Chapter 3

After safely escorting Kajiwara Akaya home, I took a stroll around the supermarket. When I returned to the apartment, both Father Liu and Mother Liu were already there, and even Sister Liu, who had moved out after starting work, had come back.

“Look who’s here!” Suiko Liu greeted warmly, reaching out to gently squeeze Higure Tsuki’s cheeks. “Tsuki-chan is still as adorable as ever, it’s wonderful!”

After saying this, she cast a somewhat resentful glance at her younger brother: when they were kids, the little sister’s bob haircut was undeniably cute, and her serious demeanor was charming.

As for now, it’s best not to mention it.

Lian’er Liu remained impassive, pretending not to see.

Higure Tsuki sighed helplessly, “Suiko-neechan, I’ve grown up already, you can’t keep squeezing my face.” His words came out a little muffled from his cheeks being squished.

Sister Liu’s expression shifted instantly. “But Tsuki-chan is still so tiny!”

Higure Tsuki: “...”

He’s 172 cm tall—not short by any means—but Sister Liu is just a bit taller, really only slightly!

“Tiny” is really an exaggeration!

Lian’er Liu stayed silent, then quietly turned his head and curved his lips into a subtle smile.

Tsuki gave a deadpan stare: staring—

Caught red-handed, Lian’er said, “...ahem, Sister, let’s let Tsuki inside first.”

At this moment, Mother Liu came out. Her demeanor resembled Lian’er’s: short hair just above the ears, exuding an air of professionalism and competence. Yet, wearing an apron softened her sharpness, lending her a gentle and approachable aura.

“Suiko, don’t be so unruly.”

“All right,” Sister Liu reluctantly relented.

Freed from danger, Tsuki nervously slipped behind Lian’er, awkwardly rubbing his slightly numb cheeks. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his childhood friend, who had just teased him, lowering their gaze towards him.

“What are you looking at me for?” he grumbled.

Lian’er replied, “Your face is a bit red.”

“Ah, Suiko-neechan’s personality is nothing like Uncle and Auntie’s, nor like yours,” Tsuki muttered softly.

The Liu family was always measured: never overly enthusiastic, never too familiar or clingy. Sister Liu stood out in this regard.

Most importantly, Tsuki found himself powerless against her.

Lian’er could only think to himself that every villain has their match—but that description didn’t quite fit.

“Lian’er, are you thinking about something bad?”

“No, you’re imagining things.”

“Is that so?”

Tsuki was suspicious but lacked evidence.

“Tsuki-chan, have a seat; dinner will be ready soon,” Mother Liu said kindly.

“All right,” Tsuki obediently replied.

Mother Liu returned to the kitchen. After another half hour of bustling, Father Liu and Mother Liu brought out a table full of dishes—quite a feast.

The flavors were mild, with a balanced mix of meat and vegetables, very healthy.

After dinner, Lian’er and Tsuki took the initiative to wash the dishes. The family gathered in the living room for a chat.

Father Liu asked, “Tsuki, are you really planning to live alone at the shrine?”

Mother Liu also expressed some concern, “It’s inconvenient there, and quite unsafe too.”

“Uncle, Auntie, don’t worry. I’m grown up now; nothing will happen. Besides, Lian’er’s helping me, and I’ve bought everything I need,” Tsuki said embarrassedly. “It’s just that I might have to trouble you a bit these days.”

Sister Liu said, “Trouble? Tsuki-chan used to stay over all the time. Why so polite now?”

“Suiko-neechan, adults like to be polite.”

“But what does that have to do with you, you little brat?”

Little brat Tsuki: “...”

Okay, fine.

He had given up.

Seeing his resolute attitude, Uncle Liu finally reminded him, “If there’s anything you can’t solve, remember to tell us. Children have the right to rely on their elders.”

Tsuki did not refuse the kindness. “I understand.”

After chatting some more, Mother Liu urged Tsuki to wash up: “Get some rest early; Tsuki-chan, you have to get up early tomorrow, right?”

***

The next day, workers would come to repair the house. Someone had to coordinate with them, the surrounding weeds needed clearing, and the things he bought would probably arrive bit by bit...

There was much to do.

Coming out of the bathroom with his hair half-dried, Tsuki looked into the room and saw that Lian’er had already prepared a floor bedding.

The two often slept together as kids, so Father and Mother Liu had not specially prepared a guest room.

Tsuki didn’t mind. While surveying the room’s furnishings, he said, “Sleeping on the floor is such a hassle. Let’s squeeze in together.”

Lian’er was silent for a moment, then said, “That’s a single bed.”

“What’s that got to do with anything...”

“You’ve always been a restless sleeper.”

Tsuki: “...sorry about that.” Just talk about the matter at hand, why bring up old faults?

“There’s fruit on the desk that Mom brought. Help yourself if you want...” Lian’er stood up, his gaze lingering on Tsuki’s hair. “Why don’t you dry it properly?”

“It’ll dry on its own eventually.” Tsuki sat down at the desk chair and ate a piece of watermelon. “Mmm, so sweet.”

Lian’er didn’t argue, turned and left. He soon came back with a hairdryer. “Do you want to dry it yourself, or should I help?”

Tsuki swallowed a grape bursting with flavor and reluctantly said, “I’ll do it myself.” Under someone else’s roof, he had no choice but to yield.

Apparently unaware that he had inadvertently spoken his mind, Lian’er took the hairdryer with heavy steps, plugged it in, and obediently dried Tsuki’s hair.

Lian’er thought: my childhood friend is still just as interesting (certain).

Three minutes later, Tsuki touched his somewhat frizzy hair and padded quietly around the overly tidy room, careful not to touch anything carelessly.

After a round of inspection, he concluded, “Lian’er has a bit of OCD.”

Just then, the door opened, startling him so much he nearly broke out in a cold sweat.

Lian’er, fresh from his shower and still steamy, casually asked, “Why so guilty? Talking bad about me?”

“Hahaha... no way!”

“Oh.”

That hit the mark.

Tsuki always felt like he was being seen through, so he tried to cover up, “Ah, I’m so sleepy, I’m going to bed.”

Lian’er didn’t press further, just reminded him, “You just ate fruit, go rinse your mouth first.”

“Okay, I’ll do it now!”

***

The next morning, Tsuki was woken by Lian’er’s persistent efforts—calling, pushing, and shaking the blanket. His eyes were hollow, as if his soul had departed, topped with a tuft of equally lifeless cowlick.

Lian’er was momentarily taken aback, brushing away a sudden pang of guilt. “Go wash your face and brush your teeth, then come out for breakfast.”

Tsuki, like a doll hearing commands, obediently got out of bed and walked out the door.

It was not yet six o’clock; Father and Mother Liu were finally able to sleep in, so no one disturbed them.

But Sister Liu was unusually early, declaring resolutely, “Of course, I want to join the young people’s activities.” Tsuki understood that Suiko-neechan was just worried about the two middle schoolers, so she came up with an excuse.

The three walked along a rather quiet street, Tsuki holding a plump ginger cat in his arms.

“Big Ginger, you need to lose weight. I’m almost unable to hold you,” he said, weighing the cat before commenting, “So heavy.”

Natsuka angrily swatted at the two-legged beast who had spoken recklessly. “Meow~”

Is that why you dragged me out so early?!

They arrived at the foot of the mountain where the shrine stood. Tsuki placed the cat on the stone steps and encouraged it, “Big Ginger, lose weight early, keep it up!”

Then, avoiding the cat’s bewildered face, he strode up the stairs.

Sister Liu chuckled twice, following Tsuki’s steps, “Natsuka really needs to lose weight. It’s all Lian’er’s fault, spoiling the cat. Whenever it acts cute, it gets treats and canned food—completely a cat-brain.”

Lian’er: “...Sister, say that again and see who’s the cat-brain!”

The one chasing after and feeding Big Natsuka is clearly you!

“Haha, didn’t expect Lian’er to be a cat slave.”

“Who says not?”

The two laughed as they walked further away, while Lian’er’s sense of responsibility kept him from abandoning the poor cat.

The two stared at each other.

The ginger cat’s eyes shone clearly: “Meow~”

***

Lian’er recalled their conversation, his expression turning cold. “Natsuka, climb up now, or you’ll only be called Big Ginger from now on.”

The cat: “!!!”

You shrimp-cat pig-heart!

Determined, the cat stretched its short legs and sprinted up the chilly stone steps like a streak of orange lightning.

See that? That’s its speed!

Tsuki glanced back, struck by its nimbleness. “Ah, what an agile Big Ginger!”

Sister Liu laughed, “Pfft, Tsuki-chan, look at those trembling flabs!”

Her mischievous side showing.

Lian’er looked at the cat, who was trying its best yet looking pitiful, and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Lian’er!” Tsuki waved at him. “Hurry, catch up!”

“Coming.”

By the time they reached the shrine, the cat eagerly flopped down, sprawling its limbs and rolling over, its little belly rising and falling—clearly exhausted.

“Big Ginger, you did great today. Keep it up.” Tsuki fed it a sip of chicken broth.

The cat silently turned away, its plump back expressing its mood not to deal with this two-legged creature right now.

A few minutes after their arrival, the repair workers also came. Tsuki led them to the shrine’s backyard—the place where his grandmother once lived, complete with bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom.

A little fixing and it would be usable; Tsuki was quite satisfied.

The workers started their work, and Tsuki found rusty hoes and sickles in the nearby storage, beginning to clear weeds.

April mornings were still cool, even colder up the mountain. The wind rustled the old trees in the courtyard. Sister Liu shivered from the cold, rubbing the goosebumps on her arms. “Maybe this would be a nice summer retreat.”

“Yeah, it should be very cool then.”

After a busy morning, they cleared only about half the yard. Thinking of the outside yard and mountain paths, Tsuki felt for the first time that his future held no hope.

As an ordinary office worker who only faced a computer daily, Sister Liu was so tired she sat down right there.

“Suiko-neechan, you should sit somewhere else,” Tsuki said.

“It’s okay, I don’t mind dirt,” she fanned herself. “I really don’t want to move.”

Tsuki’s expression was complicated. “No, I mean there are lots of ants where you’re sitting.”

“Ahhh—!”

Her loud scream echoed above Higure Shrine.

Tsuki and Lian’er went down the mountain to buy boxed lunches and called the workers on the roof down for a break.

The men, knowing the shrine’s owner was a middle school boy about their own kids’ age, seeing them work so hard, said, “Why don’t you hire some people? You kids can’t handle this.”

Tsuki blushed, “I don’t have the money.”

He sadly thought: is it that I don’t want to? No, it’s that my wallet won’t allow it.

“Where are your family?”

“I can’t reach them.”

The men’s eyes softened with pity, imagining some kind of story.

Sister Liu didn’t expect this and immediately offered, “Tsuki-chan, why don’t I lend you some? Pay me back when you can.”

Or not pay back at all—she simply couldn’t bear to see her child looking so pitiful.

“No need, I can handle this!” Tsuki firmly declined, then added, “If you’re tired, Suiko-neechan, you should go back first. It’s fine with just me and Lian’er here!”

Lian’er: “...”

First, he was grateful for his childhood friend’s trust; second, maybe that trust was a bit too much.

Tsuki noticed his expression and asked with concern, “Lian’er, what’s wrong? Are you tired? Then rest more.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, it’s my duty.”

Sister Liu was delighted, “Hahaha, since Lian’er insists on staying, so will I. We agreed to do this together!”

Lian’er was beginning to miss everyone from the tennis club. Spending so much time with these two, he was nearly reduced to the role of the sarcastic commentator.