Next morning.
When Shinichi woke up and went to the toilet downstairs to take a shower, he happened to meet Rui coming out of the bathroom, wearing pajamas and messy hair.
"Good morning."
"...Good morning."
After the two greeted, they passed expressionlessly.
Shinichi didn't ask what happened yesterday, nor did he intend to bring it up.
Suddenly, Rui's innocent voice sounded behind Shinichi.
"For breakfast, Western or Japanese, which one?"
Shinichi opened the door and stood still: "Don't bother, I can do it myself."
"Which one," Rui asked again without giving up.
Shinichi looked at Rui who was staring at him on the stairs, "If you don't answer, I will follow you into the bathroom later".
"...West."
Shinichi really didn't want to argue with this eccentric cousin.
"Yes." Rui didn't go upstairs immediately, but said, "I heard that many boys like to smell women after going to the bathroom."
Shinichi's brow twitched: "So I waited for the smell to go away."
Rui suddenly realized: "So you think it would be more fun to kiss it at the door..."
The doorknob creaked, Shinichi tried to calm his mind, but Rui stared at him on the stairs.
Only after hearing the sound of footsteps upstairs, Shinichi walked quickly to the bathroom.
This damn cohabitation life! This inexplicable cousin!
He'd rather stay with Fuutarou!
Feeling a bit uneasy in the morning, after Shinichi got out of the toilet, he happened to meet Rui who had changed clothes.
"Does it smell good?" Rui asked without any malice.
Shinichi passed her and walked straight into the living room, took a pen in the cupboard, and wrote the new rules in the living agreement on the wall.
[Article 16: Don't ask how you feel after going to the toilet.]
Rui looked back, and nodded.
"I see."
Then she turned around, went into the kitchen and skillfully put on her apron, and started making breakfast.
Shinichi sighed tiredly.
While Rui was using the kitchen, Shinichi returned to his room to change, grabbed his school bag, replied to Fumino's good morning message, and returned to the living room.
Not long after, the hum of the hood gradually weakened, and Rui came out with two simple Western breakfasts.
Shinichi put down his cell phone.
"Thank You."
"You're welcome."
"Ittadakimasu."
Shinichi took a bite of the toast and spoke lightly.
"Didn't you sleep longer during summer vacation?"
Rui answered while taking a bite of the bacon.
"Originally... I was going to sleep in a cage... I happened to meet you..."
Shinichi took a sip of coffee.
"Don't bother, I can cook too."
"That's the rent. Cooking is also my hobby.
While annoying at times, Rui's blunt demeanor makes it impossible for misunderstandings to occur, which relaxes Shinichi a bit.
Rui asked back.
"How about you? What are you going to do when you wake up this early?"
"Go to cram school, I remember I said it yesterday."
"Is it true? I'm not listening."
Silence returned.
Although there is no misunderstanding, but often this girl is very annoying.
Shinichi could understand why Rui said earlier that she had no friends.
When breakfast was almost finished, Rui asked while picking up a plate.
"Dinner last night, is there still room for improvement?"
Shinichi looked at her suspiciously.
"Since you can cook, then give some useful advice."
Rui averted her eyes, and her voice became a little softer.
"…After all, you are the only person who eats my food apart from my family."
Shinichi sighed again.
"Okay, I'll get straight to the point."
"The temperature of the oil in the fried chicken pieces is too high, so the chicken loses its smooth and tender taste when put in the pan. The tamagoyaki is also 5% more sugar, and the braised beef is also overcooked, almost every part of the meat is too soft!"
In Rui's eyes widened, Shinichi took his school bag.
"Moreover, the last seafood soup, like freestyle with killer whales in the elementary school swimming pool, don't you try it yourself first?"
"I..."
Rui was speechless, watching him walk towards the entrance.
Shinichi left the last sentence.
"It's a good thing you can make such delicious food."
Rui almost lost her grip on the plate in her hands.
Shinichi saw her flustered appearance, the corners of his lips finally curled up, revealing an evil smile of revenge.
"Although I think Tamagoyaki is a bit sweet, your cooking skills are much better than mine, and I am not the tongue of God. How can I take any blame other than to say it's delicious?"
"So it was just a joke, you have the potential to become a chef, go on, Cousin Rui."
The bad mood is now gone.
Shinichi left the house with happy steps.
And ignoring that Rui had regained consciousness behind him, knowing that she was being teased, her hand that was holding the plate trembled slightly, her eyes blazing with rage.
The gate is closed.
There was only one person left in the living room.
Rui still had a cold face, walked into the kitchen silently, put all the dishes into the sink, and started washing them one by one by hand.
While washing the dishes, she found herself laughing accidentally.
"…This is getting more interesting."