Diner

Dinner in Kasugano Family passes tensely nowadays. There is no merriment nor casual talk in the middle of the procession, which is a common occurrence when a close-knit family had dinner together.

In the past, it was not like this. It only turns out like this due to the death of their parents.

This evening, dinner is also tense. However, the cause is different than the usual. Several things stand out before and after dinner.

Sora and Suzuka are behaving in a docile and obedient manner. There is no passive-aggressive exchange between the two, which really stands out because they are so incompatible despite being half-sisters.

The reason for Sora and Suzuka behaving like that is because they don't want to anger Haru again. They have gotten a heavy dosage of scolding from Haru, and it has rattled them.

Of course, Haru prefers not to make them feel upset. However, he must be strict with them so they won't fight in front of him in the future. He also feels guilty for upsetting them, but he is hiding his guilt behind his calm expression.

Haru understands that the assimilated emotions and feelings of his predecessor are the sources of his guilt. After all, Haru's predecessor, Haruka Kasugano, spoiled his sisters too much that he didn't mind being the girls' metaphorical doormat.

But alas, Haru won't accept such humiliation. He won't let himself become their doormat.

Haru is surprisingly a prideful boy with a strong sense of self-respect. He has a bottom line, which he won't ever relinquish no matter what, even if it is for his new sisters that he comes to love. It is the byproduct of his independence in his previous life.

It is understandable that as someone who is very independent and grew up alone, Haru won't allow someone else to mess with his life.

All that aside, let's return back to Haru and his present activity. Haru eats Sora's delicious curry in silence.

At the same time, Sora and Suzuka are also eating without causing problems. However, they often send a furtive glance at Haru.

Of course, Haru is ware of their glances, but he acts as if he is oblivious of them.

Although Haru wants the three of them to live together in harmony, he is aware that it is a tall order because of their incompatibility. Which is why he's told Sora his options for her and Suzuka to choose.

Either she and Suzuka accept sharing him if they really want their relationship with him to develop to that of lovers, or he will stay as their brother forever.

Though, if someone asks Haru's honest thought about which one he prefers, his answer will be the former. After all, he loves them both romantically.

However, after witnessing Sora's surprise for him after he returned home from picking Suzuka up, he wonders if he has made a mistake. In hindsight, he should have waited until he can tell them at the same time.

'I can't help it. I was carried by the mood at that time,' Haru mentally rebuked himself.

It isn't like him to do a shortsighted thing.

'Is it because of the assimilation? I know that I acted out of character in some instances.'

Haru briefly pauses his thought as he recalls the out of character behaviors he's done today.

Although Haru is grateful for his new life, he has complicated feelings concerning his current existence.

Haru is 100% sure that the core of his existence is Haru Sakurai. However, he has Haruka Kasugano's memory, experience, and feelings.

Sometimes, Haru wonders if he is the same Haru Sakurai before his death. This isn't a question that he can easily find the answer to.

"A-Ano, Onii-chan."

Suzuka called all of a sudden, stopping Haru's introspection. Haru turns his attention to Suzuka and asks back,

"What?"

"Um, are you still angry?" Suzuka timidly asked.

Haru blinks his eyes, bewildered by the question, and then darts his gaze between Suzuka and Sora, who have matching expression. They seem anxious.

"No. I'm not angry at you two anymore," said Haru.

Sora and Suzuka unconsciously release a relieved sigh. What happened before, that is the first time that Sora and Suzuka saw their brother is mad for real.

In the past, their brother never became mad and showed such a scary expression to them. They also felt guilty from angering Haru, who rarely became mad.

In their perspective, Haru is a kind and patient boy. The fact that he has snapped means they have gone too far with their quarreling.

"But, never do that again in front of me. I don't want you two fighting like that. There are only the three of us here, and Obaa-san is busy with her work and her own daughter to look over us. It is a miracle that she agreed to be our legal guardian, but that is not the point."

Haru briefly pauses before continuing,

"Anyway, returning to the main issue, I don't want us to quarrel if we can help it. No, well, let me rephrase it: I don't mind if you two, well, the three of us have a friendly banter, but I won't allow a quarrel with the intent to hurt each other.

"We only have each other after the death of Tou-san, Kaa-chan, and Kaa-san. I want us to live in harmony, not fighting over a small matter. I don't want what left from our family to shatter."

Haru pauses and releases a heavy sigh out of vexation to his complicated life. He then looks at his sisters and continues, "I want to apologize for raising my voice and making you two scared. I should have shown more restraint, but stress has gotten into me, I suppose. Sorry for snapping at you two. I hope you can forgive me."

"I am sorry for making you mad, Haru."

"Me too. I sincerely apologize for my unsightly behavior, Onii-chan."

Sora and Suzuka apologized too.

Haru gives them a small nod and a faint smile. Then, he says,

"Well, then. Let's what happened in the past stays in the past, okay?"

"Yup."

"Yes."

Sora and Suzuka shortly responded.

After that, Haru and his sisters have a casual chat as they eat their dinner. The atmosphere is pleasant, contrasting the previous tension.

When the dinner approaches its end, Suzuka opens her mouth again.

"By the way, Onii-chan, after this, can I have your time for a while?"

Haru and Sora silently turn their attention to Suzuka. When Suzuka sees Haru's curious expression, she elaborates,

"I need your advice regarding something."

Haru ponders Suzuka's reason for doing this. He then remembers something from this morning.

"Alright. Where do you want to talk? In the living room?"

Suzuka shakes her head at Haru's question.

"Would you mind if we talk in your room?" asked Suzuka with a quiet voice.

Suzuka's face has gotten red slightly as she becomes conscious of her request. She has asked her Onii-chan to have a rendezvous in his room, just the two of them.

At the side, Sora, who is silent so far, eyes the shy Suzuka with a cautious look. She opens and then closes her mouth; she wanted to say something but changed her mind at the last moment.

Sora isn't stupid. She's aware that her words will come out as offensive due to her dislike for Suzuka. What's more, she recalls Haru's confession this afternoon.

In the end, Sora chooses to be a silent bystander for the time being. She has a complicated expression as she eyes her empty bowl.

"Alright. I don't mind. You can come to my room later," said Haru after thinking his answer carefully.

"Thank you for agreeing to my selfishness, Onii-chan."

"That's a small matter."

After that small talk, their dinner comes to its end.

"Just leave your dishes here. I'll clean them later," said Sora when Haru and Suzuka stood up with their eating utensils in their hands.

They plan to clean the dishes immediately. However, Sora's words have changed their plan.

They look at Sora for a few moments before nodding their heads in acknowledgment.

"Thanks, Sora."

"Thank you."

After Haru and Suzuka thanked Sora for her rare moment of consideration, they leave the kitchen; they go to their own rooms.

Meanwhile, Sora quickly moves the dishes to the sink and begins cleaning them in a hurry.

Although Sora has held back her opinion earlier, it doesn't mean she won't eavesdrop Haru's and Suzuka's meeting. There is no way she won't spy on them when they are alone in Haru's room.

***

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