The performance hall in Shimokitazawa was still buzzing with excitement even after idol group B-Komachi had finished their show.
The atmosphere remained electric as fans continued cheering wildly.
“Our superstar Ai-chan just keeps getting more and more dazzling!”
“It’s torture!
Now we have to wait three whole days—that’s 72 hours, 4,320 minutes, 259,200 seconds—before we can see Ai-chan again!”
“Ai Ai Ai!
I swear I’ll love Ai-chan until I die!”
Backstage, the excited shouts from fans could still be clearly heard.
The other members of B-Komachi looked at Ai with expressions full of admiration and envy.
This girl seemed born to be an idol, radiating brilliance even when offstage.
Her natural star power inspired both respect and intimidation among her peers.
Ai herself remained completely oblivious to their gazes.
While the love from her fans warmed her heart, her thoughts were focused on just one person—her beloved little Kouma!
“Kou-kun must be thinking about me right now!”
A tender, affectionate smile curved her lips as she immediately reached for her phone to check for messages.
[Missed Call: Kou-kun]
“Hehe, I knew he’d be missing me!”
Her starry eyes shone with even more affection as she eagerly prepared to call him back, already imagining the sound of his voice.
But when she unlocked her phone, a message notification popped up—and its contents struck her like a bolt of lightning.
“Kou-kun…was adopted?”
Her lips went pale.
Her body swayed unsteadily before darkness completely swallowed her vision.
“Ai-chan!
What’s wrong?”
Manager Miyako Saitou rushed over in alarm, barely catching the collapsing idol before she hit the ground.
But Ai’s face had completely drained of color, her eyes vacant and unfocused as she mumbled, “Kou-kun…Kou-kun…I need to go home!
Right now!”
Without hesitation, Miyako immediately helped her to the car and drove her straight back to the orphanage.
The moment they arrived, Ai practically sprinted inside, her heart pounding with panic.
“Gone…All of Kou-kun’s things are gone…”
She bit her red lips hard enough to turn them white, her expression growing paler by the second as she rushed to the director’s office demanding answers.
“The Yukinoshita family adopted him,” the director explained gently, trying to comfort her.
“I know you two were very close but try not to be too sad.
He’ll want for nothing in that household…”
But the director’s well-meaning words never registered.
Ai’s mind was completely flooded with memories of her time with Kouma.
“Kou-kun, when I earn enough money, I’ll adopt you!”
“Kou-kun, listen to how this part of the song goes…”
“Kou-kun, you’re so talented!
Even just humming sounds beautiful when you do it…”
They had grown up together in this orphanage.
Made promises to each other.
He had been the one to teach her the true meaning of love.
“Yukinoshita…family…”
Her pearly white teeth sank deeper into her lip as her delicate hands clenched into determined fists.
“I’ll get you back, Kou-kun.”
“You’re my irreplaceable…love.”
…
Meanwhile, in the living room of the Yukinoshita residence…
Two tall, stunningly beautiful young women stood frozen in shock as they stared at the small boy positioned beside their mother.
“Haruno, Yukino—this is Kouma.
Starting today, he’s your younger brother.”
Their mother’s announcement left both Yukinoshita sisters completely dumbfounded.
Their mother had gone and adopted a brother without even consulting them?
“Good evening, Haruno-nee, Yukino-nee!”
Kouma’s polite greeting drew their attention to his angelic face.
As he took in their features, he confirmed his suspicions—these were indeed those Yukinoshita sisters from the series.
Yukino took several deep breaths to compose herself before her normally cool eyes flashed with unmistakable anger.
She fixed her gaze on their mother, her expression one of complete disbelief.
“Why weren’t we consulted about this?”
She simply couldn’t accept this.
Their mother, who had always been domineering, who showed them so little care, who only came home maybe once a week—had suddenly decided to bring home a new brother?
Neither she nor Haruno had been given any warning about this!
How could their mother make such a huge decision completely on her own, without even considering their feelings?
Did she even see them as part of this family anymore?
Mrs.
Yukinoshita frowned slightly at Yukino’s accusatory tone, the last remnants of her earlier good mood evaporating instantly.
While she knew adopting a child without consulting them wasn’t ideal, she was used to absolute authority—both in the Yukinoshita household and at the company.
She had every right to make this decision herself.
Her eldest daughter Haruno had always been obedient in front of her, but Yukino constantly opposed her at every turn.
This persistent defiance from her younger daughter was giving the normally unflappable matriarch a headache.
Before their mother could respond, Yukino shot her one last disappointed look before turning on her heel and storming off to her room.
SLAM!
The sound of the door slamming shut echoed through the house.
Haruno let out a small sigh before attempting to smooth things over.
“Don’t mind her, Mother.
Yukino’s probably just going through a rebellious phase.”
Though truth be told, Haruno wasn’t particularly pleased with their mother’s actions either.
But unlike Yukino, she understood all too well just how cold and unyielding their mother could be.
Openly opposing her never ended well.
“Hmph.”
Mrs.
Yukinoshita gave a small, dismissive sniff before turning her attention back to Kouma.
“Kouma will be staying here with you girls.
I’ve already arranged his enrollment at Shuchi’in Elementary.
Yukino will accompany him to and from school each day.”
Haruno’s lips parted slightly in surprise at this sudden delegation of responsibility to Yukino, but she knew better than to voice any objections.
Their mother’s decisions were never up for debate.
With a final pat on Kouma’s head—noticeably gentler than her usual demeanor—Mrs.
Yukinoshita added, “Be good for your sisters now.”
And with that, she left with Mikoto to attend to company matters, leaving Haruno staring after her with a slightly dazed expression.
What she had just witnessed was…unprecedented.
How many years had it been since she last saw even a hint of softness on their mother’s face?
And that gentle tone she’d used with Kouma…
“Mother…actually likes him?”
Curious, Haruno knelt down to bring herself to eye level with Kouma.
Now that she looked properly, she could see why.
His porcelain skin was flawless, his delicate features perfectly proportioned.
Those adorably chubby cheeks practically begged to be pinched.
Even as a child, one could already tell he would grow into an exceptionally handsome young man.
“So handsome…so cute!”
Just meeting his gaze was enough to make her heart flutter unexpectedly.
“How old are you, Kouma-kun?”
“Just turned eight…”
His sweet, slightly milky voice only added to his charm.
Suddenly, the idea of having a little brother didn’t seem so bad after all.
Yukino had grown up now—still cute, yes, but nowhere near as obedient as she’d been in childhood.
Haruno often lamented that her sister no longer satisfied her mischievous urges.
But a little boy like this?
He’d make the perfect plaything!
As Kouma met Haruno’s crimson gaze, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was thinking something rather dangerous.
Remembering his earlier “Lucky Pervert” incident in the car, he felt both apprehension and anticipation.
Was he about to enter some kind of R-18 scenario?
His suspicions seemed confirmed when Haruno suddenly clapped her hands together upon noticing his shabby clothes.
“That’s right!
First things first—let’s get you cleaned up with a nice bath!”
…