Chapter 2. A Lie

Chapter 2. A Lie CHAPTER 2 A Lie

“I’m really sorry about today. I heard you did great.”

“Nah, it’s cool…”

After successfully concluding field day and arriving home, Masachika shared dinner with his long-absent father, Kyoutarou, who seemed apologetic. However, Masachika shrugged before turning his attention back to the meal before him.

“More importantly, can we talk about the fact that you brought back fish and chips from England for dinner?”

“What’s wrong? You don’t like it?”

“Before we even talk about the taste, I think we need to talk about how much time has gone by since this was cooked. I mean, the fries have gone limp, and the fish is a soggy, oily mess.”

“That’s half the fun.”

“I have no idea how you can enjoy this…”

It wasn’t new for his father to have questionable taste in souvenirs, but his peculiar preferences became glaringly apparent when it came to food. Years ago, someone had convinced Masachika that his father possessed a sophisticated international palate—capable of appreciating cuisines from around the world with genuine discernment. Masachika, however, had a sneaking suspicion that perhaps his father didn’t actually have diverse taste at all, but merely an undiscriminating tongue that found satisfaction in virtually anything served on a plate.

I should have reheated it in the oven instead of microwaving it…

Eyeing the half-devoured fish and chips, Masachika felt a pang of belated regret that Kyoutarou immediately picked up on, furrowing his brow.

“A lot of people in Japan talk about how bad the food in England is, so I wanted you to try the real thing out for yourself to show you that it’s actually good.”

“I’m pretty sure even the British would be mad if you served it to them like this.”

Though he grumbled about his father not choosing something that would have held up a bit better, Masachika dutifully consumed every last morsel—it was, after all, a gift from his father. Afterward, he cleansed his palate with several sips of tea—another English souvenir—and exhaled a grateful breath as the oiliness finally dissipated.

“All right, the tea is excellent,” Masachika admitted with evident satisfaction, taken aback that his father actually picked a good souvenir for once.

“I’d hope so, since the royal family apparently drinks it, too,” Kyoutarou replied while enjoying the aroma of the tea.

“Really? That’s pretty cool.”

Masachika recognized just how special the tea was, lifting the cup to his nostrils to appreciate its delicate fragrance… It reminded him of his mother, with her deep passion for fine teas.

…I wonder if he gave her the same souvenir?

He recalled the voices he’d overheard in the school infirmary but instinctively attempted to brush these thoughts aside just like he always had…when something inside him made him hesitate.

“…Dad.”

“ … ?”

“…How was Mom? She okay?”

Kyoutarou had likely been avoiding any mention of her for countless reasons, so when his son himself brought her up he looked shocked. He glanced at Masachika, who was silently staring at his mug, then smiled gently and assured him.

“Yeah, she’s fine. She was just a little under the weather.”

“…”

That was a lie.

The way they were talking at school made it sound serious. Still, Masachika recognized the futility of interrogating Kyoutarou further, since his father would likely remain tight-lipped regardless of his persistence. Additionally, the mere act of discussing his mother already inflicted considerable emotional distress, so Masachika decided that it would be better if he simply dropped it altogether.

And yet, there was one question burning within him that simply couldn’t remain unasked.

“…Dad.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you still…love Mom?”

Kyoutarou’s eyes widened behind his glasses…and then, he chuckled.

“Yeah… I’ve always loved her.”

“ … !”

Masachika’s breath caught in his throat. Ever since overhearing that conversation in the nurse’s office, one thought had been smoldering deep inside him. It appeared that the only reason the two of them broke up was because—

“But…we needed space and time apart,” Kyoutarou revealed, swiftly shattering the conviction forming in Masachika’s head as if he could read his mind. Then, meeting Masachika’s gaze with a gentle yet firm look, he imparted some words of wisdom.

“I wasn’t there for Yumi when she needed me. I couldn’t help her, and I knew that if I stayed, then I would only end up hurting her…so we decided it was best for us to be apart.”

Kyoutarou’s voice was gentle yet tinged with sorrow as he claimed that, in the end, the fault for their divorce lay with him.

That’s also a lie.

Masachika’s gut refused to accept that he bore no part in his parents’ divorce. But…but even then, Kyoutarou’s words brought him a sense of relief he couldn’t deny. And that was why…

“…Oh.”

Masachika nodded back with a smile…since he knew it was a lie born of love. His father, in turn, also smiled, accepting the unspoken falsehood as well. Two matching smiles, gentle yet tinged with sorrow—like father, like son.

The following morning, father and son shared a late breakfast in the Kuze family living room, enveloped in a subdued atmosphere that seemed to linger from the night before. Masachika ate in contemplative silence, his thoughts elsewhere, while Kyoutarou watched his son with tender eyes.

However, the quiet space, punctuated only by the gentle clink of dishes and silverware, was disrupted by the abrupt sound of the front door flying open. Immediately, footsteps thundered down the hallway before the living room door connecting to the entrance hall burst open with unexpected force.

“HEY! I’m here, my dear brother! I’m here, my dear father!”

Yuki burst in with her ponytail swinging wildly, greeting her father and brother with an exuberant “Good morning!” Though a bit startled by his daughter’s unbridled enthusiasm, Kyoutarou rose from his chair and extended his arms in an exaggerated, dramatic gesture.

“Oh, my dear, sweet daughter!”

“Papa!”

She flew toward her father, essentially tackling him with a hug, and yet, he caught her effortlessly, returning her embrace with equal affection. But as they simultaneously released each other from their hold, they turned their gazes toward Masachika in perfect unison for some reason.

“…What? I’m in the middle of eating.”

“What’s more important: me or breakfast?”

“At this moment, breakfast.”

“So if I dispose of that, I’ll be the most important thing in your life, right?”

“Stop acting like a yandere .”

“Oh, my dear son. Don’t be so cold to your sister.”

“What is wrong with my family?” replied Masachika, standing up with a sigh as he spread his arms.

“Yay!”

Yuki, as though she’d been anticipating precisely this moment, darted toward her brother, then launched herself into the air, wrapping both her arms and legs around him to hug…or rather, latch onto him.

“There, there.”

With a somewhat wry expression, Masachika patted his younger sister’s back soothingly, then sat back down in his chair and calmly resumed his meal…even though Yuki was still latched on to him.

“Yuki, your hair’s in the way.”

“Aye.”

Yuki deftly repositioned herself on Masachika’s lap, pivoting sideways so her legs stretched across his thighs while she nestled into the cradle of his arms. She then plucked the half-eaten toast from her brother’s plate and raised it to his lips.

“Here comes the airplane.”

“Ahhhn.”

“I didn’t say you had to do all this?!” Kyoutarou interjected, only to receive skeptical glares from his children.

“Wait. What are you looking at me like that for? And Yuki, is it just me, or are you being a lot more affectionate toward your brother than me?” he added with a frown, but Yuki didn’t display even a hint of guilt as she replied.

“It’s not just you, Papa. I am more affectionate toward him.”

“How can you say something so cold with such an innocent look in your eyes?”

“You still need to raise your affection level more before you can unlock the ‘Here Comes the Airplane’ event.”

“Life just isn’t fair…”

Kyoutarou’s shoulders drooped with obvious disappointment. Instantly struck by guilt, Yuki’s expression clouded as she slid from Masachika’s lap and placed a consoling hand upon her father’s slumped shoulder.

“But, well, you do work hard every day, which prevents you from spending as much time with your daughter as you should, so I’ve prepared a little shortcut to the event for you.”

“And what exactly is that?”

Relieved, Kyoutarou lifted his head and met Yuki’s gentle gaze. Then she made a circle with her thumb and index finger.

“Money. ♡ ”

“Stop trying to scam old people like a free-to-play game.”

“ … !”

“Stop looking for your wallet! Paying for affection will only make you feel empty in the long run!”

“Paying for affection makes people feel empty? What about all the men in the world addicted to hostess bars? Would you, in good conscious, say the same thing to them?”

“Yes! If anything, they need to hear it the most!”

“Dear travelers, the ‘Here Comes the Airplane’ event is now available with a pull-rate of thirty percent. Ten rolls for ten-thousand yen. One hundred rolls guarantees the event.”

“A thousand yen per roll with a minimum of ten rolls?! What kind of monster are you? And what’s up with the pull-rate where you can guarantee an event after a hundred rolls?”

“There are five color variations of the event.”

“What in the world are event color variations?”

“Elements.”

“‘Elements’??”

“Blue means you get a cool airplane, red means you get a passionate one, green means you get a comforting one, yellow means you get a bratty one, and pink means—well, you know what pink means.”

“No, actually I don’t. What does it mean?”

“Well, I know you’re my brother, but you’re gonna have to pull the pink event if you wanna know.”

“You’re going to take money from your own brother? So, where’s the handle I need to turn?”

“It’s my mouth.”

“You’re not even trying to hide the fact that the game’s rigged.”

“Ahem. Ten rolls, please.”

“Dad?! Seriously?!” Masachika interjected as Kyoutarou pulled out a 10,000 yen bill. And just like that, the Kuze living room instantly came to life while Yuki’s smile radiated with pure, unfiltered joy amidst the chaos.

“All right, let’s head out.”

Once Masachika had finished washing the breakfast dishes, Yuki appeared sporting sunglasses like she was ready for a road trip and flashed him an enthusiastic thumbs up. Meanwhile, Masachika, completely unaware that they were even going anywhere, could only blink in confusion.

“What? Where?”

“To the store to buy Alya’s birthday present, of course.”

“Oh, you got the official invite?”

Though Masachika realized that she must have been officially invited to the party sometime yesterday, he tilted his head to the side in a troubled manner.

“…I’ve already decided on what I’m going to get her, though.”

“Then I need to check to make sure it’s good, because there’s no telling what you’re going to buy her.”

His younger sister’s doubt made him purse his lips with obvious irritation.

“Rude. I’ve put a lot of thought into it, you know?”

“Oh? Go on. What do you plan on getting her?” Yuki replied smugly, as if she were doing him a favor.

“I figured it’d be nice to make her something myself, since it’d seem more personal…so I’m going to make her an herbarium,” Masachika answered, voice dripping with confidence.

Herbariums had caught his eye while browsing online for Alisa’s birthday gift. These elegant decorative pieces typically featured flowers preserved in oil within glass bottles, and the instant he saw how beautiful and stylish they were, he thought, This is the perfect gift for a girl. Kyoutarou apparently agreed as well, nodding in approval.

“Oh, that sounds wonderful.”

“Right?”

He proudly stuck his nose in the air after receiving his father’s approval, but…

“That honestly sounds…like a bad idea.”

Masachika and Kyoutarou gasped at Yuki’s ruthless opinion.

“How? It’s not overly romantic like a bouquet of flowers, and you don’t need to water it, either. How is this not the perfect gift?” he defiantly argued, but his sister was clearly not impressed.

“Because herbariums fall under ‘interior decorating,’ right? In other words, you have to make sure it matches her room…and do you know what her room looks like?”

She had a point, leaving her brother briefly speechless as she followed up with another attack.

“Even with flower arrangement, you should choose flowers and vases based on the room’s interior and where you want to put the flowers. I honestly don’t see how you didn’t even consider that.”

“Urgh…”

“I mean, the fact that Dad agreed with you should have told you it was a bad idea.”

“Good point.”

“Hey?!” Kyoutarou cried, seemingly baffled as to why he was being insulted like this, but his children’s stares were cold.

“I was painfully reminded of just how bad Dad is at picking out presents yesterday.”

“Grandma and Grandpa may dress flashy, but that’s their thing. Dad, on the other hand, has no sense of style.”

“Aw, come on, kids…”

Yuki wrapped her arm around Masachika’s while ignoring her father’s dejected expression.

“So let’s leave this clueless gift-giver here while we go shopping.”

“You’re not going to spend time with your father, even after I’ve been gone for so long?”

“You’re going to be in Japan for a while, right? We can do something together another—”

She suddenly paused, her fingers lingering against her pants pocket, before her face illuminated with a radiant smile.

“Hey… Papa, can you do me a favor?”

“Hmm? What is it, sweetie?”

Yuki tilted her head with her endearing charm as she gazed into her father’s hopeful eyes.

“I left my wallet at home. ♡ Can you go get it for me?”

Kyoutarou’s smile instantly faded.

“All right, bro. We’re here. The mall.”

“I can’t believe you made Dad go get your wallet.”

There was something about their father dropping them off, only to depart alone for Yuki’s wallet that didn’t sit right with Masachika…until it hit him. They could have just asked one of the maids to bring her wallet.

“Now that I think about it…where’s Ayano?”

“Hmm? She had some business to take care of today.”

“Oh…”

Masachika felt a flicker of relief. Ayano had confronted him with an uncomfortable truth during field day, and they hadn’t seen each other since, so things would probably still be too awkward between them.

Yuki bashfully placed her fists under her chin, deliberately posing and squirming in an exaggerated display of cuteness.

“S-so it’s just you and me today, Big Brother.”

“That’s not even half as effective as usual with that outfit on.”

He cast a skeptical sidelong glance at Yuki’s signature disguise. Her high twin ponytails were crowned with a jaunty beret while oversized sunglasses concealed her eyes entirely. Though she was likely peeking at him periodically from a downward-angled gaze, the dark lenses completely obscured her eyes and simply made her look like a weirdo.

“Tsk. My puppy-dog eyes aren’t working?! It looks like my perfect disguise actually has a few flaws!”

“You could take off your sunglasses and your puppy-dog eyes still wouldn’t work on me.”

“I guess the only other option is to use my body?”

“Come on. Phrasing.”

After Yuki sprang forward to grasp Masachika’s arm, she snuggled up to him and pointed at one of the street-side establishments. Then, she chirped in a voice dripping with even more sugar-coated entitlement than usual:

“ Taiyaki ! I bet my dear, sweet brother would looove to buy me one.”

“Why don’t you buy yourself one?”

“Because I forgot my wallet, doofus.”

“Oh, yeah! Wait, what did you just call me?”

“I meant it in a good way.”

“I hope you know just saying that doesn’t turn a negative into a positive.”

“Come on, it’s a term of endearment.”

“All right, doofus.”

“Hi, doofus! I’m doofus.”

After a brief sigh, Masachika headed over to the shop with Yuki still clinging on to his arm.

“Anyway, what do you want?”

“Custard!”

“All right. Excuse me, one red bean and one custard taiyaki, please.”

“Thank you very much. One red bean and one custard coming right up. That’ll be three hundred and sixty yen.”

“Okay… Here’s five hundred and ten yen.”

“Thank you very much. Here’s your change: one hundred and fifty yen.”

As Masachika paid the older, female cashier, her colleague retrieved the taiyaki from the warmer and tucked it into a paper bag while gently smiling at Yuki.

“Are you out shopping with your big brother today? You two must really get along.”

“Yep!”

“Oh, my. What an adorable smile.”

Yuki’s energetic, textbook-perfect reply charmed the lady, and she put two small steamed buns into the bag with the taiyaki.

“Here, I put in some extra buns for you two.”

“Oh, wow. Uh—”

“Thanks!” Yuki bellowed, interrupting Masachika mid-sentence as she accepted the sweets. Yanking insistently on his hand to drag him away, she merrily waved goodbye to the shop workers. They retreated from the storefront as they smiled and waved back, delighted by her childlike enthusiasm.

But once the siblings made it around the corner out of the shop’s line of sight, Masachika—still looking forward with a deadpan expression—declared:

“They probably thought you were in elementary school.”

“Heh! Just another one of the many benefits of this disguise…”

“Again, stop scamming old people.”

“All I’m doing is being positive and happy. How is that a scam?” Yuki replied nonchalantly as she pulled a steamed bun out from the bag and took a bite.

“Mmm! This is really good. That taiyaki shop sure knows how to make a good sweet bun.”

“Oh?”

Masachika took the other steamed bun from the bag that Yuki held out and also took a bite. The delicate, silky crust ruptured with a gentle pop , releasing a flood of dense red bean paste that coated his palate with its perfectly balanced sweetness.

“Oh, wow. You were right. This is good.”

“Right? Now, I’m curious how the red bean taiyaki is…”

“Yeah, yeah. You want to try some of mine? You got to let me try your custard one too, though.”

“Hurray!” Yuki cheered like a child while she took out her taiyaki and carefully bit into its head.

“Oh?! Tash haht! Ahhh! Yummy, though!”

“Don’t burn yourself.”

They paused in a spot where they wouldn’t get in anyone’s way and began enjoying their taiyaki together until Yuki, who had been absently surveying their surroundings, abruptly commented:

“There are so many people wearing masks today.”

“Yeah, they said on TV that the flu’s going around, so maybe that’s why.”

“Oh, yeah. I heard that. Maybe I should have worn a mask instead of sunglasses. Which do you think makes a better disguise?”

“Hmm… Probably sunglasses, I’d bet. People look way different when you can’t see their eyes. Take Elena, for instance. Her disguise ended up not working since you could see her eyes.”

“Oh, you’re talking about her mask? ‘Sexy Mask,’ was it? I mean, that was just way too obvious.”

“It’s a common trope that nobody will know who you are as long as you hide your eyes, though.”

“It’s also a common trope for a single mole to give you away.”

“We’re not talking about comics, are we? I’m not even sure what you’re trying to suggest.”

“…”

“Stop covering your eyes with the back of your hand!”

They continued to chat like this until they finished eating their taiyaki.

“So? What are you going to do about Alya’s present?” asked Yuki, looking up at her brother.

“Yeah… I guess I’ll just look around until I see something that I think she’d like,” Masachika replied, genuinely at a loss ever since his sister had thoroughly demolished what he had believed was the ideal gift. Yuki, however, merely shrugged.

“ Sigh… You’re being tested, my dear brother. Are you a true gentleman or not? You wouldn’t be in this mess if you weren’t so oblivious to the needs and wants of the women in your life.”

“…What are you getting her for her birthday, then?”

“Me? Well, Alya’s phone’s screen protector is pretty beat up, so I think I’m going to get her a nice glass one to replace it.”

“ … !”

Masachika’s brow furrowed. Though Yuki’s choice lacked the feminine charm and style one might expect in a gift from one girl to another girl, it was still a good choice. Smartphones were something people used daily, yet a screen protector was something that people rarely splurged on, even if their old one got scratched or cracked.

I feel like, if anything, I should be the one buying that for her…

A practical gift would obviously be far less awkward than flowers, but he wasn’t about to steal his sister’s idea.

“Heh-heh-heh. I even know exactly what kind of phone she uses. This is why you should always do your homework, my dear brother.”

“Hmm…”

Though he desperately wanted to wipe that smug smirk off Yuki’s face, Masachika found himself unable to come up with a single good argument. Nevertheless, it was this stubborn refusal to surrender that ultimately enabled him to muster a response, however pathetic it may have been.

“But getting her a screen protector is like telling her that her current one looks like trash, right?”

“Well, we are rivals, after all. Gotta have some tension, you know?”

“You’ve got it all figured out, huh?”

Masachika’s face contorted into an expression beyond simple description, yet he recognized his critique sprang purely from spite, prompting him to pivot silently on his heel without saying another word. And so, he decided to contemplate gift options while exploring the shopping mall aimlessly…

“Oh, how about a scented candle? That’d be nice, right?” he asked.

“People can have wildly different preferences when it comes to scents. Besides, would you be happy if someone got you a scented candle?”

“Then what about a cool hourglass?”

“You’d have to get something that matches her room, and blah, blah, blah—we’ve talked about this already.”

“What about a calendar of dog pictures?”

“What if she already has a calendar?”

“That pink power bank is kind of cute…”

“Seems like you’re letting my screen protector influence your judgment. Have you no pride, my dear brother?”

“Oh! What about some nice soap?”

“I think most girls would be weirded out if a guy got something for her to use in the bath. You’re basically indirectly telling her, ‘I want ya to smell like purty flowers. Keh-keh.’ Besides, soap’s something the entire family would be using, not just Alya.”

“…Just to be sure, buying her jewelry would be weird too, right?”

“Yep. I really doubt you’d be able to pick out something nice, regardless.”

“You know what? I think I’m just going to get her some sweets…”

“Getting her food is what a coward would do.”

“Fine. I’ll go with a gift catalogue, then. Let her choose.”

“That’s also something a coward would do. Besides, that’s not something people in high school give each other.”

Having every idea that he came up with rejected crushed Masachika’s confidence to the point that all he could manage was a hollow laugh.

“So what are you gonna do?” Yuki pressed, her glare sharp. Masachika, however, responded with a feeble chuckle—the laugh of a man too scared to face reality.

“Ah-ha-ha-haaa. ♪ Big Brother’s down to his last braincell. ☆ ”

“Tsk. You’re too cute … !”

“Hey, stop.”

“Cuteness overload … !”

“Stop! Come on.”

Yuki took off her sunglasses and looked up at the sky while wiping tears from the corners of her eyes, and for a brief moment, Masachika was genuinely overcome with embarrassment. But the instant he caught her playful grin, clearly milking the moment, he let out a deep sigh.

“…I’m going to bake her something sweet.”

“Oh… I guess that wouldn’t be so bad. Alya doesn’t seem to mind eating food other people have made, and you’re a boy, so that’s a bonus…”

“All right, it’s settled, then.”

They wandered the shops for ages, yet purchased nothing in the end, leaving Masachika overcome with both relief and hopelessness. Yuki, on the other hand, simply shrugged.

“Anyway, I know I said a lot…but what you get her really isn’t that important.”

“Excuse me?”

Yuki clicked her tongue smugly, then wagged her index finger at her eyebrow-raising brother.

“What you’re giving her isn’t actually a physical present, but your heart, my brother!”

“In other words, I should put my heart into it? Yeah, that’s kind of why I’m baking something for her myself.”

Yuki raised both hands, as if she were throwing in the towel, unable to bear her brother’s stupidity any longer.

“That’s part of it, but not everything. I’m telling you to prove to her how you feel with your actions and your words.”

That was when Masachika finally understood what his sister was getting at, and he tensed. Yuki gave him a sly smile, put her index finger to her lips, and mischievously whispered:

“If you do the same thing with her that we do every year…you’re gonna raise Alya’s affinity level exponentially and immediately unlock a new event.”

It was hard to say when it started, but for years now it had been something they did whenever they gave each other a birthday gift.

“…I can’t do that in front of other people,” Masachika protested, his cheek twitching as Yuki wrapped her arm around his shoulder with a mischievous grin.

“Bro, brooo. Don’t worry. I’m gonna help you out. I’ll make sure you and Alya get some time alone at her birthday party.”

“Wow… Neat… I can always count on you, even though I didn’t ask for your help…”

From inches away, Masachika glared at his sister with an expressionless gaze, but Yuki was undeterred, beaming as she jabbed her finger decisively toward the escalator.

“Great. Now, we need to get you some nice clothes to really seal the deal.”

“Clothes?”

“What are ya, stupid or something? You’re goin’ to a party, so you need to wear a jacket, ya ding-dong!” Yuki barked, raising her eyebrows so dramatically they almost began to peek out over her giant sunglasses.

“Tsk! Don’t yell in my ear… Wait. Huh? This is a birthday party, you know? At someone’s home. A real middle-class household.”

“It doesn’t matter what their social standing is, and it doesn’t matter that you’re all students, either. You were invited to a party, so you need to dress up. You’re going to be meeting Alya’s parents, right?”

That was when it hit him. Yuki had a point. While he had briefly met Alisa’s mother at the parent-teacher meeting, he was probably going to be meeting her father for the first time at the party. A favorable impression was crucial, since Masachika was going to be his daughter’s partner in the upcoming election.

“…Good point.”

“Tsk. Pull yourself together. Anyway, come on. Let’s do this.”

“Roger.”

Nudged along by his “all-knowing” younger sister, Masachika ventured to the men’s clothing section and ended up buying whatever she suggested. He then trailed behind his sister as they drifted toward the women’s clothing floor, but a random price tag caught his eye, triggering a sudden revelation.

“Wait. I didn’t bring nearly enough money to buy you new clothes.”

“Hmm?”

After having his pockets unexpectedly lightened by his own shopping, Masachika realized he only had two thousand yen left in his wallet, which was probably nowhere near enough to afford a new outfit for his little sister. Yuki, however, casually waved her phone in the air and replied:

“I’m sure you can use contactless payment at the stores here. I put over one hundred-thousand yen into my account just in case.”

“Seriously? …Hold on. What was the point of sending Dad on that mission to get your wallet, then?”

“…Heh-heh. ☆ ”

Yuki mischievously poked out her tongue while gently tapping her temple, but Masachika looked back at her with an empty gaze, pausing briefly before timidly asking:

“Is Mom really that sick … ?”

The question made Yuki freeze just as she reached out to examine some clothes, revealing everything Masachika needed to know. Yuki’s so-called forgotten wallet was merely an excuse. The truth was that she wanted their father to check up on their mother at the Suou residence…which meant that Yumi needed Kyoutarou right now.

It looks like I was right…

Perhaps he wasn’t simply making bold assumptions when he overheard his parents’ conversation in the school infirmary. Maybe Yumi really was…

“She’s perfectly fine…”

Masachika found himself utterly blindsided by how Yuki completely shot down his assumption. He blinked repeatedly in disbelief at her, and she gazed back with her head cocked sideways, appearing every bit as puzzled as him.

“Why’d you bring her up out of nowhere, anyway? I’m genuinely surprised. It’s not like you to bring her up.”

“Oh… Yeah…”

Yuki’s upward gaze remained concealed behind her dark sunglasses, rendering him unable to gauge her true feelings or thoughts.

“Anyway, I don’t know where you got that idea from, but Mom’s fine. Oh, check out this outfit.”

But the fact that she immediately averted her gaze convinced Masachika that she was lying.

“Excuse me,” she called out to some shop staff. “Can I try this on?”

“Of course. This way, please.”

Before he could press further, Yuki darted toward the changing room, leaving Masachika’s extended hand grasping at empty air.

“Sir, please have a seat here.”

“Oh, thanks…”

A shop assistant directed Masachika to a sitting area beside the changing area where he settled, propping his elbow on his knee while his palm cradled his forehead.

“…”

He knew that Yuki was lying and that she wanted him to drop it.

Mom really is sick…

But even if Masachika was right, what could he do about it? He still resented Yumi and had no intention of lifting a finger for her. Yuki probably knew that, which could have been why she went to her father for help instead of him.

Yeah… Dad’s there with her, so there’s nothing I can do for her now.

Was it right to press Yuki for answers just to satisfy his curiosity, especially when he had no intention of doing anything about it? If she wanted to keep it a secret, shouldn’t he respect that? Perhaps he should simply focus on making sure they enjoyed their time together and accept things as they were…

“…I’m just making pathetic excuses again,” Masachika hissed softly under his breath, swallowing his true feelings as he roughed up his bangs and got out of the chair.

He stepped up to a nearby mirror, smoothing out the self-mockery and loathing from his expression. At the very least, he wanted his sister to be able to enjoy shopping without worrying about him, so he forced on his usual carefree, empty smile.

“ Sigh… It is what it is, I guess.”

But just as he sighed and turned to head back to his chair, something on a rotating display stand by the register caught his eye.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered instinctively, drawn to the display as if by some invisible force. Picking up the item, he gave it a quick once-over, then glanced at the changing room to make sure Yuki was still inside before hurrying to the register. Meanwhile…

Phew… That was a close one. My sunglasses saved me… Actually, he probably still saw right through me , Yuki thought.

Inside the changing room, Yuki bit her lip, frustrated at how poorly she’d handled her brother’s sudden question. Masachika’s assumption was right, after all. Yumi had been spacing out more and seemed terribly distracted ever since field day. Even Yuki thought she should see a doctor, but Yumi wouldn’t acknowledge anything was wrong, insisting she was just innocently daydreaming.

I don’t want to believe that Mom’s sick either, but…

Lately, watching Yumi filled her with anxiety, but she couldn’t share her worries with Masachika, since he’d only drown himself in self-loathing and regret.

All I want…is for my brother to smile.

That was Yuki’s wish, and it was the unchanging, fundamental core of who she was now.

“Haaah…”

With a quiet sigh, Yuki resigned herself to changing—she couldn’t dawdle around forever while pretending to try something on, after all. After removing her hat, sunglasses, jacket, shirt, and pants, she glanced at her reflection. Her small, slender frame looked almost fragile, though her chest and hips had developed enough so that she didn’t seem underdeveloped. Still, seeing herself like this, she couldn’t help but think she looked a bit too frail.

Looking at my family, my genes should have allowed me to grow a little more than this…but I guess being bedridden when I was little stunted my growth.

Yuki never had any hang-ups about her body, but she couldn’t help feeling guilty, since her family had worried about her lack of growth over the years—especially her mother.

“…”

She gently placed a hand on her flat lower abdomen, her lips twisting with resentment.

I want to grow up. I want to become an adult already.

She had always wanted to put her family at ease as soon as possible, but her body—as if mocking that wish—hadn’t grown at all, and the heart bound by her youthful frame was still, in part, that of an innocent child’s. Unlike many of her teenage peers, she felt neither shame nor discomfort around her family. She had never known romantic love or even had any sexual desire for the opposite sex.

“ … !”

Yuki clenched her teeth as she impulsively raised a fist to strike her own stomach…but she managed to stop herself at the last second and lowered her fist.

“Fff… Hff…”

She took a deep breath, calming the turmoil in her heart. Because no matter how much she resented her body, there was nothing she could do to change it. She couldn’t change her body, her heart, or the fact that she would always be Masachika’s sister.

“ … !”

Tormented by the harsh reality, Yuki pressed her forehead to the mirror, staring at her reflection.

“I’m…okay… I’m okay … ,” she whispered.

She squeezed her eyes shut, steadying her emotions. Determined not to worry her brother, she forced a smile while she readied herself to play her usual role as Masachika’s carefree little sister.

“Hff … !”

After exhaling a deep breath and smirking slightly, Yuki whispered the magic words:

“Little-sister mode: Activate. ♡ ”

The soft voice reached her ears and her mind instantly snapped into focus, a mischievous, defiant grin forming as she let go of her worries.

“All right.”

Pleased with her reflection, Yuki nodded to herself before slipping into the light blue dress she had brought. She styled her hair elegantly, embracing a more ladylike look.

“Heh! Look how cute I am.”

After flashing another bold smile in front of the mirror, Yuki cheerfully burst out of the fitting room.

“Ta-da! What do you think!”

Striking a smug pose, she was immediately met with Masachika’s usual smile.

“Yeah, you look good. Like you’re all dressed up for the school play.”

“Ha-ha-ha. I’m gonna take your nose.”

“My nose?!”

The siblings went on to savor the rest of their day together as if nothing had changed, just as they had hoped.

“Ugh… Unbelievable… I cannot believe she only gave us a week’s notice.”

Meanwhile, at a different shopping mall, Sayaka grumbled as she walked around with Nonoa. A little farther behind, Takeshi and Hikaru lingered as well, both looking somewhat uncomfortable.