After wrapping up the impromptu photoshoot,
"So? Should I still have the driver take you back to Chiba later, Lady Yukihime?" Sitting in the passenger seat, Maki teased with a smile, glancing at Ayase in the back.
Already accustomed to Maki-nee's teasing, Ayase gave her a helpless look, muttered softly, "Maki-nee, can you please stop calling me Yukihime..." and then addressed the driver,
"Please take me to Toshima Ward."
"To your brother's place?" Maki raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah." Nodding, Ayase's expression suddenly drooped the next second.
Noticing the shift, Maki found it slightly amusing and asked, "What's wrong, Ayase? Why the long face?"
"It's about Big Brother." Regaining her composure slightly, Ayase spoke with a troubled tone. "Somehow, he got into a fight at school recently."
"And got suspended. Mom and Dad told me to give him some space for now."
"Sigh, I'm really worried about him."
Huh? A fight? Miyahito got into a fight? That guy who always smiled at everyone and never seemed to lose his temper... actually fought someone?
Maki's expression instantly froze in shock.
Seeing her reaction, Ayase completely understood why Maki-nee looked that way after hearing "Big Brother fought someone."
After all, when she first heard "Big Brother got suspended for fighting a kendo club senior," her own reaction had been identical.
"Sigh, I don't know why he fought, but this time, he went really hard."
"Dad said the kendo club vice-captain's arm was actually broken by him."
"That serious?" Maki couldn't help but look stunned. "Miyahito hit him that hard?"
"Yeah." Nodding with a serious expression, Ayase continued helplessly, "I was so worried at first. Dad and Mom immediately called his school's principal. We were all terrified this would ruin his chances for university."
"But later, I heard the Shinomiya eldest daughter helped out. Oh, and the Fujiwara family... Umm, which other family? I think it was the one that runs a small toy factory that also helped him."
For some reason, listening to little Ayase count on her fingers while rambling about who helped Miyahito fix the situation,
Maki felt like she was listening to something incredibly shocking.
Leaving the Shinomiya family aside.
The Fujiwara family? Could it be that political powerhouse?
Umm... As for the toy factory family, ahem, that's not too surprising (there are plenty of such families in Japan).
"Since when did Miyahito know so many big shots?"
Hearing Maki's muttering, Ayase blinked, then suddenly became cautious. "Is it strange, Maki-nee?"
"I'm not really sure either. Since he was little, Big Brother used to attend banquets with Dad. Um, I'm also close with Eriri-nee. Eriri-nee's father is the British Ambassador to Japan, I think."
Instantly, Maki fell silent.
Although, ever since taking on Miyahito as her managed artist, she'd received hints (both subtle and direct) that "the Aragaki family isn't ordinary."
But seeing it laid out like this...
"You two siblings really are something." Maki sighed with emotion. "No wonder your brother plans to retire after high school."
"Yeah." Hearing this, Ayase unconsciously lowered her head, speaking softly. "Dad wants him to inherit the family business, so Big Brother gave up the music he loves."
[Ayase, you just need to live your life happily. With your brother around, you don't have to worry about anything.]
After Ayase's words faded in the car, unintentionally, neither of them said another word.
....
Soon, the car arrived at Miyahito's house, pulling up slowly to the entrance.
"Heave-ho." Jumping out lightly, Ayase turned back, smiling and thanking Maki through the rolled-down window.
"Thanks for the ride, Maki-nee and driver-san."
"Don't mention it." Maki waved dismissively. "Go on in, Ayase."
"Yeah." Nodding, Ayase noticed Maki wasn't planning to get out, so she instinctively asked, "Maki-nee, aren't you coming in for a bit?"
"I'll pass." Declining with a smile, Maki winked. "You know how it is, your brother hasn't released a new song in almost a month."
"I'm afraid if I go in, I won't be able to stop nagging him, and Miyani-sensei might have a headache all night."
Hearing this, Ayase couldn't help but cover her mouth and giggle. "Hehe."
"Alright then." Having laughed enough, she straightened up slightly, a smile in her eyes as she raised her hand and waved naturally.
"See you, Maki-nee. Drive safely."
"Yeah, we're off then."
After Maki left, Ayase slowly lowered her waving hand and turned into the courtyard.
Skillfully pulling out her key at the door, she stepped into the genkan. Before she could even change her shoes, she spotted her mother and father near the kitchen entrance in the hallway, acting suspiciously and hiding by the doorframe.
They looked like they were eavesdropping on something.
Frowning in confusion, Ayase quickly changed her shoes. For some reason, she instinctively lightened her footsteps as she approached her slightly excited mother and her helpless father. She lowered her voice and asked,
"M...." Before she could even finish the first syllable of "Mom, Dad, what are you doing?", her mother turned around and instantly covered her mouth.
"Shh!"
Seeing her mother hold up a finger in a "Don't make a sound" gesture, Ayase's mind went blank, and she instinctively nodded.
Then, feeling her mother's hand loosen and breathing fresh air again, little Ayase curiously leaned next to her mom, who had turned back to listen to the kitchen, and peeked inside.
Isn't Big Brother making tea? Why are Mom and Dad hiding to peek?
Just as confused Ayase was about to ask, suddenly—
"Hehe...."
"!"
Is Big Brother possessed?
Watching in sheer panic as her brother suddenly burst out laughing with a slightly silly expression, Ayase couldn't help but take a small step back.
My brother has changed. My brother has gone weird!
What on earth is going on?
Where did my perfectly normal big brother go, and why did he suddenly turn into this?!
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