Chapter 2. Going Home
"Phew, we're home."
The fiery setting sun hung at the edge of the sky, its warm orange light shining on Xander and Seele as they returned to the residential district.
When she heard the three of them would be coming to the Far East to attend school, Cocolia immediately set about finding several adjacent single-family houses for them, each a little over two hundred square meters.
They were two-story buildings with a small yard where a car could be parked.
The first floor had the living room, a restroom, the kitchen, and a storage room.
The second floor had a master bedroom, a secondary bedroom, a spare room that could be arranged freely, a restroom, and a bathroom.
At the far side, there was also a small sunlit terrace suitable for basking and resting.
Xander converted the spare room into his studio.
Right now he had no money and no staff, so everything about the game had to be done by himself.
Fortunately, with clear memories and a solid plan, it was enough for him to build things up bit by bit.
They passed through the tidied little yard.
The protruding pebbles on the flagstone path tingled the soles of his feet, and then a wave of warmth rose.
He opened the door with the key.
After a whole day out, Xander and Seele felt a rush of relief as they went in one after the other.
They hadn't bought too many things.
He set the small, simple bag in his hand on the shelf at the side.
Following behind, Seele skillfully took out her little blue slippers from the shoe cabinet at the entrance and even fetched Xander's pair, bending down to place them by his feet.
Xander lived quite close to Bronya—just across a not-so-wide road.
If you opened a window you could see the window opposite, and with a few steps you would be there.
Naturally, Seele was a regular here.
"Seele, the room upstairs is already tidied.
Go check right away if there's anything missing.
After dinner we'll go to the convenience store together."
Stretching lazily, Xander wandered unhurriedly around the house.
The fatigue of a day out seemed to vanish at this moment.
"Mm, got it, big brother."
Seele picked up the small bag placed to the side.
Inside were some handmade little things.
The weather in late March was still a bit chilly, and the wind had been rather strong recently, so Seele wanted to use these few days of vacation to knit big brother a light scarf.
The upstairs secondary bedroom was already filled with Seele's things.
Starting from half a month ago, when Bronya's work flopped, Xander had planned this move and quietly contacted Seele, turning her into a little turncoat.
In just a few days, she secretly moved her belongings over to big brother's place.
Bronya hadn't noticed a thing.
By today, it had all finally settled.
As he passed the kitchen, the door wasn't fully closed.
Through the wide gap, a takeout bag placed on the floor came into Xander's view.
In an instant, his heart gave a thump.
He instinctively stepped between Seele and the kitchen door.
Such an odd reaction was instantly noticed by Seele, who had grown up with big brother.
Her eyes turned suspicious at once.
Ignoring his awkward attempt to stop her, her little head squeezed under his arm.
Though it was a bit uncomfortable being clamped there, Seele still managed to see the scene inside the kitchen as she wished.
At once, her cute brows furrowed.
Pulling her head back out from his arm, Seele planted her hands on her waist and looked at big brother with a hint of displeasure.
"Big brother, didn't we agree you wouldn't eat takeout anymore?"
"This wasn't mine."
Remembering how he had once gotten an upset stomach from takeout and been lectured by Seele, Xander forced himself to stay calm and replied without changing his expression.
Seele didn't answer.
She just stared straight at him with those sky-blue eyes.
That pure gaze made Xander's heart feel a little guilty, as if it were saying, "We're at big brother's house.
If it wasn't you, then who?"
"It was that guy Ken.
He came over yesterday to hang out, and he insisted on ordering takeout.
I couldn't stop him."
"Really?"
Seele knew of Ken Sugisaki—he was big brother's classmate and also his good friend.
She had heard big brother mention him a few times, though she hadn't met him.
"Really.
Seele, you know me."
Taking a step forward, Xander held Seele's small hand, sincerity in his eyes.
The sudden "attack" made Seele freeze for a moment, and her voice turned a little stammering.
"Mm… o-okay… Seele believes big brother.
Isn't that enough?"
Seele turned her head aside, not daring to look into big brother's eyes again.
In such a closed private space, being this close made her little heart thump-thump.
She didn't pull away.
Instead, with cheeks flushed, she quietly leaned a little closer to big brother.
Xander let out a breath of relief.
Seeing the slightly shy Seele matched his expectations perfectly.
Having grown up with Seele, how could he not know this girl's weak point?
He held on for a while longer, savoring the softness of Seele's hand, and only then reluctantly let go of her, turning to head up the stairs.
"Big brother, I'll let it slide this time.
But don't eat takeout next time, okay?"
"Got it, got it—"
He hadn't even finished the sentence when Xander's body stiffened.
He spun around.
At this moment, there wasn't a trace of shyness left on Seele's face.
Her brows furrowed again as she huffed at him.
"So it really was you who ate the takeout, right, big brother?"
"…"
Uh-oh.
Even his Seele had learned to play mind games.
Darn it, who taught her bad tricks?
Thinking back on the past, Xander paused.
Ah, it was me.
Then that's fine.
After being scolded by Seele and promising that from now on he would either order from familiar restaurants or eat what they made themselves, Xander nodded again and again, agreeing that everything Seele said was right.
What a joke—now that Seele was here, would he still need to eat out?
Isn't Seele's own cooking fragrant enough?
He tossed the trash by the door.
Seele deftly took the apron hanging on the wall.
With a few quick moves she had it on with ease.
Then she muttered a few words to big brother, who was standing off to the side in "punishment," and—under his look of relief as if granted amnesty—shooed him out of the kitchen.
Before long, tak-tak-tak, rhythmic chopping sounds rang out.
Watching Seele's figure reflected in the kitchen glass, the exaggerated expression from just now swiftly vanished from Xander's face.
Standing where he was, his brows and eyes softened.
Smiling, he quietly watched this scene.
Sure enough, this is what counts as a home.
Being alone was certainly peaceful, but he still preferred the feeling of having important people by his side.
Pulling himself together, he turned and went upstairs.
Next step: defeat Bronya and bring her back.
Bronya did work hard, but he had cheats—how could he lose?
Enjoyed the story? Support me and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at: Patr*eon*.com/Resium
Free members can read 10+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Paid member can read 150+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Stories Available
Honkai? No, This Is Daily Life
Hogwarts Pet Master
Pokémon: Who Let Him Leave Pallet Town!
Scrolling Yu-Gi-Oh! Shorts