Returning home after thesis prep for Tatsuya and student council duties for Miyuki, Tatsuya spotted a commuter parked by the gate from afar.
"Guests?" he muttered.
"Who is it?" Miyuki asked, oblivious to the vehicle's presence.
Miyuki hadn't noticed the commuter, but if Tatsuya had, that was enough for her to accept its existence without question.
"No one's waiting outside, so it's probably her," Tatsuya said, deliberately vague.
That was all Miyuki needed. She knew Tatsuya so well that his lack of specificity pointed to only one person in her mind.
They opened the unlocked door and stepped inside, greeted by a woman's voice.
"Welcome home. You two are as close as ever," she said.
"It's been a while since you came here, Sayuri-san," Tatsuya replied.
The woman was Sayuri Shiba, Tatsuya and Miyuki's stepmother. Neither sibling saw her as anything more than their father's second wife. Miyuki, in particular, harbored resentment toward Sayuri for marrying their father so soon after their mother's death.
"Y-Yes, well… it's more convenient over there," Sayuri stammered.
"I understand," Tatsuya said coolly.
Miyuki had no affection for Sayuri, and Tatsuya felt no fondness either. Still, with Miyuki unwilling to engage, he felt obliged to handle her himself. He held no love for his father or late mother, viewing them as mere biological parents, but that was beside the point. He simply couldn't bring himself to like Sayuri.
"Onii-sama, I'll start on dinner. Any requests?" Miyuki asked, ignoring Sayuri.
"Anything you make is fine. No rush—go change," Tatsuya replied.
Sayuri watched silently as the siblings' conversation unfolded as if she weren't there. It wasn't her first time witnessing this, and she knew better than to provoke Miyuki, who could easily overwhelm her if pushed.
"Any clothing requests, Onii-sama? I'd wear anything you choose," Miyuki teased, her tone playful.
"You're getting carried away," Tatsuya said with a wry smile, lightly tapping her head.
"Excuse me, then," Miyuki said, bowing to Tatsuya before brushing past Sayuri as if she didn't exist—a stark contrast to her usual refined demeanor.
Once Miyuki retreated to her room, Tatsuya led Sayuri to the living room.
"You two still don't like me, do you?" Sayuri said.
"Miyuki doesn't," Tatsuya replied. "She hasn't forgiven you for remarrying so soon after her mother's death. She loved her mother."
"And you?" Sayuri asked.
"I don't feel anything about it. You know that," Tatsuya said, his emotionless gaze sending a chill through her.
"It might've been six months for you, but for me, it's been sixteen years," Sayuri said defensively.
"Take that up with the Yotsuba or him. It's irrelevant to me," Tatsuya said, dismissing her.
Sayuri had apparently dated Tatsuya's father, Ryutaro, before his marriage to Maya Yotsuba. The Yotsuba chose Ryutaro for his strong magic, forcing their separation. But as Tatsuya said, that was neither relevant nor his concern.
"Let's get to the point. I'd prefer you leave before Miyuki returns," Tatsuya said.
Sayuri hesitated, then spoke bluntly. "I need you to help the company again. Ideally, by dropping out of high school."
"That's impossible. A Yotsuba Guardian can't leave their charge's side," Tatsuya replied.
"If you hadn't gone to college, they'd have assigned another Guardian. We can't afford to let talent like yours go to waste," Sayuri insisted.
"I'm not wasting it. Didn't FLT just secure a massive flight device order from the USNA? That's twenty percent of our first-half profits," Tatsuya countered.
He was right. Tatsuya contributed significantly to FLT's success, arguably more than Sayuri. The "Loop-Cast" technology and "Silver Model," which he developed with Ushiyama's help, had made FLT globally renowned.
"At least analyze this," Sayuri said, handing him data. "It's the holy relic, the Jade Magatama."
"Where was it unearthed?" Tatsuya asked.
"I don't know. Something about the Defense Force," Sayuri replied.
"You're not planning to replicate it, are you?" Tatsuya asked, his tone sharp.
Sayuri averted her gaze, confirming his suspicions. He understood exactly what she wanted from him.
"Why take such a risk? Given FLT's financial state, there's no need to play with fire," Tatsuya said.
"The die is cast," Sayuri replied.
"With no plan?" Tatsuya pressed.
"Your magic can analyze it, can't it?" she countered.
"That's why it's called a holy relic—it's beyond modern magic's analysis," Tatsuya said. "And this supposed ability to store magic sequences—is that scientifically proven?"
The topic piqued Tatsuya's interest, given his recent research, though he kept it subtle enough that Sayuri didn't notice.
"I want you to analyze it. And, if possible, replicate it," Sayuri said.
"Then leave it with Division Three. I'm there often. Or should I take the relic now?" Tatsuya offered.
"No!" Sayuri snapped.
As a manager, not a developer, Sayuri envied Tatsuya's talent—and resented it. She suspected Division Three's achievements were credited to him, which frustrated her. She wanted him to analyze it at headquarters, but her emotions got the better of her, and she lashed out.
"Need a ride home?" Tatsuya asked.
"No, I'll take the commuter," Sayuri said curtly.
"Alright," Tatsuya replied.
Staring into Tatsuya's unreadable eyes, Sayuri felt a creeping dread, as if she and Ryutaro weren't human in his gaze. Unaware that this fear stemmed from their own tendency to treat him as a tool, they remained terrified.
"Well, well… how long are you going to hide there?" Tatsuya called out.
"As expected, Onii-sama saw right through me," Miyuki said, emerging from her hiding spot.
She'd stayed out of sight until Sayuri left. As Tatsuya leaned close, Miyuki closed her eyes, thinking he might kiss her.
"M-Miyuki? What are you doing?" Tatsuya asked, flicking her forehead.
"P-Punishment? And where are you going, Onii-sama?" Miyuki stammered.
"To clean up after someone with poor risk management," Tatsuya said.
"Honestly, how much trouble will they cause you?" Miyuki huffed.
"Lock up and go to bed early," Tatsuya instructed.
"Onii-sama, are you sure you're not mistaking my age?" Miyuki teased, pouting.
Tatsuya ruffled her hair gently, then hopped on his bike to tail Sayuri's commuter.
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/DaoistRoeoNQ
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