Homecoming (5)
When we returned home, the savory aroma of food wafted out.
Probably... braised short ribs?
It was one of the dishes he rarely made, claiming it was too much trouble.
"I'm a bit sorry."
"Wipe your mouth before you talk?"
"S'up."
Wondering how long it had been, I headed to the kitchen and found my father busy at work.
"Dad."
"Oh, you're back. Earlier than expected?"
"Yes. Can I help with anything?"
Three burners were all in use at once, and even so my father was still preparing something, so I rolled up my sleeves and spoke up. But he looked at me with what could only be described as a pitying gaze and waved his hand.
"What are you saying? Leave my daughter-in-law alone? I can already see she's getting uncomfortable. Go, quickly."
"Ah."
Right. Of course.
I'd acted without thinking, but this could be an uncomfortable place for Cecil. My parents wouldn't treat her uncomfortably, but there'd still be a burden from the situation itself.
"Um, but Dad."
"What?"
"I think calling her daughter-in-law is a bit... early, don't you?"
"Early my ass. Don't blush. It's creepy. And we need to stamp it before the bean pod peels off."
"No."
If you say it like that, it makes me sound like a terrible person.
"If you're going to say things like that, go. I'll tell your mothers too."
"Yes sir."
Separate from the embarrassment, I was genuinely grateful for a family that welcomed and accepted Cecil so warmly. I gave a short answer and left the kitchen.
And in the kitchen where Jeden had disappeared, Luke, who had been busily preparing dinner, chuckled.
"A ten-year bean pod..."
He'd said they needed to stamp it before the bean pod peeled off. Considering human lifespan, they'd have plenty of time — at least 80 years.
Some time had passed. Dad was cooking, and the mothers had stepped out for a bit. The kids had gone out with the mothers too, so it was time to just rest a bit.
"Jeden."
"Yeah?"
"Let's go to the bedroom then."
"Should we?"
Rather than doing anything special, I was thinking we'd just pass the time. The guest room was just a short walk away. The blanket stored in the closet was for sleeping, so it felt a bit odd to spread it out now after being out all day. Instead, I sat down on the wide mattress that was usually spread out.
"Uaaah."
Cecil just lay down flat.
"I'm so tired."
"We've been walking around for a while."
We'd gone out around lunchtime and kept walking until dinner. It must have been physically demanding — even for Cecil, who was quite talented at 17 years old and already at the 2nd Realm. The Realm wasn't just a measure of pure strength, but also reflected how much one could utilize their inner world.
Cecil was dressed lightly. She already ran hot, and it was getting warmer. A cotton tee and jeans. A simple outfit, but after seeing nothing but school uniforms every day, it felt a bit different to me. It wasn't an outfit I saw often, so I was looking at it for a bit when I noticed something and jerked my head away in surprise.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"That..."
"That?"
"Your... stomach."
At my short words, Cecil, still lying down, tilted her head to look at her stomach. Not sure if she could see it well, she felt around with her hand before her face turned a bit red. As I mentioned earlier, Cecil was dressed lightly. When you lie flat in clothes like that, the top can ride up a bit. Cecil reached up and pulled the risen shirt down.
But it had the opposite effect. Forcing the bunched-up shirt down only revealed the natural curves of a woman's body.
"Eek?"
I'd been looking without thinking, and at this unexpected sight, I made a strange noise and whipped my head away.
"Ah."
Cecil realized it too, belatedly.
...
A rustling sound came from behind. Probably the sound of her sitting up and fixing her clothes.
...Damn it. Don't imagine it, Jeden.
...
...
After that, an awkward silence settled. We kept silent, watching each other's reactions without saying a word. It felt a bit strange. When we were preparing for the flower viewing, I'd even touched her directly while hugging her from behind — but this kind of touch felt different. Anyway. I didn't think we needed to be this awkward just because her stomach was visible for a moment. Especially thinking of what Cecil always says: "You can't live blushing forever."
But...
...
...
I don't know. I know I should say something, but I don't know what to say. So. Since I don't know how to say it, with a "whatever happens, happens" attitude, I took Cecil's hand.
Cecil's shoulder jumped and trembled. I couldn't see her face well since she'd turned away, but I could tell she was blushing.
"Cecil."
"Y-yeah."
And I chose my words. What should I say to convey my thoughts? Which words would fully convey my meaning? As I pondered that for a moment, looking at Cecil's face staring at me, I realized how foolish I'd been thinking.
I don't need to explain anything to someone who's thinking the same thing as me. Just... a little time. We just need a little time to get used to each other and grow a bit closer. There's no need to hide the fluttering, trembling heart. Foolishly, I'd only thought it was a problem to be solved.
When my thoughts reached that point, Cecil — perhaps thinking the same thing — smiled gently and squeezed my hand a bit tighter. We just looked at each other's faces. No words, no actions were needed. Just that was enough.
"Mmm! Mmm!"
Cecil's evaluation of the braised short ribs. Well, it means it's delicious, I suppose. The way she was shining her eyes and wiggling around — even someone deaf could understand the meaning.
"Eat this too."
"Mmm, thank you."
"This is good too if you eat it together."
"Mhm."
It wasn't my cooking, but since she was eating well, I kept wanting to give her more. She seemed to be chewing diligently, but the amount per bite was so small that the food in her bowl barely decreased. Munch munch, just busily chewing. Thinking about it, putting side dishes in someone else's bowl could be burdensome, but Cecil seemed to have no such thoughts and just smiled brightly.
...
"Here, water."
"...Pfft. Phew, I'm saved. Thanks."
"Eat slowly."
"Mhm."
But she's someone who can't go slow, both in personality and physically. I said it knowing it, but in the end she was back to munching. But today was different from usual.
"Hyung."
"Yeah."
"Who's that older sister?"
That's right — it was a family meal. Dad looking at Cecil with satisfaction, the second mother looking at me with the same gaze, the first mother receiving food from Dad... Hmm? Why are they looking like that? Anyway. Since the whole family was gathered for the meal, Enter and Ipril were there too.
"Um..."
I briefly pondered how to explain Cecil. Even if I told them Cecil's identity, it wouldn't be the answer they wanted, and the easiest way for kids to understand... The relationship closest to the kids. So.
"She's like a mom and dad."
"Pffft—!"
"But you're not a dad?"
"Our mom and dad aren't other people's mom and dad, right?"
"Ah!"
"That's what I mean."
"Kuh, gulp..."
"Here, water."
"Ah... thanks. But it's your fault."
Cecil glared at me, but what could I do. Kids need it explained like this to understand. Then Ipril, who had been quietly receiving food from the side, spoke up too.
"Wungni."
"Huh? Me?"
"Mhm."
"You said Ipril, right? Why?"
And looking back and forth between Cecil's bowl and my chopsticks.
"Is Wungni a baby too?"
"...Huh?"
"Oppa isn't a baby so he eats alone. Ipril is a baby so she can't eat alone. Wungni can't eat alone either. So Wungni is a baby?"
At this miraculous syllogism, Cecil's face turned bright red.
"N-no. That, this, I mean... he, he just..."
It seemed kind of funny. Should I join in a bit?
"Ipril."
"Mhm."
"This older sister is a baby."
"Jeden?!"
"Really?"
Ignoring Cecil shaking her shoulders beside me, Ipril's gaze turned. In order: Enter eating alone, me, Cecil. And then she tilted her head.
"Then when is Wungni not a baby?"
In other words, Enter already eats alone so he's not a baby, but if Cecil, who clearly looks older than Enter, is a baby, then when exactly does she stop being one?
"Probably a baby for life?"
"Jeden...!"
"Really?"
Ipril received food from the second mother, who had a satisfied expression.
"Poor thing."
She left those words.
And when the meal ended.
Bang!
"Th-that, Cecil-ssi?"
"Please speak. Jeden Se Tes-ssi."
"Won't you try to resolve this through conversation?"
"What do you think I'd say?"
"I'd say 'I don't want to'."
"You know me well."
"Jeden!"
"Sigh... you."
"Yeah."
"What are you doing in front of the kids."
"They call it a wall slam."
"...Someone told you that?"
"Why, are you embarrassed?"
"Of course."
"I'm fine with it."
...
...Did I go too far?
"You."
"Y-yeah."
"Did you do this to other girls too? No, right?"
"In my life, besides you, the only other women are the three in my family."
"Really?"
"Really."
"How far can you go."
"Parents... ugh."
"You shouldn't say things like that even as a joke."
"Yeah..."
"Sigh... but, why are you so skilled?"
"I practiced."
"You said you never did it. How did you practice?"
"Don't leave out the object. I practiced... with romance novels."
"Romance novels?"
"Yeah. There were a lot in Dad's bookshelf."
"What, are you a girl or something?"
"Oh come on. I'm against gender discrimination. And they were in Dad's bookshelf."
"...Then."
"Yeah."
"Was there a situation like this too?"
"Usually the man presses against the wall. The woman is the one being pressed."
"Then in that case, how was this situation resolved?"
...
"Don't doubt, just listen."
"I'm listening."
"In the novels."
"Yeah."
"They resolved it with a kiss."
...
...
"...Y-you're crazy..."
...
"Th-those lewd novels are forbidden."
"They're Dad's books?"
"Only you're forbidden. Never read them."
"It's the last volume now."
"No. And..."
...
"...Only you knowing is kind of unfair."
...
"I... I don't know anything about this."
...
"So... huh? Jeden? What are you doing?"
...
"Jeden...? Huh? Hey! Wait! What are you doing!"
"I love you!"
"Kyaaak!"
I didn't do anything special. Just a hug. I hugged her tightly and didn't let go. I preferred this much more than her holding back while embarrassed.
Ah, I said we needed time, so I shouldn't be doing this.
