It took Saeko a long time to pull herself together.
I need to get back to my siblings. I can't let them down too.
She forced herself to head back home, each step heavier than the last. Opening the door felt almost unbearable; coming home alone, only to cause them disappointment.
No matter how hard I try to make us feel like a family, it's never enough. We're always lacking. Always incomplete.
She braced herself for the worst, but as she reached the top of the stairs, what awaited her was something she hadn't even dared to dream of. Another surprise for the day, but this one was entirely different.
Their home was alive with laughter and joy. Mitsuko was snuggled up with Yasushi on the couch, she was giggling over a book. Tatsuya was deep in a fierce competition on the console with her brother, their laughter and playful shouts filling the air. Kaito was busy decorating, making their home feel cozier than she had ever seen it.
And Sota… He was, of course, in the kitchen, cooking something that smelled absolutely amazing.
For the first time, it felt like coming home to a real family. A place filled with love and warmth, an atmosphere she had never been able to create on her own.
She stood frozen, her eyes taking in the scene in front of her. The laughter and noise gradually quieted as the others noticed her presence.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice shaky with disbelief. "You should be at the gala!" They were all wearing their festive shirts, half-unbuttoned and sleeves rolled up to feel more comfortable.
Kaito was the first to respond, snorting. "We heard you were having such a wonderful time without us," he teased, his smirk making it clear they didn't buy her lie for a second. "We didn't want to miss out on the fun."
Saeko shot a look at Sota, who simply shrugged, his expression calm. "You surely can't have expected we'd give up on you that easily," he said, his smile patient, like he was explaining something obvious.
"But... it was your big chance!" Saeko stammered, her words tumbling over each other. "Why would you miss something like that…"
Tastuya interrupted her, his tone firm. "We have our priorities," he said curtly as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"But what about your video shoot?" she asked, her thoughts racing. "How will you pull this off without sponsors?" She barely noticed her coat slipping from her shoulders as she spoke. Without thinking, she took it off and hung it up, too caught up in her words to notice the astonished exchange of glances between the guys, their eyes subtly scanning her appearance.
"It's flattering how much you care," Yasushi said, his voice soft. Then, after a moment's pause, he added, "And… well, there's something else we should feel even more flattered by." His eyes held a glimmer of something teasing but appreciative, as if hinting at something and waiting for her to catch on.
She blinked, without a clue, until Kaito cut in with his usual bluntness.
"I'm damn pissed at you right now," he crossed his arms, openly scrutinizing her. "How dare you hide this figure in such boring clothes of yours when other women could kill to wear a dress with this much... grace, " he finished, fumbling slightly as if searching for the right word.
Even in a dishevelled state like this, she was stunning.
Her eyes darted to the hall mirror, catching her reflection. She hadn't even realized she was still wearing the gown. Her face twisted in displeasure as she took herself in. Her hair was messy, and her makeup smudged from the night's chaos.
"In all fairness," Tatsuya added, his voice sincere but carrying a hint of amusement, "it's probably for the best you didn't show up at the gala like this. We'd have had a hard time keeping your admirers under control."
"Alright, I get it, stop mocking me," she muttered, rolling her eyes in annoyance. She didn't believe a word they were saying. Yet... the way they were looking at her... No. The way Sota was looking at her… He hadn't said a single word, carefully avoiding crossing the line, but the intensity of his gaze itself made her stomach flutter.
"I'll get changed into something more fitting for here," she mumbled, her cheeks burning. She felt ridiculous, exposed for having put so much effort into looking good for nothing.
Standing in front of the mirror, she tied her hair back, ready to wipe off her makeup and change into something casual.
Then Mitsuko's soft voice interrupted her thoughts:
"Can I be pretty too?" she asked, tilting her head when she noticed Saeko was about to take off her dress.
"Why are you changing?"
Saeo sighed. "This dress was for the gala, there's no point wearing it anymore."
"But all the others are here, and they dressed up too."
That's right. They had made such a huge sacrifice, and yet I still treat them with the same hostility as always, incapable of expressing my gratitude. I should at least try...
With a resigned sigh, she pulled her hair loose and turned toward her sister. "Let's both be pretty, shall we?" she smiled.
In a few minutes, she refreshed her makeup and playfully pinched Mitsuko's cheeks to add a rosy glow. She braided her sister's hair, then picked out a girly dress for her with a frilly skirt.
As she looked into the mirror again, her face flushed at the thought of how much it might look like she was trying to impress them. Getting pretty for the gala had been different. It was expected that people appear elegantly. But in this case... the message was unmistakable.
It was only for them.
So what? She shook her head, clearing her thoughts. They're worth being pretty for.
"Come on, what's taking you so long?" Kaito complained just when they arrived back. All eyes darted to them, clearly stunned.
She was ready for their mocking comments.
"Well, now, that's grace for you" Sota added with a warm smile, emphasizing the word grace with reverence.
"I thought you said you would change…" Yasushi stopped, being loss for words. As if honestly flattered this time.
"Saeko said you guys are worth being pretty for," Mitsuko chirped proudly.
Did I say that aloud?
Saeko felt her face heat up, her gaze dropping to avoid Sota's, though she could feel his eyes on her.
"Such an honour," Tatsuya said with a grin.
"Let's show our ladies some respect, then," Kaito added, adjusting the suspenders he was wearing for some strange reason, but somehow, they suited him surprisingly well. The others followed, Yasushi straightening his posture and smoothing out his shirt, and Sota taking off the apron, then casually ran a hand through his neatly styled hair, a rare sight to behold. Only Tatsuya left his shirt unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up, exposing his well-toned upper body. The others glanced at him expectantly.
"What? It's hot," he muttered with a shrug. "Count me out," continuing his game with Jiro.
"Same here," Jiro muttered under his breath, mimicking Tatsuya's nonchalance, with a sparkle of admiration in his eyes as he eyed him.
That night, they had an incredible time together. They played board games late into the night, shared delicious food, and laughed until their sides hurt. Somehow, they managed to keep Saeko's smile genuine. For a few precious hours, she didn't have to pretend everything was fine. She truly felt like it was. It felt like a complete, happy family, as if nothing in the world was missing.