"Take a bath? Hana-chan, did you bring a change of clothes?"
Shirosaki Hana shook her head. "No. I'll go back and get them tomorrow. For today, I'll just have to wear this school uniform."
Uchiha Ryo: "Mhm, alright then. But the bathroom hasn't been used in a long time. I'll go clean it."
Inside the apartment bathroom, Uchiha Ryo was scrubbing the bathtub. The thought of Hana-chan soaking in it in a little while...
No, I can't think about that.
...
While Hana-chan was taking a bath, in the bedroom, Enyun-chan was staring wide-eyed at the cash in front of her. This was three thousand yen! Although it wasn't much, it was enough for her to spend a little.
Enyun-chan: "How do I put the money into the game?"
Uchiha Ryo looked at the cat, then at the cash on the bed.
"Oh, my apologies. You're not a person, so you can't register an account, which means you can't get a bank card."
Enyun-chan: "???"
"Then how do I spend the money!!"
Uchiha Ryo thought for a moment. "How about this: next time you go to farm affinity for me, tell them you don't want cash in advance. Just have them give you game currency instead."
Enyun-chan's paw slapped the cash on the bed. "Then I'll trade you this three thousand yen for game currency."
Uchiha Ryo: "No deal. This shop doesn't make that kind of transaction."
Enyun-chan: "I...."
Are you kidding? What if Enyun-chan earns enough money and stops helping me farm affinity? An internet-addicted cat. I have to find ways to make her work.
Uchiha Ryo: "What? Don't start circulating your chakra. It's not like I can't feel it. Are you feeling sleepy?"
Enyun-chan noticed that the three tomoe in Uchiha Ryo's pupils had suddenly changed to a pattern she had never seen before.
Forget it, I can't beat him... The cat is slacking off. When I get this money, I'll find Takashi and have him exchange it for game currency for me! Hmph—
Uchiha Ryo shook his head, then collected the money from the bed.
"Speaking of which, you're only three or four years old, right? As your master and guardian, how can you manage your own money at such a young age? I'll keep it safe for you. When you need it, you can just get it from me."
Enyun-chan was stunned. Enyun-chan was speechless. Enyun-chan's anger rose from her heart! Enyun-chan was glared at and didn't dare to move.
She! The proud cub of the ninja cat clan, would endure it! Next time she went to act cute and farm affinity, she would definitely say in advance that she wanted game currency.
Who let him be the master? Who let this master be from the innately evil Uchiha clan? Oh heavens, oh earth, why does the ninja cat clan have to be on friendly terms with the Uchiha clan for generations?
Don't the heavens know that cats don't like playing with dogs?!
A clear knock on the door sounded. Shirosaki Hana, wiping her wet hair, looked at Uchiha Ryo in the room.
"Um... I've finished my bath.... Is Ryo-oniichan going to wash up?"
Uchiha Ryo turned his head. What came into view was Hana-chan's angelic, pink face, fresh from the bath.
Uchiha Ryo: "A bath, huh? Sure. Enyun-chan, you come too."
Enyun-chan: "Meow— (I don't play with dogs.)"
Uchiha Ryo smiled and picked up Enyun, whispering in her ear.
"I've learned a lot of new Water Style jutsu recently. Are you going to take a bath obediently, or...?"
Enyun-chan: "Meow! (I love taking baths!)"
Walking back into the bathroom, it was filled with the scent of body wash and a certain inexplicable fragrance.
Shirosaki Hana, in the living room, suddenly said, "Um, I've already drained my bathwater. I've filled the tub with fresh water. Ryo-oniichan can test the temperature before getting in."
Uchiha Ryo nodded and felt the water temperature. Then he took a basinful and poured it directly over Enyun-chan's head.
"Meow!!!"
Since there was someone in the house, Enyun-chan couldn't speak and could only use meows to vent her dissatisfaction.
Uchiha Ryo turned on the shower, and while rinsing his hair, he said.
"Enyun-chan, do you still remember those chocolates you took from Nyanko-sensei? We're lucky they were just sleep-aiding liqueur chocolates. Next time, don't you dare take anything from a youkai."
Enyun-chan: "Meow— (I know.)"
After dinner, Hana-chan sat at the desk in Uchiha Ryo's bedroom doing her homework. But this clever little girl had actually found the snacks in the desk drawer.
Is this what you call talent? She had just sniffed around and accurately found the place where the snacks were stored.
Shirosaki Hana: "Ryo-oniichan! I have good news and bad news for you. Which one do you want to hear first?"
Uchiha Ryo was a little confused. This little girl had been in the room all this time. What news could she have?
"Then... the bad news."
Shirosaki Hana held her head high, then pulled open Uchiha Ryo's snack drawer.
"Hana-chan found a lot of snacks that are about to expire. You can't keep this kind of snack for too long!"
Alright. Uchiha Ryo could guess what the good news was.
Then he saw Hana-chan pat her stomach. "The good news is, I've taken care of them all for you. No need to worry about them expiring."
Uchiha Ryo sighed. "Hana-chan..."
"Mhm?"
"Do your homework. And put down my three-color dango first."
.....
In the room, Hana-chan was quietly doing her homework, and Uchiha Ryo was quietly playing on his phone.
"Ryo-oniichan, do you have any brothers or sisters?"
Uchiha Ryo looked up. "I have a little brother around the same age. We have a good relationship."
Shirosaki Hana nodded. "I see. Hana-chan is an only child. I don't have any brothers or sisters. But I always hear Hinata talking about how good her relationship with her sister is.... I'm a little envious."
Uchiha Ryo put down his phone. "Then, Hana-chan, you can just think of me as your real older brother."
"Can I!"
[Shirosaki Hana's affinity has increased—G-Points +50]
The next morning, Uchiha Ryo yawned and sat up in bed. Because high school started earlier than elementary school, Uchiha Ryo had to take Shirosaki Hana to school early.
Although elementary school started late, the school gates opened quite early. So arriving at school early meant she could rest well in the classroom. After changing his clothes, Uchiha Ryo looked at Shirosaki Hana standing in front of him.
"Let's go. We'll go to school early."
Shirosaki Hana: "Okay, Onii-chan!"
On the way to the elementary school, Uchiha Ryo saw many children about the same age as Hana-chan. The younger ones still needed their parents to take them, but most of them didn't need their parents' company and walked to school with their friends.
"Good morning, Hana-chan!"
It was Hoshino Hinata and Noa. It seemed they lived nearby.
Shirosaki Hana: "Mhm, good morning, Hinata, and Noa. You guys are really out this early."
Noa waved her phone. "Hmph, hmph. Because Hana-chan said she had to get to school early these three days, Hinata and I came to accompany you."
Uchiha Ryo saw the children running over to join Hana-chan and suddenly smiled.
"Since Hana-chan's friends are here, then Onii-chan will go to class now."
As soon as his voice fell, Shirosaki Hana reached out and grabbed Uchiha Ryo's sleeve tightly.
Uchiha Ryo: "Mhm.... let's go. I'll walk you to the gate."
Watching the three little ones walk into the school gate, Uchiha Ryo breathed a sigh of relief. Just as he was about to head directly to Toyogasaki, he saw a familiar Aston Martin.
.....