Yuu-2

Today, the teaching hospital was dreadfully crowded.

Unknown contagions were proliferating lately, so it seemed that the number of people overreacting to a common cold was on the rise as well. Thanks to that, the patients who genuinely needed a physical exam had to put up with an unnecessarily long waiting time. Perhaps I should have used my makeup to reduce humanity’s numbers after all.

The television in the waiting room was showing a news report about a large-scale corruption scandal involving pharmaceuticals or some such thing, judging by its depiction of a premises search in a drug manufacturing company. The people in lab coats made an unpleasant sight as they fumed: “This is an unfair investigation! The government is hiding a big secret—!” My goodness, people who are stained by money are more trouble than they are worth.

By the time I was able to get home, I was rather behind schedule. Even if I headed for school right at this very moment, it would be lunchtime by the time I arrived.

Knowing, then, that we would stay at home afterwards, we prepared lunch. Once we finished, we sat together in front of the dining table, close as sisters could be, and closed our eyes.

“Thanks for the meal.”

We offered our thanks to the land.

I could feel the sunlight poking through a gap in the lace curtains, causing the luncheon mat to warm up gently.

Today’s lunch consisted of a vegetarian cream stew made with liberal amounts of carrots, potatoes and mushrooms bought in bulk at a super bargain sale. There was a teensy bit of skin left on the potatoes, but the consistency of the cream source was such that it would not be amiss in a restaurant. That is how home-cooked stew ought to be. These days, the pre-packaged all-purpose stew might be throwing its weight about, but I invite anyone to come to my house at any time. I will show you a real stew.

Misa picked up a spoon with her right hand and pulled a plate towards herself with her left. I picked up my stew and spoon with the opposite hands in order to match her reflection. We synchronised our movements even with things like this.

As Misa blew on her spoon and brought the tip of it to her mouth, her hand suddenly came to a halt. “I think it’s about time I started making things like stew and curry.”

“Why is that?”

“I mean, you seem really busy in the mornings, Onee-chan.”

“You should just think about yourself, Misa.”

I poked my little sister on her tiny forehead. Her nose flared in surprise and she burrowed her head, an action which was utterly adorable of her.

“Aww… but still, I can peel potatoes now!” Misa c.o.c.ked her head somewhat anxiously as she crammed the unpeeled potatoes into her mouth.

“Yes, you can. They’re very delicious.”

Before I knew it, I was patting Misa lightly on the head. I traced her forehead with my finger and covered the reddened part of it with her fringe.

Misa was the kind of girl who cared for other people regardless of her own situation. She was as kind as an angel. She was the pride of the Chigusa family. I see, so sisters really are peas in a pod. Professor Mendel was right.