Reincarnated as the Promiscuous Protagonist in a Netori Game, Only to Find the Heroine, My Step-Sister, Already Threatened to Be a Submissive Slave~ Liberating the Slave and Planning to Leave Home, Yet Unexpectedly Becoming Loved by My Step-Sister~ - Chapter 10 - My Sister’s Home-Cooked Meals

Chapter 10 – My Sister’s Home-Cooked Meals

“Let’s eat here, Nii-san.”

Both of us sat side by side on a bench in the shade of a tree.

Not many students come to the courtyard, but I can see a few couples.

I guess this place is what that’s known for.

“Look, look there…”

“Ah, so the rumors were true… I feel sorry for Arisa-san.”

“But didn’t Arisa-san guide that scum just now?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. And they look…comfortable with each other?”

“You’re right… Then what’s going on…?”

I heard couples whispering. This will probably go on for a while.

However, thanks to Tsumugi’s smile, I felt that the tide was about to turn.

“Shall we eat?”

“Yeah.”

Just like the day before, I spread out the bento that Mizuki-san had prepared for me. Inside, there were as many beautifully cooked colorful ingredients as ever. Just looking at them stimulated my appetite.

“Itadakimasu.”

First, I tried the fried chicken, which I was most curious about.

“Ooohhh…!”

Despite being cold, the succulent meat was still juicy. The taste was so good that I couldn’t stop shoveling down the food.

“Hmm…?”

As I was engrossed in eating, I suddenly noticed.

For some reason, Tsumugi was staring at me. She hasn’t even touched her own lunch.

“You’re not eating?”

“Nii-san, is it delicious?”

“Ah, yeah. It’s really good. Mizuki-san is really a great—”

“I made that.”

“Huh?”

I almost dropped my chopsticks in surprise.

“Fufu. Successful surprise♪”

“Tsumugi…made this?”

Yes, she had said she was going to cook next time, but I didn’t think she’d do it immediately.

“I didn’t realize it at all. It’s really good. Tsumugi is also good at cooking.”

“Yes, that’s right, that’s right♪”

Tsumugi seemed to be in a good mood, humming and puffing her chest out.

“If you like, I can cook every day from now on.”

“Eh, but that’s a lot of work, isn’t it?”

“It’s even harder for Mom, I was thinking of helping her anyway.”

“Oh, I see. Then, if it’s okay with Tsumugi, I’d like to eat her home-cooked meals again.”

“Yes, with pleasure.”

She smiled happily.

Helping, huh…?

I want to do something to help my family. In my previous life, even my parents abandoned me, but in this life, my parents are really good people. I don’t want to be unfilial.

All I can do is clean the bathroom, take out the trash, wash the dishes and…that’s about it. I’ll make a proposal to Mizuki-san tonight.

“Nii-san, Nii-san.”

“Hmm?”

When I was silent for a while, Tsumugi approached me, seeking my attention.

“Do you know how to make your lunch tastier?”

“Make my lunch tastier…? Maybe add some seasoning, something like that?”

Like pepper in a ramen shop, maybe she’s going to add some seasoning for my lunch?

“Pity, Nii-san is wrong.”

Well, I guess that makes sense.

Who would bother bringing seasoning to school…

“The correct answer is this! Ahnn♪”

“Eh…?”

“Ahnn, Nii-san.”

Tsumugi grabbed one of her own fried chicken with chopsticks and held it out to my mouth.

I-Is it okay to eat this…?

The atmosphere is friendly, I can’t relax.

“A-Ahnn…”

After a few moments of worrying, I opened my mouth and ate the fried chicken.

It was still juicy and tasted as good as freshly made. It must have been made with a lot of thought and care for a lunch box.

But this time, even more than that—

“How is it, Nii-san? Is it delicious? It is, right? Right~?”

“Y-Yeah… It’s delicious.”

It had a kind of sweet and sour flavor.

“Which tastes better? My cooking or Mom’s?”

“Well, that’s… Both are delicious.”

“I don’t accept that kind of answer. Tell me, whose cooking is more delicious?”

“……!”

Tsumugi leaned forward and asked a question with her face close to mine. The sweet scent from her swaying flaxen hair tickled my nose.

Here innocent eyes were waiting for an answer.

She’s not going to stop until I answer her properly.

“Well… I think Tsumugi’s cooking tastes better…”

Only for the fried chicken that she fed me.

The others should be considered a tie.

“Nfufu♪ I see, I see~ Nii-san really loves my cooking, doesn’t he♪”

No, I didn’t say that much…

But well, I don’t have to correct Tsumugi because she looks so happy.

“I’m going to feed you lots. Here, ahnn~”

The “ahnn”s from Tsumugi, who was completely pleased, did not stop, and continued for a long time.

What the hell is this?

There’s nothing particularly suspicious about it, but is this the right distance between me and my step sister?

If this were an eroge, I’m definitely on the route of capturing her.

The lunch was a somewhat questionable experience.

“Nii-san, I’ll see you at the school gate after school.”

“Roger that. Thanks for the lunch.”

“No, no, it was nothing much.”

Tsumugi Prayer bowed politely and returned to the classroom.

During afternoon classes—

Hah… I don’t know anything…

I was sitting in the last row by the window, staring at the blackboard and resting my cheekbone on my desk. The teacher’s words passed me by, unheard.

I haven’t studied properly since my previous life and I graduated from high school a long time ago.

There is no way I can keep up if I start taking classes in the middle of the semester in such a state.

Takuma’s notebook is naturally empty, and he doesn’t know anything.

It’s not that I don’t have the intention to study this time, given the opportunity, but I’ve been struggling to find a starting point.

For a change of pace, I looked out the window.

There was a PE class on the field. It seemed like they were playing football.

Ah, isn’t that…

Suddenly, her beautiful flaxen hair fluttering in the wind caught my eye.

It was Tsumugi. In her gym uniform, of course. By the way, she was wearing shorts, not bloomers. It was a healthy look.

During the mini-game, Tsumugi was chasing after the ball. She managed to snatch it for a moment but quickly got the ball taken away from her. This cycle continued repeatedly. Her athleticism can be described as average or mediocre.

It was a bit like dumpling football, with all the girls gathered around the ball. It brought me a sense of warmth and comfort.

After a while, Tsumugi was substituted and she left the court. Then, she happened to look at me.

She waved at me. And I put my hand up in a small gesture so the teacher in my class couldn’t see.

She smiled happily at me.

“Do. Your. Best.”

I communicated through mouth gestures.

“Nii. San. Too.”

Tsumugi said so lip-synching as she pointed her finger in front of me.

Ah, she meant to listen to class properly…

She’s so serious.

But it’s indeed embarrassing to be reprimanded by my younger sister.

I thanked her with a gesture and returned my attention to class.

Just the act of seriously listening to the class will improve Takuma’s image.

Even if I don’t understand it, I should at least take notes.

Seeing Tsumugi was a good refresher for me, and I was able to concentrate better than before.