While waiting for dinner to be ready, Utaha brought out two glasses of ice-cold barley tea from the kitchen.
"Please, Shirogane-senpai, Kei."
"Thank you, Kasumigaoka-san."
"Thanks, Utaha-nee."
The Shirogane siblings thanked Utaha in unison. After taking a small sip of barley tea, Miyuki glanced at Utaha, who sat gracefully on the sofa, and asked after a moment's thought.
"Kasumigaoka-san, Kei mentioned you wanted to thank me? Regarding Miyahito's situation, right?"
"Shirogane-senpai, please drop the formalities. Let's keep it casual." Utaha smiled warmly and nodded. "Yes. Regarding what happened with Miyahito before, I'm truly grateful for your help."
"Not at all, it was nothing major."
Going with the flow, Miyuki relaxed, his tone light.
"I often receive help from Miyahito too, and he calls me 'senpai'."
"In that case, I couldn't just leave him hanging, could I?"
Hearing this, Utaha blinked, then turned to glance at her boyfriend, still busy cooking in the kitchen.
Hmm... So weird.
Why does it feel like everyone who spends enough time with my Miyahito ends up treating him like their own little brother?
Kyoko is like that. Yuki is like that. Even Tooru is like that.... And now, adding Shirogane-senpai here.
Tsk tsk. Could it be Miyahito is just a "little bro" type?
The corners of her lips lifted imperceptibly. Mentally noting to tell her boyfriend about this discovery when they were alone tonight, Utaha withdrew her gaze and spoke softly to Miyuki.
"No, I still want to thank you, Shirogane-senpai."
"You're too polite, Kasumigaoka-san."
Seeing Miyahito's girlfriend still insisting on her original stance, and feeling he hadn't actually done much to begin with, Miyuki felt slightly embarrassed.
After all, during that time, he'd merely snapped Miyahito out of his depressive spiral.
As for the whole incident, the Student Council members had actually done more of the heavy lifting.
Vice President Shinomiya investigated the cause of the incident, Secretary Fujiwara communicated with Toyogasaki Academy's administration, and Treasurer Ishigami handled negotiations with the family.
Overall, Miyuki himself hadn't actually contributed that much... Aside from investigating the incident, he'd just joined Fujiwara and Ishigami in cleaning up the aftermath for Miyahito.
However, speaking of which.
Doesn't look like it.
Glancing sideways at Miyahito, Miyuki withdrew his gaze, feeling a quiet sense of reflection internally. I really can't tell that Miyahito is the legitimate eldest son of Diet Member Aragaki.
"To be honest, I feel a bit ashamed." Leaning back slightly against the sofa, hands resting on his thighs, Miyuki spoke with a hint of embarrassment. "Actually, I didn't contribute that much to the whole incident. I feel a bit undeserving of all this."
"Not at all, Shirogane-senpai." Utaha smiled gently, softly negating his words, then turned to look at Miyahito in the open kitchen, her tone tender. "If it weren't for you back then, perhaps... perhaps Miyahito and I wouldn't be together now."
The moment those words fell, Miyahito in the kitchen happened to look up, his eyes meeting Utaha's gaze.
The couple, catching each other's eyes, couldn't help but share a smile.
"Is that so." Watching the sweet interaction between the couple, Miyuki couldn't help but feel a trace of envy, letting out a soft laugh. "Looks like I should just gracefully accept this dinner."
"As you should, Shirogane-senpai."
Just then, having finally finished cooking, Miyahito walked out of the kitchen wearing an apron, carrying a fragrant clay pot.
Placing the gently bubbling fish hotpot on the portable stove on the dining table, he smiled and called out to the group sitting in the living room.
"Everyone, dinner's ready."
...
After dinner, the Shirogane siblings chatted briefly with Miyahito and Utaha before taking their leave.
However, just before leaving Miyahito's place, Miyahito, who had walked them to the door to say goodbye, hadn't even spoken when he was flanked on both sides by the stern-faced Miyuki and Kei.
Like a prisoner being escorted, he was pulled out onto the street outside the apartment.
"Um... Miyuki-senpai? Kei?" Looking at the siblings who had cornered him against the wall, their expressions unusually serious, Miyahito suddenly felt a pang of nervousness.
After silently swallowing, he asked weakly, "Why... are your expressions so... serious?"
Neither answered. They just continued to stare silently at him.
After a long stare...
"Miyahito-nii." Kei, her little face tightly set, finally spoke.
But before Miyahito could sigh in relief, her next sentence nearly made him choke on his own spit.
"Impure relationships with the opposite sex are strictly prohibited, okay."
"Cough cough cough...." Choking, Miyahito coughed violently, his face flushing red. Catching his breath, he rasped defensively, "Wh-what are you... talking about, Kei? I'm not having any impure relationship! I haven't done anything!"
"Mhm, I believe you, Miyahito-nii." Hearing his frantic denial, Kei surprisingly expressed her trust.
However.
"But, you're still a healthy teenage boy after all."
Glancing at her stern-faced brother, then back at Miyahito, she spoke with utmost seriousness. "And unlike my brother, who hasn't made a single move yet, your initiative in relationships is ridiculously high."
"So, I think it's necessary for my brother to educate you on the dangers of impure relationships."
...
"Kei." A flash of surprise crossed Miyuki's stern face. Looking at his sister's serious expression, he slowly withdrew his gaze, bewildered. "Why do I feel like you're looking down on me again?"
No, it's not a feeling. I am definitely looking down on you.
Shooting a flat look at her emotionally deflated brother, Kei turned back to the cornered Miyahito and enunciated carefully.
"Miyahito-nii, Ayase-chan and Auntie Satomi both instructed me over the phone to watch over you on their behalf."
"So, please don't do anything you shouldn't. Otherwise, I'll report everything to Auntie Satomi and Ayase-chan."
"..."
Good lord, is my trust rating really that low?
I haven't even hidden those inappropriate books and manga under my bed yet...
"Sigh....." Letting out a helpless sigh, Miyahito defended himself with a wronged tone. "I really don't plan to do anything right now."