The Peaceful Daily Life of Nayuta's Family (Ch1-10)

Thanks Yai
===============
-Story Tab-
Nayuta
Rabi-san must be out shopping. I think I'll go and surprise her...by helping carry the bags.

-Challenge Tab-
Chiharu
Nayuta-chan's father is a folklorist... Then he really did...he encountered those strange incidents in the village when he was doing interviews...?

-Ex Challenge Tab-
Mikage
Nayutan's home is pretty calming, huh. Sure would be nice if it stayed like this.

=====1=====

-Shopping District-

Man
Welcome, Rabi-san. We got some great vegetables here!

Rabi
...Oh, I had heard that the cabbages didn't do well,
but these have bright and healthy leaves, and the price itself is reasonable.

Man
I did my best to get this stock in.
Though I was hoping to sell them for more...
It's been raining so much that it's hard to get customers...

Rabi
That sounds rough. I'll buy two from you then.

Man
You mean it!? Two's pretty big though, you know?

Rabi
It's just a matter of coming up with different dishes to eat them before they spoil.

Man
I gotcha, thanks. I'll throw in some potatoes as a bonus.

Old Lady
Then how about some of our mackerel? Maybe some stir-fry with your cabbages?

Man
Fishmonger! Quit trying to piggyback off my sale!

Rabi
Mackerel...is good, but I think I'll get some cod.
I'll make white fish poêlé with potatoes, cabbage, and cod.

Man
Never heard of a dish like that before~

Old Lady
You really are the second Nanami Yachiyo. Thank you for your continued support!

Rabi
What is that?

Old Lady
You don't know? Isn't that what everyone calls you?
You're young, you're an excellent shopper, and you nee~eever miss your 10x points.

Rabi
What... I suppose I stand out a little.

Young Man
.....
.....

Nayuta's Voice
Rabitaaan~

Young Man
――っ!?
.....

Rabi
Nayuta-sama, are you heading home now?

Nayuta
I am.
I was wondering if you would be in the shopping district
so I took a detour and bingo.
I will help you with the shopping.

Rabi
If that is what you're up to, then I am glad to hear it.
Taking one of these eco bags would be helpful.

Nayuta
Huhu, I'll carry it safely to the end!

Rabi
You're in quite a good mood.

Nayuta
Huhu, that is because I received my test back today and got a perfect score.
And in math of all things! It's put me in a wonderful mood!

Rabi
You had told me you weren't that great at it.
Congratulations.

Nayuta
Now I will surpass Touka.

Rabi
That will only turn the tables back on you, so I would recommend you refrain from that.
I would prefer to not see my master utterly devastated by an elementary schooler.

=====2=====

-Home-

Rabi
Nayuta-sama, dinner is prepared.

Nayuta
Thank you!

Rabi
Let us eat.

Nayuta
Let us eat.
Wah, this fish you cooked is incredibly delicious!

Rabi
It's poêlé.
I got some cabbage, cod, and potatoes at a low price,
so I chopped the potatoes and cabbage and sprinkled it with garlic...

Nayuta
I'm not sure I understood all of that just now.

Rabi
I can hardly believe this is coming from someone that got a 100%.

Nayuta
I would rather bask in the glow of those results for the rest of the day.

Rabi
I suppose that is inevitable, but I think you should keep it in moderation.

Nayuta
I swear on my hundred that I will celebrate in moderation.

Rabi
Haa... What can I say...
Children and their parents can be so different, can't they?
Otou-sama is so calm and collected.

Nayuta
Ah, that must have been a sigh of fatigue.
It's fine, I am still a junior high school girl.
There is no way I can have the same refined and cool character as Papa.
Of course children and parents are different from one another.

Rabi
A difference in character...that's it. That may be the most accurate expression.
But if you start measuring out character,
then I would have to say Touka-sama is a genius.
The character that Touka-sama exudes is in itself a different kind of character,
one that is nearly on the same level as your Otou-sama, Nayuta-sama.

Nayuta
Oh, you were referring to Touka.
Hmm, I'm not so sure about that anymore.

Rabi
I was teasing you since you're in such high spirits.

Nayuta
How terrible of you!
And I don't approve of you saying that Touka and Papa are the same.
They are nothing alike, and Touka would hate the thought of it as well.

Rabi
I retract my statement.

Nayuta
Now then, I would like to know your test results, Rabi-san.
I know your school was testing at the same time.

Rabi
Why do you want to know that?
Could it be that Nayuta-sama is the detestable type
that only asks others about their score when she herself scored well?

Nayuta
Y-you're wrong.
I just wanted us to show each other our scores like we were friends.

Rabi
Haa...

Nayuta
And only with this math score do I have the confidence that I have prevailed...

Rabi
So you do have a bit of a mean streak to your character after all, then?
And I don't think there can be a concept of winning or losing when our schools and grades are both different,
but here, take it.

[*Rustle...*]

Nayuta
.....
――っ!?
E-every subject...all hundreds...?
S-such a thing is possible...?

Rabi
...Once in a while.

Nayuta
.....

[*Hair Flip...*]

Nayuta
Uu...! That makes me feel so insignificant...!

=====3=====

Rabi
Good morning. Did you sleep well last night?

Nayuta
Yes, good morning to you. I had a 100% perfectly good sleep.

Rabi
I have some errands to run so I will be going to Minaminagi.

Nayuta
Alright.

Rabi
If something happens, please don't hesitate to call me.
And if Mikage happens to come over, there are sweets up on the shelf.

Nayuta
Alright.

Rabi
Also, if you do happen to go out, please remember to lock up on your way out.

Nayuta
I've got it.
I am not a child, so there is no need to repeat this every time.

Rabi
Forgive me, I should know better with a 100% scorer here.
I'm off.

Nayuta
You're making fun of me...
...Now I can do this.
While I have some time off, I want to investigate where Papa is and get everything I have organized.

Mikage
[Naaaayuuuutaaaan]

Nayuta
Ah, Mikage-san. Come in.

Mikage
Sorry for the intrusiooon.
Huh? Where's Rabitan?

Nayuta
She is out running an errand.

Mikage
That soo...

Nayuta
But we do have some sweets ready.

Mikage
Really!? Yaaay!

Nayuta
Oh, what is that bag for?

Mikage
Ah, right, Mii has to do this.

Nayuta
Your homework for school?
How nice of you to come into someone's home to eat their sweets and do your homework.

Mikage
It's not homework. It's papers for Mii's field trip.

Nayuta
Waa, that sound's so nostalgic to me. I used to go on field trips as well.

Mikage
We're going to lots of places, so Mii has to get ready,
'cause Mii's the group leader!

Nayuta
Another wave of nostaglia. I was a group leader.
Though, I also didn't do well to prepare everything I needed.
Mikage-san, does your school give a lot of work to the group leaders?

Mikage
Mii just likes doing it.
The group leader's got to be reliable, right?

Nayuta
You're absolutely right.
If the group leader does a poor job preparing, everything will be a mess once you get there.

Mikage
Yep!
That's why Mii's gonna do her best so everyone can have lots of fuuun!

Nayuta
How wonderful! You're already fit to be a leader!
.....

-Flashback-

Rabi
I can hardly believe this is coming from someone that got a 100%.
---
Rabi
Haa... What can I say...
Children and their parents can be so different, can't they?

-End Flashback-

Nayuta
...*Sniff*...

Mikage
Eh!? Nayutan!? What's wrong with you all of a sudden!?

Nayuta
Hearing you talk about this has just made me think of myself...!
It is just as you said, Mikage-san:
If the group leader is not reliable, the members won't have fun.
And in this home, the group leader is...me...

Mikage
That's right, 'cause this is Nayutan's house.

Nayuta
But I am not reliable at all!
In the first place, Rabi-san's official employer is Papa,
and Rabi-san also admires Papa...

-Flashback-
Rabi
Otou-sama is so calm and collected.
-End Flashback-

Nayuta
Does Rabi-san really enjoy serving a person like me,
does she have fun working as a servant...?
No, I'm sure she finds no enjoyment in it.
The way things are, Rabi-san must find living with me to be tormenting!

-Flashback-
Rabi
A difference in character...that's it. That may be the most accurate expression.
But if you start measuring out character,
then I would have to say Touka-sama is a genius.
-End Flashback-

Nayuta
Character!
I need to attain the same calm and collected character as Papa...!

Mikage
Character...?

Nayuta
If I don't, I am certain Rabi-san's disdain for me will only grow,
and this family will fall apart...!

=====4=====

Mikage
Huh, so that's what you were thinking about.

Nayuta
A long time ago, Papa had gone to Rabi-san's hometown.
Rabi-san was going through a difficult time back then,
and it was Papa who saved her.

Mikage
So she feels like she owes him, then.

Nayuta
Since then, Rabi-san has had utmost respect for Papa,
but I, his daughter, do not have character like him, so I feel awful.
If I don't take on his ways, I will eventually become hated and lose this family.

Mikage
Mii doesn't really get anything about this...but it sounds hard.

Nayuta
For worrying about something you don't understand, "it sounds hard" is worth a 100.

Mikage
You think there's anyone in Mii's neighborhood that has character?

Nayuta
If there is anyone near you, Mikage-san...
Onee-sama has a mature air about her.
That may be one characteristic of hers.

Mikage
Nee-cha? Then why don't you go ask Nee-cha?

Nayuta
I think that is a good idea.
I feel that it is better to consult someone older.

Mikage
I think she's at the adjuster shop right now, so Mii will watch the house.

Nayuta
Thank you very much. Then I will be going now.

-Mitama's-

Nayuta
Excuse the disturbance.

Mitama
Oh my! Nayuta-chan! Thank you for always watching Mii.

Nayuta
Not at all, it is my pleasure.

Mitama
What brings you in today - adjustment?

Nayuta
No, there is something I must ask you about...

Mitama
Sure, whatever you want to talk about. I'll go make some tea.

---

Nayuta
...That is what I had spoken to Rabi-san about yesterday...

Mitama
I see now. So you want to build character.

Nayuta
I don't know what I would if Rabi-san left the house.
And we are so close in age, yet it is so difficult to get along with her.

Mitama
Hmm...unfortunately I'm not aware of it either myself.

Nayuta
Does character come naturally to you...?

Mitama
I've never heard of having character.
I'm just a little mature • is • all.
Sometimes people ask me "are you really 17?"

Nayuta
Eh!? You are 17 years old!?

Mitama
Ah, happened again...
But, if I do have any character,
maybe it's related to my mindset with working as an adjuster.

Nayuta
Your mindset as an adjuster...you say?

Mitama
This is something my sensei had told me,
but to work as an adjuster, you need to be able to understand the minds of those you adjust
and take care of them with broad-mindedness.

Nayuta
Broad-mindedness...I feel like I am getting closer to the word called character.
(Papa was also tolerant of others.)
S-so what did you do to accomplish that?

Mitama
I didn't really do anything special.
If I had to say, I suppose just being kind and caring.
If you're bad at this, you're going to have a hard time as an adjuster
is what my sensei told me.

Nayuta
Kind and caring...
Mature, composed character...
So it's kind and caring broad-mindedness!

=====5=====

Mikage
Ha - it's this late already.

Nayuta
Did you finish with all of your worksheets?

Mikage
Just a bit left, but Mii can finish it at home.

Nayuta
I see.

Mikage
Thanks Nayutan, see ya!

Nayuta
See you later.
.....

[*Shut*]

Nayuta
Ah...

Rabi
I have returned home.

Nayuta
Welcome home.
Mikage-san just left.

Rabi
Just missed her?
I suppose I was a little late getting home today.
You must be hungry, so I will get dinner prepared shortly.

Nayuta
Thank you very much.
.....
(Rabi-san, I don't know what it is you did today,)
(but you are such a hard worker to start the housework the moment you get home.)
(You go to a school out of the city every day, studying to get perfect grades,)
(and you work as a servant at 15 while also being a mahou shoujo...)
(Aren't you working too much?)

Rabi
Is something the matter? Is there something on my face?

Nayuta
I-it is nothing...!

Rabi
Is that so.

Nayuta
(The more I think on it, the more I realize just how incredible Rabi-san is.)
(But I am starting to get worried...)
(It is possible she could collapse from overworking...)

-Flashback-
Mitama
I didn't really do anything special.
If I had to say, I suppose just being kind and caring.
-End Flashback-

Nayuta
(That's right!)
(If I do not show her how worried I am, my dream of building character will remain a dream.)
Rabi-san!

Rabi
W-what is it?

Nayuta
I am giving you time off!

Rabi
Huh, why is that...?

Nayuta
Why...?
(Because you are exhausted and work too hard?)
(But to tell her that when she doesn't actually show any signs of it,)
(she may feel I am sympathizing with her and see it as an insult instead.)
(There must be another reason... Let's see, perhaps.....ah.)
Next week is your 16th birthday, Rabi-san.

Rabi
――っ!?
So you knew.

Nayuta
I have had a look at your profile once before.
I think it's fine for you to take a day off of work for your birthday.

Rabi
I see, so that's what this was about.
I did make some plans for next week, so I am grateful for the time off.
But, the housework on that day...

Nayuta
I will take care of it.
Rabi-san, you can spend the whole day without worry.

Rabi
...Then I will accept your offer. I'm looking forward to it.

Nayuta
(And in the meantime, I will prepare a cake, kusudama, and a present,) ¹
(so I can hold a surprise party for you.)
(This will be perfect! Such a nice idea!)
(With this display of care from me to Rabi-san,)
(I feel that my character is becoming more like Papa's.)
(Rabi-san can work more comfortably)
(and we can get along better, making this household happier and trouble-free.)
(There will be no hate to cause us to drift apart.)

=====6=====

Rabi
I'm about to leave, so you will be taking care of the housekeeping.
I have not touched a thing today.

Nayuta
Of course, I wanted you to leave it all to me.

Rabi
I'm off.

Nayuta
Have a good day.
And with that said...
Now then, where do I begin...
Hmm~, I don't know...
If I am to get the night party prepared,
I must finish all of the housework first.

Mikage
[Naaaayuuuutaaaan! Mii's here...for sweets and fuuun.]

Nayuta
I suppose there is no need to do it immediately.
But you have come at a good time.

Mikage
Good time?

---

Mikage
Rabitan's birthday party!? Awesome! Mii can't wait!

Nayuta
Though...before that, I need to do the cleaning.
But I have no idea what I am supposed to do...
So...I was...about to start crying.

Mikage
Sure, got it. Mii'll give you a hand!

Nayuta
You have my thanks!!

Mikage
Hmm, so the first thing we do is... The laundry, huh.

Nayuta
What does that entail?

Mikage
We have to hang them out to dry while Mr. Sun is still out.
Nee-cha and Mama do that in the morning.

Nayuta
I'm pretty certain Rabi-san does that while she does the vaccuming as well.
Then I shall just start the washing machine...
.....
What exactly must I do with this machine?

Mikage
Ah, Mii can do it. Mii's done this a few times at home.
..... This thing's totally different from the one at home!
There's no button!

Nayuta
Then...perhaps we operate it using this monitor.
Rabi-san did say it can also be operated using a smartphone.

Mikage
The rich lady's version!

Nayuta
I do not think they would sell it in such an offensive way like that...

Mikage
Mii doesn't wanna touch something weird and break the thing, but...
Ei-
Uwa, a whole bunch of courses popped up...

Nayuta
Each course can either be 40℃ or 60℃...

Mikage
Mii doesn't know what any of this means...it's scary...
Is there a "regular course" or a "normal person's course" somewhere...

Nayuta
If there is one this would be quite a rude washing machine...

Mikage
.....

Nayuta
.....

Mikage
...What do we do?
If Mii touches something weird and it breaks, Mii can't pay for it, you know?
It might get put on the wrong mode and ruin all of your clothes...

Nayuta
...I just found a nice board.
We can use this with a bucket of detergent in the garden...

Mikage
Hand washing!? Mii's only seen that in old stories!
Plus the detergent would be bad on my hands...

Nayuta
...I don't want this to be a terrible experience for you, Mikage-san.
...I suppose there is no choice but to do this:
We will go to a coin-operated laundromat that has a washing machine you are capable of using.

Mikage
Guess we have to...
It's a waste to not use such a nice washing machine that you have, but...

=====7=====

Nayuta
Huu... We managed to finish the laundry.
But that took a long time.

Mikage
Time...?
Eh, it's already noon!?
Mii's only ever done laundry in the morning...

Nayuta
Rabi-san runs the washing machine and finishes cleaning before she hangs them out to dry.
But we only managed this...

Mikage
Ah, that's it,
it's because we waited so long at the laundromat...

Nayuta
And there is still the cleaning and getting the party ready,
neither of which have been started.
I also need to prepare the cake and the kusudama.
There is so much work left to do.

Mikage
Also, we haven't even eaten lunch!

Nayuta
Since I have help with me I can't just decide to skip lunch...
But if I don't, there will not be enough time, therefore I must eat and clean at the same time.

Mikage
Nayutan, can you cook?

Nayuta
It is something I have seldom done.

Mikage
What will you make?

Nayuta
We have emergency cups of yakisoba, so I will go prepare those.

Mikage
Wonder if we would've had real yakisoba if Rabitan was here...

Nayuta
Mu!
Comparing cup yakisoba to real yakisoba
is as foolish as comparing me to Touka!
They are two completely different things to eat at different times. This is the one I want!

Mikage
Then Mii will do the cleaning until they're ready.

Nayuta
Ah, please do so.

[*Clatter!*]

Mikage
Kyaa!?

Nayuta
What's wrong!?

Mikage
Sorry, Nayutan, a bucket just fell...

Nayuta
What would a bucket be doing in a place like this...?
Oh, that is the bucket I was going to hand-wash the laundry with...
I forgot to put it away, that is my fault.
Let me wipe it with a towel first...

[*Slip*]
[*Thud!*]
[*Rattle rattle...*]

Mikage
Nayutan!? You alright!?

Nayuta
Ouch... I fell on my bottom...

Mikage
Water got mixed with the detergent, didn't it...? So it ended up slippery...

Nayuta
It would be best if we avoid this area until it dries.

Mikage
Yeah, we should...
...We're not really getting anywhere, huh...

Nayuta
The situation is only getting worse.
If Rabi-san were to the see the place in such a state-

Rabi
I'm seeing it.

Nayuta
.....

=====8=====

Rabi
I see, I understand now. That this was a big mistake after all.
I know you were doing it for my sake, but I'm not too happy about this
so I will be scolding you.

Nayuta
Yes...

Mikage
A scolding? Eh, Mii too...?

Rabi
That's right, you are in trouble, so please sit there.

Rabi
If you do not understand something, you should be asking first.
You don't do any of this on a regular basis, so of course you would have no idea.
Even before, when you were overjoyed with your perfect score,
you would get too distracted at times, Nayuta-sama.
The same holds true when you look for Otou-sama. You need to pay more attention to your surroundings.
Because when you don't do that, you don't see where you're going,
and you end up spilling a bucket.

Mikage
But that was Mii's fa-

Rabi
Mikage-san, that is admirable of you, but in a situation like this the responsibility falls on Nayuta-sama...

Nayuta
I'm sorry...

Mikage
I'm sorry...

Rabi
Okay, it seems you two have reflected on your actions, so the scolding is over.

Nayuta
Then I must ask, why have you returned, Rabi-san?

Rabi
I still had some spare time, so I came back for lunch.
Also, I was worried about how you might be, Nayuta-sama.

Nayuta
Oh my... You have no confidence in me.

Rabi
Coming back here like I normally would was the right thing to do, but...
Well, let's all start cleaning this up.

Nayuta
Eh!? Rabi-san, what about your plans for this afternoon?

Rabi
I will give up the rest of my time off, of course. Half of a day was plenty of rest for me.

Nayuta
.....
I...don't want that...

Rabi
Don't want it...? Understood.
There is nothing I can do if you do not approve of it. I will leave the cleaning to you.

Nayuta
Ho...

---

Nayuta
Now Rabi-san has taken her leave again.
We can get back to cleaning and preparing the party.

Mikage
Yeah, let's do iiit!

=====9=====

Nayuta
The cleaning is finished.

Mikage
Now all that's left is getting the party set!

Nayuta
I will go make the kusudama.

Mikage
...Nayutan, you've been saying you'll make a kusudama for a while now,
but why kusudama?

Nayuta
This is a celebration after all, so I want to make something showy.
Rabi-san will pull it, it cracks open,
and a message of "congratulations" pops out from the inside...
Just imagining it is filling me with excitement.

Mikage
Excitement...?

-Imagination-

Rabi
Ei-

Mikage
Rabitan, congratulations~

-End Imagination-

Mikage
It sounds exciting for sure...!

Nayuta
Then I will begin right away.
I need to get two plastic colanders.

Mikage
You're using colanders?

Nayuta
I am.
You can put them together and then crack it open.
I was surprised you could use them in such a way.
Like this, you just have to thread it through the holes in the colander...

Mikage
Ah, so that's how you stick 'em together!
And just like that the colanders are the real thing.

Nayuta
These cooking utensils were made to become handmade kusudama.

Mikage
What should Mii do?

Nayuta
You have such cute handwriting, Mikage-san, so I would like you to write the banner.

Mikage
On it. It's "congratulations," right?

Nayuta
I have sets of paper, caligraphy pens, and stationary over on the desk there.

Mikage
Maybe this one.
Ah - this awesome origami is golden...it's the rich lady's version.

Nayuta
It is just gold-colored.
I'm not attached to my money. I am not an ojou-sama character.

---

Nayuta
Now we just roll the banner up, tape these both shut, and...

Nayuta & Mikage
Complete!
.....

Mikage
...Wow, we really did it.

Nayuta
I can hardly believe it myself.
I thought we would mess up in the middle of making it, following our slapstick pattern...

Mikage
Mii too...
Ah!?

Nayuta
There was something after all; what's wrong!?

Mikage
What do we do about the baking? The cake...we don't have enough time...

Nayuta
I want you to relax.
When it comes to cooking, I don't have any skill whatsoever, so time is no matter.

Mikage
That's supposed to make me relax!?

Nayuta
Our story is still being written.
It was a little expensive, but I sent for a delivery.
I will have a delicious dinner and a cake prepared using my spending money.

Mikage
That's amazing, Nayutan! You might be the brightest star today!

=====10=====

Rabi
I have returned.
Mm...? It's pitch black in here...
Nayuta-samaaa, did something happeeen?

Nayuta & Mikage
[Happy birthday tooo youuu♪]

Rabi
――っ!?

Nayuta & Mikage
[Happy birthday tooo youuu♪]

Rabi
.....

Nayuta & Mikage
[Happy birthday dear♪]
["Raaabiii-saaan" "Raaabiiitaaan"]
[Happy birthday tooo youuu♪]
[*Click!*]

Nayuta
Rabi-san, congratulations on your 16th birthdaaay~

Mikage
Congratulations~!

Rabi
This is...what they call a surprise party...
You prepared all of this just for me?
That means, I helped you set this up... Huhu...amazing.
Thank you very much. I'm overjoyed.

Mikage
Ah, Rabitan's laughing!

Nayuta
We successfully surprised you.
Now then, Rabi-san, go wash those hands and rinse your mouth and we'll get to the eating.
A cake is waiting for you.

Rabi
That's right, I will go get ready.

---

Rabi
Ohh, this is...! Such a fine kusudama.

Nayuta
I tried my best with making it.

Mikage
Mii also helped out.

Rabi
Yes, both of you worked so hard.
To be honest, I thought your cleaning work was only worth a 10%,
but not after seeing the significance of what you were doing.
All of this care and thoughtfulness...
You really are the daughter of "the otou-sama."

Nayuta
――っ!?
...Yes! Yes, you're right!

Mikage
All's well that ends well, huh!

Rabi
That's a great phrase for you to know. That is quite right.
Huhu, having such a wonderful birthday has left me beyond joyous.

Mikage
Rabitan's so cute.

Nayuta
Here, Rabi-san, take the string.

Rabi
Thank you very much. I just have to pull this, right?
Here we go... This is the finale.
Ei-

[*Plop*]

Rabi
.....

Nayuta
――っ!?
It fell without breaking open!? I must have mistaken the strength of the tape!

Mikage
And on top of the cake, too...

Rabi
.....

[*Snap snap snap...*]

Mikage
What's that sound?

Nayuta
Almost as if something is burning...
AH!!
The fire on the candle - it's burning the kusudama's origami!

Mikage
Ehh!?

Rabi
.....Ha! That is dangerous, the shock made me lose my senses for a moment...
I will pour water on it at once.

[*Splash*]

Nayuta
Ah...

Rabi
I never imagined a day would come where I would pour water over my own birthday cake...

Mikage
Rabitan...

Nayuta
.....I am terribly sorry.


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¹ 薬玉 Kusudama are small paper balls that hang ornaments for parties or festivities