.
.
.
20 minutes after, and the doorbell rings
As if a dog would, he stood up, and marched to the door, he didn't lock it, yet he also wanted to greet her
"I'm home, Onii-chan"
"Yeah, welcome back"
Greetings were given
(Hehe, I finally sound like the Stay-at-Home Husband I was meant to be)
"Ughh, Onii-chan, you're making that face again"
(It can't be helped)
The so-called "creepy grin" has now left, only a smile of anticipation
"Anyway, what's for dinner?"
"What's with that? Aren't you supposed to be the Stay-at-Home Husband? Aren't you supposed to be the one that cooks?"
(Whoa, Komachi, you've recognized my true talents?)
"Do you want to eat curry every day?"
"Yeah, what a useless brother I have, but since you're my brother, Komachi is willing to put up with you, ooohh, new Komachi points for me"
"And since you're my sister, I'll eat anything you make, that got me lots of Hachiman points"
Komachi, on her way to the kitchen
With a bag of groceries in hand, she plans to make something fresh?
"Fine, I'll cook, also Mom and Dad aren't going to be home tonight"
(Sometimes, I pity those corporate slaves)
.
.
.
Half an hour has passed, and the scent of the kitchen proved enticing
"Tada! Here it is! Komachi's delicious Hamburg steak!"
In excitement she screams, a plate of savory looking meat has appeared in front of him
The source of her energy is unknown, what's more of a mystery was how she still had energy left, teachers, rather, Komachi is still a mystery
(Amazing)
The smell, the look, the presentation, it felt casual and homemade, yet a sense of class was imbedded into it
It still looked dead, yet inside his eyes, it glowed in anticipation
"Thank you for the food"
Not a moment later, he took a bite
*Groans*
Sweet, sour, salty, soft, chewy, juicy, tender, all of that, he felt in his mouth
His first bite he now swallowed, raising a look at Komachi
"Komachi, please take care of your brother, and never become anyone's bride, ok?"
For some reason, his voice sounded fond...and gentle?
"Sorry, unfortunately, I can't handle a siscon brother forever, that's why, the best that this sister can do is to get her siscon brother his very own bride"
(Ughh)
A defeated groan from Hachiman
Komachi now served her own plate, and at the table in front of him she sat
"Anyway, Onii-chan, I want to go shopping tomorrow"
"Don't want to"
"Why!?"
"I already did today"
"Wha-you went shopping without Komachi!?"
"Calm down, I didn't actually shop, I just went outside"
"Oh yeah!? What did you do today?"
"I had Unagi for lunch"
"Isn't that expensive?"
"It's worth it though"
"That's unfair! I also want to try that!"
"What else did you do?"
"I had nothing to do, so I watched a movie"
"Komachi is jealous!"
"Then I bought some Max and ramen and went home"
"You didn't even buy groceries for us!?"
"Delicious food and movies!?"
"I wanna go! I wanna go! I wanna go!"
"Calm down, it's only a week away before summer break, then we'll go shopping or whatever"
"Yay to Komachi! I have so many things I want to buy!"
(Somehow, I feel like I've made a mistake)
.
.
Halfway into the meal, he stands up, towards the fridge he goes
A swift open, and something taken
A can of beer
*Psshht*
Cracked open for him to drink
"Wow Onii-chan, I never expected you to drink"
"Me too"
He says so as he takes a sip
(Personally, I think coffee is like the sun, and beer is the moon)
A needed balance, he thought
"Anyway, there's more right? Can I have a can?"
"No"
"Aww c'mon Onii-chan, tomorrow's my day off, just one can"
"You drink?"
"A little, just a little"
"Still no, and also, don't drink in front of any boys"
"Onii-chan, just one can"
"No"
"Komachi really needs it, she gets really tired, especially with handling problem children"
(I knew it)
"Then quit your job"
"Onii-chaaaaaaaan"
Her pleads didn't die down, not one bit, quite determined
"Onii-chan"
"Onii-chan"
"Onii-chan"
"Okay fine, just one, okay?
"Okay!"
Grabbing another can, he tosses to her
Another cracked open, a little sip later and...
"Puuuwaah, that hits the spot"
The most relaxed face she might ever give, it seemed all the tension in her left
(You sound like an old man, and you're too defenseless!)
In his mind, he scolded his own sister
.
.
*Yawn*
He had noticed
"Komachi, go to bed"
"Hmm, I still have to do the dishes"
"It's fine, I'll do it, now go to bed"
Komachi flinched in surprise
"Fine, goodnight, Onii-chan"
"Goodnight"
He had already noticed, her constant yawns, waking up in the morning, very early, cooking for him, doing most of the chores
(I don't want her to be a workaholic)
(I already know that her job takes a lot from her)
More than anything, he cared for her
*Sigh*(I'm finally acting like a big brother)
(But this is also training for my dreams)
He thought so, while washing the dishes
He who already wears his nightwear, went to sleep right after
.
.
.
.
.
The coming days went by as usual
With the sloth waking up, eating, sleeping, gaming, sleeping, and more sleeping, it felt as if the him of yesterday was a lie
Gone was the man who once went for an early sprint, returned was his lifeless eyes, his drowsy face, and lumbering steps
Again he was a:
"No-good brother, aren't you gonna do anything besides that all day long?"
"Yeah, nothing to do"
In his hand was his entertainment, his games, still wearing his pajamas
"C'mon, do something else, go outside, get some exercise, and get Komachi something"
(Of course you'd say that)
"No plans for today, me and Kamakura-san are gonna be here all day long, right Kamakura-san?
*Meow* was the cat's answer
"Well that's unfair, using him as your shield"
"It's called the truth"
*Sigh* "This no-good brother of mine"
"Well anyway, I'll be leaving, I'll be coming early"
Saying so, she gets her bag
"I'll be going now!"
"Yeah, see you later"
(Now let's game)
.
.
.
(I can't play at all)
(Why is that?)
He asks so himself
("This no-good brother of mine")
(Komachi, you're lucky your brother can feel)
.
.
.
He has taken a bath
He has worn proper clothing for the outside
It's decided
He's going out
"Sorry Kamakura-san, see you later"
*Meow*
And the door closes
.
.
.
Walking and walking
(What to do...what to do)
Walking and walking, none a straight path
(Komachi, look at what Onii-chan's doing for you)
(What to do...what to do)
Walking more and more
(I didn't jog today)
What concerned him, was his lack of exercise?
He continued a stray walk, that is until...
(Hmm?)
("It's already late so I'll take you home")
.
.
.
*Clang*
"Wooow! He's so good!"
*Clang*
"He hasn't missed, not even once!"
*Clang*
"Is he a former player?"
*Clang*
"Enough about that, look, isn't he kinda hot?"
*Clang*
"Yeah Yeah! You can tell he works out!"
*Clang*
"And he's got a nice face too!"
*Clang*
(Hatsushiba!)
*Clang*
(Hori!)
*Clang*
(Saburo!)
*Clang*
(Satozaki!)
*Clang*
(Fukuura!)
*Clang*
(Otsuka!)
*Clang*
(Morozumi!)
*Clang*
(Franko!)
.
.
.
And so he finishes
*Sigh*(Seriously)
(Of all things, this is what stuck?)
As much as her words, even her habits have ingrained inside him
(Really, school is overrated)
Summer still, its heat, the exhaustion, the move of the body
In his shoulder, he grabs for a towel
His arm, bent, the towel in his hands, and the hand in his head
Cliché, as if an Ikemen, wiping the sweat off his head
*Sigh* (Round 2?)
.
.
.
*Clang*
He continued
*Clang*
The metal bat sounded
*Clang*
Incredible stamina
*Clang*
Perfect physique
*Clang*
"Whoa, he's still going?"
*Clang*
"Man, you've gotta be kidding me"
*Clang*
"That's a beast of a man right there"
*Clang*
Since he started...
4 hours have already passed
Even he has a limit
It seems, finally reached
*Haah* *Haah*
Panting and panting
Indeed tiresome
It sucked away all his stamina
All his energy
And everything in his stomach
*Grumble*
(It's already 1:16?)
Unnoticed?
Forgotten?
Ignored?
It mattered not, the only thing that did was
(I'm hungry)
.
.
.
Walking and walking, and...
"Welcome to Pantry Coyote, what can I get for you?"
"Can I have the beef burger, with some beer?"
"Understood"
Minutes passed
"Thank you for the wait"
And so, he dug in
The soft beef, enhanced were its flavors by the oil, a spongy bun, an appetizing sauce
The meal, he gobbled up
His beverage, downed in an instant
His stomach filled, he might've already been satisfied, yet perhaps not
He even called for seconds
.
.
.
*Sigh*
(So full)
Bill is paid, satisfaction from both parties made
So, out the establishment, he now walks
Walking and walking
His hands, in his pockets, and now, they rise from it
In his hands was his phone
His fingers moved, slow and subtle
What he was doing, was texting
[Komachi, did you eat your lunch?]
[Of course I did, Onii-chan, also, stop texting me just for that]
[I'm not a kid]
[Also, I'm busy, so don't call]
[Lastly, I'm going to be late tonight, so go ahead and get some food outside or something, anyway, if you're already outside, don't come home]
("I'll be coming early")
(Didn't she say that?)
(A change of schedule?)
(*Gasp* Don't tell me, they're overworking her!?)
(How dare they!)
(Schools are now turning into black companies?)
(They're wrong if they think they can get away with it)
(End to all black companies!)
(Especially the one where Komachi works at!)
Walking and walking
His thoughts come on occasion
Walking and walking
(Oh, let's go here)
.
.
.
A cramped room, made for one, but with space enough, it could work, maybe two even, here he is
Dimmed, the only light came from a screen
Enough to comfort one, enough to comfort him
And so the pages flipped, the only sounds made
He himself stayed quiet, the eyes only moving ever so slightly
Piles of books, laid beside him, in a manga café, his current visit
In front of his eyes
A comedy?
A romance?
A drama?
Something in there appeals to him, something deep, something sacred?
Yet inside what he reads, also exists something all boys fantasize
("What's with this pool? Looks obscene")
("I-i-it's not obscene!")
A slight chuckle, escaping out loud
Fondness in his voice
.
.
.
When realized, he had already finished
(It's already five, huh)
His session finished, he leaves
.
.
.
Walking and walking
He walked with obscure glee
(*Sigh* what a good day)
A rowdy day, one he wouldn't do on his own accord
Yet, still a satisfying day
.
.
.
All that walk, and he's already reached home
With the opening of the door, he enters
As normal
"I'm ho-
The normal greetings stopped
Almost immediately
His senses felt unnerved
A look below, and his gaze caught from something
A pair of shoes?
What was wrong with them?
(Those aren't...)
The unfamiliarity was the concern
*Thud*
*Thud*
*Thud*
Footsteps approaching, louder as they come
(Intruder!)