Chapter 28

"Seiya!"

The name she'd murmured countless times burst from her throat, bright and fizzy, like orange soda popping open in the sun.

Suzune bounded toward him as if she were a startled rabbit.

The brilliance of her smile froze Shiratori Seiya in place. When he realised she was about to crash into him, he shot out his arms and caught Hojo Suzune around the waist. The soft curve under his palms made his heart skip.

Suzune flung her pale arms around his neck and buried her small face against his chest, clinging like a koala while she drank in his scent.

"..."

Her bluish-black hair brushed Seiya's cheek, the fragrance of gardenias threading through every strand and into his nose.

He tilted his head back a fraction and murmured, "Suzune... Suzune?"

"Mmm~"

A sleepy kitten's hum drifted from her. She pressed her rosebud lips together, lashes fluttering, the corners of her eyes pink.

Once he was sure she could stand on her own, Seiya let his hands fall from her waist. "All right, down you get. People are staring."

She answered with another soft hum and tightened her grip.

He chuckled. "Now you're officially a koala."

He couldn't very well peel her off, so he simply waited, hoping she'd let go when she'd had enough.

When he looked up, Hojo Shione was walking toward them, shopping bags in hand, wearing a smile he couldn't quite read. Their eyes met; whatever the smile meant, it wasn't just amusement.

Shione stopped beside them and turned her gaze to her sister, voice light with mock surprise. "My, Suzune, what exactly are you doing?"

"..."

Seiya felt the girl in his arms flinch, but she still didn't release him. Instead she rubbed her cheek against his shirt.

"If you keep rubbing like that, all your face powder will end up on Seiya's clothes, and we won't need to go anywhere."

As if stung, Suzune let go at once. She turned away with a small hmph, using the gesture of smoothing her hair to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye. Shione didn't bother hiding her grin.

'Pfft!'

"Just the other day you announced you were an adult, and now you're crying like a little kid."

Suzune shot her sister a glare. "You're the kid!"

Before Shione could reply, Suzune frowned. "Didn't you say you had things to do? Why are you still here?"

Shione's eyes narrowed, her voice cooling. "If you keep being difficult, I'll drive you right back home."

"..."

Suzune fell silent, arms folded, muttering without looking at her sister, "Say it and mean it, then."

Sensing the tension, Seiya quickly shifted topics, nodding to the paper bag in Shione's hand. "What's that?"

Shione tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her smile softening as she looked at Seiya. "Suzune's been planning this outfit for ages. She meant to change into it, but she shot out of the car like a monkey and forgot it."

She offered the bag to Seiya. He peeked inside—looked like a yukata. Perfect for later tonight.

From his side, Suzune muttered, "You're the monkey..."

Shione pretended not to hear. "All right. I just got back to Tokyo yesterday; I've got a pile of errands. You two have fun. I'll pick her up tonight—just call me."

Seiya raised an eyebrow. "You passed your licence test?"

"Yep. Took it on the sly earlier this year. Never got the chance to tell you." She paused, tone turning playful. "Driving's exhausting, though. Not nearly as comfy as riding shotgun."

Seiya gave a noncommittal nod, feigning ignorance.

Shione studied his expression, then smiled. "I saw your post yesterday. She's very pretty..."

The words Suzune had once said echoed in Seiya's mind: "I hope you won't be as cruel to the next girl as you were to me."

Shione's gaze flicked away; she patted her sister's shoulder, ignoring Suzune's impatient glare.

"Happy birthday, Suzune."

"Call me when you're heading back tonight."

The simple wish seemed to soften Suzune. She answered, voice small, "Mm... drive safely..."

Shione turned and left without looking back.

They stood there until her car disappeared around the corner.

She's gone.

Thank goodness.

The instant the tail-lights vanished, Suzune's grin returned. She looped her arm through Seiya's and leaned half her weight against him.

The warm pressure on his arm startled him; he immediately pulled free.

"Eh?"

Suzune blinked, stunned. "Why'd you pull away?"

"Listen, Suzune." Seiya bent slightly, meeting her eyes. "It's your birthday, so I'll spend the day with you. But I have one rule."

She blinked up at him, suddenly docile.

"No touching. No clinging, no hugging—none of that."

"Aw..." Suzune drew the syllable out, reaching for his arm again. "But you used to let me..."

Seiya sidestepped; her hand closed on thin air.

"I have a girlfriend now. I can't be careless with other girls, or someone will call me a player."

"But when you were dating my sister, you let me hug you..."

"That was different. We both treated you like a little sister. My current girlfriend probably won't see it that way."

Suzune's brows knitted. What an annoying excuse!

Some vixen had snatched him away—how disgusting.

Without having even met Takahashi Mio, Suzune already loathed her.

She nibbled her lip, thinking hard. Then her eyes lit up.

"But what if I get lost?"

"Brother Seiya, if I get lost, I'm doomed, right? Tokyo's huge—you'd never find me..."

"I won't hug you, but can I hold your sleeve? That doesn't count as touching, does it?"

"..."

Shiratori Seiya studied Hojo Suzune's pitiful expression, then gave a small nod.

Yes!

Suzune cheered silently and immediately brightened, fingers curling around the cuff of his jacket.

Apparently satisfied with her restrained behavior, Seiya dipped his head and studied the faint flush on her cheeks.

"So, where do you want to go now?"

He'd intended to plan the perfect birthday itinerary the moment she arrived in Tokyo, but Suzune had insisted on choosing everything herself.

At his question she raised her hand, pointing to a nearby sign with a grin.

"We're already here—let's climb Mount Takao!"