A sip of tea V2

The garden was full of blooming flowers, creating a symphony of colors and fragrances. The birds were singing happily, but Sora was not in the mood to enjoy them. She was lying on the couch in my office, holding a game controller in her hand. She had been playing video games all morning, but she found no joy in them.

“Never thought playing games alone is this boring, I demand a refund,” she muttered to herself.

Feeling bored as a snail in a desert, she tossed the controller aside and got up from the couch. She walked over to the bookshelf downstairs, hoping to find something that could spark her interest. She scanned the titles of the books, but none of them caught her eye.

“Too many words,” she said as she quickly put back a book that looked too dense and dull for her. She sighed and sprawled on the plush sofa in the cozy guest area, feeling restless and bored.

“There is seriously nothing to do at all,” she complained.

She heard the door open from the kitchen overlooking the pool. She turned her head and saw a familiar figure walking in. Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Big bro?!! Why are you still at home?” she exclaimed.

“Sora!?” I said, equally shocked.

It was a new day, I expected her to join with the rest as planned.

“This is bad, the house is haunted,” she said, half-jokingly.

“Sora, it’s me,” I assured her.

She got up from the sofa and approached me. She poked my arm with her finger.

“Amazing, this feels so real,” she said, pretending to be amazed.

“Oi, what do you think I am? Anyway, aren’t you going out with everyone?” I asked her.

“That’s the question I’m supposed to ask you. Why are you here?” she countered.

“I had urgent business in the morning, so I had to let Himari take over the trip today,” I explained.

“Woah. Game of the year. Brother – the promise breaker,” she teased me.

“Don’t rub salt into my wound like that,” I said, savoring the fragrant tea in my hand. The steam rose from the cup, carrying a hint of jasmine and mint. "Then what about you? Why didn’t you go out with everyone? You were so excited yesterday,” I wondered what had dampened her mood.

“Can you at least pretend to care? Anyway, I stuffed myself with too much food yesterday so my stomach was on fire this morning. It’s better for me to stay home. Besides, they decided to go to some lame bookstores. I think I'm good with playing video games by myself,” she said, joining me gazing at the glittering pool under the sun ray.

"I see. I hope the toilet…” I paused, “I hope you are fine. How are you feeling now?”

"Don’t mistake me for the toilet, you dummy. Good grief. Himari-chan gave me some pills so I'm fine for now. Thanks for asking," she pouted.

“Hmm. Good to hear,” I said, taking another sip of my drink.

“Your reaction is so boring,” Sora nudged my hand gently as she let out a sigh.

“That tickles,” I said while scrolling my phone, ignoring her attack.

She then launched a flurry of playful cat punches at my arm.

"Okay, okay, I won't mess with you anymore," I surrendered.

Walking to the fridge, I took out a carton of cold milk and poured some cereal into a bowl. I added the milk and stirred.

“Have you eaten anything yet?” I asked her while preparing breakfast.

“I have. It was such an amazing experience to have breakfast prepared by everyone,” she said, trying to make me envious.

“Sounds fun. Maybe I’ll join you guys tomorrow,” I said, hoping I can wake up early the next day.

“So you intended to wake up late again huh? Unbelievable. There are four gorgeous and cute girls in the house and you don’t even know how to make a move” she said, shaking her head.

“I will do my best. Gonna go back to work now,” I said, taking the bowl of cereal and rushed upstairs.

As usual, I was swamped with work that seemed endless. Editing videos was a challenging task. I had to meet deadlines and match my creator friends’ upload pace. I ate while working, which had become a routine of mine. Suddenly, I felt someone standing behind me. It was Sora. She was looking curiously at my computer screen.

“Sora, you need something?” I asked her.

“Can’t understand a single thing,” she shrugged, her voice flat and dull.

“Of course. How can you know if you haven’t edited a video before?” I replied.

“You really are a workaholic, aren’t you? Eating while working. Ignoring your friend. That’s no good,” she chided me.

“I can’t believe it, I’m being criticized by the person who was eating while glued to the TV all the time back then,” I retorted.

“What!?” she exclaimed.

“Nothing,” I acted quickly, trying to avoid her wrath.

“I heard every word you said. EVERY SINGLE WORD,” she glared at me with menacing eyes.

“Alright alright, forgive me,” I apologized.

Her power level sank below 9000, my fire alarm system didn’t go off. It appeared that she gave me a break this time. I felt a wave of relief.

“Anyway, you can play games if you want. I don’t mind it,” I suggested.

“It’s boring to play solo,” she sounded a bit bored by the idea.

“Then wait until I’m done with my work. Then I’ll join you,” I offered.

“It’s okay. You do you. I’ll think of some kinds of entertainment,” she let out a sigh.

“Wait Sora,” I called to her before she walked out of the room.

“Yeah?” She turned around and looked at me.

“Can you get me the box of raisins downstairs? Pretty please?” I asked her with a smile.

Suddenly, a silent and awkward atmosphere surrounded us.

“Ahh, ahh, for some reason, my power is draining. My people are calling me, I have to go now, bye!” She said as she ran away with lightning speed and slammed the door behind her.

I was left speechless and confused.

~

The bullet train came to a halt with a hiss, signaling its arrival at the station. The doors slid open and a wave of people poured out and in, pushing and shoving their way through.

“We’re here,” Himari announced.

“I truly admire you, Himari-chan. How can you stand taking the train every week to uni when it’s always so crowded?” Mio asked, following her closely.

“You’ll get used to it soon, Mio,” Himari reassured her.

“I think I will take the bus in the future,” Mio said, hoping for a less stressful commute.

“It’s the same experience anyway,” Himari smiled.

“The city is scary,” Mio’s spirit took a critical hit.

Ding ding, the welcome doorbell of the bookstore rang cheerfully as they entered.

“Wow, look at all these books!” Nitori exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

Nitori and Mio couldn’t help being mesmerized by the world of books in front of them. They wandered around the shelves, picking up books that caught their interest.

“Look, look! The new volume is out!” Nitori said excitedly, approaching the shelf displaying the manga series she liked.

“That’s great. It usually takes a month for the bookstores in our hometown to catch up with the newest releases,” Himari said.

“I know, right? Yoshi, I’ll take the entire stock,” Nitori beamed with determination.

“Relax, Nitori. It won’t go anywhere,” Himari smiled in return.

Mio was drawn to a nearby stall that displayed various accessories. From colorful mini cute keychains to beautiful book markers, it seemed like the bookstore had everything in this world.

“What caught your attention, Mio?” Himari curiously asked.

“They sell cute keychains too,” Mio said, admiring the colorful accessories.

They sure are adorable just like you,” Himari complimented her.

“Eh?” Mio blushed.

“Wow, they’re adorable. Let’s buy one, Mio-chan," Nitori suggested.

“O…okay. But only one,” Mio said.

Beep, the cashier scanned their items and handed them their receipt.

“Ah, I bought more than one,” Mio blushed, trying to hide her embarrassed face.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. You can never have too much,” Himari scanned her card to pay the bill.

“Thank you for shopping with us. Have a nice day,” the bookstore staff said politely.

They left the bookstore with their bags full of books and goodies. They laughed and joked with each other as they walked down the street. The sun was shining brightly, and the breeze was gentle. The city was bustling with people and cars, but they felt relaxed and happy.

“I can’t wait to read the manga and draw to my heart's content tonight,” Nitori said excitedly, hugging her newly bought color pens set.

“I can’t believe going to a bookstore can be this fun,” Mio tried to calm her excitement.

“Do you guys want to grab a drink? I know a nice cafe nearby,” Himari suggested.

“Sure. That sounds good,” Nitori agreed.

“Me too,” Mio nodded.

As they walked towards the cafe, a familiar figure waved at Himari from across the street.

“Oh, Himari-chan! Hello!” She called out.

Himari greeted her friend warmly. “Hi there Natsumi-chan, how are you?”

“I’m good. I can’t believe I could run into you on the way back. Are you hanging out with your friends?" Natsumi asked curiously.

“Yeah. They came to visit me from my hometown. They’ll be staying with me for their summer vacation,” Himari answered.

"Ohhh, that’s awesome,” Natsumi turned to greet Mio and Nitori. “Hello there, you guys must be Mio-chan and Nitori-chan. I'm Fujiwara Natsumi. Do you two find the city fun?"

“We do,” Nitori said enthusiastically.

“It’s very different from where we live,” Mio added shyly.

Himari introduced her friends to each other. “Remember the funny girl I told you? This is her. She went to the same university as me.”

“That’s awesome. Nice to meet you, Fujiwara-san!” Nitori said politely.

“The pleasure is mine,” Natsumi replied graciously, “oi, what do you mean funny?” She turned to Himari.

“It’s nothing. Don’t mind. Anyway, what are you doing, Natsumi-chan?” Himari asked, avoiding to answer.

“Ah, I just got back from activities with the club. There's a big tournament coming up. Everyone's been very busy,” Natsumi sounded tired but determined. She was a member of the archery club, and she had been practicing hard for the national championship that was only a week away.

"Got it. You better win first prize,” giving her friend a thumbs up, Himari said.

“Will do.” Natsumi smiled confidently. “I’ve been practicing hard every day. I won’t let you down.”

"Um! Good luck then,” Himari cheered.

“Thank you. Hard work will reap success,” Natsumi said in a hurry, “anyway, gonna go. Have fun everyone. See you again."

"See you," Himari waved goodbye to her friend.

“That was quite phenomenal. This is such a big city, yet you and your friend still managed to meet by chance,” Mio said in amazement.

“Well, you see, my uni is just around here,” Himari smiled.

“Really? Take us there too!” Nitori exclaimed eagerly.

“M…me too, I want to go there too,” Mio bashfully raised her hand.

“Ok then.”

As they walked along the busy street, they were distracted by the sights and sounds of the city. They saw colorful shops, restaurants, cafes, and people of all kinds. They heard cars honking, music playing, and people chatting. They smelled food, flowers, and perfume. They almost forgot why they were here in the first place. But as they got closer to their destination, they saw a large building looming ahead of them. It was Sakuta Academy, one of the most prestigious universities in the area. It had a modern design, with glass windows and metal frames. It looked impressive and elegant.

"Amazing. I have never thought that the university in big cities was so majestic,” Mio gasped.

Nitori nodded her head in response. “It is completely different from the pictures she sent us. It’s like I’m experiencing a 3D movie.”

“Have you guys thought of which uni you want to apply to and a major to study?” Himari asked them.

"Not really," Mio shrugged.

"Is it important to study in university?" Nitori asked curiously.

“It is. Because every choice shall bring you different adventures,” Himari explained.

"I see. So what major are you studying, Himari-chan?" Nitori wondered.

"Culinary Arts."

“Eh? I thought it was just a subject,” Mio said in surprise.

“It is also a field of study too,” Himari clarified.

Nitori’s curiosity was piqued by Himari’s words. She loved drawing and wanted to learn more about it. She asked excitedly, “So does that mean arts is a major too?”

“Exactly, whatever you want to pursue, there is a major for it,” Himari assured her.

Mio’s eyes sparkled as she heard it too. She couldn’t help but smile and start to imagine what her future would be like

"That’s great. Hey, hey, tell me more about studying in university. Is it difficult?" Nitori asked eagerly.

"You're always full of energy, Nitori," Mio smiled fondly at her friend.

“How about we grab a drink first. I'll tell you everything you want to know," Himari suggested.

"Yay!" Nitori agreed happily.

As the three chit-chatted on the way to the coffee shop, Mio halted in her tracks when she spotted a drugstore across the busy street. It had a bright green sign that said “Pharmacy” in white letters. She remembered that her younger sister Sora was sick at home. She felt a pang of worry in her chest.

“Is something wrong Mio?” Himari asked, noticing that Mio had stopped walking.

“I wonder how Sora is doing at home,” she said softly.

“Don't worry, Mio-chan. Sora will be just fine,” Nitori reassured her.

“Everything will be ok. I’ve told senpai to take care of Sora for you.”

"Thank you guys,” Mio said gratefully.

“Hehe, you really are a caring sister Mio,” Himari patted Mio's head gently, admiring Mio’s love for her family. “You’ll make a great bride one day. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Eh?” Mio felt her face heat up as she heard those words. She suddenly forgot about her worries as she felt a surge of panic. She could sense that her friends were getting excited about that idea.

~

“Haaa~. It’s all done,” I stretched and yawned, feeling satisfied with my work. I glanced at my phone and saw that it was already noon.

“Hmmm, a message from Himari.”

I tapped on the notification:

'Sora is not feeling well. Please take care of her ^--^' - Himari, 2 hours ago.

'How is Sora? Our national symbol of cuteness Mio is worried.' - Himari, 5 minutes ago.

I felt a pinch of guilt for missing the message before. I hoped Sora was doing okay. I decided to check on her and see if she needed anything. Downstairs, I found her standing still and observing the sakura trees in the garden.

‘Sorry, I just noticed the message. She’s doing fine. Remember to come back early for lunch.’

I quickly typed a reply to Himari and sent it.

I walked out into the garden and approached Sora.

"What are you doing, Sora?" I asked curiously.

"I'm talking to the trees,” she answered without looking at me.

“Are you retarded?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Big bro, can you think of anything to do? I'm bored," she turned to me.

“Games?”

She shook her head.

“It’s not fun to play solo against you. None of us could even win a single match. You don’t take us newbies lightly either. It’s only fun if Nitori is also around.”

“But it feels good beating you guys in every single game,” I tried to convince her otherwise.

"Only you feel that way, dummy big bro,” she stuck out her tongue.

“Hmm, how about board games?” I took out a set of board games from the bookshelf and showed it to her.

"How do you play?" She asked with interest.

“Here, first you choose the class that you like. Then you build an army in the second phase. Remember that the red dice are for attack only,” I opened the guidebook and explained to her.

She looked at the board and the pieces with confusion.

“Come to think of it, I’ll pass. Too complicated.”

"Cards?" I offered another option.

She shook her head again.

“It’s boring with only two people.”

"Swimming?" I pointed at the pool.

"I'm not in the mood," she said flatly.

"Watching movies?" I tried again.

She sighed.

“I don't really enjoy movies nowadays.”

"House cleaning?"

She glared at me with an annoyed expression.

“Are you tricking me to work for you?”

I sat on the sofa and sighed.

"I’m out of ideas,” I admitted defeat.

“This is so boring. Why are there days when I don't feel like doing anything?" She wondered aloud, joining me on the sofa.

“Interesting, you were never in the mood to do anything. You’re always lazy," I remarked sarcastically.

"Hey, that’s mean," she pouted weakly, as if she was in low battery mode.

“By the way, have you done your homework yet? Mio and Himari just reminded me of your and Nitori's summer homework,” I asked casually, as I remembered their messages.

Sora seemed to have switched to silent mode this time.

“Ahh, I think the stomachache is coming back,” she pretended to be sick.

"Oi, you think you can escape huh?"

And so, Sora was forced to do her homework afterwards.

“I should have gone with them,” she muttered regretfully, looking miserable and pale as the pile of homebooks on the desk.

"Stop complaining and focus on your homework," I ordered sternly, as I watched over her.

“Do you need to sit here and watch me?” She asked, annoyed.

"Yes, so don't think about slacking off,” I nodded firmly.

"You're being creepy, you know. No girl likes being stalked like that."

"Don't try to change the subject," I ignored her remark.

"Can’t I just wait for Nitori to come back and do the homework with me?"

"No means no, lady,” I rejected her request.

Nitori checked her phone when it vibrated. She smiled when she saw Sora’s message:

‘Save me. He found out about the summer homework T-T.'

Nitori giggled and replied with a laughing emoji:

“Ehehe. Good luck Sora.”

She put her phone away and joined Mio and Himari for a group photo. They were having fun at the amusement park, enjoying the rides and attractions.

The sunny sky was like a blue canvas, elevating the vibrant colors of the flowers in my garden. The pool glittered like a jewel, reflecting the sun’s rays. A typical feature of the summer weather. The air was warm and fragrant, inviting me to relax and enjoy the summer weather.

I watched Sora as she lazed on the table, bored out of her mind.

“So boring~” She whined, fidgeting with her pencil.

"Hey, concentrate,” I reminded her.

Sora looked at me with a displeased expression. She narrowed her eyes and smirked.

“Hmmm..." she seemed to be plotting something mischievous.

I braced myself for a counterattack.

"Hey, what do you say we spice things up by becoming lovers?” She said with a teasing tone, waiting for the right time for me to drink water.

I coughed from choking on water.

“Are you crazy?” I exclaimed, wiping my mouth with my hand.

Sora laughed out loud in satisfaction, enjoying seeing me flustered.

“Just do your homework already,” I said, trying to regain my composure.

“Ahaha…hah~” Sora wiped away her tears after laughing heartily, “but I’m all done,” she claimed and handed me the homework.

“Let me check,” I grabbed her homework and scanned it, "What is this? Are you kidding me? It’s just empty space,” I said in disbelief.

Her homework had only a few words, the rest was blank. She had not even attempted to solve any of the problems.

"But I don't know how to deal with them,” she shrugged innocently.

I sighed. She was hopeless.

"If you don't know, just ask me. Now, tell me which questions you don’t understand,” I said patiently, offering to help her.

“1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Ah question 6 too,” she said casually.

"That's all of your math homework,” I facepalmed -____-.

"Hehe, please continue to tutor me like the good ol’ days,” she smiled sweetly.

“Alright then,” I agreed reluctantly.

Looking at her homework, my head went through all the knowledge that I had learned. But as I read the questions, I realized that they were way beyond my level. They involved complex formulas and calculations that I had never seen before.

‘What is this? Why is this so difficult? Which formula should be applied for this question? Is this even math or just madness?’ - My flow of thought was running at its maximum capacity.

I gradually realized that I didn’t know how to do it either. I felt a surge of panic. How could I tutor her if I didn’t understand it myself?

I looked at Sora, who was already in a ready position waiting for me to teach her. She looked at me expectantly, trusting me to help her. That just put even more pressure on me.

“How about we can take a break? You've been studying for almost an hour now."

In the end, I had to give up.

“Oki, love you,” unaware of my dilemma, she smiled happily, making a heart shape with her hands.

I couldn’t tell her that I didn’t remember a thing.

~

*clack* The main door of my house opened.

“We’re back,” Himari announced, as she entered with Mio and Nitori. They had just returned from their trip to the bookstore and the amusement park. They put their stuff on the table and looked around.

“Where are Niko and Sora?” Mio asked, noticing that the house was quiet.

The noise above the house caught their attention. They heard voices and laughter coming from upstairs.

“Execute the combo, Sora!" I shouted, as I pressed the buttons on the controller.

"Cover me,” Sora replied, as we coordinated our moves.

‘You win!’ The computer screen displayed.

“WOOOOHOOOOO.” Sora and I shouted to celebrate our victory. We high-fived each other and grinned.

“Hello Niko-senpai, hello Sora.” entering the office, Himari greeted us.

"Ahh Himari-chan, ohaiyo," Sora said hi.

“Welcome back. Was the trip fun?" I asked, as I paused the game.

“Absolutely.” Himari nodded, smiling. “We had a blast. The amusement park you recommended was amazing, and the drinks we had were out of this world.”

“I don’t need it. I don’t need it. I don’t need it,” chanting away her jealousy, Sora pretended she didn’t hear anything.

“Sora!” Nitori exclaimed as she burst into the room, "Sora, how are you feeling? Are you feeling ok? Do you still remember who I am? It's me, your best pal Nitori," she rushed to Sora’s side and clasped her hands, speaking rapidly.

"I had a stomachache, not brain damage," Sora tried to push her friend away.

"Is that so?" Nitori acted surprised.

"You seriously want me to punch you?!"

“Aww come on, you know you would never win me in a physical competition,” Nitori squeezed her friend, not letting Sora get away.

They teased each other like playful puppies.

"Alright girls, everyone is home now. Let's go downstairs and eat lunch," I said.

"Nice timing, I was about to get hungry," Sora's spirit was back online.

In the kitchen, Himari helped me prepare the dishes for everyone.

“So what do we have for lunch this afternoon, senpai?” Himari asked me, as she laid out the dishes on the table.

“Ah, we have…” I stopped, realizing that I had forgotten something important.

“Senpai?” Himari looked at me with concern.

“I forgot to make lunch.” I said with a panicked expression.

“Eh?” Himari gasped.

“I’m going to jump in a hole now.” I said dramatically.

“Calm down senpai, it’s okay. I’ll tell everyone to prepare lunch with us,” Himari said quickly, trying to calm me down. She then shouted, “Everyone, let’s cook lunch together.”

"Coming!" The three of them shouted in union.

“Wait up, you girls should go upstairs to study. I’ll take care of lunch,” Mio stopped Sora and Nitori before they could join us.

“No way, that’s boring,” Sora complained.

“No, Sora. You didn't do your homework back at home so better study now since you’re having free time," Mio scolded her.

“Fine,” answered Sora wearily.

“Let's do our homework together, Sora. Let's quickly finish it so that we can go out this afternoon with everyone," Nitori said cheerfully, beaming everyone with her positivity.

“Hear hear,” Sora agreed reluctantly.

“Wait up, Sora. Take this,” Mio handed Sora a keychain and a book, "it's a gift from me and Himari."

“That’s right, I also bought you a present,” Nitori said, reaching into her bag on the table and taking out a light pink phone case. It featured a charming hand drawn picture of a cat napping on a cup of ice cream. "Ta-da!"

“Whoa, so beautiful. Thank you everyone,” Sora said, as she took the gifts.

“Better take care of them. I'm going to make some food now," Mio said, as she headed to the kitchen.

“Roger nee-chan,” Sora saluted.

"Okay. Let's do this," Nitori’s energy surged up.

"You really are full of life, Nitori, even doing homework can make you happy huh?"

Outside, the raindrops began to grow heavy before we could notice. The sky turned dark and cloudy. Thunder rumbled in the distance.

"Himari, rain!" I shouted, as I dropped everything and rushed to the front yard, putting on a raincoat.

“Woah, senpai. You startled me. Are you a little bit too old to get excited about rain?” Himari went to see what happened.

“N…no, the clothes.”

“They’ll dry in no time, you don’t have to worry,” she smiled, as if she hadn’t noticed the getting heavier. “The clothes!” She gasped.

Grabbing two umbrellas, she opened it like a warrior and rushed out to the rain.

“Hurry up, senpai! I can’t hold it for long,” she shouted as she covered only her clothes and the girls’.

“Hold up, protect my clothes too, they are sensitive to water” I ran to take the clothes back inside.

“All clothes are!”

“Heh? What are they doing shouting in the rain?” Holding the inner rice cooker pot, Mio wondered. She soon panicked as she saw the cooking pots were boiling.

The raindrops grew heavier, but the sun still peeked through the clouds, casting a soft glow on the streets. A veil of mist and rain shimmered on the pavement, creating a dazzling reflection of the light. The rain came in bursts, sometimes gentle and soothing, sometimes fierce and wild, shaking the green branches of the trees. The windowpane steamed up from the cozy atmosphere inside, and quivered slightly from the wind. The rain and the window sang a sweet melody, interrupted by the occasional thunderclap.

"It's raining," Nitori said, as she noticed the foggy bedroom window.

“Hmmm. Looks like it’s gonna pour all day," Sora paused her homework, taking a sip of orange juice.

Feeling adventurous, she stood up and opened the room window. The wind blew the pages of the books on their desks to flutter.

“Ahoyyyy! Let us sail!" Sora shouted loudly, pretending to be a pirate.

"Sora?" Nitori looked at her with bewilderment.

“Hehe, I have always wanted to do that again. Rain always reminds me of the time when we used to imagine sailing across the ocean together,” Sora explained, smiling wistfully.

Nitori joined Sora at the window and gazed out to the stunning vibrant colors of the garden and the faint lights of the houses around.

“Ah…ahoy…” She tried to mimic her friend.

“Navigator, report!” Sora said, acting as the captain.

“The waves in the South are very strong right now, Captain. At this rate, we might not make it to the treasure.” Nitori reported, playing along.

"Okay, hoist the flag!” Sora said, pointing at a towel hanging on the wall.

Both of them looked at each other and smiled. They felt a surge of nostalgia and happiness.

"I can't, it's too embarrassing," Nitori said, breaking character.

“Haha~…same here. Didn't think it would be so embarrassing when we grow up,” Sora agreed, chuckling.

“But it was really fun back then. We always played in the rain and caught a cold afterwards but we never stopped,” Nitori reminisced fondly.

“Yeah. The feeling of eating ice cream and fruit after playing in the rain is the best.”

"That’s right. Today I got to try a delicious ice cream. Fruit parfait. The city is really full of delicious food. I can't wait to come here to study," Nitori happily shared her morning adventures with Sora.

“Ehhhh, I also want to try that too,” Sora said with envy.

"Don't worry, I'll take you there someday,” Nitori promised.

“Is it me or does that sound far-fetched?”

“Believe me. We will try all the food the city has to offer once we graduate high school,” Nitori said with confidence.

“Apart from the rain, I think I can also hear my wallet crying.”

The rain wind fluttered their hairs and their hearts, creating a soothing rhythm that contrasted with the silence in the room. Nitori stole a quick look at her friend, who was staring out the window with a pensive expression. She smiled as she gazed back at the rain outside.

“Hey Sora, have you decided what you want to study in university?”

"Not yet though. I heard some people discussing this matter in our class. But isn't choosing which university to enroll in more important?"

“Himari-chan said that choosing a university was only a part of it. The most important thing is that we study what we like,” Nitori said, recalling the conversation earlier.

"Understandable. So what are you going to study?" Sora asked, wondering what her friend had chosen.

"I'm not sure about that either,” Nitori smiled innocently.

“Time sure flies fast, nee-chan will graduate next year. Meanwhile we're here and still don't know what to do,” Sora sighed, feeling anxious about the future.

“Woah, what a surprise. I didn't expect you to be able to generate such mature thoughts, Sora," Nitori was both impressed and amused by her friend's words.

“Oi, what do you mean by that?”

“Hehe. It's true that time goes by fast. It will be very lonely once Mio-chan graduates,” Nitori expressed, her voice softening. "But I think we'll be fine. After all, there is always a rainbow after the rain,” she smiled happily.

“Nitori, you’re such a cheeseball. That was so corny,” Sora got goosebumps.

She was not expecting to hear that at all.

"Ehehe."

“Girls, lunch is ready,” Mio called Sora and Nitori from downstairs.

"Coming!” They answered in unison.

The two of them quickly packed up and went downstairs.

Transition scene:

“Oh wow, looks like we're gonna have chocolate truffles as dessert for lunch today,” said Nitori.

"It's fried tuna," I explained to her the wonderful achievement of forgetting to turn off the stove.

“….”

End.

The sound of rain dropped echoed in the air like a melody. It was a soothing rhythm that filled the room with a sense of calmness and peace. The foggy windows created a dreamy bokeh effect, as the shafts of sunlight shined through them. The smell of rainfall mixed with the smell of matcha tea, making the atmosphere cozy and warm.

“Seems that it won't stop raining.”

"You don't like the rain, Mio?" Himari asked gently.

“I do, but I'm worried that everyone won't be able to go to the water park.”

"Tea and fruit coming right up," Nitori said with a smile, as she poured tea for everyone. Sora prepared the fruit snack, cutting the apples and oranges meticulously and delicately and placing them on the plate.

“Thank you, you two.”

“Where is big bro Niko?” Sora wondered aloud.

“He’s upstairs working. He wants to finish his work quickly so he can have more time with us.”

The clacking sound of the mechanical keyboard sped up, syncing with the classical background music. It was as if I was racing against time.

“And submitted,” I stretched, “Everything is done. Thank you both for your help,” letting out a sigh of relief, I said.

“No problem. You better bring them joy. If they're upset then you’ll know the name of my fist," one of my streamer friends sent me a voice message.

“Haha, that's funny. What are you, their parents?” I laughed mockingly, rejoining in the group chat.

"You know he’s a simp when it comes to pretty girls," another friend jumped in, she sounded sarcastically.

“Hanako, you just don’t get it. That was called being a gentleman, not simping."

Once they started teasing each other, it rarely ended quickly.

“Anyway Niko, have fun. Remember to tune in the stream next time," Hanako said.

"Roger. Thanks a bunch, guys. Gonna go now. See ya."

"Bye."

Logging out of the pc, I quickly changed and went downstairs.

"Okay girls, let's go to the water park!" I shouted eagerly.

The girls looked at me as if I were some kind of unknown species.

"Something is wrong here, I can feel it," I said slowly, sensing their confusion.

"Senpai, it's still raining outside."

*Rumble* The sound of thunder rattling.

I stood still, slowly coming back to my senses. I must have been too focused on my work and not paid attention to my surroundings.

“Thank you for coming to the interview. Please have a seat,” Sora patted her hands on the sofa.

"Does it look like I'm going to an interview?"

“There is a similarity. Whatchu guys think?" Sora asked.

“Hmmm, if you look closely, his clothes are similar to those who go to an interview,” Himari observed.

“Just add a tie and Niko will look like a serious businessman,” Mio commented.

“I think his clothes are normal,” said Nitori, as she poured me some tea.

“I also learned how to dress. C’mon, they look so cool, right?" I said, trying to defend myself.

"You ain’t cool, bro. You look serious all the time,” said Sora.

“Is that so…thanks for the compliment,” I smiled the pain away.

“Don't worry senpai, even if you’re not cool, you’re very caring. That’s what matters to us..”

Himari hit me with the 'not cool but kind' attack, dealing 25 damage.

"Yes, even if you don’t look impressive on the outside, you’re always a very nice person on the inside."

Mio combo-ed with a critical strike 'not impressive, just nice', dealing 75 damage.

“Nitori…I need healing,” I weakly called for support.

“Eh...? Um…Etou… I like tea!” Nitori blurted out nervously.

Everybody got silent, not knowing how to react to that.

“Haha, she will never betray us, dummy big bro,” Sora confidently asserted.

"I’ll buy you anything you want, Nitori," I used my ultimate “dark art” to make a deal.

"OK!" her eyes sparkled brightly.

"Hey Nitori, don't let him bribe you," Sora tried to convince her friend.

“Haha, senpai is playing unfair again.”

“I think I will take back my compliment”, Mio rethought about her opinion.

"Come on, I'll get you two something too," I smiled, attempting to use the dark art on Himari and Mio.

“We are not easily corrupted,” Himari showed her unbreakable fortitude.

“EHHH, why am I the only one who doesn't have any offer?” Sora added.

Our laughter gradually drowned out the rain. As the rain slowly changed its fast-paced melody to a slower and more relaxing one, I slept without knowing.

~

Sora tossed her books aside and stretched her arms. “Finally done with homework,” she said with a sigh of relief.

"I'm fried too," Nitori lazed on the table, resting her head on her arms.

They turned their heads to the sofa behind them, where I was lying blissfully, smiling happily and feeling cozy in my sleep, covered with a blanket.

“Looking at this sleeping rock really ticks me off. Hey bro, wake up," Sora said as she shook my legs vigorously, "oi, wake up, will ya."

“Sora, I think we should just let him sleep.”

“Come on Nitori, don't let him trick you. Don't you find it annoying that he purposely sleeps here just to tease us?" Sora said angrily, pointing at my smug sleeping smile.

“No, I mean we have a phone, brushes and highlighters, we better let him sleep,” Nitori said, showing her tools of mischief.

Both of them laughed wickedly.

"You two have studied hard, have some cookies," Mio brought them a plate full of freshly baked treats from the kitchen.

“Thank you,” they said in unison, putting back the cap of the color brush on and grabbing a cookie each.

“Yummy. Now I want to eat ice cream next, nee-chan.”

"You just got over a critical situation and now you want to eat already? You might not make it next time, you know," Mio said as she opened the cap of the highlighter and added more details on my face.

“It was just a minor inconvenience, not a near-death experience,” Sora said.

“Ah, I saw a cork in the kitchen if you need one, Sora,” Nitori recalled.

“What am I supposed to do with that?” Sora questioned.

“There is no other way, I have to resort to the ultimate move,” she thought then quickly clinched to Mio's shirt, shaking her pleadingly. “Pretty please, nee-chan, I've finished my homework anyway."

“You're annoying. What flavor do you want then?” Mio said exasperatedly, giving in to her sister’s request.

“Anything is fine,” Sora smiled brightly.

“At least decide for yourself,” Mio said irritably and stood up.

“Thank you, nee-chan. Love you."

“Just this once only,” Mio bonked her sister lightly with a chop.

“Roger.”

“You want one too, Nitori?” Mio asked.

“I'm fine.”

Meanwhile, outside the house, the sound of the door opening blew a cold wind into the living room, where I was sleeping on the sofa. Himari quickly entered the house with two bags of sweets and baking ingredients. She closed the umbrella and shook off the raindrops that sparkled like jewels on it. Mio hurried to the entryway area to help her. 

"Let me help you put those bags on the table,” Mio said helpfully, taking both the shopping bags from Himari.

“Thank you, Mio. Niko-senpai still hasn't woken up, yes?" Himari asked, taking off her black rain boots and putting them aside.

"Yeah, he seems to be hibernating.”

“Well then. Our plan will work out perfectly,” Himari stood up, feeling excited. "I'm back," she greeted Nitori and Sora cheerfully as she saw them walk toward her from the living room.

"Hello. What did you buy?" Sora asked eagerly, eyeing the bags with interest.

"Look," Himari showed them two large white plastic bags with all the sweets that Mio was holding, "this is sweet heaven in two bags."

“Whoa. Splendid." Nitori said impressed, admiring the variety of sweets.

"Yoshi. If you two are free, let’s start preparing," Himari suggested enthusiastically.

"Ok!” Nitori and Sora agreed happily.

Down in the kitchen, the four of them prepared for a surprise party tonight. They baked a chocolate cheesecake cake with vanilla frosting and colorful sprinkles. They adorned the room with balloons, their own cute drawings, and their personalized cups of steaming tea.

A cheerful song filled the air as they worked, and they chatted and laughed about our past adventures along the way.

“…then Niko-senpai realized he went to the wrong school,” Himari recounted one of my embarrassing moments from middle school.

“Hahahaha~” the others laughed heartily at my expense.

“He was always so careless. Remember when he forgot to bring his own stuff when we went camping? He had to wear Mio-chan's dress. It was hilarious," Sora added another story to mock me.

“Hahaha. I still didn't expect him to fit in at all,” Nitori joined in the laughter, remembering how I looked in a dress.

“Middle school time sure was really the best,” Mio thought back.

"To be honest, after paying close attention, he sure hasn't changed much since then," Nitori said fondly.

“Except that Niko-senpai started working all night and slept a lot,” Himari recalled.

“Hearing that makes me want to scold him so bad,” said Mio.

“Nevertheless, big bro is still as cool as ever. I don't want him to change at all.”

"You just want to be pampered by him, am I right Sora?" Himari smiled.

“Ehehe.” Sora giggled sheepishly, blushing a little.

As they were talking, I was sleeping on the sofa with a face full of colorful doodles, unaware of their conversation.

"I'm still amazed that he can still spend time with us when he has so many things to take care of now," Nitori said.

“That's a pretty rare thing isn't it. Everyone has new friends and personal things to take care of when time comes,” Mio agreed sadly, thinking of how people drift apart.

"Don't worry guys, if he dares to forget, I will delete him,” Sora threatened boldly, making a slashing gesture with her hand.

“C’mon, I’m not that scary.” Sora protested innocently, pouting her lips.

“Hahaha.” The others laughed warmly at her cute expression.

“We are quite lucky to have a friend like him huh,” Nitori said gratefully, feeling thankful for our friendship.

"Yeah,” the others nodded sincerely, feeling the same way.

“But it’s only been a month since big bro bought a house and all, like…we’re not in a manga, right?” Sora said suspiciously, wondering how I could afford such a nice place.

Everybody suddenly became silent.

“Is he doing something illegal, Himari-chan?” Nitori and the others looked at Himari in fear.

"It's not, calm down guys."

*Ping*

“Ah, the cake is done.” Himari announced breaking the tension. “Everyone, let’s decorate the cake,” she tried to change the topic.

As the rain subsided, I woke up to a pleasant surprise. They had thrown a party for me, a party to celebrate my success in achieving my dream. The cool breeze and the water drops added to the festive mood, while the city light and the evening moon glowed brightly. Even though we couldn't go to the water park, that evening was not any less fun and joyful than a real outing.

“Congratulations, senpai. I and everyone were very happy to see you succeed in pursuing your dream. Since everyone couldn't get to see you until now, and because we really wanted to give you the most meaningful gifts besides words of congratulation, we secretly planned this little party together to congratulate you…' - Himari.

‘…It's just a small party, but I hope you enjoy it. It's not simply just a party to congratulate you, it's also a special party to thank you and to tell you the words we couldn't say before. We really missed you…' - Mio.

'…And we've always wanted to say we're so grateful for everything you did for us. You are not just a friend to us. You are also a super cool upperclassman, a tutor who devotedly helped us every summer and an older brother who always spent time with us…' – Sora.

‘…If I could turn back time, I wish I could spend time with you and everyone every day again. Even if you have succeeded, please don't forget us' - Nitori.

“These girls, they sure have a knack for writing cheesy letters,” I blushed as I read their letters, “But I will cherish them forever.”

I placed their four letters next to the gift boxes and piece of cheesecake they baked for me. The night sky was clear after the rain, and the moon shone brightly. Everything was bathed in a silver light, creating a magical atmosphere. A smile formed on my face, unaware of the doodles they had drawn on it as a joke. A new sip of tea warmed me up, and I braced myself for the overnight work.

THAT’S ALL FOR THIS CHAPTER.