When passing by the park near his house,
Yukima Azuma spotted a familiar pink-haired girl.
"Futari, co here."
Yukima Azuma called out her na, waving toward her.
Upon hearing him, Gotoh Futari imdiately turned her head.
When she saw Yukima Azuma, her blue eyes lit up.
The small Shiba Inu she was walking also clearly showed its excitent.
Both the girl and the dog ran toward Yukima Azuma.
"Azuma onii-chan!" Futari called sweetly, hugging Yukima Azuma's leg.
ヾ( ˃ᴗ˂ )◞ • *✰
anwhile, the Shiba Inu circled around Yukima Azuma, occasionally rubbing against his leg.
૮⍝• ᴥ •⍝ა
With one arm, he lifted Gotoh Futari up, and with the other, he took the leash of the dog.
Yukima Azuma looked at his lively little sister-in-law and smiled.
"Taking Jimihen out for a walk?"
The Shiba Inu's na was Jimihen.
After being fed so high-quality dry food by Yukima Azuma a few tis,
It had beco fiercely loyal to him.
Every ti it saw Yukima Azuma, it wagged its tail like a propeller.
"Hum hum, Azuma onii-chan, are you planning to visit onee-chan?"
ヾ(｡✪ω✪｡)ｼ
Gotoh Futari looked up at Yukima Azuma with hopeful eyes.
"Umu, I was just about to. How has your sister been lately?"
Yukima Azuma nodded.
Hearing his question, Gotoh Futari seed to be thinking.
"Onee-chan, huh..." She blinked her big eyes. "She's been doing well lately, not talking to herself anymore."
"Every night, she hugs her phone and giggles like an idiot. She's probably texting Azuma onii-chan, right?"
"But a few days ago, onee-chan seed a little down. Yesterday, she was even doing flower fortune-telling."
"Muttering 'loves , loves not' inside the closet."
"Onee-chan looks so funny."
.o(≧∀≦)o
Listening to Gotoh Futari's recount, Yukima Azuma found the scene strangely familiar.
Bocchi, crouching in the closet, holding a flower in her hand.
Plucking a petal.
Murmuring, "Loves ."
Plucking another petal.
Murmuring, "Loves not."
If the last petal landed on "Loves ," Bocchi would probably clench her fist and punch the air in triumph.
◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜
But if it landed on "Loves not," she would convince herself she had miscounted.
(╥ᆺ╥;)
Then she would grab another flower and start over.
Yukima Azuma reached into his pocket.
Then he extended his hand in front of Gotoh Futari.
His palm seed empty, but the mont he snapped his fingers—
A delicately wrapped candy appeared in Yukima Azuma's hand.
Gotoh Futari let out a delighted squeal and grabbed the candy.
♡〜٩( ˃▿˂ )۶〜♡
Gotoh Futari, his little sister-in-law.
After being treated to ice cream, cakes, and candy by Yukima Azuma a few tis—
She had beco his most loyal fan.
She was always ready to act as a little spy, tracking her sister's movents.
And reporting them imdiately to Yukima Azuma.
Don't be fooled by Gotoh Futari's innocent and pure appearance—
In reality, this little girl, barely five or six years old, was an unfathomable child.
Completely opposite to her socially anxious older sister.
This little sister—a communication terrorist—was not only maxed out in social skills but also incredibly perceptive, even better at reading people than her sister.
Sotis, Yukima Azuma felt that Gotoh Futari was like a miniature version of Yukinoshita Haruno.
The only difference was that she was born into the Gotoh family.
Gotoh Futari could grow up carefree, without any burdens to bear.
No family business to take over, no need to exhaust herself over anything.
Her daily routine was simple: watch her sister, tease the dog, and wait for her brother-in-law to feed her.
...
Carrying Gotoh Futari in his arms, Yukima Azuma walked toward the Gotoh household.
Just monts ago, Gotoh Futari had only taken Jimihen out for a short while.
And given the typical stubborn nature of Shiba Inus—
Trying to drag it back ho right now would be nothing short of an impossible mission.
Everyone knows that Shiba Inus are the most headstrong dogs in the world—there's no second place.
In news reports about typhoons or heavy rain, you can always spot a Shiba Inu braving the storm, leisurely walking through deserted streets, dragging behind it an owner with a look of utter despair.
But this ti, the one holding the leash was Yukima Azuma.
Jimihen obediently followed him ho.
Partly because it was tempted by premium dried at treats.
And partly because it knew that Yukima Azuma was not soone to ss with.
After pressing the doorbell—
In no ti, Gotoh Mama opened the front door.
"Why are you back so early... Ara~, it's Yukima-kun."
( ∩´͈ ᐜ `͈ )
At first, she thought it was just her youngest daughter returning from the walk.
But the mont she saw Yukima Azuma, a pleasantly surprised smile appeared on her face.
"Hello, oba-san. I ca to visit. Here's a small gift—I hope you'll accept it."
Yukima Azuma presented the gift he had prepared in advance.
A box of premium fruits and tea.
These were things the Yukima household always kept on hand.
Occasionally, they were taken out as gifts.
As for the tea, Yukima Azuma himself often drank it.
"Yukima-kun, you're too polite. Co in, co in!"
"Futari, you're clinging to Yukima-kun again."
Mrs. Gotoh accepted the gift.
Every ti Yukima Azuma visited, he always brought sothing. At first, she felt a little uneasy about it.
But by now, it had beco a habit.
Though she did feel it was a bit extravagant.
Still, it was Yukima Azuma's thoughtfulness, and she couldn't just refuse it.
Besides, in the eyes of the Gotoh couple, Yukima Azuma was already close to a perfect son-in-law.
The kind of person they could entrust their daughter to at any mont with peace of mind.
Gotoh Futari was scolded by her mother, but she didn't care in the slightest.
Clinging to Yukima Azuma would definitely be beneficial.
No one understood that better than she did.
Sure enough, Yukima Azuma took a small cake from the gift box and handed it to her.
Gotoh Futari squealed with joy and ran off with the cake.
"Azuma onii-chan, Banzai! Daisuki!"
(∩˃o˂∩)♡
Watching her disappear,
Both Yukima Azuma and Mrs. Gotoh let out helpless chuckles.
"Oh, oba-san, what about Hitori…?"
"She's in her room. Go right in."
"Then I'll excuse myself."
"No need to be so formal. Just treat this as your ho. Go on."
Mrs. Gotoh gave him a light pat on the back and nodded encouragingly.
It wasn't easy for her eldest daughter to find a boyfriend.
For a girl with severe social anxiety to have a relationship—it was a miracle.
As Bocchi's mother, she just wanted the two of them to get married as soon as possible.
Otherwise, she feared her daughter would end up dying alone in her closet in old age.
…
Yukima Azuma switched into indoor slippers—
Smoothly passed through the living room, went upstairs, and arrived at Gotoh Hitori's bedroom door.
Standing before the door, Yukima Azuma raised his hand and knocked lightly.
"W-what… What is it?"
A doubtful voice from Gotoh Hitori ca from inside.
Normally, unless necessary, her parents wouldn't enter her room…
Yukima Azuma said nothing; he simply knocked on the door again.
Gotoh Hitori's room was completely dark, with the curtains tightly drawn.
The only sources of light ca from the desk lamp and the computer screen inside her closet.
Gotoh Hitori lay sprawled on the floor, limp as a noodle, looking utterly drained.
Even after getting up, she still seed devoid of energy.
Dragging her feet, she trudged toward the door.
The mont it cracked open just a little—
"Wha—" She had barely uttered a sound before her eyes widened.
( ˶°ㅁ°) !!
The young man standing outside smiled at her.
"Azuma-kun! Wait! That! I—!"
Overwheld by excitent and nerves, Gotoh Hitori imdiately started stamring.
At the sa ti, she opened the door a little wider but then froze.
The mont she saw Yukima Azuma, joy surged through her so intensely that she wanted nothing more than to leap into his arms.
But—her room was a ss, an absolute disaster.
Not to ntion, she hadn't showered all day.
She had been holed up in her closet for hours, and she feared she might sll musty.
Compared to a year ago, Gotoh Hitori had improved a lot.
Whenever she went out with Yukima Azuma, she always dressed up in cute dresses.
Sotis, she even asked her mom to curl her hair for her.
But deep down, all of these things were just ways to boost her confidence.
Bocchi was still the sa shy and slightly insecure girl as before.
"Not jumping in?"
Yukima Azuma spread his arms wide—his ssage couldn't be clearer.
"I… I haven't showered…"
(｡>﹏
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