Hōjō Shione had one crucial misunderstanding: Shiratori Seiya wasn't some gifted songwriter. He couldn't compose a single note on his own. The songs came from the system, and only by continuously improving his target's skill level could he unlock the permissions to access them.
Beginner level unlocked LV1. Apprentice unlocked LV2. Proficient unlocked LV3.
By that logic, only when she reached Perfect level would he finally have the chance to redeem an LV5 masterpiece.
And even then, "unlocking permissions" was just the first step. Actually acquiring those songs required capital. Lots of it.
One LV3 song cost fifty million yen. And even after release, recouping that investment took time. The songs he'd given Hōjō Shione? Their current popularity might barely cover a mediocre apartment in Tokyo if he sold the rights. Certainly not enough to live off forever.
Shiratori Seiya understood something fundamental: love without material support was like building a house on sand. Even if they got married, how long could it last?
Besides, people change. The person someone loves at eighteen isn't necessarily the person they'll love at twenty-eight, or thirty-eight.
After deep reflection, Seiya realized he'd made a terrible mistake from the very beginning.
Hōjō Shione didn't have grand dreams. She wasn't obsessed with becoming a superstar. What she had was an inexplicable, almost frightening fixation on relationships.
As time passed, she'd spent more and more energy on them instead of her career. She'd stare at him while singing. During breaks, she'd cling to him like a koala. She'd hinted, more than once, about sharing a bed every night.
Not only that, but she'd started skipping practice to study cooking. And flower arrangement. Anyone watching would've thought she was playing some kind of "Bride Training Simulator."
Seiya realized that what people meant by "love-brained fools" was probably exactly this.
It wasn't hard to predict the future. If things continued, not only would he fail to make money, her career would crash and burn completely.
He'd tried talking to her. Multiple times. Nothing changed. For two months straight, her skill proficiency hadn't increased at all. If anything, it had regressed.
Seiya made a decision. It was time to break up.
It was better for both of them. He could move on, cultivate his next target, get rich, and become Japan's wealthiest man sooner. And she, freed from the shackles of romance, could finally face reality and develop her career properly.
So he'd left her a breakup letter. A few more songs. And then he'd vanished from her life completely.
He didn't tell her which university he was attending. There wasn't even a proper argument. Just silence.
With her talent, even without him, singing songs written by others, she'd still find success eventually.
But two failed attempts had taught him a valuable lesson. For university, he needed to find a like-minded cultivation target. Someone who shared his goals.
They didn't need to be overly ambitious. But they absolutely had to be obsessed with money.
After searching, he'd found Takahashi Mio.
At first, Seiya was only attracted by her S-rank acting potential. Then he'd spent 100,000 yen on a system appraisal card and discovered she was absolutely perfect.
Not particularly intelligent. Obsessed with keeping up appearances. Two million yen in debt. Stunning looks. Top-tier acting talent. Single, never been in a relationship.
This kind of woman? Definitely not a love-struck fool.
Did she dream of becoming a star? That wasn't important. As long as she wanted money, that was enough.
He'd guide her slowly. Desire would push her to the top. She'd walk the path he wanted her to walk.
This time, he wouldn't mess up—
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
His phone vibrated sharply against the table, yanking him from his thoughts.
Seiya frowned. Unknown number. Tokyo area code.
An ominous premonition settled in his chest. After a moment's hesitation, he pressed accept.
Silence.
He didn't speak. The other person didn't speak either.
Seconds stretched. Just as he was about to hang up, a soft, familiar voice drifted through the receiver.
"Big Brother-in-Law?"
Seiya's lips pressed into a thin line.
Of course. That voice. Even without the honorific, he'd have known immediately.
Hōjō Suzune. Shione's younger sister. One year younger than him. Currently in her final year of high school.
"Big Brother-in-Law? Brother?"
No response from him.
She called again. Still nothing.
When she spoke next, her voice had shifted. Aggrieved. Almost tearful.
"If I don't talk, were you just going to hang up on me?"
Seiya ignored the question entirely. "How did you get this number?"
"Ah~ Big Brother-in-Law, I haven't seen you in months and you don't even want to catch up first? You're making Suzune feel so pitiful..."
He could hear it now. The subtle sniffle. The catch in her breath. Was she actually crying?
"Eating noodles while on the phone is a bit rude, isn't it, Suzune?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the unmistakable slurp on the other end stopped dead.
Silence.
Then, a burst of bell-like laughter.
"Hehe. As expected of Big Brother-in-Law, you're so sharp. If it were Big Sister, she'd definitely fall for it."
"She might not fall for it. Maybe she just loves you more?"
"Loves me more? Does that mean Big Brother-in-Law loves me a lot too?"
"Your math seems to have improved lately. But that logic doesn't work here. How did you get my number?"
"Hmm, my math has been pretty good lately. I should easily be able to get into your university next year, Big Brother."
"If you get into my university, you're finished. The principal would probably have a heart attack from anxiety."
Seiya's own grades had been mediocre. He'd spent most of high school focused on Shione, not studying. His deviation score hovered around fifty. He'd only scraped into a mid-tier public university after a surprisingly good performance on the entrance exam.
"What does that matter? I don't like studying anyway. And I don't want to find a job in the future. Big Brother-in-Law, you can support me~"
Unlike Shione's gentle, elegant voice, Suzune's was something else entirely. Sweet, yes. But also dangerously alluring. The kind of voice that, if you weren't careful, would seep straight into your bones and leave you feeling warm and numb for hours afterward.
"I can't afford to support you. Also, you should probably use a different title now. Your sister and I broke up. Amicably."
"You really broke up!?"
Suzune's pitch jumped at least two full notes. Seiya frowned, confused by her reaction.
"You sound... happy about that?"
"Eh? No, no! I'm just... surprised, that's all..."
Suzune set down her chopsticks, cleared her throat theatrically, and let out a dramatic sigh.
"Ahem. So why? What happened? You two were so good together..."
If Seiya could have seen her face at that moment, he would have noticed the smile she was desperately trying to suppress. But he couldn't. So he just explained quietly:
"Nothing happened. We just... ended things. Peacefully."
"I see. But I never heard Big Sister mention it. Actually, I don't think she even knows which university you're at? During break last month, she ran all over Kyoto visiting campuses..."
"Big Sister's a little clueless sometimes. She didn't even realize you'd moved to Tokyo."
"..."
"But I guess you really did break up. She's been so down lately. Really depressed. She came home and Mom made this huge dinner, and she barely took one bite before going to her room to cry. She won't tell anyone what's wrong..."
"Big Brother-in-Law, you're so cold."
"..."
Seiya closed his eyes, rubbing his temples. A dull ache was starting to form behind them.
"Then as her sister, you should comfort her. Help her see the bright side. It's just a breakup. It's not the end of the world. Make sure she doesn't do anything stupid that would hurt herself."
"So... Can you still be friends after breaking up?"
Suzune's voice was soft, almost tentative.
"...Maybe."
"But if you can be friends, why did you change all your contact info? Big Brother-in-Law, if that number had shown a Kyoto area code, you wouldn't have picked up, would you?"
"I thought we both needed space. Time to cool off."
"Okay, but that still sounds pretty harsh. Sigh... Big Brother-in-Law, you're making me scared to ever fall in love."
"If your sister said that about me, I'd accept it."
"Eh? But I actually really like guys like you. What if I can't control myself in the future? Wouldn't you have to take responsibility?"
"..."
Seiya went silent.
The truth was, when he'd first met the two sisters, he'd briefly considered cultivating Suzune instead. Her musical instrument potential was also S-rank. And when they'd met, her piano skills were already at Proficient level.
But he'd reconsidered and ultimately passed. She was too young. And piano, as classical instrument, couldn't compete with pop music for short-term monetization.
So he'd chosen Shione instead.
Somehow, the conversation had drifted far off course. Seiya blinked, suddenly realizing she'd led him down this winding path without him even noticing.
He had to admit—unlike her lovesick older sister, Suzune was sharp. High intelligence, high emotional intelligence. Easy to get tangled up in her words.
"So. How exactly did you get my number?"
Seeing she couldn't bluff her way out anymore, Suzune sighed softly.
"I bugged Mami-sensei for it. I had to promise I'd be in the top three of my grade on the next mock exam before she'd give it to me..."
"Did you tell your sister?"
"No. Since you broke up, I figured it's better this way. Short-term pain instead of long-term suffering, right?"
"Good. You should still comfort her, though. Help her move on. At least make sure she eats properly and sleeps..."
Suzune's eyes narrowed slightly at his words. Her pink lips pressed together, and a flicker of something—displeasure?—crossed her gaze before vanishing.
"I think Big Sister would be much happier if she heard you say that in person."
If she heard it, she'd probably find it even harder to let go.
The thought of Shione's face, of her crying, made Seiya lose whatever appetite he'd had left.
"Oh, by the way, Big Brother-in-Law. Big Sister has a concert in Tokyo next month. Did you know?"
"I know."
Of course he knew. He knew Shione's schedule better than her actual manager did.
"Oh. Are you going? If you are, I can get you a ticket."
"No need."
Seiya refused without thinking. He would go to the concert—she was still his cultivation target, after all. But letting Suzune get him a ticket was asking for trouble.
"Also. Stop calling me Big Brother-in-Law."
"Okay, I understand, Big Brother-in-Law."
"...Do you need anything else? If not, I'm hanging up. I'm busy."
"Busy? I thought university was supposed to be relaxed? You're not busy dating, are you?"
Seiya couldn't tell if he was imagining it, but Suzune's tone seemed to shift slightly at the question.
"I am. Anything else?"
Suzune pouted, not believing him for a second. But she let it go.
"Then you definitely can't let Big Sister find out where you are... Otherwise, who knows what might happen?"
"If you don't tell her, she won't know."
"Hehe. Then you'd better stay on my good side, Big Brother."
"What do you want? Tokyo souvenirs? I can send you some..."
"Who wants souvenirs? I'm not as easy to buy off as Big Sister. I have a break coming up soon. How about you show me around Tokyo instead?"
"Your new girlfriend wouldn't get jealous of a high school girl, would she, Big Brother~?"
"...We'll see."
"Hehe. Okay. Anyway, it's still early."
A pause. Then, softer:
"Oh, and Big Brother-in-Law? It doesn't really matter if you don't have money to support me and Big Sister. I'm going to be famous someday. And when I am, supporting you will be the easiest thing in the world."