Chapter 173: Us of the Future

AN: This chapter contains some spoilers for the future, so if you don’t like spoilers, be warned!

“Sis, what are you going to do for Dad’s birthday?”

My twin sister asked me, lying her face against the low table.

It was a Sunday afternoon. My sister and I spend our time in different ways.

I was on the bunk bed reading a book I borrowed from the library, while my sister was reading a shoujo manga she borrowed from a friend.

It’s amazing that she read through all 12 volumes in just two hours.

I don’t think I can match her power of concentration as an older sister.

“I’ve already thought about it.”

“Eh?”

Why are you surprised?

Because Dad’s birthday is the day after tomorrow.

It’s too late to ask for advice now.

“That’s not fair! We were planning it together even last year!”

“You’re the one who insisted that we separate this year.”

I remember you saying that you don’t want to give childish gifts like before because we’re in the upper grades of elementary school this year.

“Is that right?”

“That’s right.”

Let’s see, last year I think it was… oh yeah we drew a picture and gave it to him.

I drew a picture of dad on a big piece of construction paper and Nana colored it and I wrote, “Happy birthday! I love you!”

Nana didn’t like the words ‘I love you’ and we had a big fight.

She’s a shy person and she’s always trying ways to be taller, and that’s what this girl is.

She really loves her daddy, but it’s too childish so she wouldn’t act spoiled.

We’re already in the upper grades of elementary school, so we’ll take baths separately! And so on.

I don’t know who or what she’s worrying about, but Nana has been cold to Dad lately.

Me? I still love my dad.

He’s away from home for a couple of days for work, so I don’t get to see him very often.

So when he comes home, he gives me all the attention I can handle, and I rub his shoulders and step on his back to show my appreciation.

There are five children: me, Nana, Lulu, Nito, and Sou-chan.

My mom said that with five kids, my dad has to work a lot harder than other fathers.

My grandfather is still working, Yuuno is helping my dad with his work, and Wera and Azui have their own gardens, so he doesn’t have to worry about money, but he still has to work hard to save money for the future.

It’s tough. It’s really hard.

My friend’s house is very different from ours.

First of all, in a normal house, there is only one mother.

They don’t have three like we do. To be more precise, there are two mothers and one and a half mothers, so maybe three and a half. I guess.

Yuuno mama is the only one who is properly married to dad, but our mom and Rouge mama are also his wives.

We still don’t know why it’s so complicated, but we think it’s okay because our moms seem to be happy.

Lulu is one year younger than me, and Nito is four years younger.

Sou-chan or Souhei was born last year.

The reason why I have cute sisters and brothers is because I have three and a half moms.

So I have nothing to complain about.

But don’t tell the others.

I have a lot of moms.

They say it’s better not to tell anyone, because if they find out, it’ll be a big problem.

But most of the people in this town know about us, so it doesn’t matter.

The Kazamachi family is famous in this town.

My dad has a fan club, you know?

He doesn’t seem to know about it, though.

My moms are doing their best to hide it, and he’s not really into that kind of stuff.

Oh, yeah.

There’s another secret.

We’re dragons, which is also pretty famous in this town.

My twin sister Nana, Lulu, daughter of Rouge mama, Nito, daughter of Yuuno mama and Alice mama, and Souhei.

Souhei is a boy, but he’s a dragon, so everyone was really excited about him.

My very cute little brother.

My little brother, with his little pudgy hands.

His cheeks were soft and springy.

His short horns, the same color as mama’s and mine, are so adorable that our family has been in love with him for the past year.

At first, Nito was upset because she thought that Sou-chan had taken all of us, but now she plays with Sou-chan more than anyone else.

Even Nito is insanely cute, so you shouldn’t have to worry about him.

“Ahhh… What should I do? I haven’t prepared anything.”

“Why don’t you sing a song like you did in second grade?”

“No, that’s childish! We’re already in the fourth grade!”

Childish or not, we’re still kids.

I wonder why she tries to act so mature.

“By the way, what did you do?”

“I knitted with mom. She made a sweater and I made a scarf.”

It’s a beautiful blue scarf, the same color as our wings, tail and hair.

In fact, I’ve been working hard on it since last year, and I’m very proud of it.

Mom taught me how to make it, and after many failed attempts, I finally completed it.

I hope dad will be happy with it.

“… father complex.”

I was grinning, imagining my dad praising me, when Nana blurted that out.

“What’s wrong with liking dad?”

He’s always working so hard for us.

How could I not like him?

“Out of all of us, only you like dad way too much. You even still take baths together.”

“There’s nothing wrong with taking a bath with your dad, right?”

I just wash his back.

Even if I don’t, I don’t get to spend much time and get spoiled by my dad.

Because I’m the eldest daughter.

My younger sisters still want to be pampered, so I have to give priority to them, so I can’t monopolize my dad except for bath time.

“You keep saying that, but Nana has a father complex too, you know.”

“Me? No way.”

You just don’t have any self-awareness.

She never leaves dad’s side when he’s home, and the way she happily reports to him about school and her friends is definitely the same as mine.

“Well if you don’t like it, that’s fine. What are you going to do for a present?”

“What should I do!”

With her tail wagging, Nana plopped down on the table.

I climbed down the ladder of the bunk bed and sat across the table from her.

It’s very quiet in our house today.

Sou-chan, mom, and Grandma are at Yule Grandma’s place.

Rouge mama has been helping Azui and Wera with the garden since a while ago.

My grandpa, dad, and Yuuno mama are at work, and uncle Shouhei left for university abroad this spring.

It’s just us, Lulu and Nito in the house now.

My younger sisters are watching cartoons in the living room, and they’ll probably storm into our room soon, saying they’re hungry.

“What do you want for lunch?”

“Are you going to make it?”

“Why do you look so worried?”

That’s rude!

I can make a simple meal too!

Unlike Nana, I help my mom and dad a lot and I’m uncle Shouhei’s apprentice!

“That cake you made the other day…”

“T-that was the first time I made it, and I just burned it by accident!”

I remembered that I tried to make a Christmas cake by myself and failed spectacularly.

Damn… this girl only remembers the things that don’t matter.

“Well, do you want me to have Rouge mama make it for you?”

“I love my sister’s food!”

Hmph.

That’s better.

“Jaja, Nana. I’m hungry.”

“I’m hungry!”

The door of the room slowly opened, and Lulu and Nito came in.

Lulu with her short red hair and Nito with his long green hair.

They are my two younger sisters, cute and adorable.

“Okay. What do you want?”

I stood up and rolled up the sleeves of my arms.

“Omelet!”

“Nito too!”

Nito jumped up and down in agreement with Lulu’s cheerful reply.

Leave it to me!

I’ll make a very tasty omelet!

Hmm, what about a cheese omelet?

“What? I want a gratin.”

“It’ll take a long time to make a gratin now. Just so you know, you’re going to help too, okay?”

You should help out sometime!

Mom’s going to get mad at you again, you know?

“Nana-nee’s going to cook as well?”

“Can you cook?”

“Yes, I can!”

She’s so vain again.

You rarely go near the kitchen, so how can you cook?

“Then let’s go downstairs. Lulu, can you go downstairs and tell Rouge mama and them that it’s time to eat?”

Just behind the house, there is a garden owned by Wera-nee and Azui-nee.

The living room is connected to the garden, so taking messages there is one of the ways that even little Lulu can help.

“You can do it, right?”

“Yes! Lulu’s in the third grade now!”

“What a good girl!”

Lulu smiled triumphantly as I stroked her bright red hair, which was the same as Rouge Mama’s.

Nito, who was watching the scene, enviously tugged at the edge of my clothes.

I think I’ll make another request to Nito, who is even smaller than Lulu.

“As for Nito-chan, that’s right. Can you please help prepare the bath? I’m sure Rouge mama and them will come back muddy and will be happy with that?”

“Yes! Yes, Nito can do it! I can do it!”

Nito laughed with a big smile on her face.

“Alright, good girl.”

I lifted Nito up and rubbed her cheek.

Yep, my sisters are too cute!

Except for one Nana, who was still not happy.

If only she were more honest, she’d be so cute.

“Are Lulu and the others going to do something for dad’s birthday?”

Nana stood up and stroked Lulu’s head, her eyes narrowed and she looked comfortable.

“I’m going to sing a song with Nito. I practiced with Yuuno mama and Alice mama.”

“You know… you’re in third grade now, why don’t you do something else?”

“You did the same thing, Nana. Last year.”

“Ugh.”

Nana was dismayed by the fact that she had hit the nail on the head.

It’s a punishment for saying something unnecessary.

Your cute sisters are trying to do something cute, so why don’t you just give them an honest compliment?

It’s the only time they get to do that.

If they acted weird and mature like Nana, they would never do it again.

I’m sure my dad would love to hear Lulu and Nito sing.

“Nana says she’s going to do something even better.”

“Even better?”

“Oneechan!”

Nito, who was overly surprised by my words, gazed at Nana with expectant eyes.

There’s no one in our house who can match those sparkling eyes.

“What are you doing?”

Lulu also looked up at Nana, her eyes shining.

“Ugh… it’s a secret! It’s just a fun thing to do on the day!”

Nana, who could no longer bear the stares of her two sisters, turned away and looked away.

“I’m looking forward to it!”

“Yeah. I wonder what she’ll do.”

As I left the room with Nito in my arms, Lulu and Nana followed.

“… Oneechan, I’ll hate you.”

“I can’t heaaar you.”

I ignored Nana’s bitter words and went down the stairs.

“Now then, let’s make some omelets.”

“Omelet!”

“Omere!”

“yay…”

Lulu shouted energetically at my words, and Nito, tripped over her words.

Nana seemed to be forcing herself to get more excited.

The four sisters of the Kazamachi household, who were slightly famous in this town, were always like this.

Now, the eldest sister is going to do her best to fill the bellies of her cute younger sisters.