As Kotomi and gumi entered the living room, Izumi Aimi, who was sitting on the sofa with her back to them, heard footsteps and assud her sister had returned.
A delighted smile appeared on her face as she happily turned around, saying, "Onee-chan, welco ba—"
Before she could finish her sentence, the smile froze on her face. Standing beside her sister was gumi Kato.
'Tch, why is she here again?! Ahhh! Stupid sister, stop standing so close to her!'
Aimi clicked her tongue in frustration inwardly. Seeing Kotomi and gumi together made her feel annoyed, and she even began to wonder if a taphorical field of green grass had started growing on her head.
"Aimi, is there anything to eat? I feel like my stomach has turned into a void and needs a snack to save !" Kotomi flopped onto the sofa, asking hopefully, with a bit of urgency in her tone.
"Nope, the snacks are all gone. I forgot to buy more. You'll have to wait for dinner," Aimi replied, sounding a bit grumpy.
"Eh... don't you usually restock the snacks before they run out?" Upon hearing that there were no more snacks, Kotomi's cute little face deflated like a punctured balloon.
"Sis... do you think I get enough allowance to keep buying snacks every month?" Aimi sighed. Her allowance was limited, and Kotomi seed to think it was enough to splurge on snacks every month.
Though, if Kotomi were a bit more obedient... maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
At that mont, gumi spoke up, "Hungry? How about this? I bought a few things when we passed the convenience store earlier."
With that, gumi reached into her backpack and pulled out a small paper bag, revealing three boxes of caral orange pudding inside.
The sight of the caral orange pudding left Aimi stunned.
It was her favorite flavor! How did gumi know to buy her favorite pudding, and why did she even bring pudding today?
Aimi's thoughts raced in confusion. She was convinced that, just like on Sunday, gumi had co prepared!
"I usually like to have so sweets around when I do my howork. When we passed the convenience store, I rembered that I had run out, so I bought a few more. But since today's howork is just prep work, I don't need snacks while studying. Let's share these," gumi explained smoothly.
Everyone knew that prep work howork was basically optional, so gumi's explanation was impeccable.
"Oh! So that's what you were buying at the convenience store. Well, I won't say no to pudding," Kotomi said as she hurried to the kitchen, returning with three small plates. She carefully opened one of the puddings, inverted it onto a plate, and started eating with a plastic spoon.
For Kotomi, the most enjoyable part of eating pudding wasn't the taste but the mont when she peeled back the lid and successfully flipped the pudding onto the plate—pure satisfaction!
That single mont brought her a deep sense of contentnt.
Taking a bite, her puffed-up cheeks looked so soft and adorable that it made people want to reach out and pinch them just for fun.
Even the system spirit, Kazumi, would sotis tease Kotomi, saying, "The way you eat looks just like Nadeshiko from Laid-Back Camp."
As gumi sat nearby, watching Kotomi eat, her eyes held a deep sense of fulfillnt, as if seeing Kotomi enjoy the food was far more satisfying than eating it herself.
Aimi hesitated, staring at the caral orange pudding on the table, unsure whether to reach for it or withdraw her hand.
"Would you like so, little sister?" gumi asked kindly, picking up a pudding and offering it to her with a gentle smile.
To Aimi, gumi's seemingly gentle smile felt more like a victorious smirk, full of pride!
This woman's skill level is way too high!
Aimi instinctively swallowed, then muttered in a defiant voice, "Don't call 'little sister'... I'm already in my third year of middle school!"
Reluctantly, she took the pudding from gumi's hand.
'Ugh, why does she always bring out my favorite caral orange flavor? It's so delicious... but I'm not happy about it!' Aimi thought to herself as she ate, silently vowing to win next ti.
gumi's smile deepened as she too began to enjoy her pudding.
anwhile, Kotomi, who was sitting between them, was completely absorbed in her pudding, oblivious to the tension that had been brewing around her.
After finishing the pudding, gumi stayed for another half hour before preparing to leave.
Just as she was about to stand up, gumi suddenly rembered sothing and said, "Oh, right, Kotomi, didn't I say I wanted to borrow a manga from you? Could you lend one now? I'll try to finish it tonight and return it to you at school tomorrow."
Kotomi, recalling the conversation they had at school, rembered how gumi had brought up manga out of nowhere, which had led to an animated discussion. Kotomi had eagerly shared several of her favorite manga titles.
gumi had expressed interest in the ones Kotomi ntioned and asked to borrow them. Naturally, Kotomi had agreed without hesitation.
"Wait here for a mont, I'll go get it from upstairs," Kotomi said as she left the living room to fetch the manga from her room on the second floor.
"I'll wait by the front door," gumi said, grabbing her backpack and standing up.
With Kotomi gone, the living room was left with just gumi and Aimi.
"I'll take my leave now," gumi said softly.
"Goodbye, then~" Aimi waved dismissively.
On the surface, she appeared calm, but inside she was ecstatic: Yes! She's finally leaving!
At that mont, gumi suddenly spoke, as if casually rembering sothing. "Oh, by the way, last Sunday I left in such a hurry that I forgot to tell you sothing."
"Huh? What is it?" Aimi asked, puzzled.
gumi gently covered her mouth with one hand, her eyes narrowing playfully as she smiled. "Your sister's expression when she sleeps is just so cute. When I looked down at Kotomi sleeping in my arms, her face was adorable—so sweet and lovely. I felt like, if I could hold her every night while sleeping, I'd have sweet dreams all the ti~"
As soon as gumi uttered those words, Aimi froze, completely stunned.
Seeing Aimi's reaction, gumi let a sly smile slip before turning and heading toward the entryway.
Just then, Kotomi ca downstairs with a manga in hand, which she passed to gumi.
"Here's the manga. Don't worry about returning it tomorrow—whenever you finish it is fine."
"Thank you, Kotomi," gumi said as she accepted the manga with both hands.
After sending gumi off, Kotomi returned to the living room and glanced at Aimi, who was still sitting on the sofa. She assud Aimi was waiting to watch TV, so she didn't say anything, heading back to her room to continue working on her Chainsaw Man illustrations.
anwhile, Aimi, still sitting alone on the sofa, stared up at the ceiling, unable to calm down as gumi's words echoed in her mind.
If this were a battlefield, then what gumi had said to her...
—would be nothing less than a declaration of war!
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