It's currently 6:00 pm. Keisuke's mom is yet to arrive home. "Perfect", he thought.
She usually arrives a quarter to seven. He has enough time to put his plan into motion.
First, he thawed out the frozen fish by putting it in a large bowl filled with water. He then readies the other ingredients and starts cooking the side dishes, sauteed vegetables and miso soup.
As he's cooking dinner, a small silhouette of a girl is hovering around near the kitchen. Keiko, who has been home alone all this time, have heard someone came in the house but not hear them say anything.
After gathering a bit of courage and having her phone ready to call the police, she steps out of her room to find out what's going on.
She instantly recognizes the guy in the kitchen and got a bit annoyed.
"Geez! Big bro, if you're home at least say so." She shouted at him, clearly annoyed.
"Ack! Keiko… I forgot you're here…"
"HUUUUH?!" Keiko kept on nagging her brother.
"Okay, okay. Calm down." He looked her right in the eyes. "Deep breaths…" but she doesn't follow him. It was clear to him that she is furious.
"Okay… I'm sorry, alright. From now on, I'll remember to tell you whenever I get home."
"…. And?"
"And? Was there anything else?"
"Hmph!"
"Ack! I'm sorry for anything and everything I may or may not have done." Keisuke said, devoid of any emotion but still made it sound like he cares.
"W-well… as long as you're sorry then I guess it's okay… But forget that, what are you cooking?"
"No, no no. What do you mean forget that? Gosh, where did you even learn to talk like that." Keisuke is overwhelmed, both with cooking and with his little sister.
"Ah, big sis taught me yesterday."
"Natsumi?!"
"Yeah! She said that I should be… what was the word again? Hmmm… that's right! Assertive. She said that I have to be assertive if I ever want something from you."
"Natsumi!" Keisuke screamed internally. "Listen, Keiko. You don't have to do what she told you."
"Big sis also said that if you tell me that then she would get mad at you."
" Ugh. Fine." Keisuke sighed in defeat.
"Anyway, what are you making?"
"Fish, sauteed veggies and miso soup."
Keiko seemed disinterested by this.
"Hmm… So, you're cooking. What do you need from mom?" Keiko was able to see through everything.
This wasn't a bizarre assumption from her though. In the past, whenever the siblings want to ask for something to their mom, they'd go above and beyond trying to impress her to increase their chances.
He pondered deeply. If he keeps it a secret now, then she'll probably ask to come with once he asks his mom for permission later. Keiko will adamantly beg to come with and he'll adamantly say no and because of that, their mom might catch on and ask questions he dares not answer.
Keisuke needs to prevent all that from happening!
"Me and Natsumi are going on a date this weekend."
"Ehh?! I want to hang out with big sis too!"
"You can't come with."
"It's not fair!"
"Sorry, Keiko. Maybe some other time."
"… I understand."
Huh? I thought she'd be more forceful but I guess she's more apprehensive than I thought.
"Don't worry, Keiko. I'll invite Natsumi again soon."
"Really? I'll look forward to it then!" Keiko's eyes are gleaming. "Let me help you, big bro!"
Keiko is seemingly full of surprises tonight. She's never this helpful but maybe Natsumi told her something when they hung-out yesterday– though, I wish she'd only tell her good things.
"Well… you can help by setting the plates on the table."
"Ok!" Keiko darted to the table and started placing the plates and silverware.
Keisuke finishes cooking the rest of the food as the clock strikes 6:45.
Just like clockwork, their mom arrives home.
She carried with her a plastic bag with unknown contents. The two went to the hallway to greet her back.
Keisuke and Keiko said in unison, "Welcome home!"
"I'm back." Their mom replied whilst removing her shoes.
"We made you dinner, mom." Keisuke said, excited to put his plan in motion.
"Oh? That's perfect! I bought these on the way home." She lifts the plastic bag. As she hands it to Keisuke, he finally sees what's inside of it. Pudding. 3 of them.
"Ah. Looks like Keiko will really enjoy these." He hands the plastic bag to his little sister.
She was in awe; so excited that she wants to forego dinner altogether and go straight to dessert. "Wow! Let's hurry and eat!" Keiko pulls her mom to the dining room.
"Ok, ok!" Their mom agreed happily. "So, you helped your big brother with dinner?" She inquired.
"Yep! I helped set the plates and stuff." Keiko replied with a smile beaming on her face.
"Good girl! But always be careful, ok?"
"Yes, mom."
Keisuke follows to the dining room after he cleaned up a bit on the entryway.
As he enters, his mom and Keiko were already seated. They seem to be chatting about something but their voices were low enough for him to not hear.
He brought over the food to the table similar to how a waiter from a fancy restaurant would serve their guests.
He places the pans on one side of the table and as he lifts the lid up, an aromatic explosion fills the room– to the excitement of his mom and Keiko.
"Wow! Did you cook all this? You've gotten better." His mom asked, impressed by his steady improvement.
"Not really. I'm still learning. Anyway, let's eat!" Keisuke acted like he didn't care but deep inside, he was so happy to be complimented.
Keisuke sits down opposite of the two. They all clasped their hands in unison, "Let's eat!'
The three ate dinner. It was a lively one– with Keiko mainly the one making topics of conversation. Before Keisuke knows it, his mom is already finished eating and he hasn't asked her for permission yet.
But there's still dessert, he thought to himself. He'll just ask her once she gets her pudding.
"Oof! I'm stuffed." His mom said to herself.
"Ooh, can I have your pudding, mom? Please?" Keiko immediately jumped on the opportunity for two puddings.
"Hmm… But just for tonight, ok?"
"Yay! Thanks, mom!" Keiko happily went to the fridge and took two puddings.
Crap! That was my chance too. Should I just ask another day? But she's in such a good mood today that it feels foolish not to do it now.
"I think I'm going to go rest now." His mom starts to head back to her room.
No, Keisuke. I have to do this today! I want to tell Natsumi tomorrow I got permission.
"Wait! Mom?" Keisuke quickly intercepted his mom who's about to leave the room.
"Yes?"
"Um… W-Would you like a massage?"
"Will you really? It was quite busy at work today so I ended up straining my shoulders."
In their living room, Keisuke is giving his mom a shoulder massage.
Alone with just the two of them, it's the perfect time for him to ask for permission and yet he ended up getting too into the massage.
He would press his fingers on her shoulders as if he wants the stress that has built up to dissipate.
She lets out a sigh of relief– tension seemingly releasing from her shoulders.
"Ah!" She moans. "That feels really good."
Keisuke smiles, happy that he can relieve his mom's exhaustion.
"So? What do you need, Kei-chan?" His mom asked, seemingly out of nowhere.
"W-what?!" Keisuke, in complete shock, is dumbfounded on how his mom knew.
"So, I was right? It's getting hard to tell lately."
Keisuke, still in shock, is unable to utter a word, though his hands are still moving.
"So? What is it? Is this about Natsumi-chan?" She hit the mark. Mother's intuition is scary.
"Yeah…" a brief pause. "We're planning to go on a date this weekend."
"How exciting! To where?"
"Tokyo."
"That's a bit far away."
"Yeah." Keisuke frowned– losing a bit of composure.
His mom notices this and lets out a long sigh.
"You know, Kei-chan. You don't have to ask me for permission to do things with your girlfriend. Just let us know if you'll be gone for a while." His mom declared in a serious yet endearing way.
Keisuke furrows his brows. It doesn't really sit right with him.
"But is that really ok, though? I think I should let you know at least what I'm up to."
"Don't worry. You're a responsible kid. I trust you to make the right decisions." His mom proudly stated, quite proud of how her son turned out.
Keisuke is bothered by this. He knew full well that that wasn't the case. That he may have done something very stupid and irresponsible.
His hands stop from moving. "Thanks, Kei-chan. That really hit the spot." His mom said as she stood up.
Guilty of not being what his mom thought of him to be, he clutches his chest, about to say something he doesn't want known.
"Mom… I-."
She looks back at her son, wondering what he's going to say.
"Me and Natsu-." Keisuke snapped out of it. "N-nothing… it's nothing."
"Are you sure?" His mom asked, puzzled.
"Y-yeah. It's ok. Sorry about that." He flashed a fake smile to disperse the tension in the air. "Good night, mom."
"Good night, dear. Make sure Keiko cleans up, ok?"
"Ok, mom. And also, I'll still ask for your permission, ok?" He said playfully.
She giggles a bit. "Thanks, dear." She retreats to her room.
Keisuke sighed in relief. In one hand, he got permission to go out with Natsumi to Tokyo. On the other hand, he managed to stop himself from revealing everything to his mom.
Feeling a bit better about things, he heads back to the dining room to clean up only to find out that Keiko is still there, struggling to finish her two cups of pudding.
She looked full. Like about to barf full.
"Keiko."
"Big bro?" She looks up at him with teary-eyes, about to hurl.
He smiles at her mischievously.
"You can have my pudding too, if you want."
Getting the mental image of her having to finish a 3rd cup of pudding was the last straw. She flew from her chair and darted all the way to the kitchen sink where she ended up puking everything.
Keisuke, feeling a bit guilty, went beside her and patted her back as a way to say sorry.
"I messed up." Keisuke whispered to himself.
The night is still young but unfortunately for Keisuke, he just made more work for himself.