I Fell in Love with Someone I Shouldn't Have Fallen in Love with - Chapter 20

Stronger

Souji-kun told us last night that he will finish his part-time job at around 5PM.

So, we decided to save the pudding for our dessert after dinner when Souji-kun is back.

For lunch, me and Emi eat the leftover miso soup from the morning and cook instant ramen.

After finishing our lunch and cleaning up the dishes, Emi and I discuss our plans for the future.

“We should ask Souji-kun if we can live here until the winter break ends.”

“That’s sounds like a good idea, but what will we do after winter break?”

“We’ll need to go back home. Both Emi and I have school, right? Actually, we have school tomorrow as well.”

Tomorrow is Monday, and we actually have the end-of-term ceremony for the second semester tomorrow. However, given the current situation, both of us plan to skip school.

“But do you think it’s okay for us to go back home? Can you handle it, Onee-chan?”

“I honestly don’t know…but we can’t keep troubling Souji-kin. The rent for this place, the water and electricity we use. All of that costs money you know?”

“I know, but…”

“Let’s think about what we are going to do when the time comes, okay? Right now, I think both of our parents and us need some time to calm down. If we don’t, we’ll not only trouble Souji-kun but also cause problems for everyone around us, right?”

“Yeah, okay.”

“I’ll go back home tomorrow during the day. I want to pick up my homework and I’d also like to bring my bike here.”

“I’ll come with you, Onee-chan.”

“No, you should stay here, Emi. You can’t come with me since I’ll be riding my bike, and on top of that, if you run into Mama, it might turn into another argument, right?”

“It goes the same for you too, Onee-chan.”

“That’s also another reason why I don’t want you to come with me. I couldn’t say anything to them because I was so upset yesterday. But now, since I’ve calmed down a bit, there are so many things I want to say to them. This time, I might end up saying one or two words of resentment towards them, and I don’t want Emi to see me like that. If there’s anything you want me to bring back, write it down on a list. If it’s something I can carry on the bike, I’ll bring it. Also, while you’re staying here, please help out with the household chores okay, Emi?”

“Yeah, I’ll do my best.”

“You should try to learn to cook simple dishes, Onee-chan will teach you. Like earlier when we made the pudding together, it’s easy and fun, right? We can start with simple things like cooking rice in the rice cooker or boiling water for instant ramen, don’t overthink it, okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll give it a try.”

“And also…”

“Eh, there’s more? You’re getting kind of preachy, Onee-chan. You’ll scare senpai off if you keep doing it.”

Again, my heart aches.

“It’s okay if Souji-kun gets scared off. It’s better than troubling him.”

“More importantly, let’s talk about our money. Emi, take out all of the living expenses money that you took from Mama’s and Papa’s wallet. Let’s combine it with what’s left of my part-time job earnings. We should plan out our living expense for the time we’ll be staying here. If possible, I’d like to help Souji-kun to pay for the electricity and water as well.”

“Y-Yeah, okay…(Onee-chan becomes so reliable all of the sudden…)”

“Did you say something? Ah, also, if you want to buy snacks or sweets, please use your own money as much as possible.”

“Y-Yeah, got it.”

After combining and counting our money, we have a little over 100,000 yen.

To my surprise, it’s more than I expected.

Emi seems to have completely emptied our wallets.

“Emi, I have a suggestion. How about using some of this money to buy a refrigerator for Souji-kun? It’s inconvenient without one, and having a small one would be really helpful.”

“Yeah, I agree. Plus, I think the pudding will taste better if we cool it in the fridge.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Then, let’s talk to Souji-kun about the fridge tonight.”

After I finished discussing things with Emi, I take a short nap under the kotatsu.

After I wake up, I begin to prepare dinner for the three of us.

I decided to make a hot pot tonight. Souji-kun must be tired from work, so having a hot pot should be nice to warm him up.

However, we don’t have a clay pot, so I use a regular cooking pot for it.

Emi and I prepare the ingredients together, but we feel like adding some meat or fish to the dish. So, I leave Emi to watch the apartment and go to a nearby supermarket by myself.

I spend around 10 minutes at the meat section, thinking what to buy. Finally, I decided to buy the cheapest pack of pork belly. I also decided to buy some ponzu sauce as well.

Back at the apartment, after finishing the preparations, I wonder if I should cook rice or not.

In the end, I decided to go with Emi’s suggestion of having udon noodles as a side dish, so I’m not cooking rice for dinner and just prepare the udon noodles.

I start to cook the hot pot just as Souji-kun comes back home.

When Souji-kun returns, Emi and I welcome him,

“Welcome back.”

“Yeah, I’m home.”

Despite his exhaustion, Souji-kun greeted us back so.

Once again, my heart aches. I still can’t bring myself to look directly at Souji-kun’s face.

After Souji-kun finished washing his hands and changing into his loungewear, I bring the hot pot to the kotatsu and we have dinner together.

Since Souji-kun seems a bit hesitant, I take the slices of pork belly and put it onto his plate without saying anything.

Throughout the day today, I keep reminding myself.

‘Souji-kun us my brother, and I am his sister.’

Every time I think of Souji-kun I feel pain deep within my heart.

However, I don’t want either Emi or Souji-kun to notice it, so I try to appear stronger than usual in front of them.