~Seven Hours Later~

 

Ketsueki opened the door to her house as she closed the door behind her and noticed the two pairs of black leather shoes. She thought. Yuki and Mio are here. She made her way to the living room and saw Shiro, Mio, and Yuki sitting on the couch eating potato chips while watching TV. Ketsueki said. “Shiro, I’m back.” Shiro peeked above the backrest of the couch and said. “Welcome back, Onee-chan.” Mio took out a handkerchief from her pocket and used it to wipe her hands while Ketsueki made her way to the side of the couch.

 

Mio turned her head to the side toward Ketsueki and said. “Nee-san, thanks for letting us in.” Yuki was holding onto a few pieces of potato chips with her right hand as she looked up at Ketsueki. Yuki said. “Aneki, I hope you don’t mind Mio and I making ourselves at home.” Ketsueki smiled at them as she placed a hand in her pocket, she said. “It’s fine, you three got sent home early today?” Yuki gave her a nod while eating one of the potato chips in her hand while Shiro reached for the large open bag of potato chips on the coffee table.

 

Shiro said. “Yes, the teacher allowed the top of the class to go home early while the rest got homework.” She leaned back on the couch and ate a potato chip as she watched her older sister rummaging through her pocket. Ketsueki took out a couple of disposable takeout boxes stacked on top of each other and placed them on the coffee table. She said. “Here, I was at a cafe and bought some cherry pie and baklava cheesecake.” Yuki had a reluctant look on her face, she said. “Aneki, I don’t feel like eating swee-.”

 

Mio quickly placed a hand to cover her friend's mouth, she said. “She does not speak for everyone. Shiro and I vote yes, so we’ll take those off your hands.” Ketsueki let out a chuckle as she glanced at the bag of potato chips on the coffee table, she said. “You three didn’t ask Reiki to make you anything?” Yuki turned her head as she stared at Mio who still hasn’t moved the hand away from her mouth. Mio pulled her hand back from her friend's mouth, she said. “Sorry.” Shiro gave her older sister an odd look and said. “Onee-chan, Onii-chan has school today.”

 

Yuki glanced at the two takeout boxes on the coffee table, she said. “What is baklava?” Mio stood up from the couch and grabbed one of the takeout boxes, she said. “It’s filo pastry with nuts, usually topped with honey or syrup.” She opened the box, saw the inside was cherry pie, and placed it back down on the coffee table. Ketsueki placed a hand on her hip and said. “Shiro, where are the drinks?” Shiro pointed at the pitcher of ice-cold water on the coffee table that was beside three tall glasses of water.

 

She said. “I made sure to get us water.” Before Ketsueki could say another word Mio picked up the other takeout box. Mio said. “Nee-san, it’s fine. Hot tea and potato chips don’t go well together.” She opened the box revealing baklava cheesecake inside, Mio thought. These look so good. Shiro stood up from the couch, she said. “I’ll go get some plates and forks.” She looked up to her older sister and continued. “Onee-chan?” Ketsueki raised her hand to refuse, she said. “I’m good. Sachi, Namida, and I ate a lot in the cafe. Those two were kind enough to give me the leftovers.”

 

Mio sat back down on the couch as she placed the box with baklava on top of her lap while Yuki gave her friend an odd look. Yuki said. “Why are you still holding onto that?” Ketsueki made her way to the staircase and thought. Maybe I should add more mana on the next mark I put on Reiki… It’ll extend the duration but chances are he’ll find out… She made her way up the stairs as Shiro was carrying three small ceramic plates along with three forks while she walked toward the living room.

 

Shiro reached the couch as she looked around and said. “Where’s Onee-chan?” Yuki pointed at the ceiling, she said. “Second floor.” Mio gaze was glued onto the baklava cheesecake while Shiro moved the bag of potato chips on the coffee table to make room for the plates. Yuki glanced at her friend and said. “You still haven’t answered my question.” Mio ran her index finger on the side of the box, she spoke with a hint of excitement in her tone. She said. “It’s baklava cheesecake.” Yuki shook her head sideways, she said. “Never had it.”

 

Shiro sat back down on the couch beside Yuki as she reached for one of the plates that had a fork on top of it. Shiro said. “Mio, can you pass me the-.” Before she could finish her sentence, Yuki tapped on her shoulder a couple of times as Shiro turned her head to face her. Yuki used her thumb to point at Mio who leaned forward to the coffee table as she carefully placed a slice of cheesecake on her plate. Mio gently placed the cheesecake on her plate as she let out a soft exhale and noticed her friends giving her odd looks.

 

She said. “What?” Shiro picked up the fork on the plate she was holding and used it to point at the takeout box that had cheesecake, she said. “Mio, can you pass me that?” Mio moved the takeout box closer to her friend by sliding it over the coffee table while she ignored the judgemental look Yuki was giving her. Shiro used her fork to carefully get it under the cheesecake as she positioned her plate near the takeout box while Yuki said. “You did all of that for a slice of cheesecake.”

 

Shiro managed to get her cheesecake out of the box and onto her plate in one piece while Mio gestured at the cheesecake on the plate she was holding. Mio said. “Look, it has a nice orange tint on the top-.” Shiro ate a bite-size cheesecake stabbed on her fork as she watched Yuki’s left arm turn into a blur as she grabbed the fork on the plate resting on the coffee table and stabbed one of the cheesecakes in the box. Mio glared at her friend while Yuki hovered the cheesecake over her plate as it slowly slid off the fork and fell on the plate.

 

Mio said. “You’re a monster.” Yuki smiled at her friend and said. “And you have an obsession with sweets.” She reached for the plate with her left hand as she turned her head and saw Shiro who had already eaten most of her cheesecake. Yuki said. “Shiro, what’s your verdict?” She used her fork to cut off a small piece of the cheesecake on her plate while Shiro struggled to cut the pastry at the back. Shiro said. “Eight out of ten, the pastry at the edge is a bit difficult to cut with a fork.”

 

After a bit of struggling she managed to cut the last bit of cheesecake on her plate in half while Yuki tried some cheesecake. Her eyes widened a bit in surprise, Yuki thought. Pretty good. Mio ate a bite-size cheesecake on her fork as she enjoyed its taste, she thought. Mmm… I wonder if Reiki knows how to make baklava. The three girls ate while watching TV. Yuki used the fork to cut off a small piece of the cheesecake on her plate as she heard a faint sound of a door opening.

 

She stabbed the bite size cheesecake on her plate and turned her head to peek above the backrest of the couch. Shiro moved her gaze onto her friend and said. “Yuki, what’s wrong?” Mio was in the middle of chewing as she turned her head toward her friends. Yuki said. “I heard a door open.” Shiro used her fork to stab the crust that had a bit of cheesecake on her plate, she said. “Maybe Onee-chan is coming down from her room?” Mio gulped down a mouthful of food, she said. “Then we should be able to hear her footsteps coming from the ceiling.”

 

The three of them heard the sound of footsteps coming from the front door as the three girls turned their heads to look above the backrest of the couch and saw Reiki making his way into the room. He said. “I’m back, Shiro.” Shiro waved at her older brother and said. “Welcome back, Onii-chan.” Reiki made his way to the side of the couch where his little sister was sitting and stood by the armrest. He said. “You three want a snack?” His gaze wandered onto the coffee table as he saw the two takeout boxes that had cherry pie and cheesecake along with the open large bag of potato chips.

 

Reiki let out a chuckle and continued. “But I see you three already have something to eat on hand. Nice to see you two again, Yuki, Mio.” Yuki used her fork to cut off a small piece of cheesecake, she said. “Reiki, any chance you’re cooking meat for dinner?” Reiki thought for a moment as he placed his hand on top of Shiro’s head. He said. “Usually I make a balanced meal, but to save my skin today. I’m making a meat stew.” Shiro placed her fork on her plate as she moved her older brother's hand away from her head.

 

Mio’s brows furrowed, she said. “Save your skin?” Shiro stood up from the couch as she placed her plate on the coffee table next to the takeout box filled with cherry pie. Reiki adjusted the pillows on the couch and said. “I skipped school today and went to Akihabara.” He thought. Again… Shiro managed to place a slice of cherry pie onto her plate as some of the syrup started spreading on it. She sat back down on the couch and said. “Did you bring us any souvenirs?”

 

Reiki felt the three girls stare at him, he said. “Hence, saving my skin. I went to a grocery store and bought a lot of things to make desserts-.” From the corner of his eye, he saw Ketsueki appear on the armchair beside the TV while staring at him. Mio turned her head and saw Ketsueki sitting on the armchair as she moved her gaze back onto Reiki. Reiki had a wry smile on his face, he said. “Onee-chan, I’m ba-.” Before he could get another word out Ketsueki raised her hand signaling him to stop, she said. “Elaborate about the dessert part, otherwise get ready to be grounded for six months.”

 

Shiro leaned closer to her friends and said. “What does elaborate mean?” Yuki shrugged her shoulders, she said. “First time I’ve heard that word.” Shiro and Yuki simultaneously moved their gaze onto Mio who was about to eat a piece of a cheesecake on her fork. Mio rolled her eyes and said. “It’s just a fancy word for explain.” Yuki and Shiro had understanding in their eyes as the three went back to eating while Reiki forced out a laugh. He said. “I’m going to make some yatsuhashi, kuri daifuku, and homemade tokyo bananas. I saw some apples that were on sale so I thought of kininaru apples.”

 

Ketsueki’s eyes narrowed, she said. “What’s a kininaru apple?” Mio finished off the cheesecake on her plate as she stood up from the couch and tried to get a slice of cherry pie out of the box. Reiki made a circle with his hands and said. “It’s an apple pie from Aomori, they core it, add some apple paste in the middle with some cinnamon wrapped in a thin layer of pastry.” Mio managed to put a slice of cherry pie on her plate as her eyes had a hint of anticipation.

 

She said. “I’ve always wanted to try one of those, so they’re called kininaru apples.” Mio sat back down on the couch while Yuki stabbed the last bit of cheesecake on her plate. Yuki said. “I’m not a big fan of desserts, even I have to admit that sounds good.” Shiro nodded in agreement while Ketsueki stared at her little brother as he kept a wry smile on his face. Ketsueki said. “... What’s the filling for the yatsuhashi?” The wry smile on Reiki’s face turned into a regular smile, he thought. I’m in the clear.

 

He said. “Since I’m also making kuri daifuku, red bean paste, I bought some chocolate, and… Do we have any matcha?” Ketsueki placed her hands on the armrest of the chair and said. “How many are you planning to make?” Reiki gestured at Shiro, Yuki, and Mio sitting on the couch while eating. He said. “Since these three are staying for dinner, a lot.” Mio stabbed a small bite-size cherry pie on her plate and said. “Define a lot.” Reiki moved his gaze onto her and glanced at his older sister at the corner of his eye.

 

Ketsueki gave him a faint nod while Reiki pretended to think, he said. “If I start now, I’ll make sure you two bring a few tupperwares home.” Yuki stabbed the last piece of cheesecake on her plate, she said. “About the tokyo bananas, what filling are they going to be?” Shiro was in the middle of chewing as she gulped down a mouthful of food, she said. “You’re interested in tokyo bananas, Yuki?” She placed her plate on the coffee table, reached for her glass of water, and took a big sip of it.

 

Yuki stared at the cheesecake on her fork, she said. “I am, it’s one of the few sweet things I like.” Reiki sat on the armrest of the couch, he said. “I was thinking-.” Ketsueki pointed at the armrest her little brother was sitting on and said. “Reiki, no sitting on the armrest.” Reiki quickly stood up as he patted the armrest a couple of times. He said. “Whipped cream, custard, and coffee cream.” Shiro used her fork to cut the cherry pie on her plate, she had a hint of confusion on her face and said. “What’s coffee cream?”

 

Reiki moved her gaze onto her little sister, he said. “It’s just whipped cream mixed with some black coffee.” Yuki stood up from the couch as she used her fork to try and get a slice of cherry pie in the takeout box, she said. “That sounds good but you won’t be able to fall asleep if you eat that after dinner.” Mio used her fork to cut a bite-size piece of the pie on the plate she was holding, she said. “Not necessarily, Reiki could always use decaf.” Yuki managed to put a slice of pie on her plate and sat back down on the couch.

 

She said. “That will work.” Ketsueki moved her gaze onto her little brother, she said. “Reiki, can you set some aside so I can share some with Sachi and Namida?” Reiki smiled at her and said. “I’ll make more than enough so that you can bring tupperwares to work and give them their own containers.” Ketsueki’s eyes had a hint of anticipation in her eyes, she thought. What a perfect way to get a favor from those two. Reiki pointed at the direction of the kitchen, he said. “With that, I’ll-.”

 

Mio placed her fork that had some pie stabbed on it, she said. “Wait, Reiki. I have a question, as a cook. You should have knowledge about ingredients, right?” Shiro had a knowing look on her face as her mouth formed into a smile as she used her fork to stab a small piece of pie on her plate. Yuki rolled her eyes and said. “Are you still on this?” Mio ignored her friend, she said. “Reiki, do you think salmon is expensive?” Ketsueki raised a brow, she said. “As someone who has done grocery shopping, salmon is not all that expensive.”

 

Everyone moved their gaze onto her while Ketsueki continued. “It would’ve had a regular appearance on the dining table if fish had more calories.” Her eyes moved onto her little brother while Mio, Yuki, and Shiro turned their heads at Reiki. He let out a chuckle, spread his arms, and said. “What can I say? I’m a growing boy.” Mio had a slightly smug smile on her face, she said. “See, Yuki.” She picked up her fork on the plate she was holding while Yuki stabbed a cherry from the inside of the pie.

 

Yuki said. “Salmon can be expensive.” Mio nodded along at her and said. “It would depend on the season.” Reiki leaned closer to his little sister, he said. “Shiro, what are they talking about?” Shiro was in the middle of chewing as she gulped down a mouthful of food, she leaned closer to her older brother and spoke in a soft tone. Shiro said. “They-.” She stopped mid-sentence as she saw Ketsueki appear behind her older brother. Reiki saw her older sister's gaze looking at something above him as he turned his head to the side and saw his older sister.

 

Ketsueki smiled at them and said. “Since I answered the question, I might as well know the context of their conversation.” Yuki used the fork that had a cherry covered in syrup to point at Mio. Yuki said. “Seasons aren't the only factor on its price.” Mio slightly moved to the right and said. “Don’t point the cherry at me, you’ll get syrup on my blazer.” Shiro glanced at her friends at the corner of her eyes, she whispered. “Yuki said that salmon was expensive at school and Mio didn’t agree.” Mio used her fork to cut off a piece of the cherry pie on her plate.

 

She said. “Then there’s a high probability of your parents paying a premium for regular salmon.” Ketsueki placed her hands in her pocket, she said. “Mio has a point, salmon is not considered cheap. But it is one of the available options in the market.” Reiki did a half turn and looked up at his older sister, he said. “I have a good idea why Yuki thinks salmon costs so much.” Yuki had a surprised look on her face, she turned her head to face him and said. “You do?”

 

Reiki moved her gaze onto her, he said. “Wild-caught fish, in this case. Salmon.” Mio was in the middle of chewing, she thought. … That… Explains a lot… Yuki had a hint of confusion on her face, she said. “Just for the fact they’re caught in the wild, the price for it goes up?” Ketsueki took one of her hands out of her pockets as she started to style her little brother’s hair, she said. “What is the difference between wild-caught and farm-raised fish?” Reiki tried to comb his hair with his hand as Ketsueki smacked it away.

 

[System: User has received 3 Damage.]

 

Reiki shook his hand and said. “Wild-caught has more omega three, they’re leaner so less fat, and farm-raised fish are fed antibiotics to prevent them from getting sick.” Mio had a look of shock on her face, she said. “Farm-raised fish are fed antibiotics?!” Reiki gave her a nod and said. “Yep, just for that fact some chefs and restaurants only work with wild-caught.” Ketsueki stopped trying to style her little brother’s hair with one hand as she took out her phone from her right that was still in her pocket. She thought. Is that true?

 

From the corner of Reiki’s eye, he saw his older sister vanish and reappear by the armchair beside the television. Ketsueki started looking up something on her phone while Yuki drew a circle on her plate using the syrup of the cherry stabbed on her fork. Yuki said. “Now that I think about it… I’ve never been with either of my parents when they buy salmon… They always bring home coolers with them…” Shiro stabbed the last bit of cherry pie on her plate, she said. “How big were they?”

 

Yuki moved her gaze onto her and said. “The coolers?” Shiro ate the last bit of pie off her fork and gave her friend a nod. Yuki continued. “Big, judging from the size alone it would easily fit ten whole salmon.” Ketsueki was staring at the screen at her phone, she said. “They do feed farm-raised fish antibiotics…” The shock on Mio’s face visibly lessened, she moved her gaze onto Ketsueki and said. “What kind?” Ketsueki pocketed her smartphone, she said. “A lot, so they can prevent contaminating the entire farm.”

 

Reiki did a single soft clap which got all the girls' attention, he said. “I have a lot of desserts to make and I’ll be using the table to knead mochi among other things.” Shiro placed her empty plate on the coffee table, she said. “Onii-chan, can we help?”