Saturday, Ikebukuro Station.
"The weather is really nice today~" Lifting her wide-brimmed sun hat slightly, Aragaki Ayase, wearing a light blue slip dress with a beige long-sleeved gauze cardigan over it, radiated pure, youthful charm with an innocent and pretty smile on her face.
"Ah, I forgot to tell Mom I've arrived."
Dragging a small, exquisite rolling suitcase, little Ayase, standing at the station exit, suddenly remembered she hadn't texted her mom that she arrived safely. She hurriedly pulled her phone from her cardigan pocket, skillfully found her mom's contact, and dialed.
"Hello, Mom... Yeah, I've arrived... No, Utaha-nee is the one picking me up... Mhm, mhm... I know, I already sent her a text message....."
Holding her small suitcase, walking toward a less crowded corner while on the phone, Ayase's dark eyes suddenly lit up. She happily said to her mom on the phone:
"I see Onee-san! Mom, I have to go now, bye-bye."
Ignoring her mom's "Eh, wait" from the other end, Ayase quickly swiped the hang-up icon on her screen. Then, raising the hand that had let go of the suitcase handle, she happily waved at the sister who had just appeared in her line of sight, dressed exactly like her, and shouted loudly.
"Onee-san! I'm over here!"
"Ayase-chan!"
...
"Eh, Big Brother is in class?" Intimately linking arms with her sister, Ayase half-closed her eyes, the corners of her mouth unable to stop curling up. "So, is Big Brother's science grade still that terrible?"
"Yeah." Hearing Ayase say this, the expression on Utaha's face grew even more helpless. "He's been going to cram school for so long, yet the results are just as bad as always."
Saying this, she noticed the little-mouse-like grin on Ayase's face and looked over curiously.
Sensing her sister's gaze, Ayase couldn't help but chuckle.
"Onee-san, let me tell you a secret." Saying this, Ayase stood slightly on her tiptoes, used her other hand to slightly cover her cheek, and carefully leaned in close to Utaha's ear.
"Big Brother actually doesn't know nothing. It's just that... compared to algebra, he's much better at geometry."
I see. Utaha nodded as if she had a sudden epiphany. No wonder her man's grades in physics and math geometry weren't bad, but chemistry, biology, and algebra were an absolute mess.
"And also." Standing back properly, Ayase tilted her head adorably, showing absolutely no intention of saving her brother's face. "Up until now, Big Brother still thinks he's good at algebra."
"..."
Well, that completely left Utaha speechless.
What kind of twisted brain circuitry would make her man unable to figure out what he's actually good at? This is science! There's only ever one correct answer, and it's an objective subject where "right is right, and wrong is wrong." How could he possibly not know which parts he doesn't understand?
"Alright." Feeling like she had just inherited another headache, Utaha couldn't help but sigh, then turned her head to look at the energetic little Ayase with a helpless gaze.
"Looks like your idiot brother is going to give us more trouble."
"Us"... Hearing Utaha say the word "us" so naturally, a cute blush appeared on the exquisite, flawless little face of the already youthful and energetic Ayase.
Looking at such a cute, soft little girl, Utaha's heart instantly melted. If they weren't on a busy street, she would definitely pull this adorable Ayase-chan into her arms and spoil her thoroughly.
'I'm really so glad I'm with Miyahito.' Utaha thought to herself. Not only did she find a tall, handsome boyfriend who is perfectly in sync with her and whom she loves dearly, but she also got a "buy one, get one free" bonus: an adorable little sister who fulfills every older sister's fantasy. Mhm, mhm, this deal! She, Kasumigaoka Utaha, has totally scored, nanoda!
"By the way, Onee-san." Under Utaha's increasingly gentle and doting gaze, Ayase, feeling slightly embarrassed, averted her gaze slightly and spoke in a tone as soft and squishy as mochi.
"Are we going back to Big Brother's place now to wait for him to finish class and come home?"
"Yeah." Finally unable to hold back, Utaha pulled the arm-linked Ayase a bit closer, satisfyingly rubbing her cheek against her boyfriend's little sister's cheek. "But we're not waiting for Miyahito to come home. We're going back to drop off your luggage first."
"Eh?" A look of confusion appeared on Ayase's little face. She blushed and slightly dodged Utaha's cheek, asking softly, "We're not waiting for Big Brother?"
"Mhm, mhm." Utaha nodded. "Let that idiot take care of himself for now."
"Today~" Looking at the cute little girl with a gentle and doting gaze, Utaha affectionately rested her head on Ayase's shoulder, who was only three or four centimeters shorter than her. "It's girls' time."
At the same time. Cram School, Advanced Math Class.
"Everyone, look here. This problem asks for the value of 'x', but essentially, it requires us to formulate an equation on this Cartesian coordinate system. Therefore, our vision must not be obscured by the lengthy text of the problem; we must think outside the box..."
Listening intently to the teacher on stage analyze the problem-solving approach, occasionally jotting down corresponding knowledge points in his notebook, Miyahito suddenly felt his phone vibrate in his pocket about halfway through.
Frowning slightly, he reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and looked down. Seeing it was a LINE message from Utaha, he subconsciously tapped to open it.
`[Utaha: Today is girls' shopping time, so please take care of your own meals, my dear (○｀3′○) [Image]]`
Looking at the cute kaomoji in the message, along with the photo of his girlfriend and his little sister happily and intimately pressing their cheeks together, the corners of Miyahito's mouth couldn't help but curl up into a happy smile.
"Sigh, I never thought I'd have a day where I'm 'all alone'~~" Although he said it like he was mocking himself, the faint smile on Miyahito's face didn't fade in the slightest.
"Well, it's rare for them to get together. As a big brother, and as another girl's boyfriend..." Muttering quietly to himself, Miyahito picked up his pen again.
He refocused his attention on the math class in front of him, continuing to take notes and listen carefully. Oh, right, I should ask them later if they're coming back for dinner tonight. If not, whatever. If they are, I'll head to the shopping street early after class... and see if they have those strawberries both sisters love.