This Homewrecker is... Alright

##AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter comes right after the line, "Don't write anything inappropriate" from last chapter. Basically an alt ending/continuation?

***

“Uueh—”

I made some sort of odd sound as I quickly sat up straight. I blinked a few times and felt around for my glasses, which were on the floor next to me.

I had fallen asleep at my bedroom floor table—my head had rested on my keyboard all night it appears. I say this because of the two-hundred-page document consisting only of, “U”.

“Does this count? Have I met the page requirement?”

After almost nodding off onto my laptop again I forced myself to get up. What time is it anyway?

I heard a bit of commotion coming from the kitchen—one of the voices was definitely Sayuri's.

“You homewrecker!” I pointed at the blonde devil.

“Good morning Kiyotaka-kun!”

“Don't “good morning” me!”

Standing at the kitchen island were the two most important women in my life… and Akimoto.

They all wore aprons—my mom a white one, Sayuri a pink one with cat-paws, and Akimoto pinkish-red-white. It was definitely a nice sight (not in a weird way!) that made the place feel like home.

Well it would’ve felt like home if you just cut-out the person on the far right. Kinda like that one Soviet leader did. I wouldn’t mind him doing that to Akimoto right now.

“Y-you! Stop getting so close with my little sister!”

“Whaa? Why can’t I? Doting on my little sister while making pancakes is an incredible feeling.”

Something really just snapped, didn’t it? I want to get on all fours and growl at Akimoto—go absolutely feral. However, I stood there, all the life draining from me.

“Kaoru-nee-san please be careful while stirring! You’re getting batter on me!”

“Ah~ Sorry sorry.”

They giggled, they laughed, they joked, the smiled, they casually bumped into each other, they shared meaningless stories.

And I…?

Well I.

I’m a failure as a writer. Failure as the president of the writing club. Replaced as an older sibling. Replaced as a member of the Kiyotaka family.

What’s next? Fujioka becomes my step-mom?

“Ah, I’m getting a call from Chihiro-chan.” My mother answered her phone.

“That’s not funny, universe!!”

***

Pancake tally:

Mom: Three

Sayuri: Three

Makoto: Three

Akimoto: Nine (and a little bit of mine)

***

“Okay, Kaoru-nee-san. This is an incredibly important decision now. From all of your training you should know what to do.”

“Yes, sensei.”

“Choose wisely…”

“...”

“Quickly Kaoru-nee-san! This is a timed event!”

As I suffered quietly, with a blank document, at my bedroom’s small table, Akimoto and Sayuri were deeply invested in… an otome game.

“Do I ask him to the ball!? Or do we go look at the stars!?” Akimoto sounded panicked.

“I cannot guide you to the answer, only give you the tools to learn.” My little sister shut her eyes and nodded as she spoke.

Akimoto was sat with her back towards me, facing the small-ish T.V in my room—Sayuri sat in between her legs.

“This shit ain’t that serious!!”

I finally snapped.

Kaoru dismissed my comment with a lazy hand wave. “You wouldn’t get it Kiyotaka-kun.”

“Yeah, Mako, this is that serious.”

“Besides, you should lighten up.” Akimoto paused the game. “You have one ultra beautiful girl and one super-duper cutie in your room playing video games. What more could a guy want?”

“Glutton and backstabber.”

“D-do not comment on my weight. I haven’t gained any.”

I could bring out the nuke here. The recorded portion totals of Akimoto’s meals with us. However, despite how I’m feeling, I feel… merciful.

“Fine. You’re incredibly thin.”

“Hm~ Hm~ That’s better.”

You know that face Benji does? You know Benji from Hacksaw Guy? Like where he stares blankly ahead with his mouth open?

That’s what I did. That was the only response I could muster.

“Ahhh~!” Akimoto jumped in place a little. “Sayuri-chan! Why didn’t you warn me about lewd scenes like this…?”

“It’s a simple hot spring scene? You’ve had a long-term boyfriend before. You’ve probably done a lot more than see him without a shirt on.”

“Y-yeah… But still! This is different!”

“You’re right. It’s pixels on a screen.”
“I-it’s just different! Okay!?”

I shook my head and stood up. I need a break from these two.

“Sayuri, I’m gonna make tea, do you want some?” I asked.

“Yes please.”

“Me too.”

“Funny. It’s almost like I heard a second voice…”

“Kiyotaka-kun! Please!”

“Haa— fine.”

“Sugar too please!”

Why do I give in to that one… You know what, I’m not giving her any sugar in her tea. That’ll show her!

I entered my kitchen-living room area and my mom was peacefully reading on the sofa. I didn’t have anything to say to her so I carried on with my tea-making-business.

“Sugar in one… Sugar in two… annnd none in three.”

I picked up the small tray and began back to my room.

“Hey, Mako, can I talk to you for a second?”

Mom had called out to me.

“Yeah, of course.”

I set down the tray on the dining table and joined her on the sofa.

“Mako, are you having troubles writing?”

“W-what!?”

“Are you?”

My mother is able to give this stern/curious look that can melt through even the most stead-fast liars. Not saying I’m a good liar, or would lie to her though.

“H-how do you know…?”

“There was a good hour and a half Sayuri and I spent with Kaoru-chan before you woke up—and she’s a very talkative girl.”

“Akimoto-san…”

“There’s no reason to be upset with her. It’s all a natural part of the process.”

“Process?”

“Mm, experiencing writer's block.”

“Mom, you write?”

“Not really, no… Back in university I took a few creative writing courses though, and that’s something I would struggle with more often than anyone else. No matter how often I met with professors or tutors, I had multiple week spans where I simply couldn’t write.”

“So how did you get past it?”

“Time.”

“Seriously…?”

“Mhm. But I suppose if you want a more tangible answer.” She put a finger to her chin. “Try to get out of the “I’m in a writer’s block” mindset. It won’t help anyone to only doubt yourself.”

“Thanks, mom…”

“And Mako.”

I glanced at mom.

“You can’t pin the reason for your writer’s block on Kaoru-chan.”

“Wha—!?”

“Mako. I’m not blind. It’s easy to figure that out with how you’re treating her. You can’t project your feelings and act like the world is against you. You should know better, especially because I raised you.”

“...”

My mom put her hands around my head and pulled me into her shoulder.

“Kaoru-chan is special. She’s an earnest girl that doesn’t truly mean to offend anyone.”

“She displays her “earnestness” as crude bullying.”

“I think if she promised to help you write, she will. Kaoru-chan’s just going through a difficult time right now. I don’t know how long that time will last, but be kind to her, for me. Okay?”

My mother spoke past my comment, but that’s not the point. I get it, mom.

“Alright.”

“Good.”

I left her embrace and stood. We exchanged a quick smile and I moved to get the tea and return to my room.

“Oh, and one more thing.”

“Huh?”

“Probably a good call to not give her any sugar.”

“Are you calling her fat?”

“Just concern.” Mom put a hand to her cheek and smiled.