Chapter 2 Understanding The Current Situation
So, I—uh, Yumie—apparently had a high fever and was bedridden until just yesterday.
That said, I decided to join the family for lunch as a way of marking my "recovery."
They must be rich because even though it's just a family of four—my parents, me, and my one brother—the table is overflowing with a feast that makes you want to shout, "Where's the party at?"
Everything looks delicious, and it should've been a really fun meal.
Well, it should've been.
"......"
"......"
"......"
This is... awkward.
At the table, my father, Carlot Granbell, is sitting at the head, with my mother, Riffia Granbell, on his right, and my brother, Neil Granbell, on his left. I'm sitting next to Neil.
Even though we're all pretty close at this big table, there's not a single word being spoken.
If it was just silence, I could chalk it up to manners, but the pressure is intense.
I can feel the silent judgment. Like, "What are you doing here?" from my brother and mother.
"...Yumie, aren't you going to eat?"
"Huh? Oh, um..."
"You won't grow if you don't eat. Make sure you eat properly."
"Ah, yes..."
I guess that's my father trying to be considerate. He spoke to me.
But that only made the pressure from next to me and across the table even stronger. Eek.
"As a lady, you must always be mindful of your figure. I wonder if it's appropriate to encourage a young girl to eat too much."
"Even so, not eating enough is a problem. Especially since she's just recovering, she needs the nutrients."
"You must really be worried about Yumie. You didn't even show your face when Neil was sick."
"I was in the royal capital at that time... Even with a fast horse, it's a week's journey. It couldn't be helped."
"Hmph, I suppose."
The conversation that finally happened is way too heavy!!
While we were talking, we didn't even look at each other once, right? I wouldn't even have this kind of sarcastic conversation with a classmate I don't get along with! We're family, so let's talk about something brighter! I feel way too awkward being the topic of conversation!!
"...Huh?"
As I was about to cry inside, a fork reached over from the side and snagged a piece of meat from my plate.
The culprit was my brother, Neil.
When I glanced over, Neil noticed my gaze and, with a smirk, took a big bite of the meat like he was showing off.
...Well, Neil is still 12, so he probably doesn't have much of a vocabulary for teasing. It's kind of a cute little prank.
Oh, come on, I don't know if you hate vegetables, but don't move them onto my plate. You won't grow big if you don't eat your veggies.
But, I guess a little bit is fine.
"Hehe... It's a secret, okay?"
Since it's a special moment, I put my index finger to my lips and smiled while making a shushing gesture.
It's probably something every guy in the world dreams of—sharing a secret with a beautiful girl.
The exchange of foods you don't like is a pretty lame topic, but I wonder if even siblings can feel a little flutter from it?
"......?"
Nope, not getting through at all.
It seems like a kid like him still doesn't understand a girl's charm.
Geez, if it were me, I'd be smitten in seconds if a girl like Yumie did this.
It's a shame.
"Hmm..."
Since my reaction wasn't what he expected, Neil went back to his meal, looking a bit uninterested.
Now, putting Neil aside for a moment, what should I do about this frozen family dynamic?
All I have right now is Yumie's natural cuteness.
If I'm going to use this as a weapon to break the situation, I guess the best way is to win over each person one by one, fill in the gaps, and set up a place to talk it out and make up.
So, who should I start with?
Not Mother. She's definitely the final boss, and if I get too close, I'll get smacked again.
From what Yumie remembers, there were times when she was locked in her room and missed meals, so I should put her off for now. She's the one I should challenge last, after I've filled in the gaps.
So, that leaves Father or Elder Brother, huh?
From what I saw earlier, Father seems to care about Yumie a bit, so I think I can talk to him pretty easily.
But, there's a risk that if I mess up, I could get kicked out. I mean, he is the head of the household after all.
Then, there's my brother Neil.
He doesn't like me, but he's still got that childish side that makes him pretty simple and easy to manipulate.
Plus, the worst that could happen is I might just get teased a little.
"Yeah, I think I'll start with him first."
Let's kick things off by getting the kids to be friends. Mother seems to care about Neil a lot too, so tearing the kids apart when they're getting along would probably cause some resistance.
"Hehehehe..."
You better be ready for this, Elder Brother.
I'm gonna show you my serious side of "cute," Yumie style.
And...
I'm gonna turn you into the super sis-con big brother who just can't help but love his little sister!!
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