Chapter 379: Leo Karumi [13]

"This is the one thing I never expected to happen in a thousand years."

Nathan was smiling, but he still half-covered his face, like he couldn’t decide whether to laugh or call it a hallucination.

"I don’t know what’s more unbelievable," he said. "You agreeing to help with the end-of-year festival... or you actually letting Lea come here."

"Well," Lea said softly, scratching her cheek with a shy smile, "a lot happened to get to this point..."

They were leaned against the kitchen island together, close enough to look casual, far enough to keep the adults from eavesdropping too easily. Beyond them, the living room was full.

The kids—including Lia—were on the floor in the middle of the room, clustered around toy cars, all aside from Lia, wearing those ridiculous little triangle party hats. The adults, including Leo and Lia’s mom and dad, were spread across the couch and chairs, chatting with relatives and neighbors and whoever else Jeanne had invited.

There were a lot of people here today—more than Leo expected. He hadn’t realized his little sister had that many friends.

Still, he listened to Lea and resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he spoke in his usual monotone.

"What she means is that she stalked me from school, trailed me through the streets, got emotional in the rain to convince me, and guilt-tripped me—before buying me apple pie and helping me pick a gift for my little sister."

"H-hey, don’t say it like that!" Lea panicked, turning red.

Then, as if the truth stung, her shoulders sagged and she looked down.

"B-but... I guess I can’t exactly deny it..."

"Hah."

Nathan let out a single laugh, still looking stunned.

But Lea suddenly snapped her head back up, eyes wide.

"Wait—did you say I guilt-tripped you?!" she blurted.

"Did I really manage to do that to

you

?"

She leaned toward Leo, eyes practically sparkling.

Leo smirked, amused.

"What do you think?"

It took only a second for her expression to fall flat again. Her face darkened as she looked away, sulking.

"Right... like that could ever happen," she muttered.

"Stupid evil prince."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Avoiding his stare, she lifted her cup and drank her strawberry juice.

Leo had a cup too—his fourth apple juice of the day. Nathan also had apple juice, because of course he did.

After a big gulp, Lea looked back at Leo.

"Honestly, this is kind of surprising," she admitted. "I heard your family was loaded, so I expected a huge mansion or something. I even dressed up because I didn’t know what kind of... elite household I was walking into."

"Elite?" Leo repeated.

"What kind of movies have you been watching?"

He took a sip and continued, as if he was explaining something obvious.

"And no, we don’t need a mansion. My dad moves around too much, and both my parents agree it’s unnecessary. They’re barely home—having a massive house would just be pointless. It would also be way too much for me and Lia to live in by ourselves, even with maids and all that. Besides... I don’t mind."

Lea stared for a moment, then muttered, half to herself,

"You still basically admitted you’re super rich, you know. Damn..."

She sighed, then smiled again, softer this time.

"Still... your parents really want the best for you and Lia, huh?"

"Yeah," Leo said.

"They always want the best for me."

"And Leo always tries his best too!" Nathan added brightly.

"Hey!"

Before Leo could react, Nathan hooked an arm around his neck with a cheeky grin.

"You know, Lea," Nathan said, "Leo’s actually a mama’s boy. He loves her

so much!

"

"Nathan. I’m about to break your arm."

"Sorry, sorry!" Nathan laughed, letting go immediately.

Lea laughed too, and Leo’s mood dipped a notch.

"I noticed," Lea said, grinning.

"Yesterday, when he was getting scolded and actually listening."

Leo clicked his tongue and took another sip.

"It’s my mother," he muttered, annoyed.

"Why wouldn’t I listen to her?"

It was normal. It was expected. The way they were looking at him—warm, amused—only made leo feel worse.

He turned away, clicking his tongue again.

That was when all three of them noticed Lia starting to open the gifts. People’s attention shifted toward the living room, and the noise softened into anticipation.

Lia tore into the first present.

It was a pink bracelet made of some sort of plastic.

Everyone cheered and clapped—everyone except Leo, Lea, and Nathan.

"That is so fucking cheap," Nathan whispered.

Leo and Lea both nodded.

Lea’s expression tightened.

"Clearly the parent of whoever kid brought that is insecure about Lia," she muttered bitterly. "Giving her something that’ll look ugly on her. Adults really are disgusting."

Both Leo and Nathan stared at Lea in mild shock—almost impressed.

"President..." Nathan whispered.

"I never thought someone like you would talk that badly about adults."

Leo nodded along, equally surprised.

"Yeah. I thought you’d be sucking up to them even when you know how two-faced they can be. You’re basically a goody-two-shoes."

"E-eh? S-sucking up? Goody-two-shoes?" Lea sputtered, eyes flicking between them.

"Wh-what do you two take me for...?"

Then, as if she’d realized she was being judged, her spine straightened.

"I-I’m not

just

a goody-two-shoes!" she insisted.

"I-I can be bad too! Yeah—I can be like super bad as well!"

Leo and Nathan both smirked. Nathan leaned in and whispered, teasing her.

"Prez... have you ever even said a curse word?"

"A-a curse word?"

"Yeah, a curse word. For examp—mpfgh!"

Lea clamped a hand over Nathan’s mouth instantly and raised a finger to her own lips, shushing him.

"I know what a curse word is, you idiot!" she hissed. "This is a kid’s birthday party. Why the hell would I say a curse word!?"

"...Whoa," Nathan mumbled against her palm.

"You just said it."

Leo started making slow clapping motions, looking impressed. Lea glared at him.

"When did I?!"

"You said, ’Why the hell,’ and ’you idiot,’" Leo replied calmly.

"That counts."

"No, it doesn’t!"

"In the context you used it, it does."

"T-that—"

Lea found herself speechless. She puffed her cheeks, pouted, and finally let Nathan’s mouth go.

Nathan sighed and scratched his hair.

"Prez, don’t get so worked up. We’re just joking," he said. "And don’t take us too seriously—especially

him!

Leo’s got a rotten personality! Trust me, you don’t want to be influenced by it! I can say that as one of his victims!"

"Nathan. Do you want to fucking die?"

Nathan pointed at him, grinning.

"See?"

The three of them kept bickering until a new wave of clapping pulled their attention to the living room. Lia had just thanked someone for a plush fox—now cuddled in her arms—and moved to the next gift bag.

"Damn..." Nathan said suddenly, watching her.

"Your little sister is really cute."

Leo and Lea both turned to him with flat, unimpressed looks.

"What?" Nathan protested.

"You can’t deny it! She looks adorable with that fox!"

"What’s your deal with foxes?" Leo asked.

"I just like them, that’s all!"

"You like them a little too much," Leo said dryly.

"Maybe you’re obsessed."

"I’m not!"

"You were literally drawing a fox the first time we met."

Nathan stiffened, then snapped back, flustered.

"W-well... you don’t have any right to talk! You’re obsessed with apples!"

"So are you," Leo replied.

"Remember? It was a fox eating an apple."

"Ugh..."

Nathan, defeated, looked away and sulked. Leo didn’t find it cute—just annoying.

Lea, on the other hand, looked intensely curious.

"Fox? Apples?" she asked.

"How did you two even meet?"

Nathan’s face lit with a dark grin—then he immediately replaced it with a dramatic, melancholic expression, one hand cupping his cheek.

"It was during a dark time in my life," he began solemnly. "Surrounded by enemies and hunger, all I had was a stick... and sand torturing my feet. And when I was about to be jumped by my foes, Leo stepped in front of me and saved me—becoming my hero... and the love of my life."

A look of pure disgust spread across Leo’s face. Lea looked like she didn’t know whether to laugh or call for help.

"U-um... Nathan," Lea said carefully, then hesitated before forcing the question out, "is... is there something wrong with your brain?"

"My brain?" Nathan tilted his head.

"No? My brain is perfectly healthy."

"Your parents are lying to you," Leo said without missing a beat.

"H-hey! Don’t say that!" Nathan shot back.

"Besides, my mom is here—we can ask her right now!"

Before they could keep going, Lia walked toward them, and they realized the whole room was watching.

It was almost impressive how quickly the three of them fixed their faces—composed, innocent—like they hadn’t been roasting each other five seconds ago.

Lia approached with a beautiful green headband in her hands.

"That’s my gift, isn’t it?" Leo asked quietly, glancing at Lea.

"Shouldn’t

you

know?" Lea whispered back.

"And didn’t we agree it was ours?"

"Just say you’re too cheap to buy a kid a present."

"T-that’s not true!" Lea hissed. "It was just too last-minute to buy anything else. Besides, your mom kept insisting I shouldn’t buy a gift and said we should count the one from yesterday as something we got together!"

Leo was about to reply, but Lia had stepped close enough that he had to shut up.

He looked down at her, curious despite himself.

Would she like it? Would she hate it?

Standing in front of him, Lia held the headband out and looked up with a nervous expression.

Leo was annoyed—not at her, but at the way everyone had gone quiet. The adults and kids stared like he was on a stage.

Lia then kept her eyes down, hiding her face as she held the headband toward him.

"...You don’t like the present?" Leo asked, confused.

Leo wasn’t the only one. Lea and Nathan looked equally puzzled.

Lia shook her head quickly.

"No," she whispered in a small voice.

"I-I want big brother to put it on me... please."

’Can’t she do that herself?’

Still, Leo nodded.

"Alright..."

Under everyone’s gaze, Leo crouched down and went onto one knee. He took the headband from Lia’s hands.

Then, carefully—while the room held its breath for some reason—he placed it on her head, adjusting it until it sat perfectly.

Immediately, he heard camera shutters.

Leo held back a sigh, held back any expression that might give him away.

Then the cheering and clapping exploded.

Leo glanced at his parents and had to force his face to stay blank.

Both his mom and dad were holding their phones up, taking pictures—with the flash on, like it was a celebrity moment.

Leo ignored them and focused on Lia.

She still hadn’t looked up. Both her hands were resting on top of her head, hovering protectively over the headband.

"Anything else?" Leo asked.

"Can... can you come closer?"

He didn’t understand why, but he leaned forward anyway.

"...!"

Suddenly, Lia lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his neck.

And then Leo felt something soft against his cheek—just for a second.

A kiss. She kissed him.

Before he could react, Lia pulled away, turned, and ran back toward the others, her voice even smaller as she called out:

"Thank you for the gift...!"

For some reason, the cheering got even louder. More camera shutters followed.

Leo stayed there for a moment, fingers touching his cheek, dazed.

"You were right," Lea said softly, smiling.

"She really is adorable."

Nathan nodded, grinning.

Leo clenched his jaw and stood up.

"I’m going to get some fresh air."

Nathan’s grin sharpened into a smirk.

"What, don’t tell me your little sister’s affection is what it takes to fight off your dark murderous thoughts?"

"Wait—what dark murderous thoughts?" Lea asked, confused.

Leo just glared at Nathan and walked away.

"What about the cake?" Nathan called after him.

"If anyone asks," Leo said without turning back, "tell them I’ll be back soon."

"Alright," Nathan replied.

"Don’t take too long."

As Leo walked away, his mood didn’t improve.

’I don’t want her to start loving me after all this time...

It’s better if she stays away from me. If she dislikes me.’

It confused him. Why the sudden affection from his baby sister? Leo had never been a proper big brother. He treated her more like a nuisance than family.

’Did Mom or Dad tell her to do it?

Yeah. Probably.’

It was stupid either way. Leo wasn’t in the mood to start taking the responsibility of an older brother now.

With that thought, he reached the front door and pulled it open—

Only to find a strange man in a black coat standing there, hand raised, surprised mid-motion as he was about to press the doorbell.

Leo masked his annoyance and asked evenly,

"You are?"

The man brightened into a polite smile.

"Ah, you must be Leo Karumi! It’s nice to meet you. My name is Detective Nolan."