CH 37

(POV Chiharu)

At this moment, I found myself overflowing with happiness, for I had been bestowed with cookies from my cute sisters. Deep within my heart, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards Onii-san, who created such an opportunity for me.

We joyously exchanged and enjoyed the delicious cookies, evoking a sensation of pure bliss on my heart. It dawned on me that the handmade cookies from my sisters surpassed the allure of any extravagant and costly sweets.

During our time at school, when Chiaki and I presented Sakura-san with the cookies, she was extremely delighted. The way she actually gave out a manly response, saying she would return the favor on White Day, was quite cool.

Also, some boys feigned disinterest, but in the end, it turned out they were hoping for something until the end. Nishino’s attempt to talk to Chiaki had no effect whatsoever.

Perhaps, if he displayed the same kindness as Onii-san in our everyday interactions, there might have been a glimmer of hope…

No, even then, it’s probably impossible.

“Today’s four o’clock drama is a guy in a locked room…”

“I have so many leftover cookies to eat as snacks.”

While nestled in the kotatsu in the living room, we indulged in the leftover cookies made for Valentine’s Day. They were shaped like hearts, stars, and lots of other shapes.

Chinatsu and Chiaki also enjoyed the cookies while watching the drama. Their hands reached out, one after another, towards the cookies on the plate. On the other hand, Chifuyu held a heart-shaped cookie in her hand, gazing at it without taking a bite. Her expression suggested a hint of discontent, but it wasn’t to the extent of complete resignation.

Come to think of it, she presented Onii-san with cookies adorned with heart-shaped icing.

He did express his happiness, but it wasn’t the reaction Chifuyu was hoping for. It wasn’t the fluttery, dream-like response associated with romance; rather, it was a reaction based on the love and bond between a father and his daughter.

She felt a mix of complexity and acceptance in that realization. The dynamic between being a child and an adult, the underlying foundation of being father and daughter—Chifuyu understood it well.

It was challenging. If she acted rashly, it could inconvenience Onii-san and even disrupt the peaceful relationship between father and daughter.

Therefore, she had no choice but to tread carefully within the boundaries she deemed necessary.

Chifuyu puts an unadorned cookie in her mouth. She only had one, and then she simply focused her attention on the drama.

As time passed, like usual, Onii-san returned home. Chiaki was the first to greet him, followed by Chifuyu.

I and Chinatsu followed after them.

“Ohh, there are so many. Kaito is quite popular.” Chiaki said.

Onii-san had a bag full of Valentine’s presents. Chiaki was surprised; Chinatsu was also surprised; as for me, I always thought Onii-san was a good person, but I was quite surprised at how popular he turned out to be; on the other hand, Chifuyu had a slightly jealous expression. Well, not just slightly, but rather quite jealous and worried.

“No, these are not for me; they’re for Chiaki and the others. I’m not popular at all, and if anyone is popular, then… well, never mind. The ones that I received—and that really counts—I got them from Chiharu, Chinatsu, Chiaki, and Chifuyu.”

“Oh, lucky us!”

“We’ll all eat together. There are chocolates, cookies, eclairs, and various other things, but be careful not to eat too much or you might get a nosebleed.”

“Yes!”

Chiaki received the bag and returned to the living room. Onii-san seemed conflicted by the fact that he received a lot of gifts despite not being popular, but he quickly brightened up.

“T-tha’s a relief…”

Chifuyu let out a sigh of relief, taking a moment to catch her breath. Perhaps she was glad that there were no rivals, but her expression turned somber again. …Maybe it was because she had written a letter.

She wrote the letter in secret, so I didn’t know the content inside. However, I knew that a heart-shaped sticker was affixed to the envelope. It was a pure and strong feeling, not playful at all. So I had to admit it. Chifuyu was indeed in love.

But she never ended up giving that letter expressing her feelings to Onii-san. She must have known the outcome without having to wait for a response.

I think Valentine’s Day is more about conveying feelings than giving presents. However, Chifuyu sealed away the letter because she didn’t feel any meaning in expressing it. Even if she did, nothing would change.

I didn’t know what to say in this situation, so I ended up pretending not to notice. There was also my interpretation of it: that Chifuyu wanted to keep her act of writing the letter a secret.

I didn’t know if it was appropriate for me to intervene. After all, love is a sensitive matter.

Also…I couldn’t help but think that the possibility of her feelings being reciprocated was very low.

The third semester have come to an end, and spring break has arrived. The cold was gradually easing, but the kotatsu still needs to play its role a little longer. With the break starting, I was preparing for a gourmet trip to Hokkaido, just as I promised the girls.

I was packing clothes, like pants, into a suitcase. In addition, I was putting things like tissues and disinfectant wipes in a handheld bag with the idea that they might come in handy somewhere.

By now, I think the four of them were also preparing. I thought about offering to help, but there might be things they don’t want me to see, like their clothes. It’s better to keep some distance, or I might end up being disliked.

Besides, there’s a certain enjoyment in preparing for the trip by yourself.

Speaking of which, when I asked about whether everyone knew we were going to Hokkaido, they all just smiled delightfully in response, but it seemed that only Chiaki knew. Chiaki, didn’t you say that you discussed with everyone where they wanted to travel?

……Well, it’s fine, I guess.

◆◆

(POV Chiharu)

It is a common occurrence to say that when there is something exciting to look forward to, one cannot sleep at night. It’s no wonder that one’s mind is filled with thoughts of tomorrow while lying in bed, making it impossible to fall asleep.

This phenomenon was particularly evident during Christmas, when my excitement reached its peak. It felt as if adrenaline was surging through my veins, resembling a rushing river.

“Ehehe, I wonder what I should eat tomorrow.”

“Aki, because of you, I’ve been restless and unable to sleep.”

“Well, well, Nastu-nee. We’re all in the same boat when it comes to sleepling.” Chifuyu said.

Chiaki, Chinatsu, and Chifuyu—none of them could sleep. As their older sister, I’ll sing them a lullaby. With them resting their heads on my lap.

“Well then, I’ll give you a lullaby with a lap pillow. Come on, everyone, rest your heads.”

“Three of us won’t fit. Besides, I’ll pass.” Chinatsu said.

“Chifuyu too.”

“Ah, h-how come… jajaja jaaaan!”

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 “Fate” started playing in my mind, or rather, I unintentionally blurted it out loud.

“Come one, did you really have to say it out loud?” Chinatsu reacted

“Chifuyu was actually thinking of making that retort (Tsukkomi).” Chifuyu added

Chinatsu and Chifuyu skillfully delivered precise retorts (Tsukkomi) while engaging in a lively exchange.

In fact, the symphony of fate I just blurted out was completely intentional, meticulously and fatefully chosen for the purpose of connecting with my siblings.

And Chiaki seamlessly chimed in, perfectly synchronized with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, “Fate.”

“Jaja jaja jajaan!”

Chiaki joins in. I knew it, I knew Chiaki would join in.

“Jaja jaja jajaan!”

“Jaja jaja jajaan!”

“Te-re-re-re”

“Te-re-re-re”

“”Jaan jaan jajaan!””

Occasionally, I find myself wishing to engage in these mysterious forms of communication. Even though I don’t quite understand it, I create a certain atmosphere or flow that follows a particular line. It’s actually quite enjoyable. Thank you, Chiaki.

“Huh? What are you guys even doing?”

(POV Kaito)

“Alright, first, let’s head to Haneda airport by car.”

“Ohhhh!” Chiaki exclaimed.

“Onii-san, please take care of us.” Chiharu said.

“Kaito-san, we’re counting on you.” Chifuyu added.

“Please take care of me,” Chinatsu said.

The four of them climbed into the car, with Chinatsu, Chiaki, and Chifuyu settling in the back, and Chiharu taking the passenger seat. Without wasting any time, we embarked towards Haneda Airport. I had already made parking reservations, and our flight arrangements were perfectly in order, leaving us fully prepared for our departure.

As the car started moving, Chiaki, who appeared in my rearview mirror, yawned sleepily. Given the early morning departure, it was no surprise that she was still groggy.

… Perhaps I should let her know that she can sleep if she wants to.

“If you’re sleepy, you can go ahead and sleep.”

“Hmm, then… I want to sleep.” Chiaki said.

“Go ahead.”

“Are you sure it’s okay to sleep when Kaito is taking us there?” Chiaki asked.

“It’s fine. I’ll sleep on the plane.”

“Okay, thanks… zzz.”

She fell asleep so quickly.

“It’s okay for Chinatsu, Chiharu, and Chifuyu to sleep too,” I said.

“…In that case, I’ll take you up on that offer,” Chinatsu replied.

“Chifuyu will stay awake,” Chifuyu said.

“I’ll stay awake too,” Chiharu added.

“Eh? In that case, me too…” 

Chinatsu had intended to sleep, but upon hearing that Chiharu and Chifuyu would still be awake, she felt compelled to stay awake as well.