It was a little past five in the afternoon.
The competition had ended.
Minamoto Senya left the concert hall with Tōma Kazusa and Kudō Miyoko.
"Well, I'll head home first."
At his words, Kudō Miyoko looked a little surprised.
"Eh? We're not going to celebrate? After all, both the championship and runner-up titles went to us!"
Senya smiled.
"Not today. I already told my family about the results, and they're preparing dinner for me at home. Oh, right—if you two don't mind, you're welcome to join as well."
Instead of answering right away, Miyoko glanced over at Kazusa.
Kazusa shook her head.
"I'll pass. I'll head home too."
He just said it was his family, so why would she go barging in?
Besides, she had just been over there a couple of days ago. If she kept showing up so often, it would feel… improper.
"I see." Senya nodded, not pressing the invitation. He had only said it out of courtesy anyway. "Then let's leave it at that for today. Spring break still has a few days left. Kazusa, you'll be at home most of the time, right?"
"That's right. Why?"
"I'll probably take a day to visit you. You know—the thing we've been working on. Can I trouble you again?"
Kazusa blinked, not immediately catching on. But after a moment's thought, she realized what he meant.
"Oh… that. I get it."
"You're a big help. I'll get in touch later. Tell me what you want to eat, and I'll bring it over."
"…Fine."
"?" Kudō Miyoko looked back and forth between them, her gaze filled with suspicion. "What are you two talking about? What's this 'thing' you've been doing together?"
Senya chuckled without answering.
"Miyoko-san, you don't have to drive me back. I'll just grab a cab. You've worked hard today, so head home and rest early."
Waving to the two of them, he turned and left.
"Hey, you haven't answered me yet!" Miyoko's searching eyes landed on Kazusa.
But Kazusa only gave a faint smile, with no intention of explaining, and headed toward the parking lot. "It's nothing important."
Just him composing and writing songs, and her helping to coordinate the instrumental parts—that was all.
"Eh, don't keep secrets from me too! Tell me!" Miyoko chased after her.
"No way. It's a secret."
After parting with the two, Senya hurried back home.
The moment he opened the door, he was greeted head-on by Rikka, who was holding little Chiyo.
He set the paper bag in his hand aside and gently took Chiyo from Rikka's arms, kissing the baby's tiny hand affectionately.
"I'm home~"
Rikka giggled as she peeked into the bag, curious to see the prize he had brought back from the competition.
As the siblings played, little Chiyo suddenly babbled in her clumsy baby voice: "Pa~pa~"
"Ah, not again! Chiyo, he's not Papa—he's your big brother. You can't go around calling him that!"
Still holding the award, Rikka tilted her head helplessly and tried to correct the baby.
But at this age, there was no way Chiyo understood. Eager to keep babbling, she spotted Toka just then walking in from the yard with the laundry, and stretched her hands out toward her.
"Ma~ma~"
"She's your sister," Rikka sighed, already too tired to bother correcting anymore.
Ever since Chiyo had started mumbling words, she had mixed up "mama" and "papa" countless times. By now, they were used to it.
But even so, that innocent voice, coming at just the wrong moment, often stirred up uneasy thoughts for certain people in the house.
Toka gave Senya a brief greeting, then hurried upstairs with the laundry.
Senya, on the other hand, was in high spirits as he lifted Chiyo high above his head.
If she could already help her big brother out like this before even learning to talk properly… then what about when she grew older? Truly, this little one was a partner worth treasuring! Not for nothing had he spoiled her with all sorts of toys.
"Where's Mom?"
"The moment you called saying you'd placed runner-up and would be coming home for dinner, she rushed out to the supermarket. Said she needed to buy shrimp and crabs to celebrate properly."
"Oh, really? She didn't have to go through all that trouble."
"It's fine. You don't like them anyway, so I'll eat them all."
"Rikka… didn't you gain two kilos this spring break?"
"Wha—! How did you know!?"
Senya looked at her, feigning shock. "I just guessed. So you really did gain weight, huh."
Rikka froze for a second, then turned beet red, furious. She lunged at him with tiny fists swinging.
"Uwaah! Senya, I'll drag you down with me!"
At that moment, Toka came back down the stairs.
The fluster she had felt earlier, thanks to her baby sister's mischievous "mama," had already settled somewhat.
Her presence restored the aura of the household's eldest daughter.
"Stop fooling around, Rikka. Come help with dinner."
"…Fine."
"Senya, you must be tired from the competition. Go take a bath first."
"I'm fine, I'll play with Chiyo for a bit. You two go ahead."
Carrying the baby to the sofa, Senya looked relaxed and cheerful.
Watching him, Toka drew in a deep breath, her cheeks faintly flushed.
The boy who used to rush to the bath the moment he got home… now lingered, just to fall in step behind her.
Honestly, this guy…
"Hey sis, there's a lot of vegetables in the fridge. Which ones do we need?"
"Take out the celery and carrots…"
Pulling herself back from her thoughts, Toka turned toward the kitchen.
Dinner ended, and after an hour of rest, the family began winding down.
Their mother, Junko, took Chiyo for a bath and then went to rest in her room.
As Toka had expected, when she ran the bath and told Senya to go first, his response was as usual:
"You go ahead, Toka."
This had become a pattern lately.
But tonight, Toka wasn't going to let him have his way again.
Resting her hand on her shoulder, she tilted her neck. "I feel a bit stiff lately. I'm going to do some stretching first, then bathe. So you go on ahead."
Senya suddenly smiled, and alarms blared in her head.
As expected—
"Really? Same here. Maybe because of writing and piano practice, sitting for so long makes my back and shoulders ache. I remember you saying stretching helps, right? Then let's do it together."
He gave her no time to refuse before calling up the stairs:
"Rikka! Bath time!"
"I'm busy right now!"
"You're just gaming, right? Pause it and get down here!"
"…Fine!"
Her grumbling answer floated down, followed soon by the sound of her footsteps. She appeared with a towel and pajamas in hand, heading into the bathroom.
Senya turned back to Toka with a grin.
"Shall we start? Right here in the living room?"
"..."
Unbelievable.
If the outside world knew that the boy hailed as a hero for stopping a terrorist on a train was, at home, just a scheming sister-obsessed brat trying every trick to stick close to her… jaws would drop everywhere.
What on earth was so good about her anyway…?
"Toka?"
"…We'll do it upstairs."
No way she was doing this in the living room. Their mother's room was on the first floor.
With the way Senya had been acting more boldly these days, if their mother came out and saw something questionable… even if Junko said nothing, Toka's shame alone would kill her.
Upstairs, at least the staircase gave her time to react.
"Upstairs, huh. Works for me."
Senya grabbed a yoga mat and followed her up.
The second-floor hallway wasn't as spacious as the living room, but there was just enough room to lay out the mat.
Toka sat first, legs together, bending forward.
Senya didn't join in immediately, instead commenting casually:
"You're not changing? You've got several yoga outfits, don't you?"
"No need. What I'm wearing is loose enough."
"I see. Then I'll change."
He disappeared briefly and came back in shorts and a tank top.
His frame was lean but defined, muscles toned without being excessive—strong and easy on the eyes.
Attractive appeal always worked both ways, and physique was often the most obvious part.
Sitting down beside her, he copied her pose for a forward stretch.
Toka kept her head straight, but her eyes slid sideways, stealing glances.
Bright eyes, sharp features, an easy, natural charm that radiated without effort… he was still so unbearably handsome.
No one else could possibly replace him.
Her mind wandered back to their first meeting in their new home, him standing in his crisp uniform, smiling as his clear gaze met hers.
Back then, she never imagined he would one day hold such a place in her heart.
"Oops—sorry, lost my balance."
Nor would she have guessed he'd be pulling stunts like this now…
Even doing a simple stretch, he leaned "accidentally" against her.
A two-time Jade Dragon Banner champion? His physical control was too good for that to be an accident. Definitely on purpose.
"Heh, I don't know why, but I suddenly felt dizzy. Must be fatigue."
Even his excuses were half-hearted now.
"You've got a few days of spring break left. Use them to rest."
"Yeah, maybe I should."
With that, Senya sat up straight and followed her into other stretches.
To her surprise, aside from that first "mishap," he didn't try anything further.
Maybe he realized pushing too much would give him away?
That was fine. It gave her the chance to bring up what she had to say, after reading his latest diary and learning his intentions.
"Senya, I've been meaning to ask you something."
Sliding smoothly into a split, she kept her tone casual.
"What is it?"
Senya tried imitating her move, but failed—his strength and stamina were excellent, but flexibility wasn't his strong suit.
"Well… you're at the age where boys usually start feeling things for girls. Yet I've never seen you show interest in anyone. You've never even tried pursuing anyone."
She delivered the words lightly, keeping the mood like a sibling's idle chat.
Her real goal was to steer the conversation in the direction she needed.
But something felt wrong—she saw Senya's eyes suddenly brighten, almost eager.
Wait. No way. He wasn't thinking this was a chance to confess right here, was he!?
Panic jolted through her. Before he could speak, she rushed to add:
"You… you're surrounded by cute girls, you know. Yukino, Eriri, Saeko, Utaha—they're all adorable. Don't you feel anything for them? Don't you want to try dating?"
By narrowing his options, she managed to steer him back.
Senya's brief excitement cooled, replaced by calm thoughtfulness.
"They really are good girls. But right now… I have my own reasons. I don't want to, and I don't have the time to think about things like that."
Knowing very well that she was the reason, Toka forced her breathing steady.
"I see…"
"A little curious though—why ask me that all of a sudden?"
"No real reason." She hesitated for a second, then added, "Actually, a friend once invited me to a group date, and it just made me wonder."
"A group date, huh…"
Senya's expression shifted strangely, as if weighing something.
"I didn't go, of course."
"Oh? Why not?"
That strange look on his face melted into a radiant smile.
"…."
Don't smile like that so obviously!
Her heart skipped in spite of herself, because she knew that smile was pure jealousy. And yet—it thrilled her.
"Because I had no interest. Right now, I don't think I could accept anyone, no matter who it is. So I didn't go."
That was her planned line.
"No matter who it is"—she deliberately emphasized those words.
"I see…"
Senya's eyes darkened slightly in thought.
…
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