Anya frowned and tossed the small crumpled paper onto the table.
Damn it… I was about to eat. Hmph… all because of Lirina and her stupid note. Now I’m starving and thinking about all sorts of random nonsense.
She reached for a ramen-filled bread roll and peeled back the wrapper.
…Looks pretty good.
She opened her mouth and took a bite.
The dry softness of the bread combined with the springy texture of the noodles hit her teeth, creating a marvelous, layered harmony, while the plump shrimp added little decorative flourishes to the melody.
“…!” Before she could even savor the texture fully, the flavor stormed her taste buds. The sweet bread and savory seafood ramen danced across her tongue in a way that practically made her stomach shiver.
This… is too good… Could food in this world really be this amazing…?
She barely swallowed the first bite before diving into a second—and then a third, a fourth…
It was so delicious she nearly cried.
Using the small napkin from the bread packaging, she wiped the grease off her hands, stuffed the used napkin back into the wrapper, crumpled it up, and threw it onto the table.
…The trash can isn’t in sight, so it’ll have to do for now. Later, Lirina… you’ll clean this up, hmph.
She examined the bottled water and, relying on her brainpower from having once ranked first in the school, quickly figured out how to open it.
“Gulp gulp gulp… ahh~!” she drank half the bottle in one go, eyes widening at the surprisingly fruity taste.
This looks like just slightly weird-colored water… but it actually tastes like fruit? The modern world is amazing… hmm…
She praised it internally, drank a few more sips, and then opened another ramen bread.
“Ugh—stretch… finally got you two settled… exhausted me.”
“Hehe, no surprise there, President.” Saya scratched her head, glancing at the completed test problems. “Your logic can even come up with solutions like that.”
“You’re amazing, President.” Kotonoha rested her face on the table, looking like her energy was completely drained. “To have such insights and ways to analyze them… incredible.”
“Hah…” Kotoka leaned back on her hands. “Save the praise. If you spent a little more time thinking, you could do it yourself. Next time, don’t leave so much work for me… there’s still…”
Her eyes flicked toward Motoko.
“Motoko, finished yet?” Kotoka frowned, looking at the papers in front of Motoko.
“Ah… um…” Motoko scratched her head nervously. “Because… because…”
Kotoka sighed and walked over, peering at Motoko’s assignments.
The room went quiet. Everyone stared at Kotoka as she examined Motoko’s work.
“…You didn’t even touch physics or math?” After a moment, Kotoka ground her teeth and spoke through clenched frustration.
“…I, I…” Motoko glanced at Kotoka’s fading glare. “Ah… well, you know, Sister Kotoka, I also had to write my novel… it’s exhausting… Yesterday I had to update the bonus chapter and was busy until… until three in the morning…”
Motoko even blurted out “Sister Kotoka” in fear. And everyone had clearly felt the weight of Kotoka’s authority.
But then… Kotoka suddenly smiled.
Everyone else in the room smirked, anticipating the scene—except Lirina, who looked confused, and Tamako, who looked exasperated.
Motoko watched Kotoka’s radiant smile in disbelief.
Kotoka reached out and placed her hand on Motoko’s head.
“Eek!” Motoko jumped, thinking she was about to be hit—only to realize it was… a gentle pat?!
“Good girl, good girl…” Kotoka smiled, stroking Motoko’s hair. “I know being a writer is hard. I’ve been reading your novels too, and recently you reached a crucial point. Your popularity is high, so yesterday you updated more… that’s why you’re so tired. It’s okay, I understand.”
Motoko relaxed a little at Kotoka’s gentle words. Half of my brain is relieved… the other half froze in fear.
“How long did you spend writing the novel?” Kotoka asked.
“Three and a half hours… four if you count the planning.” Motoko replied.
“Hmm… so when did you start last night?”
“Eleven PM.”
“…Okay… and what time did you wake up this morning?” Kotoka’s smile shifted slightly.
“Around nine…” Motoko could hear Kotoka’s tone change, and she panicked a little.
“So… fourteen hours.” Kotoka’s hand stayed on Motoko’s head, then suddenly tugged her ear down. “You had fourteen hours of daytime! You didn’t use them for homework or novels and stayed up writing until 3 AM?!”
She scolded with full sisterly authority: “And then sleepwalked and called me… I’m not even mad about this morning! Staying up until 3 is bad for your body! Take care of yourself!”
“Ouch ouch ouch! Sister Kotoka, I-I’m sorry! I know, I know!” Motoko’s ears hurt from the tug, but Kotoka’s words rang clearly in her mind.
“Wow… scary President.” Saya leaned on Kotonoha, tongue out in mock fear.
“Your horror stories are scarier, but… Motoko-chan is a bit pitiful. Hehe.” Kotonoha chuckled.
Etsuyuki, finishing her homework earlier, watched Motoko with a mix of amusement and sympathy. Lirina and Tamako had paused their writing discussions, one with exasperation, the other unsure how to react.
“Do you understand your mistake? What went wrong?” Kotoka relaxed her grip slightly.
“Uh… I shouldn’t have stayed up so late… wasted my daytime… ahhh…” Motoko admitted.
“Hmph.” Kotoka released her ear, satisfied.
“Owww…” Motoko rubbed her ear and dabbed her tears. “Sister Kotoka… that was too harsh.”
“Hmph. If I didn’t get a little harsh, how would you remember?” Kotoka laughed, then turned. “Now everyone saw me scolding like this.”
“Hehe… we already know, President.” Saya smiled.
“…I meant Lirina and Etsuyuki. You two… we’ve been together a year… hmph.” Kotoka sighed, glancing awkwardly at Lirina.
“Ah…” Lirina froze a little—she’d always known Kotoka as gentle, but people have many sides.
“It’s fine, President Kotoka… I don’t mind… hehe.” Lirina waved.
“Mm… Etsuyuki-chan…” Kotoka turned to Etsuyuki.
“Ah… Motoko-senpai’s late-night habit needed someone to control it… Sister Kotoka was right… hehe…” Etsuyuki admitted, worried for Motoko but acknowledging the truth.
“Good, then.” Kotoka nodded and faced Motoko. Motoko stiffened. “Sister Kotoka?”
“Can’t help you,” Kotoka laughed. “You’re my cousin after all… I’ll help you this afternoon. It’s already past eleven; I’m hungry.”
“Mm…” Motoko blinked.
Kotoka turned to everyone else: “You’re all hungry too, right?”
Saya, Kotonoha, and Etsuyuki extended their long notes in agreement. Tamako nodded, slightly resigned, and Lirina hesitated.
“Etsuyuki-chan, just finished your homework too, right? Waiting for Tamako-senpai to explain the tricky problems this afternoon?” Kotoka asked. Etsuyuki nodded.
“Mm, then let’s ask the chef to prepare something to eat.” Kotoka said to Motoko. As Motoko lifted her legs, Lirina stood.
Everyone noticed Lirina’s strange expression.
“What’s wrong, Rina-chan?” Kotoka asked.
…I said I’d be back before noon… it’s already past eleven…
“Ah… it’s nothing. I… I’ll go back first.” Lirina looked down, avoiding Kotoka’s gaze—she couldn’t tell the light novel club about Anya.
“That’s not appropriate, Rina-chan.” Motoko scratched her head, smiling. “It’s past eleven… you’re leaving without eating… it would disrespect our hospitality.”
“Ah… no…” Lirina panicked but couldn’t form words.
“Anything at home, Rina?” Tamako also stood, looking concerned.
“Um… ah, nothing… just… uh…” Lirina couldn’t lie, couldn’t speak.
“Then stay, Rina-chan.” Etsuyuki encouraged. “The chef’s cooking at Motoko-senpai and Tamako’s home is amazing.”
“Yeah, it’d be a shame not to try it.” Saya added.
“If Rina-chan leaves suddenly, everyone would be unhappy.” Kotonoha said.
…Alright… it’s mealtime. Motoko-senpai and everyone else agree… If I insist on going back…
Maybe Anya will sleep until the afternoon… she hasn’t slept properly for two days…
“Then… I’ll trouble Motoko-senpai and Tamako-senpai.” Lirina bowed slightly. “Sorry for saying such strange things earlier…”
Everyone reassured her it was fine.
Lirina frowned, glancing out the window.
Afterword
Anya: “Lirina is so nice… Mom likes you, and many other aunts who also like you.”
Lirina: “Eh… not really…”
Anya: “I almost only have Dad… occasionally looking after me, maybe…”
Lirina: (noticing Anya’s expression) “Anya… (steps forward and hugs her)”
Anya: “Eh… what are you doing… I’m not asking for attention… hmm… fine, you can hug me for a bit!”
Lirina: “Hehe…”
Ivak: “Hmm—honestly, I just don’t get the trends with young people these days… At this rate, my little shop might go bankrupt.”
Anya: “You’re just lazy, Manager. The best-selling items in your store are your handmade trinkets, but you make so few of them each time. They sell out immediately. Everything else? Other convenience stores have them too. No one’s going to come specially to buy from you.”
Ivak: “…Ugh, I feel so embarrassed… Miss Harts, your tongue really doesn’t hold back, huh.”
Anya: “If you know you’re embarrassed, why aren’t you working? Napping here all day?”
Ivak: “Ahhh… help me…”
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