Tokyo: Love Begins with Controlling the Rich Girl

“She didn’t say.” Hoshino Yuzuki bit her lip. “I heard a strange man’s voice on the phone.”

Shimada Sho looked surprised. "A man?"

"Hmm." Hoshino Yuuki looked up with concern. "Will Mom be in danger?"

Shimada Sho smiled upon hearing this, "Don't overthink it."

What danger could there be in the world?

Aunt Island Flower has a very simple interpersonal relationship.

She has no relatives in Tokyo and doesn't know any other men.

But if it is, it's probably because Aunt Island Flower is in love.

"Maybe Auntie is on a date?" Shimada Sho guessed.

“No, no.” Hoshino Yuzuki shook her head. “My mother has never hidden anything like this from me, and her voice sounds a bit off.”

"What's wrong?"

"It just... doesn't feel like a date." Hoshino Yuuki was still worried.

Helpless, Shimada Sho took out his phone and reassured her, "Don't worry, let me call your aunt and ask."

He dialed the number of Shima Hana Runa.

The phone rang for a while before it was answered.

"Hey, Sho?" Shimahana Runa's voice sounded a little unnatural, but still normal. "What's wrong?"

"Auntie, have we had any guests?" Shimada Sho asked bluntly.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Ah, yes, yes, a friend came." Shima Hana Runa's tone carried a hint of barely perceptible nervousness. "Sho, don't worry, he's just a regular friend."

"Oh," Shimada Sho replied. "Then Yuzuki and I will go back later."

"Okay, okay, be careful on your way."

After hanging up the phone, Shimada Sho pondered to himself.

Aunt Island Flower is clearly lying.

Her voice sounded like she'd been caught red-handed.

There are indeed people at home; saying they're just ordinary friends is a very perfunctory excuse.

But this further confirmed his conjecture.

"Brother?" Hoshino Yuuki looked at him nervously.

Shimada Sho made a decision, "Come with me to the convenience store first, and I'll go back with you later."

He decided not to disturb them.

If Aunt Island Flower has found a new love, that would be a good thing.

“Okay,” Hoshino Yuuki replied.

The two walked one after the other, neither of them speaking.

Hoshino Yuuki followed him with her head down, looking helpless and nervous.

Shimada Sho glanced at her profile out of the corner of his eye and smiled bitterly to himself.

This younger sister is usually sharp-tongued, but when something happens, she still relies on him.

"Let's go." He slowed his pace and walked alongside her.

Hoshino Yuuki looked up at him, her lips moved, but she didn't say anything and followed him even closer.

……

Inside the convenience store, Rena Takikawa was leaning over the checkout counter, scrolling through her phone.

When she saw Shimada Sho enter, her eyes lit up. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Hoshino Yuzuki behind him and immediately gave a teasing smile.

"Genji-kun has a new girlfriend again today~"

As soon as he said that, Hoshino Yuuki looked at him suspiciously.

Shimada Sho explained helplessly, "This is my younger sister."

"Oh! It's my little sister, so cute~" The shop manager immediately became interested.

Shimada Sho put down his schoolbag and asked, "Can she stay here for a while today?"

"Of course!" Takikawa Rena stood up from her chair, patted Hoshino Yuuki's shoulder with a grin, "Make yourself at home, little sister~"

Hoshino Yuuki's face flushed slightly. "Th-thank you."

"You're welcome, you're welcome~" Takikawa Rena picked up her bag, winked at Shimada Sho, "I'll be going now, good luck Genji-kun~"

The wind chimes tinkled as her figure disappeared around the street corner.

Shimada Sho changed into an apron and went behind the cashier.

Hoshino Yuuki stood at the door, looking around somewhat nervously.

"Come sit down." Shimada Sho pointed to the small stool next to the cashier.

Hoshino Yuuki walked over and obediently sat down.

She placed her schoolbag on her lap, put her hands on it, and kept her head down without saying a word.

Looking at her like this, Shimada Sho suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

My sister, who is usually arrogant at school, becomes well-behaved in unfamiliar environments.

"Would you like some water?" he asked casually.

"……Um."

Shimada Sho took a bottle of mineral water from the shelf, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to her.

Hoshino Yuzuki took it and drank it in small sips.

"Hey." She suddenly spoke after putting down the bottle.

"Ok?"

"Do you think something might have happened to Mom?"

"No," Shimada Sho said firmly. "I'm here."

Hoshino Yuuki looked up at him and nodded.

They seemed somewhat relieved.

But he was clearly still worried, and his mind was elsewhere.

The reason for her nervousness was, of course, that Aunt Island Flower had never avoided her like this before.

Being rejected for the first time can easily cause panic about being alienated.

Shimada Sho thought for a moment and joked, "You look quite cute when you're nervous."

"Who's nervous!" Hoshino Yuuki suddenly became agitated, rolling her eyes and saying, "Don't use 'cute' to describe me, it's disgusting!"

"Okay, then...it's beautiful?"

"That's even more disgusting, you idiot!"

"Ugly?"

"Sho Shimada!"

"exist."

Hoshino Yuuki glared at him, her tense mood dissipating considerably.

Seeing her like this, Shimada Sho couldn't help but smile.

They then started talking about other things.

As they chatted aimlessly, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Hoshino Yuzuki sat on a small stool, occasionally helping to hand over some goods, and sometimes helping Shimada Sho look at the shelves.

Although he kept complaining, he didn't hesitate to do anything.

While working, Shimada Sho couldn't help but think that if his younger sister were here, even if the idol came over, he probably wouldn't dare to do anything reckless.

After all, there were outsiders present.

But to his surprise, from 5:30 to past 8:00, Tenkai Chizuru did not appear.

Shimada Sho glanced at his phone; there were no new messages on Line.

"strangeness."

Why is this girl being so well-behaved today?

"What time is it?" Hoshino Yuuki's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Shimada Sho glanced at the clock on the wall. "8:20."

"I'll call Mom again." Hoshino Yuzuki took out her phone and dialed Shimahana Runa's number.

The phone rang a few times before being answered.

"Yuzuki?" Shimahana Runa's voice came through the receiver.

"Mom, is it... done on your end?" Hoshino Yuzuki asked cautiously.

"Not yet." Shimahana Runa's tone was slightly unnatural. "Yuzuki, come back a little later. Mom has some things to do here."

"But……"

"obedient."

The phone hangs up.

Hoshino Yuuki held her phone, a bitter look in her eyes.

“Brother.” She looked up, her voice tinged with fear, “I heard several people talking on the phone, it was very noisy, it didn’t sound like they were chatting.”

Shimada Sho frowned.

“And there’s my mother’s voice…” Hoshino Yuzuki bit her lip, “It doesn’t sound right…”

After a moment of silence, Shimada Sho took out his phone and dialed Takikawa Rena's number.

"Genji-kun~ What's wrong?" A lazy voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Manager, I have an urgent matter to attend to. Could I leave work early today?"

"Okay, you go ahead with your work, I'll be right there."

"Thank you."

Shimada Sho hung up the phone, took off his apron, and slung his backpack over his shoulder.

"Walk."

"Where to?" Hoshino Yuuki stood up.

"Go find Auntie."

The two walked out of the convenience store, and Shimada Sho hailed a taxi and headed straight for Aunt Shimahana's house.

The car drove through the night, with Hoshino Yuuki sitting in the back seat, clutching her schoolbag tightly.

Shimada Sho sat next to her without saying a word.

Twenty minutes later, the taxi stopped outside the residential area where the courtyard was located.

Shimada Sho paid the fare and got out of the car, his face suddenly darkening.

Several black minivans were parked at the street corner.

The license plates of these cars were deliberately obscured, but Shimada Sho still recognized them at a glance.

He had seen these vehicles outside the Owada Financial Center.

“Brother…” Hoshino Yuuki’s voice trembled slightly.