Hearing Kirino's answer, Miyahito's expression improved slightly.
Only slightly, though. He wasn't quite as terrifying as before, but that was it.
He couldn't help it. Ayase had been completely reckless this time.
Two first-year middle school girls traveling from Chiba to Tokyo by subway on their own, and one of them hadn't even told the adults. How could Miyahito not be angry?
"Ayase." Suppressing his temper slightly, he spoke sternly to his sister, who was still crying pitifully in Utaha's arms. "Do you realize how reckless you were?"
"Sneaking to Tokyo with Kousaka-san without telling anyone. Did you ever think about how dangerous that could be?"
"If something had happened, how were we supposed to explain ourselves to Mr. and Mrs. Kousaka? Huh?"
Hearing her brother's scolding, Ayase flinched in fear, her voice thick with tears. "Wuu... I'm sorry, Big Brother..."
"Miyahito." Gently stroking Ayase's head, Utaha turned to him, her tone urgent. "Talk to her properly. Don't be like this."
"Utaha..." Caught off guard by her rebuke, Miyahito fell silent. The fire in his chest quickly extinguished under her firm gaze.
"Sigh..." Letting out a helpless sigh, he took a small step forward to stand in front of Ayase, who was still shielded by Utaha. He gave her a look.
Utaha nodded and stepped back, letting Ayase stand before her brother.
Miyahito reached out, carefully cupping his sister's tear-streaked face. Using his thumbs to wipe away the tears from her little cat-like face, he tried to make his voice as gentle as possible.
"Ayase, Big Brother isn't saying you can't come to Tokyo. It's just that you need to tell me, or Mom and Dad."
"You have to let your family know when you're traveling to Tokyo with a friend. Understood?"
Sniffling, Ayase cried through her tears. "I-I understand. I'm sorry... Big Brother...."
"Sigh." Seeing her pitiful state, his anger completely gone, Miyahito pulled her into a tight hug.
Gently patting her trembling back, he whispered softly in her ear, "Ayase, sneaking to Tokyo without telling anyone like this makes Big Brother and Mom and Dad so worried and scared."
"If everything is fine, it's one thing. But if something had happened, do you know how heartbroken we would be?"
"I-I'm sorry... wuuu...."
Seeing Ayase realize her mistake and sob out her apology, Utaha gently stroked the little girl's head, her voice soft and comforting. "Don't do it again, okay, Ayase-chan?"
"Mhm, I understand, Utaha-nee."
Listening to her brother and Utaha-nee, Ayase finally understood how reckless her actions today had been.
Standing quietly to the side, Kirino, who had been silent since Miyahito finished questioning her, finally let out a breath of relief as the atmosphere eased.
Heaven knows how scared I was when Aragaki-senpai got angry...
Even though I guessed he'd be mad before coming, and tried to imagine it...
I never expected him to be this terrifying.
And...
'It's the first time I've seen Ayase cry this hard.' Glancing at Ayase, who stood so obediently, afraid to move, letting her brother wipe her tears with a handkerchief, Kirino sighed internally.
At Cherry Academy, as a first-year, Ayase is incredibly popular among peers and upperclassmen, practically becoming the second star student after her brother.
Well, partly due to her brother, but undeniable, Ayase's own personality and grades are top-notch.
However...
Her gaze turned complicated as she watched Aragaki-senpai and Kasumigaoka-senpai comforting Ayase. For some reason, a strong, familiar sense of déjà vu washed over her.
Especially the way the two seniors surrounded Ayase, comforting her together...
'The two of them look exactly like a married couple.'
Feeling like she'd just been force-fed a mouthful of dog food, Kirino painfully averted her gaze, pulled out her phone, and texted her parents that she'd arrived safely in Tokyo and met Ayase's brother.
A little while later.
Watching Ayase finally calm down and stop crying, Miyahito, who faintly regretted his harsh tone earlier, subconsciously let out a breath.
Gently patting her head, he said, "Say thank you to Utaha-nee. She comforted you for quite a while."
Hearing this, Ayase's face flushed. She quickly turned to Utaha, who was looking at her with a doting smile, and said softly, "Thank you, Utaha-nee. I'm sorry you had to see that."
"It's quite alright." Utaha smiled gently, tucking Ayase's messy long hair behind her ear. "Just don't make your brother worry next time, okay, Ayase-chan?"
"Mhm... I-I understand, Utaha-nee."
"Good."
Watching the affectionate interaction between his sister and Utaha, Miyahito glanced at Kirino standing nearby, then checked his watch.
4:15 PM. If he sent Ayase and Kirino back to Chiba now, he should still catch the last train back to Tokyo tonight.
So.
"Utaha." Looking back up, Miyahito offered an apologetic smile to Utaha. "Sorry, I can't walk you home today."
He glanced at Ayase, who was standing beside him, head down, gripping his hand tightly, then continued.
"I need to take Ayase back to Chiba first."
"Then go to the Kousaka residence and properly apologize to Mr. and Mrs. Kousaka."
Hearing this, Utaha gently looked down at the blushing, silent Ayase, then smiled softly at Miyahito.
"It's alright. You go ahead, Miyahito-kun."
"I've been walking home alone before anyway, so it's fine. Just take Ayase-chan home safely."
"Watch your step on the way."
Seeing Utaha's reassuring, gentle smile, the corners of Miyahito's mouth lifted involuntarily. He nodded.
"Yeah."
"Take care on your way back."
"Mhm."
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