Takanashi Tohka lifted her head to look at the massive screen overhead. Seeing her name ranked at the top across three different events left her stunned.
She rubbed her eyes in disbelief, looked again, and finally broke into a smile as she accepted this blissful reality.
"Wonderful!"
The very next moment, Minamoto Senya's joy burst out of him. He swept her into his arms and spun her around in circles, just like a scene straight out of a shoujo manga.
"Tohka, you're the champion! You even won two events at once!"
Mmm…
Wrapped in Senya's warm embrace, feeling the safety of his arms, Tohka didn't dislike it at all. On the contrary, she rather liked it.
Especially now, after not letting him down, being able to share her joy with him made it all the sweeter.
But then, realizing the setting, her body stiffened.
If it were at home, that would be one thing. But here, with so many reporters and spectators watching?
Blushing, Tohka began patting his shoulder in protest, just as her teammates swarmed over, cheering and laughing loudly, turning the scene into a noisy celebration.
Though they hadn't placed themselves, they were genuinely proud to have Tohka as their teammate. Her outstanding performance made them all feel a sense of shared honor.
Their presence broke up the ambiguous air between the siblings. To everyone else, it simply looked like brother and sister deeply moved by each other's bond.
"Congratulations, Tohka!"
"All your hard work finally paid off!"
"Time to get ready for the award ceremony!"
Last to arrive was her teacher, eyes misty as she came over with a gentle reminder. Tohka gratefully seized the chance to slip out from the crowd.
"Senya, I'll see you in a bit."
"Yeah!"
——
[Senya: The award ceremony's starting, are you watching?]
[Rikka: Yup, it's live on TV! Sis is totally burning her cosmos today—double champion, wow! Oh, and guess what, Utaha-senpai told me earlier that some of the competitors this year had even been to world tournaments and placed! They were serious opponents. I was so nervous halfway through, but now? Turns out they weren't that scary at all. My sister's amazing!]
Of course she's amazing. We practically sacrificed both our luck to make it happen…
A thought Senya kept to himself. In truth, Tohka's performance throughout the day had been stellar.
He wasn't one to believe in superstitions—he was convinced these results were entirely her own achievement.
[Senya: Enough about that. Did you do what I asked?]
[Rikka: Relax, I recorded the entire competition from start to finish. Later I'll edit it down to just Sis's routines and appearances.]
To Rikka, her brother's request didn't seem odd at all. They were family, after all.
Wanting to save highlights of your sister's best moments—that was normal. She had no idea Senya's desire to preserve those clips went far beyond simple family pride.
[Rikka: By the way, once the award ceremony's over, you two are coming back, right?]
[Senya: Not sure yet. Depends what plans Tohka's coach has afterward. Are the others still at home?]
[Rikka: Yup, everyone's still here. Eiri, Utaha-senpai, and Saeko-senpai. They're all super happy for Sis.]
Still there, huh…
Senya glanced toward the podium where Tohka was waiting, then walked over to her teacher to politely ask about the plans after the ceremony.
He was told that, considering how exhausted everyone was after a full day, there'd just be a few quick interviews with reporters and TV stations, then dismissal.
Thinking it over, Senya pulled out his phone and typed.
[Senya: Let me guess, Saeko was the one who cooked lunch, wasn't she?]
[Rikka: How'd you know?! I was going to order pizza, but Saeko said there were plenty of ingredients in the fridge and no need to waste money on delivery. She ended up cooking a whole spread for us. Of course, I helped too—I even washed all the dishes!]
[Senya: You're amazing. Since Saeko went to all that trouble for lunch, you should treat them to dinner tonight. Take them somewhere nice. I'll cover it later.]
[Rikka: What about you and Sis?]
[Senya: We'll be late getting back, so don't wait for us.]
[Rikka: Got it!]
Senya pocketed his phone.
That took care of things.
No one would interrupt them.
——
By the time the sun dipped low, the streetlights were beginning to flicker on.
The bustling metropolis finally eased into the evening. Office workers finished for the day, retirees stepped out to enjoy the cooler air, and young people gathered in alleys and streets to kick off their nightlife. Voices filled the air.
"Mmm—"
Exiting through the side gate of the arena, Tohka stretched high, loosening the tension that had gripped her body all day.
It was over. Finally, it was all over…
She herself was surprised. She had only displayed what she usually practiced, yet somehow it had become her best performance ever.
Was it that the goddess of victory had sensed this was her last competition and granted her a perfect ending?
Or was it because she'd seen Senya trembling and sweating nervously at the sidelines, desperate not to disappoint him, and subconsciously pushed herself beyond her limits?
She couldn't be sure.
But it didn't matter. She had prepared herself to face defeat, and yet she'd won. To leave behind such a memory—what better ending could there be?
"Arms too high, your stomach's showing."
Senya didn't just comment, he even poked her lightly.
"Hey!"
Tohka yanked her shirt down with both hands, glaring at him in flustered annoyance.
Ever since that night they'd spoken heart-to-heart, she felt he'd grown less respectful of her as an elder sister.
These little teasing gestures came so naturally to him now. It was outrageous!
And yet… deep down, she didn't hate it. Maybe even liked it a little.
Senya chuckled at her reaction and let it drop. He knew where to draw the line, what he could and couldn't do.
They had left through a quiet side gate after parting with the others. In this setting, such playful moments were harmless—just a chance to glimpse Tohka's cuter side.
"You sure it's okay not going to the team dinner?" Senya asked, carrying Tohka's bag with her spare leotard and gear as they strolled toward the station.
Though the coach hadn't made special plans, Tohka's teammates had wanted to celebrate with food and karaoke—youthful fun, savoring the moment.
"It's fine. I told them I was tired and sweaty, and that I wanted to head home. Besides, if I'd gone, what would you have done?"
"Obviously, I'd go too," Senya said matter-of-factly. "I bought your drinks, carried your bags, cheered until I was hoarse. Your victory is partly thanks to me, so of course I'd have a right to celebrate."
Tohka laughed softly, not denying it. "True. Thank you, Senya."
That made him scratch his cheek in embarrassment. "Don't say it like that. You're supposed to tell me I'm shameless at times like this."
"But I really think you've helped me so much along the way."
"Stop, you're making me sound like some attention-seeking fraud…"
Her smile only grew brighter. For some reason, she felt especially high-spirited tonight. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she called out loudly, "Thank you, Senya!"
It was so unlike her usual calm demeanor—her voice rang out so cheerfully that people on the street turned to look.
"Cut it out."
Senya groaned, breaking into a run to escape.
Serves you right for teasing me earlier~
With a radiant smile and an almost triumphant air, Tohka chased after him, her steps light as air.
——
By the time they got home, it was already six-thirty.
They had expected Rikka to come bounding to the door, but the house was quiet.
Tohka's "I'm home" was answered only by the flapping wings of Blackwing in the living room.
"Rikka's not home, huh."
She flicked on the lights.
"Looks like she went out with the others," Senya said casually. "Go shower first, I'll make dinner."
Tohka nodded obediently.
She had teased him all afternoon, but back home—especially when it was just the two of them—she suddenly felt less bold.
She knew exactly why, but didn't dare think too hard on it.
Senya opened the fridge, planning to cook Tohka's favorites, only to find leftovers.
Curry beef stew and cashew shrimp stir-fry—untouched, clearly saved for them.
They'd eaten well at lunch.
So, with just the two of them, all he needed to add was a vegetable dish and soup.
He set the rice cooker going, and within half an hour the table was ready.
"Smells so good."
Tohka padded out of the bath, towel in hand, drying her hair.
"You start first, I'll shower too. I feel sticky all over."
"Mm."
It was routine for Senya—especially in summer—to shower as soon as he was home, unless something urgent came up.
He was quick, and in less than ten minutes joined Tohka at the table, the rice bowl warm in his hands.
"Tohka, there's something I want to tell you," she said suddenly.
She had weighed it carefully while he was in the shower, and decided now was the moment to voice what lay in her heart.
She cared more about his reaction than even their parents'.
Here it comes…
Senya sensed it, but asked anyway, "What is it?"
"This was my last competition. I… don't plan on continuing rhythmic gymnastics anymore."
She took a deep breath, anxiety clear on her face, and fixed her eyes on his reaction.
Senya paused a moment, then let his gaze soften and nodded slowly. "I understand."
Eh?
Tohka blinked.
That was it?
She'd expected at least a flicker of surprise. Something.
Surely, knowing him, he'd ask why.
But nothing. Just calm acceptance.
So…
"You already heard something from Haruno, didn't you?" she pressed, eyes sharp.
"What?" Senya played dumb instantly. He couldn't admit that. If she stopped confiding in Haruno, things could get complicated.
So he turned it around. "And you didn't tell me this the moment you decided? What were you thinking?"
"I—I wasn't sure yet," Tohka stammered, her confidence faltering. "I hadn't fully decided, and I never told Haruno outright. She must've just sensed it."
"I see…" Senya let the matter drop, not pushing further.
Having lost her momentum, Tohka didn't pursue it either. Instead, she asked softly, "You're not surprised?"
"Surprised about what?"
"Why would I suddenly decide something like this right after achieving such a great result?"
Minamoto Senya put down his chopsticks and looked seriously at Tokisaka Toka."I don't know why you made this decision, but what I do know is that if it's your decision, I'll support it unconditionally. That's what family is for."
The bond of family they had built through a blended household might have started shallow, but in Senya's heart, he intended to make it something unshakable—something that tied them together inseparably.
Not knowing his true thoughts, Toka was deeply moved. She felt even their mother might not be able to say something so reassuring.
"There are lots of reasons, but the biggest one… is realizing the limits of my own talent."
She too set down her chopsticks, lowering her gaze as she opened her heart to him.
"I love rhythmic gymnastics. It's both athletic and beautiful to watch. But when I think about my age now, and about my future plans, I really shouldn't keep pursuing it."
Her performance in this competition had been excellent, yes—but that was only one occasion where she happened to stand out.
Rhythmic gymnastics was such a niche sport, barely followed by society at large. Even if you won at nationals, it wasn't that big of a deal. It was impressive, sure, but that was the extent of it.
If she truly wanted to turn this into a profession, with stable income, she'd have to become far more exceptional than she was now.
Making it onto the national team would be a must, and she'd need to compete on the world stage.
But if she couldn't consistently dominate in domestic competitions, how could she possibly compete against the world's best?
Senya reached his hand across the table. Toka hesitated, her cheeks warming, but eventually let her fingertips rest gently in his palm.
"Hearing you say that, making this decision… honestly, I'm relieved."
Her expression dimmed briefly, though she forced a smile."Thanks. Hearing that from you… really helps me make up my mind."
Senya quickly realized she misunderstood his meaning."That's not what I meant. I've always thought you were incredible. The reason I agree with your decision… it's more selfish than that."
"Selfish?"
"Yeah. I don't know about before our parents got together, but ever since we started living under the same roof… think back. How many times have you hurt yourself practicing those gymnastics routines?"
"..." Hearing that, Toka seemed to catch on. Her heart gave a little flutter.
When she didn't respond, Senya continued for her:"Four times in total. The first was your ankle—that one was the worst. It swelled up like a steamed bun. You couldn't train, and you couldn't even walk properly. I had to bike you to and from school every day."
"Sorry… I wasted so much of your time." She tried to pull her hand back, but he held it firmly.
"What are you talking about? I never thought of it as wasted time. Sure, I felt bad you were hurt, but honestly… I was a little glad, too."
"So you were gloating!" she huffed, trying to disperse the sudden seriousness.
"You know that's not it. I just mean I was grateful for the chance to take care of you. Looking back, I think our relationship became so close, so quickly, because of that incident. Of course, I still regret the pain you had to go through."
Toka muttered, dissatisfied:"Ugh, you say everything before I can."
Senya chuckled."Anyway, back to the point. After that, you hurt your elbow, your wrist, and your knee. That time you banged your knee until it was bruised—if Rikka hadn't told me, I wouldn't have even known."
Like a child caught doing something wrong, Toka avoided his eyes."Those were just small injuries. In gymnastics you're always trying new moves. Falling is normal."
"And that's exactly what worried me, though I never knew how to say it. Watching you chase your dream was inspiring—but I didn't want you to keep getting hurt. I'm sure Mom, Dad, and Rikka feel the same."
As her head drooped lower and lower, Senya realized he shouldn't push too hard. He softened his tone at the end.
Toka stayed quiet for a long time.
When Senya finally loosened his hold, she drew her hand back, picked up her chopsticks again, and silently resumed eating.
It wasn't until after dinner, when the two of them were washing dishes together, that she spoke again.
"So… all this time you've been worried I'd get hurt. You were hoping I'd quit rhythmic gymnastics because of that, weren't you?"
Senya didn't answer directly."From the start I told you—I'll support any decision you make. But if you kept going, yeah, I'd still be worried. Sports at that level, with such intense training, always leave your body worn down eventually. You end up carrying the pain for life."
It happened to countless professional athletes—brilliant in their prime, but broken later.
"...Thanks."
"Why thank me all of a sudden?"
"Because hearing you say that… I feel lighter. Like I've got one more reason to let go of gymnastics."
"If you want, I can give you plenty more. Like—say you kept at it, how would you turn it into a real career? How would you support yourself long-term? I don't want to see you struggling with those questions. And also—"
"Also what?"
He shook his head."No, nothing."
I just don't want anyone else to see you in a leotard, looking that beautiful.
But with their current delicate relationship, he couldn't say that aloud.
"You're terrible, leaving things half-said."
"Superstition. Either way, all you need to know is—I'll always support you. Do whatever you love without hesitation. I already promised Rikka that even if she never works, I wouldn't mind supporting her for life. The same goes for you."
"...!"
Senya expected her to be touched—but instead, Toka turned, eyes blazing, and whacked him on the head with a hand chop.
"Ow—?! What was that for?!"
"Now it makes sense why Rikka's gotten so lazy lately! If you keep spoiling her like that, she'll grow up to be useless! Do you want to raise her into some leech who contributes nothing to society?!"
"Huh?! No way—it's not that bad…"
"It is! You've been coddling her so much she's lost all sense of responsibility. No more! You're not allowed to say things like that to her again. She has to take charge of her own life. What, you'd keep taking care of her even after she gets married?!"
As Toka grew more and more severe, Senya could only grin awkwardly."Even if she marries, she'll still be family…"
"Family or not, absolutely not! Promise me right now." She pinched his cheeks, not too hard, but with stern insistence.
Now that she'd decided to quit gymnastics, she had more time. Aside from preparing for university, she figured she should start paying closer attention to her little sister's future.
"Mmm—alright, alright, I get it…"
Satisfied, she let him go with a huff.
Senya rubbed his cheeks, secretly amused.
The back-and-forth had felt oddly like an old married couple bickering about parenting.
The "window paper" between them hadn't torn yet, but if things kept going this way, he felt it was only a matter of time.
Later that night, when Rikka came home ready to congratulate her sister on the double championship, she was instead met with Toka's stern barrage:
"Have you finished your homework?""Did you start prepping for the new term?""If you keep slacking off like this, do you even want to get into Sobu High with Senya and Eriri?"
Rikka froze. Her cheerful smile vanished.
What just happened? Her sister had won two championships—shouldn't she be happy? Why was she scolding her so harshly the moment she got home?
No one answered.
On the sofa, sipping tea and playing with the pet bird, the true culprit kept his head down, avoiding Rikka's pleading eyes. All he could do was silently wish her luck.
It looked like Toka had decided it was time to whip her little sister into shape.
Good luck surviving the rest of summer break, Rikka.
Toka soon found a chance to tell their parents about her decision.
They asked her a few questions, but in the end, they supported her completely.
Thanks to Senya, the family's situation had improved a lot. The bar and beauty salon were more popular than ever.
Their father was even considering opening a second location, and had already started looking for a space.
Everyone told him not to push himself, but with his career finally thriving, he felt like he was back in his youth—working tirelessly without fatigue, energized by the growing profits.
If not for Junko being in her final months of pregnancy, he probably would've still had energy left over for "late-night exercise."
Senya's natural talent at a young age suddenly made more sense.
At the end of August, the whole family went to a major hospital for checkups. Everything came back normal—except Rikka, who had gained a little weight from too many sweets over summer break.
In early September, schools started back up.
Life carried on without many changes—except for Toka.
With gymnastics gone, her schedule opened up. She thought about her future, helped watch over her sister's studies, and took care of their mother as her due date drew close.
Junko was expected to give birth between late October and early November.
To be honest, Senya enjoyed shopping for baby supplies with Toka. Seeing her carefully compare safety labels and parameters, that focused look on her face—it gave her a subtle, irresistible air.
Almost like a young wife.
He couldn't show it, but privately, the thought thrilled him.
At the end of September, a small regional piano competition was held in Tokyo.
Touma Youko called, suggesting Senya enter.
Touma Kazusa wasn't interested in such a minor event, but she still came to cheer him on.
Senya breezed through and won first place.
There was no prize money, but the sponsor gave him an electric piano.
"Perfect for playing baby lullabies," Rikka said eagerly, tapping random notes before pressing a shortcut key that launched into Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.
"Too late for prenatal music now. The baby's coming in a month," Toka said, shutting it off. "And Mom's still resting—don't make noise."
"Oh…" Rikka obediently quieted down.
The three of them sat for breakfast together.
It was Toka's homemade pan-fried beef dumplings, fragrant and crispy.
Between bites, Rikka spoke up:"Senya, when you have time, can you sign those posters I printed for you?"
"What posters?" Toka asked.
"Oh, for Senya's online fan group. I made some discussion groups and lots of people joined. They've been helping me run things, so I thought I'd send them a little thank-you gift. Posters with his signature."
Despite Toka calling her irresponsible, Senya felt Rikka had grown a little. She was starting to understand how to handle people.
"You're making him into an idol," Toka sighed. "Wouldn't it be simpler to send small gifts?"
"I am. Posters and souvenirs. It's not expensive, but it shows Senya's appreciation."
"Alright, I'll sign them tonight," Senya agreed. He'd left the account management to Rikka, so he had no reason to refuse.
"Thanks! By the way, where are you heading out to today?"
Senya bit into a dumpling."Meeting a friend."
"Oh. Bring me back fruit tea."
"Got it."
Toka thought to herself, Why don't you ask which friend…?
But since he hadn't given a name, it probably wasn't Saeko or Eriri. Just some school friend.
"Will you be back for lunch?" she asked.
"No, but I'll be home for dinner."
"Take care on the way."
"Yeah."
After finishing breakfast, Senya rinsed his mouth and went to change clothes.
Weird… where's my white shirt?
He scratched his head but didn't dwell on it. Since Toka had taken over the laundry, maybe she'd washed it and hadn't brought it in yet.
He changed into another outfit and left.
After a short train ride to the meeting place, he didn't wait long before a golden-haired maid approached, moving gracefully toward him.