Chapter 418

"Welcome back, Brother!"

The moment Kaga Reisa saw Natsume Chikage push the door open and enter, her body paused slightly. She then shyly lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously smoothing the hair hanging by her right eye, and she echoed in a faint voice:

"Welcome back... Natsume-niisan. I... am disturbing you again."

The little white cat's tail was held high as it leaped nimbly from the table, affectionately rubbing back and forth against Natsume Chikage's ankles while letting out a soft, sweet meow:

"Meow~"

Before him was the familiar yet slightly crowded scene: his younger sister, the "4K"-figured Kaga Reisa, and that overly familiar white cat, "Nanio."

Natsume Chikage noticed that both Kaga Reisa and his sister had sketchbooks spread out before them, holding drawing pens, seemingly sketching portraits of each other.

Although he was very interested in the special equipment in Kaga Reisa's hand—the 'Ready-to-Emerge Drawing Pen' which emitted a faint glow only he could see—he understood that his current relationship with Kaga Reisa was far from the point where he could casually make a collection request.

Speaking up directly would be too abrupt; it was better to wait for a more suitable opportunity.

By the looks of it, Kaga Reisa and his sister were getting along very well.

Since she had been able to come over for two consecutive days, she would likely come often in the future; there would always be opportunities, so there was no need to rush.

Natsume Chikage walked into the room, took some cat strips from the cabinet, and squatted down to feed the little white cat, asking casually at the same time:

"Are you two drawing?"

Natsume Ruri nodded happily, her eyes curving into crescents:

"Mm-hmm! We're drawing each other!"

Natsume Chikage revealed an interested expression:

"How are they coming along? Can I take a look?"

"Of course you can!"

"... If Natsume-niisan wants to see."

Natsume Ruri and Kaga Reisa handed over their sketchbooks almost simultaneously, looking a bit shy yet expectant.

It had to be said that both his sister and Kaga Reisa were quite talented at drawing.

Both portraits captured the essence of the subject; one could tell at a glance who was being drawn.

Natsume Chikage didn't have a deep understanding of drawing techniques, but he still possessed basic appreciation.

He praised them sincerely:

"These are great. Both my sister and Kaga-san are very talented. They're so good that I even want to collect them."

Upon hearing this, Kaga Reisa didn't know what she associated it with, but her already flushed cheeks turned even redder in a "whoosh," almost burying themselves into her collar.

Natsume Ruri, meanwhile, had eyes shining with excitement:

"Last time I saw Reisa-chan drawing a sketch for you, my hands were actually itching! After all, I haven't drawn a close-up of you, Brother, yet!"

"Since the pens and paper haven't been put away yet, Brother, can I draw you?"

Facing his younger sister's sparkling, expectant eyes, it was difficult for Natsume Chikage to say no.

"Of course you can."

Natsume Ruri cheered, immediately grabbed a pencil, adjusted her sitting posture, and entered "artist" mode.

Seeing this, Kaga Reisa also quietly flipped to a new page in her sketchbook, pinching the corner of the page with her fingertips, and asked in a voice as thin as a mosquito's:

"Natsume-niisan... can... can I draw you too?"

Natsume Chikage nodded generously and smiled:

"Of course, Kaga-san, please feel free."

A hint of shy joy flitted across Kaga Reisa's weak-spirited face.

She stood up slightly, wanting to move to the spot next to Natsume Ruri, because from there she could see Natsume Chikage's front more clearly.

However, this rising motion caused those overly plump "dumplings" to sway noticeably, which was exceptionally conspicuous even while wearing a school uniform.

People's gazes are always unconsciously attracted to moving objects.

Natsume Chikage felt a slight heat on his face and, before the other party noticed, quickly turned his gaze toward the old television playing a comedy variety show.

Natsume Ruri, however, pouted and pointed at him with her drawing pen:

"Brother, you're the model now; models aren't allowed to move around! Look at Ruri's side, Ruri wants to draw your front!"

The more intently Kaga Reisa looked at Natsume Chikage's face, the higher the temperature of her cheeks rose.

She lowered her head and said in a muffled voice:

"Mm... I, I want to draw the front too. So... please, Natsume-niisan, look this way too."

Hearing this, Natsume Chikage was left between laughter and tears, so he had to turn his gaze back and sit upright.

At the same time, he silently prayed that Kaga Reisa wouldn't move too much while drawing...

However, with "Nanio," a white cat that didn't play by the rules, the situation was always full of surprises.

After finishing the cat strips, the little white cat seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood today and didn't slip out the window immediately.

It began circling around the three of them, rubbing its head and body against their legs, purring, clearly begging for pets.

It just happened to rub against the wrong places from time to time.

Witnessing this scene, Natsume Chikage thought it was fortunate the cat was female; otherwise, he would have thought it was the reincarnation of some old pervert.

In short—after about four or five minutes of "torment" that was indescribable and required him to recite Pi to distract himself.

"Reisa-chan, are you done?"

"Mm... I'm done. How about you, Ruri-chan?"

"I'm done too!"

Hearing this, Natsume Chikage breathed a secret sigh of relief.

Natsume Ruri happily handed the sketchbook to her brother:

"Brother, look! Does it look like you?"

Kaga Reisa also shyly pushed her sketchbook over gently:

"Natsume-niisan... please, please take a look too."

Natsume Chikage looked carefully at the two drawings, noticing some differences in style this time.

His sister's style was more lively and casual, carrying her unique sense of vitality.

Kaga Reisa's drawing, however, leaned toward realism, with delicate brushstrokes, more like a traditional portrait sketch.

But regardless, both drawings accurately captured his features and looked very much like him.

Natsume Chikage praised them from the bottom of his heart:

"They're both so good! They're practically at the level of students from the Tokyo University of the Arts Fine Arts Department."

Upon hearing such high praise, both their eyes lit up.

They both truly loved drawing, and receiving a "Geidai-level" compliment was undoubtedly the most delightful encouragement.

Natsume Ruri pouted, but a happy smile that couldn't be hidden appeared on her face:

"Brother has been getting better at complimenting people lately! But... Ruri doesn't hate it."

Kaga Reisa appeared even shyer, her head lowered until it was almost buried in her chest, her voice barely audible:

"Thank you... for the compliment, Natsume-niisan."

Not long after.

The three sat around the small table, eating a simple late-night snack.

Natsume Chikage remembered the plans for tomorrow and instructed:

"Ruri, tomorrow is Friday."

"Brother starts work at three in the afternoon and finishes at six."

"I'll come to pick you up after work, and we'll go to Aunt Miyuki's house for dinner together."

"She has invited us several times already; we can't stand her up."

Natsume Ruri nodded earnestly:

"Mm-hmm, Ruri understands. I'll wait at home for Brother to return tomorrow."

After saying this.

Natsume Chikage turned to look at Kaga Reisa and explained the situation gently:

"My sister and I are going to visit someone's house tomorrow night."

"If you still want to come over to play with Ruri tomorrow, Kaga-san, it might be troublesome for you to come after seven in the evening."

Kaga Reisa nodded gently, indicating she understood:

"Mm... I'll remember."

Afterwards. ===== CHAPTER 419 =====