"As expected, the bank cards are frozen."
Natsuyu walked out of the bank and let out a soft sigh, though he wasn't particularly surprised.
The Matriarch had reacted quickly, cutting off his options to force him back home, all of which was within his expectations.
Natsuyu wasn't some pampered young lady who enjoyed suffering for the sake of it.
Since suffering was out of the question, he had no choice but to throw himself into the embrace of the Yukinoshita Family and happily live off second miss Yukino.
"Brother, I'm sorry."
Rurikawa Tsubaki tugged at Natsuyu's sleeve. Her long eyelashes partially veiled her eyes as she pursed her lips and apologized in a soft voice.
Natsuyu turned around and looked down slightly. Seeing Rurikawa Tsubaki clinging to him like a little girl afraid of getting lost, her cold ennui face filled with dejection due to guilt, he felt his heart melting.
She called me brother!
She actually called me brother!
Oh no, I'm not about to awaken a sister-complex attribute, am I?
Natsuyu deliberately made his voice gentle and soothing, patting Rurikawa Tsubaki on the shoulder as he said, "This isn't your mistake. The one who did wrong is that Old Lady. She is currently overwhelmed and reaping the bitter fruits of her actions. The later we go back, the more anxious she becomes."
Rurikawa Tsubaki raised her curled lashes, her large eyes looking up at Natsuyu. A faint sense of resistance rose in her heart for some reason as she asked softly with an expressionless face, "...Do I still have to go back?"
Natsuyu thought for a moment, roughly understanding that Rurikawa Tsubaki hated that home, and followed her lead:
"You don't have to go back if you don't want to."
"Brother."
Rurikawa Tsubaki hesitated, her fingers gripping the hem of Natsuyu's shirt so hard that her knuckles turned white. Her upward gaze held a hopeful plea as she spoke hesitantly in a low voice:
"Can you stay with me for a while longer before going back? I can cook for you, clean, wash clothes, and take care of your daily life. I will try my best to maintain your quality of life... can you stay with me for a few more days..."
My clumsy sister is so cute.
Natsuyu gave a light laugh and promised, "Don't worry, I should be able to stay with you for a long time. It's much more comfortable out here, being able to sleep until I wake up naturally every day. I'm tired of staying in that house too."
Rurikawa Tsubaki's large eyes curved happily for a moment, then she quickly lowered her lashes again.
She was a burden to Natsuyu.
Although Rurikawa Tsubaki called Natsuyu brother, this was only their first day communicating; they weren't familiar at all. This sibling relationship had only just been established.
An unfamiliar brother had saved her, led her out of a hellish cage, and granted her dream-like freedom.
But she had also caused her brother to lose his superior living conditions.
A Noble young master running away from home for her sake—this kind of plot only appeared in shoujo manga, yet it was actually happening to her. She was as lucky as the protagonist of a story.
She was so happy, yet this happiness made her feel very sorry toward brother Natsuyu.
But even if she felt sorry, Rurikawa Tsubaki still hoped brother Natsuyu would stay by her side and not return to that home.
Brother Natsuyu was the only person she trusted now. He was her Angel—noble, kind, and cheerful, a collection of all the beautiful elements in the world.
Faced with such a perfect person, Rurikawa Tsubaki desperately wanted to become his most important person, to make him hers...
I am truly too despicable and dark!
Rurikawa Tsubaki felt self-loathing. Her cute yet world-weary face increasingly gave off a cool and broken vibe.
But when she saw Natsuyu standing right in front of her, smiling at her, she quietly inhaled deeply to catch his pleasant scent. His eyes were fixed on her, and in them, there was only her.
It was so nice; at least for now, brother Natsuyu belonged to her.
Natsuyu rubbed his stomach and asked, "I'm a bit hungry. Are you hungry, Tsubaki?"
To save Rurikawa Tsubaki, he hadn't had time to eat the breakfast Nora prepared this morning. After running in and out of the Rurikawa Family, his stomach was now protesting.
It was all Nora's fault for not waking him up half an hour earlier to eat.
Next time, he would definitely refuse her invitation for the ultra-thin small balloons.
Rurikawa Tsubaki realized her own hunger as well and nodded gently.
She hadn't eaten breakfast either.
By coincidence, Natsuyu and Rurikawa Tsubaki both turned their gazes toward the Ramen Shop not far from the bank.
Through the glass, they could see the springy ramen soaking in a rich, flavorful broth, with curling wisps of white steam rising as customers eagerly gulped it down.
Natsuyu's eyesight was far too good; he saw the satisfied expressions of the diners clearly and subconsciously swallowed his saliva.
"Gurgle..."
"If I had known, I would have brought my wallet."
Natsuyu sighed.
Rurikawa Tsubaki felt somewhat self-reproachful. Her noble brother Natsuyu was actually going hungry because of her.
After running away from home, their life ahead would probably be very poor, right?
Although Rurikawa Tsubaki had never lived independently, as a native Tokyoite, she knew how difficult it was for outsiders.
Living in Tokyo is no easy feat.
"But it's okay, brother. Please rest assured. Tsubaki will work hard to earn money to support you. In the future, please help me keep all the wages Tsubaki earns."
Rurikawa Tsubaki bowed with elegant poise. Her cute face was full of seriousness and solemnity, as if she were swearing a happy vow at a sacred occasion. Her thin lips curled into a satisfied smile, and her cold temperament became soft and bright, like a winter plum blossoming in the snow.
She was going to live a poor life with brother Natsuyu.
Sweeping the floor and cooking for brother Natsuyu, washing his clothes and changing him, and giving him the money she earned for safekeeping—it was just like being a Wife.
She had temporarily occupied the position of a Wife, living together through thick and thin with brother Natsuyu...
So happy!
Rurikawa Tsubaki was immediately filled with motivation. Her spirit was brimming, and her expression was vivid and bright. She felt like she could work three part-time jobs!
A blue-haired female passerby who had just failed at a secret crush overheard this: "?"
Wait, sister!
You've been tricked by a bad man!
Watch me unmask this scumbag's true face for you!
Amused, Natsuyu gently rubbed Rurikawa Tsubaki's head:
"Don't worry, Tsubaki. I have a way to get money. How could I bear to let you work?"
"At worst, I'll sell my phone and this watch. Supporting you won't be a problem."
Natsuyu raised his watch. It was a gift from his mother after all; even if it was second-hand, it could be sold for at least several hundred thousand yen.
"Waaaah...!"
Natsuyu watched in confusion as a blue-haired female passerby behind them suddenly ran away in tears.
She must have encountered something very sad.
He hoped she could be strong.
And not do anything rash like jumping.
"Brother Natsuyu..."
Rurikawa Tsubaki felt the warmth of his palm on her head, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.
So happy!
Rurikawa Tsubaki enjoyed this intimacy. The girl's voice, usually on the cooler side, said unexpectedly softly, "But Oniichan ran away from home for me; I want to help you too."
Natsuyu was struck by the cuteness, his expression becoming exceptionally fatherly:
"Good girl. I have a friend in Chiba. We'll go there to seek shelter. If that doesn't work, then I'll let you figure something out."
"Okay!"
Rurikawa Tsubaki asked, "But we don't have the money to go to Chiba?"