Chapter 12 (2/2)

Although Emily said it lightly without any bad intentions, Yuriko couldn’t help but fall into silence.

“What happened? …don’t tell me, that stupid brother did something!?”

“That-that’s not it! Asahina-sama didn’t do anything! Rather, he keeps worrying about me… yes, that person is always kind…”

As Yuriko’s voice gradually faded, Emily’s woman’s intuition kicked in and she opened her mouth.

“Nee Yuriko, what do you think about my brother?”

Yuriko wondered how to answer that question.

If she spoke to Emily, they might be able to develop a better relationship.

But she had already decided to wish for the other’s happiness.. Will it really be alright to overturn her decision so quickly? She couldn’t help but wonder.

“Do you dislike Kaoru nii-san?”

Emily once again asked Yuriko who had been silent for a long while.

” … I don’t dislike him..”

While those weren’t her true thoughts, but it wasn’t a lie either.

“Thank goodness. I wonder what I’d do if you disliked him.”

“But doesn’t Asahina-sama have someone he longs for? The person himself said so.”

“EEEeeh!?”

Surprised at Emily’s sudden loud voice that came through the phone, Yuriko held the receiver away from her ear on reflex.

Emily apologized for her loud voice and asked Yuriko what she really meant.

“What do you mean?”

“Ummmm.. When I asked Asahina-sama if he had someone he loved, he answered that he had been pining for someone for nearly 15 years.”

” … how did that question even come up?”

“S-sorry.. I never thought it would turn into such a heavy topic.”

Yuriko guessed that it was definitely a bad topic, if Emily’s reaction was anything to go by.

“No, it’s not necessarily a bad thing …. By the way, who do you think is Kaoru nii-san’s beloved person?”

While Yuriko wanted to deny the answer to Emily’s question from the bottom of her heart, she still replied solemnly.

” … Isn’t that.. Risa-san?”

” … “

Hearing Emily’s silence in response to her own guess, Yuriko confirmed her suspicion and felt despair.

” … can’t help but feel pity..”

“Emily-san?”

“It’s not something I should say, but I’m definitely sure that the person my brother fell for is not Risa!”

“Ehh?”

“Ugh! That stupid big brother! I will kick his ass the next time I visit my home!”

Yuriko was perplexed at Emily’s troubling words. But the more important thing was, if Asahina’s beloved person wasn’t Risa, then who was it?

However, thinking about the previous converssation, Yuriko had a faint idea that Emily won’t tell her even if she asked.

Yuriko answered Emily’s questions with a distressed heart.

“If I wasn’t so busy with my work, I would have visited you right away.”

“Are you busy preparing for the trial? I have a lot of time, so feel free to come see me whenever you can.”

“Well, it’s a case that will surely raise my reputation as a defense lawyer after all! I’m also pretty excited for it.”

“Medical error, was it? I hope it’s not too troublesome.”

“I can’t say much due to confidentiality, but it’s a lot of work. There are not many cases like these after all.”

Yuriko could feel how serious the case was, just by listening to the tone of Emily’s voice. She was worried that Emily would overwork herself to the point of collapsing.

“It’s fine to strain every nerve, but don’t break your body to the point of no return.”

“It’s alright since I have my family backing me up! Ah, it looks like my daughter woke up, so I’ll have to hang up soon. Well then, I will call you again later.”

“Yeah. Thank you for today. It was fun talking to you after such a long time. Well then, gokigenyou. ” { ご機嫌よう (gokigenyou) = very polite greeting, usually used by older people or private school girls. Reika fans might be familiar}

“Gokigenyou.”

A young girl’s voice calling for Emily could be heard through the receiver. Hearing it, Yuriko smiled.

If she wasn’t wrong, the girl should be the same age as Tsubaki. Yuriko thought it would be nice if the two girls got along and became friends, just like their mothers.