This Dinner is Seriously Frustrating

“Mako~ can you go tell your sister dinner’s almost ready?”

My mom called out to me from the kitchen and I replied with a drawn out yes. This is a fairly standard routine in our household… or is it apartmenthold? Is that even a thing? Do you still say household if it’s an apartment?

Maybe I really am terrible at writing…

As I ponder this great question I find my way to Sayuri’s room. After politely knocking a few times with no response I decided to barge in.

It’s her fault if she’s in the middle of changing or something, right?

However, the room is empty. My eyebrows and mood sink—I know exactly where she is.

I burst into my room with a loud “Aha!”, and like I predicted, caught red-handed, was Sayuri. She sat with crossed legs on my chair and her cat-ear headset on her— well— head.

Despite my loud “Aha!”, which should’ve signaled to her she was caught, I was ignored completely.

[“Are you ******* kidding me!? It’s not that hard! I’ve seen seven year olds smoke stairs! It’s not even a jump throw! You ******* ***** ******!”]

“Uhm… Sayuri—”

[“Okay!? So what if it’s different in Offensive Strike 2? You ******* *****, learn the new line-up!”]

“The little sister archetype is supposed to be cute and affectionate. You know, like innocent and pure, maybe a little devilish and teasing. But this… this really is its own beast.”

I think I heard her offend several different cultures in just two sentences… At least her English is good?

“Oh, Mako, did you say something?”

Don’t act all cute and innocent now! “Uhm yeah… I came to tell you dinner’s ready— No! I have something else!”

“Hm?” She tilted her head.

Her black hair that was put up in a messy ponytail fell to the side along with her head.

“Y-you could at least tell me that you’ll be using my computer… I’ll probably never say no.”

“Oh! I was learning about that from a guy a few games ago!”

“About what?”

“What you said is called “implied consent”. That means for now on, your silence means consent, and I can use your computer whenever, right?”

“...”

“Mako?”

“Sayuri… I need to have a chat with you about what that means…”

***

She buried her head in her hands. With a shiver, she said, “I’m sorry. I really wasn’t aware…”

After our “chat”, the two of us joined our mother at the dinner table. The meal she prepared was a fairly common stir-fry of beef, vegetables, and rice as a base.

Now that I think about it, while this is normal for us, I suppose one key element is missing. My dad.

It’s not like a common manga or light novel trope where he or both parents are simply missing. There’s a good, non-logical explanation for it.

A few years ago he disappeared, and when I asked my mom she said: “He went to go study Kung-Fu in the mountains of Jiangxi in Southern China.”

Naturally, I thought she was lying, saying the same thing as: “We sent your dog to a farm upstate.” However, last Christmas my dad visited and recounted his training stories with photo evidence.

He’s always been an eccentric man. I don’t blame him for wanting to follow his dreams, but don’t have a family then go follow them!

“Hey mom,” Sayuri said with her mouth full. “I got asked out at school today.”

“Oh~ That’s lovely dear.” My mom held her hands to her cheeks.

“What!? Are you serious!? You didn’t tell me sooner!?”

“I didn’t think it was that important.”

“Getting asked out is like one of the most important events for your lore! It’s of the utmost importance! And mom! How are you so relaxed about this!?”

“Mako, settle down a little bit.” My mom chided.

“Sorry…”

“I’m relaxed because Sayuri is getting to be a big girl now. She’s mature and can make some decisions for herself, no?”

My mind flashed images of a disgruntled looking Sayuri hurling insults on video games at five in morning. “Yeah… sure.”

“Sayuri dear, do you mind me asking who it is? Oh my, could it be Nakatsuka-chan?”

“No mom! She’s my friend, we’re not like that. And besides, it’s a guy.”

“Oh my, will I have a new son then?”

“Mom, quit it, you’re being embarrassing. You wouldn’t know him though, he just recently transferred in.”

“What’s he like?”

“Well— he’s really tall and strong. He plays for our school’s basketball team. He’s really deep, and a good writer.”

“Oh my~ It seems you caught a good one.”

“Mom!”

I was trying my absolute damndest to tune out their conversation. I didn’t want to hear any of this! How could mom be so relaxed about Sayuri getting her first boyfriend! She’s nowhere near ready! She’s still just a little kid! She’s irresponsible! She needs to be protected! She needs her older brother!

“Mako…”

“W-what?”

My sister was giving me an irritated look while pointing her chopsticks at me. Hey don’t do that.

“What’s up with the creepy expression? It’s gross.”

Critical hit! Mom, please, tell her she’s wrong!

“Sayuri’s right, you are making an odd expression. Is something on your mind?”

“Well, uh, I was just uh, thinking about something that happened recently…”

“Were you thinking about the time you walked in on mom changing…?” Sayuri smirked.

“N-no! I was not! W-why would you even suggest something like that!?”

“Because of your gross expression.”

“.....I was thinking about—” I need this excuse to be immaculate! I’m not a sis-con, I just care about her. “About my writing. I recently had a major breakthrough.”

“Is that so? I’m glad to hear Mako.”

My mom was one of the only people in my life who truly supported my writing. Whether it was her just being motherly or supporting me as a person—I don’t know. However, I’d like to believe it’s the latter.

“I met a girl who can help me get better at writing. We’ll fix my mistakes and win the next contest! We’ve been meeting together for a couple days now and talking about books and writing.”

That’s not entirely a lie, we have talked about those things, but it’s mainly been her complaining about Katsuki and not wanting to make more friends.

I haven’t included it that often because it seriously gets old, trust me.

Sayuri made a “T” with her hands. This isn’t a game, you can just call a time-out.

“Wait… you… and a girl… have been hanging out? Like, one-on-one? Together? Just you two?”

Sayuri pointed her chopsticks at me again. Has mom not taught you manners?

“Yes. Her name is Akimoto Kaoru.”

“And you’re not blackmailing this girl?”

“No! I’m not!”

“I don’t believe you…”

“Haa— of course you don’t.”

“To ensure you aren’t taking advantage of this girl, I’ll be meeting with her.”

“Sure, whatever, go crazy. Just don’t interfere with our club activities.”

More importantly, none of them questioned me further about my breakthrough? Even my mom, who I thought cared, didn't care!

All they’re worried about is damn Akimoto… I shook my head and stood up, taking my plate with me.

“Thanks for dinner.”

“Of course.” My mom responded.

“And Sayuri, you’re banned from my PC for tonight.”

“Eh!? What!? You can’t!” Sayuri slammed her hands down on the table.

“Yes. I can.”

“W-what!? N-no! I promised my friends I’d be on tonight.”

“You’re on every night, you can take one off.”

I looked back at Sayuri, her eyes were watery and wide.

Can I really say no to this face?

Yes.

Easily.

Those friends of hers were probably a bunch of twenty year old guys anyways. So in truth I’m helping her.

Also, a little bonus, I can write on my PC tonight. I have to come up with an idea to work on with Akimoto. I’ll impress her with an actually good idea and she’ll stop calling me stupid.