[My name is Yoriko Arisu. I am six years old this year. There are three people in my family. My dad is a Doctor, and my mom is a Nurse. They are both very busy, but they love me a lot and often bring me delicious food. I always share it with my good friend, Kenma Kotsume.]
Today’s Homework is finally done.
The little black cat sitting next door glanced at her essay and muttered softly, “Don’t use me just to pad your word count.”
After all, the essay topic was about family.
Having finished the headache-inducing essay, Yoriko Arisu was already feeling relaxed. She flopped backward and collapsed onto the floor, completely drained.
“It doesn’t matter, Kenma, you can use my name to pad your word count too…”
She had to count her words three times before finally meeting the requirement.
Freed from the endless torment of the essay, Yoriko Arisu’s voice grew light and airy, as if she would fall asleep at any moment.
“As expected, it’s just for the word count,” Kenma Kotsume muttered, his hands never stopping. “I finished my Homework ages ago.”
From the TV came the sounds of an intense battle.
The little characters inside advanced along with the controller’s movements, and soon the screen popped up with [you win].
Curiosity piqued, Yoriko Arisu’s eyes flew open.
She bounced up from the floor and reached out to grab Kenma Kotsume’s Homework notebook.
“You didn’t even mention me.”
A look of disappointment appeared on her face.
Kenma Kotsume was startled by her sudden move.
The little black cat bristled and widened his eyes, lunging to snatch his notebook back: “Wh-who said you could look at my essay!”
Yoriko Arisu raised her hand high: “I already saw what you wrote anyway.”
“I only saw yours by accident! Who told you not to close your notebook?”
“It’s not like you wrote anything weird, Kenma, why are you overreacting?”
“I’m mad now.”
“I’m sorry, I was wrong.”
“Kenma—Arisu—come down for dinner—” Miwako Kotsume’s call interrupted their bickering.
“Coming—” Yoriko Arisu turned her head and shouted loudly, “We’re coming right now!”
***
Ever since Yoriko Arisu could remember, she had always been tied to the neighbor’s Kenma Kotsume.
When she was little, she didn’t like going outside. Her favorite things to do were either finding a place to nap or spacing out.
Worried there might be something wrong with her, her parents took her to the hospital for a checkup, only to find out she was simply lazy.
This, coincidentally, matched Kenma Kotsume perfectly.
While most kids loved running and jumping around, the two of them were like mushrooms after the rain—only wanting to hide in dark corners.
One would sleep in the shade, the other would play games in the shadows.
But strangely enough, despite their similar personalities, they didn’t actually get along that well.
Their interests, hobbies, genders, and temperaments were all different. Even if they were placed in the same room, they might not say more than a few words to each other all day.
Since Yoriko Arisu slept so soundly, once she fell asleep, it was like the world turned upside down.
Meanwhile, Kenma Kotsume became just as oblivious to his surroundings when he was gaming.
To call them friends was a stretch; it was more like they were tied together because of their parents.
If their parents hadn’t known each other, they probably never would have met.
At the dinner table, Yoriko Arisu devoured her meal at lightning speed. While Kenma Kotsume beside her was still counting rice grains, she had almost licked her plate clean.
“Mom’s cooking is just too delicious!” she said, eyes squinting in satisfaction as she patted her round belly and let out a long sigh.
Miwako Kotsume smiled so much her eyes turned into crescents. She rested her chin on her hands, looking at the black-haired little girl with an empty plate, then at her own son still counting rice grains, and sighed: “If only Kenma could learn from Arisu.”
One of the people kids hate most is the neighbor’s child. Kenma Kotsume gripped his spoon tightly, scrunched up his face, and shoveled two mouthfuls of rice into his mouth, then stuffed a piece of Tempura in and chewed.
Yoriko Arisu didn’t notice Kenma’s efforts at all. She glanced at the half-full bowl of rice in front of him and asked considerately, “Kenma, can’t finish it? I can help you out, you know.”
Miwako Kotsume said, “Oh my, Arisu, are you not full yet? If you want more, I can get you another bowl.”
Yoriko Arisu shook her head crisply, “No, I’m just worried Kenma will force himself and get a stomachache. That wouldn’t be good.”
Her eyes shone as she looked at Miwako Kotsume: “And wasting food is bad! Wasting Mom’s cooking is even worse!”
Miwako Kotsume’s heart melted from the praise, and her smile grew even wider.
Kenma Kotsume struggled a bit more with his rice, then silently pushed the bowl away. Catching the cue, Yoriko Arisu happily helped him finish the rest of his rice.
Miwako Kotsume watched their practiced teamwork and mused, “Kenma… You don’t make Arisu help you finish your food at School too, do you?”
Kindergarten and lower grades are when all sorts of habits form. During lunch, teachers keep a close eye on picky eaters.
Yoriko Arisu never had this problem, but with Kenma Kotsume’s tiny appetite, who knew.
Kenma Kotsume froze as he hopped off his chair and stammered, “N-no way.”
Yoriko Arisu happened to swallow the last bite and nodded, “I do it willingly.”
Kenma Kotsume closed his eyes in despair.
Luckily, Miwako Kotsume didn’t mean to scold him. She just shook her head and took away the bowls: “If you’re picky now, you might not grow tall in the future, you know.”
“That doesn’t really matter…” Kenma Kotsume muttered under his breath and dashed upstairs.
Miwako Kotsume looked at her friend’s daughter with a gentle smile: “Arisu, do you want some fruit? My coworker brought back some Seedless Grapes from their hometown today. They’re really sweet!”
The black-haired girl raised her hand and cheered, “I want some!”
After dinner and fruit, they watched two episodes of cartoons, fell asleep, were shaken awake, then Miwako Kotsume helped her bathe, dried her hair, read a Picture Book together, and finally sent her off to bed.
She would, of course, sleep in Kenma Kotsume’s bed.
Ever since Yoriko Arisu started elementary School, her parents—both medical workers—had gotten even busier, so she spent much more time being looked after by the Kotsume family.
Fortunately, Miwako Kotsume was more than happy to take care of the well-behaved Yoriko Arisu.
Not only was she her best friend’s child, but it also fulfilled her wish of having a daughter.
But tonight was the first time she was sleeping over at Kenma Kotsume’s house.
The little girl, full of excitement, pushed open her childhood friend’s door: “Kenma, I’m here to sleep with you!”
The aloof black-haired cat was gaming.
Yoriko Arisu didn’t mind not getting a response.
She looked at the small bowl on the desk and asked curiously, “Kenma, you didn’t eat your grapes?”
Knowing Kenma Kotsume’s small appetite, Miwako Kotsume had only given him five grapes.
Now, the five big, round grapes lay quietly at the bottom of the bowl.
The flickering colors on the screen reflected in Kenma Kotsume’s eyes.
He didn’t even blink.
“Not eating. You can have them.”
Yoriko Arisu sounded a bit regretful, “But I already brushed my teeth…”
She looked at the motionless Kenma Kotsume and had a thought: Is Kenma skipping the grapes just because he’s too busy gaming?
She tried, “Want me to peel them for you?”
Kenma Kotsume unresponsive.jpg
Yoriko Arisu took it as a yes.
After peeling one grape, she held it up to Kenma Kotsume’s lips.
The little black cat, engrossed in his game, suddenly jolted, making his controller swerve.
He turned, looking at Yoriko Arisu with wide, stunned eyes.
Yoriko Arisu blinked, not understanding, and repeated, “I peeled it for you.”
Kenma Kotsume silently stared her down for a moment, then surrendered first and bent his head to take the grape.
And so, she peeled one, he ate one, until Miwako Kotsume’s angry shout came from downstairs: “Kenma! Hurry up and take a bath! If you don’t come down now, I’m taking your game away!”
“I’m coming!”
Kenma Kotsume shouted, hurriedly tossed the controller onto the bed, and dashed downstairs.
When he returned from his bath, the bowl of grapes was gone, the TV was off, and only his childhood friend, yawning, was waiting for him under the covers.
Kenma Kotsume’s heart skipped a beat: “My save file…”
“I saved it for you.”
“My controller…”
“I put it back in the usual spot.”
“My Homework notebook…”
“It’s already in your backpack.”
Every question was blocked. Kenma Kotsume scrunched up his face, “But I still wanted to play a bit more.”
That boss wasn’t even defeated yet.
“Eh—but it’s already bedtime.”
“You go to sleep first.”
“I can’t sleep with the light on.”
Kenma Kotsume was a bit reluctant, “You sleep so well during class, don’t you?”
Yoriko Arisu replied confidently, “That’s exactly why—because I napped so much during class, now I’m even pickier about my sleeping environment!”
Yoriko Arisu patted the pillow beside her, “Kenma, come up here! I already fluffed your pillow for you! It’s super comfy!”
“Ugh…”
Kenma Kotsume sighed, resigned, turned off the lights, and climbed into the same bed as Yoriko Arisu.
He had a reasonable suspicion that Mom let Yoriko Arisu sleep over just to make him go to bed earlier.
As soon as Kenma Kotsume got in, Yoriko Arisu naturally snuggled up to him. Kenma Kotsume warily put his hand between them: “Stay away from me.”
Yoriko Arisu sounded aggrieved, “Why?”
Kenma Kotsume: “You know how bad your sleeping posture is!”
Whenever they napped together, he always had nightmares—either being tangled by an octopus or squashed by a bear.
Yoriko Arisu’s gaze darted guiltily, “I promise I won’t tonight!”
Kenma Kotsume snorted, clearly unconvinced.
Yoriko Arisu thought for a moment and said, “Then should I go sleep with Mom?”
Tonight, Kentaro Kotsume was on the night shift, so half the bed in the master bedroom was empty.
And Mom could tell her a bedtime story—what a deal!
Thinking it over, Yoriko Arisu made as if to get up, but Kenma Kotsume pressed her back down.
The black-haired kitten looked reluctant: “…Mom’s really tired from work. Don’t bother her.”
“So I’ll just lie down here?”
“Yeah.”
Yoriko Arisu burrowed back under the covers, her eyes shining as she looked at Kenma Kotsume, “Then let’s chat!”
Kenma Kotsume: “…”
How did things end up like this?
“It’s my first time sleeping with a friend, so I’m kind of excited,” Yoriko Arisu whispered. “I can’t sleep now.”
Kenma Kotsume was silent for a moment, then mercilessly pulled the blanket up over her face: “Go to sleep!”