#07: The Childhood Friend’s Underwear Shopping

Megucchi dragged me to a lingerie shop in a shopping mall in the suburbs.

Still linked arm-in-arm with me, she leads me into the store.

“I’ve been getting snug again lately, so I gotta size up or I’ll be in real trouble.”

“Size up? You mean like kissing level? Or heavy petting?”

“That’s not it! I’m talking about bra sizes!”

“Oh, that kind of sizing up. Here I thought you were leveling up without me. I’m actually a little jealous right now.”

“…M-Meg is still… (a virgin, and…) mumbles“

“Hm? Did you say something, Megucchi? Besides, why’d you have to drag me along to pick out underwear? You really want to parade me around that badly, huh? Man, having a selfish childhood friend is rough. What a pain.”

“Th-that’s! I just… I thought I wanted some advice! B-besides, it doesn’t have to be you!”

“True. I mean, Kurumi would probably be better suited for this than me—you know, Kurumi from the Mizumoto household? When it comes to panty flashes, she’s basically a legend.”

“No way. Kurumi’s a no-go. She gets sulky whenever I bring her along.”

“Hm? Why would Kurumi get sulky? You two get along, right?”

“Kurumi gets all insecure about her flat chest, so she complains and mopes the second I ask about my size.”

“Ah, I see… Yeah, Kurumi’s definitely a cutting board.”

After hearing out Megucchi’s underwear advisor situation, I ended up being the one to pick out her lingerie.

As a gal, Megucchi’s underwear is what you’d call a display bra.

Megucchi’s always unbuttoning about three buttons on her blouse.
The point is, with her habit of flaunting that impressive chest, she actually takes care with how her show bra looks.

“Norio, what color do you like?”

“Hmm… black or red—something a little sexy—but it wouldn’t suit you.”

“Right!? I don’t think black suits me either. Maybe pink or light blue?”

“Nah… clean and innocent definitely wouldn’t work on you either.”

“I see… So maybe patterned?”

“Hmm…”

Gals usually wear leopard print and stuff like that, but I’m not really into leopard print on Megucchi.

“What about something like a school swimsuit or a micro bikini?”

“…Norio, you’re seriously messed up. Die.”

Megucchi answered in a flat tone, her eyes sharp.

“Hey, don’t blame me! You asked what I like, so I just let my preferences out!”

But really, that’s how it is, right?

She wants to show off her presence as a childhood friend by dragging the protagonist around.
Ask about preferences, complain, act selfish. She’s one troublesome childhood friend, for sure.

The next day, Megucchi showed up to school wearing a school swimsuit under her blouse, out of season. The gal gang called her “Swimmer Megucchi” all day.

Yeah.
I’m a troublemaker—Norio Mizumoto.

#08: The Little Sister and Okonomiyaki

After shopping with Megucchi, I head home to find Kurumi already back.

“Old man, where were you with Megucchi?”

“Megucchi dragged me to… oops, never mind, never mind.”

That was close.
Talking about Megucchi’s underwear in front of Kurumi was a no-go.
Another second and a kick or punch would’ve come flying.

“Dragged? What did you drag her to!?”

“I didn’t drag her anywhere. If anything, I just got stuck dealing with Megucchi’s selfishness.”

“That’s pretty normal for you guys. Megucchi’s always wishy-washy anyway.”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“Never mind. Anyway, can you make dinner already? I’m starving!”

My little sister Kurumi can’t cook.

So in our household, where both parents work, I’m the one who makes dinner on weekdays.

After washing up, I put on an apron and check what’s in the fridge.

Since Kurumi’s complaining about being hungry, I think about what I can make quickly.

There’s cabbage and pork belly…

“Kurumi, how about okonomiyaki?”

“k”

“You got it.”

With okonomiyaki, it’s just chop, mix, and cook.
Quick and easy.

I finely chop the cabbage and toss it in a bowl with okonomiyaki flour, an egg, and water, then mix it all together.

I set the hot plate at the table, sit down next to Kurumi, and drop two portions of batter, spreading them out.

“Old man, is it done yet?”

“I just started cooking it.”

“Tch.”

This tsundere little sister is all bark, no sweetness.

But today, your big brother got some intel from Megucchi about your weak points, you know?

“Kurumi, if you keep acting so cheeky all the time, you’ll regret it later. Wouldn’t it kill you to be sweet sometimes?”

“Huh, the old man’s confident today.”

“Not really.”
I whistle and play dumb.

After flipping the okonomiyaki, I drizzle takoyaki sauce and mayo all over it, then top it with bonito flakes, pickled ginger, and aonori.

“Alright, dig in.”

“Itadakimasu!”

“Mmhm.”

While she eats, I start on another round.

Happy now that she’s got her okonomiyaki, Kurumi keeps chattering on about some mediocre comedian making a comeback, munching away.

I munch along and listen to Kurumi’s chatter. I notice she’s got aonori stuck on her front teeth, but I decide not to tell her.

Yeah.
I’m a troublemaker—Norio Mizumoto.