Tomoe

I go visit the construction site where the renovation of an old shop, the one I spend a week of planning by hiring an accountant, designing the interior and exterior with Jake's woman, and many things.

When I arrive, I see all the workers taking a break in a hut next to the shop. I look at the renovation and I can see that it's about 30% complete, I think it'll be hundred percent complete by next month if nothing goes wrong. I walk closer to them to greet them and just ask about their life, You know... befriend them, maybe I can use their help in the future.

As I get much closer, I see a woman serving them drinks and sweets and having a conversation, laughing, all that sort of thing. Wait... I think I recognize her, the body with the curve that no one has, her big chest, her hair resting on her shoulder, and that beautiful smile like a mom's smile that can warm any person's heart. She's Tomoe, the only child of the old shop owner who lives not so far from here. Currently, the old man stays at her house since the old shop where he used to live in is being renovated. No, that's not what I should think about.

I'm a little surprised to see her here but judging from her personality, it's no wonder why she's here. "Hey, guys! Taking a break I see?" I greet the workers first. "And Tomoe-san, I see you looking beautiful like always." I compliment her.

"Hey, hey, boss! Yeah, we just take a break from all the work and a beautiful lady here treat us with drinks and sweet! Thank you!" The one who just thank her... or me, is the leader of workers. He's a veteran with over 20 years of experience in construction. I don't know why Jake hired him to renovate the shop, the renovation is not that big and hard to do, so someone like him is too overvalued for a small project like this.

"Kai-kun! You had me flattered! But thank you for the compliment. ...Mmm, what're you doing here, Kai-kun? Are you paying a visit to see how the progress is?" Her cheeks are redder a little bit after I compliment her looks and accept it. I nod and ask the same questions.

"Oh, I bring them drinks and sweets for a break because they are working hard to renovate it, so I bring them as a thank you for their work. I know it's not enough to pay back everything but I hope it's enough to at least satisfy their hunger." She says. She's a good person with a good heart, trying to help others even if it's not much, trying not to disturb anyone or make them sad. You would say she has a heart of a mother even though she doesn't have a child.

"HAHAHA, you don't have to, Tomoe-san! We just do our work as builders, we're used to it, it's not a big deal for us!" He laughs again. He assures her that she doesn't have to pay them back, their job is building and their wages are money, so she doesn't have to do anything but she is she. I know she's still gonna help them even if they reject it.

I sit on the hut with them and try the sweets that she brought. It's delicious, is she making it herself or buying it? I never see any shop selling this thing. "Wow, Tomoe-san! It's so tasty. Did you make it yourself?" I ask.

She nods and says that she still has more left at home. She was so excited when making them that she didn't realizes it's too many. "Ah, speaking of food, Kai-kun, do you have anything to do tonight?" She asks me. "Hmm, no, I don't. Why?" I'm free tonight but I'm planning to play a game to continue where I left off before. If she had something for me, I can just cancel the plan and continue it whenever I want. It's not like I'm desperate to finish the game.

"Really~!? Good then! I want to invite you to have dinner at my house tonight. Think of it as... a thank you for helping renovate my father's old shop even though you're not obligated to do so. You can bring your sister, Erika-chan if you want." She invites me to her house for dinner. I thought she had thanked me before when I first went to her house, maybe she wants to do it properly? Moreover, I told her about Erika when I met her at the grocery store with Rebecca when she just comes to this country to stay for a month as a part of her journey to find the best food around the world.

She never meets her, though. "Okay, I'll bring her. Will your father be there too?" I ask not because I don't want him to be there but because it's more like I want to make sure of what to bring when I go there. "Yes, he will." She answers. Okay then, I'll bring something tonight but I don't know yet. I'll think about it later.

Anyway, I say goodbye to them and go somewhere else. I also promise her that I'll come for dinner with Erika around 8 pm as I need to do some preparation like tell my sister about tonight. I don't think she has anything to do either, I'll ask her later. For now, I want to hang out with my friends at the usual place.

At 7.50 pm, Erika and I are ready for dinner at her house. We just wear something casual because this is just a dinner at a person's house, not at some fancy hotel with expensive food and rich people gathered. "Big bro, who's actually invited us for dinner? You suddenly came home at sunset and told me that we'll be having dinner at someone's house. You use 'she' as a pronoun, does it mean that a woman invites us? How many are they you actually have?" She asks a lot of questions. It's not weird though as she never meets her before but does she has to suspect me to hide some mistresses? I don't even have a girlfriend yet!

"She's just the daughter of the owner of the old shop that I spend a week planning. You met him before when the shop is being destroyed. She just wants to thank me for renovating it. That's just it, there's nothing else."

"But, you not the only one wh-" "Okay, okay, let's go. We'll be late if we keep talking." I stop her before she says anything and force her to go before we're late. We left the house and walked to her house where the dinner is held. It's not far, so we arrive around 7.58 pm, two minutes early than I promised. I knock on the door and wait for her to open the door.

*Door open* "Hmm? Ooh, Kai-kun! And she must be Erika-chan! She looks so cute~! She's really your sister, she has the same pretty face except you're handsome. Anyway, come in! Dinner is almost done, you can sit at the dining table if you want." Tomoe opens the door and invites us in. She looks happy when we're here and did she just call me handsome?

We come in. *Whisper* "Big bro, she looks really pretty and nice. How old is she?" Erika asks. Maybe because she gives off a vibe of a mother, making her wonder how old she is. "Oh, she's 32." I answer.

*Whisper* "32!? She looks too young for that age! *Looks at her hand* Uh, big bro, is she wearing a ring on her finger? Is she married!? Are you planning to wreak havoc on people's marriages!? I don't know you're evil! I-" She starts cursing me just because she sees a ring on her finger. I don't blame her though, anyone who sees it will do the same.

*Whisper* "Shh, Can you calm down!? Let me explain first, don't jump straight to a conclusion, can you?" *Sigh* Then, I explain everything to her about Tomoe to prevent more misunderstands in the future. Tomoe even looks back and asks me what I'm whispering about, I have to lie by saying that Erika is complimenting the interior of the house. It's beautiful though, I'm not gonna lie. She buys the lie and is happy with the compliment.

"Oooh, is that so? I almost hate you, big bro. But, if you're planning to do what I just said, we're not siblings anymore." She threatens me if I do that. " Don't worry, I'm not gonna do that. I'm not that evil to do something horrible like that."

Then, we enjoy the dinner and it was so damn delicious! When we're done, the old man asks me while whispering. "Hey, Kai, where were you when it was Tomoe birthday? I want to call you but I don't have your number." Eh, her birthday? I don't know I've passed her birthday, when was it? Is it when I was at the convention? It must be that. What do I have to give her? I don't bring anything with me. Wait... I got an idea. "Old man, do you have paper and a pen?" He looks shocked when I suddenly ask.

He shows me the things and I go grab them. I take a piece of paper and write something on it. I don't know if she'll accept this kind of gift, I make it so rushed and don't have time to think of anything else. I go to Tomoe where she's talking with Erika. "Tomoe-san, I heard that your birthday has passed a few days ago and I'm sorry for not being there when it happened. So, to compensate for it, I want to give you this as a gift." I give her a coupon that she can use to do whatever she wants with me.

She looks surprised when I give her the coupon but she gladly accepts it. She thanks me and says that she'll think of when and how to use it. I hope she doesn't ask me to do anything weird. I give her this power because I think she'll use it in a good way. I hope I don't regret give her that.