We are family

Sasaki, who didn't feel their relationship was so close, was quietly surprised.

Her words didn't seem just polite.

Did she have something to ask of him?

With this in mind, he politely declined her offer.

[No need to trouble yourself, Auntie. Is there something you need to talk about? (puzzled.jpg)]07:31 'Read'

[Do you have time this week, Sasaki-kun? (hesitant.jpg)]07:32 'Unread'

Walking outside the door of Rinka's room, Sasaki put his phone in his pocket and pushed the door open.

Placing the sleepyhead, whose chin was resting on his shoulder, onto the bed.

Sasaki looked at the girl's still dazed expression, reached out and pinched her fair and pretty little nose: "Get up and change your clothes~"

"Mmm~"

Okino Rinka, slightly breathless, shook her head and grumbled, swatting away the teasing hand.

Then, opening her sleepy eyes and glancing at Sasaki preparing to leave, the girl rolled over, hugged the blanket, and responded with a groan:

"Just a little longer... five minutes..."

Throwing the clothes she needed to wear onto the bed,

Seeing that she was still a little lazy, Sasaki raised his hand and patted her slightly curved little snowy mound:

"Hurry up, if Otome comes upstairs to hurry you, let's see what you'll say."

"She agreed for me to find someone else, but didn't agree to her dear little sister stabbing her in the back."

Although what Sasaki said was the truth, his words, completely absolving himself of blame, still made Rinka sit up, biting her teeth in indignation.

"It was you who called me over last night! I didn't stab sister Otome in the back! Don't talk nonsense!"

Looking at the girl, who was bristling like an angry cat, claws out,

Sasaki just smiled and didn't reply, leaning forward and wrapping his arms around her slender, soft waist.

Pressed against Rinka's soft and silky, but somewhat cool face, he leaned into her ear and whispered: Then I'll have you come over tonight as well... remember to come earlier, okay~"

After saying that, without waiting for her response, he stood up: "Otome should have finished cooking by now, come down quickly."

Smoothed her messy hair and then left the room.

From the time Rinka realized she had a crush on him,

Sasaki didn't think, given her personality, that she would reject his advances due to shyness.

If she were the kind of person to hesitate because of shyness, she wouldn't have liked Okino Kazuki, her own blood sibling.

But now, there was a fragile barrier in her heart.

That was the fear of seeing Otome's sad and complex gaze.

That was also the reason they hadn't gone all the way last night.

Just like Sasaki had told her.

In Rinka's eyes,

Sister Otome only agreed for Fuyumi-nii to find someone else, but she didn't say that that person could be her, Rinka Okino.

If someone hooks up with Fuyumi-nii, that means they have nothing to do with Otome-nee.

'I like your boyfriend and it's none of your business.'

Therefore, in Okino Rinka's view, Otome-nee had no choice but to compromise with the sneaky cat outside for the sake of emotional harmony between the two of them.

But as Sakuragi Otome's younger sister, it would be different if she fell in love with Sasaki.

To Sister Otome, Sasaki can be regarded as her brother-in-law to Okino Rinka...

If she cheated with Sasaki, then in Sister Otome's eyes, she would be betraying their sisterly bond.

So as long as she was still entangled in sisterly affection, it would be hard for her to give her all.

However, this barrier called 'sisterly affection' was not strong in Sasaki's eyes.

Because Rinka was not the type to care about other people's opinions.

Rather than others' judgments and views, she cared more about her own happiness..

This can be seen from her being able to fall for her brother and take action.

And compared to the criticism that arises from siblings being in love, the current pressure on her was much less.

Because she only needed to find various excuses to ease her guilt in her heart.

As long as she could live with it, besides Otome, no one else could judge her.

But to make Rinka feel a little better, Sasaki could give her an excuse of 'him forcing her'.

With this excuse, she could feel a little less guilty towards Otome.

Arriving in the kitchen downstairs, Sasagi sat on a chair, replying to the message from Tsubaki Miyajima that was sent earlier.

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[Sorry Auntie, just finished serving food... I'm free on Saturday... Does Aunt Miyajima need any help? (puzzled.jpg)]07:36 "Unread"

Thinking that he hadn't replied to the message for a while, Sasaki thought she would not be waiting for him and he would have to wait before replying.

But before he could put down his phone, he heard a message notification tone.

Ding~

[It's not really a big deal... Auntie just talked to her father about some things regarding Sasaki-kun... Father hopes to meet Sasaki-kun, because we're also family...]07:36 "Read"

Looking at Miyajima Tsubaki's intermittent and seemingly hesitant words.

Sasagi furrowed his brows, not understanding what she meant by her last sentence.

Family?

Was there any relationship between them?

But after frowning and thinking for a while, Sasaki couldn't recall anything between them, so he straightforwardly asked her.

[What do you mean by 'we're also family,' Auntie?]07:38 "Read"

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Sasaki did not receive a definite reply.

Instead, Tsubaki Miyajima sent over a photograph.

In the photograph were three individuals.

On the left was a middle-aged man with black short hair, a somewhat stern face, and a slim build.

In the middle was a young man who bore a slight resemblance to Sasaki, but with glasses and a scholarly demeanor, appearing about the same age as he currently is.

On the right was a middle-aged man with a tall and robust physique, bearing some resemblance to the young man in the center.

He did not recognize the two middle-aged men.

However, the young man in the center, who looked almost like his brother, Sasaki knew that he was his father when he was young.

The identity of the tall, robust man in the middle, dressed in a black and white kendo uniform, was also not hard to guess.

That was Sasaki's grandfather, Sasaki Fumiichiro.

Since his father was often away on business trips, Sasaki had no memories of going back to his ancestral home to pay respects.

Even the name of his grandfather was something his mother had told him.

But that was all he knew.

Sasaki did not have the time to dwell on the memories for too long, as just after he recognized the people in the photo,

Tsubaki Miyajima sent their names.

"Miyajima Sōsuke, Sasaki Kyōta, Sasaki Fumiichiro." 07:40 'Read'

Without waiting for him to inquire further, she sent a few more messages.

[I know Sasaki-kun has a lot of doubts, but I can't explain them clearly for a while. ]07:40「Read」

[Perhaps your father never mentioned it, but from the photo, you should be able to guess that our families were close." 07:40 'Read'

[Although the two families have lost contact due to... some relationships, they are still family friends, so my father wants Sasaki-kun to come to the dojo you have free time.] 07:41 'Read'

Reading the messages on his phone and learning about his family history for the first time, Sasaki scratched his head.

He did not believe Tsubaki Miyajima was idly trying to deceive him.

After all, although he had shared his family situation with her,

He never mentioned his father and grandfather's names; not a single word about them.

Since Tsubaki Miyajima knew the names of his ancestors and even had photos, it meant their families indeed had some connections to his own.

Although he was not very interested in the relationship between his ancestors.

But now that someone has brought it up, refusing to visit would seem rather impolite.

So after thinking for a while, Sasaki agreed.

["If Aunt Miyajima finds it convenient, then I will visit this Saturday. (smile.jpg)]

07:42 'Read')

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