“…I see.” Gensei nodded deeply before looking up at his grandson once more.
“Very well. I will allow you to return to the Suou family, even if you’re elected as vice president, but only if you run with that girl as your partner. In exchange, you are to refrain from revealing that you are Yuki’s brother and that there is a dispute over who will be the next successor to the family.”
The abrupt compromise and demand left Masachika bewildered yet reflexively resentful.
“But that’s—”
“Enough. You are planning to expose not only yourself, but Yuki as well, to the eyes of public scrutiny?”
“…!”
With his reflexive rebuttal crushed immediately, Masachika swallowed his words, unable to argue. Gensei, gazing at his grandson with a look that seemed to dismiss him as immature, let out a single sigh.
“Are you and that girl dating?” the old man asked abruptly.
“………What?!”
He was genuinely blindsided by his grandfather’s unexpectedly lowbrow question, and the earnest intensity of that unwavering stare only made him more confused.
“We’re not… I mean, it’s none of your business, even!”
“It is very much my business, you imbecile. We’re talking about someone who might one day become the wife of the head of the Suou family,” Gensei replied with complete seriousness, despite the absurdity of it all.
“O-oh, come on! What kind of logic is that?!”
Masachika’s shriek echoed through the study.
✦ ✦ ✦
“No, it’s not a problem.”
After bowing and departing Gensei’s study, Alisa gently pulled the door shut, turned to face the empty hallway, and began to quietly exhale when—
“…Oh.”
“…”
…She locked eyes with Ayano, who was waiting in the hallway, forcing her to swallow the breath that was about to escape her lungs.
“…Have you finished your conversation?”
“Y-yes, for now… It seems like Masachika still has something to discuss with him, though.”
“I see.”
Ayano nodded slowly, her expression unreadable, then tilted her head ever so slightly.
“If it’s okay with you, I was thinking that perhaps you could stop by Lady Yuki’s room and check up on her.”
“Oh. Uh…”
Just as Alisa was about to reflexively nod, the thought of Gensei summoning her back into the study flickered through her mind, arresting the gesture and freezing her head in place.
“I’ll be waiting here, and I’ll let you know if the head of the household calls for you, so you have nothing to worry about,” assured Ayano, as though she could read Alisa’s mind.
“Oh…really? Then…sure. Thank you.”
“You can count on me.”
“Then…if it’s not a bother, I suppose I will go check up on Yuki.”
“It’s not a bother at all. If anything, she will be thrilled. This way, please.”
Alisa followed her down the hallway until they reached the door to Yuki’s room, on which Ayano knocked three times.
“Lady Yuki, are you awake? Alisa is here to see you.”
“Come in,” came Yuki’s muffled voice. Even through the door, it was relatively energetic, instantly dispelling Alisa’s concern that she might have been sleeping. “Hey, welcome.”
“Oh yeah… Thanks.”
Alisa slipped through the door, her gaze finding Yuki’s where she stood silhouetted against the window, bathing in the setting sun’s glow.
“You came to check up on me, Alya. Thank you,” Yuki muttered, a faint smile gracing her lips.
Alisa’s breath caught in her throat.
The childlike girl she had seen days before began to blend with the mature young lady that Yuki had usually presented herself as, both figures melding into the twilight until their silhouettes were one.
As Alisa stood frozen in silence, Yuki—ethereal and almost otherworldly—tilted her head slightly, maintaining her smile as she gestured toward the chair.
“Please have a seat.”
“Ah…”
Yuki’s voice snapped the half-dazed Alisa back to reality, prompting her to clear her throat softly.
“Thanks…but I’m fine standing.”
“Really?”
“…”
Alisa tried to regain her composure before she was swallowed by Yuki’s overwhelming presence, but the transcendent aura enveloping Yuki clouded her thoughts, leaving her with nothing but a few harmless pleasantries.
“Y-you seem to be a lot better already. I’m glad.”
“Giggle. Thank you. But that’s not what you wanted to talk about, right?” Yuki giggled as though she could see right through her friend, causing Alisa’s expression to tighten.
“…Masachika told me that you were his sister.”
“Yes, I heard,” revealed Yuki without the slightest trace of alarm before she quickly bowed her head.
“I am very sorry for deceiving you, Alya.”
“Wh-what? ‘Deceive’? Not at all…”