Night fell.
With its massive scale, dense population, and nonstop economic activity, Tokyo had become a true city that never sleeps.
From a bird's-eye view, the sprawling city sparkled with countless lights—like a galaxy cast across the ground.
Nearly every district was brightly lit with dazzling night scenes.
"Sigh~"
Atop a luxury tower in Takeshiba, Tokyo Bay, Maki sat on the open-air balcony, looking down at the glittering Tokyo skyline, letting out yet another sigh.
"What's up with you, sis?"
Hearing his sister sigh for the umpteenth time, Shijo Mikado finally couldn't ignore it anymore, looking up from his tablet.
Ever since they returned from Koshien, she'd been acting like some kind of tragic heroine, sighing all the time—like she'd just been dumped.
"Tomorrow's the Six-School Joint Exam."
Maki's face was full of anxiety.
"Just do your usual," Mikado said, sipping some freshly squeezed juice. "With your grades, getting top ten should be easy."
His sister definitely had the talent. If she just put in the effort, even getting first place wouldn't be difficult.
"It's not about grades!"
Maki suddenly snapped, and Mikado froze, cup in hand, careful not to make a sound that might set her off even more.
He asked cautiously, "Then what's bothering you?"
"I'm in the same exam room as Takashi tomorrow!"
Maki scrunched up her face in frustration.
"Brother-in-law will be there too!"
At the mention of "brother-in-law," Shijo Mikado perked up immediately.
"Then I'll come pick you both up after the exam! We can all go out to dinner!"
Maki twitched at the corner of her eye.
"Uh… that won't be necessary."
She suddenly remembered—she hadn't told him yet that she and Watanabe Takashi had broken up.
But how do you even say something like that?
What was she supposed to tell him?
"Hey, bro, turns out your sister never had a boyfriend. That so-called brother-in-law was a guy she hired with money.
And the worst part?
He turned out to be a scammer. He took her money and her heart. Funny, right? Hahaha…"
Wouldn't that make her just like a complete fool?
People say Heath Ledger's Joker was the best. Others say Joaquin Phoenix's Joker was better.
But Maki wanted to say: You're all wrong.
The real clown… was her—Maki!
One million!
A full million yen!
She was paying a man a million yen per month to date her, and she still couldn't get him.
Because he had a beloved little sister? ( ^?^* )～
This is peak comedy~
Teehee!
Isn't that hilarious…?
"Anyway, we'll have plenty of chances to meet later. Let me and Takashi have tomorrow to ourselves, okay? It's not urgent." Maki forced a smile, trying to stall.
She just wanted to delay things a little. Then she could make up some excuse about why they broke up and end it cleanly.
Yes. Perfect.
"No way!" Mikado clearly wasn't buying it.
"This will be my last chance to see him this summer! How could I not show up?"
This summer, he was going to compete in the Japan High School Soccer League.
Starting tomorrow, he'd be going into a closed training camp.
Miss this, and he wouldn't see his brother-in-law again all summer.
And his sister?
She had the whole summer to spend time with him! Why hog him tomorrow?
"Sis, you'll have tons of chances to see him. Why not let me have just this one day?"
"At worst, I'll pay for your whole vacation this summer!"
Maki reflexively said, "What vacation?"
"You're not going on a trip this summer?" Mikado asked, confused.
"Why would I?"
"This is your first summer together!"
Mikado knew how girls worked.
They cared about romantic gestures—the first rose in spring, the first popsicle in summer, the first milk tea in autumn, the first hot pot in winter.
Not a single season could be skipped.
Plus, his sister was the type who didn't need much money, but needed a lot of love.
She and her boyfriend had just gotten together. This summer would be the peak of their romance.
No doubt they'd sneak off on a trip together without telling the family.
He'd even thought up ways to cover for her.
"What's so special ab—" Maki started to say, but then paused.
Wait. Isn't this the perfect excuse to break up?
She straightened her face. "Exactly!"
"This is our first summer together! How could I let you pay?"
"What kind of guy makes the girl pay for their trip?"
"Total turn-off."
Shijo Mikado immediately got upset. "Sis, that mindset of yours is totally wrong."
"If brother-in-law were rich and didn't want to spend on you, then he'd be a trashy guy for sure."
"But he's just a student living on scholarships and financial aid. Where's he supposed to get money to spend on you?"
"Is love something you measure with money?"
"Then why did you like him in the first place?"
"What's the difference between this and being a gold digger?"
In Mikado's view, their family wasn't hurting for money.
Why get so caught up in petty cash?
Gold digger? Me?
Maki stared at her younger brother's lecture, feeling it was nothing short of absurd.
She was the heiress of the Shijo family, a pillar of the nation, a future leader—and he dared to call her a gold digger?
Are you joking, little bro?
This is exactly why spending money on men brings bad luck for life!!!
Maki was bursting with frustration and had no one to vent to.
She didn't measure love with money.
She was the one who paid to keep a man!
And now what? She spent the money, didn't even get the man, and had to be scolded by her little brother for being materialistic?
So Takashi got all the benefits, and she got all the blame?
"Say what you want. If he doesn't satisfy me during the summer trip, I'm breaking up with him," she muttered, walking away.
Has sis really become so shallow?
Shijo Mikado stared at his sister's retreating figure in disbelief.
They'd only been apart for one semester, and she'd changed this much?
There must be some snake by her side poisoning her mind.
His gaze darkened. I'm going to find out which fool dares to lay hands on my sister…
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