Chapter 24 — A Holiday with Big Sister Sakura
The soft morning light slipped through my curtains, brushing across my face and waking me gently from sleep. It was quiet — no sound of alarm, no hurried steps in the hallway, no calls from the bodyguards waiting outside my room. For once, the morning felt calm and peaceful.
I blinked my sleepy eyes, stretched my arms above my head, and turned toward my nightstand to grab my phone. The bright screen lit up, and the first thing I saw made me smile a little.
There were two new messages.
One from Saeko, and another from Reina.
"Good morning, Haruya-sama ☀️ Have a peaceful holiday!"
"Morning, Haru-kun! Don't forget to eat breakfast, okay? (⁀ᗢ⁀)"
I couldn't help but let out a quiet laugh. "They never miss a morning," I murmured, replying to both with a short Good morning.
After sending my replies, I scrolled through YouTube, not really searching for anything serious — just passing time. But then one particular video title caught my attention and made me sit up a little straighter.
MODEL HIRING — MALE ONLY 5 Million Yen per Hour!
Includes luxury rest suites, gourmet food, and full-time staff service.
I blinked once, then twice. "Wait, five million yen… for just one hour?"
The video played a short clip showing elegant male models walking down a glowing runway, while dozens of women in the crowd cheered, applauded, and even threw flower petals.
I tilted my head in disbelief. "What kind of world…?"
As I read further, the conditions became clear.
The person must be a boy. That was the only requirement. No previous experience, no training, no auditions. Just… be a boy.
There were extra perks too — breaks every hour in a luxury rest room, a personal massage service, and high-end food served by professionals.
I leaned back on my bed, staring at the screen with wide eyes. "Being a man in this world is like being born under divine luck," I muttered.
The thought made me grin. "Why not? I've got nothing to lose."
I filled out the short online application — my name, school, age, height — and hit submit. The screen blinked once before displaying:
Application submitted successfully. You will receive confirmation soon.
"Done." I stretched and let out a small sigh. "Let's see if luck's still on my side."
Just then, a soft knocking sound came from the door.
Knock, knock.
A familiar, gentle voice followed, full of cheer and energy. "Little brother~ are you awake?"
I smiled faintly. That voice belonged to only one person.
"Yeah, come in," I replied.
The door opened, and my older sister Sakura Takahara stepped in, looking radiant as always. She wore a simple white summer dress that reached her knees, her long dark hair tied neatly behind her shoulder. Even without makeup, her beauty stood out naturally.
"Oh, my lovely little brother, you're up early today," she said warmly, walking toward me. "Perfect! Let's go shopping."
"Shopping?" I asked, still half-dazed.
"Yes!" she said with excitement, clasping her hands together. "Today's a holiday, and you know what that means — we're going out!"
I blinked. "Wait, wait, right now?"
Before I could react, Sakura giggled and came closer, wrapping her arms around me from behind. "Come on, Haru, it's been ages since we spent a day together. Don't say no."
Her embrace was so tight that I almost lost balance. "O-okay, okay! Just let me get ready first!"
She smiled, her voice playful. "Ten minutes. Don't make your big sister wait too long."
With that, she turned and left, closing the door behind her. I sighed, shaking my head slightly. "So much energy, even this early…"
---
After brushing my teeth and fixing my hair, I stood before the mirror, adjusting my shirt. The reflection staring back at me looked almost unreal. Pale skin, soft silver hair that shimmered like moonlight, and clear blue eyes — no wonder women here stared every time I walked by.
"I could probably walk into that modeling studio right now and get hired on the spot," I muttered, half-joking.
I put on a simple but neat outfit — a white button-up shirt, light grey pants, and a soft jacket. Just casual enough for comfort, but stylish enough to not embarrass my big sister.
When I stepped outside my room, Sakura was already waiting in the hallway, scrolling through her phone. She looked up immediately, her eyes sparkling.
"Wow… my little brother looks absolutely perfect today," she said, pretending to swoon.
I gave her a small, tired smile. "You say that every time."
"Because it's true every time," she said, tugging lightly at my sleeve. "Come on, let's go before the mall gets crowded."
---
Outside, the car waiting for us wasn't just any car. It was a sleek white supercar, the kind you'd normally see in commercials or luxury magazines. My jaw dropped.
"Sis… this car is yours?"
"Of course," Sakura said with a proud smile, unlocking it with a soft beep. "You're not the only one in the family who draws attention, you know."
I chuckled softly and got into the passenger seat. The leather was smooth, the faint scent of vanilla and perfume filling the air.
As we drove through the city, I noticed again how this world truly worked. The streets were full of women — businesswomen, students, workers — but very few men. Every once in a while, I'd see a male walking surrounded by female bodyguards, treated like royalty.
When our car stopped at a traffic light, I could feel the gazes even through the tinted glass. A group of young women at the crossing whispered among themselves, glancing at me with sparkling eyes.
"Did you see that boy?" one whispered. "He's so beautiful."
"He's sitting with that woman — maybe his sister?" another asked, her tone almost envious.
"Whoever she is, she's lucky," said a third, sighing dreamily.
I turned my face slightly away, pretending to look at the window. "This attention is still too much," I muttered.
Sakura laughed softly beside me. "You'll get used to it."
"I never asked to be," I replied, shaking my head.
---
After a short drive, we reached one of the city's biggest shopping malls — tall glass walls, shining floors, and a constant stream of luxury cars arriving and leaving.
The moment we stepped out of the car, the atmosphere changed. Heads turned. Conversations paused. It was like walking through a sea of eyes.
I could hear the faint whispers as we walked inside.
"Is that a boy?"
"He's so handsome… like a porcelain doll."
"His eyes… they're so blue, it's unreal."
"Who's that woman with him? Oh, she's lucky."
I tried to ignore them, walking beside Sakura with a calm smile, though inside I was screaming, Please stop staring.
Sakura looked at me from the corner of her eye, clearly amused. "You really have no idea how rare you are, do you?"
"I know," I said softly. "But it still feels weird."
"You'll get used to it, my lovely little brother."
We spent the next couple of hours going from one store to another. Sakura had an eye for fashion — every outfit she chose for me somehow looked amazing. I didn't know whether to be grateful or concerned that she treated me like her personal dress-up model.
Eventually, we stopped at a café on the top floor to take a break. The waitress, upon seeing me, stuttered slightly before bowing deeply. "W-welcome, sir! It's an honor to serve you."
Sakura chuckled quietly. "Even the staff can't help it."
---
By the time we finished shopping, the sun had started to sink, painting the city in soft orange hues. We got back into the car, tired but content. The drive home was quiet, peaceful — the kind of silence that only exists between family.
Sakura glanced at me and smiled gently. "You know, Haru, seeing you happy like this makes me really happy too."
I turned to her, surprised. "Thanks, Sis. I'm glad we spent the day together."
She nodded softly. "Promise me something?"
"What is it?"
"Don't ever lose that kindness of yours," she said, her voice tender. "This world might adore you, but it can also change people. Don't let it change who you are."
I smiled faintly. "I promise."
"Good."
---
That night, when I finally returned to my room, I sat on my bed and checked my phone one last time before sleeping. There was a new message in my inbox — from the same modeling agency I applied to earlier that morning.
Congratulations! You've been selected for the exclusive modeling session. Please visit our studio tomorrow for contract signing.
I stared at the message for a moment, then grinned. "Looks like tomorrow's going to be interesting."
I set my phone down, lay back on the bed, and looked at the ceiling. The city lights outside shimmered softly through my window.
"This world is strange," I whispered to myself. "But… I think I'm starting to enjoy it."
With that thought, I closed my eyes and drifted into sleep, unaware of how much crazier tomorrow would become.
---
To Be Continued...