✦ ✦ ✦
“A-Aki? What’s wrong? Are you okay?!” Latifa asked in a panic.
“Y-Yeah. I don’t know why the tears won’t stop... S-Sorry.” Aki turned red all the way to her ears. She looked down and wiped her tears.
“Aki... It’s okay to cry,” Miharu said, hugging her lovingly.
Rio scratched his cheek awkwardly, wondering if he was the one who had made her cry. “Did I say something weird?”
“I don’t think so,” Liselotte denied gently, giggling beside Rio.
“Yup, as your little sister, I’m proud. You’re the best big brother!” Latifa agreed happily.
Then, several minutes later.
“Um, I’m sorry for suddenly crying...” Aki apologized embarrassedly, eyes still red.
“No, there’s no need to apologize... I’m the one sorry for saying something you hated to the point of crying.” Rio bowed his head at her in return.
“I-It’s not that I hated it...” Aki looked away from him while she fidgeted.
“Onii-chan, what Aki is saying is...”
“Wah! Stop, don’t say anything weird, Latifa!” Aki shouted, stopping Latifa from finishing what she was saying.
“Hee hee.”
Miharu and Liselotte laughed in amusement.
“But you know, I have a problem that I’d like Aki to answer properly too,” Latifa said to Aki with a slight pout.
“What?”
“Do you want Onii-chan to think of you as his little sister? And do you want him to be your Onii-chan?”
Aki reddened. “What? That again?”
“Yes, again. Because if you become his little sister, that makes you my sister. I’d be so happy if that happens,” Latifa said with a bright smile.
“Huh? Me and you?”
“Yup! That’s how it works. Even though the three of us aren’t related by blood.”
“I see...”
Aki blinked. She hadn’t considered that possibility.
“That’s why I want to hear your feelings about it. What do you think of Onii-chan?”
“I-I don’t care...” Aki mumbled inarticulately.
“What about you, Onii-chan? Since you’re the person with Amakawa Haruto’s memories, I want to hear how you feel about Aki.”
“That depends on how Aki feels...” Rio shrank back at the direct question from Latifa.
“I think Aki will be able to be honest if you just tell her you want her to be your little sister.”
“E-Enough, Latifa! I’m already being honest!” Aki yelled in a fluster.
“Fine. What did you call Amakawa Haruto when you were young, Aki?”
“I-I called him Onii-chan...”
“Then can you still call this person here that?”
“You mean this Haruto? No way, I’d never!” Aki said, shaking her head in a flurry.
“What about ‘brother’?”
“Wh-What? What are you even going on about?!”
“About what you could call Onii-chan.”
“What do you mean... I said I don’t want Haruto to be my big brother!” Aki yelled, face red.
✦ ✦ ✦
After that, Rio and the others boarded a horse carriage and left the castle. Their destination was the branch of the Ricca Guild located in the capital.
As guests of President Liselotte, the group was given VIP treatment by the store attendants. That being said, they weren’t there to spend money today. They were first led to the office to assist with the development of the new products. A wide range of women’s clothing being designed by the Ricca Guild lined the large table in the room.
“Hmm. I think this one needs more volume in the frills.”
“I really like the tiered tulle skirt. It’s so cute.”
“I think this one is cuter.”
Latifa, Miharu, and Aki all gave their opinions here and there. Rio and Liselotte sat on some chairs a slight distance away, watching over the three of them.
“Thank you for today, Liselotte,” Rio suddenly said to Liselotte beside him.
“For what?” Liselotte tilted her head like she had no idea what she had to be thanked for.
“I’m guessing what happened today was because Latifa came to you, right? So that I could talk to Aki.”
Liselotte’s eyes widened slightly before she smiled somewhat shyly. “You saw through me. But there’s no need to thank me for it. I did want to gather opinions about the new product line in development.”
“Thanks to you, I was able to have a proper talk with Aki.”
“Not at all. Even if I hadn’t done anything, you would have approached Aki yourself. I have nothing to take credit for.”
“No, I was able to gather the courage thanks to you setting the table for me. If you hadn’t done so, I would have taken much longer to do it.”
“I think you were very cool, just like an older brother should be.” Liselotte praised Rio with a giggle.
“Aha ha. I’d like to buy you something as thanks... But now that I think about it, this store is yours. You can get anything you want here.”
“In that case, please buy something for Latifa instead. She was really worried about you and Aki.”
The gaze Liselotte watched Latifa with was filled with affection. But after hearing that, Rio decided he had to thank Liselotte properly even more.
“All right,” he said with a peaceful nod, grinning broadly.
✦ ✦ ✦
Meanwhile, at the Galarc Castle, Stewart was rushing to Duke Gregory’s office in a fluster.
“Enter.”
“Excuse me.” Stewart entered the room, panting, with a tense look on his face.
“Take a deep breath first. Those clothes look good on you, by the way.” Duke Gregory paused with his pen in his hand and welcomed him calmly.
“Th-Thank you very much...”
Stewart looked down at his uniform and thanked him with a pleased look. His badge was that of the Restoration’s but the knight uniform he was currently wearing had been loaned to him through Duke Gregory’s connections. At a distance, it was easy to mistake him for one of the Galarc Kingdom’s knights.
“So, I’m assuming there was movement regarding what we discussed before?”
“Yes. He’s left the mansion.”
“Oh? And is he on his way to the castle?”
“No, he boarded a horse carriage headed for outside the castle.”
“How interesting...”
“Excluding attendants, another four residents of the mansion boarded the carriage with him. I assume they’re either going shopping or to meet up with someone.”
“I see. In that case, this is our chance. If it’s outside of the castle, we can run into him without guilt. Now, shall we go scout things out and give our greetings?”
Duke Gregory’s eyes glinted ominously at the chance that had fallen on their laps right away.