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"Yanami, you want to be a writer?"
Blake looked over in surprise, his curiosity piqued. "I don't think I've ever heard you mention that before."
"I had a dream last night," Anna Yanami replied, tilting her head up. She kept the secret of her diary to herself, substituting it with a dream instead. Her voice was clear and bright. "In the dream, I grew up to be a beautiful author, traveling all over the country for book signings. When I woke up, it felt so real—like I had actually lived that life."
Blake couldn't help but poke a hole in her fantasy. "No matter how real it felt, it was still just a dream."
"But what if? What if I actually have a talent for writing?" Yanami pressed her hands together in front of her chest, looking at him with pleading eyes. "I feel like all I do is eat and drink every day. My life is so decadent; I want a goal to strive for."
Eating and drinking is the essence of life, Blake thought. There's no shame in it. Only idiots stress themselves out by overthinking everything!
However, seeing the "Gluttonous Girl" looking so earnest, Blake didn't turn her down immediately. "You want my help, but the problem is I don't have any experience in teaching..."
"Who says you don't?" Yanami leaned forward suddenly, her bright sapphire eyes locked onto his. "The novels you wrote before were published, Blake! You're actually an incredible author."
"Out of all the boys at school, how many could pull that off?"
"So, don't sell yourself short."
"You're actually amazing."
"In my heart, I know you're going to be a world-class author someday—maybe even a literary giant!"
Blake: "..."
No wonder she has so many friends at school. She's an absolute pro at giving emotional validation.
Caught in the reflection of Yanami's clear eyes and enveloped by the sweet, faint scent lingering around her, Blake felt his heart skip a beat. He adverted his gaze, finally relenting.
"Since you put it that way, I'll give it a shot. But let's get one thing straight: don't get mad at me if you don't end up as a famous 'beautiful author.'"
"I won't get mad!" A bright smile bloomed on Yanami's face, like a begonia flower unfurling in the spring breeze, instantly lighting up the living room. "Even if I don't make it as a writer, the worst I'll do is make you buy me a bowl of eel rice!"
Blake looked at her deadpan. "Is your real goal just the eel rice?"
"Ehe~"
Yanami stuck out her pink tongue playfully and winked, giving Blake's shoulder a light pat. "Anyway, I'm putting my life in your hands, Blake."
"..."
Now that she had his word, Yanami's motivation surged. She looked at him expectantly. "So, should we start the lesson now?"
"Definitely not now," Blake said, shaking his head helplessly. "If I just jump into teaching you how to write, I won't know where to begin. At least let me get my thoughts in order first."
"Fine then~"
Time slipped away quietly. The afternoon sun was hushed and still.
"Whew..."
Yanami covered her mouth as she let out a yawn, looking a bit drowsy. "Blake, do you want something cold to eat?"
Blake was busy typing away at his code and didn't look up. "No thanks."
"Oh..."
The disappointment in her voice was palpable. Blake's fingers paused. He immediately saw through her little scheme and sighed.
"Go ahead. Grab two ice creams."
Asking him was just a formality; Yanami was the one who actually wanted one.
"Leave it to me!"
Her eyes lit up, and she dashed into the kitchen, returning moments later with two ice cream bars.
"Should we bring one up to Sagiri?" Yanami asked, glancing toward the second floor.
"No need," Blake shook his head. "If Sagiri wants one, she'll get it herself. If you knock and disturb her, she might actually get annoyed."
"I guess you're right..."
Yanami sat down right next to Blake. Her slender fingers peeled back the wrapper before she held the ice cream out to him. "Here, Blake. Your ice cream."
"Thanks."
"Hey, hey~" Yanami tilted her head, her smile bright and her voice playful. "You look so busy, Blake. Do you want me to feed it to you?"
"Absolutely not."
Blake reached out decisively and took it from her. He had only taken two bites when a soft, muffled voice called out.
"Big bro, come upstairs..."
"Hmm?"
Startled, Blake looked up to see a silver-haired girl hiding around the corner of the stairs, beckoning him.
"Yanami, I'm going up for a second."
Blake set his ice cream on the table and headed upstairs.
Thump, thump, thump. Sagiri turned and scurried back into her room, though she didn't close the door all the way, leaving a small crack to peek through.
"Sagiri, what's up?" Blake asked softly as he reached the door.
Sagiri poked half her face out, looking at him with the judgmental eyes of someone watching a cheating husband. "While I'm up here working hard on my drawings, Big bro is downstairs 'fooling around' with Yanami... Go commit seppuku!"
It's just ice cream, that hardly counts as fooling around! And even if we were flirting, seppuku is a bit of an overreaction!
"I wasn't, and I didn't," Blake quickly explained. "I've been writing code the whole time. I just took a break."
"I'll believe you for now..."
Sagiri blinked, then suddenly added, "I want ice cream too."
Blake turned around. "I'll go get you one."
"Wait a second..."
Sagiri reached out, grabbing a corner of Blake's shirt. "Big bro... come in first."
Blake was stunned. "You're actually letting me in?"
"Just get in here and don't make me ask twice, you dummy."
"..."
Blake stepped into the room. The curtains were drawn, leaving the space dim and lit only by the cool white glow of a laptop. The room was surprisingly neat—certainly better than his own—and the air wasn't stuffy; it carried a faint, pleasant fragrance.
"Don't go looking around, and definitely don't think about anything perverted!"
With a flushed face, Sagiri stomped on Blake's foot. Of course, being stepped on by a foot in a white over-the-knee sock didn't hurt at all.
Blake was speechless. "Why would I be thinking about anything perverted?"
"Hmph." Sagiri crossed her arms and turned her head away with a huff. "Big bro has peeked at those 'terrible' movies. You're already tainted!"
You need to apologize to the four billion men on this planet, because you just called every single one of them 'dirty'!
Sagiri continued her quiet mumble. "They say once a boy watches those movies, his head is filled with nothing but lewd thoughts."
Slander. Pure slander! A guy's head is filled with world events and current affairs, okay?!
Blake kept his face neutral and decisively changed the subject. "That's enough. Don't bring that up again. Now, why did you call me in here, Sagiri?"
"....."