"This is what you call a suitable day to meet?"
Hōjō Suzune sat in the car, looking at the sign outside the studio that read "Auditions for 'The Kidnapper's Daughter' Crew," and couldn't help but glare at her older sister beside her.
Hōjō Shione didn't even look at her, only nodding silently before taking a mask and sunglasses from the central armrest box and putting them on.
Seeing her indifferent attitude, Hōjō Suzune immediately felt a surge of anger. She stood up, snatched the sunglasses from Shione's face, and stared intently into her eyes, asking, "You knew Seiya was busy today, yet you told me to come find him now. You just wanted to disgust me, didn't you?"
"Is there a problem?"
Hōjō Shione retorted, then unhurriedly took out another pair of sunglasses from the armrest box, saying slowly, "The reason I said it's most suitable is that it's most suitable for you to see Takahashi Mio. Didn't you keep telling me before that she couldn't possibly like Seiya? Isn't today a perfect opportunity to test that? Anyone who truly likes Seiya, who truly cares for him, surely wouldn't want him to be disturbed on such an important day, right? Isn't it a good chance for you to gauge her attitude and understand her personality?"
"As for Seiya, when can't you meet him? The Tokyo University of the Arts entrance exams don't start until February next year. From now, you still have two or three months. After you finish your exams, I'll let you live in the apartment I rented. Living right across from Seiya's house, won't you two have plenty of time to meet? Not to mention once you officially start school in Tokyo..."
"..."
Hōjō Suzune's face was solemn, and she remained silent, the sunglasses in her hand creaking as she clenched them.
Noticing her small movement, Hōjō Shione chuckled, "But, Suzune, if you think today isn't suitable to meet, I can send you back now. Anyway, in a couple of days, once your paperwork is done, you'll be moving in across from Seiya's house..."
Seeing her younger sister remain silent, she continued, "Actually, you don't need to worry about affecting Seiya or anything. You can just say you only came to take a quick look and then leave, right?"
"Don't worry, you're not me, so he won't feel any psychological pressure..."
Upon hearing this, Hōjō Suzune's pupils suddenly constricted. Annoyed, she slammed the sunglasses back into the armrest box and glared at her, saying, "Disgusting!"
She had been manipulated again. But even knowing she was manipulated, she could only follow along. It was her own fault for having her weakness exposed.
Hōjō Suzune indeed wanted to see Shiratori Seiya.
It had been too long since she last saw him; every second of delay was torture. Last night, knowing she would see him today, she was so excited she didn't fall asleep until midnight. Early this morning, she woke up several times, terrified of oversleeping and missing the meeting.
Just thinking about him standing in front of her, the scene of making eye contact with him, made Hōjō Suzune feel heat on her face and in her heart, wanting to cry with joy.
On the other hand, she also didn't believe that Takahashi Mio truly liked Seiya more than she did. How could that be? How long had Mio known Seiya? How long had Suzune known Seiya?
Moreover, during their last meeting in Yokohama, she didn't sense that Mio liked Seiya that much. Mio knew her older sister was deceiving Seiya but still wouldn't tell him...
Takahashi Mio was probably just a bad woman who coveted Seiya's talent and money. Seiya would break up with such a woman sooner or later, so how could he truly fall in love with her?
Just to catch a glimpse of him, to say hello, would be enough.
She wouldn't disturb his work...
With this thought, Hōjō Suzune meticulously walked towards the audition venue.
"..."
Watching her younger sister slam the door and get out of the car, Hōjō Shione stared out the car window for two seconds, then suddenly chuckled softly.
Suzune, everyone is the same...
Mio remembered reading in a book in high school that a person's luck in life is fixed, just like there are joys and sorrows, peaks and valleys. But she didn't expect that after successfully auditioning, the total duration of her happiness hadn't even exceeded a minute before someone came to spoil her mood.
She was a vengeful person by nature. The first time she met Hōjō Suzune, she was scolded severely, and she would remember that face for a lifetime. Taking a deep breath, Takahashi Mio suppressed the annoyance in her heart and forced herself to shift her gaze away from the two people.
Just pretend she didn't see them.
However, despite doing so, she couldn't help but wonder what these two were doing here at this time.
The younger one was guileless and not to be feared. But Hōjō Shione was completely different.
This vixen was full of malicious schemes; there was no telling what irrational things she might do. If someone said she was carrying two hand grenades and would directly blow up the set, Takahashi Mio would believe it was something she could do.
However, while Takahashi Mio pretended not to see, Hōjō Suzune did not. She quickly walked up to the other person, directly poked her waist, and asked, "Where's Seiya?"
The tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease. Takahashi Mio flinched from the poke and couldn't help but turn around and glare at Suzune, saying, "What do you want?"
"I asked you, where's Seiya?"
Takahashi Mio was a little annoyed. Adhering to the principle of not bothering with a brat, she lifted her chin and gestured towards the audition venue, "He's inside."
"Oh."
Hōjō Suzune nodded, took a step, and seemed about to walk inside.
Seeing this, Takahashi Mio was startled. She quickly grabbed the girl's slender arm and frowned, "What are you trying to do?"
With that, before Hōjō Suzune could speak, she looked at Hōjō Shione, who was standing nearby, completely covered up, and said irritably, "Can't you control your own younger sister? If you want to act crazy, at least have some sense!"
Takahashi Miki, who was standing beside her, was stunned. It was her first time seeing Mio with such an expression. She opened her mouth and her gaze swept over the three of them. She didn't speak but silently blocked Hōjō Suzune's path.
"Heh heh."
A soft laugh came from Hōjō Shione's mask. She shook her head and said, "Ms. Takahashi, what are you saying? You seem to misunderstand me quite a lot. No matter what, I wouldn't do such a thing. After all, I wouldn't cause trouble for Seiya."
After a pause, she stepped forward, pulled away Takahashi Mio's hand that was holding Hōjō Suzune, and explained, "It's just that Suzune just arrived in Tokyo today, and she said she hasn't seen Seiya in a long time and just wanted to see him. Do you really need to be so nervous?"
With that, she glanced at Takahashi Miki, who was blocking Suzune. Both her intuition and reason told her that this wasn't Seiya's type, so she no longer paid attention.
"Heh heh, you say it as if it's true. You couldn't even wait for him to come home? Now you've specifically run to the set. Do you believe yourself when you say you have no other intentions?"
Upon hearing this, Hōjō Shione didn't refute, merely sighing helplessly, "Sigh, think whatever you want."
Hōjō Suzune, who had been standing in front of the two, first looked deeply at Mio, then turned back to look at her older sister. Then she bit her cherry lips and said with a complex tone, "What if I insist on going in?"
Takahashi Mio's delicate brows twitched, and she couldn't help but say, "You, are you sick?"
Unlike Shione, Hōjō Suzune would definitely retort if she was scolded. No one but Seiya could make her swallow her anger. She stepped on Mio's foot and cursed, "You're the one who's sick!"
"You!"
Seeing her new white shoes get dirty, Takahashi Mio was so angry she wanted to punch the little brat directly. However, the next second she calmed down and sneered, "Tch, if you want to go in, then go in. Anyway, you'll be the one suffering…"
Before she could finish her sentence, the audition room door suddenly opened.
"Suzune?"
Although the voice in her ear was a little hoarse, that inexplicable sense of familiarity still made Hōjō Suzune's heart tremble. She turned her head sharply, and the moment she saw Shiratori Seiya, she subconsciously held her breath. The girl's eyes gleamed as she stared unblinkingly at the young man in front of her.
However, seeing his clearly haggard face from a cold, her mood immediately turned sad. A mist rose in her moist eyes, and she couldn't help but say, "Seiya, are you… are you okay? Are you feeling very unwell?"
Her voice was vaguely tearful, which made Takahashi Miki look at her more closely. She sensed an unusual atmosphere from the several people and couldn't help but glance at Mio a few more times.
"Ah, I'm fine, I'm okay, almost fully recovered."
Shiratori Seiya saw the girl in front of him on the verge of tears, his lips moved, and he quickly explained with a smile. He had inadvertently glanced out the window while drinking water in the room and happened to see Hōjō Suzune. At first, he thought he had seen wrong, but after looking closely twice, he confirmed it was her. So he found an excuse to go to the restroom, intending to come out and see what was going on.
"But, Suzune… how did you get here?"
Although he was asking Suzune, he now raised his face and squinted at Hōjō Shione.
"I, I…" Perhaps it had been too long since they last met, Hōjō Suzune found herself speechless looking at him. Her pink lips quivered a few times, unsure how to explain. The words she had rehearsed in her mind all melted away under his gaze.
Seeing this, Hōjō Shione took two steps forward, took her younger sister's arm, and gently explained, "Seiya, don't misunderstand. Suzune just arrived here. She just hasn't seen you in too long and wanted to see you. She didn't mean to disturb you…"
With that, she touched Suzune's shoulder and said, "Alright, you've seen him. Let's go, Suzune?"
"Mm."
In front of Shiratori Seiya, Hōjō Suzune became extremely docile, showing none of her earlier aggressive demeanor. She nodded lightly, pursed her lips, and looked at Seiya, saying, "Um, Seiya, good luck."
...
Seeing that the two really didn't have any issues, Shiratori Seiya felt a little relieved. Of course, he couldn't just let the two leave without saying anything. He thought for a moment and said, "Thank you, Suzune. I am indeed quite busy these two days, but if you encounter any problems, just call me…"
He looked at Shione and asked, "How are things going at the training institution?"
"Everything's fine, Seiya, you don't need to worry…"
"Mm, if you need any help, call me."
Upon hearing this, Hōjō Shione took off her sunglasses, her eyes glistening with tears. "You're the one who should. You didn't even tell me you were sick. Did you take your medicine properly?"
Although she was trying to suppress it, it was clear her voice was noticeably choked up. The genuine concern in her voice cut through the tension like a blade.
Shiratori Seiya forced his eyes open, trying to appear more energetic, and smiled, "It's nothing serious now. I've taken my medicine. No need to worry."
"Oh."
Hōjō Shione responded, seeming to want to say something more, but what came out was, "Take good care of yourself. I'm leaving now."
"…"
Watching their retreating figures disappear around the corner, Shiratori Seiya turned to Takahashi Mio and asked, "What did you two just say?"
"What else could we have said?" Takahashi Mio subconsciously retorted, but then realized she was in front of her older cousin and it wasn't an occasion to act spoiled with Seiya. So she lowered her gaze and said softly, "Nothing."
Shiratori Seiya looked at her, completely different from her usual self, and knew in his heart that if these three met and it was peaceful, that would be a ghost's chance. Noticing the footprint on Takahashi Mio's white shoe, he reached out and gently wiped Mio's forehead, saying softly, "Alright, she's still a child, she doesn't know any better… Today is mostly fine, so you can rest well these two days. Why don't you go back first? I still have to be busy here."
"…"
"You go back first."
Not far from the set, Hōjō Suzune stood in front of the car and said to her older sister.
"?"
Upon hearing this, Hōjō Shione gave her a meaningful look and said, "Are you sure?"
Hōjō Suzune bit her lip and nodded vigorously. Thinking of Seiya's sick and haggard appearance just now, her eyes reddened even more, and the corners of her eyes were tinged with red. She took a deep breath, her voice choked, "I can't stop worrying about him."