Tilting his head slightly, enjoying the cool breeze brushing his face, Miyahito closed his eyes and murmured, "Ah, this wind feels amazing."
"It really does."
Turning at the voice, he smiled at Nakamura Maki, who had just sat down on the grass nearby.
"Thanks for your hard work today, Maki-nee."
"Hmm? For Ayase-chan?" Maki smiled, brushing her wind-blown hair behind her ear. "It's nothing. If the girls at the agency were half as well-behaved as Ayase, the President wouldn't be stressing himself into ulcers."
Remembering the chaotic bunch of dream-chasing girls at the agency lately, Maki let out a deeply exhausted sigh. Wanting to vent more, she turned to him, only to find Miyahito already asleep, leaning against a tree trunk.
Watching his youthful, slightly childish face, Maki smiled silently and whispered,
"Mou, falling asleep the moment he closes his eyes. Still a kid at heart."
The very next second.
"Got it! That's why it wasn't working before!"
The "sleeping" Miyahito suddenly shouted, giving the distracted Maki a massive fright.
By the time she recovered, she saw him biting a pen seriously, scribbling notes and lyrics onto staff paper.
"Mm..." A fond, helpless smile touched her lips. She didn't disturb him.
After all, for any talent agency, creators were always the most important asset.
Especially irreplaceable geniuses like him.
...
5 PM. The evening sun had lost its midday heat.
Waiting for his sister to wrap up, Miyahito noticed Ayase quickly running toward him after saying goodbye to the crew. He smiled and walked over to meet her.
Taking the bag of spare clothes and makeup from her hands, he slung it over his shoulder and said,
"Good work today, Ayase."
Noticing the fine sweat on her forehead, he naturally pulled a blue-and-white handkerchief from his pocket, gently dabbing her face as he asked,
"Hungry?"
"Mom and Dad aren't eating at home tonight. Should I cook for you when we get back, or eat out?"
Ayase thought for a moment. "Let's eat out, Big Brother."
Honestly, she'd rather eat his cooking, but with just the two of them and him already making lunch today, she didn't want to tire him out.
"Can we go to a family restaurant?"
"Sure." He nodded, not questioning her choice. As long as she was happy, it didn't matter.
"Let's go then."
"Mhm."
After politely declining Maki's offer for a ride, the siblings walked together, chatting happily.
"Big Brother."
"Yeah?"
"Are you happy in high school?" Leaning forward slightly, Ayase looked up at him with a bright smile.
"High school, huh?" Teasingly, he reached out and ruffled her hair. In retaliation for messing it up, an annoyed Ayase smacked his hand away.
"It's pretty fun."
"Fun... huh?" Fixing her hair, a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes. She deliberately drew out the sound, "So... did you make any good friends?"
"Of course." Completely missing her hidden agenda, he nodded earnestly and briefly told her about Ishikawa Tooru, Yoshikawa Yuki, Hori Kyoko, Sengoku from Class A, and Iura Shuu who often visited Class B.
Listening intently, Ayase suddenly interrupted, her lips curving playfully.
"Then... did you meet Kasumigaoka Utaha... I think that's the name."
"!"
His smile instantly froze. His facial muscles locked as if poured with quick-dry cement.
"A-A-Ayase... how did you... know..."
Amused by his stammering and rigid expression, Ayase burst out laughing. Laughing until tears formed, she clutched her slightly aching stomach and wiped her eyes, panting slightly.
"You want to know how I know that name, Big Brother?"
"Hehe, I've known for a long time. I just never said anything."
Straightening up, she took a few quick steps ahead of him, clasped her hands behind her back, and spun around to walk backward.
Leaning slightly toward him, a playful smile on her lips. "Big Brother, do you remember how I used to be scared of the dark and refused to sleep alone?"
Still dazed, he nodded blankly.
Ignoring his blankness, she continued with a smile. "Every time I brought my pillow to your room, you'd always sigh, say 'Just this once, okay?' and let me sleep with you."
Still not quite catching her drift, he waited.
"You know what, Big Brother?"
"Back then, I used to hear you sleep-talking all the time~~"
Eh!?
Don't tell me, the thing I always sleep-talk about is...
Seeing his widened eyes, Ayase guessed his thoughts perfectly and nodded obediently.
"Yep. It's Kasumigaoka Utaha."
Recalling his past sleep-talk, she felt a touch of nostalgia. She hadn't understood it as a kid, but now she did.
He must really like her.
Otherwise, why dream about her constantly?
Beyond curiosity about his feelings, Ayase was more curious about the girl's identity. She was only three years younger, and they'd been inseparable until elementary school. She'd never seen a girl by that name near him. Not even later. It was like the girl was purely a figment of his imagination.
Watching him loudly deny, "I-I don't know anyone by that name," she held back a laugh internally.
Big Brother, you always look to the left when you lie.
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