Episode 3 – The Tale of Going Shopping with My Friend’s Little Sister

“Senpai, it’s a shame to leave a refrigerator empty when you have one, isn’t it?”

While rummaging through the nearest large supermarket, Akari-chan laughed in exasperation.

On the way out, Akari-chan had changed out of her sailor uniform into a casual, cool-biz outfit of a T-shirt and shorts.

If she was planning to change, she shouldn’t have worn a sailor uniform in the first place. Even though it was a summer uniform, it must have been hot.

Ah, I waited outside when she was changing, you know. It was a strange feeling to have my friend’s little sister changing clothes in my room.

“Ahaha, that’s true.”

I smiled back at her light-hearted remark. I couldn’t deny it at all.

When you start living a life dependent on convenience store lunches, you can’t be bothered to buy anything else. The refrigerator had become a dedicated machine for cooling barley tea, and it was truly useless.

“By the way, senpai. While I was washing the glasses, I had a chance to take a look at the kitchen.”

“Eh, really?”

“Of course. It’s my important responsibility as debt collateral of my brother to understand senpai’s living environment.”

“It must be tough, being a debt collateral…”

Although the position does not sound like something I would want to be in, Akari-chan seemed to be enjoying herself.

On the way to the supermarket, she was humming happily despite the relentless sun and the asphalt that was burning her feet.

“Senpai, judging from the fact that you had the bare minimum of cooking utensils, it seems that you also tried to cook for yourself when you first started living alone, right?”

“Uh..”

“But you gave up early and ended up depending on 24-hour convenience stores…!”

Akari-chan clenched her fists tightly and groaned in frustration.

Why are you so hostile to convenience stores…!

“But it’s okay now!　I’ll provide you with a meal that far surpasses convenience store lunches, and I’ll shoot right through the heart!”

“Your target area got replaced by a part that’s more lethal than the stomach…?”

Akari-chan shoved vegetables into the shopping cart I was pushing while I was thinking that I should probably take a closer look at what kind of food items she was buying…

At first glance, it seems like she’s just going through the motions, but in reality, she seemed to be looking at each item carefully and carefully selecting them, which showed her familiarity with this type of food selection.

“But, it’s kind of strange.”

“What is?”

“Coming to the grocery store like this with senpai.”

“Ah…Well, I guess so.”

My relationship with her is that of a friend of her brother and a sister of his friend. It’s more awkward for me because I know bits and pieces of information about her through Subaru than a complete stranger.

“It must be hard for you too, Akari-chan, with all the stuff like collateral and all… Though it’s something Subaru would say.”

“Yes, even my brother is troubled.. I’ve been pushed around a lot too.”

I wonder if it’s just my imagination that she looks like she’s in a good mood.

“Ah, senpai!　I know it seems a little late, but do you have any likes or dislikes in food?　Also, what do you want to eat?”

“Ah …nothing in particular.”

“That’s the most troublesome answer. you know.”

Akari-chan was pouting a little. However, she soon smiled.

“Well, right now, you don’t know what kind of cooking I’m good at, do you? However, you can afford to do so only now”

“Why is this like a declaration of war…?”

“Fufufu. For me, who wrote in my elementary school graduation album that my future dream is to be a wife, kitchens and supermarkets are like battlefields. With my pride at stake, I’ll soon make sure you can’t live without me!”

Akari-chan said and laughed as she approached me like she was treading steps.

–So, please be prepared for that, senpai.

She whispered so close to me that I could feel her breath on my ear.