Chapter 4 — The Arrival of the Lazy Menace
Haruya Takumi lay on the floor of his tiny house, face-down, dramatically lifeless—exactly like someone who just returned home after getting punched across dimensions.
His little brother, Haruya Souta, was sitting lazily on the floor, reading his usual thick pocket-sized novel titled "Love", written in edgy red-black outlines. Despite the title, no one had ever confirmed if it was actually a romance novel or a horror book.
Souta didn't even look up.
Souta:
"…Takumi. Did they punch you again?"
Haruya slowly rolled over like a man giving up on gravity.
Takumi:
"Um… I don't want to talk about it."
Before he could even breathe, Haruya Hina—The Disaster Chef—burst into the scene holding a bowl of… something.
A bowl of "curry soup" with a floating strawberry and a slice of lemon doing the Titanic boat scene.
Hina:
"WAAAHH!!! I MADE SOUP! TAKE THIS!"
Takumi and Souta stared at the bowl.
Then at each other.
Then at the bowl again.
They both silently nodded.
A mutual understanding.
A will to survive.
Takumi crouched down to Hina's level, grabbed her shoulders gently like delivering a national speech.
Takumi:
"Hina… listen to me… I am not in the mood to die today. I want to live longer."
Hina blinked innocently.
Hina:
"So… you don't want to drink it?"
Takumi:
"Yes. That is exactly what I am saying."
He wiped imaginary sweat and clapped his hands.
Takumi:
"Anyway! Pack your things! We're leaving this house!"
Souta turned a page, unmoved.
Souta:
"Why?"
Hina gasped dramatically.
Hina:
"EEEHHH!? WHY!?"
Takumi sighed.
Takumi:
"The landlord raised the rent… and Himari invited us to stay at their mansion."
Hina froze.
Hina:
"THE AIRI SISTERS REALLY INVITED YOU!?"
Souta:
"I can live anywhere."
He said, still not looking up from his novel.
Takumi raised his hand like issuing a royal decree.
Takumi:
"BUT—Hina, you're NOT coming with us."
Hina exploded.
Hina:
"AAAGHH!?? THEN WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO GO!?"
Takumi:
"You're going to stay with our elder sister. If you come with me… you'll distract me… and also the entire universe."
Hina pouted but nodded.
Hina:
"Fine… I'm only agreeing because sister is there!"
She stomped away dramatically.
---
Later… at the Airi Mansion
Takumi walked in nervously.
Takumi:
"A-Airi Sisters… as I said… I brought my family member."
Kaede crossed her arms immediately.
Kaede:
"I hope he's not rude like you. If he is, I'm kicking him out."
Himari popped up behind her.
Himari:
"Is it a boy or girl!? Tell me!!"
Hana munched cookies in the corner, cheeks pinker than usual.
Hana:
"I hope… they don't make me blush more…"
munch munch
Takumi stepped aside dramatically.
Takumi:
"Here… my younger brother—Haruya Souta."
Souta walked in like he had negative energy.
Long black hair touching his shoulders, lazy black eyes, oversized black T-shirt, track pants… and still reading the novel while walking.
He didn't bow.
He didn't smile.
He didn't even blink.
Souta:
"…yo."
Himari froze.
Then EXPLODED.
Himari:
"HE'S COOLER THAN TAKUMI!!!"
She ran to him like a puppy meeting its hero.
Himari:
"Come inside!! Please!! Sit anywhere!! Do you need snacks!? Water!? A pillow!? A throne!?"
Kaede, offended by the universe:
Kaede:
"WHAT WHY DOES HE GET SPECIAL TREATMENT!?"
Hana hid her face behind her cookie bowl, blushing like her life depended on it.
Hana:
"Um… please… make yourself comfortable…"
Takumi's eye twitched.
Takumi:
"I never got this treatment… I only got… punches… many many punches…"
Kaede glared.
Kaede:
"If you're rude again, I will punch you right now."
Takumi immediately stood straight like a soldier.
Takumi:
"I AM SORRY."
Meanwhile, Souta was already sprawled on their couch like a cat, reading, ignoring the universe completely.
-- The Himari vs Souta Encounter
Himari leaned over, eyes sparkling.
Himari:
"What are you reading? Is it… romance?!"
Souta turned a page.
Souta:
"It's… complicated."
Himari sat next to him without permission.
Himari:
"Teach me!"
Takumi: She never said that to me—
Kaede threw a cushion at Takumi.
---
Kaede's Misunderstanding
Kaede stood in front of Souta.
Kaede:
"Hey… if you're rude… I'll punch you too."
Souta slowly looked up.
Souta:
"…I'm too lazy to be rude."
Kaede's cheeks turned pink.
Kaede:
"T-T-Then fine… I accept you…"
She stomped away.
Takumi: WHAT!? THAT'S ALL IT TOOK!?
---
Hana's Disaster
Hana shyly approached Souta, holding a plate of cookies.
Hana:
"Um… do you want… a cookie…?"
Souta nodded softly.
Hana nearly fainted from happiness.
Takumi watched.
Takumi:
"…I asked for one yesterday and she hissed at me like a wild cat."
---— Dinner Chaos
The sisters prepared dinner.
Kaede cooked meat.
Himari made rice.
Hana… supervised while eating.
Takumi sat at the table calmly.
Souta fell asleep in his chair while sitting.
Himari panicked.
Himari:
"WAHHH! HIS EYES ARE CLOSED! IS HE OKAY!?"
Takumi sighed.
Takumi:
"He's just like that. He sleeps everywhere."
Kaede poked his cheek.
Souta didn't react.
Kaede:
"…is he human?"
Takumi:
"Barely."
---
The Final Blow
After dinner, Souta stretched lazily.
Souta:
"This place is peaceful."
Himari:
"YES!!! STAY HERE FOREVER!!"
Kaede:
"DON'T SHOUT IN HIS EAR!!"
Hana:
"W-welcome to the family…"
Takumi stared at the scene in betrayal.
Takumi:
"…How did you steal all their hearts in ten minutes."
Souta blinked.
Souta:
"I didn't do anything."
Takumi:
"…Exactly."
---
END OF CHAPTER 4 — The Arrival of the Lazy Menace