There’s something a little nasty about that question that takes Hokuto aback.

“Seiichi...”

She finds herself at a loss on how to answer. Even if she knew when they started dating, it seems wrong to go along with her brother’s characterization of it. But she can’t really bring herself to call him out on it either, because she knows why he’s doing this. And it makes her feel a little breathless from the hurt.

Hokuto sets her chopsticks aside and leans across the table to take her brother’s hand in hers.

“What is it you really want to know?”