Chapter 17: Family Harmony
Hojo’s instincts flared instantly. She narrowed her eyes, studying the girl.
Caught in that gaze, Honne’s heart skipped, but her smile only brightened.
“What’s wrong, Sis? Sit down already.”
She slipped behind Hojo and pulled the chair out with exaggerated courtesy.
Hojo remained standing, lips quirking upward. “What’s gotten into you, Honne? When did you start serving your older sister rice?”
Honne’s red lips parted. She lowered her lashes, suddenly shy.
“I just… missed you. You’ve been away so long…” Her voice dropped, softer than before.
“Is that so.”
Hojo nodded slowly. She reached out and brushed Honne’s bangs aside, her fingers lingering just long enough to rest against the girl’s forehead.
No fever.
She met Honne’s eyes, her gaze calm but probing.
“I missed you too,” she said. “It’s just funny, isn’t it? You didn’t miss me yesterday. Or the day before that. Only today?”
“……”
Honne’s toes curled inside her slippers. Her hands clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms.
You old fossil. Don’t you dare ruin this.
She bit the tip of her tongue, drew in a breath, then lifted her head. Moisture shimmered at the corners of her eyes, perfectly timed.
“I really did miss you,” she said softly. “When Mom mentioned you just now, I suddenly felt awful. Like… I’d been taking everything for granted.”
For a brief moment, the act worked.
Hojo’s expression softened. She lifted her hand and ruffled Honne’s hair, her voice gentle, affectionate.
“Look at you,” she murmured. “All grown up.”
Before Honne could reply, footsteps approached from the kitchen. Their mother bustled in, wiped her hands on her apron, pulled out a chair, and sat down with a sigh.
“About time,” Mrs. Akari said briskly. “She’s about to have her birthday. Another year older. If she doesn’t grow up soon, life will teach her the hard way.”
Honne endured the head-patting in silence. Each stroke felt like it was stealing a few millimeters from her height. Her eyes flicked around, calculating, but she didn’t say a word.
“Let’s eat,” Mrs. Akari announced, glancing fondly at her daughters. At least the lecture she’d given Honne earlier hadn’t been entirely wasted.
Hojo took her seat and glanced at the empty head of the table.
“Where’s Dad? Aren’t we waiting for him?”
Her mother’s expression cooled slightly as she picked up her chopsticks.
“No need. He said he’s drinking with coworkers tonight.”
“Oh.” Hojo frowned, but she didn’t press further. She’d grown up with this routine.
Better this way. It saved them another pointless argument.
As usual, dinner went smoothly even without their father.
“Sis, try this.”
“Sis, the fish cheek’s the best part. You work so hard, you need the protein.”
“Sis, why aren’t you touching your soup?”
Honne flitted around the table like an industrious bee, transferring food into Hojo’s bowl, nudging plates closer, rearranging dishes with exaggerated care.
Within minutes, Hojo’s bowl of rice had grown into a small hill. Broth pooled dangerously close to the rim.
She lowered her chopsticks, helplessly amused.
Mrs. Akari set her own chopsticks down and watched her younger daughter in silence.
“Sis—”
Smack!
Mrs. Akari slapped her chopsticks onto the table. Honne jumped, staring at her mother with wide eyes.
“Sit properly and eat, Honne!”
“I am eating!” Honne protested, her lower lip jutting out. “I just want to be nice to Sis.”
“Then why don’t you feed her mouthful by mouthful while you’re at it?”
Honne glanced at Hojo, teeth worrying her lip.
…Actually, not a bad idea…
The room froze.
Hojo laughed softly, breaking the tension.
“Alright, alright. Let’s eat. Thank you, Honne. I missed you too. You’ve lost weight. Eat more.”
She flicked a glance at Honne’s chest and calmly slid the prized fish cheek into her sister’s bowl.
Honne caught the look. Irritation flared beneath her grateful smile.
“Thanks, Sis.”
***
Dinner ended without further incident.
After Mrs. Akari retired to her room, Honne eyed Hojo, who had settled onto the sofa. She shuffled over and sat down beside her, leaving an awkward hand-width of space between them.
Hojo pretended to focus on the television while tracking every movement from the corner of her eye.
Definitely suspicious.
She knew her sister better than anyone.
Honne could out-sleep a dog, out-eat a pig, and out-stubborn a mule. Especially the stubborn part.
Back in middle school, she’d once vanished to Hokkaido without telling anyone, then refused to admit she’d done anything wrong. She could fire back ten retorts for every scolding.
Gifted at the piano, she swaggered through school like she owned the place. Club rehearsals were treated like public restrooms. She came and went as she pleased.
When she’d been cut from the wind orchestra’s competition lineup, she’d thrown a tantrum demanding a fair rematch. She won, of course. The girl who’d secured the spot through connections left in tears.
Only Alan had ever been able to rein her in. To everyone else, Honne wore her pride high.
Even Hojo had endured her barbs, especially during the year she’d dated Alan. Honne had practically glued herself to him, draping over him whenever she got the chance.
Hojo had noticed. She’d just chosen to let it slide. Sisters were complicated enough already.
So when Honne claimed she was heartbroken over the breakup, Hojo hadn’t believed a word.
If Honne refrained from setting off firecrackers in celebration, that alone would count as conscience.
And now this sudden angelic routine?
Yeah. Not buying it.
“Sis, bath first?” Honne chirped, her smile sweet enough to rot teeth.
“I’m not in a hurry,” Hojo replied. “You go ahead.”
“Oh. Me neither.” Honne hopped up. “I’ll run the water for you.”
Ten minutes later, she returned. Her T-shirt was damp, and she clutched a brand-new bag of chips like a priceless treasure.
“Sis, fresh from the store. Want some?”
Hojo smiled thinly.
“I’m on a diet. No snacks.” She cleared her throat. “And my throat’s a little scratchy…”
Honne’s eyes lit up.
“I’ll make you honey water.”
---
She soon returned, carefully setting a steaming cup on the coffee table.
“Here you go.”
“Thanks, Honne.”
“Don’t mention it. We’re sisters. You work so hard…”
Hojo lifted the cup, peered inside, and arched a brow.
“Nothing… unusual in here, right?”
Honne froze. The last time, she’d salted the honey water. She forced a wounded expression.
“If you don’t trust me, I’ll take the first sip,” she said earnestly.
“I really want to be good to you. Please don’t say things like that.”
Hojo acted as though she hadn’t heard her. She took a small sip, set the cup back down, and kept her eyes on the television.
“……”
Silence settled over the room.
Honne rubbed her fingers together, pressed her lips tight, then glanced sideways at her sister.
“Sis… my birthday’s coming up.”
“I know.”
Hojo nodded.
“Tell me what you want. I’ll come home for it.”
What I want is something you can never bring back.
Honne swallowed the thought.
“You’re so busy. There’s no need to fly back just for my birthday…”
When Hojo didn’t respond, she pressed on.
" I’ve never really seen Tokyo… I’d love to take photos there. As my birthday present.”
As expected.
A flicker of thought crossed Hojo’s mind. She looked at her sister, hesitation plain on her face.
“But if I’m in Tokyo, I won’t have time to show you around. Too many people know me there.”
“Oh… I see.”
Honne let disappointment show, though her heart began to race. The hand hidden at her side clenched tight.
Now or never.
She drew a shallow breath and brightened suddenly.
“Speaking of which, sis, have you talked to Alan lately?”
So she’s stopped calling him ‘Brother~ Brother~’ now?
Hojo hid a cold smile behind a wounded expression.
“No. Why?”
“Nothing special. I heard he’s studying in Tokyo. If you’re busy, maybe he could show me around? What do you think?”
Hojo didn’t answer immediately. She swung her legs down from the sofa, sat upright, and fixed Honne with a steady stare.
“You’ve already spoken to Alan, haven’t you?”
Honne’s heart lurched. She forced an awkward smile.
“Of course not, sis…”
Hojo lifted a hand, cutting her off.
“Don’t talk. Let me guess.”
“You found Alan’s number somewhere. You told him you wanted to spend your birthday in Tokyo.”
“And he said he’d only take you if I agreed.”
“……”
Honne’s smile vanished. Her brows knit together, her eyes darkening.
Hojo knew she’d hit the mark. She took another sip of honey water and spoke softly.
“Am I wrong, Honne? You look upset.”
That did it.
Honne dropped the act completely. She stared coldly at her sister.
“So will you agree or not?”
“Agree? Of course I’ll agree.”
“If you don’t—”
Certain her plan had failed, Honne spun around to leave, already thinking of another angle. Then she froze mid-step.
“You’ll really agree?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Hojo said calmly. “You’re the sister I love most.”
She gazed at Honne for a long moment, then smiled and reached out, stroking her cheek.
Honne swallowed hard, her heart pounding.
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Hojo asked quietly,
“Honne… didn’t Alan once say you had a real gift for piano?”
