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

"Then have this with me." Yang Nai handed over a can of peach-flavored beer.

Yukino, who was being scrutinized with a playful gaze, didn't respond: "Does Mom know that you started using alcohol as soon as you moved out?"

"Your expression and tone are terrifying. Don't forget that I'm a college student now, and it's perfectly legal and compliant for me to be involved in these things."

"Nevertheless, alcohol can numb a person's nerves and reactions. If you live here alone, it's best not to drink. Although the chances of an accident are small, they are not impossible."

"Your statement is exactly the same as your mother's."

Yang Nai also sat down on the beanbag sofa and tossed the vegetable drink over.

Yukino unscrewed the tab: "Mom wouldn't say something like that to me."

"But the intention is the same. They said that now that I'm all grown up, they won't restrict my private life too much anymore. Just remember not to drink too much and get so drunk that you lose your basic judgment. The same goes for dining out with others. Also, no matter what, don't take a bath after drinking. Showering is fine, but be careful not to slip. They're treating me like a little baby."

Yang chuckled as he said this.

Yukino glanced at her and said, "Mom only said those things out of concern for you."

Yang Nai waved his hand dismissively: "Yes, yes, of course I know about this kind of thing, so at the time I was very grateful and obediently agreed to everything, and even made a guarantee... Okay, let's not talk about this anymore, let's talk about you."

"I?"

"Hmm, what are your thoughts on your sister's current situation?" Yang Nai stretched out her arms, her gesture suggesting she was about to hug someone.

Upon hearing this, Yukino stared intently at Haruno: "Sister, you've wanted to move out on your own for a long time, haven't you? Now you've finally achieved your wish. Congratulations."

"I didn't have high hopes at first. How should I put it, the fact that things went so smoothly is largely thanks to Chiya."

"Qianye?"

"Well, in my mother's eyes, he has now become someone else's child. Influenced by him, my mother may have also realized the importance of letting go at the right time. That's why she readily agreed to my request to move out."

“…Chiyo is indeed very powerful.” Yukino said, her head bowed.

The moisture on the surface of the beverage can clung to her fingertips, condensing into water droplets.

Yang Nai took the tissue and handed it over: "So I think if you make this request to your mother now, and act a little more composed and firm, you'll most likely get it."

Yukino shook her head: "I don't think I need to do that right now..."

"Wait, don't rush to refute me. Let me analyze it for you. Although you may feel a little uncomfortable when you first move out, once you get used to it, there are so many advantages to living alone. Putting aside everything else, the privacy of being alone is enough to make people's hearts flutter, isn't it? You don't have to worry about other people, and you can do whatever you want in your own little house."

For example, I no longer have to worry about curfew times, and I can eat whatever I want according to my own preferences. When I bring my best friends home for dinner, I don't have to worry about disturbing other people's rest.

What Yukino mentioned were indeed real benefits, but they were completely different from what Yukino cared about, so she shook her head: "I'm sorry, I still don't think it's necessary for me right now..."

"Is it really unnecessary?" Yang interrupted her again, and this time she suddenly leaned closer to her sister, her face wearing a seductive smile that looked like a devil tempting a little lamb to sign a contract: "Think about it carefully. With your own space and a place where you are not disturbed by others, you can invite your friends over as you please... You can eat together, study together, watch TV series together, chat about anything and everything. In theory, you can do anything you want."

Think about it carefully. Didn't you ever tell me, even the slightest bit, that you felt a spark of excitement when I described that future?

"..."

The little lamb fell silent.

The devil's words were so seductive, as if he had truly cast a dark spell, causing her to uncontrollably follow those words, and vivid scenes of her being with that person flashed through her mind.

"~"

With her goal achieved and the seed of awareness planted, Yang Nai smiled slightly: "How does it feel to start school today?"

Changing the subject, Yukino composed herself slightly: "The school is great, the teachers are all very kind and responsible, and the facilities are all complete..."

"Stop saying such boring things, that's not what I'm asking."

"?"

"Qianye, Qianye, what I want to ask him is, after three years apart, how do you feel about finally being able to be together again?"

"Sister, what nonsense are you talking about?" Yukino tried her best to suppress the unnatural expression on her face and act as normally as possible: "To be precise, we just go to the same school."

"Hehe." Yang Nai smiled enigmatically, his gaze fixed on his sister's evasive eyes, pressing her relentlessly without giving her a chance to breathe.

Now that things have come to this, even if her younger sister still wants to play those innocent, childish games of unrequited love, Haruno doesn't intend to let it go any longer.

Now that he's back, distance is no longer an issue. With such a great opportunity and such a wonderful man, even I'm starting to feel a little tempted. It would be a real shame not to make the first move and keep him close by my side.

"Yukino, I'm serious, extremely serious! I want to ask you a question. Look me in the eyes and answer me seriously."

There was no requirement like "You absolutely cannot lie," because Haruno, who knows her sister very well, understands that her personality would prevent her from including that option in her answer.

"I might not be able to answer." Yukino seemed to have a premonition. She stood up and slowly walked to the wall in the living room, distancing herself from Haruno. She looked at the oil painting hanging on the wall, seemingly quite concerned.

"Don't worry, it won't be anything embarrassing or offensive. I just want to see how good you are at reading people, Yukino." Haruno stood up and walked to Yukino's side. "Why do you think that when my mother arranged for me to manage the company's affairs, I chose to work abroad for the first time, and it just so happens to be the same country and city as you were back then? Do you really think this whole series of events is just a simple coincidence?"

"..."

"..."

A silence fell between them.

The silence lasted a long time.

Yukino seemed not to have heard Haruno's question; her beautiful eyes were fixed on the oil painting in front of her, as if drawn by gravity.

After a short while, Yukino sighed: "This is just a replica of a famous work that I ordered online on a whim. It was mass-produced on an assembly line in a factory. No matter how hard you look at it, you can't see the essence of the original. Are you determined to play dumb with me? When did my Yukino become such a coward who is afraid to respond to others?"

She was the older sister after all, easily grasping her younger sister's weaknesses and knowing how to provoke her emotions.

Sure enough, the next second Yukino took a deep breath and looked over: "Of course I don't think that's a coincidence."

However, giving such an answer had already reached the limit of what Yukino's mental capacity could bear.

She had made up her mind that no matter what questions her sister asked afterward, she would not respond.

But Yang Nai seemed to understand, and didn't ask any further questions. Instead, he continued speaking to himself.

"Since you understand, that's good. I don't want to say anything like 'Don't waste your sister's efforts,' nor do I want to take credit for myself. I'm just doing what someone asked me to do."

You mean...Mom.

"Who knows? Maybe there are other people too." Yang Nai shrugged. "Anyway, don't blame me for being long-winded, I just want you to know that on this journey of life, we are all just passersby. If you care about someone but don't hold their hand tightly, you may very well miss them. The time we spent walking side by side will become the last memory."

"..."

Yukino fell into a new round of contemplation.

After Yang Nai finished speaking, her expression changed instantly. Her previous elder sister demeanor vanished in an instant, and she cheerfully put her arm around her younger sister's shoulder.

"It's getting late today, why don't you give me a call and stay at my place tonight? My sister and I can catch up after all this time. It's also been a while since I've had your cooking, so how about I show off my skills today..."

It was a little after 6 p.m.

The location is inside a cafe in the shopping district of Shibuya.

On Chiya's side, after taking Kazusa home and going to Kodansha, he happened to meet Toka, who had just finished her studies at university, here.

After listening to Chiya roughly recount what Touma Yoko had said that morning, Toka revealed a rather subtle expression.

"In other words, the store manager is very capable, and might be helpful to me now."

Yuan Qianye nodded.

That's right.

Several delicate pastries and three cups of coffee were laid out on the table.

They weren't the only two present; Miyoko was also sitting there with them.

She only greeted Toka familiarly when they first met, and didn't say a word for the rest of the time, focusing entirely on the laptop screen in front of her.

Yuan Qianye's second mystery novel is about to be officially released, and she is scheduling his subsequent work.

Actually, when she dropped Yuan Qianye off at this coffee shop, he offered to let her go home on her own since there was nothing else to do.

But she didn't do as he said. Instead, she insisted on staying by his side, saying that taking the boss home was the basic duty of a personal assistant. Seeing that she was determined, Yuan Qianye let her have her way.

In fact, job responsibilities are one aspect, but the more important point is that Miyoko herself also likes to stay by her current boss's side... Of course, this unspeakable feeling is something she can't tell anyone but herself.

"This is the business card she gave me."

Toka took the business card that Gen Chiya handed her and examined it carefully.

The business card was made of very ordinary material, just slightly stiff coated paper, without any additional processing. It was probably the kind of mass-produced business card from a small workshop.

Judging from the impression this business card gives, the restaurant labeled "Yukihira Restaurant" can't be that high-end.

However, Toka doesn't underestimate her because of this, after all, it was specially recommended by that world-renowned pianist.

"Did Kazusa's mother mention anything else, such as the personality of the restaurant manager? Should we make any preparations beforehand if we're going to bother them?"

"No, that's all I have to say."

"I see..."

Toka gently stroked the slightly softened edge of the business card, glanced at Miyoko who was focused on typing on the keyboard, and seemed hesitant to speak.

She had her concerns, but Yuan Qianye did not.

He, who seemed to have a telepathic connection with Toka, immediately took the small fork in front of Miyoko and forked a small piece of pastry over to her.

Come on, ah—

"Ah." Miyoko instinctively did as she was told, but the moment her mouth was filled with the sweetness of the pastry, she realized what had happened and immediately covered her mouth, looking at the shopkeeper beside her, somewhat at a loss.

Yuan Qianye didn't seem to mind and asked with a smile,

"Miyoko-nee, when you used to work for Aunt Yoko, did you ever go to this Yukihira restaurant?"

"Um... uh... pause for a moment!"

"Don't rush, finish your food first."

"Okay! It's done! Can I take a look?"

"Ah."

Shihua handed her the business card.

Miyoko looked at it for a while, then shook her head.

"I'm sorry, I don't remember this restaurant. When I worked for the president, we only got together when we had official work, such as a tour or attending certain events. She spent most of her private time alone."

At this point, she looked apologetic: "I'm sorry, I can't be of much help."

Toka quickly interjected, "Don't say that about Miyoko-nee."

“That’s right, I was just asking casually.” Yuan Qianye forked another piece of pastry and fed it to the urban beauty.