Chapter 7 : Sister’s Dining Table (?) and Status Report


“Nuo~! How vexing!”

My HP had reached 0 and I was forcibly returned to the base camp. It was about time, so I decided to log out for a brief while.
After clamoring on top of the bed for a bit until I was content, I headed for the kitchen since I should’ve been making Shizuku’s lunch by now.
Today’s menu was Salisbury Steak, something that every kid loved.
Since Shizuku had a small appetite, I made it a personal point to mix in tofu to reduce the fattiness of the meat, then mended the small pieces together one-by-one in order to make it easier to eat.
After that, I added in some color with a nutritionally balanced salad, freshly cooked rice, and finally a cup of milk cocoa which Shizuku loved…… Yep, today’s meal was also flawless!

“Shizuku~, I’ve got food~ Wanna eat together~?”

“I refuse. Leave it there.”

Nevertheless, what I got in return was the same usual cold response from Shizuku.
Sniffle. I wonder if Shizuku was still occupied with FFO right now. It was interesting and I fully understood that, but if possible, I wanted her to eat it while it was still warm.

If it was the same as always, I’d be sitting alone, eating reaaally slowly while hoping for Shizuku to change her mind and come to the living room, but…… It’s been that way for a long time now, so here, I’ll take action!

“Staare–……”

With that in mind, first, I decided to verify the timing of when Shizuku would eat her meal. I hid myself in the corner of the hallway and commenced the observation.
Then, quicker than I’d anticipated, Shizuku sticks her head out from her room.
Perhaps she was making sure if I was gone or not, but she looked around the vicinity restlessly similar to how an incredibly cute small animal would. She was like a rabbit.
Haa, I’m being healed……

While I was enjoying the adorableness of my little sister, Shizuku picks up the plate of food and returns back inside her room.
Once I confirmed that, I promptly called her out from beyond the door.

“…… Shizuku! Let’s eat together!”

“Wha!? W-what is it all of a sudden, I’m not gonna eat together so! Don’t come in!”

Maybe she thought I was going to barge in, which is why she shouted out to restrain me.
Fufufu, but I’m not done yet. You’ve underestimated me!

“It’s okay, I won’t enter your room! Instead, I’ll just eat here!

“……Yes?”

“I’ll eat in front of Shizuku’s room while talking to Shizuku! Then it wouldn’t be a problem right?”

“Eh? No, it’s not a problem, but…… Eh?”

“Thank you!”

Having gotten Shizuku’s permission, I set up a mini table in front of her room and quickly carried my tray of food over.
It’s bad manners to eat while sitting directly on the floor? Fufun, I’m fully aware of that.

In order to eat a fun meal together with Shizuku, I was willing to disturb all manners, customs, or laws!!

“Baka-ane’s thinking of something stupid again……”

Regardless of whether she knew of my resolve or not, I could hear a “Haaa” behind the door which I assumed was deep sigh coming from Shizuku.
However, perhaps she was curious, since she went along with my idiocy anyways. When I heard a quiet, “Thanks for the meal,” my face couldn’t help but break into a smile.

“Hey Shizuku, How’s onee-chan’s food? Is it yummy?”

“…… Well, isn’t it fine? I don’t really know though.”

“Is that so, I’m really glad.”

Shizuku would clearly say it without hesitation if she ate something unappetizing or something she hated, so even if it was just a simple “fine,” you could tell that it was the equivalent of her being pleased with it.
My many years of trial and error for Shizuku’s sake had been rewarded. I was delighted, but what happened afterwards made me even happier.

“…… Onee-chan, so you tried out FFO, how was it?”

To my surprise, Shizuku was the one who brought up the next subject!!
Originally, the one who stubbornly wanted a way to talk was me, so even with just this, I already felt like I was going to cry.
Uu, Shizuku, you’ve finally taken some interest in onee-chan……!

“…… Onee-chan?”

“Ah, yeah! It’s my first time, but games are fun aren’t they! I can see why Shizuku’s so crazy about it!”

“Right?”

“Ah, but no matter how entertaining it is, you can’t stay up late okay?”

“Stingy.”

From there, I roughly talked about what I’ve done since starting the game.
Things like choosing the same class as Shizuku, the «Magician».
How my physical damage was higher for some reason.
I also talked about fighting goblins or golems and the matter that happened before when I finally noticed that I had confused ATK and INT. I could hear Shizuku letting out an exasperated sigh.

“…… Truly, Baka-ane’s able to do anything, yet no matter what she does, she’s always careless in some places. Of all things, you were running with such a joke build……”

“Uu, I can’t deny it.”

It’s been so since back then. I had a good memory and was able to perform above average compared to most people in general, but I’d always ruin it at the very end.
For example, in a marathon, I was first by a long shot, but I had mistaken the path of the course at the last spurt. Or how I should’ve received a perfect score on a test, but I’d forgotten to write my name…… If you looked back, there was no end to moments like these.

“…… Well, an older sister like that was……. too.”

“Hm? Did you say something?”

“It’s nothing.”

I felt like she’d said something just now, but I couldn’t really hear because the door was in the way.
Well, she was most likely recalling my slip-ups and laughing at them. I’ve made mistakes where many times, I had no choice but to laugh at myself as well.

“More importantly onee-chan, are you staying with a battlemage as is? Frankly, I think it’s kind of impossible though.”

“I mean, I did certainly get outwitted by that big golem, but I won’t lose next time! I’ll put together some proper equipment and get my revenge for sure!”

I was taken by surprise with a lot of its actions earlier, but that wouldn’t work on me next time.
In order to play together with Shizuku, I’m not gonna lose to just a pile of rocks!

Rather, the ATK specialized Magician that I’ve created was seemingly referred to as a Battlemage. It’s the first time I’ve heard of that.

“…… I guess, if that’s what onee-chan really wants to do…… Though, a battlemage huh……”

“Hm? Was there a problem?”

“There’s plenty. Regarding battlemages, I’ve played for around half a year and honestly haven’t seen any of them around, you know? That means since no one was making equipment for such a class, I doubt shops would have it either.”

“Eeh!?”

No equipment she said. Wouldn’t that supposedly be a huge concern though!?
Well, I was aware that I’d gone off track from the usual proper playstyles, so it’s unavoidable to say that it was inevitable but…… Ugugu.

“…… It can’t be helped, I’ll offer a little bit of support.”

“Eh, Shizuku, are you finally in the mood to play with me!?”

“W-wrong……! I just, that’s right! I just had a friend who only started playing and they said they were going with a production class, so I was thinking of introducing them to onee-chan…… That’s all!!”

If I’m not mistaken, a production class meant that the player would obtain skills that allowed them to create equipment and items through raw materials.
Of course, you could buy equipment from the shops that the NPCs ran, but if you wanted stronger equipment that was better suited for you, it was standard to have a player with a production class craft it for you. Therefore, it seems like everyone had at least one friend who went for a production class.

Yeah, I understood that production classes were important and all, but there was one other thing that I was far more curious about. That was……

“Shizuku…… If you had a beginner as a friend, then I’d be really happy if you’d let me be your friend too……”

Even though she wouldn’t play with me, I didn’t hear anything about her having a different beginner friend!! How unfair!!

“…… Well, I guess I could at least register you as a friend.”

“Yaaaaaay!! Thank you Shizuku, I love you!!”

“Wait, don’t come entering my room, Baka-ane!”

I was delighted from being given approval and was going to instinctively barge through the door, but Shizuku seemed to have predicted this, so she firmly held the door shut to keep it from opening.

Guu~! Right now, I wanted to see Shizuku’s face. I wanted to hug her! I wanted to express these overwhelming feelings~~!!

“If you don’t stop, instead of adding you as a friend, I’m going to block you alright?”

“Understood Shizuku-sama. This foolish sister is wholeheartedly reflecting on her behavior so forgive me and please don’t take that away.”

I immediately separated myself from the door, groveled there on the spot and petitioned for a pardon.
I believed my actions were properly conveyed through the door since I was able to hear a deep sigh from Shizuku.

“Seriously…… Let’s see, I’ll have to prepare all sorts of things too, so I’ll introduce you to the production class friend in the evening…… Around 5 o’clock probably. Until then, just level up adequately and obtain some money from selling drop items.”

“Got it. By the way, what’s that player’s name?”

“I haven’t decided ye-…… Umm, when the time comes, they’ll send you a message, so onee-chan doesn’t have to worry about it! Okay?”

“Okay, that’s fine, but”

For some reason, I could sense a bit of ambiguity, or perhaps I should say, I felt like something was being hidden from me…… But, what exactly?
Ah, b-by any chance……!

“Shizuku, was that friend possibly a boyfriend!? That’s no good Shizuku, it’s still too early for that!!”

“Hah!? How and why did you jump to that conclusion!? Are you really a moron!? I mean, she’s a girl to being with!! So that wasn’t possible!!”

“No way, same-sex relationship!? Shizuku, it’s not like I didn’t approve of it, but if that’s the case, they’ll have to defeat me first or else I won’t accept them!!”

“You not gonna disapprove!? Rather, even if it was true, why would the person I’m dating have to be recognized by onee-chan in the first place!?”

“That’s just common sense. The one who loves Shizuku the most in this world is me!! I’ll only give Shizuku to someone who loves her more than I do!!”

“Nn~~!! Idiot!! Die!!”

The unreserved verbal abuse echoed and on that note, the sound of Shizuku’s voice from inside the room had come to a sudden stop.
Oops…… I unintentionally got excited and shouted a little too much about how I felt towards Shizuku. Uu, she’s hated this sort of thing since the olden days didn’t she. It’s okay as long as I’m not actually hated though……

When it comes to Shizuku, I lose all judgement and now I could only sigh at my bad habit. Once I finished eating, I carried the table away along the tray, I soaked it and left it for a later time.

Because of that, my ears weren’t able to pick up what Shizuku had said after I’d gone away.



“…… No later than 5 o’clock to create a character, raise it to the minimum level, and prepare the equipment huh…… Let’s hurry.”

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