episode_0050

“I’ll come by next week too. Make sure to eat well, don’t smoke or drink alone just because I’m not around.”

“Got it.”

“Also, you don’t have to work on Saturdays anymore. Don’t overwork yourself. I worry about you.”

“Okay. I got it.”

Is Dad smiling?

Anyway… he’ll manage on his own.

He takes good care of himself.

He’s never been late for work even once.

“Well then… I’ll really be going now. See you next week. Take care.”

I hug Dad.

A small gesture that might have been difficult if he were a man.

“Thank you.”

“I’ll try to be a good daughter now… I’ll take better care of you.”

With that farewell, on the way back…

Suddenly, I became curious about something regarding my brother.

“If we get married, when do you think we’ll get married?”

“If we make an effort… Oh. We can get married right away. Once we submit the paperwork at the district office, we’ll be considered married.”

“…Oh.”

Was getting married that easy?

“It’s just that we haven’t done it yet because we need to meet each other’s parents and discuss things.”

I guess I’ve been too naive and lively.

I always thought a wedding ceremony was necessary for marriage.

“Well… I should probably visit them on the weekend…?”

“I’m ready… probably.”

I understand the nervousness.

It’s hard to find the right words in this awkward situation.

I know. Yet I want to do it. I want their approval.

I hope my brother has reconciled with our parents at least.

“I’ll call ahead. Just tell them you’re coming over on the weekend. Say you have something important to discuss… that’s okay, right?”

“Um… for now… okay.”

“We have no choice. What if you go there and nobody’s home?”

“That’s true… sigh…”

“Don’t you want to meet them?”

After a moment of contemplation, my brother nods slightly.

“I… I hope you reconcile with them, Brother. I want us to get along so that I can happily… help out as a daughter-in-law in the future.”

“A daughter-in-law… that’s right.”

“A son would be handsome like you, Brother.”

“A daughter would be a beauty like you, Jihye.”

“Oh… right. She’d be pretty.”

When will I get used to this?

No matter when I hear the word “pretty,” it always feels nice.

A smile naturally forms on my lips.

“When Jihye smiles, she looks like an angel.”

“Haha… really…”

Hmm. My heart flutters.

*

After attending the wedding, I returned home.

My brother and my house, now familiar and comfortable.

It’s still spacious, but I don’t mind.

With my brother around, warmth fills the space.

And… a baby too… you know.

We decided to wash up before eating.

My brother, who takes a long time, washed up together again after a long while(?).

This time, there was no hesitation, no awkwardness.

He properly tied my hair and we even bought two towels to help each other dry our backs.

It ended quickly.

It felt oddly unsatisfying, but… well, unless my brother wants it, I don’t have any particular desire to do it.

Having a baby before marriage… that’s a bit much.

Condoms… I’m not sure if they’re reliable. When I saw how thin they were, I often thought they might burst because they seemed almost at their limit from the strain… I used them several times, but I sometimes thought they might burst.

And… my dad might really cry.

“I’m done showering~”

“Wow… it turned out really well.”

Immediately after washing up, we prepared a meal and made tonkatsu right away.

Now, whether it was the breadcrumbs or whatever else, I absentmindedly added them as if my body remembered, but they immediately rose up and fried well.

[…]

“…?!”

“Why?”

“……”

Her brother couldn’t continue speaking.

He closed his eyes as if savoring the tonkatsu in his mouth.

“Oppa…?”

“It’s even more delicious.”

“Oh… you surprised me.”

“I, well… I was really surprised. Why is it so delicious? No, wait. Try it once.”

His face lit up with happiness and astonishment, resembling someone who had just met a god. I also cut mine neatly and ate it gracefully.

“…?”

Why did it taste better when made the same way?

“Right!”

“Well, it’s… what is it? I made them exactly the same way.”

Did the meat that came in this time have better quality?

It’s definitely the same meat.

Has my cooking skill leveled up?

…I don’t know.

“Wow… it’s really delicious.”

“Wow… slowly… don’t let the tonkatsu escape.”

Her brother gleefully devoured the tonkatsu.

I got up, turned on the gas stove again, and heated the oil.

It was definitely the same.

Coat the thinly sliced meat, dip it in egg wash, coat with flour and breadcrumbs.

I wondered if the taste would change by grams, but for now, I remembered the process from before and recreated it identically, then submerged it in oil.

It rose immediately, and now I wait for it to fry completely.

“Now.”

Hmm. Did I succeed?

“Try it.”

“Mm…”

Carefully cutting with a knife and fork, I tasted it cautiously.

“…Delicious. My skills have definitely improved.”

I thought I might become a tonkatsu master at this rate, but suddenly it turned out like this?

“Huh… I can’t quite grasp this.”

While finishing the tonkatsu, I pondered if Michelin 5-star chefs only made tonkatsu, would it taste like this.

“Tastes good… why is it so tasty?”

“It’s not because you did it well?”

“Uh…”

It’s indescribable.

I did the same actions and made it the same way, yet the taste changed drastically.

In reality, if the flour wasn’t America’s famous white powder, it would be hard to explain.

There’s a reason for its deliciousness, even though there’s no reason.

“I like it. I might not be able to make something this delicious again.”

“I’m not sure… I don’t know if this taste will come out next time.”

Lost in thought.

Flour, egg, breadcrumbs.

Meat cuts, oil.

All the same.

Listing the same thoughts one by one, but nothing changed.

“It’s okay.”

“What do you mean… even if you might not be able to make something this delicious again?”

“Yeah. It’s okay. Don’t think of it as the Tonkatsu God coming and going.

The original tonkatsu already did its best. Why be upset about making it better than a famous restaurant? It’s okay, really.

Even if Wisdom makes the original tonkatsu again, I won’t be disappointed.”

His words brought me back to reality.

“Thank you. I’ll make it even tastier next time.”

“Yeah. Stay strong. Always thankful.”

Just in case, I took a picture and cleaned up.

Thinking it might help later, or maybe believing my skills had truly improved, I calmed my trembling heart.

Was there ever a time like this…?

I heard that skills don’t gradually improve but rather leap in steps.

Recalling the rule of ten thousand hours, the law of consistency, I vaguely remember hearing somewhere that later on, one thinks of the best move without realizing it, but right now, it feels like I’ve surpassed almost two levels, leaving me with a vague sense of accomplishment.

After clearing the table together and doing the dishes, I brushed my teeth and returned to the bedroom.

[Exhales deeply….]

Lying in the bedroom, I watched my brother play a simple game next to me.

[Hehe… What game is this?]

[Hmm… Yeah.]

“Huh.”

Turning off his phone, my brother immediately leaned towards me.

“It’s not fun playing games alone anymore. I prefer being like this with you.”

“…I like it too.”

It’s not time to sleep yet.

We continue sticking close to each other.

Feeling the warmth, sensing each other’s breath up close, and hearing the sound of our hearts beating nervously.

If spending time like this is ordinary, then it must be our everyday life…

“Should we watch a movie?”

“What movie should we watch?”

“A horror movie.”

“Oh.”

My brother shivers and grabs the blanket.

“Why? Can’t you watch horror movies?”

…”

I slightly shake my head.

“I’m scared too. You have to protect me, right?”

“Uh… Can’t we just not watch it?”

Actually, I’m quite good at watching horror movies.

Now I’ve found another difference.

“It might be good to build up your tolerance. Let’s watch it!”

[Exhales deeply….]

“Cute brother, I’ll protect you.”

Lately, I’ve been browsing the internet wondering what movies would be interesting.

“Hmm… Is this one good?”

[Sniffles….]

“You haven’t even seen it yet, why are you scared just by watching the trailer?”

My brother’s eyes sparkle in the light as if they were jewels.

…Are your eyes watery?

If we had gone to a haunted house instead of an aquarium, my brother might have fainted from fear.

“Sigh… Come here. What will happen if a man is this weak?”

In today’s era, it might be a slightly risky statement, but from my perspective, a big guy who startles at an ant under his foot seems like he’d kill a crow behind him out of surprise.

Setting aside my phone, I embraced my brother again.

“…Kiss me.”

“My lips are expensive.”

“Hehe… I’m scared….”

I almost made him cry while teasing him.

“Crybaby brother. Stop now.”

My trembling lips touched his.

The sobbing sound stopped in my mouth, and the sound of waves, whether accidentally played or not, slowly calmed my brother’s trembling.

“Phew… How do you feel now?”

“…I’m better.”

“Crybaby brother.”

“…Give me more kisses.”

Taking a deep breath, I swallowed my saliva.

If we do it a second time, I’ll finish first.

“…Take it slow this time. It’s harder this time.”

“Yeah….”

He’s so cute like this crybaby brother.