Side Story 2 – Finding Hobbies 1: Observing My Family Part 2


I Managed to Bring Down the Entire Family of That Impossible-To-Conquer S-Class Beauty, Completely Filling in Her Outer Moat


After the three left, someone else came home as if to take their place.

โ€œJust got back. Huh, Nozomu? Welcome! Stay a while.โ€

An old man carrying a rod case and cooler box over his shoulder opened the door and came in.

His expression suggested a modest catch, but the moment he saw Nozomu, it brightened as much as it would have after a big haul.

โ€œExcuse me for barging in, Nabatame-san. Did you catch anything good today?โ€

โ€œNot bad. I was thinking of making sashimi, but you should have some too, Nozomu.โ€

โ€œHuh, really!? Then let me help you!โ€

โ€œHmm, no need to be shy. Hehehe.. I’ll do my best to fillet them all.โ€

The grandfather, unlike the rest of the family, doesn’t show much change in his expression.

But right now, being with Nozomu, he looks genuinely happy, and it’s heartwarming.

Alright, I’ll make sure to write about Grandpa properly too.

โ—†No.4 Nabatame Toshizo

ใƒปMy grandfather. A bit clumsy but incredibly kind.
ใƒปHobbies: Fishing.

ใ€€ใƒปHolds a Class 2 Small Vessel License and goes deep-sea fishing. His fish dishes are incredibly delicious!

ใ€€ใƒปOthers often perceive him as unfriendly and stiff. He says showing his emotions to others makes him feel embarrassed.

ใ€€ใƒปActually, he’s easily persuaded and gullible. Apparently, Grandma has tricked him the most.

ใ€€ใƒปHe doesn’t really like Dad, but he dotes on Nozomu like he’s his real grandson.

ใ€€ใƒปStill holds a grudge about me going on a zoo date with Nozomu without telling him first.

My family observation notebook is filling up nicely, and I snort with satisfaction.

Just as I was about to go help Nozomu and Grandpa with cooking,

โ€œโ€”Helping Grandpa, are you? as expected sensei”

โ€œWhoa! Sachiko san!? You scared meโ€ฆโ€

Grandma, who had come back without us noticing, had hugged Nozomu kun from behind, startling him.

Seeing how close she still was to him, I felt a black aura erupting from my back, โ€œZumo mo mo moโ€ฆโ€

โ€œSachiko san, please don’t cling to me! It’s dangerous!โ€

โ€œDon’t say such lonely things. You don’t like me hugging you?โ€

โ€œYes. It’s dangerous while cooking, so I don’t like it.โ€

โ€œTch. I thought I’d try to charm you with a newlywed couple scenario, but I guess it didn’t work. Well, I’ll help with the cooking then. Let’s finish this quickly.โ€

“Don’t try to seduce me when Nabatame-san is right here. Look, Nabatame-san’s already started talking to the fish.”

From the sight of the three of them lined up in the kitchen, I lowered my gaze to my notebook and began writing.

โ—†No.5 Nabatame Sachiko

ใƒปMy grandmother. The family member I should be most wary of right now.
ใƒปHobby: Writing novels.
ใƒปHer appearance is identical to mine, except for hair color and style. Apparently, the secret to her youthfulness is something my great-grandmother swore her to keep quiet about.

ใ€€ใƒปShe loves anything sweetโ€”sweets, romantic comedies, you name it.

ใ€€ใƒปShe’s like a storm, appearing out of nowhere, wreaking havoc, and then vanishing.

ใ€€ใƒปWhen she tried to meet Nozomu wearing a black wig and my school uniform, I couldn’t help but feel disgusted.

ใ€€ใƒปPlease stop dragging Nozomu-kun around under the pretense of research for your novel. He’s my hobby buddy, after allโ€ฆ

Grandma really is someone to watch out for. Especially when Nozomu-kun is involvedโ€”you never know what she’ll do.

When I finished writing and looked up, something small moved in the corner of my vision.

Apparently drawn by the fish smell, she’d come back, her little feet pattering.

‘Meow.’

โ€œAh, Seri-chan.โ€

Seri-chan, the cat returning from outside, rubbed against Nozomu-kun’s legs in the kitchen, meowing sweetly.

Nozomu-kun, in stark contrast to Grandma’s earlier embrace, smiled gently and picked Seri-chan up.

Seeing this, Grandma’s mouth fell open in shock.

‘Nyaaah’

โ€œHmm, want some fish? I think you should ask Nabatame-san about that, not me.โ€

โ€˜Nnyyaaah~โ€™

โ€œAlright, alright. I guess I’ll just have to get ready.โ€

Staring dumbfounded at Nozomu and Serichan, who were somehow having a conversation, I put pen to paper.

โ—†No.6 Serinuntius (Serichan)

ใ€€ใƒปMy pet cat. Precious family member.

ใ€€ใƒปHobbies: Walking, napping

ใ€€ใƒปMaster escapee. Impossible to keep her locked up no matter what.

ใ€€ใƒปRecent favorite nap spots: Nozomu kun’s lap or head.

ใ€€ใƒปExpresses affection by rubbing her body against his legs.

ใ€€ใƒปFavorite food: Tuna.

Nozomu-kun, who’d been accosted by the persistent Serichan, interrupted his cooking and came over to me.

Given that situation, it seemed unlikely he’d be able to cook properly anywayโ€ฆ

Watching Nozomu-kun play with Serichan like that, my hand started moving on its own.

I’d already finished writing about the rest of my family, but I couldn’t stop.

โ—†No.7 Watarai Nozomu

ใƒปMy hobby buddy. The benefactor who shared his hopes for the future with me.

ใƒปHobbies: Everything under the sun.

ใƒปSeems to love anything interesting, basically.

ใƒปAn amazingly talented person who can do anything. But apparently, the one thing he absolutely can’t do is rock-paper-scissors.

ใƒปExceptional athletic ability and excellent grades. He’s very considerate and gets along with everyone.

ใ€€ใƒปSometimes, while watching our family, he makes a face that looks incredibly envious.

ใ€€ใƒปI feel like he’s hiding โ€œsomethingโ€ deep inside his heart.

โ€œAlright, done!โ€

My hand moved on its own, finishing Nozomu’s entry too. Satisfied, I snapped the notebook shut.

Suddenly, the words โ€œFamily Observation Notebookโ€ on the cover caught my eye, and my brain started processing.

(โ€ฆHuh? Doesn’t this basically say โ€œNozomu is family tooโ€!? Wait, sure, he has been blending in way too well lately!!)

My face felt hot and flushed.

I reached to tear out just that page, but right then, Nozomu came over.

โ€œChina-san, did you get to observeโ€”?โ€

โ€œHyaa! Y-yes, I did!?โ€

Reflexively, I closed the notebook, failing to tear out that page.

โ€œOh! Would you mind showing it to me too?โ€

โ€œN-no way! It’s embarrassing!!โ€

โ€œEh, is that soโ€ฆโ€

Nozomu-kun looked dejected and started kneading Serichan’s belly as she lay sprawled on the floor.

This notebookโ€ฆ Yeah, I’ll hide it in that drawer.

I slipped it into my pocket and started kneading Serichan just like Nozomu-kun.

โ€”In the end, I forgot to take it out of my pocket, and Mom found it in the laundry. She grinned even more than usualโ€ฆ

Maiasa


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