I arrived at the room shared by Haruka, Touka, and Yuki. After knocking and getting a response, I opened the door.
「Ah, I knew it was Yuuki-sama!」
「It’s Yuuki-onii-chan!」
「Amazing… both of you…」
Yuki’s ears twitched as she perked up, and Touka flew at me with blinding speed.
「Haruka, Touka, sorry to keep you waiting. Yuki, I’m back」
「So, you’ve finished your conversation?」
「Yeah, it’s done. I’m going around visiting everyone’s rooms now」
「Welcome back, Yuuki-sama」
「Yuki, are you feeling alright? If anything’s wrong, tell me, okay?」
「Yes, I’m fine」
「Onii-chan, bring out snacks! I wanna eat with Yuki!」
「Hmm… but it’s already late… just a little, alright?」
「Yuuki-onii-san!?」
「It’s fine, it’s fine. But you have to brush your teeth after, got it?」
「Okaaay」
Yuki looked a little flustered, like she couldn’t keep up with Touka’s energy.
Since they’re all about the same age, I’d like the three of them to get along.
I pulled out a pack of Japanese snacks from my item box, an assorted variety from Bu〇bon.
「How about these? There’s a bunch of different kinds inside」
「「Waaah」」
Their eyes sparkled instantly.
「Yuuki-san, would it be alright to make some tea too?」
「Green tea? Or black tea?」
「Let’s go with green tea. There’s a lot of chocolate in the mix, and we don’t have enough types of black tea to pair properly」
「Got it. Water」
I poured hot water into the pot I’d taken out, then added cold water at about the two-thirds mark to adjust the temperature. I think green tea comes out best when the water’s just a little hot.
「Here, Haruka. This is the tea leaves. And this is the hot water. Is the temperature alright?」
「From the feel of it, this is just right. A bit hotter would still work, but too hot and it brings out the bitterness and astringency」
She moved smoothly, placing the leaves into the teapot and pouring the water, letting it steep briefly before pouring carefully. She really looked the part.
Soon, four cups of tea were ready, and the snacks were laid out.
「By the way, did you two introduce yourselves to Yuki already?」
「Yup, we did～」
「Yeah, we did…」
Yuki, clearly excited by her first taste of Japanese sweets, was holding snacks in both hands, eyes sparkling, nodding enthusiastically.
「Yuki, is it good?」
After swallowing a mouthful, Yuki answered with surprise in her voice.
「Yes, Yuuki-sama. The sweet ones, the slightly bitter ones, the crunchy ones, the soft ones, the fluffy ones, they’re all delicious」
「I see, I see. I’m glad」
As I patted Yuki’s head while she showed an age-appropriate amount of joy, Touka came and sat next to me.
「What’s up, Touka?」
「Muu… Yuuki-onii-chan, you’re paying too much attention to Yuki～」
「Sorry, sorry. Touka, you’re cute too～」
「Muu… sounds kind of half-hearted… but I guess I’ll let it slide」
Yuuki gently stroked Touka’s head, and her expression softened, she seemed to be in a better mood now.
While sipping tea and petting Touka, Haruka refilled his cup just as it emptied.
「Thanks, Haruka」
When he patted her head, Haruka’s face turned red.
「N-no… Thank you, really…」
「Mmm… your hand stopped, you know」
「Ah, sorry, sorry」
Touka, unusually clingy, complained when the petting paused.
「Alright, now that you’ve all finished your snacks, go brush your teeth」
He took out the dental kits from his dimensional storage and headed for the sink.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
Haruka was the first to return, and the two of them started cleaning up together.
「Sorry for making you help, Haruka」
「It’s okay… I get to be with you, Yuuki-san (mumble)」
「I see. I’m glad」
Using water magic, they washed the dishes, then dried them with a warm breeze combining fire and wind magic. Once finished, Haruka gathered the dishes together.
「Yuuki-san, I’m done」
「Thanks, Haruka」
「N-no… um, Yuuki-san!」
「Hm? What is it, Haruka?」
Without a word, Haruka jumped into his arms, so he caught her.
「Can I stay like this for a little while?」
「Yeah… of course」
For a short while, they stayed like that, with Yuuki stroking her and holding her close.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
When they returned, Touka and Haruka left again together. It looked like they were heading to Hikari’s place.
Meanwhile… or rather, ‘very’ obviously, Yuki kept glancing at him.
「Yuki?」
「Hy-hyes!?」
「What’s wrong? Something happen?」
「N-no, it’s nothing…」
She looked dejected, her ears and tail drooping.
「Now that I think about it, Yuki, you’re able to fight now, huh」
Recalling what happened earlier today, he brought it up. Yuki brightened for a moment, then looked down again.
「Thank you. But… I lost…」
「That was after I left, right? Then that’s more than good enough」
Despite how she looked, Mary was strong even in close combat. If Yuki could stand her ground like that, she was doing great.
「Ah… actually… it was a bit before you defeated the Evil God… I’d been training alongside my maid lessons」
「Even so, that’s impressive. You’ve been working hard, Yuki」
As he patted her head, Yuki teared up and pressed her head against him.
While they stayed like that, the other two girls returned.
「Ahh, no fair, Yuki～」
Touka joined in with a hug, rubbing her head against him.
「M-me too!」
Haruka joined too, and all three of them ended up toppling him over.
「Wah」
「Kyaa♪」
「Kya」
「Ehehe～ Onii-chan」
「O-o-oniisan」
「Yuuki-samaaa…」
And just like that, the three of them snuggled up to him until they drifted off to sleep.
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