"We're here, Hayashi."
I snapped back to reality at the sound of Yamamoto's voice.
I realized I had been getting along quite famously with Shiho-chan. Although I’d pegged her as a serious, studious girl at first, she was actually far more of a clingy sweetheart and much easier to talk to than I expected.
Beyond that, our hobbies—or rather, our tastes—seemed to align perfectly. It was only natural that we’d hit it off.
Yes, it was practically inevitable!
"You're acting like a completely different person," Yamamoto remarked.
"Sh-shut up!"
"Onii-chan, you have no tact."
"Exactly. Right, Shiho-chan?"
"Right, Megu-chan!"
Yamamoto watched us frolicking with a look of pure exasperation. He let out a heavy sigh and unlocked the front door of his parents' house.
"Let's go, Megu-chan."
"Okay."
With Shiho-chan pulling me by the hand, we followed him inside.
Come to think of it, today was the day I was supposed to meet Yamamoto's parents for the first time. I had been so distracted by Shiho-chan that I'd completely forgotten, but now a fresh wave of nerves washed over me.
"Hey, Shiho-chan. Are your parents home?"
"Eh? Oh, they probably aren't."
"Really?"
"Yeah. They're both at work today."
I see.
I felt like I’d wasted my nerves worrying for nothing. Then again, the tension was just going to linger now, so I felt like I couldn't afford to let my guard down yet.
"Hey, Shiho."
Before I knew it, Yamamoto—who had been striding through the home he hadn't seen in months—peered back at us from around a corner. He sounded a bit annoyed as he called out to her.
"You haven't been cleaning your room properly, have you?"
"Eh? That's not true."
"Yes, it is. Get over here."
"Ugh, what a drag..."
With her head hanging low, Shiho-chan was led away. I was momentarily taken aback by this side of Yamamoto I’d never seen, but I quickly followed after them.
The room Yamamoto had entered was the living room. It featured a large television, at least 40-inch, and a new sofa arranged in an L-shape. Even the flooring looked impeccably clean to my eyes.
...Is this guy really going to find something to complain about in a room this nice?
I was suddenly very glad I’d left the cleaning at our place to him. If I’d tried to do it myself, I might have had a nervous breakdown.
"Look at this. Behind the dresser. Dust is piling up."
"Normally, people only clean spots like that during spring cleaning! You're the only one who cleans things like that every day, Onii-chan."
"What are you talking about? There's a ton of dust around the wiring for the electronics, too. Besides, the cables are a mess. You have to bundle them more neatly than this."
"Uwah. Shut up already."
Shiho-chan slumped her shoulders while Yamamoto continued his relentless nagging.
Ah, so this is how he acts at home, I thought. The scene felt incredibly domestic and strangely fresh. At the same time, a realization dawned on me.
...I knew Yamamoto was a cleaning nut, but isn't this more like being a total cleanliness freak?
It was beyond any reasonable level. At this rate, he’d eventually be unable to shake hands with anyone without wearing gloves.
Yamamoto pulled a mask out of his pocket and put it on. Come to think of it, I remembered him wearing a mask once before when we entered a dusty room.
Wait, isn't he way too sensitive to dirt?
"I'm going to start cleaning."
"Eh? I wanted to talk more with Megu-chan."
"Go ahead and talk. I'll be cleaning on my own."
"Oh, in that case, please, be my guest."
"Hmph."
"Let's go, Megu-chan," Shiho-chan said with a smile.
"Ah, okay."
Led by Shiho-chan, I climbed the stairs located near the entrance.
"My room is on the second floor."
"I see... Hey, is it really okay to just leave him like that?"
"Oh, it's a regular occurrence, so it's fine."
How terrifying. So this was what it meant to be "used to it." I was starting to get used to his eccentricities myself, but I hadn't reached the point where I could be quite that nonchalant.
As expected of siblings. As expected of family.
...It must be nice, being family with him.
"This is my room."
"Pardon the intrusion. It’s very clean."
"Yeah. Though the person downstairs won't give me any credit for it."
"Ah, I see..."
"Yeah. I noticed it while watching a TV drama, but Onii-chan is exactly like a nagging sister-in-law, isn't he?"
"Ah... yeah, I can see that."
"He might be perfect for bridal training, though."
...She definitely had a point there.