"…"
"…"
"…"
"…Rinji-kun."
"Don't say anything. Unexpected things happen."
Inside the dimly lit tent sat Atenbo Yu, still smiling with narrowed eyes. Rinji covered his face with his hand. The only difference this ti was that the one sitting next to him wasn't Momo or Hayasaka—it was Shirogane Kei.
"Well well, life is unpredictable~"
"You don't look surprised at all. You look more like you're thinking, 'I knew this would happen,'" Rinji said, staring at Atenbo. "Unlike the last two tis, I need to warn you about sothing before we start."
"Go ahead, Rinji-kun."
"Kei is the president's younger sister. She's also my sister."
"Uh-huh, and?"
"She's still a kid. If you say anything inappropriate, it won't be solved just by docking your budget."
Atenbo had said a lot of inappropriate things in front of Momo and Hayasaka before, which Rinji had tolerated. But Kei was a middle schooler and his so-called little sister. If Atenbo dared to say anything questionable this ti, Rinji might have to take extre asures.
"Yikes, how scary."
"Just a friendly reminder."
"Well then, Kei-chan, is there anything you'd like to divine?"
"I…"
Kei blushed and looked down, gently twirling a strand of her silver hair.
"Um… When will the person I like start liking back? Not just as family, but as soone he sees as a romantic partner…"
Rinji: "…"
He rembered that towards the end of sumr vacation, Kei had confessed to him. He'd turned her down directly.
Since then, she hadn't brought it up again, and Rinji had thought she'd given up.
'Stay calm. She hasn't said anything like that for a long ti. Maybe she's not talking about . Yeah, probably not. Kei's a sensible girl. And I'm her older brother, after all.'
Rinji slightly lifted his head and imdiately t Atenbo's half-smiling gaze.
'Stop staring! That fake-smile expression makes it look like you're certain Kei is talking about !'
Seeing Rinji's glare, the amusent on Atenbo's face only grew. She turned to Kei and asked, "Let guess, the person you like is blonde, right?"
"…Yeah." Kei blushed and nodded slightly.
"He's in Shuchiin's high school departnt, right?"
"Yeah."
"First year?"
"Yes."
"Kind of androgynous looking, very pretty, right?"
"…Yes."
Kei glanced at Rinji, then gave a small nod.
And Rinji, hearing all this…
Let out a breath of relief.
'Yeah, this has nothing to do with , a real man.'
After hearing the words "androgynous" and "very pretty," Rinji, completely lacking self-awareness, excluded himself from the possibilities.
'Didn't think Kei had soone she liked already. That's nice. Though a middle schooler dating, huh… Kind of like four years ago. Anyway, I should investigate that blonde first-year guy. As her older brother, I need to vet him properly.'
While Rinji was deep in thought, Atenbo observed his expression.
She had expected him to react emotionally—maybe get flustered or embarrassed. Instead, his face showed a subtle "my child is growing up" expression.
Honestly, even soone as worldly as Atenbo couldn't quite read that face.
"So…"
Kei looked nervously at Atenbo.
"What's the result?"
"Let check, please wait a mont."
After getting Kei's birth information, Atenbo began her fortune-telling.
Eventually, she ca to a conclusion.
"Not gonna happen anyti soon."
"I see…"
Kei looked a bit disappointed but quickly composed herself.
"By 'anyti soon,' you an…"
"In the next two years, he won't see you as a romantic partner," Atenbo smiled. "But once you enter high school and he goes to college, things will be very different."
"Eh?"
"Your fated day is two years from now. I can't say more, but if you grasp the opportunity, you'll definitely succeed."
"Really?"
Kei stood up, eyes shining.
"Of course." Atenbo still smiled.
"Thank you, senpai."
"You're welco~"
---
Kei exited the tent first, while Rinji stayed behind.
"Thanks for today," Rinji said with a smile. "Not only did you avoid saying anything weird, but you also pushed her tiline to high school. That really helps."
"Do you think I was lying to her?"
"Sort of, but a well-aning lie is fine."
Rinji smiled, then gave a wry chuckle.
"Thinking back, I confessed to a girl when I was just a dumb kid. Didn't know anything, got rejected. Makes sense. Love really needs so life experience. Getting involved too early doesn't help anyone."
"So people fall for their childhood friends over ti," Atenbo replied with a grin. "And I didn't lie. I don't make irresponsible predictions."
"Doesn't really matter. As long as things go well, that's enough."
"You still don't believe , huh?"
Atenbo kept smiling.
"Rember what I told you during the first term?"
"Of course. You said I'd be lucky in love. I had no luck with girls back then, so I thought you were just trying to comfort ," Rinji said. "But looking back, I ended up with a girlfriend after the first term. And starting this term, my luck with won really picked up… It's kind of strange, honestly."
"You just didn't notice it yourself."
Atenbo opened her eyes and looked at Rinji.
"Here's another prediction. Believe it or not, it's up to you."
"What is it?"
"You're going to go through a lot today. And today is also… your 'fated day.'"
"Got it. Thanks for the heads-up."
Rinji took it as sothing to keep in mind but didn't dwell on it.
"So, about next quarter's budget…"
"I'll increase it for you."
"Much appreciated~"
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