Doiwaki Ruri and Mouri Kogoro left for their date.
Hii Eri and Fujimine Yukiko watched their retreating figures with a hint of envy, then, as if in sync, both turned their gazes on Hayashi Shuichi.
"…Reiko's probably waking up soon. I'll check on her!"
Feeling their stares, Hayashi Shuichi scrambled for an excuse and bolted out of the izakaya.
"Playing dumb again!" Eri muttered, frowning.
"Let's see how long you can dodge!" Yukiko grumbled, pouting.
The two girls locked eyes, sparks practically flying in the air.
"I'm going to tidy the storeroom," Yukiko said, turning toward the kitchen.
Eri couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you pass your audition? When does filming start?"
Yukiko paused, spinning around with a smug grin, chin raised. "Shooting starts in half a month, but as one of the leads, I report to the set tomorrow."
"So, you're leaving tomorrow?" Eri's eyes lit up, her lips curving slightly.
"Glasses Girl, you're that eager to see me go?" Yukiko glared, hands on hips, fuming.
"Aren't you the same?" Eri shot back coldly. "If I went abroad to study alone, you'd probably wake up laughing."
"Well, yeah…" Yukiko nodded, then realized she'd revealed her thoughts and quickly changed the subject. "When I'm gone, Shuichi's the only chef left. You'll miss me when he's swamped!"
"Hmph, cooking's not a big deal. I can…" Eri started to retort but stopped mid-sentence, her face freezing.
With her disastrous cooking skills, helping Hayashi Shuichi would likely send customers to the hospital and shut down the izakaya early.
"Go on, why'd you stop?" Yukiko taunted, chin up, eyes gleaming with challenge.
"We'll just hire someone else," Eri said, annoyed. "You're not the only one who can cook!"
"Hire someone?" Yukiko crossed her arms, rolling her eyes. "You think there aren't enough people already? With that guy's charm, what if the new hire's another girl, like the one from the flower shop family…"
Eri faltered, opening her mouth but unable to counter.
She knew Yukiko wasn't wrong.
Emotionally, Eri wanted to defend her childhood friend, but logic told her Hayashi Shuichi's girl-magnet personality made it entirely possible.
The thought of another girl near him felt like a heavy stone in her chest.
She missed the old days when she was the only girl by Hayashi Shuichi's side. Now, it was practically a mahjong table's worth of competition.
Let's see you gloat…
Yukiko smirked inwardly, heading to the storeroom.
Her words were partly to rile Eri up, ensuring she didn't get too smug about her temporary absence, and partly to warn Eri to keep an eye on Hayashi Shuichi, lest new rivals appear while she was gone.
Eri quickly caught on to Yukiko's ploy.
But she couldn't just let it slide and allow other girls to flock to Hayashi Shuichi.
When did this curly-haired vixen get so clever?
…
Upstairs, Hayashi Shuichi gently pushed open the door, stepping lightly to avoid waking his sister.
Reiko lay in bed, hugging his blanket tightly, sleeping soundly.
Her cheeks were rosy, lips slightly curved, as if lost in a sweet dream.
Occasionally, she rubbed her face against the blanket like a lazy kitten. "Onii-chan, hehe…"
Hayashi Shuichi chuckled at her adorable antics.
He quietly approached, crouched by the bed, and touched her forehead, checking her temperature.
Good, it's much lower than this morning—almost normal.
Hayashi Shuichi sighed in relief.
He carefully tucked her in, ready to leave, when Reiko murmured, "Onii-chan, so cold, so cold…"
Cold? Hayashi Shuichi frowned, puzzled. The windows were shut tight, no draft in sight.
Reiko was snug under the blanket, and her fever was nearly gone. Why would she be cold?
"So cold…" Reiko shivered, curling into a ball.
Thinking it over, Hayashi Shuichi started toward her room to grab her blanket, but she mumbled again, "Onii-chan, hug me! A hug will warm me up!"
This girl…
Hayashi Shuichi wasn't fooled. He caught on immediately. "If you're awake, stop pretending to sleep."
"I'm not awake, still sleeping," Reiko said softly, eyes closed. "Sleeping Beauty won't wake without a prince's kiss."
"Really not getting up?" Hayashi Shuichi asked again.
Reiko kept her eyes shut, brows furrowing, stubbornly refusing to budge.
Hayashi Shuichi shook his head helplessly, then waved Wangcai, the dog lurking at the door, to come in.
The goofy dog wagged its tail, tilting its head as if asking for instructions.
Hayashi Shuichi pointed at Reiko and mimed a licking motion.
Wangcai glanced at Hayashi Shuichi, then at Reiko, seeming to understand but hesitant. It shrank back, too scared to lick her.
Scared now, huh? Where was that fear when you licked me?
Hayashi Shuichi, exasperated, pushed the dog toward the bed.
Wangcai cautiously extended its tongue, giving Reiko's cheek a light lick.
"So ticklish! Onii-chan, you…" Reiko giggled, opening her eyes. Her smile froze when she saw the dog's head.
"Wangcai!" Reiko grabbed the dog's head, shaking it. "Didn't I tell you not to lick people?"
Whimpering, the dog, knowing it messed up, tucked its tail and scurried out.
(Chapter End)
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