After Makiko and Grandma Yamazaki left, Isami and his family did not stay for much longer. The good mood had been ruined by the two people, making it impossible for the rest of the group to keep enjoying a lovely Saturday afternoon.
"Akira, what shall we do? What should we do? Will you lose the piano?" Sayaka began panicking after the guests left.
The only people remaining in the room were Akira, Seiji and Hina.
Akira's lips turned a little in a small smile. It was just like she had ȧssumed. Her mother did not believe her. But at least, she had been brave and unapologetic before the rest of the family.
"Weren't you confident earlier?" She asked with amusement.
Sayaka's face became a little red with embarrassment. When facing her sister-in-law and mother-in-law, she was concentrating on not capitulating to their forceful personalities. If she thought about other things, she might have surrendered to their snarky comments about Akira.
"I am confident. But Makiko is very aggressive when it comes to musical instruments. She was clearly eyeing the piano from the get-go." Sayaka said.
Seiji looked at his little sister who was relaxed and wondered if she had a Stradivarius. He could not be sure, so he would take some measures. He had a friend whose father had one. It was not the most expensive one, but it was a genuine article.
If Akira needed help, he would be there.
"You don't have to worry. My Akira here is not a simple girl. Whether it's a Stradivarius or Guarneri, she can produce it with the snap of her fingers." Hina put her arm around Akira.
Still, she seemed close with Akira, so it would be impolite to question her.
"How long have you known Akira?" Seiji asked without reserve.
He felt a little displeased when he saw the girl holding his sister so intimately. He had noticed that Akira did not like people stepping into her personal space. However, she allowed this girl to practically plaster herself against her body and hold her by the neck.
"Hehe, Akira and I go way back. Let's see, about nine years." Hina declared with a superior glance at Seiji.
Seiji noticed the provocative look and glared back. If they had known each other for that long, it meant that Hina had known Akira when she was thirteen. He could not compete with such a long relationship.
"Where did you meet?" Seiji could not help asking.
"In a tuition class." Hina released Akira and turned to Seiji. "You seem very interested in my life. Are you asking me as a potential sister-in-law? I will tell you right now. Akira already rejected me."
It took a moment for Seiji to understand what Hina meant. His face darkened immediately at the implication. This woman was trying to corrupt his small sister.
"But I do not mind being Akira's older sister-in-law." Hina grinned with an evil smile. "What do you think Akira? We can be family forever if I marry your brother."
Akira looked at Seiji's dark face and Hina's excited face. She lifted her right hand and stroked her chin in thought like an old man with a beard. The image was a little ridiculous, but Akira was seriously considering the situation.
Hina was too attached to her and had put aside her life just to follow her around as her partner-in-crime and ȧssistant. Although they had accomplished a lot of things together, she wanted her to be free to pursue other things in life.
Of course, she had made the suggestion for her to leave the Musketeer gang before but Hina had refused stubbornly and given her the silent treatment with evil glares.
Perhaps, what she needed was external stimulation.
If she had something else to focus on, she would realise there was more to life. Unlike the other two Musketeers, Hina's talents were not being utilised in her current situation. She was wasting away her life.
She looked at Seiji and Hina again.
"Very well. You can be my sister-in-law." She declared.
"Akira!" Hina said happily before hugging her and rubbing her face enthusiastically against Akira's.
As for Seiji, he was speechless. At what age were they living such that he could be sold off without consent? But more importantly, how could his sister give him away? Shouldn't she be a little possessive and sticky and call him 'big brother' sweetly?
Shouldn't she forbid him to be misled by gangster girls?
Hina noticed the intentional pitiful look that Seiji was making. She released Akira and looked at Seiji with a huff. She stood up and walked to him.
"I am a prime specimen. I will only admit that Akira is the only woman better than me. Wait for me to win your heart." She declared before putting her hands around her waist and laughing out loud.
Seiji felt a cold sensation on his back.
He had a feeling that his life was about to become hard.
Seeing that his little sister did not care about him, he looked to his mother for help.
"Seiji, you should thank your sister for thinking so carefully about you. I have always worried that you will be alone forever. But with Hina here, I can be at ease. Akira is truly my lucky star." Sayaka said with a gentle smile.
Daiki found this cheerful atmosphere when he returned to the house. He sighed with relief when he did not see his younger brother and his gang of troublemakers. Although there was an additional strange girl in the house…
Sayaka looked at her husband with narrowed eyes.
"Oh, my dear husband has returned. Where were you?" She asked with a sweet smile.
"You know I went to see Father." He responded.
"Is that so?" Sayaka stood up. "Then, tell me why you are wearing your lucky golf cap?"
Daiki raised a hand and touched the cap that he always kept at the country club. He had forgotten to take it off.
"Dear…" He chuckled uneasily.
"Let's have a good talk."