Himeouji 16 (Patreon)

Sequel 3A

RAW

After Christmas had passed, the usual way to end the year was to finish the New Year's cards and welcome the end of the year and the beginning of the new year.

However, this year, there is only one person to send a New Year's card to.

With that thought in mind, Yuuma quickly finished writing, and went to bed early on New Year's Eve, without going to a two-year visit or anything like that.

(T/N: two year visit: visiting the shrine on a new year’s eve and staying there until the next day)

He did consider going to a two-year visit with Ryou, but even though he's a boy in the eyes of the public, it’s not good to bring a girl in the middle of the night before she gets married——or rather, before he marries into her family.

Reiko-san tempted him by saying things like, [There's no problem if you bring me with you] but he politely refused.

After that, let’s forget the trouble when she invited him by saying [In that case, how about just the two of us——] right in front of Ryou.

…

That was how New Year's Day came——.

“Happy New Year. please take care of me this year too, Yuuma.”

The visitor arrived early in the day, when he was preparing zouni since early morning to show appreciation to his father for his hard work.

(T/N: Zouni: a New Year's dish, soup containing rice cakes and vegetables)

“...Yeah, happy new year. Best regards this year too.”

Normally, she would have prepared a formal dress for the New Year, and if she wanted to, she could have worn furisode (long-sleeved kimono) for her New Year's visit, but she was dressed in her normal clothes.

However, Reiko-san, who came with her, had a heavy package in her hand, and they didn't seem to have any intention of leaving after just saying hello at the entrance.

“So, um——it’s too late to say it but, did you make a reservation for osechi?”

(T/N: osechi: food eaten during the New Year's Holidays. I think it’s food that is eaten during it, doesn’t matter what, if it’s eaten at that time, it’s osechi. Though, obviously there are specific foods that were eaten as a tradition.)

“That’s really too late isn’t it!?”

Naturally, his father, who cherishes seasonal events, had already made a reservation around autumn, and it had already arrived yesterday.

The current Hanyuu family style is to eat zouni in the morning, snack on osechi in the afternoon, and spend the New Year leisurely.

However——to tell the truth, it would be painful if she ended up leaving.

Above all, Yuuma would have wished to spend New Year with Ryou.

“...We can't just stand around talking, so how about we just go in for now?”

“Is that ok?”

Ryou looked back at Reiko-san, her expression blatantly brightened, as if to report that ‘I did it’.

Reiko-san wasn't wearing a maid outfit or a formal dress, but a suit like when they went to the Daidouji house the other day.

“Well then, Yuuma-sama, please take care of my luggage.”

After saying that, for some reason, she tried to go home as if she had just fulfilled her duty.

“No——please go in too Reiko-san, if you don't have anything to do that is.”

“Well, would it be fine if I also joined?”

For some reason, she gave an exaggerated look of surprise, but it would be strange to make only her go home.

“Yes, please do.”

When he answered that while taking care of Ryou's luggage and having her go in, Reiko-san loosened her lips in a mischievous manner, as if she was planning something.

“But, was your father here? Assuming that Ojou-sama will be introduced as a friend of the same sex——how about myself?”

“Aah, that’s certainly true. In that case——”

Normally, as a friend's older sister——before Yuuma even said that, she took the initiative and nodded deeply in understanding.

“I see, I understand. Then, for today, let's say that I am Yuuma-sama's lover. Right when my bust just grew to 102 centimeters.”

“You’re still growing!?”

“Yuuma?”

No good, he ended up replying reflexively.

“…Isn’t a friend’s older sister just fine? You are actually one anyway.”

“I see, so that’s how it is. In the future, rather than keeping your ex-girlfriend as your mistress, it sounds better to say that you've married both beautiful sisters.”

“I won’t!”

Or rather, if that’s the idea, won’t they just think he took the wife’s older sister as the concubine?.

Of course, Yuuma too, has no intention of putting Reiko-san in such a position.

For the time being, he stopped the conversation, invited them in, and guided them to the living room connected to the dining room.

In the middle of that, Ryou firmly pulled Yuuma’s sleeve.

“...About that conversation earlier, I’ll go after you for it soon.”

I just said it without thinking, I’m not actually interested at all——even if he said something like that, she surely won’t believe him

Before the ‘soon’ comes, he’ll have to give her plenty of service and get her to forget about the source of the argument.

…

For the time being, he placed the gifts on the kitchen counter instead of the table.

This wide kitchen counter was originally installed for a hobby of his mother.

It would be too big for just two people, himself and his father, to cook together, but it might be just enough for four people to prepare this and that.

“...Ryou, have you eaten breakfast——or rather, have you eaten a zouni?”

“I’ve eaten it, but I wanted to eat Yuuma’s house zouni too.”

“I got it. Well, I hope you don’t expect too much though.”

Yuuma made Reiko-san, who came up to help him, sit down as he served the prepared zouni in a bowl.

It was prepared with a simple white miso dish with nothing special to mention.

Even the ingredients, it's just things that you can normally buy at the supermarket.

It shouldn’t be at the level that the daughters of the Daidouji family should enjoy, but even so, the two of them happily picked up their chopsticks and looked satisfied.

“If there are areas for improvement, go ahead and don’t be reserved.”

“Not at all. It was very delicious, Yuuma-sama.”

He was relieved that even Reiko-san, who was Ryou’s cook, said that.

It would be unthinkable for those parents——but it would be troubling if they scold him saying ‘what the hell are you feeding our daughter’.

Next to Reiko-san, Ryou nodded in agreement as she stretched out the mochi——and then.

“Yuuma, good morning——what? guests?”

Along with that voice, the door to the living room opened.

“Ngufu!? Goho, Geho…”

“Calm down, yosh yosh... good morning, dad. Wait a bit.”

Just because she was choking doesn't mean she choked on her mochi.

As Yuuma was stroking Ryou's back and returning his morning greetings to his father, the one standing upright beside him was, of course, her older sister.

“My apologies for disturbing you so early. It's the first time we met, my name is Himeouji Reiko——and this is my brother Ryou.”

Saying that, she deeply bowed her head.

“My brother was always very close to your son——and he has been greatly indebted to him. Although it would be a bother on this beginning of the new year, I came to say hello.”

It must have been unexpected to receive such a greeting from a woman dressed in a sharp suit.

“...No, I should be the one thanking you for taking care of my son. Well, it's just a small house, but if it’s fine with you, please relax here.”

Even when his father was amazed, he perfectly answered as a parent would.

“Cough... excuse me... nice to meet you, I'm Himeouji Ryou…”

After a delay, she also rushes to her feet and lowers her head as she regains her breathing.

“Well, um... about getting the bike ready, and coming to pick me up... Thank you very much! Without Yuuma, I... I think it would have been a big problem…”

Ah, as she said that without stopping, his father turned his eyes to him and gave a small laugh.

“...What?”

“No, I was just thinking, ‘so that’s how it is’”

In fact, he did not explain anything about Ryou's circumstances or about the false accusations.

He probably didn’t understand everything just from the explanation just now, but Yuuma could somehow sense that he had guessed the general circumstances just by looking at his gaze.

“...You did your best, Yuuma.”

“No, I didn’t really do——”

“——Nfu!!”

Embarrassed to be praised in front of the two of them, he tried to reply curtly, but then Ryou burst out laughing unintentionally, or so it looked.

“...What the hell?”

“No, that’s… Nn, fu… I thought he’s just like you, Yuuma…!...”

You did your best——remembering what his father said to him just now, his cheeks got a little hot again.

“...What are you talking about?”

“It's nothing! It's just our face you know, our face! And the way of speaking!”

He tried to deceive his confused father, but Ryou opened his mouth with a serious look on his face, as if to say 'I'm not going to let you do that’.

“I've also received compliments like that from Yuuma many times. Yuuma also said that it was his father that often told him that——”

“Stop iiitt——!!!”

No, really, stop it, please stop this.

He hurriedly covered her mouth, but by then, it was already a festival.

“...I see.”

“No, it’s not ‘I see’! Also, don’t be moved to tears!”

The quiet yet easily moved to tears father, relieved by the reaffirmation of his bond with his son, early in the new year, his eyes were slightly moist.

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