Chapter 256: Big Brother and Big Sister... Really Know How to Play

The moment Ayase said this, Miyahito’s face on the other end of the line turned green.

What kind of nonsense is that! What do you mean I got kicked out by Utaha!

I’m a grown man! How could I be kicked out by my own fiancée-to-be? That’s the absolute height of absurdity! Completely ridiculous!!

“That’s not true at all!”

Pulling the phone slightly away, Ayase covered her mouth, her eyes curving into crescents as she tried to hold back a loud laugh.

She didn’t even need to look; she could already perfectly imagine what her brother looked like on the other end—definitely stomping his feet in a rage, frantically denying it.

“But,” suppressing the urge to laugh out loud, Ayase curled the corners of her lips, her eyes smiling as she continued.

“Right now, Big Brother is all alone at home~ Right? Hehe.”

“…..”

For a moment, not knowing how to respond to his sister’s words, Miyahito looked up, blankly scanning the room that contained only him, before lowering his head in defeat.

“I just have work to do lately and didn’t want to disturb Utaha! Yeah, yeah, that’s exactly the reason!”

Still playing tough.

Secretly roasting her brother in her heart, Ayase stretched her legs, the soles of her feet lightly resting against the rug on the floor. Sitting in her chair, the little girl wore a gentle smile at the corners of her mouth that bore a slight resemblance to Utaha’s.

Spinning around in her chair, she spoke cheerfully to her brother on the phone.

“Yes, yes, yes, Big Brother is the gentlest! Mhm, mhm, so considerate, Big Brother.”

“Ayase.” Hearing his sister’s cheerful voice, a few black lines popping up on his forehead, Miyahito said speechlessly.

“You’ve even learned how to patronize your big brother. Don’t pick up Utaha-nee’s bad habits; learn more from her good qualities.”

“Hohoho~ Big Brother is badmouthing Onee-san!”

Narrowing her large, dark eyes slightly, Ayase smiled like a cunning little fox.

“Big Brother! You’re done for!”

“If you don’t take me to get desserts at ‘Sainte-Claire’, just wait for Onee-san to twist your ears!”

What the heck? You dare threaten your big brother!?

This is truly…

“‘Sainte-Claire’ is too expensive. At most, I can take you to ‘Miyamura Dessert Shop’.”

“No way! It has to be ‘Sainte-Claire’, or I’m telling Onee-san.”

“It’s too expensive, I can’t afford it.”

“You’re lying, Big Brother. Your albums are selling so well, all my classmates and friends bought your new album. How could you possibly not have the money to treat your little sister to desserts at ‘Sainte-Claire’? So mean.”

“…..No, Ayase, you have to understand.” Hearing his sister angrily threaten to snitch on him to his girlfriend, Miyahito, already regretting his thoughtless words, spoke to her with a crestfallen face.

“Your big brother has already handed over his bank card. Aside from my monthly allowance, I don’t have a single penny on me…..”

…..Shocked.

Ayase, her little face filled with astonishment, froze for a moment.

She truly never expected that her brother, who had never taken a single penny of allowance growing up, started earning his own money right after their mom opened a bank account for him, and even gave her, his little sister, a fixed monthly allowance that exceeded that of all his peers…

…would actually have to receive an allowance after getting into a relationship?

Moreover, listening carefully to what her brother said, after they started dating, Utaha-nee had even seized control of his financial power!?

This was something even their mom couldn’t do.

“Hello? Ayase, are you still there?”

“Mhm, mhm.” Snapping back to reality, Ayase responded to her brother. The little girl, whose face still faintly showed traces of surprise, sighed with a complex tone.

“Onee-san is truly amazing.”

“Eh?”

Ayase’s sudden remark left Miyahito completely bewildered.

Onee-san? Amazing?

Oh, Utaha is indeed amazing. She can earn money to support the family, manage the household, and now she’s even great at daily chores… Yeah, as expected, Miyahito’s taste in choosing a wife is impeccable.

“Ahem.”

Snapping back to her senses and realizing she had gone off-topic, Ayase quickly gathered her scattered thoughts, straightened her posture, sat down properly, and asked.

“Um, well, did something happen between you and Onee-san, Big Brother? Why did you suddenly go back to living alone?”

….

After hanging up the phone.

Looking at the slightly warm phone in her hand, its screen already dimmed, and recalling the conversation she just had with her brother, a complex expression couldn’t help but appear on Ayase’s cute little face.

Big Brother… Onee-san….

You guys really know how to play.

Even though you’re already living together, just short of meeting each other’s parents and not yet at the legal age for marriage… and now you suddenly say you want to have a “Christmas date” like a normal couple.

“Good grief, Big Brother and Onee-san are just too much.”

The moment little Ayase’s muttered complaint left her lips.

Knock, knock—!

“Ayase-chan, it’s Mom. Can I come in?”

Accompanied by two light knocks, their mother’s inquiring voice came from outside the door.

Hearing this, Ayase subconsciously straightened her back, sat up properly, and said to the closed door.

“Please come in, Mom.”

“Excuse me~” With a cheerful tone, Satomi pushed the door open with a bright smile. Moving like an innocent young girl, she slipped into her daughter’s room, glanced at her daughter whose face mirrored her own bright smile, and asked.

“How did it go?”

“Nothing happened at all.” Pouting her little mouth, Ayase sighed helplessly like a little adult, and continued, “Big Brother and Onee-san are perfectly fine.”

“Eh.” Satomi widened her eyes slightly in disbelief, slowly sitting on the edge of her daughter’s bed, her tone carrying a hint of surprise and suspicion.

“But why did your brother go back to the apartment alone today? Aren’t the two of them practically living together now?”

“How should I put it.”

Hearing her mom say this, Ayase raised her hand to prop up her cheek with a troubled expression.

“Mom, you’re being a bit too nervous. Big Brother is just living alone for today, that’s all.”

“I’m just worried about your brother.”

Being called out by her daughter, Satomi averted her gaze in slight embarrassment.

She didn’t want her daughter to see that she actually wanted to watch her son make a fool of himself.

But then again.

This was her eldest son’s first time dating. How could Satomi, who had almost started suspecting her son’s sexual orientation, not be curious?

Besides, she had never seen or heard of her eldest son having any disagreements with his girlfriend. They hadn’t even exchanged harsh words since they started dating.

This sudden “major event” of seemingly being kicked out of the house by his girlfriend—how could Satomi, who always kept a close eye on her son, not be curious?

“Let’s put that topic aside.” As if inheriting the same stiff subject-changing skills, enduring her daughter’s straight, unwavering gaze, Satomi shifted her eyes away slightly and continued with a guilty tone.

“What did your brother say? Did he bully Utaha-chan?”