"Want some?" Hongshang Yu asked, continuing to eat but feeling Kinugita Taoko's gaze on him.
"Eh?! Is it… okay? Tsun won't kill me?" Kinugita felt drool trickle from the corner of her mouth.
"I won't finish it, so it won't go to waste," Hongshang Yu replied, handing her a pair of chopsticks.
Looking at the chopsticks, Kinugita swallowed. After an internal struggle, she cast aside the remnants of her pride.
"Then… I won't hold back, little bro!" she declared, throwing all shame to the wind.
"By the way, I've never tried Tsun's cooking! Wow… it looks so delicious!" she exclaimed.
Hongshang Yu took his portion back, pushing the rest toward Kinugita.
"Hey, hey, hey… Little bro, not that much! I don't need so much… Heh-heh," she said, awkwardly scratching the back of her head, pretending to be more modest.
But Hongshang Yu stared at her.
"Wait! What's with that look? A face without emotion, but eyes full of contempt!" Kinugita protested.
Ignoring her, Hongshang Yu continued eating. Kinugita, realizing she was being ignored, looked at the bento prepared by Tsun.
Wow! Opening the box, it was as if she saw a shining rainbow.
"My eyes!" she exclaimed, shielding them from the imaginary light.
The food, perfectly arranged, tempted her with its color, aroma, and taste. Kinugita took a piece of meat, not caring what it was.
Divine!
She covered her mouth, moved to tears.
"Tsun cooks so deliciously!" she marveled.
But Hongshang Yu didn't react, focused on his food. Seeing she was ignored again, Kinugita slyly narrowed her eyes.
"Well, little bro~ Ah~" she said, bringing a piece of meat to his mouth.
"…" Hongshang Yu silently looked at her.
"Don't want to, fine! Why look at me like that, silly little bro!" she huffed, turning away.
In a matter of minutes, Kinugita demolished the bento. Hongshang Yu, though eating slowly, also finished. They cleaned up together.
"Little bro, want to chat? We haven't talked much these last few days," Kinugita suggested.
"Sleep," Hongshang Yu replied.
"…" Kinugita fell silent.
He lay down and closed his eyes.
"…" U-uu… Why is little bro so cold today… Kinugita whined inwardly, sitting nearby and watching the sleeping Hongshang Yu.
Time dragged on. Kinugita, unaccustomed to napping during the day, couldn't sleep. Forcing herself would be worse—it might ruin her condition for the second half of the day. She touched her stomach. Despite eating the bento, the hunger hadn't gone away. After yesterday, she had become strange. Yesterday, the hunger was insatiable, driving her to lose her mind. Then control returned, but the hunger lingered, tormenting her still.
Fortunately, she could restrain herself, or she would have snatched any food in sight. Recalling yesterday, she thought: Yesterday, I tried to recreate what I did at lunch, and that triggered that attack?
She looked at the sleeping Hongshang Yu. Yesterday, I took off his glasses… and passed out? Why?
Pondering, she crawled closer.
Looking…
Looking…
Looking…
Little bro is so thin and short. Seems shorter than me. His face is so pale… Oh, is this a real shotacon? So cute… Wait, what am I thinking?!
Kinugita sharply turned toward the door.
Silence. No one.
So scared Tsun might come back and hit me… she thought, shuddering.
She looked at Hongshang Yu again.
Looking…
Poke…
She cautiously poked his cheek with her finger.
Soft…
Poke… Poke…
Hongshang Yu frowned in his sleep, and Kinugita froze.
Phew, almost woke him…
Waiting a moment, she continued studying him.
What's little bro's secret? Aaa, I want to know so badly!
She leaned in, staring at him.
Looking…
But nothing happened. Kinugita took a deep breath.
Guess I'll have to…
She decided to remove his glasses again. Rubbing her hands, she felt nervous.
So nervous…
Slowly, her hands approached the glasses.
Closer… closer…
Aaa, I can't! What if it's like yesterday again?! I don't want that!
Kinugita recoiled, flopping onto the floor. She rolled around, clutching her head.
Stopping, she stood up, looking at Hongshang Yu with determination. Making a "you can do it" gesture, she approached again. Quickly but carefully, she removed the glasses.
…
Hongshang Yu slept on.
Kinugita froze, holding the glasses.
Eh?
She looked at the glasses, then at Hongshang Yu.
Why?! Why didn't anything happen?! Yesterday there was a boom! And wow! Then whoosh! And I passed out! What's wrong?!
She suspiciously examined the glasses. Did I miss something?
Leaning in, she poked Hongshang Yu and inspected him from all sides. She pondered, rubbing her chin.
Is it about me? No, it can't be!
She mentally screamed: Why?!
Not giving up, she leaned in closer, almost touching his face with her breath.
Looking!
Looking!
No reaction.
Maybe…
Gazing at his pale face, Kinugita thought of something incredible. The idea seemed absurd, and she immediately dismissed it. But the thought lingered. Eventually, she did something she couldn't believe herself.
She licked Hongshang Yu's cheek with her pink tongue.
Slurp~
…
AAAAAAH! WHAT DID I DO?!
Kinugita grabbed her head, her eyes bulging.
I LICKED LITTLE BRO! LICKED! If Tsun finds out, she'll kill me! No, murder me!
She dashed to the door, flung it open, and looked down.
An empty staircase.
Phew, Tsun's not here… Don't scare yourself… she wiped cold sweat from her brow.
Returning to Hongshang Yu, she confirmed he was still asleep.
Little bro sleeps like the dead… That didn't wake him…
Suddenly, she remembered: Wait… Why didn't anything happen?!
Taking the glasses, she muttered:
"And what was that yesterday…"
Carefully putting the glasses back on Hongshang Yu, she heard the bell signaling the end of the break. Hongshang Yu opened his eyes.
"Yo… yo… Sleep well, little bro?" Kinugita said, inwardly freezing.
Almost got caught…
Hongshang Yu, sleepily looking around, quietly said:
"Sister…"
"Tsun hasn't returned. Let's go to class, little bro," Kinugita replied.
He nodded, waking up.
"Mhm."
They cleaned up and left the roof.
"Eh, why didn't anything happen… Yesterday was so strange," Kinugita muttered, picking up bentos from the store display and putting them in her basket.
"Thank you for your purchase," the cashier said.
With her usual large bag, she headed home.
"Is it about me? If it happens like yesterday again, it's trouble… Won't have money until payday… No advance… Even with paid leave, what if it repeats?" she mused, approaching her apartment.
Opening the door, she noticed a strange smell.
"Ha-ha… Forgot to clean again…" she sighed, pinching her nose.
"Ugh, it stinks…"
Deciding to clean before dinner, she couldn't stand the stench. An hour later, wiping sweat, Kinugita proudly surveyed the clean room.
"Hm-hm~ I'm a cleaning master! No wonder I'm so awesome!" she praised herself, clapping her hands.
"Time to eat! La-la-la~" she sang, washing her hands.
Sitting at the table, she opened her bag.
"Hm… What to choose… Decided! Cheesy chicken bento! Snagged this rare limited-edition today!"
Opening the box, she inhaled the aroma of melted cheese mixed with fried chicken.
"So fragrant~ Enjoy your meal!"
Drool flowed, and she took a bite.
Crunch!
"Mmm~ Delicious! Such a crunch!" she exclaimed, beaming with pleasure.
Taking another piece, she froze.
Her eyes trembled.
She… didn't feel hungry.