"Hmph... Who told me to have such high acting talent? I can nail any shot in a single take!"
Yukiko tilted her chin up proudly, a triumphant spark in her eyes. "The director even said I'm the most gifted newcomer he's ever seen! That's why the shooting schedule was cut short by several more days."
"Is Yukiko-姉 really going to become a big superstar?" Reiko held her cheeks in her hands, her round, dark eyes shimmering with genuine admiration.
"Of course," Yukiko straightened her back, the ribbon on her chest fluttering slightly with her movement. "Once the movie is released, I'll be famous all over Japan! By then, Tokyo Tower will be covered in my posters!"
"That's amazing!" Reiko clapped her small hands excitedly, her eyes looking as though they were filled with stars. "Then I want to be Yukiko-姉's number one fan!"
Yukiko giggled at the praise and was about to reach out to pinch Reiko's cheek when she heard a soft set of footsteps coming from the stairs.
It was Eri Kisaki. Unlike Hayashi Shuichi and his sister, she had no intention of losing face in front of Yukiko. She had painstakingly peeled off every paper strip from her face and washed up thoroughly before making her appearance.
Upon seeing Eri, Yukiko immediately put her hands on her hips. Her rosy lips curled into a pout of displeasure, and she let out a sharp, disdainful huff.
Eri slightly raised her chin in response, a cold glint flashing behind her lenses as she sized up her rival with an expressionless gaze.
Just as the tension between the two reached a breaking point, Wang Cai came bounding out from behind Eri, tail wagging furiously.
The moment the dog spotted Yukiko, it barked happily and lunged toward her, nuzzling its furry head affectionately against her shins. Its tail whipped back and forth like a small windmill, and its ears stood straight up in excitement.
As the "Second Chef" of the tavern, Yukiko often prepared scraps of meat for Wang Cai, which had earned her the foolish dog's eternal devotion.
"Ungrateful, stupid dog!"
Eri watched the scene, biting her lower lip as she muttered under her breath. Thanks to Reiko's "education" from a young age, Wang Cai had always treated Eri with a cold shoulder. While it didn't bite her, it usually ignored her presence entirely.
It was especially galling because she and Hayashi Shuichi had been the ones to find Wang Cai in the first place. It was only because her family's apartment didn't allow pets that Shuichi had taken the dog into his home.
"Haha, stop licking me!" Yukiko crouched down, her slender fingers gently scratching Wang Cai under the chin. The dog squinted in bliss, a satisfied purr-like rumble vibrating in its throat. "Be a good boy, and I'll buy you some meat buns later."
"Gah—!" A sudden retch echoed from the stairs.
Eri clutched her mouth, her face turning deathly pale. The horrific images from that morning flooded back into her mind—the two severed heads, bloodied and staring with unseeing eyes...
The more she thought about it, the more her stomach churned. She had to steady herself against the wall to keep from collapsing.
Yukiko looked up at the sickly-looking Eri with surprise. Thinking that Eri was merely putting on an act because she found Yukiko's presence "nauseating," she stood up indignantly.
"Hey! Glasses-girl! What's that supposed to mean? Do I make you that sick just by looking at me?"
Eri forced down her discomfort, casting a frigid glance toward her. "Self-centered as always."
Hayashi Shuichi quickly stepped in to explain the situation.
Upon learning that Eri was nauseated specifically by the mention of "meat buns," Yukiko's irritation vanished, replaced instantly by a streak of pure mischief. She froze for a second, then clapped her hands and laughed with delight.
"Oh, but meat buns are so delicious!"
She took an exaggeratedly deep breath, even using her hand to faff the air toward her nose as if savoring an imaginary scent. "I think I'll go buy ten of them right now and sit right here in the shop to enjoy them slowly!"
"Careful you don't turn into a meat bun yourself," Eri adjusted her glasses. "Losing weight won't be as easy as it was when we were kids."
"You!" Yukiko's cheeks puffed out like an angry pufferfish, her face turning a bright shade of red.
Hayashi Shuichi massaged his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He was about to play peacemaker when Reiko beat him to the punch.
"Eri-姉, why did you take the paper strips off your face? We agreed that they had to stay on until the shop opened today!"
"Some people just can't handle losing," Yukiko remarked pointedly, twirling a lock of hair around her finger while looking at Eri out of the corner of her eye. "And she says she wants to be a lawyer? She cheats at a simple game of cards!"
Eri bit her lip in frustration. Between the lingering nausea and the accusation, she found herself momentarily at a loss for words.
However, Reiko shifted the focus again, asking, "Yukiko-姉, when will your movie be released?"
"The exact date hasn't been set yet," Yukiko thought for a moment. "If it's fast, maybe six months. If not, it might be next year."
"Heh, the movie hasn't even come out yet and you're already shamelessly calling yourself a superstar," Eri seized the opportunity to counterattack. "Don't let it be a total embarrassment if it never hits the theaters. And even if it does, a certain someone's scenes might be edited down until there's nothing left!"
"That's impossible!" Yukiko stomped her foot, her eyes beginning to redden with frustration. "The director said my acting was superb!"
The two girls stood their ground—one at the tavern entrance, the other on the stairs—glaring at each other with enough sparks flying to set the room on fire.
Watching them on the verge of a physical brawl, the corners of Reiko's mouth twitched upward into a sly grin.
Heehee... keep fighting like cats and dogs. That way, no one will be around to steal Onii-chan from me!
Just as she was reveling in her cleverness, Reiko felt a sharp pinch on her cheek. She turned to see Hayashi Shuichi looking at her with an annoyed expression. "Stop trying to stir the pot," he warned in a low voice.
"Onii-chan?" The little girl looked at her brother with an air of complete innocence, blinking her large eyes as if she had no idea what he was talking about.
Whatever... Hayashi Shuichi sighed helplessly. Not a single girl around him was "low maintenance."
Seeing that Eri and Yukiko were still locked in a stalemate, Shuichi called out, "Alright, why are you both just standing there? Isn't it hot? Let's get inside."
"Hmph!" Yukiko crossed her arms and turned her head away.
"Heh!" Eri let out a cold laugh and adjusted her glasses.
Shuichi shook his head, deciding he was done managing them for the moment. He took out his keys, unlocked the tavern door, and stepped inside first.
Seeing him enter, Eri and Yukiko caught each other's eyes. Simultaneously, they both lunged for the doorway.
Neither wanted to be second. They both accelerated at the same time and ended up slamming into each other right in the door frame with a loud thud.
"Ouch!" Yukiko clutched her forehead, tears pricking her eyes from the pain. "Don't you look where you're going?"
"You're the one who wasn't looking!" Eri rubbed her aching nose. "You clearly walked right into me!"
"Liar! You hit me first!" Yukiko shot back.
As they began to bicker loudly at the threshold, Reiko gave Wang Cai a satisfied pat on the head. She then led the dog, nimbly weaving around the two arguing women, and strolled into the tavern with an air of effortless triumph...
(End of Chapter)
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