After breakfast, Kitahara Sosuke wanted to help Marina with the dishes, but his virtuous sister pouted and pushed him out of the kitchen.
"Oni-chan only gets in the way in the kitchen. You should go comfort Airi instead."
Ah, being criticized like that, it turned out that in the eyes of his older sister, he was an idiot who couldn't even find the start button on the dishwasher.
Kitahara Sosuke lay down on the single sofa, feigning a dejected look, staring blankly at the ceiling. Airi scooted over from the three-seater sofa nearby, extended her small foot, and poked Kitahara Sosuke's face with her toes.
"Poke... poke..."
"Baka Sosuke..."
"What is it?"
Kitahara Sosuke grabbed the small foot that was about to enter his nostril and asked grumpily.
The touch of the beautiful girl's foot, wrapped in pure cotton over-the-knee socks, was quite pleasant, and he could even smell a mixture of laundry detergent and shower gel. If he leaned in and took a deep breath... forget it, he wasn't a pervert.
Airi pulled back her lower leg and changed her posture to lying on the sofa, inching closer to Kitahara Sosuke like a caterpillar.
"I don't like that uncle..."
"Oh."
"He stares at Airi with disgusting eyes during class."
"Oh."
"He might be doing the same to Marina!"
"Oh."
Hmm, on this point alone, the older one was indeed not as astute as the younger one.
"Baka Sosuke... I don't want to call that person 'Dad'."
"It's fine, you can keep calling him 'Uncle' after they get married."
"Bang!" His head was kicked hard.
Seeing his unyielding attitude, Airi pouted angrily, wanting to give her idiotic older brother a good punch. But having a favor to ask, she had to be patient.
"Sosuke..."
"What else?"
When things are abnormal, there must be a demon. Airi, who usually only yelled "Baka Sosuke," suddenly became well-behaved. Kitahara Sosuke suppressed a smile and pretended to be indifferent, watching her performance.
"If it changes to Akizuki Sosuke, won't the name be hard to pronounce?"
"It's not much simpler than Kitahara Sosuke, is it?"
"The newcomer might severely mistreat the former husband's children, you know?"
"Airi definitely wouldn't, right?"
"I'm worried about you, Baka Oni-chan. Someone who only pervertedly stares at Airi and Marina might see the eldest son as an eyesore."
"Then I can only offer up my cute sisters. Perhaps as an obedient eldest brother, I can get extra pocket money."
"Ah! Go to hell! You bastard Oni-chan!"
"I'm dying, I'm dying…"
Airi jumped up like a startled cat, her two slender arms reaching from behind Kitahara Sosuke to tightly grip his neck.
Airi, with only 32 points of strength, caused negligible damage. Instead, the soft, steamed bun-like touch from the back of his head was captivating.
After a moment of entanglement, Airi released her tight grip, letting out a "Hmph" like a victorious general. Then, she adjusted herself into a duck-sitting pose, hugging a cushion.
"I'm seriously discussing this with you, you know…"
Airi pouted, her pink lips, moisturized by some brand of lip balm, looked dewy and crystal clear.
"I'm also seriously answering you."
Kitahara Sosuke rubbed his neck, the soft sensation gone, leaving him feeling a bit down.
"…"
"Airi, you know, right?"
"Hm?"
His tone suddenly became serious.
"Regarding Mom's matters, as her children, we don't have a veto right."
"Hmph!"
"And ever since Dad passed away, Mom must have been very tired, having to take care of three children, and with housework, and work…"
"Mm…"
"If she can find a reliable haven, that would be wonderful."
Although a tsundere, Kitahara Airi was not a child who couldn't listen to reason.
"You can't be willful anymore…"
"…"
So, even Baka Sosuke can't help?
"So…" Kitahara Sosuke's originally somber tone suddenly shifted, a lighthearted voice saying, "Leave mischievous things like this to me!"
"Eh?"
"The premise is a 'reliable' haven, you know. Kitahara Sosuke wouldn't just casually hand over Airi's chastity to a stranger."
"Idiot, don't make it sound like Airi is getting married!"
Kitahara Sosuke stood up, moved from the single sofa to the three-seater next to Airi, put one arm around Airi's back, embracing her slender shoulders, and deliberately put on a "charming and wild" look.
"Miss Airi, you don't want to just call any stranger 'Dad,' do you?"
"Eh?"
He used his other hand to lift her fair chin, preventing Airi from looking away.
"Beg me!"
…
Kitahara Sosuke clutched his stomach, curled up on the sofa like a shrimp. The girl's round, slender legs, besides being pleasing to the eye and excellent to touch, were also a symbol of health and strength.
A kick to the soft stomach was no joke.
Airi, sitting next to him with her legs hugged, puffed out her cheeks, her small face flushed, staring at him. Baka Sosuke actually made such a joke, it made her heart beat so fast just now.
"Ah, Ni-san!"
Marina hurried out of the kitchen, saw his pained expression, and stroked his head.
"Marina, ignore him. He brought it upon himself."
"Ah… Nana-chan…"
Kitahara Sosuke looked out of breath.
"I might not make it. Before I die, I have one last wish: I want to eat Starbucks' Matcha Bavarian and Tiramisu."
"Such expensive funeral expenses. Let's just sink him in the sea."
Kitahara Airi, how can your 37-degree mouth say such cold words?
"Please, Marina, your brother really wants to eat them now. And isn't a guest coming today? Preparing desserts is a must, right?"
Marina looked at her brother on the sofa with a helpless expression, acting as if he would throw a tantrum if she didn't buy them.
"I understand, but there's still cleaning to do at home…"
"Leave it to Airi and me. Marina just needs to bring back the cakes."
"Eh?"
Airi looked like she wanted to say something, then was glared back into silence by Kitahara Sosuke.
"Alright then…"
Marina was half-pushed, half-sent to the entrance by her brother. The girl's small, hand-sized feet slipped into her shoes, kicking the tips against the floor to adjust them, and she didn't forget to turn back and admonish him:
"Brother and Airi, don't fight at home, okay?"
Then, with a "click," the door closed.
"Tch, old hag—"
Airi lightly complained from behind.
"Alright, step one is complete. Airi, we need to quickly prepare for the next stage."
"Huh? Didn't Baka Sosuke just want the Tiramisu and cake for himself?"
"My foolish sister, as your elder brother, let me enlighten you: the Matcha Bavarian was the cake Dad and Mom bought for their last wedding anniversary, and Tiramisu was the dessert Dad always brought home after getting paid each month."
"So, so what…?"
Airi looked like she already knew, just waiting for him to say it, waiting for Kitahara Sosuke to continue explaining.
"…"
Kitahara Sosuke stared suspiciously at Airi, who looked both unreasonable and confident. Your brother explained it so clearly, and you still don't understand? Then he used his Appraisal skill with some uncertainty.
"It was 67 this morning, why has it dropped two points now?"