Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Pointing Fingers

Ketsueki stared at Arashi for a few seconds before saying. "What do you mean by that?" Arashi was taken aback for a split second and said. "I meant that we had the same taste in..." She stopped herself from finishing her sentence seeing that Ketsueki's eyes were turning colder as her grip on her hand started to tighten. She continued. "The same taste in... In... Quality?..." 

Arashi managed to set her hand free from her vice-like grip as Ketsueki stood from the couch and said. "No! We! Do! Not! I'm waiting for him to grow up and then tell him! You on the other hand are just a pervert!"

Arashi was about to say something but stopped herself and said. "Can't deny it, since it runs in the family." As a small lewd smile grew on her face. Ketsueki only became angrier as she said. "After today you will never set foot in my house ever again!" Arashi shrugged her shoulders and said. "I could always ask Lil bro. He would never turn nee-san down."

Ketsueki spoke through gritted teeth as she poked her shoulder hard enough to leave some marks on her skin. She said. "Don't you dare exploit his kindness!" Kiru, who was watching everything while eating she was able to make a small pile of plastic on her side of the coffee table. She said. "Arashi when are you going to learn... Reiki is my little brother, not yours."

Ketsueki had her hands into a fist as she said. "I'm gonna!-." Kiru suddenly said. "He's here." As she raised her hand as the talisman flew into it as the talisman started to burn in her hand as it left no traces. Ketsueki and Arashi were suddenly sitting back in their respective seats while making up a conversation. Kiru said. "So what do you usually spend do in your free time?" Arashi answered. "I just my momm-. Mom's gym from time to time, but I spend most of it trying a few things I haven't done here and there.

 The two of them turn their heads to Ketsueki who was giving them cold glares long before. Kiru said. "What about you Ketsueki-san, what do you in your free time?" With the sound of footsteps getting closer Ketsueki's eyes turned to normal as she turned around on the couch to see Reiki was behind her. He said. "Onee-chan, I'm almost done making dinner. If you call Shiro while I set up some plates in a few minutes..." He turned his gaze to Arashi and Kiru who smiles were growing wide as he continued. "And a couple of extra tableware for the two of them, we can eat while the rice is still warm."

Ketsueki was surprised for a moment and said. "Already? What did you make?" Reiki had a smile on his face as he said. "You'll find out in a few minutes." Ketsueki stood up from the couch as she pinched his cheek and sweetly said. "Now you're keeping secrets from me? I'm learning a lot about you today Reiki. I'll be sure to ask you all about your school trip later." As she pinched his cheek with force and stretched it as far as she could. While having one of his cheeks pinched he said. "That hurts Onee-chan."

A smile was slowly forming on her face as she said. "It hurts? Then how do you think I feel when your teacher from that school came here a few days ago and said you'll be back in a few days?" She used her other hand to pinch his other cheek while slowly adding more force. She continued. "Here I 

am worried about you, day and night, and you come back home with two girls with you."

Reiki with both his cheeks being pinched simultaneously said. "I'm sorry Onee-chan. I don't know if it counts for anything but that blonde one is a pervert while the other one thinks she's holier than thou." Both Kiru and Arashi's look changed from quietly giggling to a look of bewilderment, Ketsueki stopped for a moment before her smile turned cruel for a split second before turning back to normal. In a questioning tone, she said. "Interesting..."

Turning around to face both of them sitting on their chairs a cold smile formed on her face. She continued. "My apologies for my little brother for the things he said in front of you," Arashi said. "No, it's fine-." Ketsueki raised her hand which made Arashi stop as Ketsueki said. "From our pleasant conversation earlier, I can tell both of you are nice people. But, since Reiki's opinion of both of you are like this I would need a good amount of time to change his mind about both of you. So before he could say anything else, I am asking you politely to leave." With a bright smile on her face as she made a gesture towards the front door with her hand.

Both Arashi and Kiru stared at her for a few seconds before changing their gaze onto Reiki. Seeing both of them staring at him with a somewhat blank look he made a smile that mildly infuriated them. Arashi slightly narrowed her eyes and glared at him, as Reiki saw Kiru's cheek tighten as she said. "Understood, he seems like a nice little brother so I'm sure we'll be able to visit sooner than later." 

Ketsueki replied. "I don't know. I am busy with work and keeping our home clean." Arashi had a look that said, I'll remember this, while both of them stood up from their seats. Arashi said. "With that, I guess it's time to say farewell for the time being." Kiru said. "This was a lovely conversation that I've had in a couple of days..." Trailing off she stared at Ketsueki's eyes and said. "We'll have plenty of fun in our future discussions." Ketsueki, who kept her bright smile, said. "Let me show you to the door." As she led them both, taking a few steps Reiki who was rubbing one of his red cheeks said. "Onee-chan, I used all of the remaining flour to make some bread dough that I'll make for breakfast and a couple of pizza dough that will be ready in three days."

Arashi stopped and immediately turned around the moment he said the word pizza. With her eyes shining like stars she said. "Pizza!?" Kiru also stopped walking but didn't turn around and put on a thoughtful expression. Ketsueki frowned and said. "Ladies, if you will." She made a gesture for them to follow as both of them did after Ketsueki took a few steps. Arashi turned her head looking at him with an expression that was a mix of anger and hope while Kiru was still thinking about something.

A few dozen seconds passed and the sound of a door opening and being closed soon after followed by being locked, Ketsueki walked back into the living room and said. "Since when did you learn how to make both bread and pizza dough?" Reiki replied. "Internet." Ketsueki frown deepens as she stared at him and said. "You don't have anything to use the internet for." Reiki used the corner of his eye to avoid making eye contact and said. "I... Borrowed a friend's phone during the school trip."

She walked next to him and started to pinch his forearm as she said. "Whatever happened to you following the set of rules I gave you?" Reiki ignored her pinching and spoke like a child that got 

caught doing something bad. He said. "Since you take care of us all the time I wanted to do something for you. I didn't want it to be too simple, since we rarely get take out homemade was the first thing on my mind." Ketsueki's gaze softened as she gently caressed his head. She said. "How lucky am I to have such a caring little brother..."

Her eyes turned slightly cold she suddenly started to pinch his ear. She continued. "Don't think I didn't notice what you tried to do young man. Sweet words might work on others but for me?" She let out a small chuckle and continued. "For a moment there you sounded like those teenagers who would do anything to get in girls... Good books, now here's my question. Where did you learn to talk like this?" Reiki immediately said. "Arashi nee-..." He stopped himself the moment when Ketsueki's gaze turned dangerous as he exaggerated a cough and continued. "It was Arashi-san. She told me girls liked hearing things like this."

Ketsueki let go of his ear as a bright smile slowly formed on her face as she spoke in a sweet voice. "I'm so proud of you Reiki, getting a new sister, and even learning how to play with a girl's feelings." Reiki kept his gaze on the ground as cold sweat started to appear on his forehead. She continued. "And let me guess, whenever one of them asks you if they can enter our home you'll be more than willing."

Reiki shook his head sideways making his hair into more of a mess by how quickly he moved his head. Ketsueki kept the same bright smile and continued to speak in a sweet voice. "No? That's weird since you were so nonchalant in bringing both of them here, I was beginning to suspect something." Reiki shook his head once again while keeping his gaze on the floor. She continued. "Are you going to let them in here when they ask you again?"

Reiki shook his head. Ketsueki said. "Will you keep secrets from me again?" Reiki shook his head. She said. "Will you listen to what I say?" Reiki immediately nodded his head. Ketsueki, seeing this, smiled as she ruffled his hair and said. "Good boy. Set the table and I'll see how Shiro is cleaning her room." As she walked to the second floor Reiki let out a sigh of relief and wiped some cold sweat from his forehead. Walking to the kitchen to get some plates to set the table as fast as possible.

...

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A couple of minutes passed by and the sound of two footsteps getting closer at the door in the kitchen, Ketsueki and Shiro saw the table was already set up with a pitcher of water, three medium-sized steaks, and a large bowl of Kenchin-jiru. Ketsueki with Shiro beside her who kept her eyes on the food on the table, Ketsueki said. "Reiki, where did you get the steak from?" 

Placing the rice cooker next to his seat, he answered. "During my trip, there was a problem with booking the rooms so a few of us had to find someplace to sleep. I happened to meet a kind Ojii-san who had an extra room, I didn't want to stay for free so he made me feed and brush some of the animals he had in his house to help."

Ketsueki walked closer to the table with Shiro beside her. Ketsueki with a questioning look said. "He was raising animals? Inside his own house?" Reiki said. "He was raising a few animals. He had a large backyard garden, a shed for his farming tools, and all the paperwork for legal issues. I helped him whenever I could and he taught me everything I needed to know in the kitchen. And when I was going back home he gave me a pouch and told me not to see what's inside until I'm home."

All three of them sat in their respective chairs as Reiki was serving them rice. While filling the bowls with rice he said. "With the vegetables and tofu you brought home I made some Kenchin-jiru with the leftover chicken stock from the fridge to replace miso soup for this meal." As he reached his hand out to pass Ketsueki a bowl of rice and walked towards Shiro and placed the bowl in front of her. Everyone said. "Itadakimasu." As they began to eat.

With her first time having steak Shiro was awkwardly holding her steak knife, Reiki stood up from his chair and cut the steak for her into bite-size pieces after finishing he sat back into his seat. Shiro picked up a pair of chopsticks and started to eat while Ketsueki, who was watching, had a small smile on her face as she sliced off a piece of the steak and took her first bite. She subconsciously spoke out loud. "It's good..."

Checking how the meat was cook it was medium rare complete with a red middle, she saw Shiro was alternating from eating a bite-size steak to her rice as she was enjoying her meal. She turned her head to face Reiki and said. "That Ojii-san taught you how to make this?" Reiki, who was about to take his first bite, stopped midway and said. "Yes, he also taught me a few other recipes and-." 

Reiki saw Shiro's mouth was covered with bits of meat and a few drops of brownish juices from the steak. He once again stood up from his chair while walking, he said. "And a few ways to make the most out of our ingredients and some knowledge of how to make Bentos. So if you want-." He stopped as he used the edge of his shirt to carefully wipe her mouth, while Shiro was chewing she moved closer to him as he wiped her mouth clean. He said. "Shiro eat your veggies." She stopped chewing as she started to pout. He continued. "Don't you want to grow as tall as Onee-chan?"

She looked at the other bowl that was filled with some root vegetables and tofu for a bit as she looked back at him with her puppy dog eyes. Reiki made a small smile as he said. "At least taste it. If you don't like it I won't complain." Shiro reached out using her chopsticks to pick up a piece of daikon radish and tasted it. Her eyes widened as she picked up a piece of tofu and started to eat with vigor once again. Reiki while standing next to her said. "Where was I? Oh, yeah. If you want I can make all the meals and Bentos for all of us starting today."

As he walked back into his seat. Ketsueki stared at the Kenchin-jiru while looking at that clear light golden soup. She said. "Isn't this soup usually made with kombu stock?" Reiki drank some water and replied. "It is, but we didn't have any kombu in the fridge so chicken stock was the next best thing. Well, the only thing that I could use to replace it."

As he ate a few slices of steak. Ketsueki placed her chopsticks down and used them to test a slice of the steak to see how tender it was, her chopsticks easily cut the slice of the steak into two. She said. "I'm guessing this meat was also from him." Reiki, who was about to take a sip from the small bowl of soup, replied. "Yes, he also hid the best cuts from his few buyers." As the three of them ate the rest of their meal in quiet bliss.

~One Meal Later~

Reiki was stacking all the plates neatly while Ketsueki was holding a cylinder-type teacup filled with freshly brewed tea, Shiro on the other hand was resting on the back of the chair with her eyes closed as she placed her hands on her stomach. Reiki carried all the dishes to the sink as he started to wash them. Ketsueki said. "Is there a possibility your sick Reiki? The only time you helped around the house was when I needed someone to lift something heavy."

Reiki who kept on washing the dishes without turning his head, he said. "Ojii-san taught me how to do a few household chores. He said it would be beneficial to learn this early and it would give you more time to put your feet up." Turning off the faucet he opened a cabinet next to him and picked out the cloth to dry the plates. Ketsueki sitting on her seat turned her head and was watching everything as she judged everything he did, with a nod of approval she said. "I appreciate the help, Reiki. And make sure to thank Ojii-san on my behalf if you meet him again."

Using his shirt to dry his hand he walked next to her seat and turned his head to face her and said. "If you want I can do all the housework." Ketsueki had a small smile as she ruffled his hair and said. "How sweet of you. But I think I'll have to refuse that since it's a lot of work." Reiki wasn't fazed and replied. "Then how about a deal?"

Taking a sip with the teacup in her hand with a sly smirk on her face she said. "Sure, I'll humor you." Reiki continued. "Let's do it this way, I do all the housework cleaning, cooking, laundry, and all that. You evaluate everything and if I forgot to do any of this thing at any given time or if it isn't up to your standards. Just think of it as me trying to make you laugh and you can do the housework like always." Ketsueki let out a chuckle and said. "Alright." As she lovingly pinched his cheek and continued. "Thanks for the help today, Reiki."

Rubbing his cheek he reached out his hand for a handshake and said. "Deal?" Ketsueki's eyes slightly widen as she said. "The last time we shook hands was because you wanted me to buy you a game..." Trailing off as she had a warm smile on her face. She continued. "But since you are so insistent on it. We have a deal." With a shake of their hands, Reiki said. "Alright. Now, I need to buy Shiro's ice cream." Shiro opened her eyes that looked like they were shining as she stared at him.

Reiki pulled out all the change from his pocket and gave it back to Ketsueki as he walked towards the door. Counting it in a blink of an eye a frown formed on her face, she said. "Reiki... Where did you get the money to pay for your potato chips?" Reiki stopped walking and turned around and said. "Looks like I got caught red-handed." Ketsueki frowns deepens as she said. "Reiki." Reiki had a helpless smile as he said. "Ojii-san gave me some money when I helped him around the house. I refused but he wouldn't budge on it claiming he didn't have many things he wanted to buy at his age."

As he kept a straight face, rubbing his chin he added. "He also had a nice beard." Ketsueki narrowed her eyes as she said. "Did he tell you his name?" Reiki answered. "Every time I asked he would always avoid the question and say. 'Kids your age shouldn't be asking someone's name who's close to death's door.' Repeat that answer regardless of how many times I did ask." Ketsueki closed her eyes as she was thinking of something for a bit, slowly opening her eyes followed by a shrug she said. "Be careful on your way to the store." Reiki said with a smile. "I will." 

As he went to the front door and wore his old blue shoes in the cabinet with the rest of Ketsueki's and Shiro's shoes, a few extra indoor slippers, and the new pair he wore on the way home. Opening the door and walking outside he said. "I'm off." As he closed the door behind him and started walking. While walking around his old neighborhood he thought. I am back... His eyes turned completely hollow for a brief moment and turned back to normal as a pair of footsteps came closer and a familiar voice said. "Hold it right there!"

Turning around he saw Arashi with her arms crossed with Kiru smiling next to her. He said. "Are the two of you under-covered cops? Because if you try to body search me you won't find anything." Arashi's mouth almost made a small lewd smile as she immediately said. "You have some explaining to do Lil bro!"

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