Starting a New Life in Tokyo by Inheriting a Shopping Street [21]

No one knew how long it had been before Ogawa Fumika fled from Chiba Shuuichi’s bedroom, her face buried in her hands. The moment she reached downstairs, she bumped right into her sister.

“Sa—Sayuki?”

“What’s the rush, sis? Your face is all red. What were you two up to upstairs?” Ogawa Sayuki teased, half grinning, half serious.

“N-nothing… It’s nothing…” Fumika stammered, obviously flustered—her attempt to lie was so unconvincing that anyone could see through it.

“Really? Then what about those marks on your neck, hmm? Mosquito bites?” Sayuki rolled her eyes.

Fumika instinctively covered her neck. She’d completely forgotten about those. Now, there was no way to hide it. Sheepishly, she mumbled, “I just gave Chiba-kun a shoulder massage, that’s all…”

“You massaged his shoulders and ended up with hickeys all over your neck?” Sayuki crossed her arms and leaned in, scrutinizing her sister.

Fumika looked away. “And then I… gave him a little help with something else…”

She didn’t dare say the rest. She only vaguely explained the kissing therapy—the basic principle and how it worked—enough to satisfy her sister’s curiosity, while still keeping some secrets safe.

Even so, Sayuki was amazed. “He really can come up with excuses, can’t he? This is the first time I’ve heard such a creative reason for making out.”

“Mm… Well, I don’t think it’s just an excuse. It did sort of make sense…” Fumika couldn’t help but defend Chiba Shuuichi.

Sayuki snorted. “Still defending him? If it wasn’t for your period, you’d probably have been devoured whole by now.”

“…,” Fumika didn’t have the nerve to mention their plans for next Sunday. A bit embarrassed, she asked, “Sayuki, could you go out and buy me a new pair of stockings?”

“Hm?” Sayuki’s eyes drifted down to her sister’s legs. “They look fine. Not ripped or anything. Why bother replacing them? Want to give Chiba-kun some fresher ‘snacks’ to go with his drinks?”

“Don’t say weird things… And, um, can you get me a new pair of underwear too?”

It was worse than yesterday. There was just no way she could keep going like this.

Sayuki suddenly understood, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. “Got it. Wait here a bit, all right? You definitely need a change. You can’t go all the way home like this.”

For now, the sisters were still living at their old place, but during the day they hung around the shopping street, supervising renovations and checking in with the designer and contractors.

Sayuki headed out alone to a nearby supermarket. While she was picking out stockings and underwear, a message from Chiba Shuuichi popped up on her phone.

[Sayuki-neesan, you’ve calculated it all out, haven’t you?]

The moment she read it, Sayuki couldn’t help but smile and quickly replied.

[Feeling uncomfortable now, aren’t you?]

[If I said yes, would that make you happy, Sayuki-neesan?]

[It would.]

[I’m not sure why it would make you happy to see me suffer, but if that’s what Sayuki-neesan wants, then yes—I’m very uncomfortable right now.]

Chiba Shuuichi, feeling completely at ease, lounged against his headboard as he texted back.

Sayuki, unaware of what he’d really been up to, assumed he was telling the truth. Feeling quite pleased with herself, she replied with a pout:

[Such a smooth talker.]

[No right to comment without an investigation, right? Fumika-neesan would know better whether I’m smooth or not.]

[You little pervert.]

[Wanna see my legs?]

[???]

[Didn’t you basically ask for it? If I didn’t act a little desperate, wouldn’t that be out of character?]

Sayuki narrowed her eyes, fingers flying across the screen:

[You’ve got some nerve. Flirting with my sister and now coming after me too? Aren’t you worried I’ll tell her?]

[Not really. I’m just following Sayuki-neesan’s lead. You could show this chat to Fumika-neesan if you wanted—I don’t mind.]

[Besides, all I said was I wanted to look at your legs, but someone else’s gaze this morning was focused on something a little… bolder.]

Sayuki bit her lip, muttering to herself about how infuriatingly hard he was to deal with. It always felt like she could never gain the upper hand.

[A little monster with a sharp tongue.]

[Small monster, big spirit. Sayuki-neesan has investigated the first part, but the second—well, that’s not quite right.]

Sayuki was annoyed:

[You know where I am right now?]

[?]

[I’m at the supermarket, buying Fumika a fresh pair of stockings and new underwear. Brand-new snacks for Chiba-kun, still warm—want a taste later? Won’t that make you feel better?]

[Sayuki-neesan, you seem especially interested in whether I’m snacking or not. Do you often picture that kind of thing in your head? Are you secretly a perv?]

Sayuki’s chest heaved, practically trembling with frustration.

[Hmph, now I’m mad. No snacks for you tonight!]

[I’m sorry! I promise I’ll savor them with my drink tonight. I’ll even send you a video call as proof.]

[No need for a video. But a photo, I might consider keeping.]

[Is this blackmail? Sayuki-neesan, you don’t need to be so roundabout. If you want something, just say it.]

[Then send me a picture.]

[Let’s trade, then. Want to look at my legs?]

Sayuki squinted at her phone. Honestly, it wasn’t a big deal—she was always showing off at the gym, and Chiba Shuuichi had seen plenty anyway.

So she lowered her head, snapped a photo of her toned, fair legs, and sent it over.

[I’ll have this photo with my drink tonight. Horsey-thumbs-up.jpg]

Sayuki’s eyes went wide. She’d fallen for his trick! That cunning little brat!

[You’d drink to just one photo? You really are starving, aren’t you?]

[But it’s a photo of Sayuki-neesan, after all. My first time getting one. If these legs killed me, I could die happy.]

[…]

[Kidding, obviously. I wouldn’t actually do that. Don’t forget the fresh snacks, Sayuki-neesan—I’ll be needing them tonight.]

Sayuki pressed her lips together, her mood suddenly turning complicated.

“Guess you really do prefer my sister’s legs, huh?”

She glanced down at her own legs—her pride and joy, maintained through relentless exercise—and felt a strange pang. She’d always heard that overdoing fitness only attracted other women. Was she starting to overdo it herself? Lost in thought, Sayuki traced her abs with her fingertips.

Meanwhile, Chiba Shuuichi, having thoroughly outmaneuvered Sayuki, was in an excellent mood. With nothing better to do, he opened his system interface for a quick check, then fell silent.

[Ogawa Fumika’s sense of belonging +10, admin monthly salary +100,000 yen.]

[Ogawa Sayuki’s sense of belonging +10, admin monthly salary +100,000 yen.]

It made sense for Fumika’s “belonging” to go up, but Sayuki too? What was going on there?

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T/N: guys what did they do i dont understand

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!