XElenea
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MT - 25 Kirigaya
🕑 Added 2024-12-18 05:49:36 +0000 UTCAs Roy glanced at the clock, he realized it was almost noon. Deciding to head home for lunch, he turned to Asuna and announced the end of their lesson for the day.
Still deep in thought, Asuna casually asked, "Are you coming back this afternoon?"
Roy flashed her a smile. "Weren't you always complaining about not having time to yourself? I won't come this afternoon, so you can plan your time however you like. But remember, we're in this together now. Just don't fall behind on your lessons, and we'll both be fine."
Asuna nodded quietly, refraining from further conversation.
Her calm response took Roy by surprise. Given how strict her mother's discipline had been, Asuna should have felt a surge of relief and excitement at this more relaxed, hands-off approach.
But this... was oddly subdued.
After putting on his shoes and leaving, Roy heard the faint sound of the door clicking shut behind him. Little did he know that as soon as he left, Asuna's face lit up with joy.
Jumping out of her chair, she pumped her fist in triumph and raced to her room.
Finally free to do her own thing.
Unhappy? Indifferent?
Not at all. It was all an act. Freed from her usual restraints, how could she not feel ecstatic?
She just wouldn't let it show—girls have their pride, after all.
Meanwhile, Roy yawned as he walked out of the Yuuki Residence. The midday sun hung high in the sky, its harsh light making him squint.
After his eyes adjusted, he began strolling leisurely down the street.
When he arrived home, he bumped into Suguha.
"Back already, Suguha?" Roy greeted with a smile.
"Yeah." She replied curtly.
"How's school going? If you're struggling with anything, feel free to ask me. I'll help you out." Roy said, stepping aside to let her unlock the door.
Without a key of his own, he watched as Suguha gave him a sidelong glance before silently opening the door.
As the door creaked open, she suddenly asked, "What have you been up to lately? You've been going out a lot."
"Picked up a part-time gig, tutoring a student." Roy replied nonchalantly.
Suguha fell into thought.
"A part-time job? Makes sense." She mused to herself. "With his abilities, he'd definitely be qualified."
Her eyes drifted to the collection of awards and certificates that adorned Roy's desk in their home. She couldn't help but feel a quiet sense of inadequacy.
Though she was close in age to Roy, standing next to someone who seemed more like a prodigy, she often felt overshadowed.
At first, she had assumed Roy must be a strict perfectionist, the type to demand the best from himself—and others.
She had braced herself for a grueling future under his watchful eye.
When Roy first moved into their house, Suguha had been filled with apprehension.
But then she had watched, stunned, as Roy spent three straight days playing video games with Kazuto.
After that, Suguha didn't know what to think anymore.
This older brother was anything but strict. On the contrary, he was so laid-back it bordered on absurd.
For Suguha, who had always lived a life bound by rules and discipline, Roy's carefree attitude was a seismic shift.
One day, she couldn't hold it in any longer and approached Roy with a burning question. "Shouldn't everyone focus on studying hard, staying disciplined, getting into a good high school, then a good university, and finally landing a stable job? Isn't that the way life is supposed to be?"
Roy turned to her with a curious gaze. She still remembered the way his golden, gem-like eyes seemed as deep and clear as a tranquil spring. That clarity made his words almost instinctively believable.
But what he said wasn't exactly comforting. "Do whatever you want to do. Whatever it is, I'll support you. Even if you decide to become a bum, I'll take care of you. Doesn't the usual path of life feel a bit too dull to you?"
Suguha opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.
His answer left her unsatisfied.
Suguha was a serious girl, diligent and meticulous in everything she did. Compared to her, Roy seemed far too relaxed. Yet, the longer she spent around him, the more she began to realize how charismatic he truly was.
Yes, he was lazy at times, but when it came to things that truly mattered, he never shirked responsibility.
Even their mother relied on him to handle everything, essentially leaving him to run the household on his own.
Roy cooked all the family meals.
Thinking of this, Suguha quickened her pace. She reached Roy as he sat down and, without a word, pulled out a chair for him.
Roy blinked in surprise as she pushed him gently but firmly toward the seat, her expression a mix of seriousness and resolve.
"Sit, Nii-sama." She said in her usual calm but authoritative tone.
Roy, bewildered, complied, his gaze lingering on his sister. She was acting strange.
"Hey, Nii-san! You're back! What's for lunch today?" Kirito called out as he scrolled through his phone, glancing up with a grin.
Before Roy could answer, Kirito was met with an icy glare from Suguha.
Kirito froze, puzzled. Why was she glaring at him? Wasn't this how things always went?
Confused, he asked, "Suguha, don't you want to eat your brother cooks anymore?"
Suguha's cheeks flushed bright red. The thought of her brother's delicious, perfectly seasoned dishes made her swallow involuntarily. She quickly caved to her appetite and muttered, "I do."
"Well, if you want to eat it, why glare at me?"
Kirito felt even more baffled. Girls and their thoughts, he sighed internally.
Roy and Kirito exchanged an amused look before Roy sighed, stood up, and said, "We've got some beef left in the fridge. I'll make braised beef."
"Braised beef?" Kirito's eyes widened as he audibly gulped.
Gulp.
Wait, was that two gulps? Kirito turned toward Suguha, raising an eyebrow.
With a smirk, he teased, "You like beef too, huh? Or maybe… you just like everything Nii-san makes?"
Suguha shot him a death glare, rolling up her sleeves as if preparing to teach him a lesson.
Kirito raised his hands in mock surrender, his lips twitching as he held back a laugh.
Roy watched the two of them with an amused shake of his head before heading to the kitchen.
He pulled out his phone, queued up some music, and got to work. First, he defrosted the beef, then grabbed green onions, ginger, chili peppers, and celery.
With practiced hands, he chopped the green onions into small segments, sliced the ginger, and cut the celery and chili peppers into bite-sized pieces.
Roy's cooking was extraordinary, a skill honed from years of practice—or perhaps it was the magic of traditional recipes. Often, the simplest methods created the most delicious dishes.
