Chapter 425: You're Really Okay With This?

"See you tomorrow, Nagi."

"Mm."

At the gates of an elementary school, a boy with an umbrella smiled and waved goodbye to a girl being picked up by her parents. Then he walked toward the gate alone.

He knew his parents wouldn't come pick him up. But today, his sister would be there waiting.

"Nagi."

"Onee-chan!"

Hearing her voice, Amano Nagi ran forward and saw his sister's familiar face—along with someone else.

Who was the blond guy standing next to her?

Next to Hina stood Rinji, the two of them sharing an umbrella in the rain.

Rinji had come with Hina that afternoon to pick Nagi up. The elementary school was quite far from where they lived, but he finally got to see what Nagi looked like.

A fairly handsome little guy.

"So you're Amano Nagi?" Rinji looked down with a gentle smile.

"…Yes. May I ask who you are?"

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Takamine Rinji."

Nagi nodded and glanced between him and his sister.

He figured his sister must have told this guy his name. They were sharing an umbrella, and came to pick him up together… there was only one possible conclusion.

Did sis get a boyfriend?

Nagi guessed silently.

"It's still a bit early for dinner."

Not noticing the suspicion in Nagi's eyes, Rinji checked his phone.

"Let's pick up some groceries on the way back. I'll cook dinner tonight."

"Huh? Won't that be too much trouble?"

"Not at all," Rinji smiled. "Come on, Nagi—let's go home."

"…Okay."

Though he agreed, Nagi kept his eyes on Rinji's face.

Looking closer… he's cute enough to be a girl. But why blond? Dyed hair? A delinquent, maybe?

In Nagi's mind, dyed hair automatically equaled delinquent.

He wouldn't mind his sister having a boyfriend, but if that guy was a delinquent… that was another story.

"Um… Takamine-senpai."

"Just call me Rinji, like your sister does." Rinji turned and smiled. "What is it?"

"What's your relationship with my sister?"

"Relationship? Let me think…" Rinji paused, then answered, "You could say we're family."

"!?"

Straight to marriage!?

Nagi looked at his sister in disbelief and saw no signs of shock.

Did she just accept it?!

"But if I had to define it," Rinji continued, snapping his fingers, "I guess you could call me your dad."

"..."

Nagi froze, sweating, and turned to his sister.

"Sis… you're really okay with this?!"

"What are you even saying?!" Hina shouted, blushing furiously. "Rinji is Dad's friend. He's just here to take care of us!"

"…Huh? Dad's friend?"

Nagi didn't have many memories of their father, but judging by Rinji's age, he and Hina seemed more like peers. How could he be Dad's friend?

---

Back home after grocery shopping, Nagi finally understood after Hina's long explanation.

He hadn't expected one of their father's friends to find them and offer help.

"So that's the story. Rinji used to live overseas, and only recently returned to Japan. That's why he only found us now."

"Just the fact he found us is amazing."

In Japan, minors are required to live under a guardian's care.

Hina and Nagi were orphans. Technically, they should have been taken in by relatives or assigned guardians through official agencies.

But to avoid being separated, the siblings never contacted any welfare organizations—so the government had no record of them.

This was the main reason why Rinji had spent nearly a year looking for them in vain.

After confirming that Rinji wasn't her boyfriend, Nagi rested his chin on the table and looked toward the kitchen, where Rinji was wearing an apron and cooking.

Seeing that, he crossed "delinquent" off the list.

"Rich, good-looking, and knows how to cook… kind of perfect."

"What are you muttering about, Nagi?"

"I'm asking if you really know much about Rinji?"

"I've heard some stuff from a friend I met while working part-time—Shirogane Kei," Hina recalled. "He's from a rich family, goes to Shuchiin Academy, and works as the treasurer of the student council under Kei's older brother. Apparently, he's helped their family out a lot."

"Whoa… Shuchiin? That super elite school?"

"There's something else I wanted to talk to you about." Hina spoke seriously. "Rinji suggested we move to Minato Ward and live with him."

"…Huh?"

"Rinji didn't want to pressure you. He knows transferring schools and leaving your friends behind would be hard, so he asked me to talk it over with you."

"This is…"

—

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Rinji was busy cooking. The noise from the stove hood made it hard to hear the siblings' conversation.

But the ringtone from his phone in his pocket was still audible.

"Hello?"

"Rinji… we've got a problem."

It was Shirogane's voice.

"President? I'm cooking right now, but go ahead—I'm listening."

"It's Shinomiya. Something's off about her today."

"What do you mean?"

"She seemed cold and distant after school… I can't really explain over the phone. Are you home right now?"

"I'm not."

Rinji plated the dishes while still on the call.

"Don't worry, President. After last night, Shinomiya's mindset just shifted a bit. She'll be fine soon."

"Really?"

"Of course. Totally normal."

That was a lie.

The words "totally normal" came out of Rinji's mouth without thinking.

Right now, his mind was entirely focused on the Amano siblings—he had no room for anything else.