Meanwhile, Utaha, who had returned to Wakō City, was enjoying lunch 'harmoniously' with her family.
On the other hand, Miyahito, who had returned to Chiba...
Click—!
"I'm home."
Greeting the empty air as he pushed open the door and stepped into the genkan, Miyahito subconsciously looked up, preparing to greet his little sister who usually came running to welcome him first.
However, the house was completely silent.
Only then did Miyahito realize that his family never actually greeted him when he came home on a normal day.
"Eh? Everyone's out?"
Changing his shoes and carrying his guitar into the living room, Miyahito froze as he took in the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of the house.
No way? Of all the days I come home, I run into the whole family going out?
Feeling a strange sense of being left behind, a slightly helpless Miyahito took off his guitar, walked into the kitchen, and pulled open the fridge.
"...There's no food at all?"
Staring at the completely empty fridge, which contained nothing but a single, pitiful-looking egg and a pitcher of barley tea, Miyahito closed the door in deep disappointment.
Great. Not only is there no one home.
There isn't even a single bite to eat... Sigh, I'm so hungry.
Throwing his entire body onto the soft living room sofa, feeling a wave of loneliness, Miyahito pulled out his phone, found his mom's contact, and dialed.
Buzz—buzz—buzz—!
"Hello, Miyahito."
"Mom." Hearing his mother's voice, Miyahito's tone turned slightly aggrieved. "Why is there no one at home?"
"Eh? You're already home, Miyahito?"
Satomi on the other end asked in surprise, then apologized. "Sorry, Miyahito. Your dad and I are at Uncle Spencer's place right now. We aren't coming back tonight."
"Ah." Hearing that his parents weren't coming home tonight, Miyahito, feeling even more like a third wheel, tiredly rubbed his forehead. "Then what about Ayase? Is Ayase not coming home tonight either?"
"Mhm."
Satomi nodded without a second thought.
"Ayase is currently in her room chatting with Eriri. Judging by their vibe, Ayase is probably staying over at the Spencer house tonight."
"...."
Why are you just like her, Eriri.
"Fine." Knowing his little sister and Eriri were incredibly close—practically like actual little sisters—Miyahito could only helplessly accept the fact that he was going to spend his first day home alone.
"Alright, I'll figure out dinner myself."
"Mhm. Oh, right. Sayuri asked if you want to come over? If you do, she'll send the driver to pick you up."
"No thanks." Miyahito shook his head, declining. "I just got back from Tokyo. I don't want to run back and forth again."
The Spencer family's villa was in the upscale residential area near Minato Ward in Tokyo, which was practically just across Shinjuku ward from his own apartment.
My butt hasn't even warmed up the sofa here and I'm supposed to go back to Tokyo? Forget it, forget it. Too lazy to move.
"Suit yourself."
Hearing that her eldest son's lazy bones were acting up again, Satomi didn't force him. She just reminded him, "The cleaning lady is coming to the house today. If you want to wait at home, wait. If you don't, just lock the door when you leave," and hung up.
After Satomi hung up the phone.
"Miyahito-kun isn't coming over?"
"Mhm." Hearing Sayuri, who was wearing a kimono embroidered with her family's subtle crest and still looked as youthful as her maiden days, ask this, Satomi showed a slightly helpless expression. "There's nothing to be done. The kids are grown up and won't listen to me anymore."
"Hehe, how could Miyahito-kun be like that? You're just too strict, Satomi." Covering her lips slightly with her wide kimono sleeve, Sayuri smiled beautifully. "It's been a while since I saw Miyahito-kun. How has he been lately?"
"Sigh, what else could it be?" Reminded by her friend, Satomi said with a headache. "He recently got into a fistfight at school out of impulse and was ordered by the school to stay home and reflect."
Logically speaking, Satomi shouldn't have spoken about Miyahito's suspension.
But the one listening was Sayuri. Beyond being her college best friend, she was also the wife of the British Ambassador to Japan. Furthermore, the Sawamura and Aragaki families—both traditional aristocratic houses—shared exceptionally close ties.
So, Satomi didn't mind telling her friend about her son's embarrassing incident, treating it as a funny anecdote about kids acting up.
"Eh, no way." Slightly widening her eyes, Sayuri couldn't hide her surprise. "Miyahito-kun actually got into a fistfight at school?"
"What's the impact?"
By this, Sayuri meant whether it would affect Miyahito's future political career.
"It's fine." Catching Sayuri's meaning, Satomi waved her hand dismissively. Then, remembering that she and her husband hadn't even intervened before the matter was perfectly resolved by the intervention of two massive powerhouse families, Satomi couldn't help but laugh. "Thinking about it now, my son is truly something to be proud of."
"Wah wah."
Watching her friend proudly say something so cheesy, Sayuri shot her a disgusted look, then proudly retorted, refusing to be outdone.
"My daughter is something to be proud of too! Not only does she look as beautiful as me, but she's also incredibly talented at painting! Mm, whether it's manga or traditional oil paintings, Eriri is the best."
So... your underage daughter running off to draw 'those' things is totally fine then?
Looking at Sayuri's proud expression, the corners of Satomi's mouth twitched. Her body stiffened for a few seconds before she let out a heavy sigh.
Forget it, forget it. Eriri doesn't go to school in Chiba, so I can't use my position as PTA president to make this utterly hopeless parent see the error of her ways.
Sensing a trace of malice, Sayuri looked at her good friend, who was elegantly sipping her black tea, and narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Satomi-chan, I don't know if it's my imagination."
"But I feel like you're thinking some very rude things in your head right now?"
"..."
Having her thoughts pierced so accurately by the perceptive Sayuri, Satomi calmly set down her teacup and said in a very peaceful tone.
"It's just your imagination, Sayuri."
...
At the same time, in Eriri's room.
"So it's actually true." Sitting cross-legged on the carpet, holding a cup of sweet and sour lemon black tea, Eriri looked at Ayase, who was sitting with her legs tucked to the side, with an exaggerated expression full of shock and disbelief.
"That bro-con brother of yours actually has a girlfriend? It's unimaginable."
".....Eriri-nee, if Big Brother hears you calling him that." Looking at Eriri's carefree expression, Ayase said with a headache.
"I won't help you when the time comes, Eriri-nee."
"Hmph, I'm not scared of him!" A slightly unnatural expression flashed across Eriri's face as she stubbornly said, "At most... at most, next time we run a dungeon, I I I... I just won't... troll him, that's all."
Facing Ayase's calm, highly pressurizing gaze.
Eriri, who had been putting up a tough front just a moment ago, gave a sheepish little smile and raised her paw, waving it gently.
Scary! Scary!
Ayase's gaze is Scary!