Since my Useless Working Sister and Other Troublemakers Became Magical Girls, I have no Choice but to Support Them. - Chapter 1-45: Breakfast for Five

Chapter 1-45: Breakfast for Five

“I see. I can’t replace your late mother, but is it okay if I cook here again?”

“Sure, but why are you doing this for me?”

“Lost family can’t come back. But you can make a new family again.”

Haruka smiled brightly at me. Her gaze was direct, as if piercing straight into my heart. It seemed like she was saying we could become family.

“That’s enough! You sneaky cat! Stop trying to seduce Yuuma!”

Aina’s voice broke the good atmosphere.

“You’re trying to bring Yuuma into your own family, aren’t you!”

“Sis, you’re up early. You usually sleep until the afternoon.”

“It was too noisy, so I woke up!”

“Tonfa Dynamite!”

On TV, Tonfa Mask was unleashing his finishing move on the enemy monster. A dramatic explosion occurred right in the middle of the city.

“Wow. Hey, Rafio! Can’t we use a move like that too!?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. And let go of me already.”

“No! Fluffy!”

“Aaaaaahhhh!”

So this is the source of the noise.

“I can tolerate Tsumugi being in the house and watching TV with Rafio for some reason! But you! Why are you in the house! And why are you so close to Yuuma!”

“Good morning, sister. Yuuma is supporting me while I make breakfast. I only have one leg, so I need his support.”

“How do you usually cook at home? Do you call Yuuma over whenever you do!? And stop calling me sister!”

They were noisier than Rafio and Tsumugi.

“Shining! Moving! Equipped with a cannon! DX Metal Rex! Now on sale!”

The Tonfa Mask broadcast ended, and a commercial for a children’s toy character I didn’t know aired.

It seemed to be a toy of a rampaging robot dinosaur. The advertisement showed it being controlled by a remote, firing bullets from the cannon on its back. The sponge bullets were shown dramatically, but not exaggeratedly.

Then, the next program started. A location show featuring unknown celebrities that none of us were interested in.

I turned off the TV, and everyone naturally gathered around the table.

“Let’s eat.”

Thus, the five of us ended up having breakfast together.

Haruka hadn’t expected Tsumugi’s visit, but it worked out somehow.

There was tamagoyaki, grilled salmon, boiled nanohana, and miso soup.

A traditional Japanese breakfast was set before us.

Rafio still couldn’t make something like this yet. Breakfast was still just toast. There’s also the fact that Aina can’t spend much time on meals during weekdays. But maybe Rafio will be able to make this level of breakfast soon.

Having a breakfast like this on the table was the first time since the day my mother died.

“It’s delicious… It’s frustrating, but it’s really delicious…”

Aina said with deep emotion after taking a bite of the tamagoyaki.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had such elaborate homemade food.”

“…It’s okay. I’ll come and cook every day.”

“Yeah…”

Even Haruka, who seemed a bit confrontational, stopped looking triumphant or teasing seeing Aina’s unexpected happiness. She even looked slightly withdrawn.

“Will I ever reach this level…?”

“I’d still like to drink Rafio’s miso soup even if it’s not perfect.”

“Don’t call it imperfect. And stop saying scary things.”

“I want to drink Rafio’s miso soup every morning.”

“I told you to stop saying that.”

The kids were chatting happily too.

I tried the miso soup. It was really good. Really delicious.

“How is it? It’s good, right?”

“Yeah. You’re really good at cooking.”

“Yep! I usually make all the meals. And the lunchboxes too.”

“That’s amazing.”

“Thanks! I’m happiest when Yuuma praises me! Oh, how about I make your lunch from now on?”

“Really?”

“Sure. I’m making meals for the whole family anyway. One more person won’t make much difference.”

And Haruka finally showed a triumphant face to Aina.

“Ugh. Well in that case, instead of just Yuuma’s lunch, make lunch for me and Rafio too… Nah, actually nevermind. First, let’s improve Yuuma’s taste in cooking so he could make better food. Haruka, you’ll really come over occasionally, right?”

“Y-yes. Leave it to me.”

Haruka seemed a bit bewildered by Aina’s serious expression. She raised her thumb, but it lacked her usual sharpness.

“Yuuma’s family was really troubled about cooking, huh?”

“Well, a little…”

“More than a little!”

“Yeah.”

I felt a bit sorry for Aina.

—

Even though a part-timer can choose their shifts regardless of the day, Tiara’s mother didn’t do that.

Her policy was to absolutely take Sundays off. And then she’d lie down her overweight body and sleep all day. Her spot was in front of the TV. Sensitive to noise, if anyone turned on the TV, she’d wake up and yell.

Tiara probably just couldn’t stand having Tiara nearby.

So Tiara had hardly ever seen Miracle Force.

Once, nearly ten years ago when she was very young, she had seen it. She didn’t know what her mother was up to, but she had turned on the TV and there it was. She was captivated.

That was her encounter with Miracle Force and magical girls.

She doesn’t remember much of the story now, but the sparkling girls on TV were beautiful. She couldn’t watch it the following week because of her mother, but it left a strong impression on Tiara.

She wanted to be like that. She strongly wished to become a girl like that, opposite of her own situation. She kept wishing.

And now, the town was abuzz with rumors of magical girls. A fairy even appeared before her eyes.

“I see. You talked with Rafio.”

Kiera had left as soon as Tiara’s mother woke up yesterday, so they didn’t get to talk much.

But she came again today.