In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

A pebble that Gen Chiya had once dropped finally landed on the water's surface after hovering in the air for a long time, creating ripples.

Mrs. Yukinoshita listened to her daughters' conversation, initially remaining silent, but gradually relaxed.

She half-jokingly said, "The only explanation is that Chiya is always concerned about Yukino who is studying abroad, so as soon as he senses something happening abroad, he will choose to send a warning to her to protect himself."

She said this to her eldest daughter.

Yang Nai cooperated by showing a look of sudden realization.

The mother and daughter exchanged a knowing glance and nodded slightly at almost the same time.

"...I'm going back to my room first; I need to change my clothes."

Yukino lowered her gaze and left the courtyard almost as if fleeing.

Mrs. Yukinoshita withdrew her gentle gaze and instructed Haruno, "Don't make jokes like that in front of Yukino outside."

Yang Nai picked up the teacups and utensils on the tea table: "I know that. I'll go back to my room to change my clothes then."

"Don't go empty-handed. Your father recently bought some high-end roasted tea. Take two boxes and deliver them over."

"The one Dad got through several friends before he was reluctant to drink?"

"Yes, it's okay."

"I understand."

Poor father, but this is for the sake of the family's future, so I can only ask you to make do.

Yang took the tea set back to the kitchen and asked the housekeeper to wash it.

After quickly changing his clothes, he went straight into his sister's room.

Unsurprisingly, she received a disgruntled look from her younger sister: "Sister, how many times have I told you to knock before entering the house?"

Yang Nai also looked very guilty for doing something wrong, and put his hands together to promise that he would do it again next time.

The sisters' usual daily interactions.

Yukino was also helpless. Her older sister was excellent in every way, but for some reason, she would sometimes become quite childish.

Ignoring her sister sitting on the bed, Yukino continued to sit in front of the wardrobe, choosing clothes for herself to wear out that day.

"That dress is nice. It's not too cold today, and your skin is fair, so the color suits you well. Wear it and then tie a belt around your waist to make it slimmer. This visual contrast will make your less prominent features look a bit more defined."

"...!"

Yukino could only feel helpless about her sister's behavior of barging in without knocking.

But now, when it comes to comments about her figure, she absolutely cannot tolerate them!

The gaze that swept past him as he turned around was as chilling as a sharp sword.

Yang Nai, however, still had a smiling face. She knew that Yukino had been angered by what she had said, but she didn't care at all.

Having lived together for so many years, I know how to soothe my sister.

One of the most effective methods is, of course, changing the subject.

Do you know why Mom specifically brought up the Yuan family's financial situation just now?

As expected, Yukino's emotions, which were almost out of control, calmed down instantly.

Although she was still expressionless, it was at least much better than before when she looked like she'd been stepped on: "Sister, what do you want to say?"

“I think Mom’s meaning couldn’t be clearer. If you had spoken up just now, Yukino, I think Mom would have offered a helping hand to the Minamoto family, just like... when Mom begged Grandpa to help Dad back then.”

Yang Nai was afraid that she hadn't explained things clearly enough, so she even used her mother's past actions as an example.

Yukino turned back around and started picking out clothes again, as if she didn't want her sister to see her expression at that moment: "There's nothing to worry about. Chiyo's situation is not comparable to Dad's when he was young. Besides, their family is far from needing help from others."

They didn't refute the comparison they made between them and their parents back then.

Yang Nai continued, "Whether or not help is needed, we outsiders can't know for sure. But since we've noticed something, I think it's best to show some concern at the right time, just like he did for you before. What do you think?"

"Even if the Yuan family needs help with something, it's not something I can get involved in right now."

"Back then, wasn't your mother also at your age when she directly intervened in your father's family? If you're willing, you can always find a suitable way. The only difference is whether you want to do it or not."

Yukino couldn't answer, and just kept rummaging through the pretty clothes in the closet.

Seeing this, Yang Nai didn't say anything more, got up with a "heave-ho" and left.

In the corridor, Haruno, the older sister, sighed.

She was genuinely worried about her slow-paced younger sister and was eager to enlighten her, but the results always seemed unsatisfactory.

As expected, the problem lay in the method, but what could be done? That's just her personality.

It wasn't her style to have a gentle and peaceful conversation with her sister; that might actually make Yukino feel even more terrified.

So... well, we just have to let them be.

Ugh... This is difficult, so difficult...

Shortly after that, Mrs. Sawamura drove Eriri to pick up the Yukinoshita sisters.

After being politely greeted and seen off by Mrs. Yukinoshita, they arrived at the Gen family home around 10 a.m.

"Eh? You're here to see Chiya?" Toka, who opened the door, faced the three visitors. After finally pushing away the enthusiastic Haruno who was trying to hug her, she said with a troubled expression, "But Chiya and Rikka went to Saeko's house to play."

Yukino turned her head to look at Eriri with a hint of speechlessness: "Eriri, didn't you contact him before you left?"

Eriri quickly replied, "Yes, I do!"

After saying that, he hurriedly took out his phone and showed it to Yukino.

She did send a message to Yuan Qianye around nine o'clock, but the message was clearly marked as "unread".

Yukino rubbed her temples wearily: "At least make a phone call. This is just a one-way notification."

Not to mention that they haven't been notified yet.

Shihua turned to the side: "You guys come in and sit down first. I'll call him and ask when he's coming home."

Yang, who was holding her best friend's arm, offered another suggestion: "Or, you can go directly to him. Isn't that Saeko your friend too?"

Yukino handed Toka the gift her father usually wouldn't drink when he came to visit, and took out her phone: "I'd better call him first."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The Poison Island family.

Sword training dojo.

Saeko Busujima and Chiya Minamoto, who had already practiced several times, sat cross-legged on the sidelines to rest for a while.

The two watched as Rikka, dressed in Saeko's old sword-fighting uniform, brandished a bamboo sword and shouted orders in the center of the arena, displaying great prowess and looking quite imposing.

In reality... her moves are nothing special. If she were on the field, she would be scored on and defeated in no time. From the start to the referee calling a stop, she probably wouldn't last three seconds.

For now, we're just letting her indulge her passion for being a female swordsman. As long as the child is happy, we'll let her be.

Now that it was just the two of them, Gen Chiya took the opportunity to bring up the question she hadn't been able to ask in front of Toka and Rikka at home.

"Saeko-senpai, is there something you're hiding from me?"

It wasn't a question, but rather a very confident tone.

He didn't say "lie" because he felt the word had a bad connotation. After spending so much time together, he trusted Saeko completely and didn't think she would do anything to harm him.

Saeko Busujima looked puzzled and surprised: "Chiya-kun, why are you suddenly saying this?"

Yuan Qianye shrugged: "You just said at my house that Xishantang approached us wanting to sign an endorsement contract. You even said it was us, but the problem is, I haven't received any news about this at all."

He didn't find his contact information difficult to obtain; his name and school were publicly available online.

If the other party were truly as sincere as Saeko claimed, they wouldn't have only contacted Saeko and ignored him, simply asking her to relay their message.

They're a large company, yet they handled this kind of thing so carelessly; it just doesn't seem right.

So there is only one truth.

Perhaps the truth is indeed as Saeko said at her home before—if she can win the championship in the upcoming National Jade Dragon Flag Kendo Competition, she can sign an endorsement contract with Nishiyama-do Company and thus obtain a considerable endorsement fee.

But there is probably more to the story than meets the eye.

Saeko Busujima met Chiya Minamoto's scrutinizing gaze for a moment, but quickly gave up.

As if she dared not face his gaze that could penetrate to the depths of her heart, she timidly turned her head to the side, her eyes darting around.

Saeko Busujima, who could beat two adults half to death, displayed such a performance in front of him, which left Chiya Minamoto somewhat bewildered.

He just wanted to figure out what was going on, and he didn't say anything harsh at all.

Why does she act like a child who has done something wrong and is waiting to be punished by an elder?

"Um... Saeko-senpai, I didn't mean anything by it, I just really wanted to know..."

"Ring ring!"

The phone rang at that moment, which brought Saeko Busujima a huge sigh of relief.

"I'll go get your phone for you."

She quickly got up and went to the clothes rack to get Yuan Qianye's phone.

As he respectfully accepted the phone from Saeko with both hands, the strange sense of déjà vu in Minamoto Chiya's heart grew stronger.

He suppressed the feeling that something was wrong and answered the call from Yukino.

After a brief chat, he moved the phone away from his ear, covered the microphone, and told Saeko about Yukino and Eriri's current situation.

Saeko immediately said, "Let them come over directly. I've been wanting to invite everyone to my house for a while now."

Yuan Qianye nodded and put the phone back to his ear.

"If Yukino and Eriri are coming too, we need to prepare lunch as soon as possible."

Just as Saeko was about to get up, Chiya Minamoto, who was still on the phone, pressed down on the back of her hand that was resting on her thigh.

Saeko stopped, her movements halted by his small gesture.

After hanging up the phone, Gen Chiya slowly spoke to Saeko: "It's just like swordsmanship. If you only rely on dodging, you won't get any points at all."