Believing She Has Been Reincarnated into a Baseball Game, My Little Sister Is Aiming for the Koshien, While I Give It My All to Keep Her from Finding out That It’s Actually an Ntr Game - Chapter 17

“Huh?”

With that single word, Maika gives me a piercing look.

What’s with that? Why the sudden sulkiness?

“It’s fine. I’m the one who invited everyone through Line. We decided to try and spend more time together as a family, didn’t we?”

Well, I do want Riko to make some friends at school. But only female friends. Ever since we exchanged Line contacts the day before yesterday, I’ve been constantly messaging Riko. Even the most trivial messages receive instant, lengthy replies that make me so happy I could cry. Since that day two years ago, I’ve been sending messages every day without a single read receipt. If only Maika would exchange contacts already. Is she embarrassed, or what?

“But it’s just the two of us♪ Just a family of two. To you, Onii-san, I’m the only family in this world. To me, Onii-san is the only family in this world. Kyaa, it’s too special……! I can’t think of anyone who could interfere with this sacred bond……!”

Before I realize it, Riko has settled beside me, leaning against my shoulder. She smells nice. Her skin is silky smooth and soft. Adorable.

“Hmm. Well, it doesn’t really matter to me. As long as Riko eats everything without leaving anything behind. I made sure to balance the nutrition when I prepared it.”

Since Maika has taken over cooking duties, naturally, everything Riko eats is also prepared by Maika.

The two of them share household responsibilities, but when it comes to cooking, there’s a clear disparity in skill—and it’s no surprise. It was always like that in our past life.

“Ufufu♪ Thank you for the light and healthy meal, Maika-chan! It reminds me of hospital food, bringing back such a nostalgic feeling! It’s so kind of a complete stranger to care about my health like this♪”

“Well, unlike Kyugo, you don’t exercise or anything. I’ll add more salt when it gets hot. If it’s too bland, why not use the spice blend I made?”

“Eeeh? I never said it was bland! How could I possibly say that about the food made by a stranger like Maika-chan♪ It has such a refined and gentle flavor!”

“Sorry. Maybe I’ve been inconveniencing Riko since our previous life. You know, I’ve had a habit for years of adjusting the menu and seasoning to suit Kyugo’s tastes. I didn’t realize it, but maybe I’ve been making you endure it all this time. Living with someone who has different food preferences can be really stressful. Now that we’re healthy and living together again, feel free to tell me honestly if your tastes differ from Kyugo’s and mine. I’ll try to accommodate.”

“Ufufu, Maika-chan is still amazing as ever♪ I’d love to learn from your positivity and obliviousness, thinking Onii-san is satisfied with your cooking! It must be the secret to good health!”

“Yeah, I’m really glad to see my cute former little sister happy.”

Both Riko, always smiling, and Maika, who continues to look after her sister calmly.

(Former) sisters getting along well is wonderful. Yeah, let’s keep it that way. I don’t want to get involved. The way they interact is nostalgically heartwarming!

“Ufufu♪ You’re lucky to have such a kind girlfriend, Onii-san. Right, Onii-san?”

And just like that, I’m dragged into it.

“Ri, Riko? I, uh, the serious relationship with Maika is just a setup, you know.”

“Ah. Right, right♪ Just a setting♪ Eeeen, sorry for the mistake, Maika-chan…… Oh? But, if it’s just a setting where she’s neither a sister nor a lover, then isn’t she just a helper being forced to cook for us? That won’t do! Right, Onii-san? You need to start paying Maika-san properly.”

Riko clings to my arm, looking up at me with an almost scolding expression. Adorable. Too adorable. But scary.

On the other hand, Maika is saying, “Riko’s always been good at being pampered,” with a calm face, but her right hand holding the chopsticks is starting to creak. It’s only a matter of time before it snaps. Scary. Too scary. But cute.

“Hey, Onii-san. I’m willing to compromise with the nutritionally balanced meals provided by Maika Food Corp., but for a delicious dessert that soothes the soul, could you leave it to me? Actually, I brought some today! Ta-da! My special homemade banana bread!”

What Riko triumphantly pulls out of her lunch bag is a rectangular, plumply baked pound cake.

“Wow…”

“Ufufu, how does it look, Onii-san? Appetizing, right?”

It really does look delicious. The nicely browned surface is making me hungry.

Come to think of it, Riko used to bake sweets a lot before she was hospitalized.

“Wait a minute.”

Just as Riko begins to cut the banana bread, Maika’s sharp voice stops her. Of course, it’s Maika. And this time, her usually composed demeanor is gone. She has abandoned all pretense and is glaring seriously at her former sister.

“Eh? What’s wrong, contractor? What business does a complete stranger have with our family’s affairs? What’s your position?”

The sweetness in Riko’s voice is now replaced by sharp edges.

“I don’t care if I’m a contractor or whatever, but I’m the one considering Kyugo’s bulking pace and calculating nutrients, so I don’t need you messing things up. I’ve prepared bananas for his pre-practice carbs. Right, Kyugo?”

“Eeeh, but Onii-san looks like he wants to eat it. I’m just a foolish little sister who doesn’t understand such complicated matters. Unlike a contractor whose only job is nutritional management, I can only make Onii-san feel happy……”

“Whatever. Let me put it in terms you can understand then: you’re just getting in the way. That junk isn’t necessary for Kyugo’s body.”

“Ufufu♪ Ufufufu♪ Ufufufufufufu……huh? Junk? Huh?”

“Junk, yeah. The type of carbohydrates that suit Kyugo’s body come from bananas that aren’t fully ripe. Plus, his favorite flavor is the slightly acidic taste of those bananas. Adding unnecessary fats and baking them up like that makes no sense. It’s practically sabotage. Baked sweets, lol.”

“Oh? Even if you say it’s fatty, I only use healthy oils, you know. It’s strange, really. Fats are crucial for bodybuilding, aren’t they? Odd, isn’t it? A complete stranger acting like Onii-san’s partner (lol), and you don’t even know the three major nutrients? Not even essential fatty acids?”

“That’s why I calculate all the fat intake when I prepare the meals. I just want to reduce fats in lunch since we’re considering the timing before his practice, given Kyugo’s digestion. Well, a mere little sister wouldn’t grasp all that about Kyugo’s body, and that’s okay. It’s cute. Adorable, really. Like a kindergartener baking cookies with Mom for Daddy. Right, Kyugo? Pat her head, your cute little sister.”

If you’re talking about digestion, it’s actually you two who are giving my stomach a hard time right now.

Ow, ow, ow… Yes, that’s it. This stomach pain reminds me of the fiery sisterly battles back when Riko was healthy…!

In front of me, these two always behave this way, even more intensely than in our past lives.

Is this going to be an everyday thing again…? Ah! My second life is awesome!

“Anyway, I won’t let Kyugo eat it, anything other than what I manage. Give that dessert to the first-year baseball players; they’re probably lacking calories. With how skinny they are, it’s more important to bulk them up anyway. Your imprecise junk food is perfect for those background characters.”

“Ah, I’m done. Little sister is pissed. I’m going to stab this woman. Don’t stop me, Onii-san.”

“I obviously have to stop you… Don’t point a knife at your former real sister.”

“What, Onii-san! You’re defending a total stranger, a contractor, over your own sister! Is she more important to you than me!?”

“That’s not it… Riko is my precious sister.”

“Then please eat my banana bread!”

“Uh, okay. I’ll have―”

“No. Don’t joke around, Kyugo. I don’t care what anyone thinks of me. If you say your sister is more important, that’s fine. But that’s a different matter. Don’t put anything in your mouth that isn’t prepared by me. Ever. Forever.”

“Uh, huh? Um…”

“Onii-san!? Aren’t you going to eat my banana bread! Is a contractor’s directive more important than the banana bread your poor little sister worked so hard to make!?”

“No, it’s not that… Don’t cry, Riko, okay, I’ll eat it.”

“Kyugo! We decided not to compromise on your physique! What, is my cooking not tasty enough? Huh, okay. I get it. I’ve been forcing you to endure it all along. Okay, sorry for being such a misunderstood girlfriend. A whimsical little girl’s junk has beaten the culinary skills I’ve honed all my life. Okay, I see. A misunderstood, incompetent woman like me isn’t needed by Kyugo, who is loved by his sister. Okay, got it, bye bye.”

“Wait, wait, wait, don’t jump off. That’s not it, your cooking is the best in the world. For my muscles, my taste buds, and my heart!”

“Onii-san!! Be clear! You’re going to eat it, right? My banana bread!”

“Kyugo!! Choose properly! My lunch alone is enough, right? You don’t need such sweets!”

Their faces are so close I could touch their noses.

No escape. I must choose. Right here, right now.

I take a deep breath, decide, and,

“I’ve decided. I’ll eat the banana bread Riko made.”

“Onii-san! I love you, Onii-san!”

“Goodbye. I’ll curse you.”

“Wait, Maika! Come on, you eat too!”

I tear a piece of the banana bread with my hands and take a bite myself first.

The natural sweetness of the banana and the faint aroma of cinnamon. The moist texture melts softly in my mouth. It’s truly the best, filled with Riko’s love.

I want Maika to taste this too.

“Here, Maika. Ahh.”

“Huh? Why should I eat such a thing… leave me alone, I’m going to jump off.”

“Indirect kiss. Ahh.”

“Ahh.”

I gently place the nibbled banana bread into Maika’s mouth. She sort of hums with her lips on my fingertips. She’s getting desperate. Of course, it was more moist than the banana bread.

“…”

With a tsundere face, Maika slowly chews on the sister-special dessert.

“How is it, Maika?”

“…Well… it’s not bad. Good ingredients, I guess. The flavors of olive oil and almond milk are a nice touch. Frescobaldi Laudemio really is different. Makes anything delicious. Worth the price.”

She’s really not straightforward, this one.

“I didn’t make it for Maika-chan to eat, you know.”

Riko puffs up her cheeks, though she seems somewhat pleased.

When she’s a bit pouty, she’s actually happier than when she’s all smiles—that’s my other little sister.

Yep, my double sisters are as troublesome as ever.

I pat their heads, thinking,

“Baked fresh is great, but such a delicious dessert might be better enjoyed gradually, frozen and shared among the three of us. I might not manage the nutrition perfectly on my own, but if I leave it to Maika, I’m sure she can perfectly incorporate a slice of Riko’s baked treats into our meal plan each day.”

The sisters sigh in unison at my hopelessly patriarchal remark.

“No helping it, Onii-san is,” “Can’t be helped, Kyugo is,”

They must be related in this world too, these two.

“Alright. For Onii-san’s sake, let’s settle it this way for now. I’ll continue to let the contractor make our meals. But I’ll also make the desserts. Please use the freezer to store and eat them gradually.”

“Alright, that’s fine. That banana bread, into the freezer―oh, wait. Yeah, I’ll put it in.”

As if remembering something, Maika tries to retrieve the banana bread, but Riko brushes her hand aside and puts it back in the lunch bag.

“No, I won’t bother Maika-chan. I made it, so I’ll take responsibility for storing it.”

“No, but―”

“Oh, does the contractor worry about us seeing inside the freezer? Oops! Too late, Maika-chan. I know about the rich Calpis you’ve frozen and sneakily eat at night. You’re strict with Onii-san’s diet, yet you have ice cream in the middle of the night? Oho, Maika-chan, you’re not exercising like Onii-san, you’ll get a flabby tummy if you keep that up♪”

“No, no, no, no, no, that’s not it! Ah, that’s high-quality protein… no, not that! I didn’t eat it! I didn’t!”

“Lies, it’s a syrupy Calpis sherbet, a lump of sugar! You were eating it! Rolling it around in your mouth, slowly melting it, savoring it thickly! You had an ecstatic expression!”

“No, no, no, I don’t, I don’t know anything about that! It wasn’t me!”

Game set! This match goes to Riko! Maika is utterly defeated!

What are you doing, you owe Riko’s innocence, we’ve been saved by her!