Slow Start ch161

p1

Hello, Hiroe-san.
Tama-chan made us some lunch, so how about we eat together?

Ah, sure. Come in.
I'll go get changed.
Pardon the intrusion~
It's spoon-served oyakodon.

Eh?

A travel item in Hannen-san's room...!?

p2

I've done a lot of thinking

and I really am useless.
Again!?

Aah.
I thought about so many things...
Please stop thinking about lots of things!!

I'm not fit for exams after all...
I'm gonna go on a little journey...
I've booked a grand class ticket.
Farewell, Hana-chan.
Hiroe-san!
You're endulging in luxury again!!!

Thank you.
Goodbye.
Goodbye...

Wait, Hiroe-san!!

Hiroe-san...!
She's so fast~

Sorry to keep you waiting~...

Stupid Hiroe-san!!!
Eh?

p3

You're going back home?

Yes.
I'm going to pick up some documents and stuff I'll need for the exams.
Eep.
I-I-
I'm sorry for getting the wrong idea...

It's fine.
I can't blame you for losing so much faith in me!
Ahaha
Ehehe. Indeed!
Ehehe
Hana-chan?

I could just have them mail everything to me,
but I felt it would be dishonest and chose to get them in person instead.

Well, it's because of that that going home is such a tall hurdle...
You haven't gone back even once since moving here, right?
Yeah.

My little brother who was in kindergaten
is starting grade school this spring.
Two years is pretty long when you put it that way...

They sent me some photos, but...
Here's the little brother I know.
They say we really look alike...!
Wah, how adorable!
What a sweetie-pie.

And this is him now.

p4

Oh...
He looks like me.
How should I put it,
he looks really smart...
I know, right!?

"Oh my."
"The second-time applicant sister dares show her face?"

He totally looks smart enough to say something like that, right!?
No, I wouldn't go that far...

Ah.
How about winning him over with a souvenir or something?

Gift

Ah, that could work!

Fufufu. He may look smart, but he's still a kindergartner.
Hrm...

"Oh my."
"Trying to win me over with things? You think too lightly of me..."

He might say something like that.
What happened to this little brother in the space of two years...?

Speaking of souvenirs,
is there anything your brother might like?

p5

Hmm.
I believe he's been hooked on stationery lately.
A literary boy!
He must be really smart to have a hobby like that in kindergarten.

Ah.
I got some stationery in the lucky bag I got the other day.

Lucky

It's this...

...

"Oh my."
"Looking down on me like I'm some kind of kid, are we?"

No, no!!
Little kids love this stuff!
The character in your head is getting way too off the wall!!
Get it out for now!!

Eiko

p6

Kamu~
Hm? What's wrong, Eiko?
Tell me.

Well y'see,
I was knitting a sweater
and made a teensy mistake while knitting the pattern...
Yep.
Yep.

It looked fixable so I should've just unravelled it there and then,
but it was a really tiny mistake so I figured I needn't bother.
Yep.
You should've fixed it.
Oh, an immediate response.

So I finished it as is, and that spot has been bothering me ever since.
I feel like I'll refret not fixing it every time I wear it.
So...

Kamu~
Yep. There there.

...Yeah, you're right.

Okay.
I'm gonna try my best to unravel and fix it!
Oraa
Yep.

...But for now, you should take a break
and chat with me for a bit.
Aha.

p7

You been up to anything, Kamu?
Yep. Eating lots of delicious fruit
and playing with the cats.

Occassionally playing the piano
and sleeping when I feel tired.
Aha.
Sounds like paradise.

As for me,
my Dad finally got out of work,
so it feels like New Year's has started today.
He's asleep right now.

Yep. Tell him good work.
Bow bow
Aha. I'll let him know.

I'm home~

Mom

Ah, Tama-chan, welcome back~

?
Ah, hey.
Your father's FINALLY finished his work,
so I was thinking we'd go on another voyage again.

Not fantasy but reality!? The days with her parents are so short...!?

Edit

Pub: 08 Feb 2026 17:13 UTC

Views: 23