Chapter 73: Afternoon Time
In the living room.
"Ahhh! The time for a showdown is here!" Little Hinata pumped her fist with infectious energy, her small face flushed pink with excitement. "Go, onee-sama! You can do it!"
On the screen, the two fighters stood on the edge of defeat. Their health bars were nearly empty, their movements sharp and tense. The first to miss an opening would fall. The air in the room felt charged, like a storm about to break.
After a brief stalemate, the Miko girl's character suddenly lunged forward. She rolled gracefully across the digital arena, dodging a counterstrike by inches. Her character's movements were elegant and precise—like a dance. With a quick kick to unbalance her opponent, she spun to the back, her long sleeves fluttering onscreen as she unleashed her ultimate move. Fists like wind, kicks like thunder, her attacks filled the screen with a dazzling flurry of light and motion.
But just before the final blow landed, Kouya's character sprang into the air. For a split second, the screen froze—the lightning crackled, the atmosphere thickened—and then, his avatar descended like a thunder god, a storm of power and rage. The sound of impact roared through the room.
Both fighters' health bars vanished.
The screen blazed white, then slowed into dramatic animation. Two silhouettes collided midair, suspended for a heartbeat, before both were sent flying backward.
All three spectators held their breath. Even the catgirl's tail stiffened, her ears twitching as her golden eyes widened.
For a few seconds, the world felt frozen.
Then, the announcer's voice blared—Victory!
Onscreen, Chun-Li's elegant figure crumpled to the ground, while her opponent staggered upright with a single sliver of health.
"Wow! Oni-chan won again!" Hinata squealed, bouncing up and down on the sofa.
Kouya leaned back, grinning. "Victory!" The satisfaction of such a hard-fought win made the blood in his veins hum.
The Miko girl, usually calm and gentle, puffed out her cheeks in frustration. Her graceful composure cracked for once. "Again!"
Her voice carried a rare spark of competitiveness.
Kouya chuckled. "Wait a second, you've got taiyaki crumbs on your lips…"
"Eh?" The Miko girl blinked, then instinctively stuck out her tongue and licked the crumbs away. The motion was natural, almost unconscious—but when she realized what she'd just done, her eyes went wide and her cheeks turned scarlet.
Her flawless skin took on a soft blush that spread down her neck, glowing like sunset across fresh snow.
Kouya couldn't help smirking. Perfect.
She straightened, pretending composure. "You saw wrong. Start the game."
"Hehe, onee-sama is such a tsundere!" Hinata teased.
"Chiba Hinata!" The Miko girl's tone dropped several degrees. Her aura turned menacing.
"Waaah! I'm sorry, onee-sama! Don't pinch my cheeks, I'll look weird!"
...
After a few more rounds, laughter and shouts filled the living room. When the Miko girl finally set down her controller, her breath came lightly. "It's getting late, I should start cooking. You two keep playing."
"No way!" Hinata waved her hands frantically. She didn't want to get destroyed again by her brother's merciless combos. So she swapped games, loading up a cute two-player co-op shooter instead. Bright colors flashed across the screen as the siblings worked together this time, dodging bullets and cheering through each stage.
Meanwhile, the little catgirl sitting on the rug nibbled at her taiyaki. The moment Kouya's gaze shifted toward her, she froze, let out a soft "meow!" of panic, and scampered off—her tail puffed up like a dandelion.
By the time they cleared the boss stage, Hinata set her controller down with a satisfied sigh. "Oni-chan, you should play by yourself now. I'll go help onee-sama cook."
Kouya smiled faintly. "Let's go together."
She beamed. "Yay!"
The two of them headed toward the back yard kitchen. The scent of miso and fresh vegetables drifted from the open window. Hinata bounded ahead like an eager puppy. "Onee-sama! We're here to help!"
The Miko girl turned from the counter, her long black hair swaying with her movement. "Oh? Then wash those vegetables first."
Hey, I didn't agree to anything yet! Kouya thought helplessly. What happened to 'guests just sit and eat'? Since when did I sign up for free labor?
The kitchen was surprisingly roomy, with warm light spilling across polished counters. The Miko girl wore a white apron over her outfit, perfectly framing her slim waist and graceful posture. The red ribbon tying her hair added a splash of color that made her seem both traditional and lively.
"Oni-chan, hurry up!" Hinata urged.
Kouya sighed but smiled, rinsing the vegetables under cold water. As droplets splashed against his fingers, a quiet nostalgia rose inside him.
How long had it been since he last shared something as simple as cooking with others?
There was a strange warmth to it—a calm rhythm he hadn't realized he missed.
"Meow wants to help too!" came a timid voice from the doorway.
The catgirl peeked in, clutching her taiyaki with both hands. Her golden eyes darted nervously between them.
Kouya turned, arching an eyebrow. "What are you looking at me for?"
"Meow~!" She yelped, crouching and covering her head. "Don't meow! If you do that, meow will break!"
Kouya nearly choked with laughter. "What does that even mean?!"
He could feel a vein twitching on his forehead. This cat was going to be the death of him.
The Miko girl hid a small smile behind her sleeve, then her expression turned serious. "Kou-kun, I invited you to lunch partly to thank you for helping us last time—and also because of Rina. Even though she said you could do anything, she's still a child. You can't…"
Can't your ass! Kouya groaned inwardly. You're definitely thinking of something indecent, aren't you?
What do I look like to you—a pervert preying on a flat-chested catgirl? That model doesn't even match up—it'd literally break her!
The Miko girl's cheeks turned pink. She hesitated, then muttered, "Then why do you have those catgirl manga, hmm?" Her tone dripped with suspicion. "Anyway, Rina's still a kid…"
Kouya sighed. Ah, what a noisy wind today.
...
Half an hour later, the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the house.
Hinata, unable to resist temptation, reached out to snag a piece—only to get flicked sharply on the forehead.
"No stealing."
"Oww! But onee-sama's food smells too good! I can't help it!"
"Wash your hands first, then bring the dishes over," the Miko girl ordered, though her lips curved faintly in amusement.
The table soon filled with four dishes and one soup—each plate colorful and delicate, the fragrance enough to make anyone's stomach growl.
Kouya took a bite and paused in genuine surprise. The taste was refined, balanced—better than Vigne's cooking, leagues beyond Gabriel's disasters.
"Oni-chan, is it good?" Hinata asked eagerly.
"It's amazing," Kouya admitted. "Onee-sama's got skill."
Hinata puffed up proudly. "Told you! Onee-sama makes the best food in the world!"
The Miko girl stayed silent, though her gentle smile deepened.
After lunch, the group cleaned up together. Hinata soon flopped onto the sofa, turning on a children's program, her eyes sparkling with childish joy. The Miko girl prepared tea, pouring it into delicate cups and setting them neatly on the low table. Rina quietly padded back into the room, her tail swishing contentedly as she joined them.
The afternoon light filtered through the shoji screens, golden and soft. Dust motes drifted lazily in the air. The house was peaceful, almost dreamlike.
Outside, the sky was crystal clear, the world still and bright. The scent of fallen cherry blossoms lingered faintly in the air.
Rina, now convinced Kouya wouldn't actually "break" her, curled up beside Hinata. Her small body relaxed completely as she purred quietly, drifting into sleep.
The sofa was large enough for everyone to fit comfortably. Kouya leaned back, the warmth of the moment seeping into his bones.
After a while, just as his eyelids began to droop, something soft and warm pressed against his arm. He turned and saw Hinata asleep, head resting against him, her breathing soft and even.
Hey, I'm not a pillow!
Weren't you just wide awake a second ago?
Kouya sighed. Next to her, the catgirl had already dozed off too, her whiskers twitching as she leaned her head against Hinata's shoulder. Typical cat—daytime naps were sacred.
He glanced over at the Miko girl.
She hadn't fallen asleep yet, but her eyes were heavy with drowsiness, her head bobbing slightly. A faint smile played across her lips, gentle and serene.
Hey hey, are you really that relaxed around me? I'm still a guest here! What if I suddenly went wild and pushed all three of you down? From the elegant black-haired beauty to the adorable loli to the cat-eared girl—that'd be a legendary triple kill.
Kouya chuckled softly, shaking his head. He picked up the remote and lowered the TV's volume, letting the quiet settle in.
Outside, a breeze stirred the trees, scattering petals and sunlight across the garden floor.
The air was calm.
And in that stillness, Kouya realized something simple yet rare—that a peaceful afternoon like this could be its own kind of happiness.