Chapter 22: Ice Tea
Life's intricacies weighed on Yuuta's mind as he contemplated whether he should wait outside while the two sisters, Sora and Miu, took their showers. Inside the room, there was no appropriate place for him to avert his gaze.
He faced forward, glimpsing the two girls as they changed, and when he looked backward, he saw their silhouettes reflected on the glass window. Despite curtains providing some privacy, their vulnerability was palpable, even though they trusted Yuuta implicitly.
However, trustworthiness alone wasn't sufficient; maintaining their sense of security while changing was paramount.
"Hina, you're the best," Yuuta whispered, cradling Hina. He cherished her thoughtfulness and affection.
Yet, Hina was utterly exhausted. After a meager meal, she had drifted off to sleep, and it was clear she needed rest. Gently, Yuuta placed her on the floor, clearing space by moving the table and other items aside to create a comfortable sleeping area for her.
With Sora and Miu occupied in the bathroom, and no reprimands emanating from behind the curtain, Yuuta checked the time and realized it was already bedtime for the children. Hina might not be in deep slumber yet, so he began preparing her resting place.
The room's temperature seemed suitable, leading him to forgo bathing. Instead, Yuuta headed to the kitchen, filled a basin with water, and used a towel to freshen up Hina's hands and feet, eliminating the need for a full bath.
Yuuta had no intention of waking Hina, but his actions had stirred her from slumber.
Hina, her eyes wide open, gazed at Yuuta. After a few seconds of blinking, she cutely exclaimed, "I need to pee!"
Seeing Hina awaken, Yuuta sighed, "Alright, Hina, go on inside yourself. Your big sisters will help you, okay?"
"Okay~" Hina obediently agreed and got up, heading for the bathroom. As she went, she called out, "Big sisters, open the door, I need to pee!"
Sora and Miu were in the midst of their showers. Upon hearing Hina's voice, they urgently responded, "Wait a moment!"
"Big brother! Don't peek over here!"
"Uncle! Don't let people make comments like that!"
Yuuta, now on the balcony admiring the night view, was exasperated. "I'm already outside! Hurry up and finish washing, don't overthink things! I'm not interested in you guys!"
Sora, hurt and angry, shouted loudly, "Uncle is a big dummy!"
Miu joined in scolding, "Big brother, how could you say such things to girls?!"
"I really have to pee! I can't hold it anymore!" Hina, still at an age where bedwetting was possible, grew impatient and started to cry.
Seated on the balcony, Yuuta listened helplessly to the turmoil and accusations unfolding inside the room.
"What did I say wrong?" Yuuta couldn't fathom why his words had upset Sora so much.
Due to an unintentional comment, Sora harbored deep anger towards Yuuta.
In the early morning, the modest apartment resonated with the piercing voices of elementary school students.
Yuuta had simply intended to enter the room that served as both a bathroom and a place to wash his face. After all, washing one's face upon waking up was a perfectly ordinary routine, wasn't it?
However, Yuuta's straightforward intention had led to a scolding from a blonde twin-tailed girl whose height barely reached his chest, and who was currently glaring at him.
Her lustrous golden hair likely descended from her mother, and it gave her the appearance of an idol-level beauty. If people had to pay to witness this irate countenance, they'd probably amass a fortune.
But when it came to family members, it was a different story, illustrating the complexities of dealing with a ten-year-old girl.
"I've already told you, haven't I? Boys can't use the bathroom immediately after girls. Please show more consideration for the etiquette expected of a young man!"
Miu, who was typically kind and easygoing, had assumed the same strictness as Sora today.
Yuuta, being cautious, responded, "I only wanted to wash my face."
"Can't you wait for a bit?" Miu gestured with her hands, blocking Yuuta's path to the bathroom, showing no empathy for his predicament.
As Yuuta glanced at Miu and the equally irate Sora, he couldn't help but feel that his standing in this family was steadily diminishing.
"Alright, I can manage not washing my face in the bathroom, or I can do it in the kitchen. However, I believe there's something we should discuss," Yuuta stated with a serious look, directing his attention to Miu. "Let's talk about my... restroom situation. Going to the convenience store eight hundred meters away every time is just too inconvenient."
Witnessing Yuuta bring up this topic so openly left Miu and Sora in shock.
How could he broach such a subject with girls?
Show some decency!!!!
Yuuta had been enduring this dilemma for a few days, and he was growing tired of the constant trips to a restroom eight hundred meters away. It was summer, a season known for increased restroom visits!
Each restroom excursion entailed a one-thousand-six-hundred-meter round trip. Doing this countless times a day was a test no man should have to endure.
It wasn't that he couldn't use the bathroom at home; he just had to wait for an hour after the girls had used it. But girls frequented the restroom more often than boys, and before the hour was up, they'd go again. If he attempted to use the restroom at home, Yuuta felt he might explode.
He had intended to tough it out, but realizing that even his right to wash his face was being postponed pushed Yuuta to his limit.
"I've come up with a plan. I'll endure and not use the restroom. I'll just find a big bottle to handle it."
While Sora was sipping her drink, she suddenly detected something odd in her iced tea. Reluctant to venture to the convenience store, they had opted for the large bottled iced tea...
"Ahhhh!"
Unaware of the situation, Yuuta ended up drenched by the spilled beverage.
Sora made a solemn vow to never touch iced tea again in her life!