We can’t get along

“I’m really sorry, Yuuya-kun. This girl isn’t used to interacting with people. Ah, even though I sent her to work part-time at the bathhouse…” Kaname-san patted her daughter’s head. Akame was about to cry. Tch, little girls are never in the wrong.

I took the towel off my forehead and sat up, then put on my glasses, thinking about what I should say. Sorry? It’s fine? It didn’t matter.

“To make up for it, why don’t we have Akame wash Yuuya-kun’s back? You can do that, right, Akame?” Kaname-san smiled at her daughter.

“S-s-sorry, I w-will do it…”

I felt a shiver.

“I’m not a kid anymore! I’m a grown man, how could I be in the bathroom with a…!” I shut my mouth when I realized I was shouting. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“No, you have a point. It’s too soon for that. It’s okay, Yuuya-kun, I’m not trying to force you into anything.” Kaname-san smiled gently, and I felt a pang of guilt.

“Sorry…” This woman was no ordinary city lady. I thought she was some kind of hip single mom from Tokyo, but she radiated motherly housewife energy.

“You’re such a pretty child, Yuuya-kun.”

I jumped and stared at Kaname-san. She wore the same smile she had earlier.

“This is the first time I’ve seen such beautiful silver hair.”

“Well, my friends call me an old man because of it.” I laughed dryly, adjusting my glasses while observing Kaname-san.

She was completely still, her smile frozen on her face like a doll’s. It gave me the creeps. Meanwhile, Akame stared at me with puppy eyes.

Did Kaname-san…marry my dad for his money? That thought flashed through my mind, and I couldn’t let it slide.

“Anyway, I’m going to make dinner.” I got up and rushed to the kitchen.

“Wait, Yuuya-kun, leave the cooking to…” Her. The housewife.

I stood there and gulped. I couldn’t explain why, but I did not want to eat her cooking. Call it instinct.

“You’re the guest, Kaname-san.” I took out the ingredients and piled them up on the kitchen counter, then started preparing a meal for four.

Four people…this is ridiculous. I stared at the plates I laid out.

Seeing my forced smile, Kaname-san put a hand on her chest.

“What’s wrong, Yuuya-kun?”

“...Sit down and make yourself at home. Feel free to pretend that this is your home.” Those words flowed from the darkest corners of my heart.

“Yuuya-kun, you’re misunderstanding something. Me and Daiya-san…”

“Please.”

Kaname-san gulped.

“It’s alright to hate me, Yuuya-kun, but…” she kept smiling. “Please, don’t vent it out on Akame.”

I did not reply. The sound of my cooking filled the silent house.

+++

“My son is no good at taking care of guests, but his cooking is top-class.” My dad laughed as he ate my cooking.

“Thanks.” I took a bite of my stir-fried veggies. They were cooked with high heat, and so retained the sweetness and crispiness of the ingredient. Not bad, I must say.

I sighed when I saw the two outsiders at our dinner table.

“Sorry, Kana-chan. I need to have a chat with my son.” Dad stood up and put a hand on my shoulder.

“Feel free.” The woman’s smile lacked a shred of discomfort, even though I just dissed her. However, her daughter Akame had her head down, staring at her fingers and not touching the food.

She trembled when she realized I was looking at her.

Dad took me outside.

“Yuuya, what the heck is wrong with you? Do you know how to be respectful, huh?” Dad shook my shoulders.

“You want me to act all giddy and happy in front of the woman who’s going to replace mom?” I replied, and dad rubbed his neck at the response.

“You’re really your mother’s child, so stubborn… Yuuya, nobody is going to replace your mom.”

“And who’s that in the other room?”

“Yuuya, listen to me…”

“Dad, I know what you’re going to say.” I sighed and went back to the dining room.

“Nii-nii, I’m sorry…” My new little sister said as soon as I sat down.

“You didn’t do anything wrong…” I mumbled, pitying her.

“I…I will wash nii-nii’s back!” She got up and smacked the table with her small fists. A shiver ran down my spine. Just thinking of her tongue on my skin…

“Good idea, right, Yuuya? Use this chance to get to know your sister!”

“Dad?!”

My dad didn’t react, but Akame did. She shut her eyes, her small hands trembling, and I felt sorry for her. I sighed for the hundredth time and pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose.

“Well, as long as you’re willing, Akame-chan…”

“Nii-nii?!”

Only this one time. I’ll do as she wanted for this one time only!