Late at night, Narita Brian stared at her phone in her room, a state she had maintained for quite some time. After taking a deep breath, she pressed the dial button.
Beep... Beep...
"Hello?"
"Hello, Onee-san, it's Brian."
She could clearly sense the surprise on the other end of the line.
"Ah, Brian. Yes, it's Narita Brian, isn't it? What's up?"
"Actually, I wanted to ask if you're free tomorrow. Of course, if it interferes with your training, forget about it."
"No! I'm free! In fact, even if I wasn't, I'd make myself free!"
"Really? Then I'll see you tomorrow."
Brian hung up.
Biwa Hayahide, still reeling from the shock, muttered, "Brian actually called me..."
"Ah! I hear the singing! A song praising the achievers of greatness, a song honoring the End-of-the-era Overlord—!"
"The grand eight-act epic poem, The Legend of the End-of-the-era Overlord! There's no doubt about it!"
"T.M. Opera O, I've told you countless times, no shouting at night!"
"Ha~ ha ha! I am the strongest, most beautiful Overlord in all of opera!"
Her arrogance was palpable, radiating pride and self-importance.
Biwa Hayahide adjusted her glasses, a hint of exasperation in her eyes. Her roommate, T.M. Opera O, lived up to her name—no matter how many times she was told, she never changed. A real handful. Every now and then, Opera O would forcibly insert herself into Biwa's opera projects, yet showed no inclination to self-reflect.
Her ears had a peculiar talent for transforming any remark into praise—a skill that, in its own way, could be considered remarkable.
"Oh~ is my roommate Biwa Hayahide facing some difficulty?"
Biwa Hayahide pondered briefly. For the most part, T.M. Opera O was quite reliable. Maybe asking for her opinion wouldn't hurt.
"Actually, it's like this. My younger sister, Narita Brian, asked if I'm free tomorrow. But we haven't been in touch for ages, so I don't know what to do."
"Oh~ why not just go?"
"I can't! If Brian's reaching out, it must be something serious she wants to discuss! Maybe teenage emotional issues? Or perhaps she's struggling with running? As her onee-san, what if I can't answer her questions properly? This rare chance to connect with Brian... what if I mess it up?
No, I have to act like a proper onee-san!"
Who would have thought the usually composed Biwa Hayahide could get so worked up?
Sensing Biwa Hayahide's embarrassment from her subtle expression, T.M. Opera O cleared her throat and explained, "I apologize. It's just been so long since I went out with Brian, I'm a bit flustered."
"Hahaha! No worries at all! The warmth of familial bonds is truly heartwarming!" T.M. Opera O chuckled. "So, you're looking for tips on how to bond with your sister and answers to any questions you might have, right?"
"Uh... yes?" Biwa Hayahide replied, though she mainly wanted guidance on adolescent emotions and running techniques.
"Then let me recommend this book, Eight Acts, Eight Strategies! From astronomy to geography, cooking to cuisine, you'll find everything you need within its pages!"
Though apprehensive, Biwa Hayahide accepted the book, reassured by T.M. Opera O's confidence that nothing could go wrong.
Opening the first page, Biwa Hayahide immediately noticed T.M. Opera O's photo boldly displayed in the editor's section. Her brow furrowed; this was clearly more complicated than she'd thought.
Forget it. I'll do it for Brian!
Forcing herself, Biwa Hayahide spent the entire night reading Eight Acts, Eight Strategies from cover to cover.
"This is just an opera libretto!"
Indeed, Biwa Hayahide only realized at the very end that it had absolutely nothing to do with the answer she was looking for.
Dejected, she had no choice but to steel herself and go see Narita Brian.
Narita Brian was exactly as she appeared on television, consistently silent, even when facing her elder sister, Biwa Hayahide.
Oh no! The barbecue restaurant is already fully booked. If we're out all day, what will Brian eat?
The moment they met, Biwa Hayahide's mind began racing. Narita Brian led her to various places, including a horse racing history museum and a space model shop.
Narita Brian remained completely focused, while Biwa Hayahide grew increasingly nervous.
What's going on? Why hasn't Brian asked me anything yet?
Such thoughts swirled endlessly through her mind, making her head spin.
"Alright, let's call it a day."
Before she knew it, evening had already fallen.
"What? So fast?" Biwa Hayahide exclaimed in surprise.
Only then did she notice Narita Brian was wearing workout clothes.
"Brian, why are you in your training uniform?"
"Oh, this? I came straight here after training."
"So you haven't eaten anything all day?"
"That's right."
Biwa Hayahide suddenly felt guilty. "I'm sorry, Brian. I made you run around all day, but the barbecue restaurant was completely booked. Onee-san couldn't get a reservation."
Seeing Biwa Hayahide's apologetic expression, Narita Brian showed a rare look of confusion.
"Why are you apologizing?"
"Because I'm really not acting like an onee-san."
Despite trying to look out for her younger sister, she hadn't noticed Brian's condition all day, lost in her own worries.
"Come to think of it, I am getting a bit hungry. I suddenly have a craving for curry."
"Hmm?"
"I never liked vegetables, so when I was little, Onee-san used to make curry just for me. A curry made especially for me... I miss it."
"Exactly! You're still so picky."
Both of them smiled, childhood memories flooding back as vividly as if they had happened just yesterday.
"Thank you, Onee-san. I had a really great day today. I just wanted you to spend some time with me."
"Me too, Brian."