I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Then, she reached out her hand to Kasugano Sora:

"So don't worry—I like him just as much as you do, but I'm not your enemy."

"Xiao Qiong, I would never take my brother away from you... I just hope to stay by his side a little longer."

Kasugano Sora glanced at the hand, then looked at her expression, but still couldn't bring herself to swing it away.

How many wounds must one have suffered to be able to say these things so casually?

At least, Kasugano Sora would never do such a thing.

I don't know where I saw it, but it seems like someone once said this:

"A secret crush lasting too long breeds humility, and a sense of inferiority lasting too long becomes a habit."

Therefore, the senior in front of me, who seemed very popular and a true social butterfly, did not speak those words humbly.

However, she, being strong, had already gotten used to it.

△

I pushed open the kitchen door.

Yuu Tenkuji carried the tea tray to the sofa, just in time to see Kasugano Sora lying back in her original position, looking as if she had been defeated by something.

"What's wrong? What were you arguing about just now?"

He set the teacup down, sat down next to Qiong, and gently patted her cute little head.

They seemed to get along quite well; even when I wasn't around, they were able to handle their relationship issues—Tenkuji Yuuki was quite relaxed.

After all, who doesn't love a chaotic scene that disappears on its own?

"Don't ask too many questions about girls' topics."

She said something as if she were being petulant, then Kasugano Sora hugged his arm, her soft, shy breasts gently pressing against him. The deliberately exaggerated movement was like a cat asserting its territorial sovereignty, making one involuntarily smile.

"Are you done with your work? Come on, let's play."

As he spoke, Tenkuji Yu's fingers gently touched her firm thigh, making her breathing become heavy and rapid for a moment, but she continued to hug him as if nothing had happened, letting her little face be fair and rosy, as lovely as a juicy peach.

But this is happening in front of other people, how dare you be so bold...

Did Yui say something that upset Sora?

"At least let me rest for a bit, I've only just gotten back..."

Speechless, Yuu Tenkuji withdrew her arm, picked up the other pair of controllers, glanced apologetically at Yui Yuigahama, and then turned her gaze back to the screen.

"Never mind, what do you want to play?"

"Overcooked." Kasugano Sora pressed the A button, and the screen on the TV switched to the game loading screen.

Overcooked, also known as Overcooked, is a cooking game available on various platforms. When playing with multiple players, you need to cooperate and follow the steps to make dishes.

Because the game is somewhat difficult, teamwork is prone to mistakes, leading to constant disputes within the team; mutual blame and holding each other back often result in broken friendships and breakups.

Whether or not couples actually break up because of a game is another matter, but at least when Yuu Tenkuji and Sora Kasugano play this game, the atmosphere is usually harmonious and they can quickly complete the game with perfect teamwork.

The two are one, and the combination of brother and sister is the strongest - although it is not quite at the level of "", but a mere game is naturally a piece of cake for them.

However, because I don't play it very often, my record is still only halfway through; I haven't completed all the levels yet.

Now, it seems that Kasugano Sora wants to take on the challenge of the later parts.

As she maneuvered the minibus on the screen toward the next level, she got up and took out a spare controller from under the TV cabinet. With a calm expression, she handed it to the old woman, Yui Yuigahama, who was holding a cup of tea and preparing to watch them play the game.

"Let's play together... Don't get me wrong, this is just a way of treating guests."

After a moment of surprise, Tenkuji Yu nodded with satisfaction.

"Yeah, we're already here. The more people playing the game, the more fun it is!"

Chapter Eleven: Do You Still Love Me? (14/23)

The old woman paused for a moment, but Yui Yuigahama quickly regained her composure, put down her teacup, and took the handle as if flattered.

"Th-thank you... But this is my first time playing this game. Will I hold you back...?"

"Just right."

For once, Kasugano Sora smiled at her, looking somewhat proud.

"That's how this game is; it's not as fun if there aren't any cheaters."

I see, so they wanted to find someone to be at the bottom to increase the game's difficulty.

After understanding, Yui Yuigahama gained confidence and immediately declared with great enthusiasm, "Great, then let me show you just how bad I am! Not to brag, but I rarely win games!"

"I'm not just bragging..."

The warm winter sun shone through the white gauze curtains, casting pale golden tassels into the clean living room.

With their own distinct emotions, a kitchen team battle involving three players officially begins at this moment—

However, not long after.

"Shrimp! Throw the shrimp over here! Stop eating rice!"

"Shrimp, shrimp, shrimp... Where are the shrimp?! How do I prepare them?!"

"It's in the box over there. Then use the A button in front of the frying pan. Didn't we just learn that? Hurry up, time's almost up!"

"Qiong, I've finished here, remember to take it over~"

"As expected of Yu... no, you idiot Yu! Instead of wandering around there, why don't you help me teach your friend? Why do you make me do it!"

"Oh dear, I have other things to do. Good luck, Sora!"

"Great! Xiaoqiong, I've got it done! Now I'll give the plate to... Waaaaaah, what if something fell into the water?! I have to redo it!"

"...Big breasts, no brains."

"That's outrageous!?"

"It's true what they say, 'big breasts, no brains.' Emotional intelligence really can't be compared to IQ..."

"Even Xiaoyou said that! You two siblings are so sharp-tongued, waaaaah..."

"I could tell you were bad, but I didn't expect you to be this bad... My stomach hurts."

From afternoon until evening, the house of Yuu Tenkuji was filled with noise. The little girl's desperate roars and the girl's chaotic cries were intertwined, occasionally mixed with the boy's rather pleasant laughter.

After finally managing to get three stars on all three levels, Kasugano Sora collapsed onto Tenkuji Yu's lap, utterly exhausted, her eyes vacant as she stared at the ceiling.

"I never imagined that playing games with a newbie could cause such harm to a person's mind and body... Luckily, I don't play online games."

With a pout, Yui Yuigahama said softly, "I did improve later... and it was Sora herself who told me not to worry about being bad or not, and just to focus on following instructions... I've done my best!"

"Okay, I was too naive back then." Kasugano Sora sighed, seemingly too lazy to say anything more to her, and rolled over like a lazy cat.

With this turn, her face was now directly facing Tenkuji Yu's abdomen.

Her body stiffened slightly, her nose seemed to catch a scent, and two blushes instantly rose from the base of her fair ears, but she showed no intention of avoiding it, simply moving her head closer and closer as if nothing had happened.

Before she could bury her face in her abs, Yuu Tenkuji put the silver-haired girl aside and stood up.

"It's about time, let me take you home."

"No need! It's very close anyway, I can walk home by myself."

While politely declining, Yui Yuigahama neatly placed the handle on the table and picked up her coat and bag.

However, the suitcase that she didn't have time to put home was snatched away by Yuu Tenkuji.

"It's getting dark, so we should be careful."

Without giving Yui Yuigahama any room to refuse, Yuu Tenkuji nodded to his sister and then pulled her suitcase outside.

"Ah, wait for me..." Just as she was about to take a step to catch up, Yui Yuigahama stopped in her tracks and couldn't help but look at Kasugano Sora, who was saving her game and shutting it down on the sofa.

After hesitating for a moment, he still spoke to her: "Um, Xiao Qiong."

"what?"

"Can I come visit you again next time?"

"..."

Kasugano Sora froze in mid-air and fell silent.

Seemingly weighing the pros and cons, or perhaps guessing her true intentions, her fair and delicate face remained expressionless. Her gaze lingered on her ample chest for only a moment before quickly shifting away with disdain.

"If it's just playing games..."

After uttering those words casually, Kasugano Sora simply turned her back to her and began tidying up the things on the table.

"……Um!"

A smile involuntarily spread across her lips, and Yui waved cheerfully, even though Yui wasn't looking at her at all, her tone still lively:

"Then, let's play Overcooked together again next time!"

Kasugano Sora decisively refused: "No, let's play another game."

"Huh? Why?"

"I've finally recovered my health, and I don't want to get so angry that I have to go back to the hospital."

"No, no, it's not that exaggerated..."

……

As I walked from the Tenkuji family home toward the Yuigahama family home, I heard the weathered cries of a sweet potato vendor.

Crows perched on telephone poles, and pedestrians strolled leisurely along their rhythm. No one seemed to be in a hurry, but in the blink of an eye, they scattered and created a different scene.

The street under the setting sun clearly separated the two shadows.

"Congratulations on achieving the accomplishment, 'Come to my house and play games with my sister' - this is the first legendary accomplishment in the world."

As the girl moved forward slowly, Tenkuji Yu teased her with a smile, his dark eyes tinged with the hues of the setting sun.

"Legendary level? Who cares about that kind of achievement? What arrogance." Yui Yuigahama complained with a wrinkled nose, but couldn't help laughing and skipped forward.

"But this is a first for me too! Although I got really scolded by Xiaoqiong while playing the game, towards the end, I felt like we were actually becoming friends! Even though she's just my little sister in terms of age..."