On Sunday, Ichin didn't get up as early as he did the day before. Instead, he slept in until nine before leisurely getting out of bed and leaving his room.
After washing up and heading downstairs, Utaha and the others had already finished breakfast, and his portion had been set aside on the table.
He walked over and gave Utaha and Yukino each a good morning kiss. Just as he was about to sit down to eat, he noticed Haruno on the sofa, clutching a pillow, lying flat while her expression twisted in discomfort.
Taking a bite of a bun, Ichin looked at Utaha and asked, "What's going on with Haruno-nee?"
Utaha smiled and said, "Her period started. She didn't expect it herself either, and she even ate a whole box of ice cream last night."
That's right, ice cream.
Even though it was only March and still far from summer, there was always some ice cream at Ichin's place. After all, eating ice cream with the heater on was just like eating hot pot with the AC on. Everyone liked it.
What Ichin didn't expect was that Haruno would forget when her period was due and still eat ice cream so close to that time.
After finishing a bun and taking a sip of milk, Ichin walked over to Haruno, crouched beside her, and poked her head with a smile. "Haruno-nee, still alive?"
Haruno opened her eyes and glared at him. "Go die. Can't you see I'm suffering here?"
"Emmm… but isn't this your own fault? Why'd you go eat ice cream?"
"I couldn't help it. When I opened the fridge, I remembered it was there and couldn't resist." Haruno pouted, looking wronged. "Who would've thought it would start just overnight… and hurt this much?"
Watching her squirm around on the sofa, Ichin shook his head with a wry smile.
"Good thing it's Sunday so you can rest properly. Otherwise, you wouldn't even be able to work." He stood up, bracing his hands on his knees, and looked toward Yukino. "Did you get her something to drink?"
Yukino nodded. "Yes. Once the water boils, I'll make some brown sugar water for her."
"Alright, let her drink that first and see how it goes," Ichin said. "Haruno-nee, I'll go out and buy groceries later. How about I cook some fish and chicken for lunch? Both are good for your condition."
"I can't eat…"
"You have to, even if you don't feel like it. Don't act like a child at a time like this."
After teasing Haruno a bit, Ichin went back to finish the rest of his breakfast.
Once he was done, he changed clothes and headed out with Utaha to buy groceries, while Yukino stayed home to take care of Haruno.
Holding a professional book, Yukino flipped through the pages while speaking to Haruno, who was lying lifelessly on the sofa. "Sis, if you're still uncomfortable, you should go lie down in your room. The sofa is nice, but it's still not as good as a bed."
Haruno shook her head, holding her phone in one hand. "No, I don't want to waste a perfectly good weekend sleeping it away. Yukino, come massage my stomach for me?"
"No. If you want it massaged, do it yourself. I still need to read."
Haruno pouted and muttered softly, "When it's your turn, you always have Ichin massage your stomach, but when it's me, you're unwilling…"
"Sis, did you say something?"
"No, no! I was just saying there's nothing good to watch on TV."
Haruno quickly shook her head. Right now, she was in a weakened state, so it wasn't a good time to argue with Yukino. She'd better keep a low profile and wait until she recovered before properly teaching this younger sister who didn't know how to take care of her.
As for Ichin, it took him about an hour to go out and buy groceries. By the time he returned, it was already ten-thirty.
Carrying a large bag of groceries through the door, Ichin saw that Haruno was still lying on the sofa. He walked over and asked, "Haruno-nee, feeling any better?"
"After drinking some brown sugar water, I feel a bit better."
Glancing at the contents of the bag, Haruno asked, "All ingredients for meals?"
"Yeah. The snacks are over there. I'll go cook first. Yukino, come help me cut the vegetables."
"Okay."
Putting down her textbook, Yukino followed Ichin into the kitchen.
Utaha set down the snacks they bought and walked over to the sofa with a pack of chocolate.
"Haruno-san, want some chocolate?"
"Yes!!!"
Haruno sat up, grabbed a piece, and popped it into her mouth. The sweetness made her squint her eyes in satisfaction.
"So sweet… I haven't had chocolate in a long time. Why did you think of buying this?"
"Because it was on sale." Utaha smiled as she put a piece into her own mouth. "Thirty percent off!"
"I see… I thought you bought it especially for me."
After finishing the chocolate, Haruno reached over and opened the snack bag on the coffee table, pulling out a pack of potato sticks and crunching away happily.
At that moment, Ichin came out of the kitchen. Seeing Haruno constantly munching on snacks, he smiled and said, "Haruno-nee, eat a little less, or you won't be able to eat lunch later."
"Got it, got it!"
Looking at her puffed-up cheeks, Ichin narrowed his eyes. "Before I left, I remember someone saying they had no appetite. So why are you eating so happily now?"
Swallowing the snacks, Haruno shamelessly replied, "Did I? Even if I did, that was just earlier. I didn't have an appetite before, but now I do. Is that not allowed?"
"Sure, sure. Having an appetite is a good thing. Go ahead and eat."
Although Ichin said that, within a few minutes, a rich aroma began wafting out from the kitchen, clearly indicating that he had started cooking.
Sniffing the air, Haruno swallowed and finally put down the snacks in her hand.
While snacks were tasty, she still preferred Ichin's cooking more.
A few minutes later, Yukino finished helping with the ingredients and came out. She had wanted to continue assisting, but Ichin didn't let her, telling her to just come out and wait for lunch.
Yukino returned to the living room and sat beside Haruno, looking at the opened snack bags. "Sis, don't eat too many snacks."
"I know, I know. Ichin already said it, and now you're saying it too."
As she spoke, Haruno suddenly hugged her younger sister, pressing their cheeks together. "I'm very weak right now, so don't nag me, my little Yukino~~~"
"…"
Letting herself be rubbed against, Yukino could only show a helpless expression.
Just like Haruno said, her sister wasn't feeling well today, so she had no choice but to hold back a little.
At eleven-thirty, lunch was ready. Without Ichin needing to say anything, Haruno was the first to rush to the dining table, watching eagerly as he brought the dishes out from the kitchen.
Sweet and sour squirrel-shaped fish, curry chicken, minced meat tofu, assorted vegetables, and finally, tomato egg soup.
As soon as she saw the spread, Haruno completely forgot about her stomach pain.
...
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