「Do you want some cake?」
「Cake?」
「Mama’s making it right now! Let’s eat together.」
「Okay!」
Yuri took Dori’s hand and led her into the house.
「Ah, I should’ve brought something… Maybe some potato chips.」
I hadn’t thought to bring anything since this was just a quick visit to apologize. I realized too late that I could have brought some of the potato chips I had fried earlier.
「Don’t worry about it. I’ll bring everyone over to say hello next time. You’re staying for a bit, right?」
For some reason, the sense of rivalry I had felt toward Haruki completely vanished now that I’d “won.”
Looking back, I wasn’t even sure why I had felt competitive with him in the first place.
「Thanks for having me.」
It had been a long time since I’d been to Haruki’s house. While I often visited the chicken farm next door, the last time I stepped into his home was back when we were students.
「Hey, do you mind if I light some incense for your mom?」
I headed to the room where the family’s altar was, my body moving instinctively despite how long it had been.
「It’s been a while, auntie.」
Sitting before the altar, I clasped my hands and greeted her. Haruki’s mother had also been an explorer. From what I’d heard, she met Haruki’s father through an introduction from my parents.
She passed away due to illness. She was diagnosed with cancer while Haruki was still in her womb and prioritized having him over her own health. The cancer eventually spread, and she spent the next few years battling it, going in and out of the hospital, before passing away when Haruki was still young.
I don’t remember much from that time, but even as a kid, I felt like I needed to step up and be a big brother to Haruki. Then, a few years later, I lost my own parents as well.
Now, even their faces are hard for me to recall.
「It’s strange, isn’t it? We’ve grown into fathers ourselves.」
Before I knew it, we were the same age as our parents were when they passed.
Never did I think I’d end up living with someone like Dori or reconnecting with my grandparents.
「Seeing Yuri smile like that again… It made me feel like I’ve got to do better.」
「Again?」
「Yeah, we’ve both been so busy working that she’s been lonely.」
Haruki was out of the house from early morning until late at night for work, and his wife, Sakura, was equally busy with her job.
Yuri, left at daycare every day, grew increasingly lonely and eventually stopped smiling.
One day, an explorer who visited their shop played with Yuri and introduced her to the “Farm Diary Channel.”
Seeing the cheerful videos of me and Dori working on the field seemed to captivate her.
As the family continued watching, even Sakura became a fan of mine.
Apparently, when they came here, he mentioned how troublesome it was to get rid of the handmade fans and signs Sakura had prepared.
It sounded like she was chasing an idol or something, which honestly didn’t make much sense to me.
「Thanks to Yuri, we learned that Naoki had come back here. You’ve really helped us out. Thank you.」
When Haruki bowed his head sincerely, I couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed.
「Haha, well, I’m your big brother, after all. I’ll take care of Yuri-chan, too.」
One more kid to take care of wouldn’t be a problem. We just had to live like we used to, helping each other out.
「Wait, are you going to marry me?」
Turning toward the voice, I saw Yuri and Dori, who had come to call us.
I thought another argument was about to break out, but Dori was smiling brightly.
She even had whipped cream on her lips.
This is the first time she tasted one so she must be in a good mood.
「Yuri-chan, you’re still a child, so you can’t get married yet. You need to grow up first.」
I tried to soften the blow with an explanation, sensing Haruki’s eyes on me from behind.
「Did you hear that, Dori? I’ll eat a lot and grow big! A customer told me that men like big chests, too!」
What kind of things were these customers teaching Yuri? Haruki and I let out exasperated sighs.
Oblivious to us, Yuri and Dori were patting their still-flat chests.
Meanwhile, Karaage walked by, proudly showing off his plump chest. I had told him to wait by the entrance, but it seemed he’d followed us inside.
「Ah, sorry about Karaage.」
「Don’t worry about it. That’s just how it is at the Kojima Poultry Farm.」
Back in elementary school, I raised two chickens, Sasami and Bonjiri, for a research project. They spent their time between our houses.
I wonder if those two are enjoying themselves in heaven now. I couldn’t bring myself to eat them in the end and kept them as pets for the rest of their lives.
As I was lost in nostalgia, everyone called out to me.
「Papa!」
「Papa, hurry up!」
「Naoki, let’s go!」
I headed to the living room with Dori and the others to eat some cake.
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