"So hot....."
Wiping sweat from his forehead, feeling like he was about to be baked alive by the sun, Miyahito tugged slightly at the round neck of his hoodie.
"I'm literally melting."
In temperatures over thirty degrees, wearing a hoodie with a neck that almost reached his chin, Miyahito genuinely felt like he was about to die of heatstroke.
But he couldn't not wear it.
After all, that bite mark Utaha left on his collarbone last night was honestly too embarrassing to show off... Without this hoodie to cover it slightly,
thinking about meeting Akane-nee later, and then going to Shinobu Publishing to discuss the Love's Metronome anime adaptation,
"This is an absolute social death scene. And if Akane-nee 'accidentally' mentions it to Mom..."
No, knowing Akane-nee's personality,
seeing such an ambiguous bite mark on him, how could she possibly not tell his parents?
Then things would get really messy.
For Miyahito, it wasn't a huge deal (worst case, they'd just get engaged). But for Kasumigaoka Utaha, how would she face the Aragaki couple after that?
"Sigh, so hot. Why isn't Akane-nee here yet?"
The moment he finished complaining, a black Mercedes slowly pulled up in front of him.
As the window slowly rolled down, a familiar face appeared before Miyahito. Her voice carried a lazy, slightly tipsy quality as she softly asked,
"Have you been waiting long?"
"Not really." Seeing the expression of the woman in the car, Miyahito sighed helplessly, then retorted dryly. "Drank until dawn again?"
"That's my good little brother! Haa~~" Akane let out a massive yawn, proudly giving Miyahito a thumbs-up from inside the car.
Seeing this, Miyahito's expression grew even more helpless.
Without a word, he opened the passenger door, unceremoniously shoved a stunned Akane aside, and plopped down right in the seat she'd just vacated.
"Good morning, Miyani-sensei."
"Yo, morning, Isaki."
After settling in, Miyahito smiled and greeted Hashima Isaki, who was sitting in the driver's seat.
Squeezed to the other side, Akane shot a glare at the completely unfazed Miyahito before slumping against the door like she'd given up fighting.
"Akane-nee, are we heading straight to Shinobu now?"
Used to his boss getting shoved around by Miyani and not saying a word, Isaki smoothly ignored it and quietly asked the now dozing Akane.
"Yeah, let's go."
"Understood."
After giving the order, Akane, who had been resting her eyes, cracked one open. She glanced at Miyahito, who was sweating profusely in a round-neck hoodie despite the AC blasting, and asked, "Why aren't you going with your little girlfriend?"
"Hmm? Oh, that." Miyahito paused, then spoke with a slightly troubled expression. "I originally planned to go with Utaha."
"But somehow, she found out I'm Miyani last night, and then..."
He briefly explained last night's events, along with why he was suddenly riding with her to Shinobu.
"So," Akane summarized with a weird look after hearing his story. "You two are splitting up just to mess with Sonoko? And you're planning to put on a little act later? Miyahito, when did you get so bored?"
Bored... You can just say I'm wasting time, Akane-nee. I don't mind.
Rubbing his cheek awkwardly, Miyahito quietly defended himself. "I can't help it. Utaha insisted on doing it this way."
"You... Forget it." Feeling a headache coming on, Akane swallowed the words "You're such a pushover" that were on the tip of her tongue.
Even though she was single, she'd seen plenty of couples over the years. But this was the first time she'd seen a guy spoil his girlfriend this much. Judging by Miyahito's attitude, he wouldn't even dream of resisting. If Utaha said jump, he'd probably ask how high.
"Are you secretly a masochist?" Akane asked hesitantly, finding it increasingly absurd. "Does Auntie Satomi know about this? I mean, you know, your M side."
"You're the masochist." Miyahito shot back dryly, giving her a half-lidded, disdainful look. "Akane-nee, I'm not bragging, but that's just how love works. It's not strange for you to misunderstand since you're... inexperienced."
He deliberately left out "still single."
Of course, it wasn't that he didn't want to say it. It's just that—
"If you dare finish that sentence," Akane narrowed her eyes, her expression turning dangerous as she spoke in a low voice. "I'm directing Love's Metronome. Believe it or not, I'll swap out the composer for the anime music."
Shameless! Playing dirty! Is this what they mean by "the underhanded tactics of an adult"!?
Kosaka Akane.
"My apologies, gentle and kind Akane-sama, please forgive your foolish little brother..."
"Oh, still as quick to adapt as ever, little Miyahito." Laughing heartily like an old man, Akane hooked an arm around his neck, pulling him into a headlock and roughly ruffling his hair.
"Kuh... kuh... It hurts, let go! Akane-nee!"
"Hah? Facing fan service from your big sister, and you're completely unmoved, little Miyahito?"
Struggling free, Miyahito immediately put distance between himself and the dramatically wounded Akane, his tone perfectly calm. "Sorry, Akane-nee. But my Utaha seems to be just a little bit better than you. Yeah, figure-wise."
Instantly, the air in the car turned freezing.
Isaki, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced at the rearview mirror in surprise, silently marveling at Miyahito's courage. As a long-time employee (Miyahito: Just a tool, really) by Akane's side, this was the first time he'd seen anyone blatantly provoke his boss like this. No, this wasn't just provocation. This was straight-up rubbing it in... Telling a woman her figure couldn't compare to someone else's... Wasn't that basically face-tanking her?
"Is that so?" Crossing her arms and crossing her legs, Akane's tone turned subtly hostile as she looked at the calm Miyahito. "Then let me see for myself just how talented this Kasumi Utako you praise really is."
"I hope Love's Metronome doesn't end up becoming one of my 'failures' by the end."
Miyahito understood Akane's meaning, and realized why a major figure like Kosaka Akane would take on a light novel anime adaptation.
"Is this a trial, Kosaka Akane?" Sitting up straighter, Miyahito asked seriously. "Why?"
"Hm? Why, you ask?" Akane smiled, throwing the question back. "Why do you think I'm doing it?"
Miyahito shook his head, honestly admitting he didn't know. "I don't know."
"Then just stay on the sidelines and watch." Akane withdrew her gaze, looking out the window at the scenery speeding by. "It's not a bad thing. Right, little Miyahito."
Finishing, she gave him a meaningful look.
...
Perhaps this world isn't gentle, but its harsh truths are what make people grow.
Today, your gentleness adds a sweet flavor to Kasumi Utako's budding talent.
But I sincerely hope.
That your gentleness and spoiling won't become an obstacle that limits her talent from fully blooming.
Kosaka Akane