot of things in the afternoon and came back!"
The two fell silent while shaking their heads in unison.
Rui took the chopsticks, lowered her head and said softly.
"Sorry, I let you see Hina Nee-san's embarrassing appearance. She actually quite human on the outside."
"Maybe she will be more indulgent in front of the family…"
Averting his gaze from Hina, Shinichi raised his chopsticks, clasping his hands together.
"Ittadakimasu."
The two consonant sounds came out, and they looked at each other in surprise, then stretched out their chopsticks towards the fried chicken.
There was the sound of chopsticks colliding.
But Shinichi turned his wrist in time, and before that, he shifted his target from the fried chicken to the Tamagoyaki next to him, and stuffed it into the bowl, perfectly avoiding the embarrassment of coordinating his movements.
Rui also took the fried chicken back, and turned to look at him.
Suddenly a laugh burst out, and the corner of her mouth that had been calm all this time, and her expression relaxed slightly.
"What are you laughing at?"
"There isn't anything."
Shinichi has a feeling of being slighted that can't be explained, but since she "cooks dinner out of boredom" and makes it delicious, he doesn't mind it.
"Aiya~"
Shaking the beer bottle in her hand, Hina smiled happily when she saw them.
The atmosphere between them had changed from before, giving off an unexpected feeling. After all, they were cousins who had played together some time before, and the feeling of going back in time would soon become familiar.
(Well... Looks like there's no need to worry about fighting, relationships are better than anything!)
Thinking of this, she felt happy, and she took a few sips of beer.
Rui gave her a cold glare.
"Hina Nee-san, don't drink. If you don't eat anymore, I'll throw all the beer in the fridge."
"Wait! Don't do this, it is my blood, my living water! I'm going to eat Rui's super delicious dinner soon, beg your pardon!"
△
After the sumptuous dinner, even though Shinichi and Rui looked quiet, under Hina's harmony and smile, the atmosphere in the living room was much more relaxed.
Shinichi put the dishes in the dishwasher, then went upstairs again, planning to start preparing stuff for tomorrow's cram school.
Shortly thereafter, there was another knock on the door.
Rui stood outside the door, and said quietly to him in the room.
"I have something I want to talk to you about, can you let me in?"