What a twist! The loser heroine!

Upon hearing this, the father frowned: "Since he's already treated you to dinner, shouldn't he have paid? How can he not be considered a friend?"

"Um, it's definitely her who paid for it—"

"If you don't truly consider him a friend, you might as well split the bill. Why feel comfortable spending someone else's money?"

The father interrupted Wen Shui.

The lukewarm water fell silent.

"You've been like this since middle school. Yoshiki often tells me you can't find any friends. Although I, your father who offends people every day, can't really lecture you—"

The father sighed: "But it's best not to set the bar for friendship so high."

The father gave his son, who was sitting blankly on the sofa, an annoyed look. Couldn't this kid learn not to daydream when he's thinking?

He reached out and smoothed Wen Shui's slightly disheveled hair before saying, "Since we're talking about Yoshiki, she seems a bit unhappy right now. She hasn't had much energy since dinner."

"I don't need to tell you what you, as the older brother, should do, do, do, do?"

After saying that, Wen Shui's father picked up the English book again.

"Ah, I see."

Wen Shui nodded to her father, got up, left the living room, and walked to the door of Jia Shu's room.

He knocked gently on the door: "Yoshiki?"

After a period of silence that was neither too long nor too short.

"The door isn't locked, brother."

My sister's voice sounded a little listless.

Wenshui Kazuhiko slowly turned the handle and then walked into Yoshiki's room.

Yoshiki Wenshui was currently slumped over her desk, an open junior high school workbook lying untouched. She was wearing pajamas, and her wet hair was draped over her shoulders, clearly indicating that she had just taken a shower.

"Yoshiki, why didn't you dry your hair? You'll catch a cold," Wen Shui said with concern.

Yoshiki did not respond.

Seeing her listless younger sister, Wen Shui tried asking, "Do you need your brother's help?"

"Hmm," Yoshiki said softly.

Wen Shui breathed a sigh of relief, though he didn't know why he had been so nervous.

Since junior high school, Wen Shui had combed Jia Shu's hair many times. He skillfully took out a hairdryer and comb from Jia Shu's bedside table and plugged them in.

Sitting on Jia Shu's bed, Wen Shui patted the spot next to her.

"Come over here."

The younger sister obediently sat down next to Wen Shui. Wen Shui placed his hand on her long, black hair and then turned on the hairdryer. The warmth of the air flowed through Jia Shu's hair and onto Wen Shui's hand. He focused his attention and used his fingertips to loosen his sister's long hair.

High temperatures are the enemy of hair. The key is to use the back of your hand to check the temperature of the hairdryer while touching the remaining moisture on your hair with your fingertips, and then carefully and quickly blow-dry your hair.

"Brother—" Amidst the noisy commotion of the hairdryer, Yoshiki seemed to have something to say.

"Let's talk after your hair is dry."

"...Yoshiki has something to say."

Wen Shui paused slightly as he combed his hair, then nodded.

"Don't move. What does Yoshiki want to say?"

Yoshiki pursed his lips: "Brother, this is your first time participating in an activity on a weekend. How does it feel?"

"It's alright, everyone's working together to prepare for tomorrow's visa event, it's been quite enjoyable," Wen Shui said with a smile. "It's just that making the props was a bit tiring."

"Well, since you say so, brother, then Yoshiki is relieved." Yoshiki said, quietly enjoying the touch of his brother's hand brushing through his hair, "The autograph session tomorrow should go smoothly, right?"

"The preparations for this event have gone quite smoothly, so there shouldn't be any problems with the autograph session. Why did Yoshiki suddenly ask this?"

"Recently, Yoshiki has also started reading the novels written by Koko-senpai. Her novel, 'Love in the Shadows,' has already won the silver award, and it's quite famous online recently." Yoshiki forced a smile: "Yoshiki plans to go to the book signing event with his older brother tomorrow morning."

"Oh, I see. Then you'll have to get up early tomorrow, since I have to be at the assembly point at seven o'clock."

"Yoshiki understands."

After saying this, Yoshiki fell silent. After waiting a while, Warm Water stopped the hair dryer.

After giving his sister's hair a final check with his fingertips, he nodded. Indeed, in terms of both texture and shine, Yoshiki's long, black hair was always perfect.

Wen Shui picked up the comb beside her and started a conversation while combing her sister's hair.

"Yoshiki, are you in a bad mood today?"

After saying this, Wen Shui clearly felt her sister's body suddenly stiffen.

"Brother, you're amazing! You actually figured it out," she said softly.

“It’s so obvious, even Dad noticed it,” Wen Shui said gently. “Besides, Jia Shu’s replies to messages today were different from usual.”

“...Brother.”

"I'm listening."

“Recently, my elder brother has been going out a lot on weekends, which makes Yoshiki…” Yoshiki carefully chose his words before finally saying, “It makes Yoshiki a little uncomfortable.”

Upon hearing this, Wen Shui immediately began to recall.

Um, last Saturday I went out for dessert with my classmate Hana, and on Sunday I went to Nagoya with Himegami and Komari.

I participated in activities all day today, and I have to go to a book signing event tomorrow, Sunday.

Wait a moment--

When did I become so busy?

Wen Shui froze on the spot, even stopping her hand from combing Jia Shu's hair.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Yoshiki turned around and rushed into her brother's arms.

"Jia Shu?"

She didn't answer, but silently buried her head in the warm water.

After a long while, she finally spoke.

"Brother, have you been reading light novels lately?"

"Huh? I've been reading it all along—"

A sudden inspiration struck from the lukewarm water.

Come to think of it, every Saturday morning is the time that Yoshiki and I agreed to read light novels together, but I haven't been able to spend much time with her these past two weeks.

Wen Shui lowered her head and looked at her younger sister's soft black hair.

So that's it. Yoshiki was feeling lonely...

It's all my fault for not spending enough time with her.

Wen Shui pursed her lips, picked up the comb again, and supported her younger sister with her upper body while combing her long hair.

He said softly, "I've been reading it a lot lately, but I feel like I have a lot of thoughts I want to share with Yoshiki."

"really?"

"Really? Let's have a good chat when your brother comes back after the book signing tomorrow," Wen Shui said with a smile.

"It has to be today..."

Yoshiki raised her head and looked at her older brother with her bright brown eyes.

"Go to bed early tonight, you have to get up early tomorrow—" Wen Shui had no choice but to persuade her younger sister.

"Today."

Surprisingly, Yoshiki persisted in his actions, even when facing his older brother.

Seeing this, Wen Shui could only pat her sister's head and sigh softly, "Sigh, I really can't do anything with you. After you finish combing your hair, I'll go get some books."

Yoshiki's body visibly relaxed, and she nodded.

"Ah."

"..."

A few minutes later, Wen Shui finished combing Jia Shu's hair. He put the hairdryer and comb back in their original places, then left his sister's room to go back to his own bedroom to get his light novel.

Sitting on his bed, Yoshiki ran his fingers through his long hair, which his older brother had already straightened, and then turned on his phone.

On Line's shared messaging interface, a read image message takes up most of the phone screen.

Looking at the picture, Yoshiki unconsciously gripped his phone tighter.

In the picture, the older brother is wearing an awkward smile with a troubled expression, while standing next to him with a bright smile is none other than Himegami Karen, whom he has been following for a long time.

The two people are standing in the square in front of the movie theater. The photo was probably taken right after they came out of the theater.

Scrolling through the messages, there are also photos taken at the barbecue restaurant.

"The progress is too fast..."

Yoshiki stared at the screen, murmuring softly. As the younger sister, how could she not know her brother's views on relationships?

Although he was very confident in his brother's defensive abilities, Himegami Karen's offense seemed very fierce, and Yoshiki was unsure of what to do.

Firstly, he worried that his elder brother would be troubled by this, and secondly, he worried that Himegami Karen would be difficult to control after their marriage, which was the situation that Nukumizu Yoshiki could not accept the most.

Moreover, she had heard of girls who deliberately seek out relationships to benefit themselves. Although Himegami Karen didn't currently have that intention, as the saying goes, you can know a person's face but not their heart...

Yoshiki didn't want to lose her brother's love, so she wasn't willing to let her guard down until she fully understood the character of Himegami Karen.

"Tomorrow's book signing should give me a chance to get to know her better," Yoshiki thought to himself.

Besides, Senior Sister Xiaoju should be here too, shouldn't we also push forward the relationship between her and her older brother...?

A knock sounded on the door, and Yoshiki turned off his phone and put it aside.

"Yoshiki, may I come in?"

"sure."

Wen Shuihe gently pushed open the door, holding three light novels about younger sisters that he had recently finished reading. They were all recommended books by Yoshiki.

“Brother,” Yoshiki said.

"Yoshiki, what's wrong?"

"After you finish sharing your thoughts on the book, can you spend a little more time with me?"

Wen Shui nodded without hesitation.

"Sure, I'll stay with you as long as you want."

Before he finished speaking, Yoshiki's lips had already curled up slightly.

◇

The next morning.

Wearing his school uniform, Wen Shuihe sat listlessly in his seat on the tram, feeling drowsy due to the cloudy weather.

"That's what we said, but we ended up chatting until 11 o'clock. I'm definitely a bit sleepy today."

He yawned and touched his sister's hair.

"Brother, you can think of this as a welcome ceremony for Mom when she comes home late?"

Wen Shui Jia Shu revealed a lovely smile.

Who am I staying up so late for?

Despite thinking this way, looking at her younger sister, Wen Shui couldn't bring herself to blame her at all.

"Brother, I got a scolding from Mom..." Wen Shui said with a wry smile, "On the contrary, Jia Shu is full of energy today, and the breakfast he just had was delicious."

"I appreciate your praise, brother," Yoshiki said with a smile. "I'm in a great mood because I fully replenished your energy last night!"

"What kind of energy is that?"

Seemingly unable to resist the temptation of sleep, Wen Shui made a brief complaint before closing her eyes slightly.

“Brother, it’s still a 15-minute drive to the art museum, please get some rest,” Yoshiki said softly.