The night Hirohiko Okaya spent with Kazuka Inogawa. Late July.
Kazuka had come to a yakiniku restaurant for dinner with her younger brothers.
It was a chain yakiniku place, Giyukaku, located near the train station.
In one corner of the shop sat three figures in black suits.
Kazuka, the eldest sister. Saburo, her younger brother. And… Kazuka’s other brother, Jirota.
“W-what?! Sis… you’ve got a boyfriend?!” The one shouting was Saburo.
He was a hulking man with sunglasses, looking like a Terminator.
“Hey, Saburo, don’t yell so loud in here.”
Right next to him sat another Terminator-like figure.
Just as bulky as Saburo; you could hardly tell the two apart.
But he had a buzz cut and was slightly tanned. He was Saburo’s older brother, Jirota.
“Waiter-san! Bring us some high-end booze! Let’s raise a glass to celebrate!”
“Sorry, but for this birthday cake. Well, happy birthday, Ichika-chan.”
Her two younger brothers were just starting to get into the celebratory mood when Ichika held them back.
“I said stop it! …And don’t you dare…”
“That’s great news, Sis! Geez, I’m so relieved. Spring has finally come to that muscular female gorilla who’s managed to keep her virginity ironclad for twenty-eight years. I’m so happy for yo—” CRACK!
“Saburō… do you want to die?” Squeak. Squeak. Squeak. Squeak…
“Eeeeeek! Stop it! Stop the Iron Claw! My brains are gonna s-splash everywhereuuu!”
An anger symbol floated above Ichika’s forehead as she tried to crush her brother’s temples, intending to squeeze his head shut.
“Hey Sis, ease up a bit. Saburō, that was really rude of you to your older sister.”
After Jirou-ta calmed things down, Ichika released her grip with a snap… and let go.
“But to think there’s such a thing as romantic rumors about my big sis… I’m quite surprised myself.”
“Right! Don’t you agree too, Jirou-ta-nii-chan!”
Jirou-ta and Saburō widened their eyes in surprise, nodding enthusiastically.
“It’s not that surprising… ugh…”
Ichika takes a sip from her beer mug and lets out a breathy sigh.
Jirota quickly plates the grilled meat onto his sister’s and younger brother’s dishes.
“No, it is surprising! I mean, you’ve been doing karate and judo from elementary school through high school, so no one could get close to you without being scared—you were basically the girl boss of the group. So when a romance rumor pops up about someone like that, sure, you’d be surprised!”
“I’m not some ‘girl boss.’ People just called me that on their own… Besides—”
Ichika mumbles to herself. “It’s not… like we’re dating.” “「H…?»”
Jirota and Saburo stared blankly. “Wait? Not a boyfriend?”
“What do you mean? Didn’t you just say your sister stayed out all night with that guy?”
“Yes, I did. But it didn’t turn into a relationship.” ”「……」” The younger brothers tilted their heads in confusion.
“So, sis… wait? You reunited with an old college classmate after a long time, had drinks, let him drive you home, and then slept in the same bed together?”
“And nothing happened?” “Exactly.”
Ichika retorted with a grumpy huff.
“I was dressed for battle, right down to the matching lingerie, completely ready to go…”
Her brothers leaned in, tilting their heads in unison.
“«Why were you so thoroughly prepared if nothing actually happened?»” “What do you mean… why?”
Ika blushed deep red and poked at the charred meat with her chopsticks as she spoke.
“I-it’s just that he… never made a move.”
“So did you not try to seduce him yourself?”
“S-seduction… I couldn’t possibly do something like that. That’s embarrassing…” ”«……»”
“Oh, wait, listen! We decided to hang out once a week starting now. We’re already going to the amusement park next week—wait, what’s with those looks?” “«We’re just… feeling a bit underwhelmed.»”
Her brothers said it with a tinge of disappointment.
“Sis! Why aren’t you making a move?! It’s a fated reunion! He’s divorced and single, right? What are you being so shy about?”
“I-it’s just… it had been seven years, and saying ‘I like you’ to someone who just recently broke things off felt a bit… weird, don’t you think?”
Ika fidgeted awkwardly, her voice trailing off as she mumbled.
“Sure, Sis has her weak moments. But if we don’t do something about it, history’s just going to repeat itself.”
“Yeah, yeah. You spent four years being too much of a coward to say you liked me, and then another seven dragging that out. If you don’t change things up now, Sis, you’re gonna end up spending your lonely twilight years alone.” “I-I get it already!”
Thud! Ichi pounded her fist onto the yakiniku table.
With a creak, the tabletop groaned under the impact.
“Sis, you’re gonna break the table! It’s going to crack right down the middle!”
“It won’t! What kind of person do you think I am?” “A Nyasiro Land Gorilla.”
“Do you have a death wish, Saburo-kun?”
“Okay, okay, okay. Sis, calm down. And Saburo, quit teasing her.”
Jirota sighed heavily.
“Sis, I’m just saying this because I care, but we shouldn’t let this ‘friend’ phase go on for too long.” “W-Why is that…?”
“Because you’ll eventually slide right into the friendship route if you’re not careful.”
“Yeah, yeah. You need to either get together or call it off clearly, or we’ll just be repeating this cycle for another ten years,” went their brothers. And they were spot on.
Yesterday, after spending the night with Okaya and ending things without a confession, there’s part of me that regrets it.
On the other hand, there’s also part of me that’s relieved we could stay just good friends.
“I’m twenty-eight now, so I’m still young by a hair, but if this drags on for another ten years, I’ll be an old hag… ugh!”
Ichika lands a body blow right on Saburo’s solar plexus as he sits next to her.
“Saburo, you really shouldn’t poke fun at women’s ages. And Sis, the kick was a bit much too… let’s keep that outside, yeah.”
“It’s your fault for being such an insensitive idiot.”
Jirotao heaved a sigh.
“But Saburo has a point. You’re at an age where, if you miss this window, opportunities to meet someone are going to dry up fast.”
“I-I know that… which is exactly why I’m trying my best to confess and keep up with these once-a-week dates.”
“Nah, that’s not enough. Not even close, Sis.”
Saburo, revived, said it with a serious face.
“Force the issue and pin her down★” “Buuuuhhh!” Ichika sprayed beer out of her mouth.
「Cough… whoa… you, um…」
“Big sis, look, strength is the ultimate power move, right? If you just use your superior force to pin them down and make your move, they won’t be able to resist.”
“Ba…! You’re an idiot! Hey, Jirouta! Don’t you agree?”
“Hmm… it might actually be a good strategy, though?” “Hah!?” The younger brothers fall into line with her.
On the other hand, Ichika turns beet red, buries her head down, and starts fidgeting awkwardly.
“I can’t do such despicable stuff…”
“But, seriously? I don’t think the relationship between you and that person will budge an inch unless you do something drastic like that.”
“Big sis, this time Sanjirou’s got a point. Whether by force or any other means, once you share a bed, your bond is bound to deepen.”
“I-I suppose that’s… how it works?” Ichika finds herself wavering.
Sanjirou murmurs, sounding impressed.
“As expected, the words have different weight coming from a married man, don’t they?”
That’s right; Jirouta is married.
「How old is your kid again?」 「One. She’s one year old, actually. Is that alright to show you?」
Jiroutai pulled his phone from his pocket and showed them the photo.
It was a cute baby girl with silver hair.
「I never expected I’d end up with a sister-in-law of Russian descent, though.」
「Learning Russian by bonding with her is quite something, huh. Do you use the language for anyone besides your wife?」
「Yeah, Alissa recently made some Russian friends, so it’s come in handy for communicating with them.」 Jiroutai put his phone away.
「I just want my sister to be as happy as you are, bro……」 「Saburo……」
「So, on this date, go ahead and make your move, Yuu★」
Ika mumbled nervously.
「B-but…… it’s embarrassing, and……」
「Dammit! Cut it out! Just confess, get in the sack, and get married already!…… I’m done seeing my sister look so miserable anymore.」
「Seven years ago really was rough, wasn’t it?」
Seven years ago. That was the day Okatani Mitsuhiko and Nagano Misae got married.
“Big sis wasn’t looking too hot back then, huh? She locked herself in her room for three days straight, just crying and not eating a thing.” “We were all worried sick about you, you know?”
She had been wallowing in sorrow alone, causing nothing but trouble for her family.
Recalling that time, Ichika felt a pang of regret. ”…I’m sorry I did that then.” “Nah, it’s water under the bridge now.”
“You’re doing well these days, and that chapter is closed.” The brothers laughed and nodded in agreement.
…Right, there was no guarantee she wouldn’t end up running into the same hurdle again.
“I’ll… give it a shot. That next date… I’m gonna do it! I’m gonna go for it!” “Ooooh!” Her brothers clapped in unison, the sound sharp and rhythmic.
Just as she was steeling herself to try her best, Saburou happened to ask a question.
“By the way, sis, what’s his name?” “You mean Okatani-kun?” “Eh…?” Saburou’s jaw dropped in a wide ‘oh’.
“Eh? Okatani… wait, as in… Okatani Mitsuhiko?”
Yes, she had never told Saburou that the person she was seeing was Okatani. And the reason was…
“Did you fall for someone who’s just like your sister…?”
Saburo is the lady’s bodyguard, meaning he protects Makita Rushia (Rushia).
Saburo knows that Rushia has feelings for Okaya.
“Is… that all right? The Head of the Makita Estate isn’t the type to just sit silently on something like this, is she?”
Both Rushia and Takane harbor a deep grudge against the man Okaya.
Just as Jirota suspected, by loving the same man, he might end up inviting their wrath…
”…I know. I’ll say it myself, clearly. I think it would be dishonest to hide it.” “That’s the right way to handle it, sir.” “Do you think she’ll forgive me…”
“Don’t worry about it; we’re not even dating yet. Loving someone is a feeling that belongs to everyone, and it should be free for anyone to feel. I think both the Head of the Estate and the Lady understand that distinction.”
“Yeah, I’ll explain it properly. Oh, by the way…”
The older sister and brother stared fixedly at their younger brother.
“Saburo, do you understand what I’m saying?” “Eh? What about that?”
Saburo tilted his head, looking adorable.
“Don’t go spreading the rumor that I like Okaya-kun on your own accord.”
“Since Sis is saying it with her own mouth, Saburo, listen up—absolutely do not say a word about this, yeah?” The two of them knew.
How loose this carefree brother’s tongue was—looser even than helium gas.
“I get it! I’m fine, totally fine! I won’t say a word! Like, seriously, for real!”