Arc-2 Ep-29

 As a result of talking about the part-time job, my third-eldest brother ended up participating in the Valentine’s chocolate sorting job for Sistema Solare. And he even took the day off from his originally scheduled part-time job to do it.

Apparently, the pay was that good.

Though in the end, the money Fortissimo paid would just come back to Fortissimo through me-related expenses anyway.

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“Phew… I’m beat again today.”

“Yeah~ But I’ve built up a lot more stamina, so it’s gotten way easier.”

“The lesson intensity has stabilized lately, after all.”

On weekdays, as usual after school, we go to the production office and take lessons. Recently, the physical training time has decreased, and in its place, acting-related lessons have increased. Of course, thanks to God’s cheat, I breeze through all of them. Now I just have to wait for a chance to show them off.

Taneyama-san says my acting is already at a passing level, so if drama or movie offers come in, we’ll accept them. Though for the time being, the focus will be on letting me gain experience with small roles.

“What’s Mikuri-chan’s ride home today?”

“Dad’s car. His work ended early today, apparently… Nozomi-chan, Chie-chan, the usual?”

“Yes. They’re already here, waiting in the parking lot.”

“My dad will be here in about ten minutes.”

“I think mine’s almost here too. Shall we head to the parking lot?”

“Yes, let’s.”

“Okay♪”

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We say goodbye to the gen-mates who were still hanging around and leave the office building through the front entrance. The sun has already set, and while the three of us are walking toward the parking lot, someone suddenly calls out.

“Mikuri!”

“Nn? Ah, Michio-nii-san.”

The one who stopped us is my youngest brother, the university student currently doing a short-term part-time job at Fortissimo.

“You’re already done with today’s shift?”

“More like this whole job is finished now. They said the remaining small amount will be handled by the full-time staff.”

“I see.”

So my brother’s part-time job ends today.

I’m not sure if that means it ended early or took a long time. Well, we were all overwhelmed by the sheer number of Valentine’s chocolates that had taken over several rooms.

“Good evening. It’s been a while, onii-san.”

“Good evening!”

“Ah, yes. It’s been a while. Nanazawa-san and Sekiguchi-san.”

My family was already introduced to the sixth-generation members during our very first mini-live. Since my whole family came on both Saturday and Sunday, all the sixth-generation members know their faces.

At least if they remember.

My family all have very average faces and were told by the other members that we don’t really look alike, so it wouldn’t be strange if they’d already forgotten.

“Thank you for always being so kind to my little sister.”

“No, no, I’m the one who’s been taken care of.”

“Chie has been helped a lot too.”

“That’s true. I hope She wasn't causing too much trouble when she stayed over at your houses.”

“Hey, come on, nii-san. As if I’d ever be any trouble. Right?”

“Yes!”

“Chie’s parents were actually really happy about it.”

When I shifted the conversation to Nozomi-chan and Chie-chan, they smiled and denied it. The truth is, both of them are absolutely delighted whenever I stay over.

“That’s good to hear. Please continue to get along with my sister.”

“Of course!”

“Yes! Understood!”

I suddenly feel like I have multiple fathers. A family that can’t let go of their daughter/sister.

“Jeez…”

“Haha… Oh, there’s Dad’s car.”

“Chie’s dad too.”

Right then, two cars pulled into the production parking lot one after another. Finally, our rides have arrived.

“I’ll be going first then. I shouldn’t keep the car waiting.”

“Yeah. See you tomorrow, Nozomi-chan.”

“Good work today!”

“Yes. See you both tomorrow. Excuse me, onii-san.”

“Ah, yes. Goodbye.”

Nozomi-chan heads toward the glossy black luxury car that’s waiting for her. In the meantime, our ride has parked nearby.

“Sorry to keep you waiting… Oh, Michio’s here too?”

“Of course I’m here. Cold father, aren’t you?”

In a way, they’re rivals fighting over me: my dad and my third brother. As we approach the parked car, next to us Chir-chan has already started talking with her dad, Tomoyuki.

“Papa!”

“Sorry I’m late.”

“It’s okay. More importantly, Mikuri-san’s dad is over there.”

“…I should probably say hello then.”

Noticing Tomoyuki-san, who had stepped out of the car, my dad also got out and started talking.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Tomoyuki Sekiguchi, Chie’s father.”

“How do you do. Thank you for looking after my daughter the other day. Ah, I’m Shun Kayanuma”

And so begins a bit of small talk, or rather, the woes of fathers who suddenly have idol daughters. Judging by how lively the conversation is, it looks like we won’t be leaving anytime soon.

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“…Mikuri.”

“Hm?”

“Nozomi-chan and Chie-chan are cute, aren’t they?”

“Well, they’re idols, of course.”

“But Mikuri is the cutest, right? Right, Michio?”

“Obviously, Dad.”

Inside the car with the three of us, the two non-me people are fully displaying their doting-parent and sis-con tendencies. This is just business as usual, so I don’t even mind anymore.

“By the way, Dad. You were later than planned, weren’t you?”

“When I was about to leave the house, Isao and Kunihiko came home. There was a little… discussion about who would come pick you up.”

The Isao mentioned is my eldest brother, and Kunihiko is the second eldest. Because Dad has a single-kanji name, all four of us siblings apparently ended up with three-kanji names.

“Well, the one who ended up in the driver’s seat won, though!”

“Haa…”

Once we get home, I’ll butter up the two older brothers a bit. That way, they’ll probably forget they couldn’t come pick me up, and it’ll smooth over the third brother’s grumbling about being the only one who got to go to the office building for the part-time job.

Being hopelessly doted on actually takes quite a bit of effort.