Kosaka Kyosuke flinched as if physically struck by the sheer force of his father's furious glare. Instinctively, he hunched his shoulders, a sheepish, placating grin stretching across his face.
"I-I mean… since I'm the eldest son of the household, shouldn't I be the one handling guest relations?" he stammered, trying to justify his earlier outburst. The words gained momentum as he spoke, fueled by a mix of resentment and a desperate need to make his point. "If you specifically ask Kirino to do it… it just makes it seem like you're trying to use her to curry favor with this Hozuki Nozomi guy! After all, your recent promotion probably has a lot to do with him, right?"
The moment the accusation left his lips, the air in the dining room turned to ice. Kosaka Kano instinctively raised a hand to cover her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. Has our son grown a spine, or has he simply lost his mind?
Kosaka Kirino, meanwhile, froze in her seat. A slow, burning blush crept up her neck and across her cheeks. She hadn't considered that angle at all. But now, with Kyosuke voicing it so bluntly, coupled with Hozuki Nozomi's undeniably charming and attentive behavior towards her… she couldn't stop the treacherous thought from taking root. Her wide, questioning eyes lifted to her father's face.
Kosaka Daisuke's expression darkened like a thunderhead. He slowly rose to his feet, his fists clenched at his sides. A low, rumbling growl emanated from his throat.
"KYOSUKE!"
"Y-Yes, sir!" Kyosuke yelped, his bravery evaporating instantly. He practically threw himself into a formal seiza position on the floor, bowing his head and bracing for the inevitable verbal—or possibly physical—onslaught. He was sure he was about to get an earful, if not worse.
Daisuke raised a hand, and Kyosuke squeezed his eyes shut… only to feel a heavy, exasperated pat on his shoulder, not a strike.
"You little brat," Daisuke sighed, the anger in his voice now mixed with profound disappointment. "For a second there, I almost praised you. I thought, 'He's finally showing some backbone, daring to speak his mind to me.' And then you immediately collapse into this groveling mess. It's pathetic!"
Kyosuke's cheeks burned with humiliation. He kept his head down, mumbling into the floor, "Well, you clenched your fists and looked like you were about to swing! I figured if I admitted fault quickly, I might get off easier…"
A short, incredulous laugh burst from Kosaka Daisuke. "Get up. Sit properly at the table. What kind of man kneels at the dinner table?" He waited until a thoroughly chastened Kyosuke had shuffled back into his chair before continuing, his tone turning grave and deliberate. "Since you've asked such a pointed question—and in front of everyone—I suppose I owe you all a clear answer."
He took a deep, composing breath, his gaze sweeping over his wife and daughter before settling back on his son. "My promotion was facilitated by a case that Hozuki Nozomi helped resolve. That is a fact. He is an exceptionally capable and multi-talented young man, displaying a level of responsibility and competence that, frankly, puts you to shame, Kyosuke."
He held up a hand to forestall any protest. "Therefore, I encouraged Kirino to interact with him. I believe having a reliable, accomplished older figure in her life who can offer guidance and support is a good thing. Is there a fundamental problem with that?"
"N-No problem," Kyosuke muttered, shaking his head vigorously. Even if he saw a hundred problems, voicing them now seemed like a surefire way to get his allowance vaporized.
"Pathetic," Daisuke scoffed, the disdain clear. He then turned his attention to his daughter, his expression softening marginally. "Kirino. Your opinion matters most here. What are your thoughts on Hozuki Nozomi?"
"M-Me?" Kirino squeaked, caught off guard.
"Yes. You spent time with him today. What is your impression? We must clear the air, lest a certain someone continue to accuse me of bartering my own daughter. If you found him unpleasant or overbearing, tell me now. I will ensure he does not trouble you again."
"Don't!" The word tore from Kirino's lips before she could stop it, accompanied by a frantic wave of her hands.
Kosaka Kyosuke's jaw went slack. He stared at his sister, who was now blushing furiously, her eyes wide and flustered. He had never seen Kirino wear such an openly vulnerable, flustered, and… cute expression. And it was because of that Hozuki Nozomi? A sour, unpleasant sensation, part jealousy and part protective anxiety, curdled in his stomach.
A subtle, complicated smile touched Kosaka Daisuke's lips. Internally, he was torn. On one hand, he was sighing in reluctant admiration at Hozuki Nozomi's effectiveness. That charming rascal certainly works fast.
On the other hand, a father's possessive irritation flared. That philandering pup, seeing how adorable my Kirino is, isn't holding back at all. He's already making her reluctant to see him go. My thoughtful little princess… will she really be whisked away by that boy someday? A petty resolve hardened within him. Fine. But in the future, I'll make sure he calls me 'Father-in-law' a few hundred extra times to make up for it.
Kirino, feeling Kyosuke's stunned stare, shot him a fierce glare before looking down at her lap, her fingers twisting together nervously. "Nozomi… is very kind. And impressive. I… I even invited him to come over again to help tutor me! Dad, you absolutely cannot chase him away or forbid him from visiting!"
Hozuki Nozomi was now her sole confidant, the only person with whom she could openly share her secret otaku passions. Losing that connection was unthinkable. While the online fan club she'd just joined offered a space to speak, the anonymity of strangers could never compare to the comfort of a trusted, understanding acquaintance.
Hearing her fervent defense, Daisuke let out a definitive hmph and turned his stern gaze back to Kyosuke. "See that, you brat? Don't project your own petty suspicions onto me. If you weren't so content with being useless and aimless, would I need to find a more reliable 'older brother' figure for your sister?"
Kyosuke's lips pressed into a sullen pout, but he dared not voice the retort screaming in his mind: And you claim you're not 'selling' her? She's MY sister! So what if I'm useless? Does my uselessness give you the right to let some outsider become her 'brother'?
"What? You still have something to say?" Daisuke prodded, a hint of mocking challenge in his voice.
"…No," Kyosuke grumbled, the very picture of resentful acquiescence.
"'No,' he says. If you're dissatisfied, then act like a proper older brother! Stop lounging around like a retired old man! Your silent discontent is worthless!"
"It's not like being unhappy changes anything…" Kyosuke muttered under his breath.
"Exactly! It doesn't!" Daisuke snapped. "Shall I list the differences? Hozuki Nozomi is a top honor student at Soubu High, ranked second in his entire grade level. Can you claim anything remotely close?"
Kyosuke mumbled, "Only second? If he's so great, why isn't he first?"
Daisuke's eyebrow twitched. "The student who holds first place… is his girlfriend. Can you do that?"
The rhetorical question hung in the air, effectively silencing Kyosuke. A full-spectrum assault, he thought miserably. Handsome, academically elite, and with a top-ranking girlfriend? What ground did he, Kosaka Kyosuke, have to stand on?
Across the table, Kirino felt a sharp, unexpected pang of disappointment. He has a girlfriend… Of course, it made sense. Someone like him would naturally be sought after. So… his kindness to her really was just that of an older brother to a younger sister? The thought was both a relief and a strangely hollow letdown.
Kosaka Daisuke's revelation about the girlfriend served a dual purpose. Primarily, it was a defensive maneuver to prove he wasn't actively matchmaking. But deeper down, it was pure, unadulterated fatherly spite. He was immensely satisfied with a prospective son-in-law of Nozomi's caliber, yet acutely aware of the boy's… prolific romantic leanings.
A part of him wanted to throw a little sand in the gears, to not make things too easy for the charming young man. If Kirino, knowing he had a girlfriend, still chose to grow closer to him… well, then Daisuke would simply have to swallow his complex feelings and give his blessing.
"Any more questions?" Daisuke barked, breaking the heavy silence. "If not, sit up and eat your dinner properly."
"Y-Yes, sir…" Kyosuke mumbled, mechanically picking up his chopsticks and beginning to shovel rice into his mouth with robotic efficiency.
Kosaka Daisuke watched his son's cowed, unimpressive demeanor, and his mind unhelpfully conjured an image of Hozuki Nozomi calmly facing down a gang of thugs. The comparison was so stark it was physically painful. His displeasure crystallized into a decision.
"Kyosuke. Starting this month, your allowance is cut in half."
Clatter. Kyosuke's chopsticks hit the edge of his bowl. "WHAAAAT?!" he cried, his eyes bulging. "Why?!"
"You still have the nerve to ask 'why'?" Daisuke's voice was scathing. "Hozuki Nozomi is a high school student like you, yet he has already started his own business and achieved financial independence. Your sister, a middle schooler, earns more from her part-time modeling than I do from my salary! And you, the eldest son, still laze about with your hand out. Don't you feel even a shred of shame?"
Kyosuke's brain short-circuited. "That's impossible! Kirino's salary is higher than yours, Dad?! How can a middle schooler…?"
"The fact that you don't even know this proves how little you pay attention to your own sister!" Daisuke roared, his patience finally snapping. "Allowance halved, no negotiations! If you want spending money, get a job! Weren't you just whining about responsibility? You're on good terms with the Tamura family girl, aren't you? Go work at their shop!"
A sound of pure, undiluted despair escaped Kyosuke's throat. What kind of father does this?! The thought, born of utter dejection, screamed in his mind:
Actually… I was adopted, right?