"♪ Writing songs for you~, stopping for you~, doing impossible things for you~, playing all the love song phrases for you~ I forgot to say~, the most beautiful thing is your name... ♪"
Kasumigaoka Touji hummed softly, his voice full of cheer as he flipped a hamburger patty sizzling in the pan. The golden-brown surface released a delicious aroma that filled the kitchen. His eyes gleamed with quiet pride.
Heh... writing a song for someone and letting the world hear it... it's kinda cool, isn't it? he thought smugly. Not everyone can pull this off.
Tonight's dinner was simple yet perfect—thick hamburger patties with boiled broccoli, buttery stir-fried mushrooms, and a warm bowl of clam miso soup to round it off.
"Utaha, dinner's ready!" Touji called from the staircase, mimicking the familiar tone their mother used when summoning them as kids.
He returned to the kitchen and began plating the dishes with practiced hands. Just as he was arranging the final side, he heard the sound of footsteps descending.
Kasumigaoka Utaha entered with her usual grace, her dark hair swaying slightly as she moved.
"Go wash your hands first," Touji said without looking up, slipping into the casual role of a responsible little onii-chan.
"Okay~," she responded cheerfully, heading to the open kitchen. After washing up, she joined him at the table and took her seat beside him.
After a few bites, she suddenly glanced sideways at him and asked, "So, Touji-kun, did you make any friends at school today?"
"Two half-friends," he replied without skipping a beat.
"…What does that mean?" Utaha raised a brow, pausing with her chopsticks mid-air.
"It means… not quite friends."
She chuckled softly, brushing her hair behind her ear. "I've only ever heard of 'not quite lovers.'"
"Well, now you've heard both," Touji smirked and shrugged.
After a moment of chewing, he returned the question, "How about you, Utaha-senpai? Meet anyone new today?"
"As usual."
That meant "no."
Touji didn't think much of it. Utaha wasn't someone who needed friends. She had the composure of a lone wolf—or perhaps more accurately, a lioness surveying her pride. She didn't go out of her way to fit in or cater to others.
Besides, who would dare mess with the top student in the grade?
"And one of your 'half-friends' is your deskmate, right?"
"Yeah."
"What about the other?"
"Guy who sits in the row next to me."
Utaha paused for a second, then hummed in approval. So, one was a boy. Good. If Touji had said two girls, she might've started wondering what kind of harem route he was planning.
...
After dinner, they quickly cleaned up and headed upstairs.
Touji returned to his room, eager to keep polishing the lyrics. He wanted this to be the perfect song—a heartfelt confession, not an embarrassing disaster. A half-baked love song would be worse than no song at all.
The name? "Kasumi Utako."
It was both a tribute and a clever bit of marketing. If he could attach her name to the project and generate a little buzz, her light novel Love Metronome might get a boost too. Killing two birds with one love song—wasn't that brilliant?
"I'm kind of a genius," he muttered proudly.
But... there was also risk. If Kasumigaoka Utaha held a signing event or if things got big, he might accidentally reveal himself...
"Di di da di di da…"
Suddenly, the Line ringtone chimed. Touji glanced at the screen—it was a group video call from Mom.
He moved the mouse and clicked "Accept."
Ding!
The screen flickered to life.
The screen split as the video connected.
At the same moment, Kasumigaoka Utaha's face popped up on the screen as well. Apparently, she had also joined the call.
"Good evening~."
"Touji, Utaha."
Their mother, clad in a fluffy bathrobe and wearing a bright green facial mask, waved cheerfully at the camera. Beside her, their father, ever the stoic one, gave a calm nod. "Good evening."
"Evening," Touji replied casually.
"Good evening," Utaha echoed, a bit more composed.
"Huh? You're both in the same house but in different rooms?" Their mother blinked in surprise, glancing between the two video windows on her phone.
Seriously, what kind of comment was that!?
It's completely normal for siblings to be in separate rooms! If they were in the same room, that would be weird!
Suppressing the urge to make a sarcastic remark, Touji cleared his throat and responded with as much calm as he could muster.
"Yes, we're both in our own rooms right now."
"Touji, you're really slacking! It's already been three days and you still haven't made any progress with Utaha. Honestly, I thought you two would be officially dating by now—right, dear?"
Kasumigaoka Airi gave her husband a playful nudge with her elbow, and Kasumigaoka Eiji, ever the loyal partner, nodded solemnly.
"Indeed. We might've overestimated our son."
Touji: "…"
What the heck am I even supposed to say to that?! What is this, matchmaking over video call?!
"Mom, Dad… did you just call us to tease your own children?" Utaha deadpanned, completely unfazed.
If it had been any other girl, she might've gotten flustered.
But not Kasumigaoka Utaha. She wasn't just used to it—she was immune. Or at least, that's what she liked to pretend.
"Of course not~!" their mother chirped, wiggling her finger with a smug smile. Even though she was pushing forty, she still acted like a carefree college girl sometimes. Her heart was young—and so was her mischief.
"I just missed you two, that's all. Haven't seen you in two days… Utaha-chan, you're too cold! Mama's going to cry~."
"We talk in the family group chat every day," Utaha replied without missing a beat, her tone completely flat.
"That's not the same!" their mother whined, then turned dramatically to their father. "Eiji! We can't keep this tsundere daughter of ours!"
Utaha: "…"
Touji, watching his sister's expression falter for just a moment, couldn't help but grin. Classic.
After that, their mom seemed satisfied with her teasing quota and dialed things down.
They chatted casually about random things—school, dinner, Utaha's writing, and Touji's music. Just a simple, cozy family call.
Ten minutes later, they all said their goodbyes and ended the video.
Touji leaned back in his chair and glanced at the draft lyrics still open on his monitor. For now, they were good enough.
He'd polish them again in a few days after clearing his mind a bit.
With that, he hit "Save" and closed the file, then turned his attention to the class group chat that had been buzzing with activity.
Sure enough, a message from Kani Nayuta was waiting for him.
Touji smiled slightly and started typing his reply.