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♥ ♢ MY SISTER, AYUMI ♢♥
The chatter in the university cafeteria was a familiar, buzzing symphony of youthful energy, gossip, and the clatter of trays. For most, it was background noise. For me, it was a minefield.
"Did you see Mikuyi's new music video? Ayumi-chan was an absolute goddess!" one guy gushed, his friends nodding in fervent agreement.
"I know, right? That solo part gave me chills. Her voice is just… unreal," another added, pulling up the video on his phone, the volume just loud enough for me to hear the opening synth notes.
I stabbed a piece of tonkatsu with a little more force than necessary, keeping my eyes locked on my lunch. My name is Takeshi Kitamaki. At 26, I'm a graduate student, and most people would describe me as serious, maybe a little too disciplined. I like order, I value hard work, and I don't appreciate distractions. As my name, Takeshi (武), suggests, I carry a certain warrior-like strictness in my daily life. I'm told I'm good-looking, a trait I inherited from our parents, but I keep my hair short and my expression neutral, which tends to keep people at a comfortable distance.
♥ ♢ ♥
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♥ ♢ I AM TAKESHI ♢♥
That's me, the older brother. A loving, but very strict, older brother. And "Ayumi-chan," the goddess whose ethereal voice was now filling the space around me, is my younger sister, Ayumi Kitamaki.
To the world, Ayumi is a phenomenon. At 25, she is the heart and center of "Mikuyi," arguably the most popular female idol group in Japan right now. With her cascading long black hair, a face that perfectly balances stunning beauty with an irresistible cuteness, and a toned, model-esque body, she's the dream of millions. Fan groups dedicate their lives to her. Men and women alike are captivated by her every move. She’s independent, a ridiculously hard worker, and a true star who shines with an almost blinding light in the entertainment industry.To me? She's the girl who still leaves her socks on the living room floor and can't cook rice without burning it.
The group "Mikuyi" consists of three members. Alongside Ayumi, there's Izuwa Manasaki and Hina Ojori. Izuwa, 24, with her stylishly short purple hair and mischievous grin, has a legion of fans who adore her playful energy. Hina, my age at 26, usually sports a high, long ponytail and has a slightly more mature, calming presence that many find captivating. They are both incredibly cute, and their voices, when harmonized with Ayumi's, create something truly magical.
At home, though, the dynamic shifts. These three superstars, adored by a nation, are just… family. They live with me in our spacious family home. When the cameras are off and the stage lights dim, they shed their celebrity skins. Izuwa will sprawl on the couch playing video games, Hina will help me with chores, and Ayumi will pester me for help with her lines or complain about their manager. They are my sisters, in every way that matters. Izuwa and Hina became my step-sisters through a tangle of family circumstances years ago, but the "step" part has long since faded away. We are siblings.
And that is the grand, cosmic joke of my life.
Here I am, Takeshi Kitamaki, a simple graduate student, surrounded by people obsessing over the three girls I'll be having dinner with tonight. Every lecture hall, every corner of this campus, is filled with whispers and shouts about their latest single, their brand endorsements, their impossible beauty.
Yet, not a single soul here knows my secret. Nobody connects the serious, unassuming Kitamaki in their class with the celestial Ayumi Kitamaki on their screens. To them, I am just a commoner, another face in the crowd. And honestly, most days, I prefer it that way. It's peaceful.
But as I finished my meal and stood up, the phone in my pocket buzzed. A text from Ayumi.
"Onii-chan! Don't forget to pick up milk on your way home! And Izu-chan wants that expensive ice cream again. (´｡• ᵕ •｡) ♡`"
I let out a quiet sigh, a small smile tugging at my lips. My day as a commoner was ending. It was time to go home and resume my real, much more chaotic, role: the big brother of a superstar.
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