On the second-floor corridor outside the villa.
"Asuka, this is really pretty, isn't it?"
Holding the crystal, the slightly older Ichihime lifted it into the air, letting it disperse a beautiful rainbow glow.
Three-year-old Asuka was instantly captivated by the beautiful light emitted by the crystal.
"So pretty, sis."
Asuka looked excitedly at the transparent crystal in his sister Ichihime's hand, his eyes eagerly showing a desire to have the crystal.
"Actually, Asuka, crystals represent everlasting familial love."
Ichihime lowered the crystal and seriously fibbed to her younger brother Asuka.
"Everlasting... familial love?"
Although Asuka didn't understand the context, he thought it was impressive.
Seeing that Asuka wanted it, Ichihime seriously asked, "Do you want it?"
"Yes, I do. How about I trade you some snacks that Dad bought?"
Asuka said this.
Saying so, he was about to get his treasured snacks to trade with Ichihime.
"I have no interest in snacks."
Ichihime replied indifferently.
Asuka immediately looked disappointed.
"But didn't Mom and Dad give you a lot of New Year's money recently?"
Ichihime changed her tone and asked casually.
"New Year's money?"
Asuka tilted his head in confusion, then remembered something and pulled out a stack of bills from his pocket.
Each was a ten thousand ryo note, totaling over twenty notes, all brand new.
For a little over three-year-old child, this was already a sizable fortune.
"Is this all you have?"
"No, there's a lot more in my piggy bank. They're all from Mom and Dad. Do you like things that can't be eaten or played with, Sis?"
Asuka thought his sister Ichihime was quite strange.
Why would something that can't be eaten or played with possibly be attractive?
However, Asuka also knew that if he wanted to get the sparkling crystal in his sister Ichihime's hand, he had to exchange it with the so-called New Year's money.
"If you give all of it to me, I'll give you the crystal."
"Alright."
Asuka obediently nodded and ran to his room, bringing out his golden Lucky Cat piggy bank.
Inside were not only a lot of ten thousand ryo bills but also many coins. Hence, Asuka struggled to carry the piggy bank over.
Ichihime roughly counted the money that came out, and it seemed to exceed a million ryo.
"Here, Asuka, sign the contract."
Ichihime took out a sheet of paper filled with writing and a pen.
"Contract?"
Asuka was full of question marks.
What's a contract? He only recognized a few words on the paper, most of them he couldn't read.
The words he could recognize and write were just his name and a few simple characters.
He felt that the contents were incredibly impressive even though he didn't understand them.
"Just sign your name here, and this shiny, beautiful crystal is yours."
Shiny... beautiful... With this in mind, Asuka unhesitatingly took the pen Ichihime handed him and scrawled 'Uchiha Asuka' at the designated spot.
"Asuka, this crystal is yours from now on. It represents our everlasting sibling bond. You must remember this."
"Okay, I got it, Sis."
Asuka, holding the crystal that emitted beautiful light, ran off happily to play on his own.
Watching Asuka take the crystal and run off, Ichihime smirked slightly, picked up the contract and piggy bank, and headed toward her room.
Elsewhere, Asuka ran to the second floor, holding the crystal with excitement.
"Dad, Dad."
Pushing open the study door, Asuka began to call out.
In front of Hakushi was a desktop computer, a few books, and scrolls, organizing the latest information he had received.
Hearing Asuka's call, he put down his work and turned to look at him.
"What's up, Asuka?"
He picked up Asuka, placing him on his lap.
"Look at this, it's shiny and beautiful!"
Asuka showed the crystal to Hakushi, boasting a treasure.
"So Asuka, you like this kind of thing, huh?"
Hakushi unexpectedly smiled.
These bright, sparkly things are usually more appealing to girls.
"Yeah, it's called a crystal, and my sister gave it to me."
Asuka said.
"I see, Ichihime really does look after you, huh?"
Hakushi smiled, feeling happy about the siblings' harmony.
Even though the crystal in Asuka's hand was just a cheap one worth a hundred ryo, not a rare or valuable item.
But it represented Ichihime's affection for her brother Asuka, something not easily measured by money.
"Yeah, I just gave her some useless paper, and she gave me the crystal."
Asuka nodded.
"Useless paper?"
"Just New Year's money."
Asuka said innocently while looking at his father Hakushi.
"...Asuka, be honest, how much did you give Ichihime?"
Hakushi felt his smile becoming strained, sensing a bad feeling inside.
"All of it. I gave all of my New Year's money to Sis. She said this crystal represents our everlasting sibling bond."
Asuka proudly stuck out his chest.
"..."
Your sibling bond is quite cheap then. What on earth has Ruri been teaching Ichihime? Hakushi silently griped.
"Dad, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
Hakushi shook his head.
It seems necessary to teach Asuka about money in advance from now on.