Hello, Our Romance

(A little earlier in time.)

Ding-dong—!

"Coming!"

Sitting at the low table in the living room, happily reading manga, Shirogane Kei put down her manga the moment she heard the doorbell and trotted over to open the door.

"Welcome home, Nii-san."

"Yeah, I'm home." Wearing his convenience store uniform and carrying a pre-packaged bento, Shirogane Miyuki walked in. While changing his shoes, he glanced curiously at his sister, who was standing prettily on the entryway step. "Home so early? Didn't you eat dinner with Secretary Fujiwara and the others?"

Knowing his sister was good friends with Secretary Fujiwara's younger sister, and that the two girls usually ate dinner before coming home from shopping, Miyuki was naturally a bit curious that she was home so early today.

"Mhm." Walking ahead of her brother, who had just changed into his slippers, Kei nodded her little head and said with a calm face, "Chika-nee and Moeha had family matters, so they went home at noon. We were originally going to have dinner with Shinomiya-senpai too, but unfortunately, she got called back."

"Oh, Shinomiya-san." Not fully processing it yet, Miyuki showed an understanding expression. But the next second, just as he put his things on the dining table, the understanding expression on his face instantly froze. He looked in shock at his sister, who had already returned to her original spot to read her manga. "You went shopping with Shinomiya-san?"

"Yeah." Kei replied lightly. Then, looking up and seeing the utterly disbelieving expression on her brother's face, she wrinkled her nose and said irritably, "What's with that face, Nii-san? Do you have a problem with me going shopping with Shinomiya-senpai?"

"...No." Stared down by his sister's fierce glare, Miyuki silently lamented in his heart 'Why isn't Kei's rebellious phase over yet?' while changing his tone. "By the way, Kei."

"Hmm~?"

"What did you guys buy today? Get anything good?" Asking this question in a feigned casual tone, Miyuki couldn't help but feel a slight surge of anticipation.

'Since Kei went shopping with Shinomiya-san today, Shinomiya-san must have bought something.'

And there's a high probability it's something she personally likes!

'Considering it's already September, and there are less than three months until Christmas.'

So, here's the question: what's the most important thing about Christmas?

A Christmas feast? No, that's wrong.

A Christmas holiday? Not entirely right, since not every school gets a Christmas break.

Therefore, there is only one answer to this question!

And·that·is!

'Christmas gifts.'

Hearing her brother's very natural question, Kei, who lived with him day and night, felt an inexplicable, indescribable weirdness.

'Why does it feel like Nii-san has an ulterior motive?'

Turning her head to glance at her brother, who was sitting at the dining table calmly eating his dinner, Kei silently tossed the illusion out of her mind and answered casually.

"Didn't buy anything."

"Eh?" Miyuki, who was using eating to hide his inner anticipation and nervousness, couldn't help but freeze. "Didn't buy anything?"

"Why are you so excited, Nii-san?" Frowning slightly, feeling like she was being yelled at, Kei glared back at Miyuki without mercy, her tone carrying a hint of impatience. "It's not like I don't have clothes, and I don't really need anything else, so why spend money?"

"That's not what I meant." Getting his daily dose of retorts from his sister, Miyuki rubbed his forehead with a headache. "I was just curious."

"Hmph." Letting out a faint snort through her nose, Kei turned a page of her manga, her tone softening considerably. "Boys shouldn't be so curious about girls' things, got it? Nii-san."

"....."

Failed.

Noticing his sister's 'I don't want to talk about it' attitude, Miyuki let out a disappointed deep breath and picked up his chopsticks again.

Just as he was about to continue his dinner.

"Oh right, I also ran into Ayase today."

Ayase? Oh, Miyahito's little sister.

His brain quickly matched the corresponding impression, and along with it, the image of that well-behaved little angel sweetly calling him 'Miyuki-nii' came to mind. The corners of Miyuki's mouth couldn't help but curl into a doting smile.

Coincidentally, Kei looked up at this exact moment and caught the doting smile on her brother's face. She instinctively retorted in disgust.

"Gross. Nii-san, can you stop smiling so creepily?"

"I..." Unjustly roasted again, Miyuki's expression instantly froze. He stared at his sister in utter disbelief, completely dumbfounded. "How am I being creepy? Was my smile that weird?"

To her brother's protest, Kei nodded very calmly.

"Yep."

"..."

Just as the siblings were locked in a stalemate of glaring at each other, neither yielding...

Ding-dong—!

The doorbell ringing once again interrupted their 'glaring war'.

Looking toward the hallway outside the living room in unison, Kei then flicked her long hair, shot a disdainful glance at her brother, and gracefully stood up.

Walking briskly to the front door, she opened it for the guest outside while asking, "Coming! Who is it?"

The moment the words fell, Kei, having opened the door, finally saw the visitor.

"Konbanwa! Kei-nee." With her hands behind her back as if holding something, Ayase looked at Kei at the door with a bright smile, her eyes curved into crescents. "I came to hang out with you, hehe."

"Ayase!" Her eyes widening slightly, Kei looked at Ayase at the door with a face full of pleasant surprise, a faint joy lacing her words. "Why are you here at this hour?"

"Am I disturbing you?" Hearing Kei's words, Ayase lowered her head a bit embarrassedly.

Seeing the apologetic look on her little friend's face, Kei smiled and reached out, affectionately pulling the little girl inside, her tone bright and cheerful as she said.

"Of course not! If anything, I'm always thrilled to have you over, Ayase."

"Mhm, that's good."

Hearing her senior say that, Ayase nodded with a relieved smile. She then brought the item she was holding in front of her and offered it toward Kei.

"Here, Kei-nee. It's a 'visiting gift'~"

Hearing the very deliberately emphasized words, Kei smiled doting-ly and reached out to lightly tap her mischievous little friend's nose with her index finger.

"I told you not to bring anything, seriously."

"Hehe, Utaha-nee told me to bring it! These are wagashi she made herself! They're super delicious!"

"Eh? Utaha-nee?" Kei looked down at the bento box in her hands in sheer astonishment.

As far as she knew, Utaha was never the type to cook. Kei remembered perfectly well that whenever Miyahito and Utaha were together, all three meals a day plus various snacks and desserts were entirely Miyahito's doing.

And now, the Utaha who never cooked was making traditional Japanese sweets?

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

You're amazing, Miyahito-nii!

To think you could melt the pride of such a career-driven, cold, and proud girl, making her willingly step down from her pedestal to embrace the domestic life. I guess I really have to say it: as expected of you, Miyani-sensei.

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