Kasugano Sora covered her forehead, pouting slightly with some dissatisfaction. What was wrong with letting her laugh a little? Too petty.
"The pudding I owed you from yesterday has been bought." Hoshino Miru kept a straight face. "Also, don't stay up late playing with your phone while eating snacks at night."
Kasugano Sora loved eating junk food. If Hoshino Miru wasn't home, she would treat cola and chips as three meals a day.
Especially after Hoshino Miru had ordered some spicy strips from a certain Eastern country online - after Kasugano Sora tried them, she immediately added spicy strips to her life menu.
"Mind your own business." Kasugano Sora blushed slightly. She definitely wouldn't eat snacks while staying up late at night.
Girls had better things to eat at night. Kasugano Sora sneakily glanced at Hoshino Miru's face, somewhat proud. Finding he really hadn't noticed, she felt a bit dejected and angry again.
Hoshino Miru brought the guitar back upstairs to the study. The bedding here had already been put away - no trace of Toyokawa Sakiko staying here last night could be seen.
The music theory books and sheet music deliberately left here last night were still on the desk. Hoshino Miru sat down, held the guitar, and recalled Wakaba Mutsuki's fingering from today, trying to play a few notes.
There were many ways to play guitar. Besides the commonly perceived finger plucking, there were actually picks and hybrid playing methods.
If a guitarist was highly skilled, they might have learned special playing methods too, like using metal or glass tubes on fingers to slide and play.
Of course, Hoshino Miru didn't need special playing methods now.
Wakaba Mutsuki told him beginners should first learn how to properly hold the guitar. He shouldn't learn her playing style - rather than mimicking, he should first find a posture suitable for himself.
After learning the correct posture came learning basic chords, then arpeggios and strumming.
Once Hoshino Miru was familiar with finger plucking, she would continue teaching how to use a pick, including techniques like hammer-ons, slides, muting, and arpeggios.
Though this little teacher said very little, Hoshino Miru felt she had quite a clear learning trajectory for students. Could she be copying the method she learned before?
Hoshino Miru looked at his phone. Wakaba Mutsuki had sent him several tablature sheets - these were the pieces he would practice next.
Today's "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" was simply to familiarize Hoshino Miru with the guitar, with no difficulty at all. Every beginner learned similar pieces - equivalent to kindergarten level.
Hoshino Miru played against the sheet music for a while. As he played, a very novel feeling flashed through his heart.
He had encountered music before, but not as clearly as now. It was as if what had been just a mosaic in his eyes before now revealed a blurry image.
Though only a very blurry image, it was far better than a mosaic.
When mimicking Wakaba Mutsuki, Hoshino Miru had vaguely sensed something.
"Music Theory's" effect might not just be providing basic music theory knowledge - it very likely increased his talent and potential in music.
Like "Writing" back then, Hoshino Miru now suspected that continuing to level up would probably produce things like perfect pitch.
Hoshino Miru thought about it. Hypnosis should be a special skill. "Rhetoric" very likely just made him a failed art student.
...
It grew dark. After bathing, Kasugano Sora found Hoshino Miru still in the study practicing guitar.
"Won't brother rest for a bit?"
Hoshino Miru glanced back. Kasugano Sora's hair was somewhat damp as she held her dry towel, wiping the strands. This was a habit of many girls - worried that blow dryers would damage their hair quality, they usually dried with towels then let it air dry naturally.
"What time is it now?" Hoshino Miru put down the guitar, belatedly realizing his fingers were faintly aching. He should buy finger guards next time.
"It's almost 7 PM. Brother has been practicing for three hours." Seeing him put down the guitar, Kasugano Sora naturally walked over and sat sideways on his lap.
Hoshino Miru wanted to help dry her hair, but she grabbed his right hand and examined it carefully.
"Does it hurt?" Kasugano Sora felt somewhat distressed seeing red marks on Hoshino Miru's fingertips.
"It hurts, hurts to death." Hoshino Miru blinked.
"If it hurts, brother deserves it. Looking for trouble." Kasugano Sora punched him without sympathy, then grabbed his right hand and gently blew on it. "Pain pain fly away~"
Hoshino Miru felt it didn't hurt much anymore. With such a soft girl sitting in his arms, her body all fragrant, so seriously blowing on his hand - even dying right now would leave no regrets.
"Today's practice time is over. Don't touch your broken guitar." Kasugano Sora treasured Hoshino Miru's right hand like something precious, placing it on her small belly and not letting him take it back.
She was also wearing Hoshino Miru's long T-shirt today. The originally somewhat loose clothing, with her pressing Hoshino Miru's palm like this, caused her budding little bunny to softly push up a slight bulge near her chest. Her waistline was vaguely visible too.
Below were white hot pants. Due to her sideways sitting posture, two slender, well-proportioned jade legs rested on Hoshino Miru's thighs - whether the fair, tender thighs or the slender calves, everything was clearly visible.
He didn't know when it started, but Kasugano Sora had been treating Hoshino Miru's clothes as pajamas, even though she had her own.
She placed Hoshino Miru's right hand on her small belly, which also made Hoshino Miru embrace her slender waist - light and soft, just the right size for one hand to hold.
Hoshino Miru unnaturally shrank back. He sensed the girl wasn't wearing undergarments and tried to avoid his line of sight, or strange reactions would occur.
If exposed in front of Kasugano Sora, his days as big brother should be over, right?
Kasugano Sora was completely unaware of Hoshino Miru's reaction. She had long grown accustomed to such physical contact with him. Being able to be this intimately close was a sister's privilege - something no childhood friend could compare to.
Just as Kasugano Sora thought of someone, Hoshino Miru's phone rang.
The two looked at each other. Kasugano Sora showed a sweet smile.
"Don't mind me. After all, it's a call for Miru."
Using his name directly again. Hoshino Miru felt dejected. This sister didn't even bother pretending each time.
Hoshino Miru picked up his phone and looked - somewhat surprised, it was actually Eriri calling.
"Good evening, Eriri." Hoshino Miru answered the call, his eyes glancing at Kasugano Sora.
Kasugano Sora blushed slightly. What the heck, it was that idiot Eriri. She'd almost gotten angry with brother again.
"Of course I'm home for spring break. Where else would I go?" Hoshino Miru paused. "You're asking about Sora? She is indeed beside me right now..."
"Brother, the place you're touching feels a bit hot."
Kasugano Sora inexplicably blushed, leaning against Hoshino Miru's body with a sweet, syrupy voice, interrupting Hoshino Miru's conversation with Eriri.
Hoshino Miru was stunned. Eriri on the other end also seemed to fall silent for a moment.
"Wait, what are you two doing!?"