Phi-Fic Ch. 122.2 - Ayaka’s Practice Pt2
Ch. 122.2 - Ayaka’s Practice Pt2
Ding.“Thank you for your purchase!”
Harutaki and Ayaka each held a bottle of Calpis they had just taken from the fridge, stepping out side by side through the automatic doors of the 7-Eleven.
Ayaka glanced down at the unopened plastic bottle in her hands. As if something had just occurred to her, she suddenly held it out toward him.
“Idiot aniki, at times like this, shouldn’t you take the initiative and open the cap for a girl?”
“You’re Ayaka, though.”
Harutaki took the bottle, replying with a slightly exasperated tone.
Girls really are troublesome.
“What do you mean, ‘you’re Ayaka’?”
She crossed her arms and stepped in front of him, blocking his path with a look that clearly said, You’re not going anywhere until you explain yourself.
“I feel like you could twist my head off if you wanted. Opening a bottle cap should be easy for you, right?”
Using the hem of his shirt to get a better grip, he wrapped it around the cap’s ridges and twisted.
Pssht.
The hiss of the bottle opening sounded almost like it was laughing along with his joke.
“There, opened. Drink—”
Before he could finish, Ayaka suddenly darted behind him, jumped up, and wrapped her arms around his neck, shaking him as she spoke through clenched teeth.
“Twist your head off, huh? Hehe… idiot aniki really is an idiot, can’t even speak properly. I’m such a cute high school girl, how could I possibly do something like that?”
“Ghk…”
With his neck being squeezed uncomfortably, and the soft, elastic pressure pressing into his back acting like an unexpected cushion, Harutaki found himself in a truly painful yet blissful predicament.
…Ayaka might actually have even more potential than Chouko?
For a fleeting moment, he realized something rather dangerous.
“Phew…”
Fortunately, Ayaka was just joking. She soon let go of his neck and slid back down behind him. Though in the process, that sensation—like being massaged by a pair of water balloons—forced him to endure a different kind of torment altogether.
“My head almost got twisted off. So scary~”
“Hm?”
“I almost twisted my own head off. What a terrifying supernatural event.”
After getting glared at, Harutaki quickly corrected himself.
“Disaster comes from the mouth. You’d better watch what you say, idiot aniki. Not everyone is as caring as I am!”
Seeing her puff out her chest proudly, he couldn’t help wanting to retort.
It’s not that everyone isn’t as kind as you—
It’s that not every girl is this violent.
Thinking back to the pressure from earlier, he couldn’t help but wonder—
Does constantly punching Fuyuno actually build this kind of strength?
…Yeah, better not think too deeply about that. Definitely not something he could say out loud.
He casually took Ayaka’s hand and led her eastward along his usual jogging route.
The park near Takeshiba Pier was an excellent place for a walk at this hour.
Ayaka didn’t resist. After a brief moment of surprise, she followed along just like during their “date practice,” letting him hold her hand as they strolled slowly down the street.
About ten minutes later, chatting idly, they arrived at the slightly livelier Takeshiba Pier Park.
With its beautiful night scenery and open view, the waterfront path offered a distant view of Tokyo Tower and the Rainbow Bridge, attracting quite a number of locals and tourists alike.
There were parents with children, groups of friends, and couples holding hands and chatting—just like them.
“…Isn’t this something only couples do?”
Harutaki suddenly teased, pulling Ayaka’s attention away from the shimmering Tokyo Bay.
“Making jokes like that to your little sister… you’re the worst.”
“Huh?”
Startled, he thought he’d stepped on a landmine. But when he turned, he found Ayaka smiling sweetly at him.
Well, that backfired.
He had wanted to see her flustered, but instead, she had turned the tables on him.
Still… perfect timing.
Let’s use this chance to test what she really thinks.
“Um… didn’t I say I wanted to talk? About that ‘date practice’—”
“Practice is practice!”
Ayaka cut him off immediately. Then, noticing the glances from passersby, her cheeks flushed as she hurriedly lowered her voice.
“Do you even know what ‘practice’ means, idiot aniki? Don’t start treating it like reality.”
I do know—but what you did back then was way beyond “practice,” wasn’t it!?
“O-Of course… if you want to practice more, I wouldn’t mind…”
Really? Just for practice?
As Harutaki rubbed his chin thoughtfully, Ayaka suddenly brought up something seemingly unrelated.
“Um… I—I have a friend—”
She hesitated, and that opening line immediately felt suspicious.
“Hm?”
“—she wants to know… do boys usually end up liking multiple girls at the same time…?”
“…”
Harutaki swallowed.
For a split second, his heartbeat skipped.
He didn’t remember ever telling Ayaka about his “harem dream”…
Wait—could it be she noticed his feelings for both Nogami and Chouko?
If he remembered correctly, Ayaka supported him dating Chouko… and she had also said—
“A relationship that isn’t aimed at marriage is just a scumbag fooling around.”
“Harutaki? Say something.”
“Cough…”
He snapped back to reality, cleared his throat, and forced out an awkward yet composed smile.
“Don’t lump me in with those lowly guys…”
“Huh? Did I say anything about you?”
Ayaka’s gaze sharpened, making him shiver.
“Could it be—”
“What’s wrong with guys liking beautiful girls!?”
“As long as it’s just one.”
Ayaka placed her hands on her hips, glaring at him.
“One today, one tomorrow… hmph—”
Before he could finish joking, she grabbed his ear.
What is this strange guilt… like a boyfriend getting caught cheating?
Still… Harutaki carefully observed her.
Ayaka didn’t seem truly angry. If anything, she seemed a little… excited?
He wasn’t some expert in psychology or microexpressions, so he couldn’t be sure.
But if she were genuinely angry, it probably wouldn’t stop at just ear-pulling.
This felt less like punishment… and more like playful teasing, just like before.
“Honestly… what am I supposed to do with you?”
Seeing he stayed silent, Ayaka sighed and let go, sparing him.
“It was just a joke…”
He rubbed his ear, muttering.
“Even if you’re a scumbag and super annoying, you’re still my big brother… honestly, you’re such a headache—”
She shook her head helplessly, then suddenly looked up at him, gathering her courage.
“—so I’ll help you practice. I’ll help you get better at dealing with girls.”
…Seriously?
Harutaki wanted to ask, but the words stuck in his throat.
“Uh… how?”
If it was like last time—going to an amusement park, having a picnic—he wouldn’t mind at all.
Even without the “practice” label, spending time with family and taking care of his sister felt nice.
“W-We’ll start from… the kiss last time…”
That’s just giving away your true motive!
“Practice?”
“Practice!”
Ayaka forced herself to keep a straight face. Seeing his hesitation, she pinched his cheek, cutting off his pointless doubts.
It’s just obligation. Just step-siblings!
Why is he so smart in everything else, yet keeps overthinking this?
“Then…”
Harutaki glanced into her aqua-blue eyes.
There was a faint, unmistakable longing in them.
Honestly… that look reminded him of Fuyuno when she had barged into his room before.
So this is what she truly wants.
Given how mature Ayaka was—having taken on responsibility for the household so early—she wouldn’t make a careless decision about something like this.
Which meant…
The burden of choice fell to him once again.
Face her feelings head-on… or—
“Hey, idiot Harutaki. Girls hate being kept waiting, you know~”
“…Just practice.”
He took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
Gently, he cupped her soft, springy cheeks, now flushed pink.
As long as he held the line, then no matter what happened—even if their parents found out—the responsibility would fall on him, not Ayaka.
“Mmh…”
A moment later, Ayaka smacked her lips lightly, her soft pink lips pressing together. Though still shy, she seemed far more accustomed than before.
“Sour… sweet… is this what love tastes like?”
“That’s just Calpis.”
Harutaki deliberately broke the overly intimate mood with a joke.
“Idiot Harutaki, being this unromantic will get you hated by girls, you know!”
Ayaka puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction. With the blush still lingering, she looked just like a ripe peach, making him want to take a bite.
“It’s fine. I’ve got you, don’t I? As long as I have my little sister, I have no regrets in life.”
“Ugh, siscon. Gross.”
To hide her embarrassment, she quickly turned her head away.
Click.
A faint shutter sound rang out.
Harutaki glanced around and spotted a couple nearby, arms around each other, taking selfies with the Rainbow Bridge in the background.
So that’s what that sound was.
Checking his watch—
20:31.
Suppressing the guilt he felt toward Chouko, he reached out and ruffled Ayaka’s hair. Her cherry-blossom pink hair was so smooth that he couldn’t help lingering a bit longer.
“About 8:30. Time to head home, wash up, and sleep.”
“Mm…”
“Let’s grab some snacks for Chiaki and Fuyuno on the way back.”
“Mm…”
Now that the moment had passed, was she starting to regret acting on impulse?
Looking at Ayaka, who now seemed completely out of it in every sense, he couldn’t resist teasing her again.
“By the way… when you were hanging on me earlier, I was wondering—have you gained weight recently?”
“Mm—”
She froze for a second, then snapped back, glaring at him in embarrassment and anger.
“You’re the worst! Don’t you know a girl’s weight and age are absolute taboos?!”
She grabbed his ear and twisted hard. Only after he clasped his hands together and begged for mercy did she finally let go.
Then, holding the now slightly warm bottle in her hands, she brought it up to his ear, gently blowing on it while massaging it softly.
“Pain helps you remember better, you know~”
“That sounds exactly like something a parent would say… aren’t I supposed to be the big brother?”
“Well, when the big brother’s an idiot, what can you do? So pitiful.”
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