I, who tortured the readers, was knocked to the ground by them!

Sakurai Itsuki slept exceptionally soundly that night.

Jet lag combined with alcohol allowed Sakurai Itsuki to fall into a long-awaited, baby-like sleep.

Of course, perhaps the rustling of the woods outside the window and the occasional call of a robin served as a sleep aid, or perhaps the blanket that smelled the same as Sato Wakaba's made him feel more at ease.

In short, if it weren't for the afternoon, and if Sato Wakaba, worried about Sakurai Itsuki's condition, had gently peeked out from behind the door and quietly woken him up to eat something, he might have been able to sleep through the night.

Sato Wakaba, who woke Sakurai Itsuki, glanced out the window and asked softly, "Itsuki, should I get you some water to wash your face?"

Sakurai Itsuki sat up and shook her head: "No need, I'm not a kid like Nanoha."

Sato Wakaba glanced at Sakurai Itsuki, then turned to the window and whispered, "Oh, okay then."

Sakurai Itsuki curiously turned to look out the window, only to find that there was nothing particularly special about the view.

She seemed a bit strange today.

Why was it hidden behind the door, so far away?

Moreover, he speaks very softly and his eyes are always darting around.

So he asked, "What's wrong? You seem so strange today?"

Sato Wakaba swallowed hard and said guiltily, "Yes, is that so?"

Sakurai Itsuki immediately noticed her strange reaction: "Did you play some prank on me while I was asleep?"

Sato Wakaba was taken aback for a moment, then used the acting skills she had developed in high school plays, feigning a playful tone: "Guess?"

She actually felt a little regretful; she shouldn't have done that kind of thing in secret.

That's so embarrassing and goes too far.

Previously, Yuki Mizuno had only secretly kissed his cheek; it was, in fact, his first kiss, though it was hers too.
The thought made her uneasy, yet she also felt happy.

"So that's it. What did you do to me? You didn't draw on my face, did you?" Sakurai Itsuki said as she took out her phone, opened the front camera, and checked herself.

After a thorough check, they found nothing strange on their body.

Will you forgive me if I tell you?

Sato Wakaba remained crouched at the doorway, peeking out with half her body, keeping her voice very low.

Seeing her unusual behavior, Sakurai Itsuki examined her carefully again, but couldn't find anything wrong.

"That depends on what you're doing. But perhaps I'll be a little more lenient with you because you took care of me last night."

Sato Wakaba tilted her head and scratched her cheek: "What if I secretly kissed you?"

Sakurai Itsuki was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised: "Are you confessing your feelings to me?"

"Hahaha, look at your silly face!" Sato Wakaba suddenly burst into laughter. "Wasn't my acting pretty good just now?"

She took long strides and leaped into the room, grinning broadly.

It was as if what had just happened was a prank deliberately played on Sakurai Itsuki.

Sakurai Itsuki sighed, raised his finger and gently flicked her forehead, jokingly saying, "With your parents at home, you're still acting like this. What if I take it seriously and make you take responsibility for me?"

"Hehe~" Sato Wakaba happily stuck out her tongue, just like always, "getting away with being cute".

Then she tapped her chin with her finger, looking thoughtful: "You want me to take responsibility for you? You'll have to think about that carefully, I might not agree~"

"You're such a scumbag, you're still a hot girl at heart."

Sakurai Itsuki shook his head and then mocked Sato Wakaba in a sarcastic tone.

Instead of retaliating, Sato Wakaba said, "Actually, I really did kiss you."

"Really? Then I'm really lucky to get a kiss from you, the beautiful Ms. Sato Wakaba."

Sakurai Itsuki waved his hand, got out of bed, and prepared to wash up.

"Idiot, I was talking about an indirect kiss."

Seeing Sakurai Itsuki's flippant attitude, Sato Wakaba finally lied.

Although she had been eager to try many times, she was also somewhat afraid to break through the final barrier.

She didn't know what would be left for her after everything was revealed.

Those hot girls used to say that if you rush to confess your feelings during the ambiguous stage of a relationship, it often backfires.

The best approach is to let things happen naturally, like water flowing into a channel.

Therefore, she wasn't sure if she had waited for that opportunity.

Sato Wakaba has always been bold, able to laugh out loud even among the indifferent crowds of Tokyo, and engaging in behaviors that could be described as "social terrorism".

But here, with him, she was timid as a mouse.

"Okay, okay, like you said, haven't we kissed hundreds and thousands of times already?"

As Sakurai Itsuki spoke, she left the room, intending to quickly wash up.

It's already 1 p.m., and sleeping in at someone else's house isn't a good idea.

Sakurai Itsuki ultimately wanted to leave a good impression on each other.

Sato Wakaba tilted her head, glanced at Sakurai Itsuki who was going into the bathroom to wash up, pouted slightly, and muttered softly, "Sweet kiss. It smells like alcohol, where's the sweetness?"

He didn't take it seriously. And rightly so, he would never normally do something like that.
Sato Wakaba touched her lips.

My heart was filled with joy.

Because she noticed that throughout the conversation, apart from surprise, there was never any dislike in his eyes.
Sato Wakaba took out her phone, and a pop-up notification at the top of the screen reminded her that she had received a reply to her Instagram post.

That was her reflection last night, as she tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.

Sato Wakaba: [Alcohol is really harmful!]

Below the post, Hasegawa Shion expressed her empathy, saying: "Yes! Alcohol really does harm!"

She had clearly caused quite a few embarrassing incidents due to alcohol; on her second appearance at the Jump annual meeting, her seniors even brought it up as a joke.

That's incredibly embarrassing.

Sato Wakaba scratched her head as she looked at Hase Shion's reply.

My initial excitement was immediately overshadowed by a sense of guilt.

If that final layer of paper is broken, what will everyone become?
At that moment, probably after seeing that Sato Wakaba's Instagram account was online, she sent a message on Line.

Hase Shion asked, "Did you guys drink in London?"

The text she sent was concise and to the point, but Sato Wakaba knew that what the words couldn't express was her inner turmoil.

Sato Wakaba replied: 【Yeah, I drank. I don't have a father in London.】

Hasegawa Shion: [Are you drunk?]

She was a little afraid that something strange might happen between the two of them after they had been drinking.

After all, those kinds of things in TV dramas are all fueled by alcohol.

Sato Wakaba: [No, Itsuki was drunk. He needed help walking yesterday and just woke up now.]

Seeing Sato Wakaba's reply, Hase Shion was immediately relieved. If she couldn't even walk straight, then she must be safe.

Hasegawa Shion: [Haha, looks like he's not so great after all! He even mocked me for being drunk, but he's not much better himself! Did he say anything strange? Did he record a video?]

Seeing Hase Shion's gloating expression, Sato Wakaba guiltily replied, "Yeah, but I didn't do anything strange, I just slept soundly."

Hasegawa Shion: [That's a real shame. If he had died asleep in front of me, I would have definitely drawn a lot on his face! A pig's head!]

Hasegawa Shion described her prank plan.

Sato Wakaba obviously wouldn't admit that she had actually played a prank, and for a moment she didn't know how to respond.

Shion Hasegawa: [To be honest, I didn't even know you guys went to England.]

Even though the three of them were together, I was left behind.

She was somewhat resentful towards Sato Wakaba.

Sato Wakaba: [Sorry, I thought Itsuki had already told you.]

Of course, Sato Wakaba also had her own little schemes. How could she possibly let Itsuki bring another girl to meet her parents?
Hasegawa Shion didn't think much of it, habitually cursing Sakurai Itsuki: "Ugh, that jerk, always like this. No wonder I didn't have many friends at school."

Sato Wakaba: [Haha, isn't it you here? What are you doing?]

Hasegawa Shion: [Hmph, that's only because he can draw. Otherwise, I wouldn't even acknowledge him!]

Shion Hasegawa: [Isn't the final volume of *Puella Magi Madoka Magica* coming soon? I'm planning to draw some celebratory illustrations. I'm a little hungry now, so I'll have a bowl of fried rice and then continue.]

Sato Wakaba: [Do your best!]

Then an emoji was added.

But at this moment, the guilt in her heart grew heavier and heavier.
What should we do about the future?

If we really break the ice, will we still be able to get along well?

Sakurai Itsuki took a refreshing hot shower and changed into clean clothes.

I had just finished showering when I saw a message from Shion Hase on LINE.

Hasegawa Shion: [I heard you got drunk, you idiot, and you're only just waking up now? Hahaha, you're always laughing at me, I thought you were so great!] Sakurai Itsuki looked at her sarcastic message and smirked.

Sakurai Itsuki: [At least I didn't go on a drunken rampage.]

Hasegawa Shion: [Hmph, I glanced at London time, it's already afternoon, isn't it?]

Hasegawa Shion: [You finally get a vacation and go on a trip, but you just sleep in the hotel for most of the day. What's the difference between that and your usual routine? You might as well go on a drunken rampage; at least that would be a unique experience.]

At this moment, Hasegawa Shion, who was in Tokyo, was typing on her easel while muttering to herself, "Hmph, I told you not to take me with you when you went out to play! Serves you right! I'll let you sleep to death."

Sakurai Itsuki glanced at the messages on her phone and then turned her head to the side.

hotel?

Oh, she doesn't know I slept at Sato's house last night.

Sakurai Itsuki: [Do you know who I was drinking with last night?]

Hasegawa Shion: [Wakaba, who else could it be?]

Sure enough, she didn't even know whose family she was drinking with.

Sakurai Itsuki: [It's okay, go draw.]

Sometimes, knowing less can be a happy thing.

Naturally, Hasegawa Shion was dissatisfied with Sakurai Itsuki's dismissive attitude and launched a barrage of criticism.

Sakurai Itsuki ignored them, put his phone in his pocket, and went downstairs to greet the Sato family.

When Sato Nanoha saw Sakurai Itsuki, she immediately clapped her hands excitedly: "Eight times! Eight times!"

Sakurai Itsuki affectionately ruffled Sato Nanoha's hair: "What, eight times?"

Nanoha Sato raised her chin and said, "Brother is such a lazybones. It took me eight times to wake you up. I only need to call you twice to get you out of bed!"

Nanoha Sato had already come downstairs and was in the kitchen preparing food with her mother.

Sato's mother laughed and said, "Because if your sister calls you twice and you still don't get up, then you'll get a spanking on the third time."

Upon hearing this, Sato Wakaba blushed immediately and fell into an unusual silence.

Worried about Sakurai Itsuki's state after drinking, and also because of her own excitement and guilt after doing something "bad," Sato Wakaba would secretly push open the door crack from morning onwards to observe Sakurai Itsuki's state.

Seeing him sleeping soundly in bed, Sato Wakaba couldn't bear to disturb him.

But not long after, she couldn't resist going upstairs again, quietly pushing open the door to check on his condition.

Sakurai Itsuki looked at Sato Wakaba and smiled, "That many times?"

"Yes! Yes! I'm counting! Ugh~ Doesn't your butt hurt?"

Of course, Sato Nanoha didn't understand the reason, and tilted her head curiously to ask.

Sato's mother joked, "Because your sister couldn't bear to hit you."

Meanwhile, Sato's father, after sobering up, simply kept drinking tea.

Sakurai Itsuki then picked up Sato Nanoha and started playing with the little girl.

On the third day in London, the rain had stopped, but Sakurai Itsuki had not returned to the hotel.

He seemed to have naturally stayed with the Sato family.

Sato Nanoha was sitting on Sakurai Itsuki's lap, staring with her big, light blue eyes. She first looked at Sakurai Itsuki's face, then at the screen.

"Brother, brother, why isn't your drawing as good as the others?"

Sato Nanoha, who is only in the second grade of elementary school, obviously does not understand the meaning of storyboard drafts.

He was frowning in confusion. The promotional illustration that the older brother had drawn earlier looked so good, but now it didn't look as good.

"Yes, because this is a draft. You have to make a draft before you can draw the original artwork."

Upon hearing this, knowing that Sakurai Itsuki was taking a break to draw storyboards, Sato Wakaba immediately put her hands on her hips and scolded her younger sister.

"Nanoha, come here right now, don't disturb your brother's work!"

Ever since Sakurai Itsuki drew a lot of cartoon characters for Sato Nanoha yesterday, Sato Nanoha has become completely attached to Sakurai Itsuki.

Throughout the night, Sato Nanoha, who slept next to Sato Wakaba, kept muttering, "Sakurai-nii-san is so amazing!" and "Sakurai-nii-san, will you draw me Mickey Mouse again tomorrow?"

What is the relationship between Sakurai's older brother and sister? Who is more capable between them?

Will Sakurai-nii stay at home from now on?

This made Sato Wakaba realize that perhaps, the trait of being talkative seemed to be a characteristic flowing in the blood of the Sato family.

"No! I want to see Sakurai-nii-san draw!"

When Sato Nanoha saw her older sister angrily grabbing her, she immediately turned her head away, grabbed Sakurai Itsuki's clothes with her little hands, and snuggled into his arms, acting all cute.

"Sweetie, Sakurai-nii is working. Come here, I'll draw you one. I can draw Mickey Mouse too!"

Although Sato Wakaba was always noisy, she almost never disturbed Sakurai Itsuki's work.

Because of that guy's personality, he probably hates being disturbed when he's doing his work.

Sato Nanoha tilted her chubby little face up and refused her sister's suggestion: "No, I want to see Sakurai-nii draw! I don't want my sister to draw."

Both sisters are unreasonable.

"Sato Nanoha, don't go too far!" Sato Wakaba raised her fist, threatening fiercely.

Sakurai Itsuki said at this moment, "Okay, okay, it's nothing. It's just drawing a name, it won't have any impact."

Sato Wakaba tilted her head and looked at Sakurai Itsuki: "Eh? You're surprisingly tolerant of kids?"

"Because Nanoha is so cute, and besides, you spoil Mitsuki more than me, right?" Sakurai Itsuki said.

Her biological sister, who was not related to her by blood, was spoiled by them.

Moreover, looking at Sato Nanoha, I always feel like she's a smaller version of Sato Wakaha, which is particularly interesting.

After hearing what Sakurai Itsuki had said, Sato Wakaba no longer objected.

She sat down behind Sakurai Itsuki, propped her chin on her hand, and watched Sakurai Itsuki draw with her sister.

But Sato Nanoha, who was in his arms, was restless. Occupying the VIP viewing spot, she suddenly asked, "Does brother like Nanoha?"

“Of course,” Sakurai Itsuki replied.

Sato Nanoha nodded with satisfaction, just as the two of them were thinking how easily children could be fooled.

But then Sato Nanoha replied, "Yes, I like my brother-in-law too!"

Sato Wakaba was so surprised that she stammered, "You, what did you call him?"

Sato Nanoha answered crisply, "Brother-in-law!"

Sato Wakaba immediately reached out and pinched the soft flesh of Sakurai Itsuki's waist, scolding him in a low voice, "What are you teaching a child to shout nonsense about?"

"I'm truly innocent!"

Sakurai Itsuki was also surprised by the child's astonishing words.

"It wasn't Sakurai-nii who taught me! My dad told me!"

Sato Nanoha quickly clarified for her "brother-in-law": "When my uncle came to visit before, I heard my dad call him that."

Sakurai Itsuki, both amused and exasperated, pinched the little girl's cheek: "That's different, Nanoha."

Nanoha Sato, however, was unconvinced and proceeded to reason on her fingers: "I think the relationship between you two and Mom and Dad is similar, and the relationship between your aunt and uncle is also similar to that of Mom and Dad. Your aunt is Dad's older sister, so Dad has to call your aunt's husband 'brother-in-law,' so..."

Sato Wakaba covered her face, both amused and exasperated: "My relationship with your brother Sakurai isn't like that of Mom and Dad. You made a mistake from the very first step."

Nanoha Sato tilted her head, full of doubt, even though they looked the same.

She then asked, "When will you be able to have a relationship like your parents?"

That's just how kids are; they always have endless questions.

"Ask again and I'll hit you! Why are you so long-winded at such a young age!"

Faced with her younger sister's probing questions, Sato Wakaba first tried to think of an explanation that a child could accept.

But then I suddenly saw Sakurai Itsuki's amused gaze.

This guy.
He then resorted to intimidation, abruptly interrupting Sato Nanoha's insistence on getting to the bottom of things.

Sato Nanoha pouted, annoyed by the scolding, and said, "I don't like my sister anymore. She's not nice at all."

Just as Sakurai Itsuki was about to say something witty, Sato Wakaba glared at him fiercely again.

Sakurai Itsuki wisely shut his mouth and continued drawing.

Seeing this, Sato Nanoha pouted with a pitiful expression.

That's how Mom always glares at Dad, and then Dad shuts up.

And isn't the older brother living with the older sister now?

She looks exactly like her parents.

As expected, Sakurai-nii is my brother-in-law! (End of Chapter)