Hearing Utaha's words, Kei's little head tilted slightly, her eyes a bit dazed as she looked at Utaha.
Seeing this, Utaha didn't keep hiding it. Leaning down slightly, she brought her lips close to Kei's ear and whispered to the slightly confused girl.
"It's about those few days when Miyahito was suspended from school."
Suspended? Oh! You mean when Miyahito-nii got into a fight and was ordered to stay home for reflection?
But...
"But, Kasumigaoka-senpai." Furrowing her cute brows slightly, Kei looked at the smiling Utaha with a hesitant tone. "Brother and I didn't really do anything. It doesn't seem like we helped Miyahito-nii at all. He still had to stay home during his suspension."
"No, no." Utaha smiled warmly, gently taking Kei's arm. She leaned in again and whispered softly in the girl's ear.
"If it weren't for you and Shirogane-senpai's help, Miyahito never would have confessed to me."
Nani!?
My brother and I are Miyahito-nii and Utaha-nee's matchmakers!?
Watching the girl's eyes instantly light up like stars, Utaha smiled.
Noticing the doting, gentle smile on Utaha's face, Kei felt an indescribable sense of warmth and shyness well up inside her.
Just like Miyahito-nii, Kasumigaoka-senpai is also a really wonderful person.
As for Aragaki Miyahito...
Watching his girlfriend and his neighbor's little sister bond at light speed, interacting like actual sisters, he couldn't help but feel a trace of puzzlement.
'Why did Kei and Utaha get familiar so quickly?'
It feels like they didn't even need me to introduce them... That can't be right. Setting Kei aside...
'Is Utaha really that easy to approach?'
His gaze landed on the two girls, arms linked, already calling each other "Utaha-nee" and "Kei" after just a few minutes. Left trailing behind, walking alone, Miyahito searched his memories.
Hmm... Still doesn't seem like it. Otherwise, Eriri in the anime wouldn't always look like she wanted to bite someone every time she ran into Utaha.
But what's going on right now?
...
Learning that Kei was out to buy ingredients for tonight's dinner, and that her destination was also the shopping street, Utaha thought for a moment, then smiled and invited her.
"Hey, Kei, want to have dinner together tonight?"
"Eh?" Kei responded with a slightly dazed, cute sound, instinctively glancing back at Miyahito walking behind them.
Noticing Kei's look, Miyahito shrugged casually. Then, following Utaha's lead, he added,
"It's fine. We can invite Miyuki-senpai too. Oh, does Shirogane-uncle have time? He should come too."
"Mmm." Kei puffed her cheeks slightly, shaking her head with mild dissatisfaction. "Dad's not eating at home tonight. He seems to have work in Shikoku."
"....."
Shirogane-uncle's whereabouts are as mysteriously unpredictable as ever.
Mentally complaining with a face full of black lines, Miyahito continued, "What about Miyuki-senpai?"
"Brother gets off work at six. He's eating at home tonight."
"Great!" Utaha nodded happily. "Since Shirogane-senpai is free tonight, let's all have dinner together."
"I also really want to properly thank Shirogane-senpai."
"Brother?" Kei shook her head slightly, smiling at the puzzled Utaha. "Utaha-nee doesn't need to be so formal. That's just how brother is."
"Besides, our family often receives help from Miyahito-nii. When Miyahito-nii runs into trouble, isn't it only natural for us to lend a hand?"
Mmm~~ Why are there such wonderful girls?
Looking at the matter-of-fact expression on the girl's face, Utaha sighed with emotion internally.
In this society where everything revolves around benefit, sometimes even family members can't help each other without ulterior motives.
Yet, just ordinary neighbors... Whether it's Kei or Miyuki, these siblings, though they never say it aloud, still keep Miyahito's care in their hearts. And when he faces difficulties, they extend a hand without hesitation.
"I still want to thank you. Thank Shirogane-senpai." Leaning slightly closer, linking arms with the girl, Utaha smiled. "Please don't refuse."
"Mmm... Alright then."
For some reason, perhaps because she'd only ever had a brother growing up, Kei had never experienced what it felt like to "have an older sister."
So, facing Utaha's selfless kindness, her loving, gentle smile, plus the fact that she was the girlfriend of her most admired Miyahito-nii...
Kei nodded, then, like a little adult, seriously thanked Utaha.
"Thank you for the invitation, Utaha-nee. Brother and I will be imposing on you tonight."
....
Around 6 PM.
Still not fully grasping what was happening, Shirogane Miyuki sat on the sofa in Miyahito's apartment. He looked hesitantly at his sister beside him, who was engrossed in reading a... well, Love's Metronome Vol. 1... then glanced back at Miyahito and Utaha bustling in the kitchen.
Hmm... one question.
If I remember correctly, these two haven't been dating long, right? Then why does it feel like they've been together for ages?
His thoughts wandering slightly (Ah, just fantasizing about daily life with a certain Vice President, what's there to be shy about?), Miyuki shook his head, dispelling those currently impractical fantasies.
"Hey, Kei."
"Hmm? What's up, Brother?"
"....Why did you agree to Miyahito's dinner invitation?" After a moment's hesitation, Miyuki asked, puzzled. "Won't we be intruding on Miyahito and... his girlfriend?"
"I thought about that at first, Brother." Putting down the novel with a slightly helpless expression, Kei's tone carried a hint of difficulty.
"But Utaha-nee said she wanted to thank Brother and insisted we stay for dinner."
"Thank me?" Miyuki paused, repeating the two words. Then he asked his sister the same question Kei had just asked that afternoon.
"Why would she want to thank me?"
"...You'll find out later."
Too embarrassed to say "Utaha-nee wants to thank you and me for matchmaking her and Miyahito," Kei huffed and turned her face away, picking up the novel again.
She didn't even glance at her completely bewildered brother.
Feeling inexplicably rejected again, Miyuki silently opened his mouth.
Then, helplessly closed it.
Alright.... Rejected again.
Speaking of which, how does Miyahito usually get along with Ayase? How come you never see Ayase and Miyahito bickering?
Could it be... Ayase hasn't hit her rebellious phase yet... while Kei happens to be in hers?