Ch.49Childcare (2)

Eri had three younger siblings.

First, the 6-year-old was named Hana. She liked to make some kind of screeching noise. Her hobby was singing, if I remembered correctly.

“I once pretended to be a boyfriend at home. I think she got hooked on screeching since then.”

Eri said with a chuckle. So she was the root of all evil.

Then there was the 5-year-old named Mizu. She was extremely energetic.

And the youngest, the 4-year-old, was Konoha. Her vocabulary was remarkably precocious. Apparently, it was because her hobby was watching dramas.

“So this is what Eri was like when she was little?”

I smiled as I looked at the three of them.

With their healthy tan skin and bright, sparkling eyes, I could roughly imagine what Eri looked like as a child.

“I was much cuter than them, you know?”

Eri was showing a strange competitive spirit.

“Come on… why are you competing with your siblings?”

I couldn’t help but object.

I thought girls would play house, but these three were thoroughly physical.

“Heeyah! Giant swing!!!!”

I grabbed Hana’s legs and spun her around.

“Keeeeek!!!! Faster!! I’m dizzy!!!!”

Hana laughed loudly and squealed.

“Me too!! I want to do it too!!”

Mizu also rushed toward me.

“Alright!! The ultimate giant swing!!!!”

I spun Mizu around in the opposite direction.

“The ultimate one!!!!! Faster!!! Heheeek!!!”

Mizu seemed completely satisfied.

Well, kids generally like things that are fast and dangerous.

“Me too!! I want to do it too!!”

The youngest, Konoha, jumped up and down and threw herself into my arms.

“Okay!! Here we go!!! Giant swiiiing!!!”

Whoooosh-!!

“Too faaast!!!!!! It’s a centrifuge!!!!”

Konoha burst into laughter.

“Wait. How do you know the word ‘centrifuge’?”

I asked Konoha.

“It was in a drama.”

Konoha replied nonchalantly.

“…That’s impressive. Dramas these days.”

I was genuinely amazed.

Anyway, I took turns giving each of them giant swings.

The time was 2 PM. The time limit was gradually approaching.

“I’m sleepy….”

The children’s eyes began to close little by little.

In the warm sunshine of midday, children couldn’t resist taking naps.

“Mmm…”

One by one, they lay down on the sofa and fell asleep. Drowsiness was quite contagious. The children were soon breathing heavily in their sleep.

“Shota. You’re really good with kids.”

Eri smiled and moved closer to me.

“Well, I guess so.”

I used to play with my nieces and nephews often in my previous life.

“Really… Shota, you’re such a good man.”

Eri sat down demurely beside me. Then, she firmly held my hand.

“I don’t want to lose you.”

Eri said as she interlaced her fingers with mine.

“Then don’t let go.”

I gently put my arm around Eri’s waist and gave her a light kiss. Honestly, I had been holding back my affection because of the children.

While kissing, Eri whispered a sweet word.

“I won’t let go, even without you saying it.”

“Eri, you’re quite possessive, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I’m a very high-maintenance woman, so be prepared.”

Smooch❤ Chu❤

Indeed… there was a healing element that only Eri could provide. Eri was an extra with no significant role in the game. She was just a character who appeared as Umi’s friend 1. I was also similarly insignificant, which made me feel comfortable. It wasn’t that I disliked or felt burdened by Umi and Taiga. However, they were important characters in the game. I couldn’t help but wonder if I had altered the flow of their fate. Such uncharacteristically complex thoughts kept coming to mind.

Well, I liked all three of them a lot.

Anyway.

After a sweet kiss, Eri said something.

“By the way, Shota. I talked to my brother.”

Eri said.

“Ah… your brother.”

Quite ironically, Eri’s brother was the PD of the site where I published my work. It was an unexpected connection in this place.

“Yeah. He said he likes your novel.”

Eri smiled brightly.

“Well, he wouldn’t say anything bad about his sister’s boyfriend, would he?”

I said with a wry smile.

“No, my brother isn’t the type to say empty words, you know? He wants to set up a meeting with you. Let’s go see him today or tomorrow.”

Eri said.

“A meeting…?”

For that busy PD to want a meeting—this was honestly good news.

I wasn’t one to overestimate my abilities. I wasn’t arrogant enough to think I could make it from the bottom without any support. Just having the platform promote you could drastically change your view count. Simply being featured on the top banner would significantly increase traffic.

‘The fact that he specifically wanted to meet… does that mean he acknowledges my skills to some extent?’

That was the positive way to look at it. It would be good to meet him.

“Then can we meet tomorrow? Well… since I’ve taken on the babysitting job, we might as well take the kids out somewhere.”

I said as I gently caressed Eri’s bottom. Setting up a meeting at a café would make for a smooth itinerary. Plus, I could continue being their guardian.

“An outing? Sounds good!”

Eri smiled and kept kissing me.

Then, Eri hugged me tightly.

“I… tried hard for you, Shota. Your dream is my dream now too. I asked my brother earnestly.”

Eri looked at me with eyes that sought praise.

“Thank you, Eri.”

My heart naturally warmed at Eri’s kindness.

“The kids… seem to be sleeping deeply. Maybe because you played with them so well.”

Eri noticed the children were asleep and saw an opportunity.

“They probably… won’t wake up for a while?”

I said as I caressed Eri’s body.

“Let’s be quiet. Okay?”

Eri and I seized the opportunity to connect physically.

There was a certain thrill in making love quietly so the children wouldn’t hear.

After one round, we were about to go for another when—

Jolt-!!!

The youngest, Konoha, got up, rubbing her eyes.

Eri and I hurriedly put our clothes back on.

“Hmm? Big sister and big brother… why are your clothes half off?”

An innocent question from a child!!!

“Ah… it was a bit hot.”

Eri said with a smile.

“Hmm? But it’s still spring?”

Konoha tilted her head.

“People with passionate souls always feel hot. That’s what being hot-blooded means.”

I made up something like that.

“So that’s what hot-blooded means?”

Konoha accepted it on her own.

“But… why did you wake up, Konoha?”

Eri asked Konoha.

“Pee.”

Konoha said.

“Big brother. Wait for me in front of the bathroom door.”

Konoha said.

“But it’s not even night time?”

Well… going to the bathroom alone at night can be scary. When I was little, I asked my sister to go with me. Every time, my sister would realistically imitate ghosts, which gave me trauma.

Sis… she was really committed to scaring me. She would even hide under the bed to pull it off.

Anyway, in broad daylight, why?

“Hehehe. Konoha must like you. She wants to be spoiled.”

Eri laughed knowingly.

“That’s not it!”

Konoha shouted, her face turning bright red.

“Alright, Konoha. Let’s go.”

Well, how far could the bathroom be? I took Konoha’s hand and led her to the bathroom.

After closing the door, Konoha spoke to me from behind it.

“Big brother. Sing a children’s song.”

“Ah. Like playing classical music in the bathroom?”

“Yes!! Like in department store bathrooms!! I love that!!”

Konoha immediately related.

You know, that classical music in department stores… personally, I disliked it. The distinctive pungent smell of the bathroom and the elegant classical music just didn’t match.

Anyway, Konoha had properly stimulated my competitive spirit.

“Alright. Let me show you the power of Shota the children’s song machine.”

I cleared my throat.

“Big brother. Are you good at singing?”

Konoha asked. Wait, isn’t she going to do her business? Why is she casually continuing the conversation with me?

“Me? I’m extremely good at singing. Professional level.”

I immediately stated the facts.

“Wow!! Amazing!!”

Konoha, like a child, expressed pure admiration.

“Konoha. Don’t believe Shota. He claims to be good at everything.”

Eri immediately objected.

“Hey!!! No unfair accusations!”

I immediately stopped Eri’s sabotage.

Eri’s question mark? I’ll turn it into an exclamation mark. With such enthusiasm, I cleared my throat.

“The mountain!!! Hero!!! The tiger’s birthday has come!!!!”

Of course, the king of children’s songs I knew was “Mountain Hero.”

Even as an adult, I would occasionally sing “Mountain Hero” at karaoke to boost my spirits. It’s truly a masterpiece.

“The forest animals gathered in the park for a ball!!”

I continued my passionate singing.

“Hahahahaha!!!”

Konoha’s uncontrollable laughter could be heard through the door.

“Big brother! You sing so funny!!”

Konoha laughed hysterically.

“Funny aside, am I good?”

I immediately asked for the opinion of Judge Konoha.

“It’s questionable.”

Konoha said nonchalantly as she flushed the toilet.

A child’s evaluation could sometimes be ruthless.

——-

Anyway, Konoha squeezed herself onto the sofa and fell asleep.

They would sleep soundly for about an hour. I gave Eri a knowing look.

“Let’s sleep too. If we don’t recharge our energy now, we’ll collapse while taking care of the kids.”

As a professional babysitter, I passed on a tip to Eri.

Children are most beautiful when they’re sleeping.

“Hehehe. Shall we sleep too?”

Eri said as she spread out a blanket.

Eri lay down on one side of the bedding and made room for me.

“Let’s lie down.”

“Okay!”

I immediately dived into Eri’s embrace.

Holding Eri tightly, I fell asleep with her.

At 3:30 PM, the awakened children woke us up haphazardly.

Eri and I played with the children until evening.

And then it was 5 PM. As it was time to prepare dinner, I immediately put on an apron.

“Big brother… you can cook too?”

The children asked with sparkling eyes.

“Yes. I’ll make you fried rice.”

And I’ll use plenty of lard too.

I’ll show you inhuman cholesterol! I’ll make your blood vessels sticky!!

“Then I’ll help too.”

Eri also put on an apron and headed to the kitchen with me.

This really makes us look like a married couple. That’s the innocent thought I had.