Chapter 21 Added Value

Added Value

How can we help Yuka-chan overcome her picky eating habits?

The first thing that came to mind when Tachibana-san asked this was her situation.

There was a time when a ward office official scolded Tachibana-san, telling her it was wrong for an older sister to take care of her younger sister.

I had never once thought that statement was right. Every family has its own circumstances. Forcing misguided common sense on others without understanding their reality—I never liked that kind of thinking.

But now, seeing her worry even about Yuka-chan’s eating habits, I couldn’t help but think… she really was like a parent to her.

No matter what I said, Tachibana-san would probably take it as teasing, so the best thing I could do was keep my mouth shut. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her, having her precious youth weighed down by responsibilities.

“Sorry. This isn’t something that concerns you, but I ended up asking you so seriously.”

“It’s fine, really.”

If I could be even a little bit of support for Tachibana-san, then this wasn’t a burden to me at all.

“I’m about ten years older than her. Maybe because of that, our parents neglect her since they’re busy with work. They provide money, so I don’t have any complaints, but still… it’s a little sad for a child to grow up without parents acting like parents. Well, they were probably just as neglectful of me too, but at this point, I don’t really care about that.”

Is Tokyo really such a brutal city that both parents have to work long hours just to survive? The thought made me uneasy, but since she seemed to have accepted it, I decided not to say anything.

“But, at the very least, she has me… so I want to take care of her, even if just a little. If she stays this picky with food, it’s going to cause problems in the future. I could eat pretty much anything as a kid, but she’s extremely selective. I try different tricks, but she always catches on.”

“What kind of tricks?”

“I finely chop up the veggies and mix them into hamburger patties or croquettes. But she says they taste bitter. She figures it out right away.”

Tachibana-san shrugged, clearly frustrated. She really was struggling with Yuka-chan’s picky eating, just like a parent would.

“And every time I do that, I start thinking… this isn’t right. Just sneaking it in doesn’t really mean she’s eaten something she dislikes. I want her to face it head-on and eat it properly.”

“Face it head-on, huh.”

It sounded a bit dramatic, but in essence, Tachibana-san wanted Yuka-chan to experience the sense of accomplishment that came with overcoming a challenge.

The feeling of successfully eating something she once hated. Small victories like that could help build the resilience needed to face other struggles in life.

I completely understood what she was trying to say.

Ever since I started working, I’ve had plenty of chances to experience that kind of success firsthand.

And the indescribable joy of finally being able to do something I once couldn’t—it was incomparable.

“So, what Tachibana-san wants is for Yuka-chan to face her disliked foods head-on and learn to eat them, right?”

Now that I thought about it, the green peppers in today’s stir-fry—they had been left out in the open. That must have been intentional on Tachibana-san’s part.

“…Am I being overbearing?”

Looking unusually dejected, Tachibana-san lowered her head as she spoke.

“Overbearing?”

“I mean, it’s not uncommon for kids to have foods they dislike these days. Forcing someone to eat something they don’t want… isn’t that exactly the kind of thing parents nowadays try to avoid?”

If I wanted to be technical, it wasn’t about a child—it was about her sister. So it wasn’t quite the same.

But even if I pointed that out, I knew it wouldn’t change how she felt.

“…I think realizing you still don’t like something is just as important.”

As I said it, I wondered if my words were outdated.

I continued.

“You never really know anything unless you try it. What you can do, what you can’t, what you like, what you dislike… We think we know these things, only to later realize we were wrong. That’s happened to me more times than I can count. And every time, I’ve thought—ah, what a waste.”

“…Yeah.”

“I don’t know if what you’re doing for Yuka-chan is right or wrong. But I do know that trying isn’t wrong. After all, people only learn through failure.”

Tachibana-san stayed silent, as if waiting for me to continue.

I shrugged and went on.

“Well, if you don’t want to force her, then there’s only one thing to do. Make it so that Yuka-chan wants to try on her own. That’s the best way.”

“But… how?”

Yuka-chan’s picky eating must have been a huge struggle for Tachibana-san as her guardian. No wonder she was at a loss.

“…Maybe you should try thinking about it from the opposite perspective.”

“The opposite perspective?”

“Tachibana-san, when you have to do something you really don’t want to do, what makes you go through with it?”

At my question, Tachibana-san placed a hand on her chin, deep in thought.

“Not much, really. I just do it because I have to…”

Her response wasn’t helpful at all.

…Come to think of it, when she was made class representative, she had reluctantly accepted the role with the same attitude.

“Alright, then. Let’s think about it in terms of work. Imagine you’re in the future, working, and your boss gives you a task you really don’t want to do. You still do it, even though you hate it. Why?”

“Because my boss told me to?”

“No. …Also, just so you know, if your boss ever asks you to do something inappropriate, you shouldn’t just obey.”

“I-I wouldn’t do that!”

She blushed as she denied it, but honestly, from an outsider’s perspective, her way of thinking seemed worryingly obedient. I couldn’t help but be concerned that she might just go along with anything.

“Well, of course, there are limits. But the reason people put up with unpleasant tasks at work is simple—they get paid for it.”

“…Oh.”

Looking convinced, Tachibana-san gave a small nod.

“In the end, people only do things for others when they weigh the risks and rewards. If they have to do something unpleasant, they expect something in return. That’s why people endure things they don’t want to do. Studying is the same. A lot of people hate it, but they do it because it benefits their future. Those who prioritize the present tend to slack off, while those who prioritize the future sacrifice their time now for a greater outcome later.”

“…So it all comes down to risk and reward.”

“Exactly. So, if you want Yuka-chan to eat foods she doesn’t like, you just have to give her a reward that makes it worth it. ‘If you eat this, I’ll do that for you.’ If the incentive is strong enough, she’ll eat it—even if she doesn’t want to.”

“I see.”

“Basically, you just have to make eating her disliked foods more valuable to her.”

After confidently explaining all that, I realized—I had just handed Tachibana-san quite the difficult challenge.