Chapter 389: Why is the Teacher at My House?

The brother and sister walked hand in hand down the street, when they felt the hunger again, it had already been over half an hour.

They debated and fussed for a while, and finally decided on a place for dinner at this crucial moment—

The nearby Gourmet Street.

Speaking of that street, for the Himekoji siblings, it held special meaning.

They went there countless times as kids. You could say it carried their whole childhood together.

Ever since they started living together again, they’d planned to go again, but just couldn’t find the time.

Today was a rare chance.

After deciding, Akito happened to check the time. The food stalls at Gourmet Street usually packed up around nine.

“Akiko…”

“Hmm?”

“Something important. Got to tell you.”

“Oh? What what? Is it… another love confession?”

Akiko blinked, her face full of hope.

Spending time alone with Onii-chan today felt like hitting the jackpot.

With that earlier deep talk, she wouldn’t be surprised by anything next.

Could he be proposing today?

Akimiko felt soooo happy!

“Ahem, I admire your completely misplaced optimism. Sadly, it’s not that.”

“Then what? Are you sneaking into Akiko’s bed for a night attack?”

“That’s even more impossible!”

Himekoji laughed wryly. He pulled out his phone, unlocked it, and showed her.

“My unreliable little sister, look at the time! If we dawdle, all the food stalls will close!”

“Eh?! Whaaa?! Impossible! Time flew too fast!”

Akiko covered her face with her hands, letting out a long, helpless cry.

“Hmph! Never thought it’d be this kind of time!”

“Uh, it’s not that dramatic? We started late, plus chatted and strolled lazily all this time…”

“Nooo! I didn’t get to do anything at all!”

Standing before Akito was his sister, acting childish again.

It just confirmed one more fact—

A cute girl is cute even when being annoying.

“What do you mean? Didn’t we share a world just for us? And we both enjoyed it, right?”

“True! But nothing solid happened with Onii-chan! Just talking and walking! Look, I’m starving! Starving flat! You fix it, Onii-chan!”

“Er…”

True, they hadn’t eaten. But Akito had no idea how to handle her whining.

He totally wanted the happiness to slow down, stretch out longer.

“Wanted to grab Onii-chan’s first kiss while we were alone, all romantic! Planned to strike fast! Ruined!”

Perhaps too worked up, Akiko accidentally revealed her little scheme.

“Huh?”

Seriously?!

Hearing that, Akito was stunned! Caught off guard, he stumbled, almost falling.

“Well, be thankful. If you’d tried, our sibling bond ends. Right there. Ties cut.”

Besides, the first kiss? Already gone.

Thinking this, Akito lifted his hand unconsciously, fingers brushing his lips.

Come to think it, The System used to nag about the “Miura’s Kiss” task. But it’d been silent lately.

“How can you!”

Ignoring the cold water he threw, Akiko only seemed more fired up. She clenched her fist, rallying.

“Onii-chan! Time left! No giving up! Hurry! Let’s run!”

“Huh?”

The thought of The System vanished instantly. That feeling of being dragged by a dog washed over Akito.

“Hey, hey! Slow down! My sleeve! Gonna tear!”

In the end, the siblings squeezed in just before closing. Barely.

No time to sit and eat properly. No, not even time to stand. They weaved between streets, crowds, stalls—eating and running.

This was the best way to refuel when chased by the clock.

Running like maniacs, they did stuff food into their bodies. Somehow.

Hopefully?

That food must’ve digested during all that…

Anyway, compared to the earlier warm atmosphere, their time alone petered out a little.

Still, seeing Akiko like that—sleeves fluttering wildly, cheeks stuffed with tempura and fried chicken—made Akito shake his head, silently chuckling.

“Hah~”

As long as I can keep Akiko smiling like this, nothing else matters.

This thought suddenly popped into Akito’s mind.

He wished tomorrow, the day after, and every day after this, he could spend simple, fun sibling time with Akiko.

This quiet, slow everyday life? Was everywhere. Only special because it was with her.

No doubt, Himekoji Akiko was the most special to Himekoji Akito.

No one could replace her.

…

Took out the keys, opened the door. Only upon entering did Akiko finally free his hand.

“We’re home.”

Akito stood in the Genkan removing shoes, announcing like usual.

“Huh? Guests?”

He noticed something odd the next moment.

Several extra pairs of shoes in the Genkan. All women’s.

Mashiro’s, Nanami’s—he recognized those since they lived together. The other two felt strange.

“H-Hold on! These red high heels… Hiratsuka-sensei’s?”

“Home visit?”

He guessed that might explain it.

“But the others?”

As he puzzled over it, the study door swung open. Who peeked out? Hiratsuka Shizuka, of course.

Having recognized her shoes already, he wasn’t that shocked.

What stunned him was his teacher’s acting like she owned the place—

“Himekoji. Here. Now.”

Like she was the owner and he the guest…

“Huh? Come? W-Wait! Teacher! Why are you in my house?”

…