"Is my look today really that sharp?" Mouri Kogoro fidgeted with his collar, a touch awkward. "By the way, Shuichi, after meeting Ruri, what's the plan?"
"You're going on a date, how would I know what you want to do?" Hayashi Shuichi chuckled, half-exasperated.
"It's my first time going out with a girl," Mouri Kogoro said, adopting a humble, seeking-advice stance. "Shuichi, you're experienced. Should I take Ruri to a movie, shopping, or maybe an amusement park?"
"Ask Ruri, not me," Hayashi Shuichi said with a laugh. "But she likes you so much, as long as your idea isn't too outlandish, she probably won't say no."
"Really?" Mouri Kogoro's face lit up with pride. He ran a hand through his slick hair, suddenly brimming with energy. "Then I'm off!"
"Hey, got enough cash?" Hayashi Shuichi called after his friend. "If not, I can advance you some wages."
Mouri Kogoro, already at the door, zipped back. "I've got less than three thousand yen left this month. Think that's enough?"
"Take more, just in case," Hayashi Shuichi said, pulling two ten-thousand-yen notes from his pocket. "This is for Ruri. Make sure she has a great time on her first date."
"No worries, I'll keep Ruri smiling all day!" Mouri Kogoro grabbed the cash and left with a spring in his step.
Not long after, hurried footsteps echoed—tap tap tap—as Hii Eri burst into the izakaya, breathless.
"Shuichi, Ruri called this morning. She's going on a date with Kogoro today!"
"I know, he just left," Hayashi Shuichi replied calmly, turning off the stove. "Fruit porridge, want some?"
"Porridge? At a time like this?" Eri's face lit up with gossip. "Let's go spy on them!"
"Why would we follow Kogoro and Ruri on their date?"
"Ruri's so gentle. What if Kogoro takes advantage of her?"
Eri spoke with righteous indignation, but seeing Hayashi Shuichi's skepticism, she pouted. "You're not even a little curious?"
"I'm not a cat with nine lives of curiosity," Hayashi Shuichi shook his head. "Besides, Reiko's got a cold. I need to stay home and take care of her."
"That little brat's sick?" Eri raised an eyebrow, giving Hayashi Shuichi a sidelong glance. "She's not pulling one of your tricks, faking it, is she? I'll check on her upstairs."
She started striding toward the stairs.
"No, she's really sick today," Hayashi Shuichi said, quickly stopping her.
"Really sick today?" Eri caught the implication, her eyes sharpening. "So, she's faked it before?"
Her gaze locked onto her childhood friend, narrowing suspiciously.
"Well…" Hayashi Shuichi faltered, his face flushing with embarrassment.
As her brother, he couldn't exactly admit Reiko had faked being sick last night just to sleep beside him.
"I'm going up to see her," Eri huffed, shaking off Hayashi Shuichi's hand and storming upstairs.
With no choice, Hayashi Shuichi scooped a bowl of fruit porridge and carefully carried it, hurrying after her.
As he entered, he saw Eri standing at Reiko's bedroom door, staring puzzled at the empty room.
"Where is she? Not in her room?"
"Reiko's in my bedroom."
"What?" Eri's eyes widened, and she marched toward Hayashi Shuichi's room with a fiery glare.
Hayashi Shuichi's heart sank. He quickened his pace, explaining, "Reiko's room is a bit damp, and with her cold, I let her sleep in mine."
"I just came from her room. It didn't seem damp," Eri scoffed, pushing open Hayashi Shuichi's bedroom door.
On the bed, Reiko heard the door and, thinking it was her brother, spoke weakly without opening her eyes. "Onii-chan, I'm so cold. Can you hold me while I sleep?"
She curled into a ball, looking pitiful.
Eri crossed her arms by the bed, snorting. "Shuichi's busy. How about I hold you instead?"
"Eek, Xue Baochai's here!" Reiko yelped, startled, then corrected herself. "No, wait, Yukiko-neesan is Xue Baochai. You're more like Shi Xiangyun, but your personality doesn't quite fit…"
"If I'm Shi Xiangyun, who are you?" Eri put her hands on her hips, glaring down at her little cousin.
"I'm Onii-chan's Lin Daiyu, obviously!" Reiko puffed out her chest proudly.
"Hmph, Lin Daiyu was genuinely ill. You, little brat, copying Shuichi's fake-sick act…" Eri sneered, reaching to pinch Reiko's cheek. But as her hand touched the girl's face, she felt an unmistakable heat.
She's actually feverish? Eri quickly let go.
But Reiko seized the moment, fake-crying, "Onii-chan, I'm sick, and Eri-neesan's bullying me…"
Pleading pitifully, she looked to her brother. Hayashi Shuichi set the porridge down and sat beside her.
"Alright, stop pretending. Here, have some fruit porridge."
"I'm too weak to hold it," Reiko blinked innocently. "Onii-chan, feed me."
Without hesitation, Hayashi Shuichi agreed. He scooped a spoonful of porridge, blew on it to cool it, and gently fed it to her.
While he looked down to scoop more, Reiko stuck out her tongue at Eri, making a smug face.
When Hayashi Shuichi looked up, she instantly reverted to her frail act.
"You're really nailing this Lin Daiyu performance," Eri huffed, exasperated.
Though annoyed at how close Hayashi Shuichi and his sister were, knowing Reiko was genuinely sick, Eri let it slide.
"I'm heading downstairs…"
Eri started to leave but paused at the door, recalling Reiko's earlier words. Even with her in the house, this girl had the nerve to ask Hayashi Shuichi to hold her while she slept.
If she left, who knew what those siblings would get up to?
At the entrance, maybe…
Eri changed her mind. She pulled a chair over, plopped down with a huff, and stared at Hayashi Shuichi as he fed Reiko spoonful by spoonful.
The more she watched, the angrier she got. When I was sick, you never took care of me like this!
It's just feeding porridge. Did they have to be so close?
That sneaky little brat—sick or not, she was definitely milking this for all it was worth!
(Chapter End)
--------------------------------
Hello everyone! I have posted new chapters on Patreon, if you like my work and want to support me on this creative journey, you can support me here: [patreon.com/TripleCrown07]
Thank you for your support!!!