Chapter 95: Yukari's Winter Break [side Yukari Tomonaga]
The other day's weight-guessing quiz winner bonus,
Requested by @reiado21!
We present today's Yukari's Winter Break Special.
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Osada-san's proposal [not breaking up with Kuzu-kun while in school] totally felt like a reward, you know?
Kuzu-kun is serious, so he couldn't answer right away like, "there's no such thing as an absolute," but in the end, he swore!
Wait! Isn't that actually Osada-san's assist?
Was she hoping things would go well for us? That's what I can't help but think.
And then, the closing ceremony ended.
Papa: "All right! How about we make this our family's year-end party? Let's go eat yakiniku!"
"Yay!"
Kaori: "Sis! You've definitely gained weight! Don't eat too much, okay?"
I gently let Kaori in on a little secret.
"Kaori...? Cows grow up eating grass on the ranch, so beef is basically like a vegetable, you know...?"
Kaori: "There's no way that's true!!"
So much happened this semester,
Dieting was tough, I made it into the top clique of girls, and I even won the beauty contest.
*Lost all those achievements before the semester was over.
I got a boyfriend, got suspended, it was a real roller coaster.
But, reset! Semester's over, so it's a reset!
Remedial classes start tomorrow, but hey, at least I'll get to see Kuzu-kun? And since everyone in remedial failed, maybe we'll get along?
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Day 1 of remedial.
Starting today, I have to attend remedial Japanese first period and English third period for one week...
After that, there's a makeup test—if I pass, my final exam score gets a little bonus? Whether I move up a grade depends on my red marks, attendance, and assignments all year.
I take first period remedial Japanese.
No class second period, but I have third period, so I can't go home. Wouldn't it be tough if you had first and fifth period remedials?
*Actually, even needing remedial in the first place is tough.
During winter break, the cafeteria only serves a reduced menu—just lunch between 12 and 1! Shock! I wanted to eat in the cafeteria during my free time between remedials!
*I was planning to get the miso ramen set.
Third period, remedial English.
...The seat next to me was Mishima Satsuki.
Mishima: "You again..."
"That's my line."
Mishima Satsuki betrayed Kousuke-kun, who'd helped her, right? And it was a case of being stolen away? They had a physical relationship after only dating a short while? Makes you doubt her character!
*Look who's talking. Said something similar during the beauty contest, too.
"Hmph!"
After that, we didn't make eye contact once during remedial.
After remedial ended, it was past 11, but I figured I'd eat lunch before heading home. I wonder if there's anything at home?
Maybe I got tired out on the first day? And if I don't head home now, I might run into the club kids after practice...
Haven't seen Kousuke-kun in a while, I hope he's doing okay?
Well, all sorts of annoying things end up happening, right?
Today, I choose to go straight home.
I head directly to the terminal station and wait for the train on the platform.
Since it's a rural line and not rush hour, trains are few and the cars are short.
Mishima: "Ugh."
"Ugh."
Once again, I ran into Mishima Satsuki...
Since our last period was both third period remedial English, we leave at almost the same time...
I get off at Toko Station, two stops away; Mishima gets off at the next stop, Shinkawa Station.
We ride the same line. With that annoying person...
Mishima: "Red-mark fatty!"
"Self-obsessed red-mark girl!"
We part ways after trading insults—seriously, I hate her.
Kuzu-kun has remedial second and fourth periods, so I thought I'd see him, but I didn't.
...Too bad. It's lonely, huh?
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Day 3 of remedial (Christmas Eve)
Kuzu-kun said he spends Christmas with his family, so we just had lunch together.
Kuzu: "Even if this cake says it's a third of the calories, you shouldn't eat too much, okay?"
"Yeah, that's why I'm only having two!"
*Kuzu was lying—actually, the calories aren't reduced at all.
Yukari thinks it's two-thirds of a cake, but it's actually two whole pieces.
Spent the night with family,
Got the biggest slice of Christmas cake!
I also got the sugar Santa on top of the cake!
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Remedial's finally over!
We get the weekend off, then the makeup test is on Monday.
If I don't pass this, I could really get held back.
For good luck, I eat katsudon on the way home.
...But I realized it only counts if you eat it the morning of the makeup test.
On the day of the test, Mama made me katsudon for breakfast!
First period: Japanese makeup test.
Yeah, I studied all weekend while snacking constantly, so I felt great!
I'm on fire☆
Second period is open, so I review for third period English makeup test at a cafeteria table.
Third period, English makeup test!
Mishima: "You had second period free, right?... So jealous..."
Mishima has makeup tests second and third periods, so she can't cram right before third period.
"That's what you get for your usual behavior."
Mishima Satsuki looks frustrated, but we're both desperate, so we just bury ourselves in our notes and try to memorize everything.
Over!!
I'm totally out of energy, so I stagger toward the station.
Now it's finally real winter break.
We'll find out the results when the new semester starts.
While waiting for the train, Mishima Satsuki comes and stands next to me.
We didn't even have the energy to insult each other.
Both of us averted our faces and ignored each other on the train ride home.
Winter break finally starts!
That night, I went a little wild, haha.
Having seconds of curry rice—okay, maybe I ate a little too much.
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New Year's is the best, right? Such a chill vibe.
It's only been three days since remedial ended, and already it's New Year's Day.
In just four more days, the new semester starts. Isn't winter break way too short?
*That's because you had remedial classes.
Mama: "Yukari! How many mochi do you want!?"
In our house, on mochi days, we skip lunch and have an early dinner—kind of a family tradition.
So I figured I'd just eat a little extra while I could.
"Mama! As many as my age!"
Mama: "Oh, Yukari, stop goofing off! That's Setsubun! You only eat as many beans as your age then!"
Papa: "Hahaha! With your soft, pale skin, Yukari, you're a real mochi-beauty!"
Hahaha! We're such a happy family, always laughing—even on New Year's!
Except for my little sister, Kaori,
Kaori: "White and squishy... More like that Michelin tire mascot than mochi..."
is what she said.
※Pig Motor meets Michelin w
By the way, I ate seven mochi.
Since we skipped lunch, I also had that Donbei tempura soba as a snack for New Year's.
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Carnivore? Herbivore? Side: Tomonaga Kaori
I have a sister who's two years older than me.
I've always wondered if my sister would be a real beauty if she lost some weight.
That's what I thought, but then over the summer, after getting dumped really badly by her middle school crush, she suddenly announced, "I'm going to lose weight."
I figured her diet wouldn't last, but she actually stuck with it and it went super smoothly.
Of course, it looked tough.
I helped my sister diet by keeping our parents, who wanted her to eat more calories, in check.
And thanks to that,
"Kaori! I became Miss Hokusho!"
My sister became so beautiful it was hard to believe—slender, with a stunning figure, and even though she lost some curves, she still kept her impressive chest and turned into an absolute knockout.
...But then.
"Kaori! Boil some water for instant noodles!"
That unbelievably gorgeous, slender, busty beauty was almost back to her old self after just two months...
All that hard work, counting calories and exercising, and now it's wasted... Isn't that a shame?
Even when I brought it up,
Yukari: "I just stopped thinking about it."
My sister gave up on thinking entirely.
After she lost weight, something about her just got... off.
How did it come to this?
Now my sister is both overweight and kind of weird.
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Going back a bit, my sister and I had signed up for a preview tasting buffet at a new large buffet restaurant, exclusively for high school and middle school students, and we got picked as a pair.
With the new semester starting the day after tomorrow, my sister and I were walking toward the rumored new restaurant by the terminal station. It's a pre-opening event.
"It's all-you-can-eat for ninety minutes, and we have to submit our comments, right?"
Yukari: "I wonder what kind of menu they'll have?"
My sister could barely contain her excitement.
I'd been holding back a little for today, so I was fired up to finally eat! Of course, within reason.
While we waited outside the restaurant, we chatted about nothing, and got hyped imagining roast beef and steak grilled right in front of us!
I told her how much I love meat, but I have to limit myself and hold back to avoid gaining weight. My sister said,
Yukari: "Kaori, you're totally a carnivore, huh?"
That ticked me off!
Kaori: "...I really don't want to hear that from my older sister, who got suspended for jumping into a relationship with a boyfriend and having an inappropriate romance..."
Ah! I totally went too far!
Maybe my sister's actually sensitive about it...
But my sister just said,
Yukari: "Maybe I look that way, but I'm actually a herbivore, you know? I'd never be able to start a conversation at a mixer or anything."
And laughed.
I might have said too much... While I was feeling bad about it,
We got called in! Time to go inside.
The restaurant was packed with high school and middle school kids—guys and girls everywhere.
Today was a pre-opening just for that demographic.
The plan was to get feedback from us students about the kid-friendly menu and use it for promotion.
Seriously, there were only high schoolers and middle schoolers inside.
Ninety minutes starts now!
My sister and I started making our way around the buffet.
Buffets bring out people's deepest desires.
Taste, preferences, personality.
I tried to be fancy, making a stylish plate with lots of colors, balance, and a focus on healthy options.
My sister just piled her plate with whatever she wanted—fried foods, steak, roast beef, tempura—one high-calorie item after another.
We went back to the table and started eating together.
"So good!!!"
The food was amazing! Seriously! There's even a sweets corner!
As we chatted excitedly,
Guy: "Hey, did you two come together?"
Guy: "Are you from around here?"
We got hit on...
It was the first time in my life I'd ever been picked up like that!
Honestly, it was scarier than I thought and I couldn't bring myself to talk.
My sister just ignored them, grabbed her plate, and set out on another hunt for food.
I hurried after her.
Yukari: "Best thing to do with guys like that is ignore them."
Apparently, when my sister was at her hottest, she got hit on a lot...
This time, I let my cravings take over and went all-in on the meat.
My sister was totally honest with her choices—meat, carbs, sweets, whatever she wanted.
"So good!"
Yukari: "Delicious!"
The second round was just as tasty! But I was reaching my limit...
Guy: "Hey, hey! What do you recommend here?"
Guy: "And after this...?"
Are they hitting on us again?
I mean, it's true there are only high school and middle school kids here, but...
"Uh... I'm not really sure..."
I bolted, chasing after my sister.
"Kaori, it's pointless, so you should just ignore them. It's a buffet—enjoy it while you can♪"
My sister was in a great mood.
Next, she devoured curry, pilaf, ramen, and tempura—totally giving in to her desires.
I was at my limit... One dessert and an oolong tea, and I was done!
In the end, I couldn't move from the table.
Even if someone tried hitting on me, I'd just ignore them.
As for my sister...
She calmly kept eating at the same steady pace for the full ninety minutes, right up to the time limit.
By the end, it was actually kind of scary to watch.
When we left, my sister turned to me and said,
Isn't it great to eat whatever you want, as much as you want, and just smile stress-free?
"See? I'm totally a herbivore, right?"
Maybe she means not reacting to guys hitting on her?
Does being a carnivore mean going after boys?
That's not really the point. I want to say that, but I doubt my sister would get it now.
Her way of eating and how she rebounds after dieting is enough to make you worry just watching her.
Her current appetite and rate of weight gain are honestly terrifying!
The only words I managed to get out were,
"You really are a herbivore, sis... But you're a dangerous herbivore monster who eats so much grass you could turn a whole grassland into a wasteland..."
My sister just blinked in confusion, not understanding what I meant.
That part of her is actually kind of cute, though.
I, her little sister, can only think, "She really is a hopeless girl."
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This was a requested piece for @reiado21!
Thank you so much!
Yukari's habits have become a lot clearer now, lol.
The story of Airi-senpai and Kausan will come a little later.
It'll take place once the new semester has settled down, so look forward to it.
Thank you so much for all your entries in the weight-guessing quiz!