Chapter 6: Ch-6 Eh, are you coming to do housework?
Ayaka-san looked in my direction and seemed to notice me immediately.
"Good morning!"
I greeted her more cheerfully than usual. Ayaka returned the greeting with a warm smile.
"Good morning. Are you Waka-chan's younger brother?"
"That's right. My name is Kei Takamura," I said and bowed slightly.
"I see. Waka-chan told me about you. You look a lot like her."
"I get that a lot. Apparently, Ayaka-san, you were my sister's senior in high school."
"That's right. We were in the same club. Oh yeah... Now that I think about it, Waka-chan always mentioned that she had a younger brother in high school. That must have been you."
"When my sister was in high school, I was in elementary school. There's an age difference of seven years between us."
"Seven years? So you're a college student now?"
"Yes, I'm a student at K University."
"Oh, isn't that great? That's amazing!"
"No, not at all..."
Ayaka looked at her watch and noticed that it was after 8:00 a.m. Understanding that housewives are usually busy in the morning, I decided it was time to leave. Even though my sister had introduced us, it would be rude to impose myself right from the start.
"Oh, I'll be off then. If you don't mind, maybe next time I'd like to hear about your high school days. Sorry to bother you if you're busy..."
With that, I turned to leave.
"Takamura-san..."
When I heard her call out to me, I turned back.
"If you don't mind, would you like some tea now?"
Huh?
I was taken aback for a moment, but quickly replied, "Absolutely. That's fine."
My heart started beating again. Ayaka put the flag she was holding into her cloth bag and suggested that we go to a family restaurant since there weren't many places open early in the morning. I told her that anywhere would be fine, and we started walking together.
...Ayaka-san and I walked side by side...
Although I was completely surprised by this unexpected turn of events, I mentally yelled "Banzai!" three times.
"Waka-chan is really something else," Ayaka said with a smile, telling some funny anecdotes about my sister's high school days as we walked.
I nodded and smiled, making sure my expression didn't look forced.
When we arrived at a family restaurant along the national highway, we both ordered coffee and sat down at a table facing each other. Ayaka's face was so close to mine that my heart couldn't help but race. Her faint, pleasant scent added to my excitement.
"By the way, Takamura-san..."
"If you like, please call me Kei-chan. My sister calls me that."
"Well then, Kei-san, let me ask you something..."
"What is it?"
"I heard that your mother died when you were young..."
"That's right. After my mother died, my sister took on the role of a mother figure for me."
"Since Waka-chan got married two years ago, have you been living at home alone?"
"Yes, that's right."
"And your father is on a long business trip overseas, so you live alone now?"
"You know me well. Yes, that's right."
I was a little surprised at how much she seemed to know about my personal life.
"So how do you manage meals, cleaning, laundry and everything else?"
"Well, I just manage the best I can," I said, wondering why she was asking these questions.
Then Ayaka suddenly said something completely unexpected.
"If you don't mind... I'd like to help you with the chores."