Tokyo: My Girlfriend

At noon, Shinichi Kitagawa said goodbye to Akemi Aoki.

"Shin-ichi, don't worry too much. I believe everything will turn out well. I'm home now. Call me anytime if you miss me, and I'll definitely rush to your bedroom."

Akemi Aoki waved her hand confidently, and her lively spirit was infectious, even Shinichi Kitagawa felt infected by her.

My mood has improved a lot.

He also raised his arm to say goodbye to her.

"Okay, I promise I won't tell you I miss you, Akemi!"

"That was exactly the answer I expected."

That afternoon, Aoki Akemi waited nervously and excitedly at home for the online interview with the manager of Shinsei Entertainment.

When the other party sent her the message, Aoki Akemi was so startled that she quickly sent a message to Kitagawa Shinichi as well: "I'm about to have my interview, Shinichi-kun! I'm so nervous, can you give me some encouragement, please!"

Shinichi Kitagawa sent a thumbs-up emoji with the words "No problem," which made Akemi Aoki laugh in exasperation.

If I truly believed in Yi Jun's girlfriend, it certainly wouldn't have been such a simple encouragement, right?

Although the emoji was simple, Shinichi Kitagawa's instant reply boosted Akemi Aoki's spirits considerably, as it proved that he had also been waiting for the results of his interview.

Akemi Aoki took a deep breath and officially started a video call with the interviewer.

I bowed deeply and introduced myself, which began the twenty-minute interview.

During the process, Aoki Akemi tried her best to apply the musical techniques that Kitagawa Shinichi had taught her over the past two weeks, but she still made a mistake due to nervousness and cracked her voice once.

She was so frightened that her hair stood on end, thinking that she was going to die.

In the end, the interviewer nodded without any reaction.

"Not bad. Although you were a little nervous, your skills and talent are both excellent. Congratulations, Ms. Aoki Akemi, on successfully passing our interview! If you'd like, please come to the company with your mentor at the beginning of next month. After a simple procedure, you will be an officially signed singer with our New Star Entertainment."

"Huh...really...did I pass?"

Even after the video call ended, Akemi Aoki was still reeling from the excitement and sense of unworthiness.

She stood there like a wooden statue, wondering if she was dreaming.

My lifelong dream, the dream I've had for years to become a signed singer, has finally come true...

"Nobuichi-kun!"

Akemi Aoki jumped and danced wildly in her bedroom, hugging her doll: "Shinichi-kun, I love you! I love you to death! You're my god! I like you so much!"

The commotion left the younger brother, Hirano Aoki, in the next room completely dumbfounded.

He sat cross-legged on the floor, playing a visual novel and complaining, "So this is what my sister is like when she's in love? This is the first time I've ever seen her like this. She's jumping around like a female monkey. It's disgusting."

The next second, a pillow flew over and hit Aoki Hirano squarely in the face, knocking him down with a loud "Ah!"

Akemi Aoki glanced at her younger brother with disdain, tossing her long, colorful hair: "Although I don't know what you were muttering to yourself just now, it certainly wasn't anything nice, you disgusting otaku brother."

Lying on the ground, Hirano Aoki's forehead was red, and he was dazed: "Shinichi, your girlfriend is hitting your good bro, why don't you do something about it? Hurry up and take your woman away."

--------

In the stillness of the night, in a bedroom of a quiet old house.

A girl with long silver hair, dressed in pajamas, sat at her desk, repeatedly writing the four characters "Haruhi Hina" in her notebook.

After finishing his video call with Akemi Aoki, Shinichi Kitagawa came to her door and knocked to remind her, "Rena, I'm going to sleep now. You should go to sleep early too."

Rena Kitagawa responded, thinking that even her brother's sleep schedule had become regular since the breakup: "Yeah, Shin, go to sleep. I'll go to sleep right away too."

Hearing her brother leave, she stared at her notebook again, turned to a new page, and slowly wrote down the four characters "Aoki Akemi".

The jealousy on her face intensified.

She wasn't afraid of her brother interacting with Aoki Akemi, because her brother's gaze towards Aoki Akemi was very innocent, but that didn't mean she would like Aoki Akemi.

She hated any girl spending all day with her brother, especially when they were alone together; it always made her feel uncomfortable and had an indescribable emptiness in her heart.

If it weren't for... to make my brother forget about Haruhi Hina.

Rena Kitagawa would never allow her brother to get so close to Akemi Aoki; the two of them were meeting far too often.

She tore off all the papers with her name written on them and threw them into the trash can. Then, she folded her hands together and leaned over the desk.

"Shin-ichi... why can't you just stick to me all the time? Does being with me make you forget that woman? Am I really that unattractive to you... you annoying brother, why, why can't I say it?"

Her cool eyes gazed out the window, but before her eyes, it was as if a movie was playing, showing the image of Shinichi Kitagawa.

The next morning, a new week began.

Shinichi Kitagawa got up after putting on his school uniform, and the kitchen was already emitting a sizzling, fragrant aroma.

He stretched after washing up:

"Good morning, Reina! What's for breakfast?"

Wearing an apron and with her hair in pigtails, Rena Kitagawa replied, "Good morning, Shinichi. Today's meal is bacon and bread."

"Oh? There's bacon. You're eating so well."

Rena Kitagawa turned around and smiled, "I haven't cooked for Shinichi while his aunt and uncle are here, so I thought Monday would be a good day to treat him."

Shinichi Kitagawa sat at the dining table watching Rena Kitagawa bring over the food, while he set out the chopsticks and plates.

Two people are eating together, facing each other.

When they went to school, the brother and sister walked side by side with their schoolbags in hand, and the closer they got to the school, the more likely they were to run into acquaintances.

Many people greeted the Kitagawa siblings, especially Rena, who seemed to have many more boys saying good morning to her today.

However, Rena clearly didn't want to pay attention to them.

Shinichi Kitagawa asked in confusion, "What's going on? How come so many people suddenly recognize you?"

"Shin-ichi really doesn't take my words to heart. Didn't I say I joined the social club? My aunt and uncle came last week and I haven't had a chance to leave yet. Although I haven't done much, but..." she said with some disdain.

"When Kana was working, many boys would see me and say they liked me or something, and confess to me. Even after I rejected them, they still wouldn't give up... Boys are such annoying creatures."

Upon hearing this, Kitagawa Shinichi nervously reminded him, "If anyone keeps pestering you, be sure to tell me, even the slightest hint of it, okay?"

Seeing the other person's nervous yet happy expression, Kitagawa Rena nodded, her face slightly flushed.

"Well, if I had any, I would definitely tell Shinichi. But their persistence is limited to just greeting me or something; they haven't done anything else. After all, I'm not someone to be trifled with, and I've scolded many people."

Shinichi Kitagawa chuckled, "...Rena's attack power is still as strong as ever."

"It's because boys are all creatures controlled by their lower bodies." Except for Shinichi.

"Ohayo! Good morning, partner!"

A guy with a buzz cut suddenly attacked from behind and grabbed Kitagawa Shinichi's shoulder; it was Aoki Hirano.

Aoki Hirano said aggrievedly, "I called you for ages on the street and you didn't answer. You were chatting with your sister and forgot all about your best buddies, huh? It's so nice to have a cool and beautiful sister. Too bad I only have an annoying and sassy older sister."

As soon as he finished speaking, his sister kicked him in the butt from behind.

Aoki Hirano clutched his backside, turned around, and cried out in pain, "What?!"

Akemi Aoki waved excitedly and said, "Good morning, Shinichi-kun! Good morning, Rena-chan! The weather is so nice today."

Shinichi Kitagawa and Akemi Aoki exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly. "Good morning, Akemi."

After passing the interview yesterday, Akemi Aoki had a long video call with Shinichi Kitagawa last night, talking about the interview and songs.

It's clear that Mingmei is genuinely happy about passing this interview.

However, during the call, a silver-haired girl overheard it and casually replied, "Good morning."

Akemi Aoki blinked her fox-like eyes and walked over to Rena Kitagawa with a smile, taking her arm: "Rena-chan is still as aloof and cute as ever today."

Kitagawa Rena hadn't expected her to be so close, and she leaned away, puzzled, "Why are you so close to me?"

"What's wrong with girls being close together?! Want to go shopping together after school?"

"Huh? Don't you practice singing with my brother every day after school now? And what's with shopping with me?"

Akemi Aoki said happily, "I'm just taking a break since I passed my interview. Besides, I don't think I've gone shopping with Rena since she moved in. A girl's life can't be without shopping, right, Shinichi?"

Shinichi Kitagawa understood Akemi's meaning: "Yeah, it would be good for Rena and Akemi to go out for a walk after school. I'll wait for you two at home."

Rena Kitagawa hesitated, feeling that the woman beside her was being a little too enthusiastic. Could there really be someone in this world who was so overly excited and laughing all day long without getting tired? "Let me think if there's anything I need to buy. There's not much to buy anyway."

"If you really can't buy anything, you can buy something for your brother."

Rena Kitagawa remembered, "That's true. Shinichi's bed sheets are getting a bit worn out lately, and I'm thinking of buying him new ones. Also, he's running low on socks... Thinking about it, there are quite a few things I need to buy."

Aoki Akemi and Aoki Hirano both had different expressions when they heard this.

However, only Aoki Hirano was criticized:

"Huh? Partner, do your socks and sheets all get bought by your sister? How can you have such a good sister? Why is it that my sister only ever mooches off my snacks and allowance, and never buys me anything useful?"

Shinichi Kitagawa replied, "I just occasionally see things Rena needs while shopping and buy them for her. That's normal, isn't it?"

Reina Kitagawa coldly replied to this, "Yes, what's the problem? Shouldn't siblings take care of each other?"

Hirano Aoki blinked: "That's true... but... never mind, maybe older sisters and younger sisters really are two different kinds of creatures."

After saying that, Aoki Akemi kicked her younger brother again, and Aoki Hirano pointed at him and wailed, "Look, look! This is how my sister always treats me! She's nothing like Rena! I want a younger sister who's this good to me too!"

Akemi Aoki gave a forced smile: "Even if you can't compare, you'll have to accept it."

Then another girl ran over from a distance: "Good morning, everyone! You're all up so early!"

The four of them turned around and realized it was Kana Sato. They greeted her with "Good morning!" and the five of them chatted and laughed as they walked to school.

Upon arriving at the classroom, Shinichi Kitagawa sat in a window seat.

Aoki Hirano rushed over as if he'd heard some major news: "Believe it! Big news! Big news! There's big news at our school today!"