"Oh! You're finally here!"
Chihaya Anon, who was standing in an open area not far from the restaurant, put down her phone and asked the three of them excitedly:
"How was it? Did you see any interesting clothes?"
"Mhm, there were indeed a few new and impressive pieces."
Chihaya Tetsuya said with his usual expression.
"But I'll have to save the detailed analysis for when I'm alone."
"I see... By the way, Soyo and Togawa-san look so cute today!"
Anon said, naturally linking her arm with his while looking at the other two with sparkling eyes.
"So nice. If I'd known, I would have changed into something more eye-catching too!"
Unlike the meticulously dressed Togawa Sakiko and Nagasaki Soyo, Anon had once again chosen her usual combination of a basic shirt and a jumper dress.
The only difference was that today, she was also wearing the decorative glasses she usually only wore at home.
"...Hm? Wait a second."
Suddenly, Anon first glanced at the clothes Tetsuya was wearing. After a moment of thought, she took off her glasses and, under the stunned gazes of the other two, placed them directly on his face—
"Ooh! Doesn't this look great!"
Anon couldn't help but exclaim.
"This intellectual and gentle older-guy vibe really suits your aura. What do you guys think?"
"Ngh... mhm, you're right."
"I agree..."
The expressions and tones of Soyo and Sakiko became quite complicated for a moment.
On one hand, they were satisfied that their recent fantasy had become a reality. On the other, the goal they had so carefully plotted to achieve had been realized so effortlessly by someone else, which inevitably filled them with a sense of defeat and jealousy.
Then again, this wasn't the first time something like this had happened.
After all... the status of a 'younger sister' was just that cunning and uniquely privileged.
"...Anon, don't."
Meanwhile, Tetsuya, whose arm was being held tightly, said with some embarrassment:
"Let's hurry inside and eat. You must be hungry, right?"
"Mmm~ I am a little."
Anon rubbed her stomach with her other hand.
"Then let's go! Let's go!"
And so, clinging to him like a koala, she headed towards the restaurant with him.
On the other hand, the two sharp-minded girls both wore puzzled expressions.
"Tetsuya... why did he react like that?"
Before, Soyo had seen Anon act spoiled with her brother many times. No matter how improper her behavior was, Tetsuya, as the older brother, would always indulge her with a smile.
However, today, not only did he fail to remain as composed as usual, he even showed an unprecedented level of embarrassment and resistance...
"Is it because we're in public? No, that can't be it. He wasn't like this at the [RiNG] cafe before."
"..."
Sakiko, on the other hand, said nothing, but a strong sense of déjà vu washed over her.
That conflicted expression, both resistant and helpless, was very similar to how he was when facing Hoshino Ai!
But, that must just be her imagination. After all, they were brother and sister, not that kind of...
...
"Adopted siblings..."
Sakiko, who came from a prestigious family, suddenly thought of a common situation in high society. To ensure that the family business would not fall into the hands of outsiders, families would often adopt sons and daughters to marry their own children.
Come to think of it, because the two of them had always been so close and harmonious, everyone had subconsciously treated them as real siblings. But in reality, there was no blood relation between them, so whatever happened would be perfectly reasonable and legal!
Realizing this blind spot in her thinking, alarm bells suddenly went off in Sakiko's mind.
Once this possibility was acknowledged, the nature of many things would change fundamentally. At the same time, Tetsuya's abnormal reaction would also be explained.
If the truth was really as she had just imagined, then for her, this was likely another formidable rival who would not lose to Hoshino Ai in the slightest.
Well, in a sense, it's not entirely incomprehensible.
If she had a brother with no blood relation who cared for her so much, she probably would have a hard time not developing feelings for him beyond those of family. (T/N: ?????)
And judging from Chihaya-nii's resistant reaction just now, their relationship hadn't made any substantial progress.
He himself had said that he currently had no intention of being in a relationship with anyone. No matter how close Anon was to him, she couldn't possibly conquer him in a short amount of time.
For the current Chihaya-nii, [StarrySky] was what he cared about most, and the person who could help his career was not Anon.
Therefore...
"There's still a chance, I suppose."
Looking at the two figures in the distance, Sakiko muttered thoughtfully.
"However, I can't just let this be... Soyo."
"Hm?"
"As bandmates, you should give Chihaya Anon a little reminder. Making a scene like this in a high-end restaurant... will embarrass Chihaya-nii."
"You're right."
Soyo, who was already annoyed at seeing the two of them clinging together, nodded at Sakiko's reminder and immediately followed them—
"Hey, Anon, stop fooling around in a place like this."
"Eh? But—"
"No buts. You have to be very mindful of etiquette when dining in a place like this! Oh, right, Tetsuya, since we have the chance, let Sakiko and I teach you some etiquette you can use in situations like this. You might find it useful in the future."
"Ah! You're right. I'll be in your care then!"
"Hah, honestly..."
Looking at the three of them in the distance, Sakiko couldn't help but sigh, feeling mentally exhausted.
"It must be nice to be able to do what you want so carefreely."
She wondered when her day for that would ever come.
...
"...Ah."
Wakaba Mutsumi, who had just arrived from the parking lot, suddenly stopped in her tracks.
The reason was none other than the four people she saw standing in front of the restaurant.
At the same time, her mother caught up and saw the same scene—
"Hm? Is that..."
Looking at the familiar dress and the long blue hair, Mutsumi's mother squinted for a good while before raising her eyebrows in surprise.
"Huh? Isn't that the Togawa family's... but what is she doing here?"
"..."
Mutsumi's expression instantly became flustered.
Her family had always known that she kept in touch with Sakiko, so she would naturally become her mother's primary source of information.
And sure enough, after recognizing Sakiko, her mother immediately turned to her and asked:
"Mutsumi, you've still been in contact with Sakiko recently, haven't you?"
Mutsumi's mother asked, both curious and serious.
"Who are those kids with her? What's their relationship?"
And—
"Should I inform the Togawa family about this?"