I’m Far Older Than You 6: Otouto-kun?
I’m Far Older Than You As the saying goes, “Going up the mountain is easy, but coming down is hard.” It had taken Kasumigaoka Utaha about forty minutes to climb the summit, yet the descent took over an hour—and that was without stopping.
The moment she reached the foot of the mountain, Kasumigaoka Utaha made a beeline for a nearby public bench and collapsed onto it.
She was gasping for air, her body drenched in sweat.
In contrast, Yuen looked perfectly normal, his breathing steady and calm.
It was as if he had merely gone for a leisurely stroll.
Once her breathing had settled slightly, Kasumigaoka Utaha asked, “Yuen-otouto-kun, aren’t you tired?” Yuen-otouto-kun…?
Being addressed as “Little Brother” by a girl nearly two thousand years his junior, Yuen felt nothing but second-hand embarrassment.
“Kasumigaoka-san, I am actually older than you.” Kasumigaoka Utaha blinked.
She stood up from the bench, crossed her arms over her chest, and smirked nonchalantly.
“So what if you’re older?
I just like calling you that.” She didn’t know Yuen’s exact age, but judging by his appearance, he was likely only a year or two her senior.
Could a gap of one or two years even be considered a generation gap?
As an only child, Kasumigaoka Utaha had always wanted a younger brother.
Unfortunately, her parents hadn’t been up to the task and had never shown any interest in having a second child.
Yuen chuckled softly.
“Kasumigaoka-san, whatever makes you happy.” The deity felt helpless, but at least she wasn’t willful enough to make him call her “Onee-san.” Kasumigaoka Utaha smiles with satisfaction.
“Let’s keep going.” ….
Although Yuen Shrine was located in a remote area, it was surprisingly close to the main road.
After all, if transportation were inconvenient, Yuuki Asuna wouldn’t be able to visit almost every day.
After another ten minutes of walking, they reached the roadside.
The train station wasn’t very far, but walking there would take another ten minutes or so.
Having walked so much going up and down the mountain, the physically unathletic Kasumigaoka Utaha was completely drained.
She had no intention of taking another step and instead stood by the curb to hail a taxi.
Taxis were common on this route.
After waiting less than a minute, Kasumigaoka Utaha waved one down.
“Sir, Miss, please get in.” As the car came to a stop, the driver, dressed in a black suit, stepped out and respectfully opened the rear door for them.
Once Yuen and Kasumigaoka Utaha were seated, the driver gently closed the door, returned to the driver’s seat, and fastened his seatbelt.
“Where to?” “The train station.” Kasumigaoka Utaha replied.
“Understood.” The driver started the car, gently pressed the accelerator, and began driving toward their destination.
Kasumigaoka Utaha closed her eyes to rest.
Today’s exercise was enough to last her an entire year.
Yuen, on the other hand, leaned against the window, watching the passing scenery.
“We have arrived.” In less than six minutes, the driver pulled over outside the train station.
In the back seat, Kasumigaoka Utaha had fallen fast asleep.
Looking at the fare meter on the dashboard, Yuen materialized the corresponding amount of cash in his hand—4,500 yen in total—and handed it over.
“Thank you very much.” After accepting the money, the driver unbuckled his seatbelt and got out to open the door for them.
“Kasumigaoka-san, time to wake up.” Seeing no reaction to his soft call, Yuen reached out and gently nudged Kasumigaoka Utaha’s shoulder.
Slowly coming to her senses, Kasumigaoka Utaha struggled to open her eyes.
She rubbed them groggily and turned her head in confusion.
“Have we…
arrived?” “Yes, the driver is waiting for us to get out.” Yuen pointed out the window on his side.
Kasumigaoka Utaha looked over and saw the driver standing by the door with his hand on the handle, waiting patiently.
“But…
we haven’t paid yet, have we?” This wasn’t her first time taking a taxi.
Typically, the driver wouldn’t get out until the fare was settled.
Yuen smiles faintly.
“I have already paid.” “Huh?” “Let’s go.” ….
They got out of the car, and the driver politely bid them farewell before driving off.
Kasumigaoka Utaha turned her head, tucking a strand of hair blown by the wind behind her ear.
Her striking crimson eyes focused on Yuen as she asked, “How much was the fare just now?” Since Yuen lived in a place like that shrine, she assumed he didn’t have much money on him.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t choose to live in a dilapidated building on the verge of collapse instead of renting a cheap apartment near the mountain.
“Four thousand five hundred.” As soon as Yuen finished speaking, Kasumigaoka Utaha immediately fished her wallet out of her bag.
It seemed she intended to pay him back.
“There is no need…” Yuen tried to refuse, but he couldn’t overcome Kasumigaoka Utaha’s persistence.
She stuffed five 1,000-yen bills directly into his hand.
“Just take it already!” Yuen glanced at the bills in his hand and sighed helplessly.
“…Kasumigaoka-san, you gave me five hundred too much.” “I don’t have any small change.
Keep the extra five hundred as a tip.” Kasumigaoka Utaha said casually, crossing her arms.
Five hundred yen really wasn’t much to her.
She had a guaranteed monthly income of around 300,000 yen from her writing.
Now that her work was being published as a physical book, if it sold well and became a bestseller, she would earn royalties on top of that.
This was why Kasumigaoka Utaha could afford to rent an apartment and live on her own at her age.
….
Shibuya.
Like Shinjuku, this was a core district of Tokyo.
The apartment Kasumigaoka Utaha rented was practically right next to the city center.
It was extremely convenient for commuting, but the rent was correspondingly expensive.
Kasumigaoka Utaha unlocked the security door of her apartment.
Because the curtains were drawn, the entire room was pitch black, a stark contrast to the outside world.
Of course, it wasn’t exactly bright outside either; by the time they arrived, a light rain had begun to fall.
Kasumigaoka Utaha pressed the switch next to the door, and light instantly flooded the room.
“Please come in, Yuen-otouto-kun.” “Excuse the intrusion.” Yuen walked into the entryway.
Kasumigaoka Utaha took a pair of pink slippers from the shoe cabinet and placed them on the floor.
“I live alone, so I don’t have any extra guest slippers.
These are ones I used before.
Once you put them on, don’t try to sniff them when I’m not looking.” “I would never do such a thing.” Yuen felt helpless.
She really was just like her anime counterpart.
If he had reincarnated now instead of two thousand years ago, given his past obsession with anime and his tendency to claim numerous “waifus.” he might actually have done something like that.
But after being a god for over two thousand years, his personality had long since matured.
He simply wouldn’t do such things.
Moreover, living in this reality, Yuen no longer viewed these people as fictional characters or “waifus.” “Actually, it doesn’t matter.
Even if you did, I wouldn’t mind, Yuen-otouto-kun.
I am well aware of my own charm.” Kasumigaoka Utaha blinked playfully, crossing her arms to accentuate her curves.
Yuen raised an eyebrow.
Looking at Kasumigaoka Utaha’s fair face, he suddenly reached out his hand slowly.
Seeing this…
Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had just been teasing him, suddenly looked a bit panicked.
His hand seemed to be heading straight for her chest.
“W-what are you doing?” Yuen acted as if he hadn’t heard her, continuing to extend his hand.
As his hand came within inches, Kasumigaoka Utaha closed her eyes in a mix of fear and anticipation.
Time seemed to freeze.
When the sensation she expected never came, Kasumigaoka Utaha opened her eyes in confusion.
She found Yuen regarding her with a faint, amused smile, holding a green leaf between his thumb and forefinger.
“There was a leaf on your shoulder.
I was merely removing it.” Kasumigaoka Utaha: “…” It’s so embarassing.