[33] Come On, Call Me Bro

Chapter 33: Come On, Call Me Bro

"That schoolmate of yours is quite impressive."

Papa Shirogane admired the sashimi on the table, each slice cut to an identical thickness and arranged into the shape of a blooming rose.

"Does his family run a restaurant?"

"No, I heard they own a farm... but honestly, I have my doubts," Shirogane replied.

"I see."

It didn't take long before Ronan had finished preparing the main course.

The main course was much simpler: a bowl of unagi don for each person, accompanied by a plate of tempura.

Once everything was ready, Ronan, who had been busy working in the kitchen, could finally sit down and eat.

"How does it taste?"

Shirogane Miyuki: "It's absolutely delicious."

Shirogane Kei: "It's really good."

Papa Shirogane: "I can hardly find any faults. Thank you for going to all this trouble."

"It's nothing. I happened to be out working with the president today, so I thought I'd drop by as a guest. Since I'm visiting, making a meal isn't a big deal," Ronan said with a smile.

At that moment, Kei asked, "Yao-senpai, how did my brother invite you to the student council?"

"I actually asked to join myself, and the president agreed."

"I see… My brother must have been a pain to deal with, huh?"

"Hey! If anything, it's Ronan who's been giving me trouble, okay?" Shirogane protested.

Only to be silenced by his sister's glare.

"Not at all. The president is always considerate of his fellow students. I truly admire that."

"You hear that?"

"Shut up, big bro."

"…"

Papa Shirogane then added, "You're the first schoolmate Miyuki has ever brought home as a guest. You two must have a pretty good relationship at school."

Shirogane: "Not really, we've only known each other for less than a week."

He himself didn't even know why he brought a schoolmate he had just met a week ago home. It wasn't something he had ever done before.

As the student council president, he was quite popular at school and had plenty of friends to chat with. But none of them were the type he felt he could share a close bond with.

Ronan was different. He might have been notorious for doing all sorts of silly things at school, but for some reason, he gave Shirogane a strangely comforting feeling.

About half an hour later, the four of them had nearly finished their bowls of unagi don.

Noticing this, Ronan got up, went back to the kitchen, and returned with ice cream and some sliced fruit that had been chilling in the refrigerator.

"Here, dessert and fruit."

"...Why go to all this trouble?"

"I heard this is how they do it in Japan."

"No, no, normal households don't eat like this at all."

Kei took a small bite of the ice cream, and her face lit up with delight.

"Well, I have to admit, Senpai's cooking is way better than my brother's."

"Hey—fine, I can't deny that," Shirogane admitted. He knew full well that his amateur-level cooking couldn't compare to Ronan's professional skills.

"If I get the chance, I'll cook for you again," Ronan said with a smile.

"Next time, don't use such expensive ingredients. This meal alone must've cost a million yen…"

"Well, if it makes you feel better, you can make me a bento for Monday," Ronan replied.

"Huh? What kind?"

"The usual one you make is fine."

"Alright."

"It really is amazing," Papa Shirogane said, eating a slice of watermelon while looking at the three kids in front of him. "It feels like you're a family."

"Dad, I'm begging you—please don't treat Ronan like Mom."

"Don't be ridiculous. Ronan's more like the eldest son of the family."

"I'm the eldest son, okay?"

"Eldest son, huh? Actually, I'm an only child, so I've never experienced what it's like to have siblings."

As he said this, Ronan casually draped an arm around Shirogane's shoulder.

"President, just call me bro."

"There's no way I'm calling you that! I'm the senpai here, remember?"

"Bro."

Kei chimed in smoothly.

"Alright, from now on, you're my little sister. If you run into any trouble at school, just let me know. Your bro here, as the student council treasurer and public moral committee, guarantees cross-campus enforcement."

"Enough already!!" Shirogane found himself utterly exasperated by Ronan's antics.

...

"Huff~"

At the entrance of the old apartment building, Ronan leaned on the railing, looking out at the dazzling skyscrapers shining in the night.

This run-down apartment block was quite a rare sight in Tokyo—like finding a roadside snack stall in the lobby of a luxury hotel.

He stood there, resting against the railing, cigarette in hand. Smoke trailed upwards from the glowing tip, slowly dissipating into the air.

"Ronan, aren't you breaking school rules again as a public moral committee?"

"I'm off campus right now. The public moral committee's rules don't extend here," Ronan said with a grin.

"… Thanks again for today. It's been a while since my family's had such a nice meal. But spending so much money… Are you sure it's fine? What about your family…?"

"The money didn't come from my family. I earned it from my part-time job. Money is meant to be spent; if it just sits there, it loses its value."

"You really are something…"

Shirogane smiled, walking over to stand beside Ronan. He leaned his back against the railing and gazed up at the sky.

"Shinomiya once gave me her opinion of you. In hindsight, I don't think it was entirely accurate."

"Oh? What did she say?"

"I remember she described you as… ruthless, violent, disdainful of rules… and someone who doesn't treat others like people." Shirogane gave a wry smile. "Looking back, those comments seem pretty exaggerated…"

"No."

Ronan stubbed out his cigarette, turning to face Shirogane.

"It's actually a very accurate assessment, President."

"Eh?"

"Even though I don't like that woman from the Shinomiya family, her evaluation of me was surprisingly spot-on," Ronan said. "Just as she described, I'm not exactly a good person."

"…"

"But the reason she can make such a precise judgment is because I never bother to hide my more villainous side."

Hearing that, Shirogane couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Despite his delicate features, despite his wealth, and despite his apparent influence—evidenced by how he could challenge even the Shuchiin VIP—Ronan had all the makings of a popular student.

If he just stayed out of trouble and acted like a normal person, his reputation at school would likely rival Shirogane's own.

But the problem was, Ronan seemed intent on squandering all the good cards he had been dealt.

He didn't know how to hide his darker side.

He didn't have a persona.

But is it really possible for someone to exist without a persona? After all, a persona can conceal all one's weaknesses and flaws.

However, Ronan seemed to have little interest in such things.

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