……This is suspicious.
Is the person in front of me really the Origol I know?
「Souma. Who submitted this budget proposal? Meira-chan? Really? I think this is one that Meira-chan missed because she’s been too busy. Send it back.」
Today I was called by Origol, so I came to give her the souvenirs from Amatsukuni, but…… the scene before me is so shocking that I doubt my own eyes.
「Walkas. Pass these, these, these, and this one to Dama-kun. Also, tell Iris to submit her budget report quickly. And make sure to strictly warn her not to write incomprehensible items like 『Ice cream investment plan for onii-chan』.」
Before I could even think “What is Iris doing?”, Origol…… that Origol is working at full speed……
The sight is so unbelievable that Souma-san is standing there with his mouth open in shock.
Walkas-san just dropped the documents he received onto the floor!
「Sorry for making you wait, onii-chan. I called you here but ended up making you wait. My work will be done soon, so just wait quietly, okay? Once I’m finished, let’s go eat together.」
「Y-Yeah…… Don’t mind me……」
It will be done soon……?
Wait, the sun has not even set completely yet.
This is still the time of the evening glow, not complete darkness.
「O-Origol-sama? Hah! Perhaps you have a fever!」
「I don’t. Just do your work, Souma. Walkas, stop spacing out.」
「Hauweeeeh!?」
「Hawa wa wa…… Hawa wa wa……」
I completely understand why Souma-san let out such a strange voice when Origol told him to work, and why Walkas-san is making “hawa” sounds as if he has regressed into a child.
I understand perfectly, so I will not tease Walkas-san about it.
「Haa…… Damn, my shoulders are so stiff…… onii-chan, sorry to ask, but could you take me to the hot springs later?」
「Y-Yeah……」
Oh, hot springs.
Ooooh, okay!
I am shaken, but leave it to me!
「Thank you, onii-chan. All right…… Then it’s the final spurt. I’m going to focus now.」
Origol concentrating on her work…… Yeah. That is…… a good thing, right?
Then I will quietly wait.
Souma-san and Walkas-san left the room carrying the documents they were given, but they were staggering…… Are they going to be okay?
They must have been shocked to see Origol working seriously, but isn’t that actually something to be very happy about?
Also, when they left the room, they gave me a look that seemed to say 『Is this your fault?』, but I do not think it is me…… right?
「Y……o……shi………… And with this………… it’s done!!」
Origol finished the stack of about five documents starting with “Yo” at an astonishing speed, then spread both arms wide to express her joy.
It is…… finished?
When I arrived, the mountain of documents piled up so high that I could not even see Origol’s face from across the desk had completely disappeared……?
Eh…… This is really Origol…… right?
If someone told me she actually has a serious and diligent twin sister, I would probably believe it.
「G-Good work. Are you okay?」
「Nnn? What’s this? A warm towel? Ohh…… I put it over my eyes? Aah…… It feels so nice and warm……」
It is a simple hot eye mask made by wetting a towel with warm water and wringing it out.
Shoulder stiffness often comes from eye fatigue too.
While I am at it, I will lightly loosen her shoulders as well.
「Aah…… onii-chan…… Oooh…… Right there, right there……」
「Your shoulders are really stiff……」
「Afun…… Aah…… Well, I do desk work every day, so of course my shoulders get stiff…… Wait, that’s not it!」
「Nn?」
「That’s not what I meant. It’s time for dinner! Let’s go eat!」
「Ah…… Right, you did say something like that.」
「I made a reservation because you were coming. Now then, wait a moment while I change clothes.」
「Y-Yeah……」
Change clothes……?
Is the usual outfit she is wearing not fine?
The only other time I have seen Origol in something different was when she was wearing low-rise underwear with just a piece of cloth……
Hah! Don’t tell me she is planning to charge in wearing that again!
Right now we are alone…… She must have led Souma-san and Walkas-san into confusion on purpose to create this situation!
Which means…… the moment that door opens, Origol is going to burst in!
「Fuu…… Then, onii-chan…… onii-chan? What are you doing?」
「Eh? Ah…… Uhh?」
A dre……ss?
It is not overly flashy, but it is a dress perfect for dining at a nice place. Origol opened the door gracefully without slamming it and appeared in that elegant dress……
Her shoulders are exposed, but not excessively. She is wearing an extremely refined and mature-looking dress. Origol tilts her head at the stance I had taken!
「Fufu. You’re being weird. So…… how does it look? Does it suit me?」
「Ah…… Yeah. It really suits you……」
「Thank you. I’m happy to hear that. Then shall we go?」
「Y…… Yeah……」
She held out her hand, so I reached out to take it, but she was not satisfied with that. Instead, she took my arm and tried to link it with hers. Because of the height difference, she could not do it properly, so she quietly settled for holding my hand.
And so, still in a state of confusion just like Souma-san and Walkas-san, I arrived with Origol at the restaurant she had reserved. I could only watch in a daze as Origol ordered the drinks.
「Nn? What is it? onii-chan. Is something on my face?」
「Eyes, nose, and mouth……?」
「If they weren’t there, I’d be in trouble…… Geez. onii-chan is always a bit weird, but today you’re especially strange.」
No, wait. The weird one is you…… or rather, the fact that you’re acting normal is what’s weird?
Eh? Now that I think about it, this really is Origol, right?
No, since she was doing the representative’s work earlier, there is no doubt this is the real one……
「Thank you for waiting. Here is the stir-fried Sekipeki shrimp and Green Tonga with oyster sauce.」
「Oh, it’s here, it’s here. Looks delicious! Let’s eat right away.」
「Y-Yeah……」
These are huge shrimp!
Green Tonga must be green chili peppers, and oyster sauce is probably made from oysters, right?
I love both shrimp and oysters, but because my brain is currently occupied by Origol, I cannot fully appreciate it!
Origol has let down her usual tied-up hair. She carefully cuts the large shrimp into bite-sized pieces so her hair does not touch the food, then eats them with her small mouth.
The way she lightly licks the sauce from her lips is strangely seductive and very adult-like!
She is not just sloppily licking her lips!
「Fufu. It’s delicious, isn’t it?」
「Yeah……」
It really is incredibly delicious! No, it is so good it’s shocking, but right now I cannot take my eyes off Origol’s every little movement!
How should I put it…… Despite her appearance, she feels her age, or rather, she has the atmosphere of someone older……
The gap from her usual self is so big that I am quite bewildered, yet unconsciously my heart is beating a little faster at this new side of her……
「Did you know, onii-chan? Sekipeki shrimp come from the Republic. Temperature control is difficult, and if they’re frozen for too long the flavor drops. But since the road from Einzheil to the Republic has been extended, the transport time has become much shorter. That’s why we can enjoy them this fresh.」
「Ooh…… So it’s thanks to you, Origol.」
「I did push forward the road construction, but it was only possible because the territory people…… no, the citizens now, all worked together. It’s not just my achievement.」
So humble……!
Normally she would probably say something like 『Of course it’s thanks to me! Thanks to me you get to eat such delicious shrimp! And there are tons of other delicious things you can get too! Since I heard you never compromise when it comes to food, you should be even more grateful to me! Show me lots of respect! And then take me back to the inn!』 but she does not say any of that!
「That’s not what I wanted to say. This restaurant is run by people from the Republic. It only just opened recently, so getting a reservation was really hard, but I’m glad I could come here with you today, onii-chan.」
The Republic…… I think it was the Gigoshoku Republic?
Judging from the name, it is probably a Chinese-style country, just like how Amatsukuni has a Japanese vibe?
Shrimp…… oyster…… I get that feeling somehow, but right now I would rather focus on the way my heart skipped a beat at the smile Origol is giving me.
Her usual bright and cheerful smile is nice too, but today it somehow feels more seductive and genuinely cute.
「……It’s wonderful that so many different cultures and cuisines from various countries are gathering in this land. We don’t have to travel all the way to each place anymore. Of course, it’s also beneficial for the merchants from each country, so I think the allied nations centered around this country will continue to grow in culture and technology.」
「……That was your dream, wasn’t it?」
「Yes! A peaceful country where many different races can come and go without discrimination, full of energy and life. Of course there will probably be more small disputes, but even so, I wanted to create a country where everyone can live with smiles on their faces.」
「Then your dream has come true.」
「No, not yet. It has only just begun. Every day is busy…… but if it’s for everyone’s smiles, I can keep working hard……. Well, sometimes I still run out into the streets, but checking on the town is also necessary.」
It always feels like you are checking on the town, but after hearing that, I think the real reason you walk around the streets is to see everyone’s smiles and gain motivation from them.
How should I put it…… As a person, I really do respect you.
And…… right now, there is a part of me that feels the urge to hug you, just a little.
「……But the biggest battle is over now. That’s why I can spend this happy time with the person I like.」
「……Don’t just casually say things like ‘the person I like’……」
It reminds me of the time we returned from Roukaku.
The memory of that day when she passionately conveyed her feelings rushes through my mind, and I cannot help but feel embarrassed.
「……Fufufu. onii-chan when you’re embarrassed is really cute. You really are weak to direct attacks, aren’t you?」
「Haa…… You know……」
So that is what it was……
All that serious mode until now was her way of approaching me.
Aah…… I completely fell for it.
Souma-san, Walkas-san. It looks like it really was my fault after all.
「Serious mode is tiring, you know…… But I’m really happy I could feel onii-chan getting flustered because of me.」
「……I wasn’t.」
「Such a cute way of hiding embarrassment, very befitting of someone younger. If you want, I can put my hand on your chest to check? After this…… you will take me to the hot springs, right?」
「……Yeah, I’ll take you. But before that, we need to eat first.」
「I’m looking forward to it. By the way…… Republic cuisine has a lot of dishes that give you stamina, you know? If onii-chan eats too much, you might not be able to hold back and end up breaking me! Just kidding～」
That is…… Yeah, I get it.
I already heard your feelings before, and I heard them again just now.
Height does not matter.
If I think about the fact that I will eventually do the same with Shiro, it is only natural.
Age does matter, though.
Today’s Origol was truly adorable.
And since she feels this strongly about me, and I also think well of her, it would be wrong not to respond.
「……Yeah. If I eat too many stamina-boosting dishes, something serious might happen.」
「Oh……? Does that mean…… um…… in other words…… it’s okay?」
Why are you so surprised……?
You were the one who invited me, weren’t you?
「Th-That’s what it means, right……? Right?」
「……Don’t ask. Well, yeah, that’s what it means.」
When you ask me straight like that…… it makes me embarrassed, so stop asking.
Probably…… my feelings were already there ever since she confronted me so directly that time.
I really got my heart racing back then…… and honestly, I figured I would end up falling for her sooner or later anyway.
「Fuooh…… Finally? It’s finally happening!? Yes! I’ve finally managed to seduce onii-chanー!」
No, “seduce”……?
I was not exactly seduced, you know?
Also, you are back to your usual self already.
And please stop shouting inside the restaurant, okay?
People are whispering because you are the representative of the country, you know?
「All right! Then let’s also order the four-kind oyster platter — grilled, boiled, raw, and fried!」
「Oysters…… That’s pretty blatant.」
「Of course it is! I’ve been waiting for this, so it’s only natural! Of course I’ll enjoy the hot springs too!」
「Yeah. If you get tired again, just call me and I’ll take you to the hot springs.」
「Ooh! So that means my reward for working hard is onii-chan! This is…… ‘gulp’. I’m going to work extra hard! Uhehe!」
「Hey. You’re back to normal already……」
「Oops! I got too excited! But it would be too cruel to be put on hold here, so I’ll endure it! I’ll keep serious mode going just a little longer! Ah, but…… uhehe…… after this, with onii-chan…… lots of naughty things…… kuuuu! ‘slurp’」
That drool you just wiped away is definitely not for the turtle soup that was just served, right……?
And once again you ordered something that looks like it gives stamina…… You really don’t know, do you?
And by the time we head to the hot springs, you will probably be completely back to your usual Origol self.
……Well, I like the noisy Origol too, so I do not really mind.
「All right! Now that it’s decided, let’s eat quickly! Eat fast and go to the hot springs fast! Fufufu! It was delicious before, but now it feels even more delicious!」
Origol laughs happily and eats with gusto.
She is too excited to eat elegantly anymore, but even so, today’s Origol was charming. I smile back at her and start eating as well.
Yeah. These dishes really are delicious.
「After this we’re going to do lots of naughty things!」
「That’s why I told you not to shout in the restaurant!」
Sorry, sorry.
I’m sorry for shouting weird things in such a fancy restaurant!
If you do not know what “naughty” means, that is fine. You do not need to know!
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