Starting a New Life in Tokyo by Inheriting a Shopping Street [25]

It was almost lunchtime by the time Chiba Shuuichi and Ogawa Fumika finally emerged from the bedroom, both freshly showered, changed, and looking relaxed and refreshed.

This latest experience had only confirmed for him—sometimes, a soft, curvy body really was far better than being just skinny.

It was just a shame that Fumika was still so terribly shy. She wouldn’t bathe with him, wouldn’t even let him look. Well, there’d be other opportunities.

Fumika, face still tinged with the afterglow, followed quietly behind Chiba with her head down.

The two went downstairs one after the other. As soon as they entered the main hall, they saw Ogawa Sayuki lounging there, playing with her phone as she waited.

She sat with a kind of swagger, one leg crossed over the other and propped up on Chiba’s usual desk.

Today, she was in her usual denim shorts, and her long, smooth, fair legs looked even more striking and inviting in that pose.

Chiba found it hard not to let his eyes wander over.

Immediately, he noticed Sayuki was looking at him, half-smiling, as if to say—You looked, didn’t you?

“Sayuki-neesan, you could have told us you were here,” Chiba said, unruffled, sitting down at his own spot—where, from this angle and distance, the view of her legs was even better.

Sayuki’s eyelid twitched. She uncrossed her legs. “I don’t remember Fumika announcing herself before coming over, did she? So what, I’m supposed to check in while she isn’t? Am I just the extra wheel now?”

“Sayuki…” Fumika clutched her purse strap, giving her sister a soft, reproachful call.

“Looks like you changed your stockings, huh?” Sayuki’s sharp gaze noticed at a glance that it wasn’t the same pair as this morning. She raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement on her face. “Pretty intense battle, huh? I guess you won’t need me to bring you any snacks for drinks in the future—got the full-course meal now.”

Fumika’s face flushed a deep red, so embarrassed she could barely get a word out.

“Actually, I wouldn’t mind a fresh, warm snack,” Chiba picked up smoothly, grinning without a trace of shame. “But Fumika-neesan refused no matter what. Sayuki-neesan, if you could help, that’d be great.”

Fumika whimpered and covered her face. Between her sister and Chiba, their relentless teasing was almost too much for her.

“That all depends on your performance.” Sayuki folded her arms and gave Chiba a sidelong glance, her eyes glimmering with mischief.

“My performance?” Chiba blinked. “What, you planning to play the middleman and pocket a cut? Maybe I should just go straight to the source. All I’d have to do is put in a little more effort and grease the wheels a bit.”

The bizarre metaphor left Sayuki speechless for a moment. She just rolled her eyes at him.

“I meant when we open for business—you’ll be coming to my gym, right? Good performance gets you rewards. That way you’ll actually have some motivation. Trust me, I know just how lazy people who never exercise really are.”

She glanced pointedly at her sister, who immediately dropped her head in shame.

“I see,” Chiba nodded in realization. “Sayuki-neesan, you really are thorough. If that’s the reward, I guess it’ll be a lot easier to stick with it.”

Fumika let out another little whimper; the color that had just faded from her neck was already returning in full bloom.

“You’d better stick with it. The way you are now, I doubt you could keep up with my sister’s needs.” Sayuki tossed out another line straight from the wolf’s mouth.

“Sayuki!” Fumika finally couldn’t take it, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, looking thoroughly bullied. “Don’t say things like that…”

“She’s right, though,” Chiba replied seriously, as if they were discussing something purely technical. “Fumika-neesan’s so charming, it’s hard for anyone to stay in control. I know I don’t have that much willpower. For the long term, I really do need to get in better shape.”

But then another thought occurred to him—Sayuki’s gym was for women. He couldn’t very well join the female clients during business hours.

So… would this be private after-hours training?

“Then it’s settled,” Sayuki said, nodding like they’d just finalized a business deal.

Fumika watched them, completely bewildered. Am I the weird one here? Why is Chiba-kun so calm, talking with Sayuki about this kind of thing?

“Oh, right, the people next door—they’re the new tenants, aren’t they? I saw them moving stuff in first thing this morning,” Sayuki said, tilting her chin toward the Akiyama house.

“Yeah, they signed the contract yesterday. Their family name is Akiyama—they’re opening a ramen shop. You two should introduce yourselves sometime.

From now on, we’ll all be neighbors. And if you want to eat out, you can consider going to them,” Chiba explained.

Sayuki looked at him with a sly smile. “You’re eager to send them business, huh? Looks like you’re pretty close with those two girls.”

“They’re classmates. Single-parent family, struggling a bit. Just trying to help where I can,” Chiba said, perfectly calm.

“That’s all?” Sayuki arched an eyebrow. “Not even a little ulterior motive?”

Chiba spread his hands. “Little girls don’t interest me. I prefer ripe, sweet white peaches like Fumika-neesan over green, sour apples any day.”

White… peach?

Fumika was both delighted by his frank affection and a little shy about the metaphor.

White peach…

Is he talking about my figure? Or… something else?

She glanced down at her curves, then over at her pencil skirt—either way, the thought was mortifying.

Sayuki watched him for a long moment before commenting, “Feels like you’re actually telling the truth. I’m a little surprised.”

“In that case, Sayuki-neesan, you’ll just have to get to know me better. That way you won’t keep being surprised,” Chiba said with a soft laugh.

Sayuki’s heart skipped a beat. She glanced at her still-flustered sister, then shot the boy a glare.

Saying things like that right in front of my sister? He’s got guts.

“Are your eyes bothering you? There’s eye drops upstairs—artificial tears, too. Want me to get some?” Chiba asked innocently, as if nothing had happened.

Sayuki’s mouth twitched. “No need. Probably just dust from the renovations. A few blinks and I’ll be fine.”

“Good. But don’t ignore it—eyes are important. If you feel uncomfortable later, just come to the second floor and I’ll give you some drops.”

His words almost seemed to hint at something, but on the surface, there was nothing wrong with them. Sayuki silently cursed his cunning.

“Fumika, you’re not leaving yet? It’s already lunchtime. Or… did you already eat your fill just now?” Sayuki suddenly teased.

Fumika jumped in alarm, flustered. “N-no, I haven’t! Sayuki, don’t say weird things…”

“Why not just eat here from now on? I’m fine eating alone,” Sayuki said, heading for the door. Fumika hurried after her.

At the doorway, Fumika paused and threw Chiba a lingering, reluctant glance before hurrying to catch up with her sister.

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T/N: DAMNIT DAMNIT DAMNIT WHY IS IT ALWAYS OFF SCREENS

This is a fan translation of 从继承商店街开始东京生活 by 净消尘土 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!