Tokyo: Oreimo

Page 199

"No."

"You're lying." She reached out and gently rubbed his forehead with her index finger. "You've been frowning here lately."

"..."

"Is it because of your sister?"

Phoenix Inu Saori asked softly.

The fact that the brother and sister were like strangers within the company had long been known among everyone. She could also see that recently, even when the two of them passed each other face to face, they would completely ignore each other.

She slid down from the edge of the table, squatted in front of him, placed her hands on his knees, and looked up at him. "How does it feel when your sister ignores you?"

Ryosuke looked down at her face, somewhat at a loss for words.

In the past, his relationship with Ling Nai was closer than his relationship with Saori, but now they are practically strangers.

When he spoke, he was either met with "um" or "oh," or simply ignored. To be honest, this feeling was quite agonizing for him.

Phoenix Inu Saori looked at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with helplessness and tenderness.

"Aren't you feeling a little heartbroken and reluctant to let it go?"

"...I guess so."

“Shi Yuze, you really…” She stood up, bent down, cupped his face in her hands, and pressed her forehead against his. “You really are an idiot.”

"what?"

"I'm saying you're an idiot."

'He has feelings for his sister. Looking at it this way, wouldn't pretending not to see her and striking first seem really despicable?'

She closed her eyes and gently pressed her lips to his.

It wasn't the awkward kiss you get in a hot spring, nor was it a fleeting, superficial touch.

She kissed him earnestly and slowly, as if she wanted to convey some message to him through the kiss.

Ryosuke paused for a moment, then closed his eyes.

One hand rose up and gently cupped the back of her head, fingers running through her hair, feeling the softness and warmth flowing between them.

The office was quiet, with only the low hum of the air conditioner and the occasional sound of a tram outside the window.

After an unknown amount of time, Phoenix Inu Saori released him first.

She opened her eyes, her cheeks flushed slightly, her lips were more moist than before, and there was a hint of moisture in the corners of her eyes.

“This is to comfort you,” she said, her voice a little hoarse, “because you’re unhappy.”

"...Should I say thank you?"

"Heh, you've gone astray." Phoenix Inu Saori was taken aback by his words, and the blush on her face deepened.

"Let me help you with your sister's matter."

She stood up, sat back down on the edge of the desk, cupped her hands around her chest, and smiled at Liang Jie.

"Hmm? Is that really necessary?"

Sending Phoenix Inu Saori to coax her younger sister is something that, no matter how you look at it, would make Ryouno angry.

Ryosuke twitched the corner of his mouth, wanting to refuse outright.

"You don't know the specifics, and Ling Nai might say something hurtful."

"Isn't that obvious? I was prepared for this."

His girlfriend leaned down, resting her hands on her knees, her gaze level with his, a playful smile in her eyes.

"After all, I snatched you, this precious gem, from her. Naturally, I won't give my rival a friendly look, will I?"

"..."

Ryosuke was speechless.

You actually noticed? That's quite perceptive.

Because he was worried that the other person might misunderstand, he never explained the matter much to Hououin Saori.

After all, the relationship has been confirmed, and telling the other person would inevitably be seen as insincere.

“Because my sister is very easy to guess; she wears her heart on her sleeve.” Hououin Saori smiled. “She would show hostility whenever she saw me before.”

She reached out and tapped his chest with her index finger. "You're gentle to everyone, but you're incredibly oblivious when it comes to feelings. You're not really only just realizing that your sister likes you, are you?"

Ryosuke didn't say anything.

“That’s true.” Phoenix Inu Saori withdrew her hand, leaned back against the edge of the table, and looked up at the ceiling. “After all, you couldn’t even see my obvious hints, let alone your sister who doesn’t even know what she’s thinking.”

What are you planning to do?

Ryosuke simply couldn't imagine what Hououin Saori, who had already realized this, would do.

Logically and emotionally, her involvement in this matter would likely backfire, wouldn't it?

"It's a secret."

Saori put her index finger to her lips and winked at him.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of things with your sister."

She clapped her hands, as if trying to dispel some emotion, and turned to walk to the other side of the desk.

"Work, work, we need to finish the final touches on White Album 2 as soon as possible, otherwise we won't make it to the release date."

......

Just as Saori finished speaking, there was a knock on the office door from the outside.

"President, is this a convenient time?"

It's Rina Inoue's voice.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open, and Inoue Rina peeked in halfway, her gaze sweeping between Ryosuke and Saori before quickly looking away, her expression somewhat unnatural.

"Um... Ms. Takashiro said she wasn't feeling well today and had to leave early. I'm a little worried, so I was thinking of asking for leave to see her off."

"Ok?"

"Now?"

Ryosuke glanced at the clock on the wall; it was 2:30 PM.

For the past month, whenever Ling Nai comes to the company on Saturdays, she leaves after Ryosuke to avoid them bumping into each other.

Are you feeling unwell? Could you be sick?

The weather has turned cooler quite quickly lately, and many members of the company have some cold symptoms. Staying in this kind of environment might lead to infection.

"Yes, she has packed her things and is waiting downstairs."

Ryosuke felt somewhat uneasy.

Phoenix Inu Saori noticed his reaction, smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and said:

"If you're worried, let's go back together first."

"Anyway, you can't help with the rest of the work, so go and keep her company. Instead of having Inoue take her, it's more convenient for you, her older brother, to go along."

As Saori's girlfriend, Ryosuke didn't know what Saori was thinking when she said those words, but since she already knew everything and had agreed, he didn't refuse.

Because I was genuinely worried about Ling Nai's condition.

Ryosuke stood up without hesitation and picked up his coat draped over the back of the chair.

"Then I'll go first."

Chapter 188 Illness

At the entrance of the Aniplex building, Ling Nai was standing at the bottom of the steps, her back to the door, her golden ponytail swaying gently in the cold winter wind.

She was wearing a light brown coat, and a red scarf was wrapped high, covering half of her face, leaving only her eyes visible.

When Ryosuke pushed open the door, a gust of cold wind rushed into his collar, and he instinctively shrank his neck.

In early December, temperatures in Tokyo had already dropped to single digits.

"Ling Nai."

He called out.

Attracted by the sound, Takashiro Ryouno, who was below the steps, glanced over and, upon seeing it was Ryosuke, paused for a moment before turning and walking away.

Ryosuke quickly followed and walked alongside her.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

"fine."

"I'll take you back."

"Need not."

"On the way."

Ling Nai finally turned her head to look at him, her eyes peeking out from above the scarf showing a hint of impatience.

"Didn't you understand when I said no?"

“I understand it, but I won’t listen.”

Ryosuke put his hands in his coat pockets, keeping his feet on the ground, maintaining a half-step distance from her.

"You're so annoying! Didn't we agree to go back to how we were two years ago..."

Ling Nai muttered something, turned her head back, and quickened her pace.