Chapter 198: The Lingering Echoes After the Bustle

After enjoying a sumptuous and delicious dinner, the girls, finding the boys to be in the way, actively shooed Miyahito and the other boys into the living room, and took the initiative to clean up the messy dining table and courtyard.

However, because tomorrow was Monday, and unlike the other older brothers and sisters studying in Tokyo, Ayase was picked up by the Aragaki family driver, who had arrived nearby early, right after eating the birthday cake, and was sent back to the Aragaki family home in Chiba.

"Is this really okay, President?" Holding a game controller, a slightly restless Ishigami glanced at the few girls chatting and laughing while cleaning up in the courtyard, then turned to ask Miyuki, who was also holding a game controller beside him.

"Letting the girls clean up while we just play games in the living room? Just watching like this?"

Hearing this, Miyuki looked up at his sister in the courtyard, then turned his head helplessly to Ishigami, whose face showed a hint of unease. "It's fine. Kei is quite good at housework."

Uh, well, President, that's not what I meant.

"Well, since the President said so, and..." After sighing slightly, Ishigami turned back to look at Miyahito, who had started bustling around in the kitchen again.

Seeing this, Miyuki also turned around curiously.

"Miyuki-nii, Yu-kun, come taste the after-dinner fruit!"

Holding a beautifully arranged fruit platter, Miyahito walked out of the kitchen and smiled, greeting Miyuki and Ishigami, who were sitting in front of the TV. "Melon, strawberries, and oranges."

Miyuki and Ishigami stared blankly at the fruit platter placed in front of them, then simultaneously turned their heads to look at Miyahito, who had plopped down onto the single sofa. Then, after exchanging a glance with each other, they both revealed an expression of amused helplessness.

"Miyahito." Miyuki looked down at his stomach, which was so full it was pressing against his clothes. "With all those sumptuous dishes just now, and then that huge cake afterward, I'm sorry, but I'm already stuffed."

"Me too." Ishigami silently raised his right hand.

"Eh..." Hearing both of them say they couldn't eat anymore, Miyahito let out a surprised 'eh', then smiled nonchalantly.

"It's fine, we can just leave it for now and see if Utaha and Kei want to eat it later. If they don't, I can just make them into juice tomorrow morning and take it to school."

...This damn domesticity.

Hearing Miyahito's statement, Miyuki and Ishigami silently exchanged a glance, their wordless gazes simultaneously conveying the same sentence.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Miyuki-nii, Yu-kun?" Feeling that their gazes toward him were a bit strange, Miyahito tilted his head in confusion, looking at the two of them. "Is there a problem with what I said?"

"No."

If that's the case, then can you tell me why you two are so perfectly in sync? How is it that even your tones are exactly the same, hey!

Shooting an exasperated glance at the two who had already started discussing what to play (mostly Ishigami's recommendations, as Miyuki had absolutely no idea what fun things were in Miyahito's collection), Miyahito reached out, scooped up the guitar leaning against the sofa, and held it in his arms.

Ding... ding-ding... ding-ding-ding....

The messy, rhythmless guitar sounds that rang out instantly captured the attention of Miyuki and Ishigami, who were just about to start the game. Seeing Miyahito's expression, which seemed to be pondering something, the two of them quieted down in unison.

Gently placing the controller in his hand onto the coffee table, Ishigami eyes couldn't help but brighten upon seeing Miyahito like this for the first time.

Could it be that Miyani-sensei is thinking of a new song?!

Unable to contain his curiosity, Ishigami scratched his cheek and carefully leaned close to Miyuki's ear, whispering, "President, is Miyahito thinking about a new song?"

"Nope."

Miyahito looked up and smiled at Miyuki and Ishigami, who had stopped their movements, afraid of disturbing him. "I just happened to think of a song, that's all."

"Sorry, did we bother you, Miyahito?"

"My apologies, Miyahito."

Hearing Miyuki and Ishigami say this, Miyahito waved his hand nonchalantly, signaling them not to worry about it.

Since Miyahito said it was fine, Ishigami relaxed and, no longer suppressing his curiosity, asked straightforwardly, "What song is it?"

"Hmm, a song I've already written, but haven't released yet." Miyahito paused for a moment, then his gaze landed on Ishigami. He blinked and smiled. "Do you want to hear it, Yu-kun? I think you'll definitely like this song."

"And, coincidentally, this song fits you perfectly."

Hearing this, Ishigami pointed at himself in surprise, his tone filled with disbelief. "Me?"

Miyahito nodded.

At the same time, Miyuki, whose interest was piqued by Miyahito's words, spoke up. "Oh, now that makes me curious."

Finishing his sentence, Miyuki smiled and reached out to pat Ishigami's shoulder beside him, teasing him in a rare display. "Miyani-sensei is writing a song for you, Ishigami-kun."

"It's not as exaggerated as Miyuki-nii makes it sound." Miyahito chuckled, retorting at Miyuki, who had suddenly become unserious, before pulling his phone out of his pocket.

He found an instrumental track named "Hero," placed the phone face-up on the coffee table, and smiled at the two of them. "If you don't mind the backing track's audio quality being a bit worse and the atmosphere not being quite as passionate, do you want to give it a listen?"

After all, "Hero" was written about a man who silently guards the lights of thousands of homes all by himself.

...

"Kei, could you just bring the dirty plates over? The kitchen sink can't fit that many dishes."

Wearing an apron and washing dishes at the outdoor prep counter, Utaha looked up and smiled at Kei, who was carrying a stack of dirty plates.

"Mhm."

Kei nodded, carefully carrying the last stack of plates over.

"Thanks, Kei. You've been a huge help."

"You're welcome, Utaha-nee."

Seeing Utaha washing dishes in the sink, Kei looked around, then walked around to Utaha's left side, holding a clean dish towel that Utaha had brought out from the house.

Standing beside Utaha, she skillfully picked up the wet tableware from the sink in front of her, carefully wiping the water droplets off with the towel.

Noticing Kei's practiced movements in her peripheral vision, Utaha tilted her head to look at the little girl and teased with a smile.

"I have a feeling... Kei will definitely be a very virtuous bride in the future."

".....Utaha-nee."

Her cheeks flushed red, Kei shyly pouted and playfully retorted at Utaha, who was teasing her.

"Please don't make fun of me."

"I'm not."

Utaha gently touched the little girl's arm, her eyes curving into a smile.

"I'm being completely serious."

"Utaha-nee~~"

"Mhm, mhm. Even when you're angry, you're very cute, Kei-chan."

"..."

Just as Utaha was teasing Kei, making the young girl's face bright red,

a melody that wasn't particularly loud, yet felt incredibly impassioned and stirring, suddenly drifted out from the living room behind them.

"Otoko nara, dareka no tame ni tsuyoku nare (A man should become strong for someone else's sake)....."