[OreGaIru : New Me!]

….

[-Continuation-]

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[-Hachiman's POV-]

I got home after a quick shopping trip with Yukino.

We had parted ways just as the evening chill started creeping in.

The warmth of home hit me the moment I stepped inside.

Komachi was already busy with the household chores.

"Welcome back!" She called out without pausing, her attention locked on whatever she was doing.

Then, just like that, she was back to it.

By the time dinner prep was underway, she had already made serious progress.

Laundry was still untouched, but everything else? Spotless.

I had heard the sharp rhythm of knives earlier, cutting board strikes echoing faintly through the house.

Now, it was the steady flow of water from the sink, mixed with the clinking of silverware being washed.

She wasn't just cooking.

She was clearing half the house in the process.

Watching her go at it, I had to admit - Komachi was a natural at this.

Meanwhile, I was contributing… not much.

I had drifted off under the kotatsu, Kamakura curled up on my lap, his soft purring the perfect background to my laziness.

My hand idly stroked his fur as my gaze followed Komachi darting back and forth.

And then, guilt.

It crept in slowly, pushing through the kotatsu-induced lethargy.

Watching her do everything, I couldn't shake the feeling that I should at least try to help.

I shifted Kamakura gently off my knees and sat up. The thought was there now, loud and clear.

"Komachi, need any help?"

From the kitchen, she didn't even glance back. "Nope. Stay put. You would just get in the way."

"How cruel…" I slumped dramatically, face buried in Kamakura's fluffy back. The cat let out a low grumble, flicking his tail in annoyance.

Komachi sighed, her voice carrying the weight of a tired older sister dealing with a hopeless sibling. "If you help, the work will end up… sloppy-ish."

"…Hm, well, you are right. I won't help, mainly because it's a pain to do so…" I muttered.

She didn't dignify that with a response.

Most of the heavy lifting seemed done, though, as she pulled off her apron and turned to the living room.

"Besides." She said, placing a hand on her hip. "This is something I want to do. Exams kept me too busy, so I dumped everything on you. It's only fair that I handle things now."

As she spoke, she grabbed a pot and started making coffee. Even though it was instant, the sweet aroma filled the air, creeping into my senses and drawing a contented sigh.

Komachi moved quickly, preparing two cups without missing a beat. She brought them into the living room and settled into a seat across from me, placing one cup within reach.

"Here." She said, sliding the cup my way.

I took it, letting the warmth soak into my hands as I leaned back.

Kamakura let out a tiny, offended meow, likely still bitter about being displaced.

But the moment Komachi reached over and ruffled his fur, he quieted, clearly choosing forgiveness over grudges.

"What's that?" she asked, nodding toward the bag I had placed by the kotatsu, her curiosity piqued as she sipped her coffee.

"Oh, that? It's for you." I said, pushing the bag closer to her. "You mentioned how much you liked the cookies Yukino gave you the other day, right? She made a new batch just for you. And the rest? Just a few sweets we picked up during our shopping earlier. She said they are a reward for all the effort you put into preparing for your exams."

I kept my explanation brief, making it clear that the whole gesture was mostly Yukino's doing.

Komachi's hands paused mid-motion, her fingers curling slightly around the cup. "…I have caused a lot of trouble for Yukino, haven't I?"

"Yeah, you have." I met her eyes without hesitation. "But it's the kind of inconvenience she wanted."

She looked at me for a moment, then let out a small sigh. "Say thanks to Yukino for me next time."

"Do it yourself. It was you who got her help, not me." I replied, smirking slightly.

Komachi thought for a beat, then nodded. "Yeah, you are right. I will thank her myself."

A sudden shift in her tone caught my attention.

"I should thank Mom, too… I have caused a lot of trouble for her, as well."

For mom?

The expression she had was, more or less, regretful.

I took a slow sip from my cup, setting it down before speaking. "You don't need to worry about Mom. You do so much for us already. She is fine. You are just overthinking it."

She hesitated, her gaze lowering a little. "Well… yeah. But still, they are just now getting a chance to rest."

Her words hung in the air, and I could tell she was still caught in a cloud of concern.

She forced a small, gloomy smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.

It wasn't like our parents were overworked anymore - compared to how they used to be, they were far less busy.

But I knew it still bothered her, the thought that they might not be getting the proper rest they deserved.

Back when Komachi was younger and still figuring things out, I handled most of the chores.

But once she hit the upper levels of elementary school, I gave up.

Since then, the chore responsibilities had shifted to her.

That meant my knowledge of household tasks pretty much stopped in sixth grade, only to come back after the accident.

"As I said, you are overthinking it. Our old man is already making retirement plans for himself and Mom with the money I am getting soon."

Komachi's face scrunched as she thought about it. "So, you should stop worrying about it."

She laughed, but it was the kind of laugh that sounded forced. "It's fine, it's fine. It's my hobby, after all."

"Your hobby is doing chores?" I raised an eyebrow, and she tilted her head, finger on her cheek, clearly thinking.

"Hmm, well… I mean, it's my hobby to spoil my big bro." She said, suddenly giving me the cutest smile.

I leaned back in mock exaggeration. "What is this? I feel so spoiled I might cry tears of joy... How beautiful… A complete victory. Komachi-mama..."

Her face instantly twisted into disgust. "Disgusting. You're sick."

"Shut up. Besides, you're the same, and that's a good hobby."

"Right, right? I scored some high points there, didn't I?" Komachi giggled cheerfully, giving my shoulder a playful pat.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. That's not praise, you brat." I shot her a quick glare, but she just closed her eyes, dodging it.

Then, with a dramatic flair, she put her hand on her chest and sighed deeply, as if lost in thought.

"When I think about spoiling people with these hands of mine, it feels so good…" She trailed off, looking entirely too pleased with herself.

"You are sick."

Komachi stuck her tongue out, winking mischievously.

Then, with a playful tap on her head, she gave me that look - the one she knew would get a reaction.

We both laughed for a second, but then, just as quickly, her smile faded.

She stared down at her cup, the ripples inside catching her attention.

"…But, I really do love doing chores." She said quietly.

"Hmm?"

She didn't look up, her gaze lost in the window. "It's different now, from when you used to take care of everything for me. I can do more on my own now. It feels... nice. Like, I am actually useful for once."

Her voice softened, almost like she didn't mean for me to hear it.

When she said that, the usual innocence she would display was nowhere to be seen. Her clear eyes looked more mature when I saw them.

"…In that way, it isn't so bad." Komachi said those words in a somewhat joking manner. Her expression appeared to be a little bashful when she said that, and she had on her usual face.

I could tell.

Komachi must have had dreams, things she wanted to do when she was younger but couldn't.

The kind of things she wasn't able to enjoy because she was always looking out for me, stuck with me instead of being spoiled by our parents like she deserved.

She was at that age where she still could've been treated like the little sister, but instead, it was just the two of us, and I was hardly the dependable older brother.

Still, she stuck with me.

Criticizing me, complaining about everything, but she always kept me company, always looked out for me when I couldn't do much myself.

I sighed and put my cup aside, a surge of irritation rising up.

I gave her a few light chops to the head, each one coming with a bit more force than the last.

I put my cup aside and gave her a chop to her head a few times with irritation.

"Damn brat... Remember, you are still a brat. So act like one. Don't talk nonsense again, got it? Brat." I paused, then kept going.

"Brat. Brat. Brat..." Each 'brat' came with a chop to her head.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" She groaned, but I didn't stop until she finally winced, pulling away, probably tired of the sudden wave of mock anger.

I didn't put much force into them, but I guess it still stung a little. It felt like a release, all that pent-up frustration, but at the same time, I knew she wasn't completely unscathed.

I relaxed my hand and leaned back a little, a sigh escaping me. "Anyway, you are not all that bad. Or rather, you are amazing."

This little sister of mine is, indeed, amazing.

Komachi giggled, puffing out her chest like she was some kind of hero. "Well, it's because I did my best! For the sake of my brother - and the danger he attracts - I must grow stronger!"

"Right. I should be thankful to you, then." I said, nodding.

She nodded back. "Yup, I am thankful too."

"Eh?"

I blinked at her. Something felt off. "What do you mean, 'thankful'?"

We were definitely not on the same page here.

Komachi caught my confused gaze and quickly cleared her throat.

She averted her eyes, suddenly serious.

In a rush, she blurted out. "I thought I should tell you this after I have properly passed the exams, but if I passed, it would be embarrassing to say it again, and if I failed, there'd be no time for that, so… I thought I should tell you now."

Her words hung in the air for a moment. Komachi stood up from underneath the kotatsu, sitting up straight and placing her hands firmly on her knees.

"What? What's going on?" I asked, my confusion only growing.

As she straightened her back and met my eyes directly, an unexpected wave of unease hit me.

I felt... shaken, and Kamakura, who had been comfortably sitting on my knees, stood up and walked away.

The sudden tension only made me more flustered.

Komachi gave me a soft, composed smile. "Thank you. You have been very helpful."

With that, she placed her fingers gently to the floor, bowing slightly to me.

My breath hitched, and I froze in place, completely caught off guard.

My mind was scrambling, trying to process what was happening.

...But then I felt something wet.

A drop?

I instinctively raised my hand to my face, realizing too late that tears had begun to fall.

"Wait... I am crying?" I muttered, bewildered.

Komachi's eyes widened in surprise. "Those are tears. You are like a robot that's just discovered feelings for the first time."

Her words snapped me back, and before I knew it, she burst into laughter, the sound light and teasing.

"You are crying, too, idiot." I mumbled, quickly wiping my eyes with my shirt.

Komachi, her eyes watery, sniffled slightly.

"Heehe, am I?" She replied, her voice softer as she wiped her own tears away.

Then, with a quick, almost frantic movement, she stood up and rushed off. "I will go heat up the bathtub! I will be the first one to use it, okay?"

She was clearly embarrassed by the moment, trying to escape the vulnerability of it.

I knew it was her way of covering up, but I couldn't help but smile at her attempt to keep things light.

I shouted after her. "You didn't score any high points. And seriously, doesn't that sound like you're becoming a bride or something? Remember, no matter what, I am approving of you marrying a man, either way."

"...Ugh, big brother, who cares about your opinion anyway?" She shot back, her voice trailing off as her footsteps grew fainter.

I let out a long, exasperated sigh.

I didn't have the right words for the situation, so I just sighed a couple more times.

As I did, Kamakura, who had jumped off me earlier, padded back from the corner of the room.

Without hesitation, he rubbed his head gently against my back.

I lifted him up, settling him back on my knees. "Isn't she growing up too fast, Kamakura? Don't you think she's being separated from her big brother too soon?"

I waited for his response, but Kamakura didn't give me so much as a meow. He just sat quietly, letting me pet him.

Instead of an answer from him, I found myself sniffing, the feeling I was trying to suppress rising up again.

.

….

[To be continued…]

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