Moving

“Kent-san. You got back at just the right time. Could you help me with something?”

When Caro and I returned home, Marie—who had gotten back earlier—called out to me.

“Sure. What should I help with?”

“The flour we ordered from the Bakers’ guild arrived, so I want you to carry it into the storage.”

“Got it. I’ll go now.”

It sounded like the flour for the shop had arrived and needed to be moved into storage. I headed to the bakery workshop with Marie. By the back entrance, sacks of flour were stacked high. At our current production rate, it looked like about two weeks’ worth.

“Marie-san, you ordered a lot. At this amount, the storage will be full.”

“Even so, it might not last two weeks. If we increase production even more, we may need to rethink where we keep it.”

While talking, we carried sack after sack into the storage room.

“By the way, where’s Catherine?”

“She was exhausted and fell asleep in your room. The flour arrived right after she dozed off, and I was wondering what to do—then you two came back. And Caro-chan has her girl’s day, so I thought it would be a bit much to make her help.”

So Marie knew about Caro’s situation.

“Kent-san, having you here really helped. Thank you.”

The sun was starting to dip, and it was about time to start dinner preparations. I went straight into the kitchen and began cooking. Caro seemed tired too and was resting in her room. Marie helped beside me.

“Um… Marie-san?”

“Dressing like that makes it hard to know where to look.”

“It’s fine, isn’t it? They’re both asleep, and it’s just you and me.”

Marie was wearing what people would call an apron—and basically nothing else.

“If you want, you can come after me.”

“Uh, I’m cooking with heat, so that’s not happening.”

In truth, it was an induction cooktop, so safety systems would kick in if anything went wrong—but I focused on cooking anyway.

“Geez, Kent-san. You’re no fun.”

Marie puffed out her cheeks, looking dissatisfied.

Feeling like I’d teased her too much, I quietly slipped my hand inside her apron.

“Eek!”

“Just a little, okay?”

And like that, Marie and I flirted while making dinner.

“Dinner’s done, so I’ll go put on some clothes.”

Marie removed the apron right there, put on underwear, and got dressed. I watched the whole time.

Catherine and Caro woke up, and the four of us ate dinner together.

“Mom, you’re in a really good mood. Did something nice happen?”

Catherine asked Marie.

“Maybe. Kent-san is sweet to me, so it makes me happy.”

“Oh, I see. That’s great.”

Catherine looked happy as if it were her own good news. I kept quiet about the small pang of guilt I felt.

“Sorry… I’m going to sleep now.”

“Then I’m going to take a bath.”

Looking unwell, Caro returned to her room first, and Catherine went to bathe.

“Caro-chan’s having a rougher time than usual, huh?”

“I might’ve made her even more tired today by pushing her…”

“Did something happen?”

Marie asked, concerned by what I’d said.

I briefly explained what had happened today.

“I see. So you went to Josette-san’s home… It’s a fair distance, so that probably wore her out.”

Marie said, sounding satisfied with the explanation.

“Oh, and about your little sister Rachel-chan—she’s going to lodge here. She’ll be using the empty room on the second floor on the shop side.”

“I knew she was moving, but on the shop side, nothing’s set up except Emily’s room, right?”

“There’s a shower room, and on the first floor there’s the shop kitchen and a restroom too, so she said it’s fine.”

Marie answered my concern.

“And… should we tell her what Emily really is?”

“That’s something you should decide, Kent-san. I can’t say anything.”

Emily was the shop’s fairy. I still didn’t know how she lived when we weren’t around. I’d made her a living space out of consideration, but before that, she didn’t even have a room. I just hoped Akane wouldn’t be too startled.

“Mom, big brother, I’m done with my bath.”

Catherine seemed to be out.

“Then, Kent-san, shall we go in?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

Marie and I headed to the bath together.

“Ever since I started using the body soap, shampoo, conditioner, and face wash you provided, Kent-san, my skin feels glossy and really nice.”

“Yeah? I’m glad you’re happy with it.”

While we washed, Marie said that to me.

“Kent-san, touch and see for yourself.”

Marie took my hand and placed it against her chest.

“Very smooth.”

“Don’t start kneading while you say that.”

I tested the feel anyway, and as the soft sensation reached my hand, the two of us gradually got heated.

“Should we…?”

Marie asked, looking up at me.

I was already past the point of restraint, and we ended up enjoying a longer bath than usual.

“You two took forever. I got tired of waiting.”

Catherine complained in a slightly sulky voice when we came out. After that, it was basically time for bed, but Caro was already asleep in her room. Wanting to leave her undisturbed, Marie and Catherine used the bed in my room, and I decided to sleep on the living room sofa.

“Alright, Marie-san, Catherine—good night.”

“Good night, Kent-san.”

“Good night, big brother.”

And with that, we went to our sleeping spots. I was pleasantly tired, so I fell asleep quickly.

The next morning, Rachel arrived at our home together with a packhorse wagon loaded with luggage.

“Morning, big brother. Can you help me move?”

Rachel was fully planning to use me. It was something that happened all the time in our old world too, and the nostalgia made me smile as I helped her move.

“This place can use electricity, right?”

While we carried her luggage into her room, she asked me.

“This room doesn’t have power running to it, but if we bring a line from somewhere else in the building, you’ll be able to use it.”

That room had been left untouched for a long time because we hadn’t needed to renovate it. Thanks to Emily cleaning, it wasn’t dirty, but it was old, and I couldn’t call it nice. I also didn’t have enough spare money to renovate it with my device out of pocket, so she’d have to put up with it.

“Don’t worry, big brother. The dorm was dirtier than this room and smelled weird, so I’m not going to complain if I can lodge here cheaply. And Marie-san said I can eat meals at your house, too.”

“So that’s what you all decided…”

It was the first I’d heard of it, but since we were siblings, I didn’t really have a reason to refuse.

In the end, I spent the whole day helping with Rachel’s move. Emily seemed to be cleaning the shop side, but she came by to check on us and helped when needed.

For dinner, the five of us—now including Rachel—ate together noisily. Afterward, everyone took turns bathing. It seemed Rachel hadn’t had a proper bath in a while, because she looked very satisfied.

And just like that, the two-day break flew by in the blink of an eye.