Translator: Lilo
Editor: Ryuubii

Chapter 2: Average Day Was Well Off The Average Value

Act 1

My days these days begin in a room that I have no clue how to fit in.

In the morning, when I woke up and got out of bed, I would open the curtains first. The room, exposed to the morning sun shining in through the window, is composed of a desk, bed, closet, and other luxurious black furnishings.

This was the kind of room I was given.

It seems that Hasumi-san prepared this place in a hurry after I decided to stay at the Hasumi household for a month.

As expected, a wealthy family sure is different. Or is it that, as a parent, he was willing to spend money for me? It’s a little distressing to think that in a month’s time it will all be for nothing though.

Is it because of taste that I’m not sure how to fit in this room? Or Is it because it’s too much for a poor person like me… Nah, I’m not that financially needy.

Anyway, I changed into my rough loungewear and left the room. After washing my face in the upstairs washroom, I went downstairs and headed to the living room.

“Good morning.”

And then, I gave my morning greeting to the girl there― Hasumi Shion.

Hasumi-senpai was sitting on the sofa, reading a newspaper that was spread out on a glass-topped low table in a stooped position. It was a bit surprising since she doesn’t look like your typical high school girl of today. Perhaps it was the influence of her father, who is a doctor.

She was still dressed as rough as I was, in shorts and a T-shirt. She is the most stylish female student I know and is quite the apple to the eye. However, she doesn’t seem to be bothered. She probably doesn’t care what I thought of her.

Hasumi-senpai glanced at me and then said.

“…Morning.”

She still sounded grumpy as ever.

“You, you always get up on time, huh?”

Even so, she continued talking.

I had assumed that there would be only minimal conversation at most and no small talk between us. I was puzzled at first, but decided to take it as a sign that this was the sociability of an eighteen year old.

“I believe the basis of being a trustworthy person is being on time and keeping your word, so…”

“Hmm. Is that so?”

Hasumi-senpai looked uninterested and expressed her understanding.

“It’s a very boring answer, as expected of a member of the library committee.”

“By the way, where’s uncle?”

After smiling at Hasumi-senpai’s words, I asked her.

For now, I decided to call Hasumi-san as “uncle.” I thought he might be pleased if I called him “dad,” but It was not possible because I hadn’t fully accepted it yet.

“He left early today. This also happens all the time… Come on, let’s hurry up and eat.”

Hasumi-senpai folds the newspaper and gets up from the sofa.

Looking at the dining table, breakfast was being prepared. There were several empty plates stacked on top of each other, but I guess it was just getting ready.

“You bake the bread.”

As expected, Hasumi-senpai’s instructions flew in. She was now going to make bacon and eggs.

Soon after, breakfast was ready.

Toast, bacon and eggs, prosciutto salad, and fruit yogurt. That’s today’s breakfast menu.

Thanks to Hasumi-san inviting me to his house, I have been free from any chores. Breakfast is ready when I wake up in the morning, and dinner is ready when I return after finishing my classes at school. I only had to clean my room. This would not have been possible if I had stayed alone. I should be grateful to Hasumi-san.

Having said that, I can’t just stay here and do nothing. I need to do something when the time is right. I’m sure Hasumi-senpai would not be pleased with me cleaning the residence, so if I were to help out, it would probably be with the meal preparation.

“Itadakimasu.”

“Mhm…”

We immediately started eating together.

The Hasumi residence is large. The living room is correspondingly spacious, as with the dining area and kitchen. The table set was for four people, but the table looks larger than most tables. Even if four people use it, it wouldn’t feel cramped.

Until a few years ago, the Hasumi houselond used this table for the three members of the family. Then, it was reduced to only two of them, and a few days ago, it increased to three again..

And now it’s just me and Hasumi-senpai.

There were no talks.

I wondered why and realized it was because Hasumi-san was not there.

Up until now, he has been. I can talk normally with Hasumi-san, and Hasumi-senpai is angry with her father, but not so much that she wouldn’t talk. So at first glance, there was a sense of having dinner together.

But without Hasumi-san, this is how it ends up…

‘Then, why did Hasumi-senpai wait for me to wake up?’

Such a question came to mind.

She told my face that she did not recognize me as family. If she had eaten with her father first, she would not have had to share a meal with me, whom she hated.

“Hasumi-senpai, from now on, in this kind of situation, you can eat together with uncle.”

When I said this, she stopped eating immediately.

“…Are you being considerate of me?”

“No, it’s nothing of that sort…”

Actually, it is, but I’ll say whatever comes to mind.

“Well, I don’t care either way.”

Hasumi-senpai spilled the beans in a throwaway manner.

“You know? I don’t like it. Not being straightforward. One thing is even though they don’t like it, they’re always doing it, only when there’s a reason not to do it is when they happily let it go. If I don’t like something, I’ll say so, and if I don’t want to do something, I won’t do it in the first place.”

“…..”

In other words, since she has decided to have dinner with me even if she doesn’t like me, she doesn’t want to look for an excuse not to do so.

Man, I wish a certain two-faced senior would learn a little from her. Although, being that straightforward is certainly admirable.

“What? You think it’s weird?”

“No, not really.”

I don’t think I let a bitter smile show on my face, but Hasumi-senpai, who subtly sensed it, glared at me.

She then snorted and cut off the conversation there.

Eventually, the meal was almost over.

“Don’t tell anyone at school that you and I became brothers and sisters.”

Suddenly, Hasumi-senpai opened her mouth.

“I won’t. No one would believe me even if I told them.”

“I’m sure.”

She agreed in a bland tone. After all, fact is stranger than fiction or something along those lines.

In fact, I tried it out, but my classmates thought it was just a bad joke. On the other hand, Kanata-senpai, who knew I would never joke about such a thing, did not suspect it. Well, she wouldn’t go around telling everyone about it anyway.

“But, just in case. Since, it’s a shame in the family.”

And it was Hasumi-senpai who gave me a warning.

“I understand.”

Let’s not say anything more.

§§§

After finishing my meal, I returned to my room to get ready for school.

Naturally, we go to school separately.

“Alright, I’ll leave first.”

I went downstairs and called out to Hasumi-senpai.

She was in the kitchen. She had already changed into her uniform and was apparently preparing her lunch.

I was about to leave the house, since there was no response.

“…Hey.”

However, I was stopped by a call.

“What are you doing for lunch?”

I stopped and came back, and Hasumi-senpai asked me. She was still in the middle of prepping. She did not look at me at all.

“Hm? I’m going to the cafeteria.”

“Before?”

She then asked another question.

“My mom used to make me lunch.”

Although that mom is already gone.

I answered her blunt question, as if I was gouging out a wound that had not yet healed.

“Is that so?”

Finally, Hasumi-senpai turned to me.

“Then, bring that lunch box next time.”

She said while looking straight at me.

“Eh?”

“You have one, right?”

“Well, if I go back home.”

Up to this point, I had been answering without knowing her intentions, but I finally had a vague idea. After all, Hasumi-senpai is doing exactly that right now.

“Could it be you’re going to make me some?”

“That’s what I’m trying to say.”

She answered bluntly.

“I always pack enough for myself and dad anyway, so one more won’t make much difference. But you have to prepare your own lunch box. I won’t go that far.”

“Uh, alright.”

Overwhelmed by Hasumi-senpai’s one-sided demanding attitude, I faltered in my reply.

“In my case, my mother was sick. I was able to learn many things while visiting her in the hospital. But you…”

Her words stopped.

Silence.

Hasumi-senpai scratched her head roughly. What a waste, the time to set that hair up.

“Ahー, nevermind. Forget about it, I don’t think I can deliver this story well.”

She doesn’t seem to have a good handle on what she wants to say.

“Go on, get going. If you don’t go, I can’t get out either.”

“Eh? Ah, excuse me. Well then, I’m off.”

From the beginning to the end, it was one-sided. I left Hasumi’s residence as if driven off by her words.