Caller ID: Akari Honne.

Why is this girl calling me past ten?

He hung up.

It rang again.

Something urgent?

He answered.

"I thought you’d ignore me..." Honne complained immediately.

"Brother-in-law, did my sister visit you today?"

"...How did you know?"

"Please. One look at her smug face was enough. Eyes all red from crying but grinning like she’d won the lottery, who else could make her that happy?"

She muttered to herself, then added, "She went back to Kyoto this evening and packed a mountain of gifts. I thought they were for me, but she carried most of them back out again. No prizes for guessing she stopped by Aunt Hakari’s..."

"...Mm."

She’d detoured all the way to Kyoto just to cover for him?

"Oh, and brother-in-law..."

"What?"

"I saw my sister sneak out after dinner."

Honne lowered her voice conspiratorially.

"She dressed up. Full makeup. Definitely going on a date."

"A date?"

Alan’s brows knit together.

His heartbeat quickened.

His first reaction was irritation.

"No way. Your sister isn’t like that."

"Brother-in-law~ believe me~"

Hearing his disbelief, Honne slipped straight into cajoling.

"It’s true! I heard her say his name when she left."

"Whose name?"

"Nilo, I think?"

"Nilo?"

Alan repeated it twice, eyes narrowing.

"You mean... Nino?"

"Same difference. Sounds close enough."

Honne waved it off.

When no response came, her voice turned syrupy.

"Brother-in-law~ I’ve been working so hard keeping tabs on sis for you. Don’t I deserve a reward?"

"I want to visit Tokyo too..."

I want to see you too...

Alan’s eyes clouded, unfocused.

He didn’t hear the rest of her words.

His mind drifted elsewhere.

"Nino..."

The name slipped from his lips.

An image flashed unbidden, a slender figure gripping a sword, eyes burning with resolve.

"Alan, I’m trying really hard."

"Nino isn’t stupid, you know."

"I’m going to marry you!"

"You’re leaving... but you’ll come back, right?"

"Alan..."

Her clear voice echoed in his ears.

Alan frowned.

The calm he’d wrapped around his heart began to unravel.

Why would Hojo look for her?

"Brother-in-law?"

"Brother-in-law? Big brother?"

Honne called him twice without response, lips pursed.

She took a deep breath, puffed her cheeks, and shouted, "Alannn!"

The shrill cry exploded in his ear. Alan nearly dropped the phone.

"What?! Why are you yelling?"

Hearing the irritation in his tone, Honne deflated.

"Sorry..."

"But what were you thinking about? I kept calling..."

"Nothing. Just... thinking."

"Oh."

Something you can’t tell me?

She narrowed her eyes but let it go.

In a sweet, coaxing voice she asked, "Brother-in-law, what do you think?"

"About what?"

"I also want to go to Tokyo."

"You’re still a first-year high schooler. If you want success, you should focus on studying."

"What’s the rush? I’m already super smart."

Alan fell silent at her confidence.

Lying on her bed, Honne propped her socked legs against the wall, hair spilling over the edge.

Staring at the ceiling, she asked, "So? Will you say yes, big bro~?"

Alan sighed.

"Even if you use cute nicknames, I can’t just let you come."

"But you promised."

"My memory’s not great, but two days haven’t erased everything. I never agreed."

"But—"

Cornered, Honne switched tactics.

"My birthday’s next week. You didn’t forget, did you?"

Alan blinked.

Silence stretched.

"I knew it," she said softly. "You never forget my sister’s." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Alan rubbed his temples.

"Look, my memory’s shot. Early-onset old age. I barely remember your sister’s either."

"Oh really?" Honne scoffed. "You dated her for two years. That’s only two birthdays. I remember everything—fireworks, candles, flowers, the new song you wrote for her..."

She recited each detail through clenched teeth.

"So romantic."

Alan stayed silent. Sometimes playing dead was safest.

When he didn’t deny it, Honne dropped the topic.

In a pitiful whisper, she begged, "Big brother... can’t you grant my wish to visit Tokyo?"

For a moment, Alan almost said yes.

Then caution returned.

"If we’re talking wishes... fine. I can agree."

Her eyes lit up. She sat upright.

"Really?! Then—"

"On one condition."

"...?"

"Your sister and your parents all have to approve."

Her face paled under the lamp.

"That’s the same as saying no..."

Their parents were easy. Hojo wasn’t.

First, Hojo would never allow a Tokyo trip.

Second, the moment Honne mentioned Alan, Hojo’s jealousy would surface, and she wouldn’t argue. She’d just smile coldly and leave Honne to drown in silence.

Honne bit her lip. Telling Alan how much her sister had changed was dangerous. If he felt sympathy, her plan might collapse.

Hearing her sulk wordlessly, Alan added, "It’s reasonable. You can’t just sneak off alone. What if something happened?"

Honne pouted, eyes reddening.

"You’re just bullying me..."