Chapter 197: Change in Aura
Saturday morning.
Because it was the weekend, Komachi, who usually woke up early, slept in for over an hour today.
However, when she lazily made her way down the stairs to the living room, she saw Hachiman Hikigaya carrying breakfast from the kitchen.
"Onii-chan?"
Komachi's eyes widened as she looked at the breakfast in Hachiman's hands.
"Ah, Komachi, good morning."
Hachiman placed the breakfast on the table, looked up at his sister with a warm smile, and then urged her to wash her hands in the bathroom before coming over to eat.
A few minutes later at the dining table.
Komachi carefully observed her brother as she ate the breakfast he had made.
"Is there something on my face?"
Because Komachi had been staring at him, Hachiman wondered if he had accidentally gotten something on his face while making breakfast. He reached up to touch his face but found nothing.
"No, it's just that lately, Onii-chan, you seem… different…"
Frowning slightly, Komachi began thinking carefully about what exactly seemed strange about Hachiman.
"Ah! It's since Wednesday!"
Suddenly recalling something, Komachi pointed her spoon at Hachiman and said loudly.
"Really? But I don't feel like anything has changed about me."
Hachiman was slightly surprised. The timing Komachi mentioned coincided exactly with when he signed the pact with Inari-sama and received one-seventh of her power.
"Well… how should I put it? It feels like your aura has changed…"
Biting her lip, Komachi tried to explain the change she sensed in Hachiman.
"If before, Onii-chan was a Lazy and Unmotivated even with the system, now, although you're still the same, you feel like… the king of Lazy and Unmotivated people…"
"Basically… even though you seem lazy and unmotivated, there's this inexplicable charm about you…"
Her contradictory words left Komachi feeling conflicted. She didn't know how to describe the feeling Hachiman now gave her.
It was as if the person sitting in front of her was not just Hachiman, but overlapped with someone of a particularly noble and distinguished aura.
"King of Lazy and Unmotivated people …"
Hachiman twitched the corner of his mouth upon hearing his sister's description.
Well, a king is still a king, even if it's a Lazy and Unmotivated person, right?
He decided to take it as Komachi's way of complimenting him…
Hachiman was, of course, fully aware that the change Komachi sensed was due to Inari-sama. After all, he had received one-seventh of her power; to some extent, he could probably be considered a demigod now.
Though the system panel still classified him as human…
"Do you have any plans today?"
Continuing to eat breakfast, Hachiman asked his sister about her plans for the day.
"Hmm… finish my homework, then lie on the sofa and watch TV…"
After hesitating for a moment, Komachi outlined her schedule for the day and then looked at Hachiman with suspicion.
"Onii-chan, since you're asking me this, that means you're going out today, right?"
"That's right."
Hachiman nodded, confirming Komachi's guess.
"This was agreed upon earlier. I'm going out to hang out with a classmate."
Of course, mostly to accompany his classmate's little sister… Hachiman added silently in his mind.
"Eh… that's rare. Onii-chan, you're actually going out with a classmate?"
Upon hearing his explanation, Komachi's expression showed interest.
"Let me guess… it's Yui-nee and Yukino-nee, right?"
"No…"
Hachiman shook his head.
"Then is it Miko-nee and her friends? No… Miko-nee isn't even in the same class as you…"
Biting her right thumb, Komachi thought for a moment.
"Then it must be Miss Kawasaki?"
"Why do you know so much about my female classmates? And why are all your guesses girls?"
"Because, Onii-chan, besides Zaimokuza, you really don't have any male friends."
Komachi ruthlessly exposed Hachiman's weak spot.
Now that she thought about it, it was quite strange. Hachiman, unpopular among boys, somehow attracted girls—high-quality ones, all different in personality…
"Onii-chan, being a playboy is forbidden, okay~"
Komachi warned him, to prevent Hachiman from getting into trouble with the girls.
"What are you even thinking about?"
Hachiman flicked her forehead with a finger to stop her from overthinking.
"I'm serious!"
Komachi pouted in protest.
"Miko-nee's feelings for you are obvious, Yui-nee and Yukino-nee have complicated emotions but some affection too. That's already three! If Onii-chan doesn't do something, everyone will end up unhappy!"
"I know that already…"
Hachiman rubbed his hair in slight annoyance. He had been worried it would reach the exact situation Komachi described, which was why he had broken from his usual habits and clearly rejected any romantic notions from the start.
But who could have guessed that Miko would be so stubborn? It was as if she had already made up her mind about him.
"Well, Ican help, but the final decision is still Onii-chan's. No matter what happens, Komachi will always be by your side!"
"Komachi…"
Hachiman couldn't help feeling a surge of emotion at her words.
No wonder she was the best little sister in the world. In his past life, he must have saved the galaxy to have a sister as angelic as this.
"Alright, stop being sentimental. Hearing it from you feels gross… Didn't you say you had plans to go out? Go already."
Seeing Hachiman moved, Komachi stuck out her tongue and urged him to leave.
"Yeah, I'll go now."
He nodded, put the dishes in the sink, changed his shoes at the entrance, and headed toward the amusement park.
"Have a good trip~"
Komachi's voice came through the gap in the door behind him, making Hachiman smile unconsciously.
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