Chapter 13 : An Unwelcome Surprise

Shuugo had a conflicted expression on his face when he turned to face his younger sister.

He slowly broke into a practiced smile before he answered, "Of course, Midori-chan. We are family. Why so formal?"

Midori squeezed the ends of her kimono sleeves with her hands.

"Onii-chan, I am sorry. I didn't mean to cause any trouble when I just came back. My leaving and returning without taking your feelings into consideration must be very annoying to you."

Shuugo tilted his head backward, closed his eyes for a moment, and sighed.

"Midori-chan..."

"I am not trying to win any sympathy here, Shuugo-niichan," Midori quickly said. "I really am sorry, from the bottom of my heart."

The next hug Shuugo gave Midori afterward was brimming with warmth and familial love.

"Midori-chan, Papa and Mama just passed away when you left. I had to take over the family business all alone. Minato was still in the United States, Arata was still in the university, and Satoru just left for England.

You were the only sibling I had around me, and you left."

Midori's eyes welled up with tears. She put her arms around Shuugo's broad frame and sniffled.

"Onii-chan, I... I was really foolish. Stupid. Selfish. I only thought about myself."

Shuugo shook his head fervently. He then loosened his embrace and embraced Midori's round face in his gentle palms.

"That's not it. Oh, Midori-chan, you were so young. Only eighteen years old. I was more disappointed in myself. I should have been there for you. I... I failed as your elder brother," he ended with a heartbreaking statement.

"Onii-chan, it is not true!" Midori exclaimed. "You took care of everything after Mama and Papa died. You had a lot on your shoulders, it was only natural that you did not have time to coddle me. I should be more mature, more understanding!"

"No, Midori..."

The two siblings' conversation was a poignant tapestry of regret and self-recrimination, their voices laced with the anguish of unspoken burdens. As they delved into the depths of their shared past, their words echoed with the echoes of unspoken pain, their hearts heavy with the weight of guilt and remorse.

Their conversation was a symphony of sorrow, a heart-wrenching melody that would touch even the most stoic of souls. Save for, of course, those with no souls.

"Oh, my."

Chie's voice, discordant and jarring, shattered the tranquil ambiance like a small stone crashing into a glass vase.

With an impassive smile and cold eyes, she approached the two siblings and announced, "Dinner is ready. Midori-chan, you must be famished. I have asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite dishes. I hope they are to your liking."

Favorite dishes.

Heh.

Chie knew nothing about Midori's favorite dishes. On the other hand, she was very knowledgeable about Midori's least favorite dishes.

Leek and spring onions were scattered all over the dinner spread like hateful green glitters.

Midori secretly applauded herself for not throwing up at the dining table.

Thankfully, S-9898 was there to cheer her up.

[Midori-san, I am amazed by your dedication to getting along with your brothers!] The system squealed. She was so touched that she actually shed tears!

[As a reward, 5 Charm Points shall be added to your account!]

Midori furtively punched the air beneath the table, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. Points were points, and she was determined to amass as many as possible in order to navigate the world to her advantage.

"Onizuka-san."

Arata gave a subtle nod to the butler, who approached with a steaming bowl of food. Midori's stomach growled in anticipation as the tantalizing aroma of sweet and savory beef wafted through the air.

With a knowing grin on his face, the butler gently placed the bowl before her, revealing a generous portion of tender beef strips smothered in a rich onion and soy sauce gravy, nestled on a bed of warm rice.

Midori's mouth watered as she gazed upon the delectable dish.

"For... For me???"

Arata hummed.

"If you had informed us of your arrival beforehand, I would have ordered a small cake. This is all thanks to Onizuka-san."

There was nothing Midori would love to do more than hug both his elder brother and the butler. She quickly removed the leek-infested food from her sight and dedicated all her attention to the bowl of beef strips in front of her.

"Arata-kun, this constitutes a cheating act," Minato complained. "Could you not order the bowl of beef in both of our names?"

A thin smile laced Arata's lips, but he said nothing in return.

"Enough already, stop bickering."

Grandpa Takigawa's presence at the dinner table silenced everyone. As soon as he took his seat, he picked up his chopsticks and began to eat. It was only after the patriarch had started eating that the others dared to lift their chopsticks and join him.

Midori happily dug into her beef bowl.

In the Takigawa household, each meal was a solemn affair. Conversation was discouraged, and the only sounds that echoed through the dining room were the gentle clinking of silverware against porcelain and the occasional muffled slurp of noodles.

The family members ate with quiet determination, savoring each bite of the delicious food that had been prepared for them. Their expressions were serene and focused, as if they were engaged in some sacred ritual.

It was only when the dessert was served that the atmosphere relaxed. With their bellies full and their taste buds satisfied, the family members leaned back in their seats and began to chat animatedly.

Grandpa Takigawa disliked sweets, so he opted to have a cup of warm sake instead.

Shuugo and Minato enjoyed alcoholic drinks after dinner. To Shuugo's greatest surprise, Minato brought a bottle of brandy from Hongo.

When he handed the bottle over to Onizuka, he winked at his sister.

"Too bad that Midori is pregnant. Otherwise, I would love to test your alcohol tolerance."

Grandpa Takigawa cleared his throat and glared in Minato's direction.

"Good women of excellent breeding must never touch alcoholic drinks. Do not put ideas in your little sister's head."

Minato laughed heartily.

"Sorry, Grandpa. I will keep your advice in mind."

"Minato-san is only joking, Grandpa Takigawa," Fumiko's girly voice was heard as she looped an arm around Minato's arm. "Don't be mad at him."

Midori could feel a muscle above her eye twitch as she stared at Fumiko's hand around her elder brother's arm.

What the hell? She screamed in her head.

"Right."

Grandpa Takigawa put down his cup of sake and scrutinized the two people in front of him.

"Didn't we want to discuss a good date for your engagement?"