CH 49

(TN: Sorry I made a mistake in last chapter, Chinatsu didn’t say that Kaito was preparing cheese, but she said he was going to make sushi with them. The reason I made this mistake is because chinatsu literally called sushi, “Shi-su” prompting me to think she said cheese but actually Shi-su does mean sushi and some Japanese people would say it in that way. If you didn’t find this mistake it means I corrected it before you reached this chapter)

(POV Chinatsu)

On our day off, we wore our aprons, ensuring our hands were thoroughly washed with soap as we eagerly prepared to cook.

“Fufufu, it’s cooking master Chiaki’s turn!”

“Aki-nee, please stay still. I haven’t tied your triangular hair scarf yet…”

Fuyu, the youngest sister, was diligently securing Aki’s hair scarf. Although she looked childish, I couldn’t say anything because I myself had my older sister, Haru, tie my hair scarf.

“It’s done,” Haru said.

“Mmm… thanks,”

“…Now that I see you in this attire, all of my sisters look incredibly cute,” Haru said.

Is that so…”

“It’s the truth!” Haru insisted.

“Well, even if that were true… I can’t help but sigh at how much of a siscon you are,”

“It’s perfectly fine to be a siscon. I mean, just look at how adorable you all are.”

“I think you should be a bit stricter, though…” 

Even though Haru was cute herself, she never acknowledged it, almost as if she had little interest in herself. She always focused on us, her sisters, as if we were her entire world.

“No, it’s just that you’re so incredibly cute, it’s unavoidable to think so. And you all look great in aprons too. For all these reasons, Chiharu Japan is wholeheartedly supporting this activity,” Haru said.

“Come on… What are you even saying?” 

“I thought I’d show off my mischievous sister side to gain some favorability,” Haru added.

“I see…”

She looked at me with a slightly smug expression, as if to say, “How about that? Wasn’t that funny?”

To be honest, I didn’t find it very amusing.

“Anyway, shouldn’t we head downstairs soon? Kaito-san has been preparing everything to make sushi,” I suggested.

“You’re right.”

We descended downstairs, still dressed in our aprons. As we entered the room, most of the preparations had already been completed. On the table, there were bowls of seasoned rice and various ingredients neatly arranged on small plates—salmon roe, sausages, eggs, seaweed, cucumber, and tuna.

So, it was going to be a hand-rolled sushi style. Everything was already sliced, and all we had to do was wrap them up… Did we really need to wear aprons for this?

Well, I guess he considered all kinds of safety measures.

“Kaito! We don’t have anything left to do!” Aki called out.

“Sorry about that. Handling fire and knives will have to wait until you’re a bit older. For today, just roll and enjoy eating,” Kaito-san replied.

“Hmm… I wanted to cook more…” Aki murmured disappointedly.

“I’m sorry. But even rolling is a legitimate form of cooking,” 

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, it is.”

“I see!”

She’s so simple-minded… I wonder if it’s intentional or if she’s just naturally like that. Sometimes, I can’t tell with Aki.

“Um, Kaito-san, how does Chifuyu look in this attire…?” Fuyu asked.

“…It looks good on you,” he replied.

“T-Thank you…”

“Well, um… just eat whatever you like,”

Why was Fuyu blushing? I didn’t quite understand.

Following Kaito-san’s words, Fuyu, my younger sister, happily picked up a sheet of seaweed and placed the ingredients on top. Folloing her was Aki.

After Aki, it was my turn. I carefully layered sushi rice, eggs, salmon roe, sausages, and various other toppings on top of the seaweed. However, I ended up with too many ingredients, making it impossible to roll.

“Heh, you’re terrible at this,” Aki teased.

“And what about you, who’s just eating the salmon roe directly with a spoon?” I retorted.

Aki disregarded the rules altogether and started eating. She grabbed a sausage with her chopsticks and ate it directly, or scooped sushi rice into a bowl, topped it with salmon roe, soy sauce, and devoured it in one bite.

Even though it was supposed to be a lesson in making hand-rolled sushi, she was behaving like a lawless rebel.

“K-kaito-san, is it… Is it okay like this?” Chifuyu asked.

“Yeah… It’s good,” he replied.

And why is Fuyu asking Kaito-san so much? I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion, but I decided not to dwell on it. There must be something going on that I don’t understand.

After finishing one of my own original sushi rolls, I looked at the ingredients, wondering what kind of roll I should make next.

Aki had eaten too much salmon roe, and there was not much left. Next, I decided to put some salmon roe… hehe, this is fun.

“Chinatsu?”

“Hmm?”

“This is fun, isn’t it?”

“…Yes, it is.”

It seemed that Haru felt the same way. I did too. It was enjoyable. My heart warmed, and a smile naturally spread across my face.

I placed rice and salmon roe on a sheet of seaweed, rolled it up, and took a bite.

It was delicious…

◆◆

(POV Chiharu)

After our session of hand-rolled sushi cooking practice, the five of us gathered together, enjoying some TV and engaging in lively conversation to pass the time. Now, the four of us sisters were soaking in the hot bath. 

“Phew, this water feels so good!” Chiaki exclaimed.

“You, how much (ikura) salmon roe (ikura) do you have to eat to be satisfied? I couldn’t eat any at all!” Chintsu said.

“Huh? Did I just hear something funny?” Chiaki asked. 

“I’m not making a pun! You just gobbled up everything without thinking about your surroundings!”

“Alright, calm down, Natsu-nee. We had fun, so it’s all good, isn’t it?” Chifuyu interjected.

Immersed in the warm water, my lovely sisters continued their conversation. 

“Fuyu, you’re too naive. If things continue like this, you’ll become a completely useless, pointless human by Aki.”

“No, I don’t believe that’ll happen.”

“Oh really? My instincts are telling me it’s inevitable…” 

“Hey! Who do you think you’re calling a useless human?” Chiaki retorted.

Chiaki furrowed her eyebrows and gave a slightly displeased look. She moved her body slightly to express her dissatisfaction, causing the water’s surface to ripple with small waves.

“You’re seriously gobbling it all up… Even I wanted to eat more salmon roe… That’s why… Haven’t you gained some weight recently?”

This casual remark from Chinatsu angered Chiaki.

Chiaki may have had a somewhat straightforward and childish demeanor, but deep down, she was still a girl. She cared about fashion, appearance, and inner qualities.

Although there were times when she wasn’t careful, Chiaki did her best to be mindful. That’s why those words made her angry.

“Snap… Huh? I’m not getting fat, you know? I just developed a healthy body shape, you know.”

“Hmm, don’t you feel like your stomach is a bit pudgy, and your chest is getting a bit plump too?”

“Not at all! My chest feels weird, but… Chinatsu, on the other hand, seems to be turning into a chubby tanuki (raccoon dog).”

“Huh? Where? I’m being extremely conscious of it! I do a facial blood circulation massage every day!”

“I exercise like crazy too, so I’m not getting fat!”

“Even if you exercise, you end up eating more, don’t you?”

“Huuh? Chinatsu, how strong is your grip?”

“It’s 13 pounds, why?”

“Well, I’m 18! Only 13? Haven’t you ever lifted anything heavier than chopsticks?”

“Snap... Are you picking a fight?”

“Actually, I’m accepting it.” Chiaki said.

They say that fighting is a sign of a good relationship, and it certainly applied to these two. However, slowly but surely, they began to glare at each other.

Sensing trouble, Chifuyu swiftly exited the bathtub. Upon seeing that, I followed suit.

“It looks like that’s about to start again, huh…” Chifuyu said.

“Yeah, it seems so…”

The water surface in the bathtub trembled as if a storm were raging.

“Take this and this and this and that!” (Ora ora ora ora!)

“You little brat, take this and this and that!” (Kono kono kono kono!)

They began splashing water at each other, hitting the water’s surface in an aggressive manner. Ever since they came to Onii-san’s house, whenever they had an argument in the bathroom, this was usually how it played out.

And usually, after a few minutes, they would make up with smiles on their faces. Looking at them then, I would feel like my heart was being purified.

Splish-splash, splish-splash. The storm subsided within a few minutes. Chifuyu and I returned to the bathtub.

“By the way, Aki, what’s the deal with you and Nishino lately?”

“Nothing in particular, why?”

“I’ve been watching you two in the classroom, and it seems like you haven’t been talking much.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“Aki-nee is quite popular, isn’t she?” Chifuyu added.

“You think so? Well, it’s because I’m cute!” Chiaki said.

“Is it really okay to say that about yourself?” Chinatsu remarked.

“But it’s true, so it can’t be helped. If you look up ‘cute’ in the dictionary, Chiaki’s name comes up as the first entry.”

“Huh? Seriously!?” Chiaki exclaimed.

“Haru! Don’t tell lies!”

Indeed, Nishino did approach Chiaki quite frequently. It had been the case since fourth grade, and even in fifth grade, their interactions hadn’t diminished.

“Seriously? Spreading false information like that… Oh, right. Fuyu, what about you? There doesn’t seem to be any gossip floating around about you?” Chinatsu asked.

“Huh!? W-Well, Chifuyu doesn’t really…”

“What? Chifuyu doesn’t have any of those kinds of stories?” Chiaki asked.

“No, not really…”

Cornered by Chinatsu and Chiaki, Chifuyu responded hesitantly and with a look of unease.

“Hmm, so there aren’t any… Well, I guess Fuyu seems to have high standards.”

“Yeah, Chifuyu seems to have high standards.”

“I-It’s not like that… not that much…”

“So, what’s your type then?”

“Just spill the beans.”

“Uh, um…”

“Come on, it’s okay to share.”

“It’s fine! It’s fine!”

“O-okay…”

Cornered by Chinatsu and Chiaki, Chifuyu couldn’t resist and was unable to fight back.

“Well, um, someone who is good at cooking…” 

“Oh, really? Well, it’s certainly better if they can cook.” Chinatsu said.

“That’s right! I agree!” Chiaki added.

“And, um, someone who is financially stable…”

“That’s definitely important.” Chinatsu said.

“I also prefer stability!” Chiaki added.

“Someone who is clean, good at driving, has a mature aura, is kind, and considerate…”

“Well, indeed, those are important qualities.” Chinatsu said.

“Hmm? Why does it feel like there is someone nearby who perfectly matches that description…” Chiaki added.

“Someone who does cute yawns in the morning…”

“Well, I don’t know about that.” Chinatsu said.

“Somehow, that sounds like Kaito!” Chiaki added.

Chifuyu blushed and covered her face with both hands. It seems that Chiaki’s mention of Kaito’s name hit a nerve and made her embarrassed.

“You’re right, there’s something similar to Kaito-san’s vibes in that description…” Chinatsu said.

“I understand that feeling too! It would be nice to have someone like Kaito by my side!” Chiaki added.

“Oh, really? So, someone like Kaito-san is your type, Aki?”

“Well… I’m not sure about that! I just really like Kaito!”

“I’m aware of that.”

Chifuyu seems relieved that her crush wasn’t revealed. Even though I already know about it… well, it’s Chifuyu’s issue, so let’s keep quiet about it.

Afterward, we thoroughly warmed up and applied face masks together after taking a bath.

◆◆

(POV Kaito)

While the four girls indulged in their bath time, I comfortably settled on the sofa, watching the television, all the while reflecting upon the sushi rolls we had prepared earlier.

Maybe I allowed my protective instincts to overpower me. After all, it was just a group of fifth-grade students rolling sushi… Yet, I couldn’t shake off the concern. Especially considering Chinatsu’s uneasiness with knives and the inherent risks involved. Perhaps they should wait until they grow a bit more.

…To grow up, huh? What’s the right way to handle things from now on? I’ve made the decision to raise them, but the details were still vague to me.

In the game, you reach a happy ending during high school, but what lies beyond that remains unknown to me.

One could argue that there is no predetermined script. Games conclude once you reach the ending. However, this was the real world. Despite encountering similar events, there exists something beyond what was expected to be the ending.

I wonder if it was time to start considering careers and job prospects.

Should I enroll them in cram schools or extracurricular activities? Would that be beneficial?

No, no. They’re still in elementary school; I should let them be free… But then again, I’ve heard that children who have received their parents’ special education from a young age turn out differently.

And what about their supernatural abilities? I don’t want to inadvertently push them away by meddling too much.

Besides, keeping secrets is a natural part of being human. Is there really a need to go out of my way to know and expose everything…? Shouldn’t I just continue giving them simple love as a father?

But supernatural powers aren’t that simple of a secret. No, what should I do? I have no idea.

How did the protagonist manage to be involved in all of that…? By increasing their favorability, events would occur, and the sisters would teach them things or incidents would happen that would reveal their secret, causing the sisters to panic and request to keep it a secret…

This isn’t helpful at all…

Well, since the protagonist and I are different, I can’t really rely on them for guidance. It’s not good to solely base things on game knowledge. It’s better to focus on what I see and feel with my own eyes… The things I’ve witnessed… That should be the main focus. Ignoring the knowledge I possess about supernatural powers in the first place might be for the best.

…Ah, no. My head is about to explode.

Sometimes, I find myself pondering like this, but I can’t seem to come up with the right solution.

“Onii-san.”

“Ah! Oh, you’re done with your bath?”

“Yes, we’re finished.”

“Ah… Are all of you doing face masks together?”

“Yes, since Onii-san bought them for us.”

All four of them had face masks on after their bath. I was a little surprised to see all of them with their faces wrapped in white packs.

“Kaito~~! I’m a ghost~~!”

Lowering her voice and pointing her fingertips downward, Chiaki approached me. How cute

“How about this?! Are you scared?!”

“Hmm… Not really scared, I guess.”

“I see…”

“But… It was cute.”

“Ehehe.”

It’s hard to put into words, but she’s just so honest. It’s one of her strengths, I suppose. Even with the face pack on, her smile was as cute as ever.

“That’s not fair…”

Chifuyu glared at me. How should I react to that…? I need to think about this too…

After spending some time doing skincare with face masks, the four of them, with their smooth skin, left the living room. It’s good to see them leading a healthy lifestyle.

“Goodnight, Onii-san.”

“G’night, Kaito.”

“Goodnight, Kaito-san…”

After the four of them all left, Chinatsu swiftly made her way back to the living room, her skin silky and refreshed from the bath.

“Um, Kaito-san.”

“What’s up?”

“Can I ask you for a favor?”

“I can’t promise everything, but I’ll do what I can.”

“Thank you… I want to find something that I really want to do…”

“Oh? Like a future dream or something like that?”

“It doesn’t have to be something big… Just something I can be passionate about, something I can immerse myself in.”

“Like taking up a hobby or something?”

“Yes, something like that… Sorry, I know it’s vague…”

“No, no need to apologize. But…”

I never expected her to come to me with such a request, with such a consultation! Have there ever been any important conversations like this that she’s had with me before?

No, there haven’t. This was proof that she respected me as her father. Deep down, I felt a sense of joy at my growth as a father!

“Well, first of all, studying can increase your knowledge and help you discover things you might want to do… Don’t make that unpleasant face, though. I won’t force you to go to cram school or anything.”

“Yes, thank you.”

It seemed as if her distaste for studying was clearly written on her face. As a parent, I wanted Chinatsu to excel academically. It would undoubtedly benefit her in the future. However, it wasn’t something that could be forced…

But for now, let’s put that aside. It was time to focus on what Chinatsu wanted.

“Sports or gaming, perhaps?” I asked.

“Video games… I really want them. But is it okay? Some people can’t have them because they’re expensive and considered bad for the mind…”

“While gaming might not be a viable long-term option, couldn’t we set some time limits? Besides, isn’t July 7th the birthday of all four of you? We could consider it a birthday present.”

“…Is that so….Um, did I ever mention my birthday?” Chinatsu gave me a suspicious look.

Well, it’s only natural to be wary if someone knows information they shouldn’t. I knew because of my knowledge from the game. But there was no way I could admit that.

“Look over there,” I said, pointing towards the calendar hanging on the wall.

“?”

I got up and flipped through the calendar. It was currently in the month of June. I turned one page, and there it was, July 7th.

“Congratulations! It’s our birthdays!” was written in bold red letters. There was also a cute drawing of flowers. Perhaps pansies?

“With such a grand display like this, I can’t help but celebrate it,” I remarked.

“…I’m really sorry, Kaito-san, it was Aki right?”

“No, actually, it’s refreshing to see her being so open about it. It makes it easier for me to approach you guys about the birthday. Plus, the fact that she didn’t directly mention it shows that she’s being considerate to some extent.”

“Considerate…? I don’t think there’s any type of consideration when it’s written so boldly…”

“…Maybe you’re right.”

Whether Chiaki was being considerate or not, only she knew the truth However, I wanted to believe that she was indeed showing some restraint.

I had said she didn’t need to hold back, but expecting her not to hold back at all would probably be unrealistic. The four of them, being kind-hearted, inevitably showed glimpses of their compassion and applied the brakes.

This was my speculation based on what I had observed until now.

Most likely… Am I correct in my assumption?

“So, as for what you want to do… it might be a bit difficult to start right away. How about trying soccer or something next time?”

“Soccer… Well, in that case, I think I prefer volleyball…”

“Oh, really? You’re interested in volleyball?”

“Just a little bit…”

“I see…”

It’s surprising. I never knew she had an interest in volleyball. That’s something new I’ve learned…Although I had some knowledge about volleyball from my past life, I’ve never actually taught it to someone before.

“For now, how about giving it a try sometime?”

“Yes… Please.”

“Alright, understood.”

Chinatsu gave a gesture as if to say, “In that case, I’m going to sleep” and headed towards the door.

“Goodnight, Kaito-san…”

“Yeah, goodnight.”

She bowed her head and left the room. She’s such a polite and adorable child.

Now then, let’s organize my thoughts.

◆◆

(POV Kaito)

At my regular workplace, I found myself taking advantage of my lunch break at my desk, engrossed in a math textbook.  

The cover prominently displayed the words “Mastering Elementary School Math for Fifth Graders.” As my coworker Sasaki ate his udon noodles, he looked at me with a puzzled expression and asked.

“So, why are you reading that book?”

“It’s to teach the girls. I don’t intend to force anyone, but I want to be able to answer when I’m asked,” I replied.

“Ugh, I don’t want to study anymore. You know, back in high school, I failed math several times,” he said.

“Oh, really?”

“What about you?”

“I’ve never failed a math test. I had a foolproof strategy to get through them,” 

“Seriously? I struggled so much. Especially with permutations (Junretsu).”

“Indeed, permutations (Junretsu) were challenging.”

As we exchanged our thoughts, someone approached us from behind—it was Miyamoto-san. 

“Oh, Kaito-kun, do you know about Junretsu (band)? They have such amazing voices, don’t they?”

“Sorry, but I’m not referring to the popular Junretsu band, known for touring hot springs nationwide, but rather discussing permutations in mathematics.”

“Oh, I see! My mistake, I misunderstood.”

“Not a problem, please don’t worry about it.”

“But still, reading a math book… Are you planning to become a teacher?”

“About becoming a teacher… I have a strong desire for it, but I can only imitate the role. I regret not obtaining a teaching license.”

“Oh, having someone who studies together like you is already a blessing for children.”

“Do you think so?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

“Is that how it works? Does studying together make you want to pursue it?”

“Lately, I’ve been thinking about the future of children and find myself almost interfering.”

“Well, it’s definitely beneficial for them to be good at studying. In terms of insurance, too.”

“Yes, that’s true. But I can’t force them to do something…”

“Even if you force them, they might end up slacking off or losing their concentration.”

“Indeed, that’s true.”

Studying, pursuing one’s interests, thinking about the future, finding employment—various thoughts swirled in my mind. I felt the need to take some action, so I found myself reflecting on elementary school math. However, I questioned how much meaning this held.

For now, I decided to focus on showing my determination through my actions and making my words more persuasive.

“I remember you saying before that Chiaki-chan and Chinatsu-chan struggle with studying,” Miyamoto-san said.

“Yes, but both of them have decent memorizing abilities. They can remember every snack I’ve bought and search for them even if they’re hidden. They also remember the names of actresses they’ve seen on TV,” I explained.

“I see.”

“In other words, the issue lies in their curiosity… They have a wide range of curiosity, so they engage in things that interest them, but they completely avoid things they’re not interested in. They have adopted a stance of not doing anything they don’t find intriguing. However, I haven’t figured out how to address that yet,”

“I see, so you’re already a teacher. After being a dad, you’ll become a private tutor or something. Kaito-kun, you’re quite versatile. Even the women in the break room talk about you. They call you the young chameleon dad,” 

“What’s wrong with the break room in this workplace?”

Strange topics were circulating in the workplace. Well, it didn’t really matter…

“…Am I just invisible?”

“Oh, sorry… Sasaki.”