Chapter 72: Welcoming Christmas

(POV Chiharu)

This was the start of our second winter break.
These were days filled with homework, homework, and more homework.
We spread our homework in the living room and gathered around the kotatsu for study sessions.
Meanwhile, Onii-san was working on some unfinished tasks in his room on the second floor.

“Hmm… I don’t get it.” Chiaki said.

“Yeah… Hey, isn’t it time for a break already?” Chinatsu asked.

“Oh, yeah, maybe,” 

“No, no, we just took one five minutes ago.
” Chifuyu said.

Chiaki and Chinatsu refused to do their homework.
Well, I guess it couldn’t be helped.
After all, it gets tiring to do the same assignments during a long break.
Taking a break and then having to do the same work again would be bothersome.

“I know! Let’s do the calligraphy assignment! That sounds good!” Chiaki suggested.

“Yeah, I’m getting bored with this,” Chinatsu said.

“What do you think, Haru-nee?” Chifuyu asked.

“I think it’s a good idea.
Doing the same thing over and over again gets boring.”

During winter break, in addition to normal homework, we also had calligraphy assignments.
For elementary school students, calligraphy is an opportunity to express their individuality.
Some people quickly finish it without much thought, while others obsessively focus on every detail.

We began preparations, laying out a long, narrow mat, preparing ink, and efficiently getting everything ready.

“Hmm… Well, I guess it’s fine to be casual…”

“Yeah… When it comes to this, having a playful spirit is important.”

Chiaki and Chinatsu immediately showed their individualities.
They swiftly wrote “Happy New Year” on a single sheet of paper and wiped off excess ink with newspaper.

“…”

Chifuyu immersed herself in meticulous work.
With a dignified expression on her face, she carefully and sometimes boldly executed her strokes.

“Nee-nee, look, look! The legitimate heir!” Chiaki said.

“End! Destruction!” Chinatsu added.

The two of them started playing, drawing perfect squares with ink on their palms.
They might be protecting a night forest somewhere with their “spells”.

Without paying any attention to them, Chifuyu remained focused and undisturbed.

“Done… finally.”

“As expected of Chifuyu… flawless.”

Chifuyu would win the calligraphy contest.
There’s no doubt about that.
She truly is a hard worker.
She deserves more recognition from others than just ranking first in the evaluations.

Chifuyu’s handwriting was truly beautiful, the most beautiful.
Even in her regular notes, her handwriting stood out as the most elegant.

“If I win an award with this… surely, he will praise me…”

As she looked back at her own work, Chifuyu smiled ever so slightly.
Yeah, this Chifuyu who has a calculating and strategic way of thinking is also cute.

“Haru, are you done?” Chinatsu asked.

“Oh, sorry.
I got lost watching you three.”

“You… come on, hurry up.”

“You’re right.”

As the older sister, I had to show a great example.
Even if I look like this, even I can do calligraphy…

“Haru, I’ve been thinking for a while… but your handwriting is awful… or rather, the washi paper is torn.”

“Sorry.”

“No, you don’t have to apologize…”

Swimming, insects, paranormal, cooking, and calligraphy.
These were the things I struggled with.
I didn’t know why, but every time, the brush would pierce through the washi paper.
And if I used less ink, it would smudge…

I seriously hate calligraphy.

“You know, you’re surprisingly clumsy,” 

“Well, that may be true, but I think this washi paper broke mainly because I didn’t put enough focus into it.”

“Yeah, that’s right.
In other words, it’s entirely your fault.” 

“…”

Why wasn’t I born able to do everything? I want to be a perfect older sister, admired by my younger sisters.
Yet, flaws keep surfacing here and there.

“Well, you know, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, so it can’t be helped… Oh, I have an idea! Why don’t you ask Kaito-san for guidance? He mentioned before that calligraphy is one of his few specialties.” Chinatsu suggested.

“Ask Onii-san…”

“Yes, exactly.”

I never expected such a proposition from Chinatsu.
To think that she would easily choose to rely on someone without any hesitation… Their relationship was initially just limited to conversations on different levels of the staircase.

“If that’s the case, I’ll teach you! Kaito is busy with work!” Chiaki said.

“…C-Chifuyu will teach you instead.”

And so, the two of them began to voice their protests.
Chiaki wore a smile, while Chifuyu seemed a bit flustered.
As the older sister, I thought that learning from them would compromise my dignity… but if I could be sandwiched between them and receive a lesson, it would be amazing.

Gradually, the two of them were becoming even more cute.
Perhaps it was because they were about to enter sixth grade, but their facial expressions seemed to have matured slightly, giving them a touch of maturity.

However, just as I thought that learning from them would compromise my dignity as the older sister….
the pure-hearted Chinatsu looked at me with a questioning expression.

“Huh? Why? You should just rely on Kaito-san.
Sure, he might be busy with work, but he always tells us to rely on him anytime.” Chinatsu said.

“But Kaito-san is tired…” Chifuyu replied.

“That’s true.
Kaito should rest sometimes too,” Chiaki added.

“In that case, why not offer to give him a shoulder massage or something to help him relax and heal from his fatigue? Isn’t it okay to rely on someone when needed and support them in other ways?” Chinatsu proposed.

“”…Yes, that’s right…””

Chinatsu.
She effortlessly dismantled the argument.
With her clear eyes, she could easily express her thoughts.
Somehow, seeing Chinatsu saying the complete opposite of what I initially expected filled me with a profound sense of emotion, akin to Lake Baikal.

Just as we were engrossed in our conversation, the living room door swung open.

“Oh, a New Year’s calligraphy assignment.
How nostalgic,” Onii-san said.

“Good job on your work, Kaito-san,” Chifuyu said.

“Thanks for your concern” 

“Oh, by the way, Kaito-san, didn’t you mention being good at calligraphy before?” Chinatsu asked.

“I did.
Well, that was in the past, though.” 

“Could you show us by writing something?” 

“Huh? Um, sure… Chiharu, can I borrow your brush?” 

“Oh, please take it.”

Chinatsu enthusiastically dragged Onii-san into the world of calligraphy.
Although he seemed a bit bewildered, his nostalgia seemed strong as he held the brush and let it glide across the paper.

“Onii-san…”

“Wow!”

“That’s amazing…”

“Kaito-san… You have so much talent…”

He’s good.
His calligraphy might even be better than Chifuyu’s.
All four of us couldn’t help but express our admiration.

“Kaito-san, could you teach calligraphy to Haru? She’s not very good at it.
She always ends up tearing the paper.” Chinatsu requested.

“Aah, I see…”

I didn’t remember ever telling Onii-san that I wasn’t good at calligraphy.
His reaction wasn’t as if he heard it for the first time but more like he had just remembered something he had forgotten.

“Kaito-san, then please teach Haru about calligraphy,” 

“….
Ooh.
Alright.” 

“Alright! Come on, Haru! Get ready!” Chinatsu exclaimed.

“Huh? Oh, um, okay…”

Something about Chinatsu’s determination felt overwhelming.
Why was she going to such lengths? I couldn’t quite understand.

“”Stare~~…””

Chiaki and Chifuyu kept staring at me as if trying to convey something, but today, I couldn’t go against Chinatsu’s will.

“Come on, you sit down too.
Kaito-san, hold her hand and guide her step by step.” 

“O-okay…” 

Unable to resist Chinatsu’s strong insistence, Onii-san couldn’t refuse.
And I couldn’t refuse either.
I found myself receiving instructions from him.
Onii-san held my hand with an apologetic expression.

“…”

His hand was a little hard to the touch.
A hand that was one size larger enveloped mine.
Stop, lift, sweep.
The Eight Principles of Yong.
Onii-san explained it patiently, using various words.
While holding my hand, he moved the brush, making it easier for me to grasp the sensation.

But… the words weren’t really registering in my head…

“Well, it’s something like this.” 

“Thank you…very much.” 

Before I knew it, the lesson was over.
Onii-san asked me to try it out for myself, putting into practice what he had just taught me.

I nodded in agreement and took hold of the brush.
I recalled the instructions from earlier.
The pressure… the slight tension in my shoulder… the almost intimate closeness…

For some reason, I became nervous and exerted too much force, causing the brush to pierce through the paper during the very first stroke of the New Year’s calligraphy…

◆◆

 (POV Kaito)

Chiharu was not good at calligraphy.
Well, she was also clumsy in the game, so I knew it was something that applied in real life too.
And seeing her struggle like that was just cute.

I didn’t understand why Chinatsu was pushing her so hard, but maybe she had her own thoughts that only she understood.
Chinatsu had a way of looking at things from different angles.
Maybe that was the reason.

After I gave a calligraphy lesson to Chiharu, both Chifuyu and Chiaki asked me to teach them as well, but they were both so skilled that they didn’t really need my guidance.
Chifuyu, in particular, was outstanding.
Chiaki was naturally talented and excelled in anything she tried.

Although they asked for my help, I couldn’t teach them because Chinatsu had set it up so that I would be solely focused on teaching Chiharu.
But if there’s another chance, I’ll definitely teach them.

With these thoughts in mind, I finished my work.
Lately, I’ve been able to do things while thinking about other stuff, sort of multitasking, and I felt a slight sense of growth within myself.

I closed my laptop and headed to the living room.
I wonder if the four of them had finished their homework and were watching TV.
There have been a lot of drama reruns lately.
I remember there was one about a regular stationery store employee taking in the children of his deceased best friend.

Perhaps they were taking a nap on the sofa.
If that were the case, it would be precious to see, and just witnessing it would surely dissipate my fatigue.

Now, curious about how the four of them were doing, I attempted to open the door to the living room when…

“Speaking of which, for this year’s Christmas, we should do something surprising for him!” Chiaki said.

“Yes, let’s make a cake or something.” Chinatsu said.

“Kaito-san, it would be great if he’s pleased…” Chifuyu remarked.

“If we want to make Onii-san pleased with the surprise, we have to keep this a secret.” Chiharu added.

…I must have overheard something I wasn’t supposed to.
I’m not dense.
I understood that the four of them were planning something for my sake.
However, what should I do?

Should I pretend not to notice? Should I be honest? After all, they were going through the trouble of planning a surprise for me…

Oh, sorry.
I accidentally heard that.

I can’t say that, can I? I should deliberately act like I didn’t hear anything.
That’s the decision I made; so I pretended to be oblivious and opened the door to the living room.

“Oh, Kaito, are you done with work?” Chiaki asked.

“Yeah, I finished.”

“I see! Then let’s cook together!”

“Oh, yeah!”

As soon as I entered the living room, all four of them fell silent.
They must have thought it would be bad if I found out.
I guess I have no choice but to go along and celebrate Christmas without saying anything.

But I still have to give them presents.
I want to see their happy faces.
How about I surprise them with a gift too? Oh, no, that won’t work.
If what they want is something different or something subtle, it might dampen the mood.
They are considerate, so even if it’s not something they really want, they will still be happy.

However, it would be better if I just ask them what they actually want.

“What would you like to eat on Christmas, Kaito?”

“Well… Anything is fine.”

“Saying ‘anything’ is the most difficult!”

“Yeah, you’re right.
Then, how about some fried chicken?”

“Hmm.
Chicken breast? or thigh?”

“Thigh, I guess.”

“Hmm… Okay, got it!”

Chiaki asked me with that cute expression before making an “OK” sign with her hand and smiling.
My tiredness was washed away by that smile.

Well, not just Chiaki, but all four of them are adorable.

Even though I knew they were going to surprise me, I couldn’t help but look forward to it.

◆◆

(POV Kaito)

As per my usual routine, I took a bath and settled on the sofa, indulging in some TV time while waiting for drowsiness to engulf me.
Just then, the familiar creaking sound of the living room door caught my attention.
It had become a regular occurrence, with each one of them stepping through that door.

It brought me joy to know they wanted to engage in conversation with me, yet deep down, I understood that each of them carried their own burdens, seeking comfort in sharing things that couldn’t be expressed among siblings.
The weight of responsibility weighed on me, urging me to offer something meaningful as a responsible adult.

Now, I wonder what kind of worries this daughter who came today would have…

“Kaito-san…”

It was Chinatsu.
There she stood, in her pajamas, with her hair untied.

“Is something wrong, Chinatsu?”

“I thought I’d give you a shoulder massage…”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes…”

She looked a little embarrassed as she climbed onto the sofa and positioned herself behind me.
She placed both hands on my shoulders.

“Um, thank you for today…”

“About the calligraphy?”

“Yes.”

“I see.
Well, I’ll just say you’re welcome.”

Chinatsu spoke as she gently loosened my shoulders.
Her grip wasn’t particularly strong, but I could sense her genuine effort to relieve my fatigue.

“I’m sure I’ll continue relying on you, Kaito-san.”

“Feel free to rely on me more and more.”

“I will.
And, I’m thinking of relying on you for many things regarding Chiharu… Is that okay?”

“I’m fine with it, but is it only about Chiharu?”

“It’s a little different.
Chiharu will be the primary focus of my requests.”

“I understand that, but why is Chiharu the center of it all?”

“Chiharu doesn’t try to rely on her sisters.
It seems like she has a habit of not relying on her younger sister at all… I want her to know what it’s like to rely on someone.
If she can rely on you more, understand that it’s okay to rely on others, and become an older sister who can rely on me and her younger sisters… that would be great.”

I see, so it’s all because Chiharu tries to carry everything on her own.
Did you want her to know that she herself can rely on you through me, that her loved ones can protect her and help her?

“Chiharu is the type of girl who won’t understand even if we say it out loud.
We probably can’t change her by ourselves… But I believe that being with someone, being with you Kaito-san will surely make a difference.
I don’t mean to say that the current Chiharu is bad or strange.
It’s just that it might be good for her to have some self-centered aspects, like slacking off or feeling troublesome and giving up…”

“I see…”

“Yes…”

Chinatsu vented out her feelings of sadness about Chiharu’s circumstances.
It wasn’t something that would change easily, but deep down, she must have wished for a change.
She had initially thought she could become the eldest sister and make a difference, but realizing how difficult it was, she felt helpless and pathetic.
Yet, because she wanted to change, she reached out to me for help.

“I don’t know how much I can do, but please rely on me.”

“I will… rely on you a lot.
But, Kaito-san, please rely on me too.
Whether it’s about what you want to eat for dinner, asking me to do the laundry, or even requesting a shoulder massage.” 

“I see.”

“Because you have similar moments like Chiharu, I worry.
Please make sure to rely on me, without fail.” 

“G-got it.”

Chinatsu’s voice grew slightly more forceful, causing my body to involuntarily flinch.
She could be quite scary when angry.
All four of them actually…

Chinatsu continued massaging my shoulders for a while.
Gradually, I noticed her grip weakening as if she herself was getting tired.

“It’s alright now.
I feel refreshed, so thank you.” 

“No…”

“?”

“… Um, how do I say it?”

Chinatsu lowered her head slightly and leaned closer to me.

“Um, is it alright if I ask you to pat my head? I saw how happy Aki and Fuyu looked when you did it… and I wanted to experience it too…”

“I understand.”

I placed my hand on top of Chinatsu’s head and gently patted it.

“Ehehe, oh… so this is what made them happy,” 

Chinatsu softly murmured that with a smile.
I heard her words clearly, but I pretended not to.
After patting her head for a while, I couldn’t just leave my hand there forever, so I gently withdrew it.

“…Ah”

Seeing Chinatsu’s slightly saddened expression, a tremendous sense of guilt washed over me.
However, keeping her awake too late into the night wouldn’t be a good idea either.
While I was thinking that, I saw Chinatsu’s face blush, and she lowered her head once again.

“I want you to pat me more… ” 

How cute.
This is a testament to her opening up to me.
When did she become so affectionate!?

“Ah, sure…”

“……This… is why both of them are fond of you…” 

She probably intended to speak softly, but I could still hear her voice.
Well, I’ll just play along with my usual obliviousness.

After a few minutes of patting her head, Chinatsu seemed satisfied, so I stopped and watched her leave the living room.

Chinatsu was too cute, and I became convinced that she would be popular in the future.
I couldn’t predict what kind of future she would have, but if she ever brought a partner in front of me, I imagined myself giving that person a good punch for no reason at all.

With Chinatsu gone, I found myself thinking about such things alone and felt a bit lonely.
Imagining a day when I could only hear the sound of the TV…

I didn’t know what the future held, but if I could have one wish, it would be for this everyday life to continue even just for one more day.
That single thought took hold of my mind.