Chapter 22

ED : Jingle

It had been predicted that the summer this year would be colder than last year, but in reality, the temperature was still the same as last year’s summer.

And currently, Tsubaki was fed up with the summer heat.

“So hooot…” (Tsubaki)

The Asahina family’s residence, second floor’s living room that’s limited to relatives only. In it, Tsubaki was laying upside down on top of a sofa in an unsightly manner.

Since she knows only her relatives and the house servants would be there, she was acting without putting up any fronts.

And it diminished her non-existent dignity even further.

“Hey, act properly. Also, what’s with that language. Is this how an heiress of the Asahina house is supposed to act, you blockhead.” (Kyousuke)

“I’m doing well outside so it’s o~kay~ also, stop hitting my butt! That’s sexual harassment, you know!? Sexual! Harassment!” (Tsubaki)

“Tsubaki-chan! Where did you learn that word from!? Have someone did that to you? Who? Tell me.” (Kaoru)

“Kaoru Oji-sama, that’s not where you’re supposed to tsukkomi her on.” (Anna)

On the second floor living room, there were Tsubaki spewing abusive language toward Kyousuke after he hit her bottom due to her improper behavior, and Anna, who was calmly pointing out Kaoru’s misplaced Tsukkomi.

Since the ground floor living room also served as the parlor room, it was more suitable for their family circle to gather on the second floor living room every time they came to visit.

“Good grief, I’ve come here for Oba-sama’s baby gift, but to think this is what I got to see. How come you behave so differently at home and in school? Keep that prim act from school at home too, okay–” (Kyousuke)

“–No can do.” (Tsubaki)

“An instant reply!?” (Kyousuke)

Tsubaki believes it’s fine for her to act like this since she has never misbehaved in public. Also, her parents have never said anything about her behavior at home.

They might overlook her current behavior since she knows how to behave properly in public.

Also, her mother still feels guilty about neglecting Tsubaki in her childhood. And at home, her father too has some part of him that makes him unreliable, but he always puts on a front of a capable man when in public. That’s why her father can’t strongly warn Tsubaki since there is a precedent that he has set.

Anna held back on throwing a tsukkomi at Tsubaki and Kyousuke’s conversation, and then faced toward Kaoru, who was still bothered by the words “sexual harassment” that Tsubaki had said, and spoke about the topic that was the main reason of their visit.

“By the way, Kaoru Oji-sama. Have you decided on the name for the baby yet?” (Anna)

“Ah, yes. We decided to name him Itsuki.” (Kaoru)

Last week, Yuriko safely gave birth to her third child, Itsuki.

Same as Sumire, he had a thin pigment. And for his looks, it would be better to say his profile closely resembled Asahina’s grandmother.

Since he was their first son, Tsubaki’s parents were really excited and were knocking themselves out looking after him.

Sumire was feeling lonely because of that, so Tsubaki was taking care of her for the entire summer break.

Currently, Tsubaki was on cloud nine, since Sumire had been completely turned into Onee-chan’s girl.

As for that Sumire, she was taking an afternoon nap, so she was not in the living room with them. Thus, Tsubaki was acting lazily.

In front of Sumire, Tsubaki always puts a prim and proper front. All of it just to be respected by her little sister.

Checking the time, Tsubaki then turned to look at the clock that hanging on the wall. It was about half-past 2 PM.

Since she started feeling a little hungry, she wanted to ask the cook to make something for her, but then she remembered some assorted fruits that were presented for her mother’s baby gift.

“That’s right. Let’s open a summer hotcake party!” (Tsubaki)

Having suddenly come up with a plan, Tsubaki got up from the sofa and rushed toward the kitchen to tell the cook about her plan.

“Mizushima-sama. That’s what they call recklessness.” (Anna)

“Doesn’t she have too much room for messing around?”(Kyousuke)

Ignoring what the two had said, Tsubaki rushed to the kitchen downstairs, opened the kitchen door with a “BAAM”, and spoke to the person inside.

“Chef! It’s a summer hotcake party!” (Tsubaki)

“Hotcake, is it? We have all the ingredients here. But still, you are as absurd as always, Tsubaki-sama.” (Chef)

Without even a flinch at Tsubaki’s sudden request, the cook nodded calmly after confirming the ingredients. As expected of a pro.

He then put away the newspaper he was reading and took out the necessary ingredients.

Confused by Tsubaki who was still staring at him, the cook then spoke to her.

“Tsubaki-sama, I’ll bring them over once they’re done but…” (Chef)

“Eh? I’m fully ready to make them after you finish preparing the ingredients though?” (Tsubaki)

“Eh?” (Chef)

“Eh?” (Tsubaki)

Speaking of summer hotcake, Tsubaki was planning to make them herself so she was rather surprised by what the cook said.

It would be much tastier if I cook them myself, also since chef here overlooks the process, the hotcake color would surely turn beautiful light brown, thought Tsubaki eagerly.

Meanwhile, her father, who had went after Tsubaki to the kitchen, had arrived before the two realized and called the cook.

“I’m sorry, but can you bring out the hot plate? I’ll call others to give a hand as well, and since the three of them are clever kids, I’m sure they won’t do anything dangerous.” (Kaoru)

“If that’s what master says, I’ll get the hotplate ready at once” (Chef)

After hearing what Kaoru said, the cook then took out the hot plate from a shelf and put it on top of the table.

He then washed the plate part, wiped water off it and put it back, then turned on the hot plate to heat it up.

While waiting for the hot plate to heat up, he started to put in the ingredients one after another into a bowl with natural movements.

He does that while doing the measurements only with his eyes? That’s amazing, Tsubaki thought fascinatedly as she watched the cook’s work.

After a while, the other servants that her father had called entered the kitchen.

While the cook was mixing the dough, Tsubaki then began whisking the fresh cream in turn with Kyousuke and Anna who had arrived in the kitchen.

“… ki, Tsubaki! Are you listening to me!?” (Kyousuke)

Suddenly called by Kyousuke, Tsubaki stopped whisking and looked at him.

“What is it?” (Tsubaki)

“That’s enough. It’s already foamed, you know.” (Kyousuke)

“…. true. I was concentrating too much and I didn’t notice that.” (Tsubaki)

“HAHAHA” laughed Tsubaki as if she was trying to gloss over things, nevertheless Kyousuke still looked at her face with a probing gaze.

Thinking there was something on her face, Tsubaki then touched her face to confirm it.

However having figured out there was nothing, she waited for what Kyousuke wanted to say.

“Is there anything troubling you? You’ve been so distracted recently.” (Kyousuke)

“Iyaa– I wonder if it could even be called troubles.” (Tsubaki)

“Stop lying. Don’t think you can deceive my eyes.” (Kyousuke)

That what Kyousuke said, but Tsubaki found it hard to consult with him with his expression so serious like that.

Am I really that easy to read than usual? Thought Tsubaki in wonder.

“This is Tsubaki after all, things that trouble her are mostly some trivial stuff, you know.” (Anna)

“I know her longer than you, Yakumo. That’s why I know her the best.” (Kyousuke)

“Okay then. If you’re wrong, all of your strawberry toppings will be mine. Deal?” (Anna)

“If I’m right, I’ll take yours. Deal. Now Tsubaki, speak.” (Kyousuke)

In contrast with Anna who said it would be pointless to hear Tsubaki’s worries, Kyousuke was bragging about his long association with Tsubaki ever since they had been four years old.

With strawberries as the bet, Kyousuke urges Tsubaki to quickly speak about her worries.

Indeed she was worried, and that worry was not something to be postponed any longer.

Nevertheless, thinking that she might get something out of consulting, Tsubaki began to speak seriously.

“The truth is, it’s about Sumire.” (Tsubaki)

“Sumire? Is there any problem with her?” (Kyousuke)

“I wouldn’t call it a problem, but she could talk recently right? Even though it’s only imitating sounds like “Boom boom” for a car or “Nyan Nyan” for a cat, it’s only a matter of time before she talks fluently, right? So I’m worried.” (Tsubaki)

“About what?” (Kyousuke)

Kyousuke urged her to go straight to the point.

Tsubaki wanted to say “People hate impatient men, you know.” but since it would definitely divert their conversation to another topic, she decided to ignore it.

“Hey Kyou-chan, which one do you think would be better for Sumire to address me with, “Nee-sama” or “Onee-sama”? Since she’s not able to speak well yet, it would be nice if she addresses me with “Nee-shama” or “Nee-tama” too, don’t you think? But, it’s hard to decide that for now since she would grow up and start called me with “Onee-sama” in an adult-like manner too. And once she’s grown up, she told me off like “Mou! Onee-sama you meanie!” just imagining that, I can’t even…! So Kyou-chan, which one is better?” (Tsubaki)

“It’s more stupid than I thought!” (Kyousuke)

“Yes! Strawberry GET!” (Anna)

I’m really troubled, you know? I can’t reach the answer at all, okay? I can’t throw the others away, added Tsubaki at Kyousuke who was facepalming while looking upward.

What’s more, hearing Kyousuke say her worries were stupid, Tsubaki became enraged and started complaining to him.

“What do you mean by that!? I’m really troubled by this you know!?” (Tsubaki)

“Isn’t it fine with whatever she’s going to address you with!?” (Kyousuke)

“It’s not okay! Not okay at all! It’s one and the only title that Angel would bestow to me you know!? Of course I would worry!” (Tsubaki)

“Ah, put the blueberry, and some raspberry as well. Also, a lot of fresh creams please.” (Anna)

Glancing at Tsubaki and Kyousuke who started arguing, Anna said her request for the toppings of her hot cake, that she had finished baking, to the cook.

Hearing that, Tsubaki then asked the cook for her topping as well with “A lot of honey for me!” in the same tension she had while arguing with Kyousuke and returned to arguing with him.

It continued for a while, then Kyousuke gave up on the one-sided argument, that Tsubaki kept pushing on him, and started to talk in a casual manner.

“Fine, how about she addresses you with “Nee-sama” for now and start changing to “Onee-sama” when she enters junior high school?” (Kyousuke)

“… Are you perhaps,… A genius!?” (Tsubaki)

What a great idea! With this, both conditions were cleared! Thought Tsubaki cheerfully, while on the other hand, Kyousuke felt exhausted and sat on a chair.

“I told you. Problems that she’s willing to talk about are mostly trivial stuff.” (Anna)

“Ah, I get it. This won’t happen next time.” (Kyousuke)

“So Mizushima-sama, what did you want to be addressed by Sumire?” (Anna)

As Kyousuke was about to reply to Anna, Tsubaki interrupted him.

“If you want her to address you with “Ani”, then you have to defeat me first.” (Tsubaki)

“How narrow-minded can you get!?” (Kyousuke)

“By the way, I already had this girl agree to Sumire addressing me with “Anna-chan”.” (Anna)

“You already knew about this, didn’t you!? Give me back my strawberries!” (Kyousuke)

Tsubaki was watching at Kyousuke throwing Tsukkomi at Anna with a warm gaze while she began to cut the hot cake covered with a bunch of berries, smeared it with fresh cream, and started eating it.

In contrast with Tsubaki and Anna who were enjoying their hotcakes, Kyousuke was getting consoled with a back pat by Kaoru who had watched their argument from the very beginning.