Chapter 337: The End of Summer |
Around six in the evening, the group returned to Tokyo, bringing their island trip to a definitive close.
As soon as they got home, Hoshino Rin immediately had Daihaku and Shiro sent back. She then began contacting the owner of the border collie that Daihaku had bitten to death, planning to meet face-to-face to discuss compensation.
The call went through, but the person on the other end of the telephone had completely dropped their previously terrible attitude. They sincerely apologized to Hoshino Rin, stating that the compensation had already been received and a face-to-face meeting was unnecessary.
Hoshino Rin was a bit dazed at first, but she soon realized that someone in the family must have found out about the incident and conveniently resolved it.
She felt inexplicably disappointed, but since the matter was settled, she could only let it go. Afterward, she called someone to deliver a cage, tossed Daihaku inside, and began his three-day solitary confinement...
......
Summer vacation gradually drew to a close. The renovations for the villa in the Hachigatsu-cho residential area were declared complete on August thirtieth, just two days before the start of the new school term. The following afternoon, on August thirty-first, with the help of a moving company, the Hoshino family officially settled into their new home.
However, whether it was Hoshino Rin or Hoshino Gen, the siblings' family background dictated that no matter how luxurious or exquisite their residence was, it simply could not pluck at their heartstrings.
For ordinary people, moving was naturally an exciting event, especially when the new home was an incredibly beautiful and lavish villa. But for Hoshino Gen and Hoshino Rin, it truly meant nothing special.
"So this is our new home from now on." Having arranged her belongings, Hoshino Rin looked around the living room on the first floor of the villa, then turned her gaze to Hoshino Gen, who was sitting on the sofa with his head down, looking at his mobile phone. "Brother, before dinner, should we prepare some gifts and visit our new neighbors? I remember there's a tradition for this around here. Is it called a housewarming gift?"
Hoshino Gen did not look up, casually replying, "Up to you. I don't know if others have this tradition, but I certainly don't."
"Is that so." Hoshino Rin was entirely unsurprised by her brother's response. In fact, after spending so much time together, she felt she understood him extremely well. Many times, before she even opened her mouth to say something, she could roughly predict his reaction and feedback.
Yet, she never tired of it. Aside from simply wanting to talk and interact with her brother, she had also noticed that his attitude toward her was constantly changing compared to the very beginning. It was just like a character in a game—as their affection level increased, more interactive feedback was unlocked bit by bit. It was absolutely fascinating!
Sometimes she would even deliberately use certain conversational topics to gauge just how high his 'affection level' for her had reached.
For instance, she had once asked him for a hug in a coquettish tone. At the time, her mental rehearsal of his reaction had been: he would give her an indifferent glance, ignore her words, and turn away immediately.
However, the reality was that he had raised his hand and flicked her cheek... Thus, she received her feedback, understood that his affection for her had increased, and found herself overflowing with joy.
This time, the topic of the housewarming gift was essentially another 'test'.
It was just that the feedback she received this time was not much different from her mental rehearsal. There was no real disappointment to speak of. Leaving aside her brother's naturally indifferent personality, if this were a game, his capture difficulty would absolutely be considered hell-tier. When it came to affection levels, simply not losing points was a massive victory.
Besides, not much different still meant there was a difference. One rejection was not exactly the same as another. For example, her expected feedback just now was actually 'complete silence and outright ignoring her', whereas in reality, although the answer was still 'no', her brother had at least spoken up. This too was proof of an increase in affection!
Even if it might be very faint?
But Hoshino Rin was already very satisfied!
She stood with her hands behind her back, her eyes filled with smiles as she looked at Hoshino Gen. "Then I'll bake some cookies as gifts. Brother, what flavor would you like to eat? Are chocolate chip cookies okay?"
Before Hoshino Gen could answer, Tamamo-no-Mae's voice rang out from the stairs. "Okay!"
Hoshino Rin looked up and, sure enough, saw Tamamo-no-Mae leaning over the handrail of the second-floor staircase, grinning broadly at her. She had no idea when the little girl had gotten there.
Hoshino Rin no longer cared what her brother would say. She winked her left eye at Tamamo-no-Mae and declared, "Chocolate chip cookies it is!"
"Hehe, Rin is the best!" Tamamo-no-Mae leaped straight off the side of the second-floor stairs, plunging into Hoshino Rin's embrace as if she were weightless.
Hoshino Rin knew this little girl could fly just like her brother, so she showed no reaction to the leap from the second floor. She simply raised her arms to catch her, nuzzling the side of her face against the girl's soft cheek.
"I want to bake cookies with Rin," the little girl in her arms whined playfully.
Hoshino Rin's heart practically melted from the cuteness, but she suddenly feigned sternness. "Kyukyu-chan!"
The little girl tilted her tiny head. "Huh?"
"I officially appoint you as the vice-captain of the dessert squad. Your mission is to assist the captain—which is me—in completing the baking of the chocolate chip cookies!"
Tamamo-no-Mae blinked. After a brief pause, she finally caught onto the wavelength. She straightened her little face, pretending to be serious. "Yes, ma'am!"
As soon as she answered, she couldn't help but burst into laughter alongside Hoshino Rin.
"Now that I think about it, we don't seem to have an apron that fits you. Oh well, your clothes have to be washed anyway. I'll just buy you a little apron tomorrow."
Hoshino Rin carried Tamamo-no-Mae into the kitchen, their voices and laughter gradually fading away.
Hoshino Gen, who had kept his head down playing on his mobile phone the entire time, finally lifted his face and couldn't help but glance toward the kitchen.
......
The final rays of the setting sun spilled across the courtyard. The evening breeze sent ripples through the grass. The large dog, Shiro, bounded joyously around the yard enclosed by a wooden fence, his tongue lolling out, while the wolf cub, Daihaku, lay at the feet of Hoshino Gen, who sat on a swing bench, resting with his eyes closed.
The crimson sun sank below the horizon, and one lamp after another flickered to life in the surrounding residential buildings.
The myriad lights of thousands of households replaced the daytime sun, bestowing an even warmer glow upon house after house.
"Knock, knock—!"
Someone tapped on the window behind him. Hoshino Gen turned his head, a beam of light filtering through the glass to wash over him.
Hoshino Rin beamed at him with a soft smile. "Brother, dinner is ready."
The evening wind grew cooler, sweeping up a fallen leaf that drifted past Hoshino Gen's face.
Summer was finally coming to an end.