"Onii-chan."
"Mm?"
"Onii-chan."
"Is something the matter?"
"Onii-chan."
"..."
Kaito silently looked at the girl with light green long hair beside him. Her doll-like delicate face showed little expression, but her usually cold light golden pupils were lit up by the warm orange-yellow glow of the room, shining brightly.
He sighed and lightly knocked the little girl's head, "Are you a broken record machine or something?"
"Because… this feeling is very novel," For the first time, she had a name that belonged entirely to her.
No need to use unfamiliar "xx classmates" or "xx-kun" to address, she could justifiably call out "Onii-chan."
Mutsumi gently pressed her chest, hesitated for a moment, then lifted her face, "Onii-chan, can… you pat my head again?"
The girl's smooth green hair hung down her back like a waterfall, reflecting a silky shine under the bright indoor light. Just looking at it made one know the touch must be very nice.
Actually, it wasn't really necessary to pat her head… but since it was a request from his little sister, refusing it would surely make Mutsumi show that pitiful puppy-like expression.
Kaito coughed lightly, stretched out his hand, and gently pressed the top of Mutsumi's head, instinctively using the technique he used when petting Kirara.
The sensation under his palm was warm, like the sunlight of an afternoon scattered down. The girl narrowed her eyes, as content as a dozing cat.
But… this pleasant enjoyment didn't last long.
"Is the president back? I saw changed shoes at the entrance… Eh?", Secretary Sakiko, who had unknowingly walked into the living room, paused in her steps. She looked at her friend not far away, who was currently enjoying a head pat from the president. The bright amber eyes seemed to have lost their highlights.
———
"So… Mutsumi is now the president's little sister?"
Kaito nodded.
The green-haired girl beside him also obediently followed with a nod.
"Is that so?"
Perhaps because his expression was too sincere, calm and straightforward with a strong persuasive power, Sakiko, although still somewhat uneasy, reluctantly accepted this statement. But then she raised another question, "Then, what's with the head-patting?"
'Even I rarely get patted on the head by the president.'
"As an older brother, patting a little sister's head is quite normal, right?", Kaito raised an eyebrow, looking at Secretary Sakiko, who for some reason seemed a little resentful. After a moment of thought, he suddenly understood her feelings.
As the ancients said, the trouble lies not in scarcity but in inequality, very reasonable.
When others don't have but I do, one feels superior.
But on the contrary, when others have and I don't, it breeds feelings of envy and loss.
So…
"Sakiko-san, do you also want me to pat your head?"
Sakiko's pretty face turned red.
'President… isn't that a bit too direct?'
If it were in private, she might have endured the embarrassment in silence and waited for the president to take the initiative to pat her head.
But now, in front of Mutsumi, between them, Secretary Sakiko had always been the one making decisions. How could she show her soft side to her friend?
"I-I'm not a child anymore…", Sakiko struggled for a while and ultimately rejected this heart-moving suggestion, "I definitely don't need to be patted on the head."
'She actually refused?', Kaito thought for a moment and then asked tentatively, "Then… do you also want to call me 'Onii-chan'?"
The delicate pointed ears hidden in the light green hair twitched. Mutsumi lowered her eyelids, her slender fingertips unconsciously tightening on her skirt hem.
Because she gripped too hard, her knuckles slightly turned white.
'A name that belongs only to me…'
'I have only had it for a short while, and now Sakiko wants to take it away?'
"Please allow me to refuse."
Thankfully, things didn't develop in the worst direction.
This time, Secretary Sakiko refused even faster, without the slightest hesitation.
She didn't want to be a little sister.
Rather than calling "Onii-chan," she preferred to justifiably use terms like "Shujin(husband)" or "Anata(you)."
'Well, if she doesn't want to, then fine.'
Kaito didn't mind, "There's freshly made noodles in the kitchen. If you're hungry, you can get a bowl. I'm going to take a bath first, we'll talk later."
Normally, just leaving a visiting guest like that to go do his own thing would be considered very rude.
But since he and Sakiko were quite close, there was no need to worry about such formalities.
After he left, only the two girls remained in the living room.
Sakiko looked at her friend, who had been silent since just now. A trace of probing flashed in her beautiful eyes.
She used to firmly believe that Mutsumi would never betray her, and certainly would never secretly backstab her.
But… that earlier scene had shaken that trust.
She wanted to say something, but the words that came out instead were, "Mutsumi… how do you feel about living here?"
"Very good," Mutsumi's voice was still cold and calm, without much emotion.
Others might not notice any difference, but as childhood friends who were like halves of each other, Sakiko could keenly sense the changes in her friend.
If the former Mutsumi was like a noble girl in an oil painting, beautiful but lifeless, then the current Mutsumi was like a doll that had found a "heart" and been given true life.
And all of this was clearly brought by the president.
Sakiko's eyes were somewhat complicated.
That her friend had undergone such a big and positive change, she was of course happy.
But… what about the cost?
One day, would Mutsumi fall deep into this, and even… become her rival?
On one side, a childhood friend she grew up with.
On the other, the boy she liked.
Life's multiple choice questions were always unusually difficult.
'The only good news is… at least for now, the president hasn't shown romantic interest in Mutsumi,' Secretary Sakiko sighed. Given the situation, might as well eat first.
———
Lying in the bathtub filled with hot water, feeling the warmth wrapping his skin, Kaito leaned his head against the tub's edge, his expression completely relaxed.
No wonder people love soaking in baths, this feeling was indeed immersive, a lightness of body and mind, washing away the fatigue of the day.
Only, this atmosphere didn't last two minutes before being interrupted.
The phone not far away suddenly vibrated.
He casually waved his hand, and the phone by the clean clothes flew over.
With spiritual power protecting it, he didn't have to worry about water damage. Kaito swiped the screen a few times, and a message appeared before his eyes.
["Chihaya Anon" has sent you a voice call invitation.]
Chihaya-san?
So late—what does she want?
Kaito casually declined and typed back, "Taking a bath."
The phone quieted for a moment, but soon another message popped up.
[Chihaya Anon has sent you a video call invitation.]
Kaito: "..."
Kaito: "?"
[T/N: Fufufufu, getting freaky, are we?]
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