Left to her own devices, Rokka amused herself. After receiving a message from Minamoto Senya, she happily replied that there was no need to worry, and her mood lifted even more.
Later, she planned to grab a quick bite, then slice up some fruit for herself, watch a bit of TV or catch up on dramas. The living room's floor-to-ceiling windows were open, letting in a gentle cross breeze, and she could curl up on the sofa for a nap whenever sleepiness hit. In early summer, this kind of leisurely day was sheer bliss—one couldn't simply call it "wonderful," it was something beyond words.
Even a deity would envy such a stolen moment of peace amidst the chaos of everyday life.
Meanwhile, Takanashi Toka was led by Minamoto Senya to a Western-style restaurant.
From the outside, the series of French and English words on the signboard hinted at sophistication, and Toka already had a sense of what was coming.
Stepping inside confirmed her suspicions:
The air was rich with an elegant, unmistakable fragrance.
The high ceilings were adorned with elaborate crystal chandeliers.
The walls displayed framed art books.
Tables covered in white linens were decorated with delicate greenery.
The most striking detail, however, were the staff—each dressed in perfectly tailored dark suits, gleaming buttons, and white gloves, giving the impression of personal butlers from a noble household.
As Toka had suspected, this was undeniably a refined, high-end restaurant.
Of course, the menu was equally "exclusive."
A portion of Wagyu short ribs went for 25,000 yen, roasted beef tongue for 38,000, lamb ribs 22,000, filet steak 31,000, roast squab 28,000…
Glancing over the menu the waiter handed her, Toka maintained a calm exterior, but inwardly she was twitching.
A nearly 30,000-yen squab—she could buy over ten of them at the supermarket, marinate, prepare, and roast them for a family meal.
Other items weren't any less staggering. A salad that dared to cost 8,880 yen—essentially just lettuce with some dressing and perhaps a sprinkle of toppings.
Forgive her for such petty, middle-class thinking, but growing up in a different environment had conditioned her to never fully grasp this level of expenditure. She couldn't automatically accept this simply because Senya was treating her.
Though she never considered his wealth her own, concern made her feel slightly pained at Senya's apparent "extravagance," giving her the sense of a frugal, responsible older sister.
Flipping through the menu, she froze upon seeing a note in the lower right corner: "A 12% service charge will be applied to the total bill." That was it—she couldn't continue. She couldn't bring herself to actually order anything.
With a waiter standing nearby, she naturally refrained from saying anything that would embarrass Senya.
A good woman knew how to preserve her man's dignity in public; her demeanor reflected his confidence and pride.
So she merely said softly, "Everything looks delicious… I'm a little indecisive. Can you pick for me?"
Senya smiled and nodded, placing an order for a two-person set meal. "She prefers lighter flavors," he instructed the waiter. "For her portion, please use less black pepper, garlic, and spices."
Toka felt a warmth in her chest. He remembered her little preferences.
"Yes, of course, I'll place the order right away. Please wait."
Once the waiter left, Toka finally exhaled, then added, with a hint of reproach, "What were you thinking, bringing me to such an expensive restaurant?"
She lowered her voice deliberately, keeping it just between the two of them.
Senya's usual gentle smile remained, hands folded neatly on the table. "Because it's you, Toka, I wanted to come here."
His words seemed to answer her question while saying nothing at all.
Toka studied her brother-in-law's face, perpetually radiating charm. She glimpsed a few other young women in the restaurant casting admiring glances toward him, some with flirtatious expressions.
For some reason… her heart started racing again.
The waiter brought their appetizers and drinks.
Senya picked up his glass and offered a toast. "Alright, my dear sister, the most important thing when we go out is to have fun. Don't worry so much about the cost. Honestly, I've always wanted to experience a high-end restaurant and see what makes it different from a regular one. Consider it my indulgence, and your company is enough to make it worthwhile."
Toka replied, "You could've at least told me beforehand… I had no time to prepare mentally."
If she had known, she could've worn something a bit more stylish instead of this casual ensemble of a fitted knit top and high-waisted wide-leg pants. She had a lovely dress she could've chosen…
And they should've brought Rokka too. Leaving her at home would surely spark a tantrum later…
Though internally chafing, she lifted her glass and gently clinked it with Senya's.
The drink went down smoothly, non-alcoholic, yet her cheeks flushed pink.
Looking into Senya's eyes, full of indulgent warmth and care, realization dawned on her.
Wait a minute…
The excuse about shopping for Mom's car earlier… was it really just an excuse?
What they were doing now… this was entirely a date.
A clear inner alarm buzzed in her mind.
The exquisitely ceremonial lunch ended.
It was now two o'clock.
The sky remained bright, the sunlight still dazzling.
It wasn't time to return home yet, and Senya wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by.
Drawing on experience, he persuaded the reluctant Toka—who wanted to head home—to continue holding her wrist and accompany him to the next pre-planned destination.
In the city center, a bustling commercial street lay not far from the coast, lined with shops offering everything from food and fashion to entertainment.
They passed a commercial aquarium, tried a fish-catching game, bought a medium-sized fish tank, added some ornamental fish, paid, filled in their address, and arranged for installation.
At the arcade, they played whack-a-mole, tried a two-player VR game, and even played a couples-only mystery game in a private room with a professional DM. They visited a modestly spooky haunted house too.
Later, passing a swimwear store, Senya paused with a mischievous grin.
"We're heading to the beach next week," he said, prompting them to check out the store, partly indulging his own whims.
"What? Toka, you already have a swimsuit…"
"My trunks are too small; today's as good a day as any to buy replacements."
Senya's reasoning was sound, and Toka followed him inside.
The staff quickly surrounded them. Amid enthusiastic promotion and Senya's subtle nudges, Toka, flustered, selected a swimsuit—a bold black one with a halter design emphasizing curves.
Unfortunately, Senya didn't get a sneak peek yet, but it didn't matter; that day would come soon enough.
Like a couple, they wandered until past five in the afternoon before returning home.
Senya had considered eating dinner out, but Toka, mindful of family, firmly declined.
If she didn't return home, Junko would have to prepare dinner; she didn't want her to overwork herself.
More importantly, Toka realized she was increasingly yielding to Senya's whims, unable to resist his suggestions.
If they ate out tonight, she worried about what might come next.
Rokka had spent the day happily at home, snacking on watermelon, chips, and jerky, sipping cold drinks while watching TV shows, anime, and comedies.
By three in the afternoon, she finally grew sleepy and napped on the sofa—only waking when her sister and brother-in-law returned.
Seeing her sprawled across the sofa, legs akimbo, revealing her underwear and belly, Toka quickly reasserted her older-sister authority.
From the messy coffee table, it was clear Rokka had ignored her earlier instructions, going wild at home.
"Ow… ow… ow!"
Rokka, yanked awake by her ears, immediately understood what had happened upon seeing Toka's stern expression and Senya's secretive grin.
She knelt, wiped her slightly damp mouth with her hand, and began to excuse herself.
Toka had heard this kind of story countless times and wasn't buying it—she was ready to administer another punishment.
But Rokka's sharp eyes caught the packages on the table. She rushed over, pointing at them, and Toka realized she had forgotten—she should have put them away before waking the little lazy one.
Regretful, she watched Rokka open one of the paper bags.
"A doll… there are a few…"
Another: "Photo stickers…"
Third: "A towel and soap gift set? Looks fancy… oh, and a letter… 'Thank you for trusting and choosing our restaurant'… receipt… ten… hundred… thousand… ten thousand…"
Rokka read aloud until Senya snatched the receipt and tossed it in the trash.
Fuming, she pointed at them. "You… you… Senya! You said you were buying household items, but this is clearly just a fun outing! And you went to that fancy restaurant! Without me!"
Senya explained, smiling: "Dinner was just a casual place. How would I know it would be so expensive? Once we sat down, the waiter brought water—it'd be rude to leave. The toys and photo stickers? We passed by and got curious. But we did buy the household items: knives, peelers, storage bags, and a shredder."
Rokka, unconvinced, tried to examine the remaining packages, but Toka swiftly removed them. Among them were the swimsuits—they couldn't be seen.
Knowing her sister too well, Toka anticipated Rokka's tactic to deflect blame, so she acted decisively rather than letting explanations drift.
At that moment, Junko returned home with little Chiyo in tow.
Rokka, seeing her, ran to her mother, exclaiming, "Mom! Toka and Senya went out without me! They're bullying and isolating me!"
Toka raised a brow—her "victim first" tactic.
Senya took Chiyo in his arms, amused, not offering an explanation yet.
Junko glanced at Rokka and then at Toka. "Did you two fight again?"
"No, Mom, don't listen to her nonsense."
"I'm not lying!"
"You little…"
"I'm not little!"
"Quiet, both of you," Junko sighed, exhausted from work, and looked at Senya.
"Nothing serious, Mom. I had Toka help me run some errands, then we stopped by the store to pick up some things."
Senya addressed Rokka next: "Clean up this mess, and next time, remember to sleep in your room. The windows were wide open—your belly was exposed. What if an intruder came?"
A few simple sentences resolved the situation.
Rokka, seeing Toka's softened expression, stopped complaining and cleaned up happily.
Junko sighed. "It's nice having a sensible boy around. I don't have to worry about much."
Toka, feeling guilty about her own day, silently interpreted this differently.
She stowed the items upstairs. Senya followed with Chiyo.
Leaning against Toka's bedroom door, Senya said, "I'll make dinner today. You've been out with me all day, you must be tired."
"You noticed," Toka muttered, arranging the packages.
Senya smiled. "Why do you sound a bit annoyed? We laughed the entire way this afternoon."
Toka didn't respond—there was no room for argument.
Senya gently nibbled Chiyo's playful fingers, then tilted his head. "You're worried about Rokka, right? Don't be—she may seem upset, but she won't take it to heart. I'll talk to her after dinner."
"Oh," Toka replied quietly, unnerved by how much he understood.
She finished organizing, approached Senya, and poked Chiyo's cheek. "Your trunks—I'll wash and fold them later."
"Thanks, really."
"If it's such a hassle, next time let me know your plans in advance."
"Understood, elder sister," Senya teased, making Toka's ears burn.
"Mom… Mom…" Chiyo waved hands toward Toka.
"I'm your sister, not Mom," Toka corrected, taking Chiyo's hand gently. Her tone softened instinctively.
Chiyo, ignoring her, turned to Senya and called in a baby voice, "Dad… Daddy…"
Senya, initially restraining laughter, eventually couldn't help himself.
"You still have time to laugh," Toka scolded, taking Chiyo. "Senya is your brother, not your dad."
She shot him a look: if Chiyo keeps calling him wrong, let's see if you can still laugh.
"Sorry, sorry. Kids say silly things. She's too cute, don't you think?"
Senya reached forward, bringing his face close to Toka's, while his eyes reflected her as the central focus.
Toka's eyes shimmered like spring water, lips a vivid crimson. She stepped back, exhaling softly.
"Let's go…" she murmured, pushing gently on his chest.
After dinner, Senya let Toka shower first and then went upstairs to Rokka's room.
Sitting at her desk, Rokka glared. "I don't welcome traitors here."
"Traitor? What do you mean?"
"You're supposed to be on my team, Senya!"
"I am on your team."
"Then why did you go out alone with Toka, leaving me home?"
"Today was a special case."
"What's special about it?"
"You have a record, Rokka. I couldn't bring you along."
"Record?"
"Yes. Can you keep a secret?"
"I can!"
Senya's squinting gaze made her lose confidence.
"Well, about you and Shiho… that was an accident, right? Special circumstances," she argued, echoing his reasoning.
"Fine. I'll trust you one last time, but only this once."
"Okay!"
"Today, Toka and I went out to pick a gift for Mom…"
Rokka's eyes widened in excitement.
Jumping onto her bed, she shouted, "Senya! Does that mean… we're getting a car?!"
Senya smirked. "Speak louder; the old man next door is still sleeping. Maybe you'll wake him."
Rokka quickly covered her mouth, sitting beside him. She smelled of her new body wash—fresh and sweet.
"Sorry, I'm just so happy! Mom won't have to wait for taxis, and it'll be easier for me to go out on weekends!"
"Mom doesn't have time for your antics," Senya teased.
"Once Toka gets her license, she'll be our free driver!"
"You're such a good little sister."
"All thanks to your subtle influence, Senya," she retorted.
"I have a feeling you're still hiding something… you left early this morning. Looking at cars shouldn't have taken so long…"
"You worry too much. With your intelligence, Rokka, you'd have figured it out if I tried to hide anything."
"True~"
Rokka's smugness almost cracked Senya's composure.
Later, he went downstairs, just as Toka emerged from the bathroom with her hair wrapped in a towel.
Their eyes met. Senya pointed upstairs, then gave a playful "OK" sign.
Toka smiled, then hesitated slightly. "You should shower too; it's getting late. I've laid out your clothes."
"Mm."
Stripping down and sinking into the bath, Senya felt the summer heat more acutely.
Summer had truly arrived.
…
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