By the time he organized Yuuka's clothes, it was already noon.
Going downstairs, he saw no sign of Otome or Rinka in the living room, indicating they had gone home for lunch.
With Otome's parents back, it wasn't appropriate for her to linger at Sasaki's house like she did as a child.
Especially with Aunt Kyouka moving in today.
If Otome and Rinka stayed for lunch, it would make Otome's parents feel like they were imposing, which was very rude.
So, not seeing her downstairs didn't surprise Sasaki.
After taking a glance at Aunt Kyouka and Sister Koharu, who were busy cooking together,
He turned back, meeting a pair of emerald-green eyes looking at him.
But after a brief second, those eyes casually looked away.
Time to play dumb.
Sasaki, looking unfazed, walked over and leaned back on the sofa, groaning:
"I'm exhausted~"
Crunch~
Slender, white fingers, delicate as green onions, picked up a chip coated in red chili powder and placed it into soft cherry-pink lips, producing a satisfying crunch that made one's mouth water.
After finishing the chip, Yuuka frowned, casting a displeased glance at Sasaki, who showed no sign of embarrassment:
"All you did was organize some clothes, and you're acting like it was such a chore."
"You should know, at school, boys would be begging for a chance to help me with my clothes~"
After speaking, she gently tapped his leg with her foot wrapped in black silk stockings.
"Ungrateful!"
Even though Sasaki was wearing black knee-length shorts, he had deliberately pulled up his shorts a bit before sitting down on the sofa to show off his muscular thighs, emphasizing his exhaustion.
As a result, when her silk-clad foot stepped on his thigh, the soft and smooth feeling was quite intense.
Looking down at the foot resting on the side of his thigh, Sasaki noticed the skin was as white and smooth as the finest jade, resembling pure, untouched snow.
With the aroma of food wafting from the kitchen, the foot seemed like a freshly baked soft white cake adorned with delicate pink fruit slices.
The black stockings encasing it were like a drizzle of chocolate, making it even more enticing.
Having skipped breakfast, Sasaki felt his hunger cloud his mind…
Lying back on the sofa, he called out towards the kitchen:
"Aunt Kyouka, Sister Koharu, I'm hungry! Food, please~"
"Fuyumi is hungry? The meal will be ready soon, just wait a bit~"
"Hang in there a little longer, Fuyumi~"
"Okay~"
Ignoring Sasaki's plea, Yuuka's delicate black eyebrows arched high like a seesaw, and she applied more pressure with her foot:
"You're getting bold, ignoring me like this..it seems yours wings are getting larger and larger!"
It wasn't just his wings that were getting larger...
Unable to reveal the real reason, Sasaki didn't dwell on it and changed the subject.
"By the way, Sister Yuuka, do you have a boyfriend?"
"A boyfriend?"
Ready to scold him, Yuuka was taken aback by his sudden question and softly murmured in surprise before shaking her head:
"Of course not, I don't have a boyfriend."
"Really?"
Sasaki, with innocent eyes, looked at the girl, who denied it and said in a doubtful tone:
"But the clothes in your suitcase…"
"Aren't those the kind you'd wear for a boyfriend?"
Crunch, crunch—
The bag of chips in her hand crinkled loudly as Yuuka clenched it, the sound of chips being crushed echoed as she glared at Sasaki with a look of intense frustration.
'This idiot! Dummy! Jerk! So annoying!'
Staring at the boy with eyes that seemed to pierce like needles, she found his clueless expression infuriating.
Feeling her anger rise as she looked at him, her chest heaved as she threw the crumpled bag of chips at Sasaki and stormed towards the stairs without looking back.
She was afraid she might lose control and hit Sasaki with a pillow.
This!
Hopeless dullard!
Tachibana Kyouka, who was wearing a light yellow apron and gloves, ready to serve the meal, noticed her daughter's angry retreat and curiously asked:
"Yuuka, are you going upstairs? The meal is ready~"
"Not eating! I'm too angry!"
"Angry?"
Tilting her head, Kyouka glanced at Sasaki, who was holding the wrinkled chip bag, and understood her daughter was throwing a tantrum again.
This was something she had already anticipated before moving in.
Because whenever Sasaki and Yuuka were together, she would inexplicably get mad a few times.
But it was always a brief sulk, so Kyouka treated it as children's play.
Placing the dishes on the table, she waved at Sasaki, who was still on the sofa:
"Fuyumi, wash your hands and come eat."
"Okay."
At the dining table,
Sasaki, who was being "ignored," ate his lunch like a well-mannered student.
Koharu, naturally quiet and gentle, remained silent unless there was something significant to discuss.
Their silence made Kyouka, who was trying to foster conversation, feel a bit awkward.
Last time, when she had brought Sasaki home, his behavior showed a level of attachment.
And this morning, his gentle concern while moving things had stirred her emotions like pebbles thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.
These ripples lingered, affecting her heartstrings.
But the one who caused these ripples showed no intention of taking responsibility for his actions, treating it as a casual act.
Ideally, a mature elder sister, having experienced much, should have a strong psychological defense, like solid ice, unbreakable.
And indeed, this was true.
This was evident from Kyouka raising her daughters without seeking a partner; for over a decade, no one had broken through the ice protecting her heart.
Having consistently rejected suitors, she had never experienced male attention.
But Sasaki, this guy who she had never been on guard against, would occasional show attention, the attention from opposite sex that had long been vague to her.
Although she categorized his care as familial affection, she wasn't a naive girl so, how could she not feel the difference?
That was what she originally thought.
After all, even though her age was not young, her appearance, thanks to fate's favor, was not much different from a young woman in her twenties.
Coupled with her refined aura from years of experience, attracting young men's attention didn't surprise her.
But seeing that he had been well-behaved and serious until now except for his unusual behavior when they met in the morning, she couldn't help but waver in her thoughts.
Perhaps she really was overthinking it…
After finishing lunch in silence, Sasaki returned to his room to continue his unfinished writing.
Outside, the bright and somewhat scorching sunlight was blocked by thick curtains, making him lose track of time.
When the breeze, no longer hot, blew into the dim room, he typed the final word, moved his hands away from the keyboard, and stretched.
When focused on something, time always flies by quickly.
Glancing at his phone, Sasaki realized he had spent the entire afternoon sitting.
Taking a sip of the drink Aunt Kyouka had brought him earlier, he stretched his stiff neck, stood up, and walked to the wardrobe to find clothes to wear for the upcoming mixer with Sister Yuuka.
Even though he wasn't keen on such mixers, showing up in half-sleeves and shorts to dinner with her classmates would be inappropriate.
He chose a white undershirt with red letters, a large dark gray shirt over it, loose black trousers, and white sneakers.
Dressed neatly, Sasaki adjusted his hair in the mirror on the wardrobe.
Click—
Hearing the door open without any knock, he knew exactly who it was based on the family's usual attitude towards him.
Continuing to adjust his hair, Sasaki expressed his mild dissatisfaction with a suggestion.
"Sister Yuuka, could you at least knock before coming in next time?"
Yuuka, with her arms crossed over her ample chest and her tall body leaning against the door frame, looked at Sasaki as he tidied himself up, her face devoid of expression.
She seemed still upset about the incident at noon, but the slight twitch of her lips revealed her true feelings.
Ignoring the boy's disgruntled question, she glanced towards his bed:
"What's the matter? Has little Sasaki grown up and now wants privacy? Or are you afraid I'll catch you doing something you shouldn't be?"
Though he showed no sign of guilt, Sasaki no longer wanted to stand by the wardrobe.
Turning his head and meeting her teasing gaze, he nonchalantly rolled his eyes at her:
"I told you before, the manga you saw belongs to my friend. I didn't buy it."
Yuuka, wearing light blue denim shorts and long legs wrapped in glossy black silk stockings, walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, crossing her long, shapely legs.
Resting her slender arm on her legs and propping her chin, she looked at Sasaki with a smile:
"Uh-huh~ if you say so. I didn't say anything about it, did I?"