Saori.
The name echoed in Shiratori Seiya's mind, and with it came a flood of memories—a heroic girl with a shinai in her hand, determination burning in her eyes.
"Seiya, I tried so hard."
"Saori isn't stupid, you know."
"I want to marry you!"
"You're leaving? You'll come back, right?"
"Seiya..."
Her voice, her face—so clear after all this time. Shiratori Seiya frowned, his usually calm heart stirring with unease.
What does Shione want with her?
"Brother-in-law?"
"Brother-in-law? Helloooo?"
Suzune's voice pierced through his thoughts. He'd gone silent too long.
"Shiratori Seiya!"
The shout blasted through the phone, startling him back to the present. He rubbed his ear, wincing.
"What? Why are you yelling?"
Suzune's voice dropped to a wounded pout. "Sorryyyy... But you weren't answering me! What were you doing?"
"Nothing. Just remembered something."
What kind of something?
Suzune narrowed her eyes, filing away the suspicion for later. She'd find out eventually. For now, she had more important goals.
"Brother-in-law~ What do you think?"
"About what?"
"About me coming to Tokyo~"
A pause. Then, reasonably: "You're a third-year high school student. Shouldn't you be studying? Reviewing? Preparing for exams?"
"What's the rush?" She waved off his concern like a mosquito. "Worst case, I'll do what my sister did—special admission. I'm aiming for Tokyo University of the Arts anyway."
Shiratori Seiya wasn't surprised. The girl had always been talented.
"Then shouldn't you be practicing piano instead of calling me? And do your parents even know about this plan?"
"What does it matter if they know?" Suzune's voice flattened. She'd rolled onto her back, legs in white stockings kicked up against the wall, long hair spilling over the bed's edge. "They don't care anyway. When my sister went to art school, they said nothing. If I get famous later, they'll just brag about how I inherited their talent."
A bitter laugh.
"Not that they have any talent to inherit. They can't even read sheet music."
Shiratori Seiya fell silent.
He knew the Hōjō household better than most. Two musical prodigies born to parents who got dizzy looking at a staff. Genetics were strange like that. Shione's mother taught middle school; her father worked at some electronics company—nothing musical about either of them.
And they were busy. Always busy. Arguing half the time, working the rest. No wonder Suzune had run away to Hokkaido back then.
The memory surfaced—a tiny girl in trouble, scared and alone. She was still tiny now, really. Girls stopped growing after high school anyway.
An image of Suzune in her school uniform, pouting up at him, brought an unconscious smile to his face.
She couldn't see it, of course. All she knew was that he'd gone quiet again.
Her legs swung in frustration, toes curling inside their white socks.
"Sooooo? Will you say yes, big brother~?"
Shiratori Seiya shook himself out of the memory. "Even with that tone, I can't just let you come."
"But you promised before!"
"My memory's not that bad. It's only been two days. I didn't promise anything."
"But—" Her voice cracked, suddenly fragile. "But my birthday's next week. You didn't forget, did you?"
Silence.
The kind of silence that said everything.
Suzune's lower lip trembled. Her eyes stung.
"I knew it. You only remember my sister's birthday."
Shiratori Seiya closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. "My memory's terrible. Premature senility. I don't remember your sister's birthday that well either."
"Oh really?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "Brother-in-law, maybe you have senility, but Suzune doesn't. You dated my sister for over two years. Two birthdays, right?"
She was building steam now.
"I know exactly what you did. Fireworks. Candles. Flowers. Gifts. And a new song—a special song—just for her."
Her hand tightened on the phone until her knuckles went white.
"So romantic."
"..."
Shiratori Seiya had nothing. Playing dead was the only option.
Suzune took a breath. Forced herself to let it go. She hadn't called to fight about her sister.
"Big brother~" The pitiful tone returned, weaponized. "I'm turning eighteen. Can't you grant my wish? Just one wish? Tokyo? Please?"
For a moment—just a moment—he almost said yes. The words were right there.
He swallowed them.
"If we're calling it a wish..."
Suzune's eyes lit up. She sat up straight, legs dropping from the wall.
"Really?!"
"But."
The light died.
"Your sister has to agree. And your parents."
Suzune's face fell visibly, even over the phone. "That's the same as saying no..."
Her parents she could handle. A little sweet talk, a little manipulation—they'd cave. But Shione? Never.
First, her sister would never let her go to Tokyo alone. She was more controlling than their parents.
Second—and more importantly—if Shione knew it was about seeing him? With her jealous personality? She'd rather die than agree.
Suzune bit her lip. She didn't want to tell Seiya what her sister had become these past months. If he felt sorry for Shione, if he started caring again—that would backfire spectacularly.
Through the phone, Shiratori Seiya's reasonable voice continued: "It's not an unreasonable request. You can't just sneak off to Tokyo without telling your family. What if something happens?"
A pause.
"And an eighteenth birthday? That's for family. You should spend it with them."
Suzune's eyes burned. Her voice cracked when she spoke.
"You're so mean to me..."
A sniffle.
"You spent my sister's birthdays with her."