Chapter 30: Sibling Rivalry

"I went shopping for ingredients. I'll cook some meals now that will last until the end of the week. You'll just have to reheat them."

Mimi went past the girl with short hair.

"Make sure they taste good. I don't want to waste money just to buy convenience store food if I don't like them."

"I will."

Mimi went to the kitchen inside their apartment. The whole room was big. The entrance was connected to the hallway where it led to several bedrooms, a separate living room and a combined kitchen and dining space.

Angelie was still standing by the door. She greeted the girl with short hair.

"Hi, good afternoon. I'm Fukushuu Angelie. Mimi-san and I are in the same club. But we're close friends even from before…"

"Oh, I didn't notice she had someone with her. I'm Furui Hana, her older sister. I didn't know she had a childhood friend or anything…"

Hana looked up while thinking.

"I just mean we've been friends even before being in the same club."

Angelie laughed it off.

"So, you're in the Kyudo Club as well?"

"No, we're in the Help Club now."

"Huh? She always joined the Kyudo Club before, even if she wasn't any good at it. Always wondered why. Anyway, maybe she finally realized her limit or something. She's kind of a pushover, so please look out for her, I guess."

Hana left and headed towards the living room. Mimi came back out from the kitchen, which was at the end of the hallway.

"Angelie-san, I now need those ingredients that you're holding."

"Sorry, I'm coming."

Angelie went straight to the kitchen.

---

A small dining table which could seat four people was located inside the kitchen. They placed some of the groceries they bought on top of the table. The two of them put on aprons and started to chop some ingredients side by side at the kitchen counter.

"So, Mimi-san. You didn't tell your sister that you were already in the Help Club?"

"I guess I forgot to mention it to her. But it is not like she would be interested in that kind of information, anyway."

Mimi looked straight at the ingredients she was chopping.

"Really? Why is that?"

Angelie looked beside her towards Mimi.

"We… we're not really close, even though we're only one year apart. She has many friends and she spends a lot of time outside the house. One could say she's the outgoing type of person. On the other hand, I was shy growing up and usually did things on my own. I would like to think that is the reason why we never really got close."

"I see… I've always wanted siblings, because I thought I wouldn't be lonely if I had them. But I guess that's just in my imagination. It's not always like that in real life…"

Angelie then stared at the ingredients she was supposed to chop.

"Well, I could say that I am somewhat close with my younger brother. I had to help in taking care of him as we grew up. As I already mentioned earlier, my mother is always busy working to make ends meet for the three of us. And since my older sister was always with her friends, I was the one left to take care of him."

"Really? I'd like to meet him, too. I've always wondered what it feels like to have a younger brother."

Angelie looked up at the ceiling.

"Please always look at what you are doing while holding a knife."

Mimi was still looking at her own chopping board.

"Oops. Sorry about that."

Angelie giggled and stuck her tongue out.

The main door of the apartment opened and a soft, male voice was heard in the hallway.

"I'm home."

"That must be my brother."

Mimi stopped chopping and put down her knife. She faced Angelie while removing her apron.

"Angelie-san. I know you said you wanted to meet my brother. But whatever happens from now, please do not think it's your fault or anything."

"Nee-san, there was an extra pair of shoes at the entrance. Is someone—"

As soon as the boy passed by the door of the kitchen, he hid himself. Then, he peeked slowly inside the kitchen. When he saw Angelie was there, he hid himself back out of view. Mimi thought that her brother already went to his room.

"Um, did I do something?"

Angelie scratched her cheek.

"No. As I said, please do not think you're at fault or anything. My brother… he's just shy. Too shy, even compared to me."

"Ah, I see."

Angelie gently laughed.

"He's already in his third year in middle school, but he's still too nervous around strangers. Even in his class, he doesn't talk to anyone that much. I blame myself that he ended up like this…"

"Why would you say that?"

"He was just too much influenced by me. If it were my sister who took care of him, he might have turned out to be more of a people person…"

Mimi clenched her hands together.

"I'm sure he appreciates you taking care of him this whole time. I mean, if I had an older sister like you, that's how I would feel."

"She… she's right, Nee-san!"

The voice of Mimi's brother rang inside the kitchen.

"Thank you… for everything…"

"Oh, Kuchi…"

Mimi had tears welling up in her eyes. Then, she couldn't resist anymore and went to the door and hugged her brother who was still hiding from Angelie's view.

"Nee-san! She's still watching… Please, you're embarrassing me…!"

Kuchi struggled to escape Mimi's hug to no avail. Angelie laughed while smiling at the siblings.

---

Mimi and Angelie were able to finish cooking several dishes that would last until the end of the week. Mostly, it was Mimi who cooked. Angelie just prepared most of the ingredients. Their trip was two days from now. They were discussing the preparations needed to be done while eating dinner. Mimi and Angelie were seated beside each other while Hana and Kuchi were seated across them.

"So, where did you say you met my sister again?"

Hana looked at Angelie while she was eating.

"Um, in school, last year…? I think."

Angelie laughed softly.

"You think? Are you sure you're not just toying with my sister or anything? She's a pushover so people tend to take advantage of her—"

"She's my dear friend. It matters not when or how we met."

Mimi interrupted without looking at Hana.

"Well, as long as you're sure…"

Hana continued to eat.

"Don't worry, I'll protect your sister even from the Demon Lord—"

"Demon Lord? What's that about?"

Hana raised her eyebrow. Then, she slammed her chopsticks on the table.

"I-is he some kind of punk pushing himself on my sister? Huh?"

Hana leaned closer toward Angelie.

"N-no, it's nothing like that…"

Angelie held both of her hands up and waved it to refute Hana's notion.

"He's just the president of our Help Club."

Mimi just casually continued to eat.

"What?! A president of a club, and you call him Demon Lord? Don't tell me… He makes you do… weird and illicit acts?!"

Hana covered her mouth with both her hands.

"N-no, nothing like that—"

"I'll teach him a lesson for messing with my sister!"

Hana dashed out of the kitchen and straight outside of the apartment. Angelie tried to explain but she was ignored.

"Where is your sister going? Does she know where the Demon Lord is?"

"I don't know. She's an impulsive person. She'll be back when she gets tired. Oh, and Kuchi. Eat your vegetables. You're too old to be picky."

Mimi casually drinks tea from her cup using two hands. One hand to hold the cup, the other to support the cup from below.

Kuchi nodded at her sister.

"Why does it feel like you both are used to this kind of thing happening…?"

Angelie stared at the siblings who went about their way without batting an eye.

---

The following day, during morning homeroom, 2-B's teacher let the students talk as a group about their plans during the trip. He also handed out some brochures about Kyoto and the places they can go to during their free time on the last day. The plan for the first day was for the whole second-year classes to go to Nijo Castle, Ginkakuji and Kyoto National Museum. On their second day, they will go to Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kinkakuji and Ninnaji Temple. Those are some of the most popular tourist spots in Kyoto. The hotel the school booked was located near the target itinerary.

Akuma was seated closely together with Angelie, Sanaka, Mizumi and Sumire. They skimmed through the brochure. Something then caught his eye. He intently read the brochure. Angelie was doing the same thing. Then, at the same time, they noticed that both of them just read the brochure carefully.

"You better not be going to where I want to go!"

Angelie glared at Akuma.

"Don't worry, I'm sure we'll never see each other on the last day, Fukushuu-san."

Akuma grinned at her.