"Phew..."
After putting down her phone, Iroha Isshiki let out a long breath. Having been successfully "counter-killed" by Kotomi, she didn't feel defeated in the slightest, nor was she actually going to complain to Aimi.
Instead, she felt inexplicably happy.
It was as if she enjoyed constantly teasing Kotomi and watching her blush. At the same time, she also liked this evenly matched back-and-forth between them—today I tease you, tomorrow you tease me.
"Iroha, you look really happy. Did something good happen?"
Aimi Izumi, who had just pre-ordered a special edition bonus version of a new galgame on the production team's official website, looked up and noticed her best friend smiling to herself. Curious, she asked.
There were still five minutes before class ended. Some students chose to continue studying. Others secretly played on their phones or whispered to friends to pass the time while waiting for the bell.
Of course, there were also those who had been secretly playing on their phones since class started and were only stopping now because their batteries were about to die.
"Mm~ I was already in a good mood today. It just suddenly got even better," Iroha said with a grin.
"I'm so jealous~" Aimi said faintly.
Iroha caught the hint of disappointment in her tone. Since Aimi hadn't tried to hide it, it meant she wanted to talk about it.
"What happened?"
Iroha went straight to the point. Aimi was her best friend—her closest friend!
If her best friend was feeling down, then of course she should help immediately. Even if it was just listening quietly, letting Aimi talk about what was bothering her would make her feel better.
"I feel like my sister doesn't have me in her heart anymore. Am I still her precious little sister? I sent her a message this morning, and she still hasn't replied. Could it be... that she blocked me?!"
Whenever Kotomi didn't reply in time, Aimi couldn't help but let her imagination run wild. The more she thought about it, the further her mind wandered. Every time her phone made a notification sound, her eyes would light up as she hurried to check it—only to find it was just some random app advertisement.
Maybe it's because Senpai was chatting with me just now... Iroha thought a little guiltily. Not knowing how to explain, she simply reached out and gently patted Aimi's head.
"It's probably just that Senpai hasn't had time to reply yet. Don't overthink it. How could she possibly block you? You're her only little sister. The way she dotes on you is beyond words. Honestly, if you said you wanted the moon, she'd probably set up a ladder the next second and climb into the sky to fetch it for you."
Her words worked. Aimi, who had looked slightly downcast just moments ago, immediately lifted her chin proudly.
"Well, of course. I'm the apple of my sister's eye~"
But then she hesitated, thinking to herself:
Wait... shouldn't Iroha be siding with me right now? Why does it feel like she's defending my sister instead? Oh well. Just a small detail. No need to worry about it.
"That's more like it. Just wait a little longer. Maybe Senpai will reply soon," Iroha said.
"Mm-hmm!"
Aimi nodded. Then, as if remembering something, she smiled awkwardly.
"Although... it's not like my sister only has me as her little sister..."
"Huh?!"
This time, it was Iroha who was shocked. She had always thought Kotomi only had Aimi.
Seeing her reaction, Aimi quickly realized she hadn't explained clearly.
"I mean a cousin. My third uncle and aunt have a daughter. She's in her second year of middle school right now. They live in Kyoto. Since my sister went to Kyoto this time, she'll probably visit them too."
"Ohhh." Iroha nodded in understanding.
After chatting for a bit longer, the bell finally rang.
"Phew! Finally class is over. Iroha, want to go to the convenience store together?" Aimi stood up, stretched, and invited her.
"Let's go, let's go~" Iroha picked up her phone and left the classroom with her.
On the way to the store, Iroha took out her phone and sent Kotomi a message.
Iroha Isshiki: [Senpai, remember to reply to Aimi~]
...
???
Kotomi Izumi, who had been leisurely sipping tea, saw the message and three question marks practically popped up above her head.
"Reply to Aimi... When did Aimi send me a message?" she muttered in confusion. She didn't remember receiving anything.
She exited her chat with Iroha and tapped on Aimi's profile picture. Aimi's current avatar was Shiraha Fumika from FLOWERS.
"She changes her avatar pretty often. I remember not long ago her LINE picture was Narina Mikado."
Kotomi chuckled softly and scrolled through their chat history. The last message was from 7 p.m. yesterday. There were no new messages at all.
She was about to reply to Iroha with, "Are you joking again?" when a thought struck her.
Could it be that it just hadn't refreshed?
Messaging apps sometimes did that. The other person had clearly sent something, but it wouldn't show until you refreshed.
Kotomi had experienced this before.
Back when she was in her third year of middle school, a first-year junior had added her on LINE and often initiated chats. Occasionally, they would talk all the way until midnight.
Then, for a period of time, Kotomi stopped receiving messages from her. But since so many girls messaged her on LINE every day, she didn't think much of it.
Even when they saw each other at school, Kotomi never initiated conversation.
Half a year passed like that.
It wasn't until graduation was approaching—after taking graduation photos on the field and heading back to the classroom—that the junior suddenly stopped her.
Kotomi still remembered the girl's tearful eyes as she choked out:
"Senpai, you're about to graduate. Why haven't you replied to my messages? Am I... really that annoying to you?"
After saying that, the girl burst into tears and ran off.
Kotomi had stood there, dumbfounded. She immediately pulled out her phone and opened their chat.
The last visible message was the junior's "Good night" from half a year ago.
She refreshed the chat.
All the delayed messages—from the past six months—finally appeared.
Junior: [Senpai Izumi, are you free tomorrow afternoon after school? Could you come to the rooftop of the teaching building?]
[I have something... I want to tell you in person.]
[I also prepared a gift for you. You're about to graduate, so I folded a paper crane for you. Please make sure to accept it—and only open it after you get home!]
[I-I won't disturb you anymore, Senpai. See you tomorrow afternoon!]
Looking at these messages—delayed by an entire half year before she ever saw them—Kotomi swallowed hard and looked in the direction the junior had run off.
She was long gone.
The countless words in her heart condensed into a single sentence that burst out of her mouth:
"Fuck LINE!"
Recalling that incident, Kotomi refreshed the chat.
Sure enough, Aimi's messages from this morning finally appeared.
Aimi Izumi: [Onee-chan, it's getting colder starting today. I put the thick clothes in the top layer of your suitcase. Don't try to act tough and refuse to wear them.]
[Sigh... I packed those based on the forecast that it would cool down the next day, but it still feels like I didn't bring enough... Onee-chan, if you feel cold, find a clothing store and buy a few thicker outfits.]
[Don't worry about the money. I'll support you!]
These had been sent at 7 a.m.
At 9 a.m., Aimi had sent several more.
Aimi Izumi: [Onee-chan! Onee-chan! It's been two hours and you haven't replied. You're not still asleep, are you?]
[Honestly, I should've just gone to Kyoto with you. Then I could've taken care of you.]
[Anyway, once you see my messages, make sure you reply!]
Then at 10 a.m., more messages came.
Aimi Izumi: [Onee-chan... why aren't you replying? Did I annoy you? I'm just worried you'll get cold...]
[If you really don't feel like replying, just send me a period or something. At least let me know you saw my messages.]
[Okay~?]
"Little sister, it's not that I didn't want to reply. I only just received these..." Kotomi muttered helplessly with a faint smile.
Then she added irritably:
"Fuck LINE. What a garbage app."
After cursing LINE for a while, she started typing her reply.
Kotomi Izumi: [This damn LINE had a message delay. If I hadn't randomly refreshed just now, your messages might not have shown up at all.]
[It really is cold with the temperature dropping. Good thing you packed thick clothes for me~ That's my good little sister.]
[It's too cold today, so I'm planning to stay in the hotel and relax. Tomorrow I'll visit Third Uncle and Third Aunt's place, have lunch there, and go shopping in the afternoon.]
[Is there any gift you want? I can buy it for you while I'm out shopping tomorrow.]
After sending the messages, Kotomi began thinking about what gift she should bring when visiting her third uncle and aunt.
When people mentioned the Izumi family head's sons, most only knew about Kaneyoshi Izumi and Kazuma Izumi.
Few people realized that the family head actually had a third son as well—Yuki Izumi.
Mainly because Yuki Izumi kept such a low profile. Despite being the son of the Izumi family head, he had no great ambitions. He was only interested in cooking. Ever since he was young, his dream had been to open his own restaurant—a trait very much inherited from his mother.
Yuki Izumi's mother was not the current wife of the Izumi family head, Harumari Izumi.
Instead, she was another wife of Yakken Izumi—Hitomi Izumi.
That was also why, although Yuki Izumi was already thirty-five years old, his seniority ranking in the family was lower than twenty-three-year-old Kazuma Izumi.
Back then, Yakken Izumi's first son was Kaneyoshi Izumi, followed by Yuki Izumi, and finally Kazuma Izumi.
However, since both Kaneyoshi Izumi and Kazuma Izumi were born to Harumari Izumi—Yakken Izumi's first wife—Kazuma's generational ranking came before Yuki's.
Hitomi Izumi was a gentle woman who never fought for status and always spoke softly. That was why she maintained such a good relationship with Harumari Izumi. It was Hitomi herself who proposed that Yuki be listed as the third son.
Thus, the ranking became:
Eldest son: Kaneyoshi Izumi.
Second son: Kazuma Izumi.
Third son: Yuki Izumi.
Which led to the awkward situation where every time Kazuma Izumi called Yuki Izumi "little brother," he felt incredibly embarrassed.
I'm twenty-three calling a thirty-five-year-old my little brother?
Yuki Izumi's hobbies and personality were very much like his mother's. He didn't compete or strive for power. He loved cooking and wanted to become a chef with a restaurant of his own.
After learning about his third son's dream, Yakken Izumi didn't object. He allowed him to pursue his own path.
In truth, Yakken Izumi didn't impose many restrictions on his children's futures. He often encouraged them not to confine their vision solely to business. Money could never be fully earned, after all. They should slow down and explore the world beyond commerce.
The reason he had been so strongly opposed to Kazuma Izumi becoming a professional esports player was largely due to the older generation's mindset. Sitting in front of a computer playing games—what kind of future was that?
On top of that, although Kazuma Izumi had still been young when he decided to go pro, by esports standards, he was already considered near retirement age.
No one in the professional esports scene had believed in him. Most thought he would give up within half a year.
Until Kazuma Izumi joined Team GMK and began to shine in LL. With astonishing talent and terrifying mechanical skill, he swept through competition after competition, fighting his way from regional leagues to the World Championship. In his very first year as a professional player, he claimed the first world title of his career—crushing all doubt with absolute strength.
Compared to Kaneyoshi Izumi, who commanded the business battlefield, and Kazuma Izumi, who forged a championship legend on the professional League stage, Yuki Izumi seemed especially low-key.
Yuki Izumi married at twenty-one. After graduating from Kyoto Prefectural University and building strong connections in Kyoto, he decided to open his dream restaurant there. He and his wife settled in Kyoto.
Later, his wife became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter.
Yuki liked fish. His wife liked fish too. On a whim, they named their daughter Yuyu Izumi.
Not long after, Yakken Izumi's second wife, Hitomi Izumi, passed away peacefully of old age. Surrounded by her family, she closed her eyes with a faint smile on her lips.
Yuki Izumi maintained good relationships with both Kaneyoshi Izumi and Kazuma Izumi.
Moreover, his daughter Yuyu Izumi had grown up playing with Kotomi and Aimi. She especially loved clinging to Kotomi—practically Kotomi's number two little tag-along.
Number one was Aimi.
Strangely enough, whenever Kotomi and Yuyu stuck together, they would start off harmonious like affectionate sisters. But within ten minutes, they would inevitably start fighting.
Yet if they weren't together, Yuyu would always find her way back to Kotomi's side.
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