Capítulo 234: Visiting the Kato Family
Ikemi Kato had always been sharp-eared. Even while lying in bed to rest, she immediately heard the soft sound of the door opening when Megumi gently pushed it ajar, waking up and sitting up in bed.
Seeing Kotomi following Megumi into the room, she froze for a moment before her face lit up with joy:
"Oh my, Kotomi, you're here! I was wondering why I couldn't fall asleep even after taking my medicine this afternoon. Turns out my subconscious must've known you'd be visiting, keeping me from falling too deeply asleep and missing your visit!" Ikemi coughed lightly before joking with a smile.
Perhaps her conversations with Izumi Akina had subtly influenced her; lately, Ikemi had started learning to crack a few jokes here and there. Although most of them came off as corny, it was still surprising given that she had rarely joked in the past.
"Not at all. I only found out you were unwell when Megumi told me as we headed home earlier. I thought I'd stop by to visit you, Aunt Kato. And here's a little something from me; I hope you'll accept it," Kotomi said, lifting the two bags of fruit she had brought.
When Ikemi saw that one of the bags contained a watermelon, she was visibly startled and quickly protested:
"Why'd you bring anything, dear? Your visit alone is enough to make me happy. These fruits aren't cheap either. How much did all this cost? I'll reimburse you later."
Kotomi grinned and interrupted Ikemi's refusal. "No need to be so formal, Aunt Kato. It's just a small token of my appreciation. Besides, Megumi often takes care of me, and the last time she came to my house, she brought such a thoughtful gift. I've been trying to figure out how to reciprocate."
"But still…"
Before Ikemi could continue, Kotomi quickly changed the subject:
"Aunt Kato, are you thirsty? Megumi, are you thirsty? I am. We haven't had a drink since boarding the Tokyo Monorail. How about I wash some fruit for us to snack on?"
Catching the hint, Megumi nodded enthusiastically and chimed in, "Thirsty, definitely thirsty. We haven't had anything to drink since lunch. Some fruit would be perfect. Could you wash a pear for me? Mom, what would you like? Besides the watermelon, there are lots of other fruits Kotomi brought."
"Well… Alright, fine," Ikemi relented. "But Kotomi, next time you come over, don't be so formal, okay? You're still young. You don't need to follow the grown-ups' rule of always bringing a gift. Just come empty-handed."
"Got it! Just this once, Aunt Kato. What fruit would you like?" Kotomi replied earnestly, though inwardly, she had no intention of changing her ways.
"I'd like that box of pre-cut pineapple," Ikemi said.
"Sure thing! I'll borrow the kitchen for a bit to wash the fruit and grab a plate for the pineapple," Kotomi said as she turned to leave the room.
Before she could step out, Ikemi called out to her: "Wait a moment. Megumi, why are you just standing there? How can you let Kotomi do it herself when she's our guest? Go wash the fruit."
"Got it! Kotomi, what do you want?"
"The same as you—pear."
Without further argument, Megumi took the bags of fruit from Kotomi and headed to the kitchen to wash them, successfully diverting Ikemi's attention from further protests about the gift.
Soon enough, the fruit was washed and brought back.
"Is Dad out buying medicine? I didn't see him when we came in," Megumi asked, taking a bite of her pear.
"Yes," Ikemi confirmed. "After lunch, we realized the cold medicine was running low. Since my cold came on earlier than usual this year, we hadn't had time to stock up. After I took the last dose, he went out to buy more medicine and ingredients for dinner. He should be back soon."
Although the Kato and Izumi households were in a good location, they were a bit inconveniently far from the nearest pharmacy.
"So Dad's cooking dinner too? Tonight, after dinner, he's definitely going to joke about how he did two years' worth of housework in a single day," Megumi said with a laugh.
"I think he enjoys it. After making egg porridge for me this afternoon, he said he's always wanted to cook more but rarely gets the chance because I never let him. Now that he has the opportunity, he's determined to make the most of it and take good care of me," Ikemi said cheerfully.
After getting married, Ikemi had become a traditional homemaker, taking on household chores and other family responsibilities as her duty. Now that she was ill and being cared for by her family, she couldn't help but habitually think about what she could still do to help. Yet, she had to admit that being looked after felt rather nice.
She decided to give herself a day off, fully relax, and leave all the household tasks to her husband for once.
As for Naoki Kato, who rarely got the chance to cook, he was more than happy to take on the responsibility. However, he had also come to realize a universal truth: while cooking and eating were enjoyable, cleaning up afterward was a different story.
"How are you feeling now, Aunt Kato?" Kotomi asked.
"Much better than this morning. When I woke up, my throat was sore, my body felt weak, and I was dizzy. Taking my temperature, I realized I'd caught a cold. But after resting and eating the pineapple Kotomi brought, I feel much better. There's something about canned and sweet-and-sour foods that always hits the spot when I'm recovering from a cold. You really nailed it with this pineapple," Ikemi said with a smile.
A little while later, Naoki returned with the cold medicine and groceries for dinner.
"Megumi, Kotomi, you're back? I heard from Ikemi that you two had a great time in Shinagawa yesterday—so much so that you missed the last train."
"It's all the Keiyo Line's fault!" Megumi immediately countered, the words slipping out reflexively. Seeing her reaction, Kotomi quickly chimed in, "Yeah, exactly! It's all the Keiyo Line's fault."
As twilight enveloped the sky, Kotomi stood up to take her leave, realizing it was getting late.
"Take care on your way home. It's such a pity we couldn't have you over for lunch today," Ikemi said regretfully.
Kotomi chuckled and reassured her, "I'll visit often when I have time, Aunt Kato. Don't worry about it. Make sure to rest well; the best way to fight a cold is to rest. I'll take my leave now."
Megumi accompanied Kotomi to the entrance. Watching her walk away, Megumi suddenly felt a pang of reluctance, knowing she wouldn't see Kotomi again until school the next day.
On an impulse, she reached out from behind to hug Kotomi, hoping to steal a kiss and perhaps make her cry a little—something she found irresistibly adorable.
After last night, Megumi had discovered that when Kotomi was overwhelmed with comfort, she would cry. And who wouldn't want to see this cute little penguin brought to tears of joy?
"Kotomi~" Megumi called out, darting forward like a hunter pouncing on prey.
Bang!
Just as Kotomi was about to put on her shoes, she had only half-turned her body when Megumi's sudden approach made her instinctively shift to the right.
Caught off guard, Megumi couldn't stop herself in time. She collided directly into Kotomi, causing the two to tumble down together.
"Argh—!"
Kotomi let out a sharp yelp as her white-stockinged foot slammed into the solid wooden shoe rack. The collision echoed through the quiet entryway.
When you stub your toe, the pain that shoots through your body is indescribable. It's as though all the nerves in your body have united to scream in agony. It's instantaneous, sharp, and impossible to ignore—like a high-end computer operating at peak performance, delivering information with zero delay.
The moment Kotomi's little foot collided with the shoe cabinet, she let out a pained howl, much like a small, injured animal. The intense pain shot up from her toes, causing cold sweat to bead on her forehead as she gasped for air.
"Kotomi, I'm so sorry!"
Megumi immediately apologized, steadying Kotomi, who was wobbling and in danger of falling over entirely.
"It hurts... it hurts so much…" Kotomi whimpered, her face scrunched up in pain, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
The pitiful tone in her voice melted Megumi's heart, making her feel both guilty and desperate to comfort Kotomi. "Okay, okay, my sweetie. Let big sister make it better for you. Where does it hurt, hmm?"
"My toes… Wait, what? Why are you suddenly calling yourself my big sister? If anything, I'm older than you! I was born before you!" Kotomi's indignation momentarily eclipsed her pain as she realized Megumi was trying to take advantage of the situation.
Her reaction drew a laugh from Megumi, who teased, "Does your toe still hurt, though?"
As if on cue, the mention of her toe brought the pain back into sharp focus.
"Outch! It hurts again—my toes!"
Megumi helped Kotomi sit down on the entryway floor and gently placed her injured foot on her lap. With delicate fingers, she began massaging Kotomi's toes to ease the pain.
Encased in sheer white stockings, Kotomi's small foot exuded a silky, smooth texture. Even without touching it, its refined elegance was apparent. The faint sheen of the fabric accentuated her slender yet perfectly proportioned legs, striking a balance of purity and allure that made it impossible to look away.
Megumi, initially intent on soothing Kotomi's pain, found her thoughts drifting.
"Does it still hurt?" Megumi asked, doing her best to suppress the inappropriate urges creeping into her mind.
After all, it was her fault Kotomi had stubbed her toe. Guilt and adoration swirled within her as she looked at the delicate foot in her hands, thinking that such a masterpiece deserved only to be cherished.
"Not really... I mean—ah, it still hurts! A lot!" Kotomi quickly changed her answer halfway through, deciding Megumi shouldn't be let off the hook so easily.
Megumi immediately saw through Kotomi's act but decided to play along. Chuckling to herself, she said, "Oh no, if it still hurts, I'll just have to put in some extra effort. It's my fault, after all. I have to make it up to you!"
"Exactly, that's more like—wait! What are you doing?!"
Before Kotomi could finish her triumphant sentence, she felt Megumi's fingers tickling her sensitive sole.
"Ah—ahahaha! Megumi! What are you doing?! Stop! Ahahaha!"
As someone who often tickled Aimi's feet, Kotomi had no defenses against the same tactic being used on her. Her laughter erupted uncontrollably, and she squirmed helplessly in Megumi's grasp.
"I heard that tickling the soles of your feet can help relieve pain. So, does your toe still hurt?"
"Where on earth did you hear that nonsense?! Ahahaha!"
"I didn't. I just made it up because I wanted to tickle you."
"Could you at least try to hide it?!" Kotomi shouted between gasps of laughter.
"So, does it still hurt?" Megumi asked again with mock seriousness.
"No… it doesn't hurt anymore! But you're so mean, Megumi!"
"That's because I love you so much—and I love tickling you too."
After Megumi finally let go of her foot, Kotomi realized that the pain had completely subsided. Based on her usual experiences with stubbing her toe, she was certain it should've hurt at least until she got home.
Standing up and brushing the wrinkles out of her skirt, Kotomi slipped on her shoes. Megumi handed her a bag containing the souvenirs they had bought at Aqua Park.
"This is the souvenir I picked out for Aimi. I wanted to give it to her myself, but I need to help my mom with something soon, so could you deliver it for me?"
"Of course, leave it to me. As her big sister, I'll make sure she gets it safely. I promise I won't peek inside."
Taking the shopping bag, Kotomi bid Megumi farewell. "Alright, I'm heading home. See you tomorrow!"
"See you! Tomorrow's going to be a beautiful day!"
Just as Kotomi reached for the door handle, she hesitated. Suddenly, she spun around and kissed Megumi deeply, catching her completely off guard.
When they finally parted, Kotomi's face was flushed crimson. She mumbled shyly, "This weekend... I had a wonderful time. A truly wonderful time. Especially last night..."
Before Megumi could respond, Kotomi turned and bolted out the door, her cheeks still glowing red.
Leaning against the doorway, Megumi watched Kotomi's retreating figure with a dreamy smile. Her heart brimmed with warmth and happiness.
"I'm home!" Kotomi called out as she entered the house, holding a bag of her own souvenirs in one hand and the bag containing Aimi's gift in the other.
"You've got good timing. Dinner's just about ready. Tonight, we're having lamb stew," her mother announced from the kitchen, the aroma wafting out as she spoke.
"Lamb stew?! And rice and noodles? I'm eating both!" Kotomi exclaimed, her stomach growling audibly.
Hearing this, her mother chuckled. "The lamb came straight from your grandparents' farm in Yamanashi. It just arrived this afternoon. Oh, and there's lamb ribs too. I set some aside to grill tomorrow night."
Tears of joy filled Kotomi's eyes. "This... this moment just made me realize how lucky I am to be your daughter!"
Her mother laughed. "You're just saying that because of the lamb ribs! Now go wash up while I finish cooking. And make it quick before the stew boils over!"
Kotomi hurried upstairs, eager to put her things away and deliver Aimi's gift. She briefly eyed the bag, curiosity bubbling up.
"What did Megumi pick for Aimi, I wonder? Maybe I should take a peek... No! I'm not the kind of person who snoops!"
Steeling herself, Kotomi pushed open her bedroom door, only to find Aimi sprawled across her bed, her delicate feet dangling and swaying in the air as she stared intently at the screen of Kotomi's laptop.
The background music playing from the laptop was oddly familiar. Kotomi frowned, her curiosity piqued.
"What on earth is she watching...?"
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