Chapter 4 — The Day Our Little Brother Changed
[Ayaka Takahara's POV]
The morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, filling the dining hall with a warm golden hue. The aroma of freshly made pancakes, miso soup, and omelets drifted through the air. The clinking of plates and quiet chatter between my daughters made the moment feel peaceful, almost ordinary.
Almost.
Something about today felt… different.
I looked across the long dining table and saw my son—Haruya—sitting quietly, his small hands gently holding a cup of warm milk. His blue eyes were focused on nothing in particular, lost in thought. Usually, he would complain about breakfast, tease his sisters, or pout about waking up too early.
But today, he was silent.
"Haruya," I said softly. "Is something wrong, dear?"
He blinked, then turned to me with a gentle smile—so calm, so polite, it almost didn't feel like him.
"No, Mom. Everything is fine. Thank you for asking."
His voice… it was soft, melodic, and full of kindness.
I froze for a moment, fork still in my hand.
That wasn't my son. At least, not the Haruya I knew.
My youngest child, who often grumbled or ignored small talk, had just replied with such grace and warmth that I almost dropped my cutlery.
The entire room went silent. Even the butler—, who stood near the wall—looked like she'd seen a ghost.
In this household of women, the sight of our only son behaving so maturely felt almost unreal.
---
[Aoi's POV]
"What… did I just hear?" I whispered, my mouth hanging open.
Across from me, Sakura was equally stunned, staring at our little brother as if she'd seen a miracle.
Our little brother—our adorable, spoiled, moody Haruya—was acting like a complete gentleman.
I leaned toward Sakura and muttered, "Did something happen to him yesterday? Maybe at school?"
Sakura shook her head, equally confused. "I don't know. He looks fine… but this isn't normal. He's being too nice."
I frowned, watching him quietly sip his milk. "What if… someone bullied him? Maybe he's pretending to be okay so we don't worry?"
That thought made my chest tighten.
I clenched my fists under the table. If any girl dared to bully my brother—our precious Haruya—I'd make sure she regretted it.
No one, absolutely no one, would make him cry.
I leaned closer and said softly, "Haruya, are you sure everything's okay? Did someone at school say something mean to you? You can tell us, you know."
He looked at me, eyes wide and gentle. "No, Sister. Everything is fine. Thank you for asking."
That smile. That sweet, soft smile.
My heart almost melted right there.
"Haruya…" I mumbled under my breath, pressing my hands against my chest.
You're growing up so fast… and you're even sweeter than before.
I could feel my face turning red. I turned away quickly, pretending to eat.
But in my mind, I made a silent promise.
From now on, I'll protect you no matter what, my little brother. I won't let a single tear fall from your eyes.
---
[Sakura's POV]
I couldn't stop staring at him.
My little brother—the same one who used to roll his eyes at me, who'd refuse to hug me goodnight—was sitting there like an angel descended from heaven.
Even his tone had changed. His voice carried a quiet warmth that made me feel strangely proud… and emotional.
He looked like he was glowing.
I rested my chin on my hands, watching him as he quietly ate his breakfast.
"You're acting weird today, Haru-chan," I teased softly. "Did something happen at school? Or maybe…"
I grinned playfully. "Did a girl confess to you?"
He blinked and shook his head. "No, Sister. Nothing like that happened. Please don't worry about me."
That polite tone again!
I nearly fell off my chair.
I turned to Aoi, whispering, "Who is this polite, sweet kid and what did he do with our real Haruya?"
Aoi couldn't even reply. She was staring at him like he was made of gold.
For a few seconds, we both just sat there, silent, as he smiled innocently at us.
Then, without warning, a strange feeling washed over me.
My heart ached in a way I couldn't explain.
He looked… fragile.
Like a porcelain doll you wanted to hold carefully so it wouldn't break.
My little brother. My adorable, soft-spoken Haruya.
I gripped my spoon tightly.
No one is allowed to hurt you. Not even a scratch. I'll make sure of it.
---
[Ayaka Takahara's POV]
Watching from across the table, I could see my daughters' reactions clearly.
The shock on Aoi's face, the silent awe in Sakura's expression—it was almost amusing, but also heartwarming.
They weren't wrong, though. Something truly was different about him.
Haruya was always cute—any mother would say that—but today he seemed… softer. Kinder.
His expressions were gentler, his movements graceful, his voice sweet.
He looked like a little prince out of a storybook.
And when he smiled at me earlier, my heart had almost stopped.
I could feel tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.
My son… my precious child… you're growing up.
I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself.
Maybe this was just a phase—a sudden burst of maturity or realization. But deep down, something told me it was more than that.
There was a warmth in him that I hadn't seen before. A warmth that reminded me not of a husband that I never had, but of a longing for something lost in time—a feeling mothers rarely understand, yet instinctively cherish.
When Aoi and Sakura began fussing again—asking if any girls at school were bothering him—I smiled softly.
He replied in that same gentle voice, "No, Sister. Everything is fine."
And I knew then… whatever had changed him, it wasn't something bad.
It was something beautiful.
---
[Butler's POV ]
As the family's butler, I had seen the young master grow up from the day he was born.
Or rather, since the day he was created—through the careful process of artificial pregnancy that brought joy to this household.
I had seen his tantrums, his sulking, his small victories, and stubborn refusals.
But this morning?
Even I could hardly believe my eyes.
The way he thanked the Madam with that polite tone, the calm way he sat at the table—it was like he had transformed overnight.
I had to stop myself from gasping earlier when he smiled at the Mistress.
Young master Haruya… what happened to you?
Still, it was a pleasant change. Seeing Madam Ayaka's eyes glisten with pride, and the young ladies smiling so brightly—it filled the mansion with a kind of warmth I hadn't felt in years.
For the first time in a long while, breakfast felt like a celebration.
---
[Ayaka Takahara's POV — Later]
After breakfast ended, Haruya stood up, bowed slightly, and said, "Thank you for the meal, Mom."
I almost burst into tears right there.
He never said that before—not once.
My heart swelled with love as I watched him walk back toward his room, his silver hair shimmering in the light.
Sakura leaned toward me and whispered, "Mom, did something happen to him? He's like… a whole new person."
I smiled gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"Maybe he's just growing up, my dear."
But inside, I was thinking something else.
No, this isn't just growing up.
My son has changed. And somehow, I can feel that this is the beginning of something bigger.
I looked toward the stairs where Haruya had disappeared.
"My little Haru…" I whispered softly. "Whatever happened to you, I just hope it brought you peace."
A gentle smile curved my lips.
"My son… my precious boy… I love you more than anything in this world."