Chapter 235: I'm Tired, Let It All Be Destroyed

After taking the manuscript from Utaha, Sonoko finally realized something.

"Utaha-chan, where is your man?"

"Miyahito?" Looking up at her puzzled editor, Utaha said nonchalantly, "Miyahito is still at Shuchiin."

Shuchiin? Did your man transfer schools?

"No."

Seeing the doubt in Sonoko's eyes, Utaha stood up, put her apron back on, and walked toward the kitchen as she answered.

"Shuchiin is preparing to hold a sports festival, and Miyahito was commissioned by Miyuki-nii to prepare a performance for their opening ceremony."

".....Prepare a performance?"

The corners of Sonoko's mouth twitched. Good lord, a school like Shuchiin... they actually invited an outside student to put on a performance for their sports festival opening ceremony?

"What's so strange about that?"

Walking to the kitchen doorway, resting her right hand lightly on the doorframe and leaning her upper body back slightly, Utaha looked at Sonoko with a puzzled gaze, wondering why she was asking why her boyfriend was invited.

"Did you forget Miyahito's other identity? He wrote a song for Miyuki-nii and the others."

"Oh, I see."

Reminded by Utaha, Sonoko nodded in sudden realization.

She had forgotten that her charge, this light novel author, had a boyfriend who, besides being her schoolmate, was also currently the most popular singer-songwriter.

"Oh, right."

Opening the first page of the manuscript, Sonoko read the first draft of the novel while speaking to Utaha, who was busy with dinner in the kitchen, without looking up.

"I heard that this year's Kohaku Uta Gassen is planning to invite your man to participate."

"Mhm."

Scooping a small spoonful of the creamy chicken and corn soup into a tasting dish, Utaha took a small taste to check the saltiness, added a little more salt to the soup, and answered absentmindedly.

"However, Miyahito refused."

"Eh? No way, that's the Kohaku Uta Gassen! Aren't you going to persuade him?"

"He said he's not very interested, and the preparation time for Kohaku is too tight. He'll consider it after getting into university."

"...Alright then."

...

Just as Utaha and her editor were talking about a certain someone at home.

That singer, who was the center of the topic, was currently.....

"Miyuki-nii, you don't sing it like this. Let me demonstrate it for you again....."

"No, no, Shirogane-kun! You went off-key again!"

"Lord Shirogane, how can you go off-key right here? It's 'DA! D! DY! DO!', not 'DAD! DY! Duo!' ...."

"Aaaaaah! Miyuki-nii! Lord Shirogane Miyuki! Tell me, I clearly wrote 'Ichido fumidaseba' (Once you take a step), how can you change my lyrics while singing it, aaaaaah!! (Bangs on the table: Bang! Bang! Bang!)"

"Emotion! How many times have I told you! You need emotion! Emotion! Emotion! I didn't tell you to just sing it blindly and randomly!!! (Bang! Bang!—!)"

"I'm tired, let it all be destroyed....."

Standing to the side, each holding a copy of the sheet music Miyahito had written, Kaguya and Fujiwara Chika watched as Miyahito's demeanor shifted from initial confidence, to questioning his very existence, to impotent rage, and finally to his current state of utter despair.

For some reason, a sense of relief welled up in both of their hearts at the same time.

Thank goodness I'm not the one trying to teach the President how to sing...

And here, especially Fujiwara Chika, who had previously endured the trauma of teaching Miyuki how to play volleyball and how to sing the school anthem, felt this deeply. Recalling that torturous... ah, no, 'physically and mentally exhausting' time, Chika unconsciously looked at Miyahito, who was hugging his knees and squatting on the chair in a state of complete withdrawal, her eyes filled with pity and sympathy.

You've really had it rough, Miyahito-kun.

Meanwhile, the mastermind behind Miyahito's complete withdrawal and hollow, existential crisis—Miyuki—scratched his cheek in embarrassment, bending down to whisper to his "little brother" who was squatting on the chair hugging his knees.

"Miyahito... how about you just go on stage instead when the time comes?"

The moment the words left his mouth, the withdrawn Miyahito suddenly raised his head, his dark eyes rolling with a tide-like wave of resentment.

Stared at by such a resentful gaze, Miyuki instantly felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, unconsciously taking a small step back.

Scary! Scary! Such a terrifying look!

"....."

Staring at Miyuki with dead, hollow eyes for a few seconds, Miyahito finally spoke in a faint, ghostly voice.

"Miyuki-nii, do you know this is a love song?"

"..."

"Are you sure you want me to sing a duet with Shinomiya-senpai when the time comes?"

"..."

"Putting aside whether Shinomiya-senpai is willing or not, Miyuki-nii, do you think Utaha will let me off the hook if I go on stage and sing it?"

"..."

"And you, are you sure Utaha will let you off the hook? And Kei, are you sure Kei won't tear you to shreds?"

"...Wait, what does this have to do with... Kei..."

Subconsciously retorting, Miyuki was ultimately suppressed by Miyahito's broken, dead-eyed glare.

The two stood in a silent standoff for about ten seconds.

"Sigh...." Miyahito let out a physically and mentally exhausted sigh.

There was no helping it; he had brought this upon himself. He knew perfectly well that when it came to singing, his older brother wasn't completely talentless, but rather, every single syllable that came out of his mouth possessed world-destroying energy.

In the end, he didn't know if it was overconfidence in his own teaching abilities, or if he just couldn't resist the mischievous urge to watch the chaos unfold. Now, the pit was dug, and the person to be buried had already been coaxed into it. It was just a matter of burying himself before burying the other guy. What was the big deal?

"If I don't go to hell, who will?"

Right?.... But still, it was so infuriating!!

Why in this world was there someone who could sing a song with the express purpose of destroying the ears of every single listener! Kusō! (Damn it!)

"Miyuki-nii."

Dropping his legs, Miyahito stood up like a walking corpse, his expressionless face and hollow eyes fixed on Miyuki, whose lips twitched slightly.

"Let's practice. Properly. Bit by bit. Slowly—"

"...O-oh.. okay!"

Just then.

"Miyahito-kun, President."

Kaguya's voice interrupted the two who were struggling, about to throw themselves into the hellish singing training.

"You've been practicing for quite a while now." Clasping her hands holding the sheet music in front of her, a gentle, almost maternal smile gracing her face, Kaguya approached the two with curved, smiling eyes. "Why don't we take a break? I've prepared black tea and desserts for everyone today."

"Miyahito-kun, President, won't you come and taste them with me?"

Hearing Kaguya's invitation, Miyahito raised an eyebrow, glancing at Miyuki, who for some reason had flushed slightly and unnaturally averted his gaze. Then, turning his expressionless face back to Kaguya, Miyahito spoke with a touch of ruthlessness.

"Thank you, Shinomiya-senpai, but after practicing for so long, black tea doesn't seem very suitable for Miyuki-nii."

"Oh?" Hearing this, Kaguya asked back with a curious look in her eyes.

And at the same time, a sudden, terrible premonition welled up in Miyuki's heart. Especially given Miyahito's currently dead-water-calm tone...

However, Miyahito's answer was exactly as he had feared.

"Shinomiya-senpai, I suggest replacing Miyuki-nii's break drink with Lotus Seed Calming Tea. Yes, the tea brewed with lotus seeds, monk fruit, and chrysanthemum."

"Oh, and please don't add sugar to this tea, because the monk fruit is already sweet enough."

Lotus seeds? Chrysanthemum? Monk fruit?

And no sugar!?

Are you a demon!?