Upside Down 76 Chapter 74: Sofi

[Tuesday, July 9th]

Today starts out well enough, I wake up as I normally do, before the sun is up, kiss Chinatsu awake, and we spend a little while making out. Nothing out of the ordinary.

What is different, I'm in no hurry and I don't really care what I look like, since I have nowhere to be and no one other than family to see. Yep, my first lazy weekday in a while and I plan to take full advantage of that little fact. I still have meals to cook, things to clean and such, but thats far less than I normally do and won't take all that long.

We'll be leaving Honoka and Mayumi to sleep as long as they want. Both of them are running fairly high fevers, roughly 39°C as of last night, so we'll also be checking in on them fairly often to change out their cooling strips and make sure they stay hydrated and eat. Thankfully, they aren't in a lot of pain. Sure, there's some achiness, but that could be from the fever and/or what the nanites are doing. Mama and I have switched off checking on them throughout the night, so I'm not totally worn out at least.

I plan to cook a lot of food this morning for them, but with the way they're feeling, I think breaking up into several small meals would be best. I'm still not sure what to make them. High calorie and easy on the stomach would be ideal. Yogurt and cottage cheese are some of what comes to mind. Maybe dice some fruit up for them as well. That should be a decent breakfast for them.

It just occurred to me, I can make a high calorie version of chicken and mushroom soup or even a lobster and prawn bisque. Well, that decides that, and ends my not caring what I look like since I now have to go shopping. We don't have what I need to make either of them.

Standing, I offer my hand to Chinatsu, "Come on, we need to go bathe."

"Hmm? Why? We don't have to go anywhere today."

"Chinatsu, if it weren't for Honoka and Mayumi needing me, I'd happily spend the day in bed with you. Unfortunately, we need to go shopping so I can cook what I have in mind for them."

"Okay." She sighs. "You know there are times I wish you'd act like a normal girl."

"Oh, really? What part of me is normal? The fact that I used to be a boy? Or could it be that I have a split personality? Or maybe that I'll never get sick and my nanites will heal me? Oh, I know, it must be that I'll live several thousand years!" Sighing, I pull her to me. "Chinatsu, I've never been normal, even before I drank those nanites. Thankfully, you love me no matter what I am."

"Sora, why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"It really hurts me when you mock yourself and put yourself down. Mom and I have asked you many times not to do it."

She leans back to look at me intently in the eyes. "Sora, you are exceptional in so many ways. Yes, you have a few faults, but who doesn't? Please, do me the favor of not focusing on your imperfections. Sora, look at yourself from another's point of view."

She moves behind me and makes me look in the mirror. "Seriously, look at yourself. Not only are you the most gorgeous girl I know, you have a body that most girls our age would do anything to have. Your skin is flawless and so soft and smooth. Your hair is like silk. People have spent several hundred thousand yen to look like you and they will never even come close to your level of beauty." She turns me around to look at me. "Sora, you have a bright, bubbly personality. You're a genius of a level I'm not even sure they can measure properly. You have the biggest, most open heart of anyone I know. G.o.d knows, if I had been through a quarter of what you had been I would have closed myself off and hid in my room. You never did that. You're one of the most resilient and strongest people I know. You don't quit and you never back down, no matter how bad the odds are. Do you have any idea how lucky I consider myself that you love me? You are, and always will be, my everything. You are the central point my life revolves around."

Blus.h.i.+ng furiously from what she said, I reply, "Chinatsu, you sure know how to embarra.s.s me, but I love you for what you just told me. Thank you. I'll try not to focus on my flaws. I don't know how successful I'll be, but I'll try."

"That's all I'm asking. Now, what are you wearing today?"

Today, for me, a light pink halter top with a white pleated mini skirt and sheer white stockings. Chinatsu decided to go complementary and chose a cobalt blue mini dress with a pink belt and pink ankle socks to go with it.

After we bathe and dress, Chinatsu puts my hair up in a folded ponytail.

We have everything we need for breakfast here. First, I make Honoka and Mayumi a bowl of cottage cheese with sweet yogurt in it. I slice up cherries, strawberries and bananas and lay them alongside them. Adding two cups of black tea to the tray, I head upstairs.

I might ought to mention they decided to stay in the same room to make it easier for us to care for them. So, they're both staying in Honoka's room. Dad bought another bed for Mayumi. Dad never said a word in protest that Mayumi would be staying with us, he simply picked up his phone and made the call to have a bed for her delivered.

I knock on the door and without waiting, I head inside. Honoka's sitting up, while Mayumi is sleeping fitfully. Setting the tray down on the small table in the room. I walk over to check on Honoka.

Honoka, of course, has been sweating profusely. Her nightgown is soaked. Picking up the thermometer from her nightside, I check her temperature, which turns out to be 39.8°C.

"How are you feeling Nee-chan?"

"Starving, achy and freezing to death."

"I don't doubt it. Why don't you eat and drink your tea. I'll come back in a little bit to wipe you down and we can change your nightgown."

Moving over to Mayumi, I gently wake her and check her temperature, which is 39.5°C. "Hi. How are you feeling?"

"Really achy, hungry as h.e.l.l and I'm freezing."

"Perfectly understandable. You're running a really high fever. Why don't you join Nee-chan and eat. I'll come back in a little bit, wipe you down, and then change your nightgown."

She nods. "Sora?"

"Yes?"

"I really appreciate your mother and you watching over me during all of this."

"Mayumi, you're part of my family, and this is what family does. We watch out for and take care of each other. You're far too young to be my mother, but I think of you as my second Mom nonetheless. I'll always look out for you, no matter what."

"Thank you Sora. I love that you think of me that way."

"I'll be back soon. I have to start breakfast for everyone else."

Heading back downstairs, I find Chiaki is there with Chinatsu.

"Good morning Chiaki."

"Good morning Sora. Would you like me to help with breakfast?"

"If you don't mind, yes. Mama won't be up for a while and everyone else is incapacitated at the moment, so any help would be welcome."

Little else of any importance happens, until we are shopping, except for one thing. So, basically, we finish breakfast, we all eat and I go back up to take care of Honoka and Mayumi.

After I come back down with Mama, we are sitting at the table drinking tea when at 8:00 the door intercom chimes and Dad heads off to answer it. Coming back a few minutes later he has in tow a blonde girl, who looks to be about our age.

Looking curiously at Dad, Chinatsu and I wait for the introduction. I have a good idea who she is, but wait for confirmation.

Clearing his throat, he announces, "Girls this is Sofia Warren. She prefers to be called Sofi. She'll be helping to watch over the two of you along with Honoka. She will be will be living here with us. On the books, she's your first cousin from the United States."

The next few minutes are spent introducing us to our new family member.

Only one word is needed to describe her, adorable. Waist length, wavy blonde hair with hazel eyes. She's a couple of centimeters taller than us, and most definitely a cutie. She's dressed well, so Mama might not have to change her too much, if at all.

Anyway, we need to get moving so I can get what I need to make the bisque.

"Perfect timing Sofi, we need to go shopping and I wasn't looking forward to having to use my security detail to do so."

"Shopping? I love shopping!" she chirps excitedly.

I smile. Seems we'll probably get along just fine. "Unfortunately, it's simply grocery shopping this morning. I don't have what I need to make a lobster and prawn bisque."

"You cook?"

"Of course I do. You'll find I'm a very good cook. I'm nowhere near Mama's level, but no one has any complaints."

"Sorry. That came out wrong, I'm simply surprised that's all. Most thirteen years olds can barely boil water."

"You might be right, Chinatsu is the only person I know who can burn water."

Sofia giggles when Chinatsu forcefully states, "Hey! I help you cook!"

If making tea or coffee, or measuring out rice and water to put in the rice maker counts, then yes, she helps me cook. Cooking isn't one of her fortes, so it's not a big deal to me.

"Yes, you do and I'm very grateful for your help little sis." I tell her with a wry smile.

And, of course, now my uterus decides to act up and start cramping. I knew this would start soon, but I truly hate this. Placing my hand on my lower abdomen, I make a pained expression.

"Sora? Are you alright?" Chinatsu asks with a concerned expression.

"Uh huh, cramps suck though."

"Come on Sora. Let go get your meds."

Taking my hand, Chinatsu leads me upstairs where I take my meds, and trade out my clutch for a bigger purse. Then head down to the bathroom to take care of the other part of this. Afterward, I place several tampons into a pouch and drop it in my purse. I doubt I'll need them, but better to be safe than sorry.

Back in the living room, I ask, "Mama, may I take Chiaki with us since Honoka's out of commission?"

"Of course."

"Thank you. Is everyone ready to go?"

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

First stop is going to be at the fish market to buy several kilos of lobster and prawns. I could get them at Seiyu as well, but the selection is a lot smaller and we have no idea if they'll even have them today Anyway, that's where I'll be getting most of what I'm after.

We spend the trip to the fish market getting to know Sofi a bit better.

Sofi is nineteen, but looks thirteen. She's slightly taller than us at 155 centimeters with waist length blonde hair and large, hazel eyes. She has a small, pert nose; rosy, full lips; a slim waist; slender arms; long, lithe legs; and fair skin. She tells us her specialty is bladed weapons, but she's also proficient with firearms and knows martial arts as well. She has good fas.h.i.+on sense and dresses well.

We already heard she likes shopping, so that's one thing we have in common. I'm fairly certain we'll find we have a lot more interests that coincide.

Once we reach the market, Chinatsu and I hold hands as we slowly make our way through the stalls. We stop at one that's offering Red Snapper and Spotted Sea Trout. This would be great seasoned with paprika, oregano, thyme, pepper and pan blackened.

I select 5 kilograms of each and ask that they be delivered when I pay for it. It's a little on the expensive side, but it'll be absolutely delicious. At most, this will be delivered in a couple of hours. That's one of the reasons Mama and I use this market.

Making our way over to Matsumoto's shop, were met with a hearty, "Hi girls, what can I get for you today?"

This is Mama's favorite shop and a large part of our seafood comes from him. Partly because he delivers and he always has a wonderful selection.

"Hi Mr. Matsumoto. What do you have for lobster and prawns today?" I ask with a bright smile.

"I received a large s.h.i.+pment of Canadian Lobsters this morning and we have our usual Rock Lobsters. For prawns, we have Crevettes, King, and Tiger prawns."

Thinking about how big our household is now, I'll definitely need to buy a lot more than usual. "Okay, can I have 3 kilograms of the Rock lobster tails and 3 kilograms of both the Crevettes and King prawns?"

"Sure. I a.s.sume you'd like them delivered too?"

"You know us too well Mr. Matsumoto."

"By the way, who are the girls with you?"

"Oh, right, this is Chiaki, she's been hired to help around the house since Mama's pregnant and this dazzling blonde is our cousin. She will be living with us from now on."

They both bow, smile and wave at him as I introduce them.

He waves back and tells me, "I'll add this to your account and have it delivered within an hour."

"Thanks Mr. Matsumoto. We'll see you soon."

We quickly make our way back to the car and head over to Seiyu.

I don't really care for Seiyu, but they do have a large selection of fresh vegetables. The main reason I don't care for it has all to do with it's always packed there and I invariably end up getting stepped on or jostled. It's irritating to put it mildly.

After we picked out the vegetables we need, I head over to pick out the spices I'll need for this. As usual Chinatsu is holding my hand as make our way over to the aisle when a couple of men force us apart and my arms are grabbed lifting me off the floor, as he quickly moves away from Chinatsu.

Chinatsu's initial angry shout, turns into a frightened scream for Sofi to help.

Bad move on his part lifting me off the floor as Honoka's instructions flood back. I'm wearing stiletto heels, so I lift one of my legs and kick straight down with my heel into his calf. As his grip loosens, I throw my head back into his face and he drops me. Spinning in place, I knee him in his family jewels as hard as I can and turn to run to Chinatsu so we can get away from these men.

As packed as this place is there's now a wide open area around us because Chiaki has her pistol out and pointed at two of them while Sofi apparently knocked out another. She comes over to me along with Chinatsu.

Chinatsu immediately takes me in her arms. "Are you alright?"

All I can do is nod as I stand within her arms shaking like a leaf and doing my d.a.m.nedest not to have an utter meltdown.