"There's no special taste."
Sora put down her cup. Pouting slightly, she commented, "It's just regular milk. What's in it really isn't anything strange?"
"It is strange, but it's a good thing. Think of it as taking a supplement. The specific effects will become clearer when you go to the doctor again."
At the dining table, Yuu casually ate breakfast while talking to his sister.
He took a bite of the sweet-and-sour salad, crunching it loudly, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "Oh right, when are you going to the hospital again? I remember it's been two months since your last check-up..."
"My body's fine, why go to the hospital?" Sora said with slight resistance as she chewed her Eggs Benedict.
Yuu smiled helplessly, "Even so, the fact that you often get sick can't be denied. If you don't have regular check-ups to monitor your health, I won't feel at ease."
"Just have Yuu stay with me at home. If anything happens to me, Yuu will be the first to know, so you can relax, right?" Though Sora offered this suggestion, her tone carried dissatisfaction and complaint.
"If Yuu accompanies me, I'll go. That's for going to the doctor."
With her small cherry-colored lips, she popped the last piece of Eggs Benedict into her mouth, and Sora made her decision in a muffled voice.
Of course, Yuu couldn't possibly refuse, "Then, I'll register you online first. Later, I'll ask for time off work, and we'll go to the hospital together."
Since the clinic was closed on holidays, even if they wanted to go now, there'd be no doctor available... Actually, they could pay to see one, but there was no need to go through that trouble.
Let the effects of the Life Elixir sink in first, then give Sora a full check-up to see if that single drop of potion was truly as miraculous as the system claimed.
If everything went smoothly, the heaviest burden on his heart could finally be lifted.
(As long as I can make Sora as healthy as a normal person, from now on, I'll deeply respect the System, and I won't call it 'dog system' to its face again!)
Yuu solemnly vowed in his heart. This feeling must make the system feel incredibly happy, right?
System: "?"
"Then, it's a promise." The corner of Sora's mouth lifted slightly, and she spoke as if nothing had happened, "After the doctor, let's go out... After all, we'll still have time."
Yuu looked at her in surprise, yet couldn't help but laugh.
"To a crowded place?"
"Don't!"
"Hiking mountains or swimming..."
"Better to just play Nintendo Switch at home!"
While strongly objecting, her small, fair, delicate face smiled. Sora blushed slightly with joy, like a peach blossom just blooming.
Sora understood. Since her brother knew she disliked those places and activities, he deliberately mentioned them to tease her... She didn't mind this little mischief.
"Then, after the hospital, we'll find a nearby place to walk around." Yuu said seriously, concluding. "Now there's not enough time. During winter break, we can go somewhere farther—beyond the universe. After all, our family has money now. We can go anywhere we want."
"Don't go to Antarctica. I don't want to go overseas either. Just walking around in Japan is enough." Sora wiped her mouth and said casually, "For winter break, Hakone or something... I think a hot spring trip (just the two of us) would be nice."
The small words in parentheses were her inner thoughts, inaudible even to Yuu's extraordinary hearing.
"Alright, then we've agreed." Yuu said straightforwardly. "During winter break, we'll soak in hot springs together."
"Hm." Sora nodded flatly, a napkin covering half her face.
Yey!
Where Yuu couldn't see, Sora tightly clenched her fist. Her cheeks slightly reddened, and she made a small victory pose.
Of course, soaking in hot springs wasn't the point. This trip together—their first since their parents left them forever—was what truly mattered...
One can't forever drown in past sorrow. Sora knew this better than anyone—Yuu had taught her. And in the days that followed, through his actions and presence, he pulled her out of the pain of losing her parents and helped her rise again.
So, when the time came to step out of unchanging habits and move toward a more intimate relationship, Sora wouldn't hesitate.
Maybe at home she'd still feel uncertain, and she could clearly sense that Yuu didn't dare act because she was still young... But what if they were outside? Surely a family staying at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) wouldn't take separate rooms, right? Accidentally sleeping together would be natural, right?
If she didn't seize this opportunity to strike quickly, Yuu might be snatched away by evil women, bitchy girls, and big-breasted rivals out there—somehow, this sense of crisis had been growing in Sora's heart. It made her feel more anxious than ever.
If it weren't for this, she wouldn't have become increasingly bold, even starting to sneak into her brother's room and do naughty things...
(Anyway, it's all Yuu's fault! Who told him to go out so often lately, acting like he has a girlfriend. It's natural for me to worry, right?)
Her thoughts spun in circles. Sora emerged from her joy and excitement, gazing at her brother's gentle, handsome face.
"Do you have any other plans today? There's a new game, and I need a teammate."
"Eh? Doesn't seem like it..." Yuu was slightly unsure. He took his phone out of his pocket and checked it.
Just then, a message from Masuzu came in.
Masuzu: {Emergency, come immediately. Building XX, Room XX.}
"..." The corner of Yuu's mouth twitched slightly.
Was this because he triggered a flag last night...? Did this girl really catch the flu from getting caught in the rain?
So, before the hot spring vacation plotline, he'd have to face the "visiting a sick Masuzu" scenario first, huh?
"What's wrong?" Seeing him take out his phone and immediately show a speechless expression, Sora asked cautiously, with a bad feeling.
Yuu shook his head. Sighing, he put his phone away, "A friend is sick and has no one to take care of her. I have to go later, or she might die at home."
Though slightly exaggerated, somehow, Yuu felt that if he didn't go, Masuzu really would get sick to the point of near death.
As a boyfriend in a transactional relationship, logically and emotionally, he had to visit her and make her porridge.
...Tsk, this should've been a woman's job.
"Friend... huh?" As if confirming something, Sora stared at him intently, "Male or female? Yuigahama Yui?"
Yuu looked at her strangely, "Why would you think she—"
"Among all your friends, I only know her. Unless we're talking about President Yukinoshita, whom you don't consider a friend, and that Totsuka guy!"
"That Totsuka guy... why do I feel you have a special issue with him. But never mind." Yuu pressed his temple and said resignedly, "Not Yuigahama, but another friend."
"Hm, so male or female?"
Whoever this person was, this was the most important question for Sora.