Prologue

It is now September, my final summer break as a high school student is now over.

No matter what I do there is only a half a year left before graduation. After six months, my life will experience a significant change. No matter how partial I am to a normal lifestyle, graduation is inevitable.

Not only that… but I've got the feeling that this half-year will have a very strong impact on my life. It's just a hunch though, I don't have anything to back it up.

No, I actually already knew about one thing.

That's my little sister.

My little sister – Kousaka Kirino.

Just like the me of three years ago, my little sister will graduate from her middle school and enter high school.

What will Kirino do after she graduates? Go to a nearby high school? Go study abroad again? Or ---

"Hey, Kirino. What do you intend to do after graduation?"

"It's a secret."

Even if I asked her, she wouldn't tell me.

Exams. Graduation. Further studies. Other things that I don't know about.

Half a year. This is probably the hardest half-year in my life. If I don't take it seriously, I will regret it for the rest of my life. I feel anxiety in my heart.

Many students in my class feel the same way, because of that, many of us try our best to enjoy our remaining time as high school students.

There is not much time left. Many things – there are many things that I have to finish in this half of a year.

Before I begin, there is something I have to make clear.

From the start, when I found out about my little sister's secret up until now, everything just came from my personal knowledge and opinions.

This is something fairly obvious, but it's also something very important.

Just like when a narrator changes his point of view, my story will change too. My story has probably changed already. Too bad, there's no way I could know about those changes.

That's right.

Everyone, each of them has their own story.

My Big Sister is Denpa Maiden and a Holy Angel

My big sisters. First year, first class, Gokou Tamaki.

'''I have two big sisters. The oldest is Ruri-nee-sama and the second oldest is Hinata-onee-chan. Both of my big sisters are very kind, they always take care of me, I love Ruri-nee-sama and Hinata-onee-chan very much.

Hinata-onee-chan is talkative, she is always telling me funny stories and she plays with me. Ruri-nee-sama is very good at drawing, she is always drawing manga with all her strength. Sometimes she will read me books in the evening before I go to sleep and she will sleep with me. She will stay with me so that I won't be afraid before I fall asleep, she is always by my side. She is very skilled at cooking and she always makes delicious food.

Mother, Father and Hinata-onee-chan always say that it is very delicious.

Ruri-nee-sama is always giving it her best. There was a time ----"

"Waa…"

I was reading my little sister's essay, but for some reason I was moaning and had complicated feelings.

"Hey, Tama-chan."

"Yes, Onee-chan?"

A little girl with bobbed hair who was sitting in a behaved manner stared back at me blankly.

This is Gokou Tamaki. My very cute little sister.

"Oh, nothing."

"What?"

… No, no, I can't ask her that.

If she likes Ruri-nee more than me.

"Oh, never mind."

The subject was "My big sisters", but there was an 8:2 ratio of "I love Ruri-nee-sama very much!", as Tamaki's other big sister I felt a little unhappy.

I felt awkward because Tamaki is a child who is incapable of lying. I knew that everything that was written on the paper was the truth. I love, love, love, love my big sister, I love this, I love that – I'm so happy that I'm able to live with my two big sisters.

I felt so embarrassed that I could die, or, I could even melt.

"Tamaki… Are you going to say this stuff in the classroom?"

"Yes."

"You're going to read this in front of everyone?"

"Yes!"

Such a cheerful reply.

"I-I see."

Ah~~~, really? I could die just imagining it.

"… I can't?"

"N-Nothing like that."

It's not like that, I was very happy, but I was also very embarrassed.

----- Okay, let's find a shield then.

"Tamaki, show it to Ruri-nee later. I'm sure she'll be happy."

"Hehee…"

You imagined the moment your favorite sister becomes happy upon seeing it, right? Tamaki is expressing her emotions with a soft smile.

--- This girl, is she such a good girl?

My face was getting hotter, if Ruri-nee saw this essay from her beloved little sister, she would be very embarrassed.

"Heeheeheehee..."

Oh my, I want to see it. I'm looking forward to it. I licked my lips imagining it.

"Something wrong?"

"Oh, it's nothing."

I once again directed my eyes to the essay.

Okay, I think it's about time for a self-introduction.

I'm Gokou Hinata. My two braids are my trademark and I'm a fifth grade elementary school student. I have a super cute little sister and a kind and clumsy big sister, so that makes me the middle sister.

About me… actually, I don't have much to say. I live in Chiba and I'm a normal girl.

We were waiting for dinner in the tea room. Our home has a very big tea room, but somehow compared to my friend's house it felt a little old? I just noticed that recently though. Well, that's normal, because I had come to the age where I started to admire people with good and stylish tastes. I even read some magazines in the school library, but all of my clothes are left over from my plain big sister. I felt a little unhappy about that as a girl.

There's nobody in this house I could take advice from about clothes.

My mom's fashion sense is very simple, my little sister is still an elementary school student, my sister is also no good, if I ask her she will happily make new clothes for me.

She would undoubtedly say something like "Ah… so you finally have a need for a dark costume?"

That's right. My big sister, she's a bit – no, actually a very huge denpa girl.

Gokou Ruri. We call her Ruri-nee.

She also seemed to use another nickname, 'Kuroneko'.

She has enviably beautiful black hair and pure white skin which emitted a fragile aura. She was very cold and her expression always seemed to be emotionless – that's how it looks at first.

She always looks down on others with her ice-cold gaze – that's how it looks at first.

If you live together with her every day, you'll find out that she is mischievous, sometimes that makes people want to bully her.

Until now, I have never seen someone who would share this hobby with me.

When she was young, she mostly played at home, now she drowns herself in anime, games, manga and novels. I think she's a shut-in.

She started making manga and novels on her own a few years ago. Later, because she was influenced by anime, she made her own gothic loli costume. Every night she made some weird 'ceremonies' inside of her room.

Her "ceremonies" were gradually increasing in level, currently, it's not uncommon for her to make phone calls to an imaginary friend.

If it weren't for those things she would be a very good big sister.

I continued to read my little sister's essay while thinking about my dear Ruri-nee.

---- There was a time that Ruri-nee acted like she saw a bright future ahead of her every day. It's too bad I didn't understand it at all. She would go on happily about things like "Ah, so his soul has been reincarnated without damage", just like when she was talking to "the denizen of the dark underworld" her face reddened and she seemed very excited. I hope that someday, I can understand Ruri-nee.

"Don't do that ------!!"

I couldn't help but yell… It's bad… she has such a negative effect on sure a pure and innocent child…

If in a few years Tamaki starts saying things like "The fallen angel" or "My true name is Kuroneko"… what should I do?… The moment she starts quoting Ruri-nee would become a black spot in history…!

Still, Tamaki sure is smart (although in some ways that's not a good thing), she could translate Ruri-nee's denpa language into something understandable.

I'm not sure myself, so this is only a guess… but I think that Onee-sama has somebody that she loves.

"Er? Er!?"

She wrote something incredible.

Wait, Tamaki is going to read this in front of her class – isn't she?

"Hey, Tamaki… everything you wrote is true, right?"

"Yes!"

Tamaki raised one hand in the air. True~ she wouldn't lie about it.

In fact, sometimes Ruri-nee would secretly talk with Tamaki, saying stuff like "Listen to me, Tamaki ---", she probably thought that saying stuff like that to a child wouldn't yield any bad results.

Why do I know about it? Well, because the source of my ability to make fun of Ruri-nee came from Tamaki.

So – it's the truth this time?

Oh! For real!? My Ruri-nee – has a crush? Was it an anime character or an imaginary boyfriend?

"… Still, it's not enough to reach a conclusion."

If that's true, I need to gather more proof.

Okay, first, I need to confirm it.

I immediately went to the kitchen. Well, it was only a few steps away.

"Ruri–nee. Ruri-nee."

I spoke to Ruri-nee, who was wearing an apron and cutting vegetables.

I heard the usual gentle response.

"… You are so noisy. Wait a bit more."

"No, no, I didn't come in here to ask about dinner."

"So why?"

"Ruri-nee, do you really have a crush?"

*Swoosh*. The kitchen knife stabbed into the board. Then Ruri-nee rigidly turned her head toward me.

"… You, you, you, you, you, what are you saying?"

"Er… so you really do have one?"

Based on her reaction, the chance of this being the case increased by 50%!

"Ah, no… no, no, it's not like that."

That's my confirmation~. So cute, her face turned bright red!

"Liar! Ruri-nee really does have a lover! Congratulations!"

"I-I told you it's not like that…"

I still can't disregard the possibility of an imaginary boyfriend, but the sight of my clumsy Onee-chan turning into a confused maiden was real. I asked innocently:

"What is he like? Tell me!"

"Wha-what a rude child. Listen to what other people are saying!"

"Don't play dumb and tell me! I'm very, very, very curious!"

"I'm very, very, very curious! Ah heehee!"

I don't know when, but Tamaki followed me into the kitchen and repeated my question (I don't think she had any idea what we were talking about, though).

Ruri-nee's face turned red like an apple. She looked down and started trembling.

"… He is…"

"He is?"

"A very… impressive person."

"Kya --------"

It's great! It's so fun!

"Did you ask him to go out with you?"

"No, not yet."

"Hah? --- Then, how about… a confession?"

"You have gone too far… I will become angry!"

"So… you still haven't confessed to him?"

According to my calculations a little provocation would be very effective right now.

"So Ruri-nee is still a child~"

"Ohhhhh……"

Ruri-nee's hands were trembling in anger.

"… Hm… Don't look down on me."

See? She took the bait.

"… Hm… Don't be stupid. Even I have a male contractor."

"Ah? Contractor?"

Con… contract….

"Haha. That's right. A contract."

Ruri-nee was smiling proudly.

"His name in this world is Kyousuke. A long time ago, when I was still the black beast, he was my mate…"

" --- So he is an anime character then."

You made me worried for nothing.

For a second, I thought that my big sister had finally become an adult.

"That's wrong. He really 'exists'."

… Poor Ruri-nee.

"Tamaki, go back to your room, okay?"

I didn't want my younger sister to witness the sad state of her big sister right now, so I asked Tamaki to go away, then I wiped a tear from my eye.

"Oh, I see… The black beast… Kyousuke–Onii-chan? He exists."

In Ruri-nee's heart.

"… Why am I being pitied by my little sister?"

"Don't mind it. I just had something in my eye…"

My tears wouldn't stop flowing. I always knew that my big sister was a denpa girl, but I never imagined that she would create an imaginary boyfriend and do perverted things with him in her mind… It was too sad…

So… that's why she held those weird 'ceremonies' in her room every night.

I need to help Ruri-nee become stronger… at least until she was able to get a real boyfriend. I need to help her confront reality.

Still, I also needed her cooperation.

"Hey, Ruri-nee, about your crush – what are his good points?"

"… Everything. Everything."

A maiden's answer.

Wow… she really fell for "him" already.

She fell for an imaginary person.

Embarrassed, Ruri-nee couldn't even remain standing. She sat down.

She bit her lower lip and continued, still blushing:

"He is a very handsome, very gentle and a very dependable man."

"Is he strong too?"

If Ruri-nee likes characters from Maschera, then he must be strong.

However…

"No… In his current form he has no capacity for combat."

Which means you made him up.

"… How about you confess to him?"

"He is… a very dense man. Unless I spoke about it bluntly he wouldn't understand."

But you made a contract with him, didn't you?

"Besides… Aside from me, there is also someone else that likes him…"

… Ruri-nee, he sure has a lot of disadvantages for an imaginary boyfriend.

Normally she would say something like "He is my servant" or something like that. Although it is in Ruri-nee's nature to be "a prideful girl" she preferred doing evil things from behind the scenes.

"If I confess, someone will be hurt."

"So… you won't confess? Even you like him?"

"………….."

Her face was serious, so I couldn't joke about it.

I started hearing about Kousaka Kirino from my big sister about a year ago, back then my big sister joined a "world party" - successfully getting a friend before going home. That day…

"Hey~ What is a "world party"~ Is it fun?"

"--- Of course it's fun. I get to meet many friends who share my hobbies. I plan to go there a second time."

That day when I spoke to my big sister by phone, I could tell she was trying to act tough by the sound of her voice. I remembered that at the time I was worried that the "world party" would fail.

A little over a half a year before that party I once casually asked "Ruri-nee, do you have any friends?". Her response at the time was "… Of course I have friends" and with a fearless smile she showed me her cell phone.

"… I will show you proof of my many friends."

Ruri-nee showed me her contact list.

True, there were lots of names inside of it.

However…

Nine tailed fox – The mortal fox (Tamamo-no-Mae [1])

Asura bird of prey – Lord of the flies (Beelzebub Beelzebub) The dark sheep – Azazel.

Ω (Unknown)

Female?/Real name unknown/Username/The second target for revengeance.

---- There were more than a hundred names like that.

"………."

"… Hmmm… See? Do you understand now?"

"… Yes, I understand."

I understand that Ruri-nee has no friends at all.

After that experience I couldn't help but worry for my big sister.

However – this time, Ruri-nee finally gained some real friends.

When she got home before I could even ask she started talking about the

"fallen angel" and "Titan" - but somehow I understood that my sister was

"showing off her friends" because it was totally unlike before.

It had been a long time since I saw Ruri-nee so happy.

I made a bit of refection. I had always underestimated her.

And then – that day happened.

That day Nee-chan came back home and tried to sneak into her room with a book bag.

Did Nee-chan buy an erotic magazine?

With that in mind I happily planned a surprise attack on my big sister's room.

*Crank*

"Ruri-nee, are you busy?"

"Ah… what?"

Shocked, Ruri-nee hastily hid the magazine behind her back.

Based on her reaction – it must be a very embarrassing magazine.

"Ah? Ruri-nee? What is behind you? A magazine?"

I slowly walked toward her. When I was about to pass, Ruri-nee quickly turned to face me – still, she was too inexperienced. I made my move.

"Got it!"

"Ah…"

Success! I took the magazine from Ruri-nee.

I turned the first page with excitement.

"Huh? It's just a normal magazine."

A fashion magazine, the same type that I've read many times before.

Ruri-nee seemed to give up, she sighed.

"Don't waste your time. It's just a mere vulgar fashion magazine."

"Yes, I guess there's nothing strange about it ---"

No wait. It's strange. Very strange!

" ---- Ruri-nee reading a fashion magazine!?"

"What's so strange about it?"

"It's very strange! What happened!? Are you a fake?"

"… I will get mad if you keep underestimating me like that."

But… she is Ruri-nee. The same Ruri-nee who always read suspicious spell tomes wearing a goth loli costume… My big sister with such a twisted fashion sense is suddenly reading a fashion magazine?

Even if it's true I couldn't believe it, I should at least try asking her.

"… Did you have a change of mind?"

"Wrong. How could I wear such shameless clothes?"

"I think it would suit you though."

No, now's not the time to bring that up!

"… So why?"

I asked again, my big sister replied shyly:

"… My friend is on the cover."

"Ruri-nee has a friend?"

"…….(Twitch)"

"Wah wah wah ah!"

She pulled my cheek.

"Stop it! It hurts!"

"OK, now trying saying it again."

Ruri-nee repeated in embarrassment.

"… My friend is on the cover."

"Ah ----? Really?"

I was honestly surprised. If it's Ruri-nee's friend she must have gotten one from the otaku girls party.

"She is on the cover… in other words, she is a model?"

Ruri-nee blushed and nodded.

"Who? Who is she?"

Ruri-nee flipped to a page in the middle of the magazine and dropped it on the floor so that I could see it too.

"… She is the bitchiest one among them."

"The bitchiest one…"

Even if you were trying to give me a clue… I didn't see anyone who resembled an otaku girl among them at all.

"This one?"

"Wrong."

"… Then, this one?"

"Wrong."

"… Then who? Even if you say she's the "bitchiest one", I still don't get it."

"… This one."

Ruri-nee's finger pointed to the most beautiful girl.

"Wah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah… so this is her?"

"That's right. Hm, hm… she looks bitchy, right?"

"Where?"

Isn't she an extremely beautiful girl!? Wow, her waist is so thin, her face is so small! Wah~ I like her already!

"Ruri-nee's friend" was wearing bold, fancy summer clothing, she was bent low with her hand showing a V-sign. She has light brown colored hair with a brilliant smile. The way the sunlight accentuated her features was very charming.

"Where? Everywhere. Not just her body, her soul is bitchy too. That's her true self, hm."

Ruri-nee kept calling her beautiful friend bitchy over and over, but she sounded like she was actually praising her friend instead.

"Look here, too. Even in a different fashion magazine, she is the still the bitchiest one."

"Right…"

So "bitchy" equals "cool" or "beautiful"? Did I remember it wrong?

Probably.

"Yes! She is the bitchiest one!"

"Looks like you finally understand."

Ruri-nee nodded in satisfaction. I felt relieved.

"Hey, so recently you've been talking to this 'Bitch-onee-san' every day?"

"Yes."

"Right~ what, what… ah~! I will call her Kirino-onee-san."

I took another look at Kirino-onee-san, I could hardly believe such a beautiful girl could become Ruri-nee's friend.

"Ah… so does that mean… Bitch-onee-san is an otaku?"

"That's right."

"Ah~ I can't believe it."

"I'm not lying. Take a look. We took this picture at Akihabara."

Ruri-nee brought out her cell phone, the lock screen showed Ruri-nee and Kirino-onee-san together with an otaku girl with spiral glasses.

"Wow, it's true. Ruri-nee even used the picture as her cell phone's lock screen."

"It's just a coincidence."

I highly doubt that.

"Hey, before your cell phone's lock screen was a picture of me, right?"

"How could you know that?"

"Heehee, I took a look."

"… It… It was just one among the suitable pictures. I just chose that picture at random."

"Oh right, did you use Tamaki's picture as your cell phone's lock screen too?"

"Oh…."

Her weakness revealed, Ruri-nee bit her lower lip and trembled.

To every little sister out there with a big sister – what would you think if your big sister used your picture as your cell phone's lock screen? I felt half embarrassed and half happy, but at the same time when that picture turned into Kirino-onee-chan I felt a little jealous because somebody stole my Ruri-nee away from me.

"Um, hm… Siscon."

"… Hinata… after dinner tonight… have you prepared yourself?"

Ack!

Looked like I teased her too much.

"Sorry, sorry… Hey, can I meet Kirino-onee-chan too?"

"Absolutely not. I will not let you meet that beast."

"Ah~ Why? Don't say that. I want to meet her too."

"No means no."

"I won't steal Kirino-onee-chan away from Ruri-nee ~~~"

"… I didn't mean it like that. It's for your own good, alright? Please, listen to me."

"… Why are you saying that?"

I only came to understand the reason that Ruri-nee tried her hardest to prevent Kirino-onee-chan from meeting me one year later, at the time all I felt was doubt.

--- Back to the main topic.

It was August, a few days after I heard the name of her crush, "Kyousuke".

As far as I could tell, the relationship between Ruri-nee and her imaginary boyfriend "Kyousuke" took a huge leap.

Her relationship with her imaginary boyfriend had improved.

It sounded so sad.

Although, since Ruri-nee started referring to Kyousuke as "Kirino's older brother", I felt something was off, but that day marked the final confirmation I required.

A few days after summer break began I noticed Ruri-nee had just returned home and I was about to greet her.

"Welcome home, Ruri-nee. What are you making for dinner?"

"… Phew… phew…"

"Ruri-nee?"

What's with her today? She was smiling and trembling at the same time.

Her face was bright red – did she get a fever?

"Ruri-nee, are you okay?"

"… Phew… Kukuku… Kukukuku."

"….."

She is incurable.

Ruri-nee completely ignored me and while still in her goth loli outfit, she staggered into her room.

"Oh? Heehee… I've got the feeling that something good is about to happen."

80% wanting to join in the fun and 20% concerned, I followed my big sister.

Just like usual, Ruri-nee left the door to her room wide open.

"… Ruri-nee, what about dinner…?"

A frightening scene was commencing in front of me. Usually when she had something on her mind, Ruri-nee would forget everything around her, so she would normally wait until dark to do some weird ceremony…

But not this time.

Ruri-nee didn't even remove her goth loli clothes, she lied face down on her bed, clung to a cushion and kicked her legs.

"~~~! ~~~!"

… What is going on? I had my suspicions that she was having an imaginary embrace or something.

The more I looked at her, the weirder her actions became, finally, she rolled around while still hugging the cushion.

"~~~! ~~~!"

Rolling. Rolling. Clank clank clank. She whispered something else, but I couldn't hear it.

"… This is not good. Ruri-nee is broken."

I broke into a cold sweat.

"… What is going on?"

"… Tamaki. You can't come in here."

Or your sanity level will drop.

I chased my little sister away, but I couldn't leave my big sister alone, so I stood there and watched. After rolling around for a while, Ruri-nee suddenly stood up.

"!"

I was alert, ready to do anything.

Ruri-nee was in full-on excitement mode, she didn't even notice me.

Her face was bright red, she staggered to her desk and started writing something down.

"… ?"

Manga again? What about dinner?

I secretly crept behind Ruri-nee and took a peak.

"Wow."

*Whap*Whap*Whap*Whap*. Ruri-nee was writing very fast in her notebook and she had a very happy expression. She hesitated for a bit after she wrote down "Kousaka Ruri" before erasing it.

… Totally hopeless. Even the law couldn't do anything for Ruri-nee anymore.

It looked like I would have to do something about dinner tonight.

I started to seriously worry. Was Ruri-nee's imaginary boyfriend syndrome getting worse and had it evolved into some kind of disease?

Since that day Ruri-nee had become strange. Normally, she was strange enough, but it was way worse now.

To be honest, she was acting like a maiden.

"… I'm going to receive an important phone call one hour from now… if you come anywhere near my room, hurry and get away or else… The demon king's curse will fall upon you and it will destroy your dinner."

Half of Ruri-nee's body was hidden from our view, and she chased us away.

"Ah --- So we are in the way."

"Onee-sama, are you going to have a talk with 'the most important person in the world'?", Tamaki asked.

She still called Ruri-nee "onee-sama" as directed.

I whispered to her:

"… Ruri-nee has become 'the most powerful' denpa girl, she needs to have a phone conversation with the boyfriend inside of her head. Pay no attention to her, alright? I will help you learn."

"Wow –"

Tamaki became happy again. Seeing her like that, I couldn't help but show a forced smile.

By the way, the "citizen of the dark world" was Ruri-nee's imaginary friends, but recently she found some real friends, which included Kirino-san.

However, the current Ruri-nee who was in the middle of "an important phone call" sounded like---

Before I left, I stopped for a while and ease dropped.

"About that… it's nothing particular… to find you… To give you more trouble? I… want … to hear your voice, that's all."

Wow, it was all lovely dovey… but since the boyfriend was in Ruri-nee's imagination, that happiness soundly turned into the solemn tragedy of a denpa girl.

"… Oh…"

I wanted to cry. I was so sad because I couldn't help my big sister.

"Ha… What should I do then…?"

"…??? Please cheer up, Onee-chan."

"Thank you."

I forced down the painful feelings in my chest and patted my little sister's head.

That evening ---

"… Phew… Kukuku… Ahahahaha… Finally… finally it's done."

Still unaware that I was looking, Ruri-nee let out a sinister laugh like a final boss. By the way, since I opened the door to her room without thinking I was able to observe this "dark ceremony". No matter how many times I saw it, I still couldn't get used to Ruri-nee's actions.

Right now, Ruri-nee was making a strange marking on the floor.

"… From the darkness – the class change into light… Finally…"

She moved gracefully while spouting lines like that. (She looked to be full of pride)

In a huge amount of shock, I froze.

"………"

I knew that if I relaxed even just a bit, I would burst into laughter.

No… no, I can't… I can't laugh… I must hold it down….

To protect my dear big sister's soul, I swore to myself that no matter what form of strange behavior I saw---

"Phew… From this night onward I have become the purest existence, but at the same time I still live in darkness…"

"Cough cough cough cough cough !!"

Not good, not good, not good! I'm at my limit!

This must be a dream! Just thinking about it makes me want to laugh!

I clutched my stomach and forced my laughter into a hard cough, while at the same time the "purest existence" turned to look directly at me – she still maintained her previous pose.

" --- Did you see?"

" Y -----"

Her voice was murderous. I have no idea what my expression looked like.

"I just took a bath. Ruri-nee, what are you doing?"

I addressed the main issue.

"…Sewing something."

What kind of answer is that? Now that I had the chance to look around, there were finished white clothes nearby. Her new clothes had been finished – that must be the case.

"… Is that a new cosplay outfit?"

"Wrong ---"

Ruri-nee placed one hand on her chin and spoke in a noble tone.

"… These are the holy clothes with the capability to charm a male."

Although I didn't understand it at all, I had the feeling that something was about to happen.

A few days later, I finally understood what the "dark ceremony" was about.

That night after we had dinner, Ruri-nee said to us with a serious expression.

"Hinata, Tamaki…I want to ask you for life counseling."

"Wah?"

"Wah?"

Hearing that, both of us were shocked.

"Onee-sama, what is a life counseling?"

Tamaki asked. Ruri-nee hesitated for a few seconds and said:

"… I wanted to hear your opinions… What do you two like the most among the dishes that I can make?"

"Pickled rice balls!"

Tamaki immediately suggested. When she was in nursery, every day Tamaki ate bentou made by Ruri-nee, so pickled rice balls had become her favorite. I also liked them very much.

"I think so too – why do you ask?"

"It's because… for many reasons I want to make bentou for someone else… so I wanted to ask your opinions first – as a reference. Thank you."

"Uhm ---"

Still, almost everyone likes pickled rice balls, at least that's what I thought.

"If it's Nee-chan's pickled rice balls, anyone would be happy to get one!"

"… Really?"

"Yup! Really!"

"…Ah, if you say so then I can rest assured."

Do you have to say that? I'm sorry if they don't like them, Ruri-nee.

"By the way, to whom are you going to make bentou for?"

"… Hm… it's my date."

Ruri-nee answered with a proud expression.

"With Kirino-san?"

"Wrong. How could I have a date with that girl?"

She was so dishonest.

"So with who?"

"… Hm, who do you think it is?"

Ruri-nee stood up and left.

… Just now she sounded like "I'm going to have a date with my boyfriend", because "Kousaka Kyousuke" wasn't real, so even I had trouble using

"him" to tease Ruri-nee.

--- Ruri-nee, Kousaka Kyousuke-san doesn't exist, you are about to wear your best clothes and make bentou for a non-existent boyfriend on an imaginary date.

How could I say that!?

Normally, I would absolutely follow Ruri-nee, but this time I couldn't.

No one aside from Ruri-nee was at the dating place, then she will smile and wave her hand toward no one…

Just thinking about it makes me want to cry! I want to cry until my tears run dry!

So the next morning –

I was even more shocked than when I witnessed the dark ceremony.

We ate breakfast and rested in the tea room. Suddenly, a very suspicious person passed my eyes.

"Huh? Huh?"

What's that just now? Did I have a hallucination? I threw my book down and opened the door, looked around and – yup, that suspicious person wasn't my imagination. It was my big sister.

That person was trying to put on a pair of shoes at the entrance.

"Ru… Ruri-nee…?"

That's right – the suspicious person in a white goth loli costume was my big sister. Not only was she wearing a strange, long white dress, she also had a mask and a huge pair of angel wings on her back.

The person in white turned around.

"… No… you are wrong ---."

" ---- I'm no longer your beautiful sister. My real name is – that's right, I'm the holy angel 'Kamineko'."

No one could contain their laughter at this point.

Holy… Kamineko.

Huge pair of angel wings.

"Cough cough cough cough cough!"

There were so many things I wanted to say that I didn't know where to start.

Still clutching my stomach, I took a deep breath.

Although I knew that I shouldn't say it to my dear big sister ---

"… So? What's with that outfit?"

Her answer was full of pride.

"Holy angel clothes."

Isn't that the same one you make a few days ago?

"I won't ask about it. Where are you going to go in those 'holy angel'

clothes?"

Unfortunately, the bad feeling I was having was right on the mark.

"On a date of course."

"Please don't!"

It wasn't an issue of being alright or not, if you wore those clothes and walked down the streets in Chiba, I bet you'd be arrested immediately. No, wait, maybe the police wouldn't even dare to approach her.

Anyway, you definitely, absolutely must not wear those clothes to meet your boyfriend. Seriously.

It didn't seem like my worries were able to make it to Kamineko-sama, however.

"… Kukuku… Human girl, what are you saying? Don't worry. Your big sister specifically prepared these clothes for today."

"No no no no no no! No way!."

To save my big sister's face, I voiced my disagreement. It's too bad that Ruri-nee completely failed to cooperate.

"At least do something about the wings! Look! You can't even fit through the door with those things on, right! Please, just the wings! Please~"

"… Hm… Human girl… I will listen to your wish this time. I will change into something a little smaller then."

Actually, the new pair of wings was much smaller.

… So you even prepared a backup.

In the end, wearing extremely strange clothes, holy angel-sama went on her date with absolute confidence.

"—I'm going."

"… Do whatever you want."

I gave up and tiredly saw my big sister off.

Kamineko. What about me?

Still… if she really went on a date with her boyfriend…

If he doesn't dump her, I think he is a god.

Even after all that I still didn't understand my big sister – I still thought that

"Ruri-nee's crush" was somebody that only existed in her head.

But… it wasn't true.

"Ruri-onee-chan's boyfriend --------------------!"

Tamaki and I stood at the entrance to the tea room, totally surprised.

"Wah!?"

There was a high school boy in front of us.

Earlier that day, Ruri-nee said "… Hm… unfortunately… you don't have the skills to participate in this battle… be a good girl and go out until dark" and chased us away from the house. After that, she started cleaning the house in excitement. I thought that she was going to invite her imaginary boyfriend home, so I came back before noon to take a look…

"Amazing! She really has one!"

Waiting for us was Ruri-nee's boyfriend, who clearly existed.

I was a little afraid, But at the same time, I was very happy.

After all – my dearest big sister wasn't a denpa girl who fell in love with an imaginary boyfriend.

I liked my big sister who could gather her courage and obtain happiness.

She deserved my respect. Nothing made me feel happier than that.

"Ah! I knew that Ruri-onee-chan was acting suspicious lately… 'I am going to receive a very important call. In one hour, if you come anywhere near my room or quarrel… The demon king will curse you into darkness', and today she said '… Hm… unfortunately… you don't have the skills to participate in this battle… Be a good girl and go out until dark'. Sneaky sneaky sneaky!"

Ruri-nee's boyfriend – Kousaka Kyousuke.

That's why when I first met Kousaka-kun, I was very happy.

My first impression about him was – there were two, actually.

First, it's good that he actually existed.

And ---

--- Ah, he isn't handsome at all.

"Well, I'm sorry for not being handsome!"

Kousaka-kun rebuked.

"Ah, you are mistaken Kousaka-kun, I meant that your looks are average and that your clothes are plain and normal, that's all."

On another day while Ruri-nee was making lunch for her boyfriend, I spent time chatting with Kousaka-kun.

"I was a little disappointed because Ruri-nee is always praising you."

"… Kuro, Kuroneko praised me?"

"Yup, saying things like her boyfriend is a prince and an absolutely perfect existence – but now I think comparing her praise to reality is like comparing apples and oranges."

Love made people blind.

Hearing that, Kousaka-kun reverted back to embarrassment.

"… Ah, I see…"

He looked happy. His expression was disgusting.

"By the way, how she ---"

*Clank*

We turned around and saw Ruri-nee in an apron, her face bright red. She was coming this way.

"Wha, what are you talking about?"

"We are taking about how much Ruri-nee likes Kousaka-kun."

"~~~~~~~~~!"

Tremble tremble ---- Ruri-nee's body was frozen and rigid.

Yahoo! My big sister is so cute! I want to tease her even more.

"You, you, you….."

"He is kind, gentle and very dependable."

*Clank*

"Ouch!"

"Listen to me… remember it well…"

Ruri-nee stared at me, her expression was horrible.

"*Gulp*"

I was so afraid that I quickly hid behind Kousaka-kun.

"Kousaka-kun~ Ruri-nee is bullying me~"

"Hey, hey ~"

Kousaka-kun could only watch in horror. I latched on to my clumsy future brother-in-law (did I say it too soon?) and whispered into his ear:

"Tell her some of her good points, quick."

"Even if you said that…"

Kousaka-kun was so useless. Still, I couldn't miss this chance to see something so interesting.

Good.

With a playful voice, I whispered to Kousaka-kun.

"~If you help me, I will kiss you~ alright?"

Haha, now I'm an evil witch. Kousaka-kun should have been charmed, right?

And now Kousaka-kun and Ruri-nee will have even more interesting reaction ----

"It's disgusting."

"Ack?"

What? He didn't even try to hide his embarrassment and just blurted that out so easily?

"You are so rude!"

I twisted his hand in anger.

Seeing that, Ruri-nee calmly spoke:

"Kukuku… his soul had become mine long ago… Your childish charms will not work."

"… (whisper) We have the same breast size though."

*Clank*

"It hurts! It hurts so much! You hit me again!"

"Hm… unfortunately your information is outdated. In a recent medical examination I found out that my rank has increased…"

"You say that, but a few days ago you were still looking for ways to pull off a B-cup."

*Clank* *Clank* *Clank*

"Ow! You're hitting my head too much! What if I become an idiot!?"

"It's because you're making up so many baseless lies!"

"It's not a lie!"

"Do you have any proof?"

"Kuh…"

… Damn it! I wanted to make this flat chested high school girl taste defeat by my hand!

Proof… I needed proof…

Without looking at me, Kousaka-kun sighed:

"… Hey, the last time you dressed up as Kamineko, your breasts looked quite big."

"……!"

Critical hit! Ruri-nee's body stopped, like she was hit by lighting!

"Well, Kousaka-kun… I also wanted to show you proof, but this doesn't count. Ruri-nee knew that Kousaka-kun liked big breasts, so she must have prepared something inside of her clothes beforehand!"

"Ah? Ah, sorry uhm… but I don't think you should bring that up now."

"Ah! It's bad!"

I turned my head around and saw a creature who used to be my big sister, surrounded in darkness and laughing.

"Aha… Ahahahaha… Kukukuku…"

"Kuro… Kuroneko?"

"Ruri-nee?"

"Kukuku… Hahaha… I got it already… you two want to die that much, huh?"

That is a hunter's eyes!

"*Gulp*"

Kousaka-kun and I were attacked by Ruri-nee, who had turned into Yamineko. [2]

The rattling noise could be heard from the dining room.

During such chaotic situation, Tamaki came and said:

"Everyone, the water is boiling."

Then, gradually…

Kousaka Kyousuke – Kousaka-kun.

Ruri-nee's lover, senpai, savior – Kirino-san's elder brother.

He is a kind and gentle brother.

Although we only met a short time ago, that was my impression of him. He is a nice person to talk to and a very straightforward man.

Although I was wary of him, for Ruri-nee and Tamaki to be able to talk to him when they are usually so afraid of strangers, I think he made people around him feel at ease. Maybe if he heard me say that, Kousaka-senpai would be disappointed, but that was how I felt.

I felt that his primary characteristic was "elder brother".

Though Ruri-nee would praise him, he didn't seem like a true man.

Upon first meeting him I had a fairly bad impression of him, but he was able to effortlessly become part of our family.

I don't know when exactly, but him being here had become something normal and I felt a little lonely on the days that he wasn't around.

… Ruri-nee didn't show it, but she was very happy.

If… just if, he had some sort of subconscious ability to attract more girls, Ruri-nee's future with him would be full of difficulties. If he was my elder brother, I wouldn't give him away that easily.

Well, he was kind to me as well, but don't get me wrong[3].

Anyway, I felt like Ruri-nee had changed since she meeting Kousaka-kun, Kirino-san and the spiral glasses girl.

Sure, before that my big sister was very kind to us, but I was sure she wasn't like that outside of our house. Even if she never talked about it, we couldn't help but worry.

It was something children like me couldn't ignore no matter what.

That's why, I'm very grateful to them.

So, even if Ruri-nee didn't like it, I still wanted to meet her – not Kousaka-kun, but Kirino-san and thank her from the bottom of my heart.

Ruri-nee broke up with Kousaka-kun ----

I knew about it on the same night of the fireworks festival.

When he saw Ruri-nee in a yukata, Kousaka-kun said "You look like Kaguya-hime".

Upon hearing that Ruri-nee felt happy and embarrassed.

I said goodbye to them before they went to the shore to watch fireworks.

They were acting all lovely-dovey, they loved each other a lot.

Even without any experience in love, I could feel theirs.

But – after the fireworks ended, Ruri-nee came home alone. She looked like she was about to die and her head hung low.

When I came to greet her, I asked in shock:

"What happened? Did you have a quarrel with Kousaka-kun?"

"It's nothing."

Her voice was empty.

"… These are my presents. You two take them."

"…."

Ruri-nee gave me a mask and cotton candy before walking into her room like a ghost.

I knew immediately that something happened, seeing fireworks with your lover shouldn't end up like that! I went to Ruri-nee's room and silently opened the door.

The room was dark, the only light coming was from behind me. I saw Ruri-nee sitting in front of me.

"… Ruri-"

I stopped myself, because Ruri-nee was still wearing her beautiful yukata and crying in the dark.

"…*sob sob* *cry*…wah…..!"

She was in so much pain.

Compared to her ceremonies, this was much more painful to watch. I felt sad just looking at her.

Later, Ruri-nee's unhappy mood didn't cease.

No matter what Tamaki tried to do to comfort her, she only forced a smile –

like she couldn't even pretend anymore. No matter how much Tamaki and I asked "What happened?" or "Where is Kousaka-kun?", Ruri-nee only kept shaking her head and saying "It's nothing".

Our father was concerned, so he took us to a hot spring street – but Ruri-nee's mood didn't improve.

Unlike usual, she just put on plain sportswear before going out.

"… I'm going out for a while."

"… Ahh…"

"That damn Kousaka", was the only thing on my mind after seeing Ruri-nee change that much. The only lead I got was – Ruri-nee was about to transfer. If she kept it quiet then it's understandable that he would be mad.

But would Kousaka-senpai hate Ruri-nee just because of that?

Didn't he love Ruri-nee a lot?

Didn't he have a contract with Kamineko?

Maybe it's just my own personal hope, but no matter what, I didn't want this gentle brother to hate Ruri-nee.

But – did that mean Ruri-nee was the one at fault? Did she use denpa talk and break up with him?

If that was the case then poor Kousaka-kun. He was dumped by a denpa girl.

Maybe he was dating Ruri-nee as a random act of kindness.

"… But."

At the hotel's entrance, in a nasally voice, I said to myself.

"Do something about it, Kousaka-kun …!"

"Do you need something from me?"

"Uhm?"

I looked up. The normal looking, kind and gentle high school senpai, Kousaka-kun was standing right in front of me.

He looked like he had just entered.

"Oh, Hinata-imouto."

Kousaka-kun waved his hand.

"No, no, wait…"

What is going on? It can't be, behind Kousaka-kun is Ruri-nee?

I thought it was an illusion and rubbed my eyes.

"It's not a dream! It's not an illusion! Kousaka-kun!"

"What are you saying?"

Don't look at me like you want to say "Are you an idiot?"

In my confusion I tried to ask him

"Why, why are you here?"

Kousaka-kun took a peak at Ruri-nee behind him and said:

"As you can see, I came to see her."

"Wow…"

So cool!

My heart skipped a beat.

Ruri-nee was standing behind Kousaka-kun, blushing madly… but somehow she looked weak, did she faint or something?

Still, she seemed okay now!

"Ah, uh…"

"Sorry, but I had to take care of everything."

"Wow…"

Kousaka-kun is so cool! He solved my worries in an instant!

Next to Kousaka-kun, someone said:

"--- What are you saying? You make it sound like you did all this on your own…! Ah, forget it."

"Haha. Sorry, sorry."

Ah? I looked at the girl beside Kousaka-kun:

"Ah!"

Even it was rude, I pointed my finger at her.

How could I miss someone like that until now?

Light brown hair. Earrings. A gorgeous stylish dress. A pair of sexy, long legs. Very beautiful – This was someone I had heard about.

"You, you are---"

"Ah, pleased to meet you. I'm…"

I was so excited that I interrupted her introduction:

"Please to meet you bitch-san! I wanted to meet you so much!"

"… What?"

Bitch-san's face turned dark.

Kousaka-kun said "Oh crap" before he face palmed.

Bitch-san's smile twisted, she turned and looked at Ruri-nee who was behind Kousaka-kun.

"… What is going on? You must be the one who taught this girl those weird things."

"… Ah… I just simply told her the truth, like 'this girl is the bitch queen among bitchies'."

Bitch-san didn't say anything, she hit Ruri-nee's back.

"Kuh… Ki… Kirino… how could you do that to a medical patient…"

"Give me a good introduction!"

"… It can't be helped…"

Ruri-nee was always strongly opposed to me meeting Bitch-san, but I still don't know why. She was clearly so beautiful that a glance from her would charm anyone.

"Ruri-nee, Please."

"… *Hah*… I see… She ----"

"Ah~ you are Ruri-nee now?"

"Noisy. Do you want me to introduce you or not?"

"Sorry, sorry. Please~"

Ruri-nee shot a dissatisfied glare at Bitch-san

… They are clearly friends of Ruri-nee.

For somebody who was as scared of strangers like Ruri-nee, there would be no way she could act that casual around them otherwise.

"Hinata, let me introduce you. This bitch is Kousaka Kirino --- She is my friend."

… I see… That's good… That's good… Onee-san.

"Pleased to meet you, I'm Kousaka Kirino."

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Gokou Hinata."

"Yes… Hinata-imouto… Ehehehe."

"?"

Ah? For some reason, in that instant I felt a chill down my spine.

"Can I call you Bitch-san?"

"You can't!! *Cough* Hm… how about you try calling me 'Kirino-onii-chan'

then."

"Ah? Why 'onii-chan'?"

I tilted my head. Kousaka-kun shot a questioning glance at her without saying anything.

Kirino-san's expression said "ah, I failed".

"Ah~ I said it wrong."

She took a deep breath and raised one of her finger.

"How… Hehee… Call me 'Kirino-onee-chan' then."

"OK. Pleased to meet you, Kirino-onee-chan."

"… Call me that once more."

"Ah? Kirino-onee-chan?"

"Oh wow~! "

Kirino-san's expression changed into one of happiness.

What's going on? I've got an unpleasant feeling about this… maybe it was just my imagination.

"No good, she's at her limit. Hinata-imouto, just call her 'Kirino-san'. Don't bother calling her that anymore."

Kousaka-kun said that to me. I didn't get it, but my instincts told me to follow his advice.

Ah! I almost forgot!

"Ah, now that I have met Kirino-san, I wanted to say thank you…"

"Thank me?"

"Yes!"

… I was a little nervous.

I bowed and said:

"Kirino-san, thank you for becoming my sister's friend."

"……"

Kirino-san's eyes widened… she seemed surprised.

Kousaka-kun showed a big smile. Then Ruri-nee added:

"Wait a second, Hinata!"

No way, you won't stop me this time. I looked at Kirino-san and said:

"Since that summer offline meeting, my sister has been very happy because she found a friend, so, thank you!"

Ruri-nee was trembling now, "Ah, idiot, idiot…".

So cute.

Upon hearing that Kirino-san placed one hand on her chest and said:

"… There is no need to thank me, because we helped each other."

*Smack*. She tapped my big sister's shoulder and smiled:

"Without her, my life would be very boring."

"I see…"

"… Idiot… Don't say something so embarrassing."

Ruri-nee turned away in embarrassment.

I started to like Kirino-san already. I want to talk with her some more.

"Hey Hinata-imouto, you all stay at this hotel?"

"That's right."

"Really? I'm staying here too!"

"Really?"

"Yes! How about we all go into the hot spring together later? With me? Can we? Can we?"

"Good! Ah, wait, come to our room! I will introduce you to my family!"

"Family… you mean you have another little sister?"

"Yes! And she is super~ cute!"

"Ha? Ahahaha. ♡"

Hmmm?

While I was busy chatting with Kirino-san about Tamaki ----

For some reason Ruri-nee and Kousaka-kun had broke into a cold sweat.

Later on at the hot spring…

"Two little sisters! Wahhhhhhh! Wowwwww! Here I come -----!"

"Ruri-nee? What is going on with Kirino-san? Did she go insane?"

"… Ku… She has broken free of her chains… This is Kousaka Kirino's true self – a beast… Alright Tamaki, come here, if that beast catches you she will eat you whole."

"… Oh… I'm scared, Onee-san."

Girl's talk at late night

My name is Kousaka Kirino. I'm a talented little sister who is good at both sports and studying, and the reason that I'm here is ---

I was resting in the changing room of the hot spring, while laying on the ground I spread my hands and legs wide to allow the cool breeze to heal them.

I still felt dizzy, for that reason I was laying in a pose that nobody, not even the closest to me had ever seen. If somebody saw me I would die of embarrassment.

"Phew… phew…."

I looked toward the ceiling recalling some happy memories. Ah, it was so dangerous I was almost past my limit. If that happened, maybe I wouldn't be able to come back to my senses.

Yes – those paradise scenes still remained in my heart.

I had arrived in the eroge world.

"---- I have no more regrets in my life…"

"… My senses are telling me that I have seen a very bad thing."

"Wah!?"

Something cool touched my cheek, I yelled and opened my eyes only to see Kuroneko in her bathrobe.

"… That pose could break up a century long pair of lovers."

"What the heck is wrong with your mouth?"

"Right, right. Just make sure you don't catch a cold after bathing."

I looked in disbelief as Kuroneko gave me a can of ice tea and a bath towel. I used the bath towel to cover my exposed body, opened the can and drank it down.

"Phew, thank you."

"You're welcome. How do you feel?"

"I'm fine, what about you though? You fainted in the middle of the day."

"The doctor said that I'm fine."

"That's nice – how about Tamaki-imouto and Hinata-imouto?"

"… Escaped."

Kuroneko's expression stiffened and her voice lowered. I put a finger on my lip and said:

"I… When Tamaki-imouto was with me, I felt dizzy, that's why I did it – I didn't mean to scare her."

"You… You really… but Tamaki didn't run away because of that."

"?"

"… About that… Kirino… Although I thank you for getting along so well with my little sisters… Hinata is fine, but Tamaki is still small, so be careful…"

"… I get it."

I seriously reflected on it. Those two were so cute I went a little overboard.

Now that I had calmed down, I realized that I had to protect my image as well.

"Ah, I need to brush my hair too…"

While I began to panic, Kuroneko said:

"Hinata… really… even though she saw your true nature, she still seemed to like you."

"Really?"

"Yes. If at all possible I hope that you can continue talking to them a little more often."

"Oh, oh, oh! Nice! Can I ask Hinata-imouto to sleep with me tonight?"

"… You don't know what the words 'holding back' mean, do you?"

"Whatever! Can I? Can I!?"

Although Kyousuke and I had separate rooms, we had to count on the Gokou family as well, otherwise… don't you think that siscon Kyousuke would assault me at night?

My perfect solution was shot down by Kuroneko:

"You can't, too bad."

"No matter what happens, that girl will sleep with my parents tonight."

"She loves her father that much?"

"Not really… to tell the truth… my father…"

"That was my father's absolute request." – That is what Kuroneko said.

By the way, we had decided that room allocation would be ----

Room 1 : Kirino, Kuroneko, Tamaki. Room 2 : Kyousuke, Kuroneko's parents, Hinata.

Kyousuke is probably going to have the hardest (and most embarrassing) night of his life.

"… Will he be alright…?"

I murmured in my bed, late at night.

"… You must have said that at least a hundred times already."

Kuroneko answered next to me. Tamaki-imouto was sleeping soundly next to her, by the way.

"Still… how much do your parents understand about the situation?"

"I have taken care of that. I have given my parents the 'Genesis Chapter'

and 'Phoenix Chapter' from the 'Destiny Record' to my parents."

"That sounds like you didn't explain anything at all."

"My daughter is very dangerous!" - I bet that's all that they understood.

Since Kuroneko was feeling down at home and since they thought Kyousuke was the cause… I'm afraid that a misunderstanding might have occurred.

Maybe Kuroneko's parents were beating Kyousuke right now… Aaaaahhh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is so terrible!

While I was busy thinking, Kuroneko said to me in her usual mocking tone that made people angry:

"… Hm… By the way, the Destiny Record has been renamed to 'Afterlife', Volume 13."

"I told you to stop talking in that fake dramatic tone, how long do you plan to keep acting like that?"

"… Every time I think about my wish that can never be achieved in my entire life… I start acting that way."

"….."

You meant your confession – 'I would definitely fall in love with you in the

next life[4]'?

What a stubborn girl. I didn't mean those dramatic denpa lines, I wanted to ask you about your true feelings.

It was like a whirlwind romance – and a true sacrificial love.

I'm not even sure if I could risk everything for my love like that – just thinking about it made me feel irritation, respect, fear, gratitude, disgust and anger in my heart.

… However, Kuroneko.

It may be impossible… you know that too, right?

"Can we talk about something else?"

"Like what?"

"You… this time you were too ruthless."

"….."

"Was that because of me? Well, I guess part of it was for yourself too… but I understand your feelings, so thank you very much."

Ah, I shouldn't have said that. I'm always like that, unable to convey the most important things on my mind.

"You suddenly disappeared and transferred – did you even think about how he would feel? This time the result was acceptable, but your

'ceremony' is nothing but the delusion of a chuunibyou. There was a good chance that something could have went wrong. If that happened, holding on to your delusions alone is just sad."

"… Sorry."

Ahhh… she was about to cry again, but I can't just stop now.

"I'm the one who should apologize… Thank you for helping me this time –

but stop messing with me!"

Even though I said that, I knew I wasn't in the position to lecture her.

Recently, I knew. My Aniki is not an invincible superhero.

He is a normal… a very normal high school student.

He felt happy when he got a girlfriend, he got mad when people treated him like an idiot, he cried when he felt sad – just like me, he is a normal person.

It was something so simple to me now, but in the past I couldn't understand it. Not one bit. Maybe even now, I'm still incapable of fully understanding it.

"… Hey. Imagine the one you love for a few seconds."

"…."

Kuroneko closed her eyes for ten seconds, then she said:

"There is no one like that."

I was no different than her in that respect, I had to admit it.

A long time ago somebody tried to point that out to me, but at the time I didn't want to admit it. I tried to pretend that event never happened ---

We still acted like idiots. Every day, we walked the same route, we walked side by side.

Someone who always stood by my side.

I couldn't let this girl in front of me follow the same path. That was my thanks to a good friend, and an apology for every stupid thing I had done.

"That's why you shouldn't forget to look after him properly."

Or else that idiot would immediately rush to the hardest method, forcefully claim that he's invincible, place all the burden on himself and heroically self-destruct.

This time, didn't he regret how useless he was?

The ones who were useless – was us.

I couldn't stand it. I really couldn't stand it. I'm not a good little sister, I'm not even a good friend. I couldn't even keep up with him.

Ah ---- I shouldn't think like that ----

While I was deep in thought the door flew open.

"Kousaka-kun is so cool!"

It was Hinata-imouto in her pajamas. She was out of breath due to her excitement.

"Ruri-nee! Ruri-nee! Kou- Kousaka-kun! In the beginning I'd think things like 'You're useless, why don't you just die already?', but he turned out to be so cool! I like him already!"

Just now…

Did he screw up?

"Hinata. Keep your voice down. What time do you think it is?"

"Now's not the time to talk about that! Bad, bad! Kousaka-kun is very useless!"

I quickly added my opinion.

"What did Hinata-imouto's dad talk to Kyousuke about?"

"Ah! Listen to me! They ---"

"Stop, Hinata."

Kuroneko interrupted and stopped Hinata from talking.

"Er? Why?"

"Hah? Why?"

"… Because I can guess what he would say without needing you to tell me."

That… It must surely be something embarrassing!

"Hinata-imouto, just tell me, then."

"Uhm."

"Hinata. I told you not to talk about it."

"Er… but, but…"

"--- Unless you like to eat carrots and green peppers every day."

"Oh… I'm sorry Kirino-onee-san."

Hinata was defeated. Damn…

"Still, they are talking. I guess. So there's no need to worry, maybe?"

"You're making me even more curious, what's with the way you're speaking?"

"No, no, they're really not talking about anything important! They get along rather well! Dad invited Kousaka-kun to take a bath in the hot spring."

Stop! Stop! Kyousuke's HP is about to drop to 0!

If I were a male, I would rather die than do that. It was so sad….

True, he was extremely useless, but there's no need to go that far!

"Ruri-nee! Ruri-nee! You broke up with Kousaka-kun, right~? Then I will marry Kousaka-kun! Then Kirino-san will become my real big sister."

"Stop spouting nonsense you brat! Do you want to remain hungry for the rest of your life!?"

"Haah!? Even without doing that, Hinata-imouto is already my wife!

"Oh… right, right… I'm sorry… I didn't think that you two would be that angry…."

Hinata-imouto was trembling.

"Then… I'm going to go to sleep now!"

She ran away.

The room became silent again.

I glanced at Kuroneko, only for her to glance back at me.

"Um… about…"

"… What? If you have something to say then say it."

"After all of this, I deeply understand that you still aren't capable of getting a boyfriend."

"Er?"

"If you don't agree, then prove it to me."

"Hm, that's what I intend to do."

Inside the blanket, Kuroneko and I stared at each other.

My little sister is extremely cute

Let me tell you about my little sister.

She is a very cute girl.

Let me tell you how much I like my little sister.

Where should I start… ah…

Let's start with my friend. He always compares his relationship with his little sister to mine.

He always starts his sentences with "Everyone in the world that has a little sister –". Yup, like that.

No, even before that he would sometimes use an awkward voice to talk about his little sister, then he'd end it with "I hate my little sister the most."

Yep, that's it. If there was a story which was told from his perspective, that would definitely be the ending line.

Let's forget about Kousaka for a second.

What I wanted to say is that Kousaka is the same as me, he had a lot of things to say about his little sister.

He's a pretty normal guy, everything about him shouted "normal" and

"average".

What are normal siblings like?

I think that comparing our siblings to "normal" ones is completely meaningless, because my cute little sister is unique in this world.

Her relationship with me is unique.

If Kousaka was here, he would undoubtedly show an expression of criticism.

So, unlike those siblings, let's talk about us, about my unique, cute, special little sister.

Oh, by the way, it seems I forgot to introduce myself.

I'm Akagi Kouhei. I'm the world's happiest brother, Akagi Sena's brother.

I have a little sister who is two years younger than me, but she is very cute.

Her name is Sena. Akagi Sena.

In a nutshell, she is my angel.

I'm not joking, there is no other way to put it.

If I had to use other words… well, in that case…

There isn't any other way to say it. No, really, I simply couldn't describe my little sister's cuteness in any other way.

That's right! My little sister, Akagi Sena, is a cute, multi-talented girl.

She wears stylish glasses, has a shapely body and since kindergarten she started wearing formal fashion clothing.

She was always serious so she was naturally picked to be the class rep, of course, she was very studious as well, so she was popular in her class.

Not only was she good looking but her voice was pleasant, even though I already thought "My little sister is an angel" she had recently, suddenly become more feminine, which sometimes made my heart race. If she didn't wear glasses because her eyes were bad, her worried gaze would make people around her fall to their knees.

I think that because I have such a cute little sister, I'm the happiest man in the world.

Still, recently there has been something bugging me.

The truth is recently... Sena was acting strange.

How should I put it… I didn't think it was my imagination… but…

Recently, my little sister sometimes stared at me with fiery eyes.

It's the truth! Just yesterday, while I was in the courtyard, I suddenly saw something flash in the living room's windows.

Right. At that time ----

I waved my hand at my little sister.

Then Sena's eyes widened in shock… A few years ago my little sister began her rebellious phase, so sometimes she'd rebel against me. Even still I found her to be cute. That was why I walked over to her.

Upon arriving in the living room my sister was still there, she was sitting on the sofa and reading a novel.

This scene looked like a painting of a literary girl to me.

I walked into the kitchen and grabbed an energy drink before returning to the living room, then I asked the question:

"Sena… Just now?"

"Um? What?"

"Did you watch me while I was practicing in the courtyard?"

"Ah, so what? I just looked at you by coincidence."

"Um…"

Even if it was just a coincidence, I still felt happy.

Sena whispered:

"..Onii-chan, you seem to have a lot of muscles."

"Of course, I'm a member of the football club."

I started playing football in elementary school, though I wouldn't say it was my dream, it's still my favorite sport.

"Hey, can I touch you a little bit?"

"Sure you can."

To grant my little sister's request, I held out my arms and let my muscles bulge. Sena gently touched them.

"Wow… it's so hard."

"Ku… it tickles."

When we were small, before we got older – we'd sometimes still touch each other like this. It was a small amount of skin to skin contact, but it still moved me a little.

"Are the other members of the club as muscular as you?"

"Not exactly. Everyone had different training methods, so there are some differences. So, do you want to become a manager or something?"

Sena went to the same high school as me.

Even if she was only a first year right now, I still felt happy about it. In fact, I was happy the very moment she entered my school as a student.

"No, that's not really what I intended… Eheehee…"

"?"

At the time, I still wasn't aware of my sister's mysterious smile.

"Never mind. I just wanted to take a look, I'm not fit for strenuous activities anyway. If I had to choose, I'd rather join the Literature club."

"Sena, you want to become a game developer, right?"

"How… How did you know?"

"Ahaha, as your older brother I know every single thing about you!"

I planned to use this line as my trump card but it only caused Sena to take a step back.

"Onii-chan… you are so gross."

"What!!!?"

"Did you see the professional programming book in my room? Is that why you know my hopes and dreams? Isn't it?"

My sister stuck her tongue out at me.

"Don't sneak into my room."

… Thankfully, that's all.

"I'm sorry. When I received a delivery package for you I accidentally opened it."

That was how I found out about your hobby.

"I will be more careful next time… Sena?"

I paused because my sister paled.

"I can't believe it! How dare you open my package!?"

"I'm sorry!"

… She got that angry? Forget it, it's normal for her age anyway.

"I'm very sorry. Your brother was wrong. I will never do it again."

I apologized from the bottom of my heart. My little sister was extremely angry, so I must never repeat that mistake again.

Love causes weakness – that was the old adage, in our relationship my sister had greater authority.

… I always followed my sister's orders and did whatever she told me – but I didn't hate it, because for me, I felt happy whenever I did something for my little sister.

Hearing my apologies, Sena's anger quickly subsided.

"In that case… I will let it slide this time… Sorry… I was a little too harsh…

but you must pay attention next time, okay? Even I have some things that I don't want anyone to see… Even family…"

"Got it."

I smiled and nodded, my sister's "Even I have some things that I don't want anyone to see… Even family…" piqued my interest, but I perished the thought, since my little sister wouldn't like it. That reason alone was enough for me.

"About clubs… if you like gaming that much, how about joining a gaming-related club?"

"Gaming-related club?"

"Yes… Um… It's called 'game research'… or something."

"What? Gay research?"

Wow! Suddenly Sena's eyes widened and she leaned over.

"… You seem to like it."

"Cough… it's nothing."

You clearly like it, but I bet you'd deny it if I asked so I'll just keep my mouth shut for now…

"About… Gay research and stuff… what do you do exactly? Research body posture or something?"

"No, no. Game research."

"Wah!? You mean B, BL game?"

"Hah?"

What is going on? I think you might be confused about something here.

Body posture? BL game? What's that word stand for? What does that come from?

Sena was mumbling about a 'game?' then she suddenly burst into laughter.

"Onii-chan! A gay dream… It's wonderful!"

I… I looked at my little sister's beautiful smile, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I had missed something.

Akagi's house is three-stories tall with a courtyard, the total space isn't very big and with a rectangular shape that is smaller the higher it goes. Every floor except the first floor has a balcony. My sister and I stay on the third floor while my parents stay on the second floor. The first floor is the living room and dining room, which our family gathers together in – that's about it.

One day I was working out inside my room while checking my times tables and while I was doing some stretching exercises and muscle training – I suddenly felt that somebody was watching me.

"…?"

I always trusted my instincts. When I played football I often relied on my instincts to make the correct decision.

--- Who is watching me from behind?

This wasn't the standard feeling you'd get when somebody is just looking at you. If I had to elaborate I'd say this was the type of gaze that said "Go catch that guy!" - like a predator eyeing its prey before making a move…

but it should be impossible. I'm certain nobody is in this room except for me – I've spent all of my time in my room since I've eaten breakfast, there shouldn't have been any time for anyone to sneak into my room, but…

I was thinking while training my stomach muscles.

I felt a chill. That gaze was giving me the chills.

Maybe there was a thief hiding in my room… actually… my instinct felt like it was telling me that I was being stalked by a pervert…

… Tch… I can't focus…

"Phew…"

After a while I took a break and stood up. I couldn't continue training in this situation, completely unable to flexibly adapt to this situation, maybe it's a trait that I shared with my sister.

While I continued to pretend training like usual I tried to pinpoint where that feeling was coming from and slowly moved closer.

When I passed my huge wardrobe ----

I suddenly opened the closet door.

*Bang*

"!"

Wow! There IS someone inside – I immediately launched my right arm into the darkness and ----

"… Se… Sena?"

My right hand landed on my little sister's breast. It was definitely at least an E-cup.

"You… What are you doing?"

I suppose she could ask me the same thing but I'd hoped that she would forgive me in this unique situation.

"O… Oh… Oh…"

Sena was still frozen in place hiding in my wardrobe. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds… then my little sister tilted her head, forced a stuff smile and said:

"I'm playing hide and seek. Want to join me?"

"Something like that is impossible."

As if Kousaka Kyousuke has possessed me I shouted that line. I didn't expect an answer anyway, but Sena counter-attacked:

"Onii-san. How long are you going to fondle my breast?"

"Ah! Sorry!"

I totally forgot about it.

"Don't just stand there and apologize!"

*Smack*

… She slapped me.

"Thank you! Thank you very much!"

"You thank someone who just slapped you?"

"Ack… actually I've got two reasons…"

"Stop! Disgusting!"

I was heavily criticized by my little sister who was hiding inside of my closet.

What the heck is going on?

"I should brag about this to Kousaka tomorrow."

"… Like, 'Yesterday, my little sister slapped me?'"

"Yeah, he's got a little sister himself, he should be jealous."

"I got it, he is sick too."

It seems that Sena didn't like Kousaka for some reason. Sena's affection points toward Kousaka were dropping before they'd even met.

Ah, forget it.

My sister stepped out of my closet, dusted her clothes and scolded me.

"Phew. I will forgive you this time. Bye~!"

"Please wait."

I caught my sister by her shoulder as she was about to run away and act like nothing happened.

"Ah?"

"Sena, did you change the subject because you wanted me to forget the fact that you were hiding in my closet?"

"….."

Upon hearing me say that she broke into a cold sweat. My little sister still looked very cute even as she was trembling.

I let out a sigh and started lecture her.

"It's true, just now I was at fault as well, but Sena, hiding in other people's closets is no good, okay? It makes you look like somebody with questionable motives."

"Uh…"

Sena's head dropped down. She sincerely listened to my lecture.

"… Sorry, Onii-chan."

"Good, I forgive you."

I said 'good girl, good girl' and patted my sister's head. Sena blushed:

"Don't treat me like a kid!"

"Hahaha, sorry."

Everything is fine so far.

"Although I really want to know why you were hiding in my closet, if you don't want to tell me then I won't press it."

Okay, so what now?

"I… have to go outside."

A temporary reprieve should be nice. Then my sister called out to me.

"Please wait a moment."

"Uh?"

"About… my reasons…"

"Hah?"

My little sister wanted to tell me?

"About that… Please don't laugh at me?"

"I won't."

I replied.

"If that's what Sena wanted, I would definitely not laugh."

"……"

Sena stared at me without blinking, then she made up her mind and opened her mouth.

"I… recently I practiced drawing… here… take a look…"

My sister handed me a small book.

There was a sketch of a man in training (which I assumed was me).

I wasn't sure, but her drawing looked good.

"Sena… is that…"

"… Onii-chan is my model."

Ah? In other words…

"That is why you…?"

"… Yes."

To tell the truth, I was a bit disappointed.

"I see. Why didn't you just tell me? I would be happy to become your model."

"Really? Onii-chan… You're willing to become my model?"

"Yup."

"Thank you Onii-chan! I like Onii-chan the most!"

*Bang*

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I couldn't believe it… Sena hugged me… Her words "Onii-chan! I like Onii-chan the most!" resonated inside my head.

I never thought that I could be so happy ----

Sena said "My reward for you ends here" before distancing herself from me.

"Onii-chan… there are some more sketches… do you want to take a look?"

"Of course. I'll look at all of them, no matter how many there are."

"Yup, then please take a look."

The next picture showed a bald character pushing a character that looked like me down.

"Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?"

"That's my favorite picture, Onii-chan!"

"………."

Faced with Sena's brilliant smile – I could only break into a cold sweat.

My happy mood was shattered into a thousand pieces just now.

Sena was very excited, her face reddened, her eyes blinked and while breathing heavily she said:

"Amazing! I didn't know that Onii-chan was gay too! If I knew that before hand, I wouldn't have had to worry and would have went straight to you instead!"

"No, no…"

This is very bad! The subject has changed to something very bad!

"I'm sorry! When you said you opened my package – I was so worried that Onii-chan would see my 'reference' that I got angry, but don't worry! Now Onii-chan can help me whenever I need a reference!"

"Wake up Sena! Wait! Wait a moment!"

"First I need a more extreme reference – Yes? Did you say something?"

Sena stopped halfway while talking like a machine gun.

Time seemed to stand still…

I tried to organize my limited information and confirm my suspicions.

"Sena… Um… Just now, what exactly… happened?"

"What happened?"

Oh damn, she still didn't know what I was talking about. Sometimes my little sister acted this way – she kept running straight forward without stopping. I like this quality in her… but now isn't the time to talk about that.

"You like gays?"

"Yes!"

She loudly answered.

"I see… Not just gay love, but the hardcore stuff too?"

"Of course!"

Even I started doubting if I was asking the right questions, but my sister still answered.

There wasn't anything else I could do but accept the facts.

My little sister is ---------------- a big pervert.

But… but… then what happened? Sena likes gays? So what? Did it change anything? No, it changed nothing at all!

No matter what my little sister's hobbies are – I will not look down on her.

No matter what happened Sena was my cute little sister, an important member of my family.

Even this won't be enough to shake me.

"… Okay."

I made up my mind. The silence made Sena a little uneasy, though. She asked timidly and with a depressed expression:

"That… is my hobby… strange?"

"No! Totally not!"

"Really!? So Onii-chan, will you become gay?"

"Of course not!"

"So what is your answer in the end!? Don't be so ambiguous!"

"Why are you angry with me?"

*Cough cough* I interrupted.

"Sena… listen to me carefully. I, well, I am not gay. I am a siscon."

"…….."

Don't look at me like you are about to cry! Aagrh… if she continued looking at me like that… I might have to become gay! No! No! Calm down Akagi Kouhei!

"To tell you the truth, I don't really get it right now, but I will definitely not make fun of you."

"… Really?"

Sena finally seemed to get it. She nodded a few times.

"Sorry, Onii-chan. Did I scare you?"

"Uh…"

"I have liked this stuff for a long time but because I had to hide my hobby, I always get carried away whenever I talk about it… I am still unable to fix this habit."

"That's fine, I don't care about what Sena likes, besides, just the fact that I'm still here speaks volumes to my trustworthiness, right?"

I wasn't just trying to be kind, I was speaking the truth.

Sena laughed "Eheehee" like a little child.

"Onii-chan you always know how to cheer people up. You must be very popular, right?"

"That's because I'm your brother. I'm not this nice to other people."

"I… Idiot!"

Sena seemed to be unhappy, she glared at me.

Did I say something wrong again?

"Say… You really don't have a girlfriend?"

"Nope."

I didn't even get a confession.

"Really?"

Maybe I was just imagining things but she seemed to be relieved.

Sena twisted her mouth and said:

"It's strange. There are no girls around Onii-chan."

"Aha! In other words, if Sena was my classmate instead of my little sister she would have a crush on me?"

"It's impossible. Don't get carried away."

"Sorry."

"… Why do you sound so happy when apologizing after I scold you?"

Because I am happy. Of course I wouldn't say that out loud.

"Haha, hey, I haven't gone out with a girl before and I still enjoy playing football with boys… does that make me look like a kid?"

Hearing me mocking myself Sena said:

"I feel like something is terribly wrong!"

"Hey, what do you mean by that!?"

"I think that Onii-chan has the potential to become gay."

"… At least you're being honest."

I had decided not to judge my little sister… but her homo hobby was quite difficult to handle.

Sena's next line made these thoughts vanish, however.

"About that… It's a little hard to say but… I think that telling Onii-chan was the correct choice. I was so… worried before."

So, my little sister felt relieved after she told me about her hobby.

Not long after that the word "fujoshi" – girls who like gays – had entered my life permanently…

" --- Well, that's about it."

After repeating how I became aware of my little sister's hobby I let out a sigh.

It was September and I was on my way home.

"So? My little sister was so cute, right?", I said in confidence to Kousaka, who was walking next to me.

"… Hey… how could you look so proud while saying that?"

Kousaka broke into cold sweat.

This guy is Kousaka Kyousuke. He has been my friend for the last three years, well, you could say that he is my best friend.

He is a very normal and lazy guy and he likes to stick his nose into other people's business.

But – in terms of female relationship, he is very dense.

He was recently dumped by his girlfriend, thus at the beginning of the new semester his grades had dropped (although he was reaping what he has sown). He was also suspected of two-timing which ended up with all the girls in our class calling him "the kneeling man". To add insult to injury, today Tamura-san coldly blew him off and went home without him. That was why I was going home with him and somehow, "little sisters" became our common topic of conversation.

Kousaka would definitely love to hear about my little sister to cheer him up!

"You've banned all topics involving my 'little sister being so cute', so what exactly do you want to hear?"

"… I want to hear the story of 'how hard my life became because my little sister is a fujoshi'."

"There are no huge difficulties. Sure, there are some minor troubles, but I'm happy every day. I'm very happy that Sena is my little sister."

"… I don't know if I should praise you for being a good brother or if I should advise you that your masochist side has awoken."

"No matter what you say Kousaka, you aren't in the position to pass judgment on me. I've heard things from Tamura-san and using my little sister's story as an example to show you – I am better than you in every way. I'll be clear --- Kousaka, you are too terrible."

"I don't want to hear that from you!"

Still the same lazy guy that likes to criticize others.

It's just too bad he's picked the wrong guy to mess with.

"How about a brother who goes to buy eroge for his little sister?"

"You bought homo eroge, too! Your own little sister asked you to do it! You even considered buying a sex doll that looked like your little sister! You are a way bigger pervert than I am!"

"Wrong! I only bought the catalog!"

My answer was met with Kousaka's standard "Huh? What is this idiot bragging about?" expression, so I changed tactics.

"By the way Kousaka… I heard that you didn't reunite with your girlfriend because your sister was opposed to it – even I think that something is wrong with your brain."

"Oh… Ah… That is something that can not be expressed with just a few sentences."

"Hm."

To be honest, it's hard to express this feeling. No matter how much you want to hold on to your sister, some day she will leave your side. Even if you don't want her to… well, I'm no different than him. I think there are a lot of people who share this same problem.

Still, I believe that wasting all this time talking about fixing the relationship with your sibling is unbelievable.

The time we went to that adult shop the topic was "little sisters" as well.

"I'm not sure what my little sister means to me" - I vaguely remember him saying that.

"Kousaka, your relationship with your little sister was so bad… what's with the sudden change?"

"Ah… what about it?"

"I just wanted to ask."

It's very hard to solve dramatic changes in interpersonal relationships, not to mention his girlfriend was included as well. After everything was out in the open – even if he tried his best to repair it… he ended up like this now.

"Well, do you best."

"I will."

He was a bit awkward but he still gave me a straight answer. He will think of something. As long as you believed in him, he could be very powerful.

He was just a normal guy, not like a superhero or anything but that's why, when he's worried, he could take gradual steps forward like a normal student.

As my friend, I think that's good enough.

… Ah, I feel a little embarrassed. Back to the main topic. What exactly is our main topic, anyway? Ah right, of course it would be how cute my little sister is.

"In order to cheer you up, I will talk a bit more about my little sister."

"… That's all you have to say?"

"Of course, because my little sister is the cutest in the world."

I raised my chest and boasted. This made Kousaka's temple twitch a little for some reason.

"The cutest… in the world?"

"Yes. To tell you the truth I don't understand people who like to play little sister eroge, because compared to Sena, any other little sister is a cheap replacement."

"Agrhhh… You…"

"… Hey, why are you angry?"

"Huh!? I'm not."

No, you are.

"I'm not angry." Kousaka said in a small voice while looking unhappy.

"However, I think there are some mistakes in what you just said."

"… What?"

What are you talking about? Are you getting angry because somebody was talking bad about your little sister?

… Ah… What a troublesome fellow. I'm a brother myself so I can understand how he feels right now, however, shouldn't he keep his cool and calmly debate rather than getting angry?

Kousaka said:

"My little sister is much cuter than yours."

Grahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

"What the heck are you doing!? Insulting my sister is too low!"

"%#^!$%^@…!"

"Speak a human language!"

"%$^%@#…! Kousaka! You have said something unforgivable. Right back at you - my little sister is much cuter than yours!"

"Huuh? Pfff, that's impossible."

Kousaka's eyes were burning with anger.

"My little sister is a hundred times cuter than yours!"

"Wrong! Sena is much cuter!"

"Aagrhh…"

We stared fiercely at each other.

"Uh-huh… Uh-huh… then, Kousaka! Let's have a duel!"

"Hah! I commend your bravery! What are the rules?"

"The rules are ------"

The next day in homeroom during break time, my duel with Kousaka began.

"I will go first! My turn! Sena's seven-five-three photo! [5][6]"

*Bam! My little sister's secret picture was thrown onto the table!

As if Kousaka was damaged by a physical attack, he recoiled and assumed a defensive pose.

"Kuh…!"

"Ahahahahahaha – how is that? Cute right!? The cutest one in the world right?"

"You are too naive…! My turn! Kirino's picture in a fashion magazine!"

*Bam!*

"Urgh…!"

I was nearly blown away.

"Heh… No matter what you have my little sister is a fashion model, everyone agrees that she is super cute! What about your sister? Hahaha…

I guess not – It is my win, Akagi!"

Don't get carried away.

"Hah, I don't care about what other people think, I believe that Sena is the cutest little sister in the world. That's why we're having this duel today!"

The most important rule of this duel… is that we don't care about what other people think. This duel's only goal is to make the opponent admit defeat.

This duel will continue until one side admits defeat!

*Whack!* I threw one more picture on the table.

"Sena let her hair down without her glasses on."

"Hm, do you think that would work on me?"

"You are too careless Kousaka! I activate my trap card!"

*Rumble rumble!*

I heard something explode in my head when I flipped my secret photo face up.

"Take this Kousaka! I just took this one last summer. Sena in a bikini!"

"Woahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Kousaka let out an agonizing scream, his body trembled…

"… Hah…"

Then he took the photo and tried to put it in his pocket as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Don't think you can steal it from me!!!"

I kicked him with all the might I've earned in the football club.

"Wow!! Didn't you forbid physical attacks?"

"That's for stealing my treasure!"

"Hey Akagi, in this picture Sena clearly wasn't aware that you were taking her photo!?"

"If I asked her she would undoubtedly cover herself with something, but I wanted to take a photo featuring my little sister's breasts!"

"You really are the worst brother in the world, but nicely done!!"

"Thank you. I hadn't planned on ever letting anyone see that picture – in any case, do you admit defeat now? Compared to your little sister, Sena is cuter."

"Wrong. It is certainly a great picture, but that just means I have to show you my precious treasure as well."

"What…?"

Kousaka – who openly admits that he hates his little sister had a treasure as well!?

"Taste defeat!"

*Bang!* Kousaka threw another magazine down -----

"This… this is…"

"This is the special summer swimsuit edition. Bikinis, swimsuits, I've got everything I need right here!"

On the cover of the magazine was Kousaka's little sister and another beautiful girl with black hair. Since this picture was taken by a professional photographer, everything was perfect. They cooperated completely and each had a perfect smile.

Compared to this picture, mine wasn't even qualified to be its opponent.

"Kuh…! Hey, hey Kousaka…"

"What?"

"Who is that beautiful black haired girl?"

"Oh? Good eyes, Akagi!"

It looks like Kousaka agrees with me.

"She is Ayase. She is the most beautiful girl in the world after Kirino."

You even excluded your little sister…! Do you really hate her? Did you like her? I don't think Sena would lose to Ayase… but still…

"I want to marry Ayase."

"Me too, me too."

"Can you give me this magazine?"

"Absolutely not! Didn't I tell you that it's my treasure?"

"Oh… I see… then, how can I get my own copy…?"

"You can order a copy online on the publisher's website."

"Really? Thank you."

We temporarily suspended the duel to focus on Ayase.

Suddenly, Kousaka asked:

" ---- How was that Akagi? You admit your defeat yet?"

"No way. That fake smile could never move my heart. Hey Kousaka, so far you've only shown me your little sister's pictures in magazines, yet you live in the same house and you can't show me a single picture of her in her daily life? If you want to end this duel with a brilliant smile, then show me a picture of her smiling for her elder brother!"

"Kuh…"

Kousaka looked troubled. His relationship with his little sister wasn't good, so he couldn't get any pictures like that. Now it's my turn!

"Sena's picture in kindergarten!"

"Sena's first time helping me with housework!"

"Sena's first time with a ponytail!"

---- Soon----

"Ha… Ha… How was that Kousaka…? Admit your loss yet?"

"Not yet – it's far from over, though I admit the picture of her with a ponytail is interesting."

The duel between us turned into a stalemate, both of us have very high defensive power so it wouldn't be settled any time soon. Kousaka and I were unable to make the other admit that our sister is the cutest one in the world.

Then ----

"… Damn, we couldn't decide on a winner…"

"… I will finish this really fast…"

Both of us wiped the sweat of our forehead.

Just then Tamura-san decided to interrupt us.

"Kyou-chan, Akagi-san, our next lesson is about to start in another classroom."

Tamura Manami, one of my classmates. She is Kousaka's childhood friend.

"Ahh… We still haven't decided on a winner yet."

"How about we let Tamura-san be our referee?"

"Okay. Hey, Manami – you must have seen everything, right? So, who do you think is the winner?"

"I think you are both extremely disgusting~ Ah, I have to go now."

*Clank clank clank*

Tamura-san said that and left.

"… Kousaka. You have to hurry and make up with Tamura-san."

"… But we didn't have a fight in the first place…"

So, in the end, we decided to continue our duel after school.

After school we restocked our ammunition (little sister pictures) before continuing.

The stage is now my house.

In my room there were a lot of Sena's sleeping pictures – all of them are powerful cards.

---- I will definitely not lose!

I was very confident about this.

However, Kousaka looked confident too.

Before we could resume our duel something happened along the way.

"Hey Kousaka, aren't you going to go back to your house?"

I asked if he was going to restock his ammunition but Kousaka shook his head.

"Even if I did, I don't know where she keeps her magazines hidden."

"So how are you going to continue?"

"Wait a second, I need to send my little sister a message."

I took a peek at Kousaka's phone and saw him send a message that said:

"I'm having a duel with my friend over whose little sister is the cutest on the planet. Send me some of your cute pictures immediately."

Beep beep. The message had been sent.

About one minute later ----

"Ah, I got a reply."

Kousaka's little sister sent him a message.

"Disgusting. Die!"

"…….."

"… Kousaka, your little sister really hates you."

"… Wait! There is an attachment…!"

Kousaka quickly checked the attachment without letting me see.

"Ahah! ~~~~~~~~ This girl! She called me disgusting but she also attached a super cute picture. Hmm, hm… Akagi, victory is mine! Just this picture alone is enough to crush you in more ways than one!"

Kousaka looked at the picture with a content expression on his face.

… Really… those siblings… I couldn't understand them at all.

While we were talking we had arrived at my house.

"Come in."

"It's pointless."

"What are you saying?"

Armed with a huge amount of confidence, Kousaka's face reddened a bit.

"Akagi… look here… this picture's cuteness… there is no need to compare anymore is there?"

He showed me the picture on his cell phone. This picture was taken by Kousaka's little sister herself – she was a beautiful girl in a school uniform with a bright smile and making a V-sign. It was truly a very powerful picture… Amazing, she clearly knew how to show off her cuteness.

No wonder Kousaka was captivated by her.

To be honest, I couldn't imagine that this was the same girl that sent that cruel message earlier.

"Yes, she is really cute… but I've still got some more powerful pictures of Sena inside…"

"There is no need to show me anymore, I've already figured out your little sister's style. No matter how many pictures you have, you won't be able to beat mine."

"What are you saying…!?"

I felt angry. Kousaka raised his hand and stopped me.

"I don't mean to talk badly about Sena, what I am saying is – your pictures have a major weakness."

"Weakness? Like what?"

"It is you yourself."

"…?"

Kousaka pointed his finger at me while I froze in place as if lighting stuck me.

"Out of all the pictures you've shown me, you didn't appear in any of them!

It is only when the little sister is together with her big brother, that her true cuteness blossoms! Without a picture of you two together, there's no way you prove to me that she is the cutest sister in the world…!"

"Indeed…!"

Kousaka, what you said just now is the truth! Since when did you get so good at talking!? Did you copy that line from an eroge?

"However, Kousaka! It's the same for you as well!"

"Hm -----"

Hearing the contempt in Kousaka's laugh I finally noticed.

He wanted me to say that.

"Kukuku… I will show you my true killer move…."

Recently it seems Kousaka enjoyed talking in an overly-dramatic tone.

*Clank clank*

Kousaka made a meaningless pose.

"Keep your eyes open! Our duel has finally come to an end ----!"

He showed me the back side of his cell phone. That was a photo booth picture stuck to it.

"How could this be…!? How could you have that kind of lovelove[7] picture with your little sister!?!?!?"

You bastard, I was so jealous of you! You set a trap and I jumped straight into it.

"Ohohohohoho! Hahahahahaha!"

Kousaka broke out in laughter.

Is there anything I can do? I couldn't have imagined that… he had prepared such a miracle card…! Damn it!… I can't… there is no picture in my collection that would stand a chance against this one.

"… I'm sorry, Sena… I… I…"

I knelt down in a orz[8] position.

Upon seeing that Kousaka laughed even harder.

"… See you later then. Your little sister should be home about now."

He spouted that winning line at me.

However!

"Speaking of that, I had hoped you two would have a little more self-control."

When I had already given up, an angel's voice rang in my ears.

"Oh… Sena? My little sister?"

I turned back and saw my angel – Sena standing behind me.

Kousaka noticed Sena too.

"Ah… Hi, Akagi. Did you just get back?"

Sena opened her eyes, said:

"Just get back? What are you two idiot brothers doing? I've seen everything from the beginning but I was too embarrassed to step in."

"Wah, wah, wah, wah! Sena you heard everything? Since when?"

"… Since 'Ahahahahahaha – how is that? Cute right!? The cutest one in the world right!?'."

"Isn't that from all the way back when we were in the classroom?"

"I was trying to give you something you forgot! That's when I accidentally heard that – I was so embarrassed I thought I would die!"

"Why didn't you say something back then?"

"How could I say anything after hearing that!? There were a lot of third year female senpai there!"

Ah, right.

"… Sorry, Sena."

"… Sorry."

Kousaka and I both apologized.

Sena folded her arms, said "Forget it." and stared at us.

"And you still continued doing these embarrassing things."

"Don't worry! We have decided a winner!"

Kousaka boasted. Damn, he pissed me off!… but I couldn't say anything back…!

"Ah … Right, based on what I've heard it seems my brother lost because he didn't have a picture that features him and me together, right?"

"Yes. That's how I emerged victorious."

"I see.", Sena said in an expressionless voice.

"Onii-chan, stay there. Don't move."

"Wow!"

"Just do as I say. Kousaka-senpai, please ready your cell phone in camera mode."

"…?"

We didn't understand but we followed her instructions anyway.

Just as we were puzzled trying to figure out what Sena was going to do…

*Chirp*

I was kissed on the cheek.

"!?!?!?!?"

"Okay. It seems like Onii-chan is the winner now – See you later, Kousaka-senpai."

"That… that…"

Leaving the speechless Kousaka behind, Sena pulled me (still blushing madly) inside the house.

She seemed calm but her face was red from ear to ear.

"I am going to confiscate all of your pictures, Onii-chan. Also, forget about what just happened immediately."

I ---

I still held the same view I had before.

My little sister is so cute.

Later that day at Kousaka's house.

"I'm home."

"… Did you win?"

"Huh?"

"I said - did you win?"

"Ah… Sorry, I lost."

"Huh? Why? I sent you that picture!"

"Right, about that… come here and take a look. This is a picture of Sena kissing Akagi on the cheek."

"What! Sena… She… You are lying… Is it real…?"

"I just couldn't win. No matter how much I tried to deny it, there was nothing I could do against this picture."

"Oh…"

"……"

"Hey, would you stop staring at me!? I- I will not do that to you!!"

Chameleon Girl

I heard that when you started talking about a story, the first challenge you have to face is how to address yourself. Because 'I', 'I'm', 'Me' – all of them can't describe my 'true' self.

Just like a mask, the way I talked before, the way I acted before – although I havn't forgotten about them, but they are no longer a part of the 'current'

me.

Mumumu….so suspicious.

I felt that if I started my story with 'Let's talk about myself – gozaru', it's closer to my 'true' self.

….So…ah….please don't think about it too hard - gozaru.

More over, I started talking like that again.

Let me play it by ear then.

You guys should be familiar with me now – I'm Makishima Saori.

Alright alright, let's begin my story.

I never thought that someday I would tell you my story though.

….I'm so embarrassed. Considered how tall I'm, even if I put on a shy face, no one could find me moe.

Cough cough! Anyway, that's my opening – my story officially started now.

This is a story about my hated big sister, as well as my old friends.

This is also the story of Makishima Saori and Saori Bajeena.

Before I talk about it, there is something I need to say.

Four years ago – Three years before I met Kiririn-shi.

I was 159.8[9] cm tall.

My breast size was D cup. My hair style was the same as now, shoulder length.

The twelve years old Makishima Saori was already that big in elementary school – with a developed body to boost. Hm hm, what do you think!

When I remembered about that time, I wanted to curse myself so much –

that was a problem that made many people jealous. At that time, I already had a strong sense of self, thus my eye-catching appearance created a high complex. If I remembered correctly, there were other students like me in other classes. Now I became hesitant when I walked with my head high and straight back. Every time I walked with my back bent, my parents scolded me.

A few years later, after I passed 180cm[10], I gave up.

Even then, every time I met someone for the first time and saw their surprised expression, I felt a little troubled.

Mwu --- now I remembered that Kyousuke-shi's first reaction was too much. His jaw dropped when he saw me, after I told the maid that my name is Saori Bajeena, he went "Pfff ---! Cough cough cough"….my girlish side was hurt.

I would not forget that. I'm the vengeful type of person.

Um – that…well…

So big.

That word had followed me for a long time, causing many headaches.

At that point, I was already used to the pain, so I could somehow stand it –

anyway, at that time, both my body and mind were exhausted. My parents'

policy that they used with my big sister didn't work. The twelve year old Makishima Saori had a phobia of strangers.

"You are so beautiful, Makishima-san. Your body looks like a model ---"

"…Thank you."

"We are going to have a party this weekend. Do you want to join us, Makishima-san?"

"….Sorry….I have….plans…"

As soon as I saw their faces, I became nervous and unable to say anything.

So I couldn't communicate with strangers, and I didn't have many friends to begin with, thus I ended up isolated in my class….

Then both my mind and my body gave up and I felt ill.

So I usually asked the school to take a break at home.

Until one day.

Kaori-nee-san came to my room.

" ---Hey, are you free? Come play with me then."

I hadn't seen her for a few months. We had a good relationship, but I felt something unusual about her.

"…Nee..chan?"

I woke up from my bed totally clueless. First, I took a look at the clock.

Morning. 4:30Am.

There should be a limit to how absurd it could be. I clearly locked my room, how could she have entered? The moving curtain near the window confirmed my suspicions.

…To be honest, if the one before me wasn't my big sister, I wouldn't believe it.

"….You came from the balcony."

"Yup."

That's my big sister, she always answered in a short and straight manner like a boy. My room was on the third floor, but that's who my big sister is –

she wasn't the type to talk about common sense.

She was also beautiful. She was even taller than me, but had a slimmer body.

That day, she wore a tight black body suit and a pair of sunglasses.

If I have to describe her using my 'current friends' as a base….then my big sister is Kiririn-shi's soul inside Kuroneko-shi's body.

She had long, black hair.

Her hand mimicked one of GAINAX's[11] popular poses.

Showing her white teeth while smiling.

That was Makishima Kaori.

She was the type of person that didn't follow common sense, nor did she listen to others. I always thought that her characteristic was similar to Kiririn-shi. For someone who only went around and caused trouble for others, you could understand how much she made people dislike her.

I hope that Kiririn-shi does not follow in her footsteps.

Looking at a back that is moving further and further away is always sad.

…..Back to the main topic.

"Wah? What do you mean by play…?"

"Of course outside. Come, hurry and prepare yourself."

Kaori-nee-san pulled the blanket away from me before she took my hand and dragged me away from my bed.

"P…Please wait…My hair is…"

"We don't have time for that. Come, it would be troublesome if someone saw us."

She sounded like a kidnapper.

"Don't worry, you look cute enough."

She patted my head, I felt my face getting hotter.

"…!"

Shake shake shake shake! I shook my head and brushed her hand away.

"Ahahaha --- hmmm hmm…what a shy girl."

"I…I'm not embarrassed."

I stared at my big sister.But Kaori-nee-san ignored me, her lips curved.

"Okay, let's go."

"…Ha…."

I sighed. I had no idea what was going on, but my experience told me that talking with her now was useless.

"…At least wait until I change into new clothes."

"Of course. Those messed up clothes don't suit the occasion anyway."

….What is she trying to do. Should I gather more information? The truth is, our relationship is not as good as I said before.

This is the relationship between Makishima Saori and her seven year older big sister – Makishima Kaori.

Let the 'current' me talk about that a bit more.

Excellent at sports, astute, good looking – but this is not her true self.

That's right….Kaori-nee-san is 'someone who enjoys all activities'.

Aside from her favorites, which were baseball, football, and volleyball, she also liked hiking, marathon running, swimming, diving, riding motorbikes –

in short, she liked to try any activity. She could pay a lot of attention to something she was interested in, so most of the time, she could start those activities pretty quick and enjoy them – that's what I heard. No matter what kind of interest, you couldn't enjoy them without a certain level in this.

Maybe that's why my big sister liked to 'enjoy all activities'.

Of course, for a normal girl like me, I always hoped that there was some

'activity that even nee-san couldn't conquer'. But I had never met something like that.

That's right. My nee-san who enjoyed activities had always tried to satisfy her curiosity. Because we were born into a wealthy family, we could spend our almost endless pocket money to fulfill our desire, so money was never a problem. Everyday, when she went to school, nee-san didn't look interested. Kaori-nee-san only liked traveling around. At first she still traveled in Japan, but recently she rarely came home, so it was not like our relationship became bad, but rather I didn't have a chance to meet her.

It was like Kiririn-shi and Kyousuke-shi again, our relationship became bad

– but compared to our relationship, theirs was pretty normal.

…Also, seeing them quarreling, I think that the root of their bad relationship was because of a series of misunderstandings and cover ups between them.

So – you guys should understand how surprised I was when nee-san suddenly sneaked into my room.

I changed into a thin dress and nee-san pulled me over to the balcony.

I have to explain that at this time, I wasn't fully awake. So when I noticed a rope that was tied onto my balcony – I had a bad feeling.

"…Nee-san…this…"

"Don't scream, okay?"

Nee-san took me on her shoulder ------

"Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

------ That was the loudest scream I ever made since I was born.

"Really….didn't I tell you to not scream?"

"Mwu! Mwu!...."

------ How could I not scream? I intended to say that, but now wasn't the time. Now, I was sitting behind my nee-san on her motorbike – to prevent me from falling out, I had no choice but to hug her as hard as I could.

After she took me to the ground via rope, she put me on her motorbike and placed a helmet on my head – I was kidnapped. That was my current situation.

"Mwu! Mwu!...."

Still sticking my face to my nee-san's back, I asked.

"You asked where we are going? Haha, you will know when we arrive."

….How could you know what am I saying? Ah, say…

Nee-san, did you bring a box with 'special things' with you? There is something on your back….

"Ah, that's an AK47."

Oh, just an….ack…what?

"Kalashnikov, 1947 – yup, that's an assault rifle."

------ For real? ----

"Just a model, though."

------ phew ------

"Yesterday, I played a survival game at Chiba."

I got another interest – it's what you mean, right?

Still….play together? What is she thinking?

If it's about friends, she should have a lot. There is no need to call me.

"It's just a whim though."

My nee-san said so.

"---------------"

….I see.

I muttered and tried to hold on harder.

After a long time…..suddenly my sister said in an energetic voice.

"Look look…it's the sea."

"Wow!!!!"

I looked up and saw that we had arrived on a coast road.

The brilliant sunlight made the sea sparkle – I was moved.

"…Ah."

"On a motorbike, you can enjoy the smell of the sea."

….I could understand that. In a car, there was no way to know this feeling.

Kaori-nee-san said:

"You always looked so sad, especially recently – I hate seeing you like that."

Is that why you had such a whim?

"…"

Looked sad? Maybe I was.

But right now, I felt much more comfortable than before.

Seeing the sea, feeling the wind made me feel better.

But.

Thank you – I don't want to say those words to her.

Just now, my frightened mood had completely disappeared.

I thought that we would go back home, but I was wrong.

Our motorbike left the coast road and went onto a residential street.

After a while, we began to move slower.

"Here we are. Get down."

"Ah…."

In front of me was a white apartment.

"Where is this place?"

"Hmhm….my collection house."

My sister showed a prideful smile. Surprise, I asked:

"Did…did you buy this whole apartment?"

"Wrong. At first, this is where Dad stored his art, models and other collectibles. Since most of them were given to the museum – so this place became kind of a waste. So I asked him to give it to his beautiful daughter."

"….Beautiful daughter…"

Are you talking about yourself?

"Uhm?

"It's nothing. So…what is that apartment used for now?"

"Storing stuff, of course."

In other words, your next interest is collection.

"…Say, nee-san, it's an interesting hobby, isn't it?"

"Yes. Because life is so short."

"…Yes?"

…I suddenly wanted to say something.

Kaori-nee-san pulled my hand and said:

"Saori. I want to enjoy life as much as possible while I'm still alive. That's why I need a healthy body right? So first, I need to train my body so I can do some fun, enjoyable activities. Life without enjoyment is wasteful. I want to enjoy everything I can while I'm still able to."

"Oh…that means….until now, you were just training your body to prepare for the hobby inside this apartment?"

"Yes. I think it's time to start. So, for the next two or three years this place will be our base to enjoy all kinds of fun. Because your body is still weak, I don't want to invite you yet."

My sister laughed and opened both of her arms wide.

"Cheer up! So you can play with your nee-san!"

So inside that apartment is something we could play together…is that what you mean…

I see…I understand…

What a wayward decision…you still leave me outside when you made that one….

"Since it had already become this way --- even nee-san, ….without me…"

I'm always a good-natured person.

"…But today I have piano exercise…please take me back."

This moment, suddenly I felt anger in my heart when my sister told me her intention.

------ As a little sister herself, Kiririn-shi should be able to understand this unnatural phenomenon.

Although I liked to see Kiririn-shi's dishonest response, but the truth is I wasn't in a position to lecture her. Because,…

"Just come, it will be fun."

My nee-san still happily pulled me by the hand, she annoyed me ---

But I also felt a little happy.

Nee-san opened the door and led me to the elevator which goes to the second floor. However, she took out her AK47.

*Crank crank* At that time, I didn't know what was the right position to hold a gun, but I realized that the way she was holding it wasn't normal.

"Say, nee-san."

"Yes?"

"Why…do you have to prepare that gun?"

"Ah, that?"

A useless answer. Nee-san moved to a door and pressed the bell.

"Listen to me…"

Panicking, I followed her.

"Is there…someone inside?"

"My friends."

"…I see."

She called her friends here and made it into her base of operation – that was my guess.

….I started to feel a stomach ache.

I was bad with stranger.s Very embarrassing. I'm totally unable to speak normally. At least Kaori-nee-san is my family, but ….a stranger was a completely different story.

Ah….I want to say goodbye already…

But since we came here by motorbike, walking back alone is impossible.

I should have screamed for help back then. Now there was nothing I could do but regret about it.

While I was thinking, the door opened.

I used both of my hands to cover my face and took a peak inside.

While Kaori-nee-san pointed her gun right at the person who just opened the door.

"Freeze!!"

"Wahhhhhhhhhhhh!"

I pitied him. Due to surprise, he fell down on his butt. From his look and his uniform, he is a high school student.

….Still, I agreed that surprise is a normal reaction.

My sister seemed to have fun though. She pointed her gun at him and shouted:

"Eat this!"

"Wah, wah! Damn it….! The way you hold this gun – you must be an assassin sent by Russia!"

Still landing on his butt, he backed off slowly. This scene not only looked like one from an action movie but their actions also fit perfectly.

I could see that Kaori-nee-san was getting excited. Still kneeling down with her face covered by the sunglasses, she said:

"Hm – so you are the 'Prince of Darkness. You are clearly worthy of your reputation."

"Don't call me by my real name!"

Finally, he calmed down and pointed at Kaori-nee-san:

"Isn't that Kaori?"

While my sister burst into laughter.

'Thank you for your priceless reaction. I wanted to record it so bad!"

"Ack!"

He stood up, his expression sour, and brushed the dust off his clothes.

Now I had a better look at him, he had short hair, slim and white skin ---

If I had to compare him by the 'current' Saori's standard….

But he looked like 'him' so much.

Still, comparing him with an anime character is unfair. He seemed to have a pair of merciless eyes.

Ah….I sighed.

"There was a bit of ash on your gun muzzle. Did you already take part in a war game?"

"Yup."

My sister stood up and slung the gun over her shoulder.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Ha…that's good to hear. Thank god that this time your interest is something normal."

"Why are you thanking god?"

"Because I was worried about what I should do if your next interest is collection."

"Are you an idiot? This is Japan, stupid. Ah, you are so hopeless."

"You are the one that makes people worried!"

I agree.

Then I realized that his eyes had darted to me.

"Hey Kaori, who is that? Where did you get such a big girl?"

A stranger is looking at me…..

I immediately blushed and tried to hide my face.

"Wow…"

I let out a surprise scream because suddenly, nee-san lifted me off the ground.

"You are so rude – this is my little sister."

"Whose?"

"Mine of course!"

"Kaori's little sister?"

He was caught off guard, his eyes widened in shocked. Nee-san said 'I will introduce you two' and lifted my face.

"My little sister, Saori."

My bare face was exposed, I let out a terrifying 'Yaaaa'.

"Stop, stop! Don't do that! Please don't do that anymore!"

I escaped from my sister's grip, then immediately covered my face with my hands.

"….Oh…oh…someone saw my face….a boy saw my face. I have no choice but to kill …."

"Are you one of Athena's saints!? [12]

Kaori-nee-san said in disbelief. She turned to him and pointed at me, and said:

"She is a bit shy."

"….More than a bit though."

"And then – wait what?"

My sister pointed at him and said:

"He is Sanada Shinya. He is one of my friends, titled 'Prince of Darkness'."

"Hey! What are you saying to your little sister?!"

….? Titled 'Prince of Darkness?'…

It wasn't the same as a nickname – at that time, I was still unable to fully understand the meaning behind that name.

"Look, your little sister is totally confused. Don't make it harder for her."

"Uhm….let's go in then – Sanada, did everyone arrive?"

"Kanata and I are the only ones here."

"What? You useless idiot, I hardly get a chance to introduce my little sister to you. Ah, fine."

….She kept ignoring my opinion.

I gathered my courage and walked to them:

"S…Sorry, but I couldn't find…"

"Right, right, your big sister will show you the way."

Nee-san pulled my hand. I followed her like a kid. Even though I didn't like it, but I had no choice but to listen to her.

"Saori."

"….Yes?

I looked at my big sister. Kaori-nee-san opened the door in front of us and cheerfully said:

"Welcome to my club 'pretty garden'."

"….C…Club?"

"That's right – the gathering place for friends with the same hobby."

That was the first time I met with the otaku culture.

A memorable day of my life.

The gathering place of 'the pretty garden was a room among this apartment. It was a bit smaller than my room, so in my mind, I think that calling it 'pretty room' is more suitable than 'pretty garden'. This room was split into a living room and a kitchen. There were a lot of bookshyelves around, all full of manga. The only place without a bookshelf was taken by a LCD TV. Next to it was a mountain of game consoles and DVDs. There was also a chair inside – it looked like something which was taken from an elementary school --

There was another stranger there, their hand covered their knee.

He/She was holding a sketchbook, at a glance it seemed like he/she was drawing something. I called him/her a stranger not because we haven't met, but because his/her clothes looked very strange. He/she had a handkerchief on his/her head, a pair of swirly glasses with a red checkered shirt tucked into his/her trousers. To be honest, I wasn't sure about whether it was he or a she.

On the chair next to him/her, there was a rolled up poster. It must belong to him/her, no doubt.

He/She was similar to an otaku I had seen on the TV.

"Ahhh…."

The mysterious otaku turned to us.

"Wow."

I immediately hid my face. Nee-san said gently 'Don't worry' then waved at the mysterious otaku 'Hey, Yamanashi!"

"Kaori? Good night!"[13]

….His/Her voice sounded weird….

His/Her voice sounded like an anime voice actress. But because I didn't have a good look at his/her chest, I couldn't make sure of his/her gender earlier. Suddenly, he/she twisted her mouth into a ω shape.

"Ah, who is that girl? Did Kaori-shi kidnap her?"

"Why are all of you treating me like a kidnapper?"

"Because that's how all of us see you."

Sanada entered after us and teased.

"---- You should be worried for your life. Because that's Kaori's little sister."

"Ack! Kaori's little princess? Wow, she is hiding her face…what a lovely and shy girl!"

She was wearing strange clothes, talking in a strange gentle manner, but I felt at ease.

"Saori. How about you introduce yourself?"

"…Okay"

I was very embarrassed. But this is something I had to do.

*Cough*

"I, I'm Makishima Saori. Pleased to meet you."

I was so nervous that my body was trembling. And I still covered my face when introducing myself.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Sanada Shinya. Your big sister has always brought us lots of trouble."

After that, the girl in glasses also introduced herself.

She stood up, placed both of her hands on her chest and said:

"Please to meet you, Saori-shi. I'm ----"

She paused for a second before continuing:

"I'm Yamanashi Ganma– gozaru."

"Yes --- haha, of course it's my pen name, not my real name."

"Pen name? So are you a manga artist?"

I took a peak at her sketchbook. She nodded and replied:

"The correct word is mangaka."

"Ah…."

I looked up at her. Not exactly looked up, because she was about the same height as me. But – I just had an urge to look up at her.

To tell the truth, at that time I longed to be like her. Even with my limited knowledge about manga which mostly related to shoujo manga, but as a school girl, I knew a bit about drawing. So I understood how awesome it would be to be a manga artist.

So my next response was totally predictable.

"…Awesome."

"Hahaha, I'm not that good – gozaru. It's nothing special…"

She rubbed the back of her head and asked, "Do you want to take a look?"

Then gave me her sketch book.

"…Sure."

I didn't notice that my face was exposed. All I noticed was that sketchbook.

"Wow…."

Even an outsider like me could understand this was super high quality – a professional illustration. It showed a beautiful girl in black uniform.

Although the clothes were different, I felt that she looked like Kaori-nee-san. Maybe she used one of her acquaintances as a model.

The next pages – It was the same character, but…

"…Um? This illustration…seems different."

"Yup. Because this was a spring theme illustration."

"What about…the others?"

I didn't know when, but while I was focused on the sketchbook, she had changed into another pair of glasses

From a spiral glasses – to a pink glasses.

But even the way she talked had changed.

"This is one of my pen names, Saori-shi. For each style, I have a different pen name."

"Ah, I see…"

Um…she is …somewhat…strange…

I turned to my sister for help. Kaori-nee-san broke into laughter.

"Haha, isn't she funny? Every time she changes her glasses, she would take on a different personality – well, I don't expect you to understand now, just remember that. Hey – Yamanashi!"

"I'm Kasuga Haruka."

"Ah so annoying – you now have five different pen names already."

"Actually, I have seven."

This time, Haruka-san replied instead of Ganma-san.

…There are so many types of weird people in the world.

She is like – a chameleon.

Unexpectly, I was more at ease with this stranger otaku than with big sister.

"Ah…just now Sanada-san called you Kanata – is that…"

"Her real name."

Sanada-san answered.

I see. So Sanada-san could call her by first name. They were about the same age too….

Lover – childhood friends – classmate – classmate. Yes, my intuition told me that is the right answer.

….For some reason, I'm always good at guessing other people's relationship.

Maybe that was because I was so afraid of strangers that to defend myself, I learned this ability to avoid misunderstandings.

But I didn't like this ability.

Because finding about other people's relationships isn't something worth mentioning. Knowing this will make people uncomfortable.

"…Ah."

I let out a tired sigh and was immediately assaulted by some weird noise.

"Come! Let me introduce myself again!"

Kanata-san had switched to her spiral glasses again and made a scary expression.

"A slash in the darkness! I'm the mangaka that breaks through the night –

Yamanashi Ganma!"

"The mangaka of the wind and spring – Kasuga Haruka!"

"But my real self is ---- wah, wah, wah"

She suddenly dropped her glasses and her headband, then 'transformed'

again.

"That's enough."

"It hurts!"

Sanada-san interrupted by hitting Kanata-san in the head. With teary eyes, she muttered:

"Oh nyan nyan~ what are you doing?"

"Hurry up and finish your introduction."

"Alright."

She switched to an age-appropriate manner of speaking then turned to me.

Now I had a better chance to look, she had quite cute, big eyes. I guess she was a high school student, but she shouldn't be much older than me.

"Ah ~ I intended to have a super gorgeous self-introduction, but…please take care of me, Saori-chan."

She stuck her tongue out. I couldn't help but feel puzzled because of her sudden actions.

"Ah…so …what should I call you? Ganma-san? Hakura-san? Or Kanata-san?"

"Hm~let me think about it."

Kanata-san placed one finger on her lip and think for a while – then she showed a mischievous smile.

"Please call me 'KanaKana-san'.♪"

In the end….

I decided to call this chameleon girl 'Kanata-san'.

For someone who was so afraid of strangers like me, going to a strange house and meeting strange people made me very uncomfortable. But I still returned there many times. Mostly because I couldn't refuse Kaori-nee-san's invitation. So I barely made any conversation with anyone

– most of the time I went there, I sat in one corner all by myself.

From my position, I took a look around.

Just like at school during break time. I always did that.

The one who kept acting nice to me was Kanata-san.

"Saori-chan, let's play together."

"Saori-chan, have you assembled a model before? Uh? No? You have no experience with it? Then take a look!"

"Haha, Saori-shi, do you know about doujinshi?"

"Saori-shi, Saori-shi, do you want to come to the Comicket with me –

gozaru?"

That was how my otaku self was born.

Although the one who introduced me to the otaku world is my nee-san, but after she pulled me in, she left me alone and on my own after that.

In order to enjoy herself, Makishima Kaori created her own circle – Pretty garden.

There were only about 10 members in our circle. We often hung out together and chatted about almost anything. Everytime, my sister came here to read manga, play games, or watch anime while laughing, enjoying her life to the fullest.

Today was the same, four of us, myself included, were hanging out and killing time in this apartment.

I was sitting on a cushion and reading manga.

Kaori-nee-san was assembling a gun model.

Kanata-san was wearing her Yamanashi glasses and humming a song while drawing something on her sketchbook.

And – Sanada-san just entered the room with a paper bag.

"Everyone one. I bought cake, someone make some tea."

My sister didn't even look away from her gun model and said:

"Ask Hoiishi."

"'Hoiishi' was one member who is especially good at making tea, but too bad he wasn't here today.

Kanata-san paused and said:

"Star just sent a message, saying that he needed to go with his little sister to a karaoke bar or something."

"He has a little sister? That was unexpected."

"Actually, for you to have such a rich yet gentle and kind little sister is more surprising."

"Noisy!"

"By the way, I have a little sister myself – gozaru."

While they were talking, I made a bad choice and spoke up.

"About…"

When I noticed that I had interrupted them, everything was too late.

Silence covered the room

"……."

…Ah…just now…I'm such an idiot….

I knew this would happen. So why was I still speaking up?

I always think about others, but the end result is always completly opposite. Someone as slow as me couldn't possibly have a friend.

"---Saori-shi?"

That was Kanata-san.

"Ah…"

"Uhm?"

She looked completely relaxed, just silently waiting for me to say something.

That was why I could drop the weight on my chest and said what I wanted.

"About…can I make tea?"

"Ahah, so Saori-shi wants to make tea for me – gozaru?"

"Yes. Although I can't make it as good as Star-san…but I think I could do it."

….I didn't know why I said that.

….Was that because I want to join in too?

"That's wonderful – I'm looking forward to it."

"…Thank you."

When I thought about it – I learned many things from her – gozaru.

Somehow, Kanata-san has become my teacher.

Yes. Because of Kanata-san's support, I was able to make it this far. No matter how many times I thank her, it wouldn't be enough.

She was also so kind and gentle, she taught me many exciting things, taught me a woman's dream.

Although her otaku outfit is simply unacceptable.

I was jealous of Kanata-san's little sister. She had such a kind and gentle big sister.

I wanted to meet this girl someday. The otaku world is very small, maybe I have seen her already.

To tell the truth, in the otaku world, you would become an acquaintance of another acquaintance and gradually extend your relationship.

After I made tea and everyone took a break to eat cake, Kanata-san let her glasses fall down. Aside from when she was drawing, she normally didn't wear glasses.

"---What are you drawing, Kanata?"

"Er? Ah? Ehehe, you want to see it?"

Kanata-san blushed in embarrassment.

"Actually, I was considering my newest work. Ehehe, come and take a look."

Nee-san and Sanada-san nodded and took the sketchbook from Kanata-san.

"Ehehehe, I was very confident with this drawing. ~♪"

To let everyone see it clearly, Kanata-san opened her sketchbook wide.

It was still on the same level as any professional mangaka.

A black hair, white skin, a handsome man in black clothing.

"Hey, this one…"

Sanada-san trembled.

"Don't you think that he is similar to me?"

"Ah? You realized it? Ahahaha, I based this drawing on Shinya-senpai!

This is like 'Prince of Darkness'! I had adjusted this character's age to a high school student's, but his tone is still based on you!"

"Don't make my black history into a manga!!!!"

"Er? Why? You were so handsome, I bet you would become very popular!"

"Handsome? I – after I graduated, every time I recalled those days, I felt nothing but regret!"

"No no no no! There is no need to regret anything? Senpai was so cool during high school! Especially your dark laughter

'….Hm…Bwahahahahaha…'."

"Aaaaaaarghhhhhh!"

Sanada-san covered his face and screamed in despair.

"Ah…ah…Please don't do that…Please…Kanata…"

He threw his pride away.

Although I had no good impressions of him, but seeing this wasn't easy.

"Ha…Shinya-senpai looked so ugly right now. You were so cool back then."

Kanata-san muttered in disappointment. Even Kaori-nee-san added:

"Ha! You clearly looked full of yourselves back then. But after graduation, you're now only just a shadow of a former self. Hey, is that what they called 'the eleventh grade syndrome'?"

Being assaulted by the woman's side, Sanada-san sat down in depression.

"…My soul has been devoured by the darkness."

He muttered a poem-like nasty lines.

I usually looked at that kind of ridiculous conversation in envy.

Just seeing it made me feel at ease – but I felt like I was left out of their conversation.

My feeling was a mix between many other feelings and solitude.

Maybe that was because I hadn't become a part of 'pretty garden', so I couldn't become a bridge between them – I felt regret about that. In some way, I had been attached to this otaku circle.

But...

Not long aftet that, under Kanata-san's guidance, I became interested in the otaku community.

At first, she was like a gentle big sister of mine that I wanted to get along with. But maybe, she was the one who dragged me down to this mud.

I watched anime together with Kanata-san, eyes sparkling.

I read the manga that Kanata-san recommended in excitement.

I assembled a model for everyone to see ---

That was something I couldn't have done before.

But it was fun.

Very, very fun.

That was when my life was at its peak.

Because of that, my complex became lessened.

Kanata-san, everyone – even I don't want to admit it, but it was all thanks to Kaori-nee-san.

But it didn't last long.

Just like Kyousuke-shi said.

Friends can't stay with you forever.

That cruel reality was shown to me by no one other than Kaori-nee-san.

One day – Kaori-nee-san got married and went abroad. It was like a lightning on a sunny day for me and for everyone else.

I was so careless that I completely forgot about it.

"I want to get married, see ya."

That was my big sister.

One day, like usual, she came and played with everyone then dropped that line ---

She immediately did as she said. She left that apartment.

At first, we held onto our optimistic thinking, that lacking one member didn't change much.

But reality was different. My happy life came to an end.

I had a boyfriend – She said that and left everything to us.

A member left because his friends weren't here anymore.

A member wanted to become a doctor and focused on studying, thus he left the otaku community.

A member was busy with work and unable to come here anymore.

Kaori-nee-san was the one who connected our different hobbies and behavior together. Losing her, our circle had no choice but to break up.

And then, gradually, I was alone.

It was too much right?

She told me that there was something that fun in the world ---

Then she left. She caused me so much trouble, and yet now she just left.

She looked down on me too much. Stop joking with me!

I was angry. Very angry.

That was the first time I was that angry since I was born.

Because I envy such a wonderful place ---

"I don't need that toy anymore. You can have it."

As if she said that to me.

Because I couldn't stand it, I went aboard to meet my big sister. No, not just meet. I was going to beat her up.

I planed to say something to her, but everything I remembered was:

"Because of you, everyone had left!"

"Uhm, I see."

She said that.

Her face was reddened, but some how she fiercely countered my argument:

"It can't be helped. Because that was the group I made. You didn't do anything special there. For them, until the end you are just 'a friend's little sister'."

"…!"

I was surprised. Not because of her words. No, it was totally opposite.

It hurt so much. I was shaken to the core.

I always wanted to get along with everyone – but the truth is I hadn't done anything.

I had never ever tried to do anything.

"…Ha…"

In the end, I only had a shallow relationship – "I never became anyone's friend."

"….Oh…Ah…"

I swallowed my almost overflowing tears. My stubbornness and self-esteem didn't allow me to cry in front of her.

---- Since the beginning, I alone was the one holding everyone together.

Thankfully that's when I entered high school, that apartment was close to my school, so I moved there. With my determination alone, I came to that room alone whenever I had time.

I watched anime alone. I read manga alone. I made models alone.

I drew illustrations alone. I made my clothes alone. I assembled a gun models alone ---

*Bang bang bang*

I pulled the trigger of that AK47 once – twice – three times.

No one aside from me was here. That sound was coming from my mouth.

"…Ahh…"

…I felt so empty.

Suddenly I wanted to cry. What should I do….

In an empty room, surrounded by otaku's goods, holding an assault rifle, a girl tried to have fun.

That was me.

Someone once said ----

"My soul has been devoured by the darkness."

I was so lonely. But I got an even more intense feeling.

"Oh….ohhhh."

This….please forgive me using slang ----

"Just you watch! I will, I will ~~~ absolutely show you!"

"Wow! Good courage!"

"Er?"

I turned around and saw Kanata-san smiling at me.

"Kanata-san…Why are you here?"

"Um, to return the key."

Kanata-san showed me a mischievous smile and gave me a key. Her face, which used to make me feel at ease now had a sad expression.

"It had been a long time, right Saori-shi? You have grown so much."

"…Oh!"

I hugged tightly onto Kanata-san. During the time we hadn't met, my body had grown some more.

"Wah…wait, wait!"

I buried my face into her chest.

"…Hic…Hic…Kanata-san…"

She gently patted my head. Just like a kind big sister.

"….Kanata-san…No one is here anymore…."

"…Um."

"….Everyone have gone their separate ways."

"….Um."

"Kanata-san…you won't come again…right?"

"Yes. Because now I need to gather my motivation now – I won't come again."

"…I see…so that's it…."

She was about to debut as an anime artist. That was why it had been a long time since the last time she spent time together with us.

I understood that saying it out wouldn't solve anything, but I couldn't keep quite.

"I…will be alone. It's so lonely – I'm about to cry."

"But you won't, right? 'I will definitely show you that I have changed' – isn't it? You want to tell Kaori that, right?"

My teacher had seen through my thoughts.

Then let me show her my determination that I have been hiding deep down.

"I will become a leader of a new group. Just like I had depended on you before, this time I wanted to make new friends!"

This time, I will use my own strength to safeguard where I belong to.

"Then, I will tell everyone from 'pretty garden' that 'this is my treasure!'."

I knew this is a childish resistance. But I still want to try. My eyes were burning with desire.

"I'm not like that. Since the beginning, I do what I wanted – gozaru.

---- When I said that to Kyousuke-shi, that was the truth.

"But I have no confidence. I never thought that I could replace my sister."

In fact, I could never actually replace her. That was why everyone left me.

I had determination and enthusiasm, but I couldn't make the first step because the lack of confidence.

"I felt embarrassed just from talking with someone I didn't know. How could I become a leader of a group in that case?"

Hearing that, suddenly Kanata-san pulled me by my shoulders.

"….Here"

We looked directly into each other's eyes.

"Don't worry."

"?"

"Because even if I told you to give up, you would still do it right? Even if you knew that it wouldn't work, you still have to try, right? Because you have made up your mind."

She smiled.

Just like before, her smile was gentle. But this time her voice was serious and I felt my heart skip a beat.

"…Don't worry."

I could feel my courage build up inside.

Yes – that's right.

I was just trying to make an excuse. My worry is naught.

I answered in a pleasant voice.

"….Thank you very much, master."

"Master? Wow, not a bad title – I feel like I should teach you secret moves."

"Yes, I think so too. Can you teach me a unique skill – gozaru?"

"Right, right."

She took her glasses off and placed them on me. Then she told me in the same voice when we first met.

"Those are magical glasses that can alter someone's fate. From now on, please take care of them."

"Thank you master. Thank you for letting me have them."

What a joke-like conversation. But that was how I inherited these magical glasses.

You guys should have notice it by now, right – Yamanashi Ganma is the prototype for Saori Bajeena.

I don't have Kaori-nee-san's leadership, so in order to get back to my former place, I created this mask.

That is Saori Bajeena's true self.

But I didn't regret it.

Because from those ugly masks, I had gained some precious friends.

"….That was what I thought."

"Ah? What? What did you just say?"

Wearing beautiful summer clothes, Kiririn-shi asked me from the other side of the table.

To her side was Kyousuke-shi in a short T-shirt and Kuroneko-shi in her cosplay outfit. They looked a bit worried.

Wearing a simple dress without disguise, I sighed and looked away.

"It's nothing. I just think that all of you are my precious friends, but in fact it's not the case, so treat it as a joke."

"….Hey, since she appeared today without a disguise, Makishima-san seemed to be angry."

"…I agree. That is the first time I have seen Saori make a joke."

"---Yup. What are you muttering about?"

I kept talking coldly. Unable to say anything, Kyousuke-shi and Kuroneko-shi lied down on the table.

--- It was September. After the incident regarding Kuroneko-shi's moving, we gathered in a café at Akihabara.

About the reason why I entered lecture mode -----

"You guys made fun of me too much! – gozaru."

"Calm, calm down. Your tone is strange you know?"

"Shut up! I'm very angry!"

Kuroneko-shi confessed to Kyousuke-shi before moving away. Even Kiririn-shi's reaction was within her calculation.

I had a talk with Kuroneko-shi before. But I never thought that she would do something so extreme – who could have expected that? Besides…

"Our group was on the verge of breaking up, but no one said anything to me! What is the meaning of this!?"

"Because…after the fake boyfriend's incident, you were so angry…."

Kyousuke-shi tried to explain.

God damn it…I knew it! They're worried that that I might discipline them again, so they kept it a secret from me.

"Your plan was full of loopholes, if you told me I could have solved that misunderstanding in an instant…."

"Full of loopholes…well, now looking back, it certainly was."

Kiririn-shi seemed to be unhappy.

"If it wasn't because of Kuroneko's intervention, maybe I would still endure it."

"I didn't mean that."

I firmly said:

"If everyone could come and talk with me, we could have found an easier way to solve this."

"…Sorry."

"Sorry…"

"It's my fault."

They bowed and apologized.

Seeing that, I felt very troubled.

Because about what I just said, that come talk to me and find a better solution – half of it was a bluff. Even to this day, if I was asked to listen to their problems, maybe I would be too worried to be able to do anything.

My inside was still so weak.

But I still wanted someone to depend on me.

I wanted to lend my strength to everyone. But everyone didn't want to worry me and kept me in the dark.

I was so useless. My anger was directly at myself more than anyone else.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh!

I am their leader! How could I be so useless….

*Crank*

I hit the table and shouted:

"It was a lie."

"Huh?"

All of them looked at me in surprise and shock.

"Half about what I just said was a bluff. Even if you came and told me, I'd probably be so tired that I'd faint. So you were correct – there is no need to apologize to me."

To tell the truth, the reason I said it out loud is to stop lying to myself.

I dropped my mask and returned to Makishima Saori once more – the girl who is very good at guessing other people's smallest change in emotion.

"However."

Once again, I called upon the ability that I had hidden away.

"I'm still angry. Aargh….everytime I think about it, I feel my blood boil…"

"….You, you are too short-sighted."

"Hm. I don't care. I will not allow my group to break up when I'm not looking. Besides, we just had another incident not long ago, which one of you guys promised to make up with each other. Yet you guys fought again after that! I can't stand it anymore! Twice! You did it twice! What about our friendship?"

I clenched my fists and stood up.

Facing my intimidation, Kiririn-shi clapped her hands together and said:

"I'm sorry! Everyone has reflected on it too!"

"I don't need you to say that!"

"You….meant?"

"…Just let her do what she wanted. We can only trust in fate's hand now."

"Kuroneko-shi is an idiot! Kiririn-shi is an idiot! Kyousuke-shi is a bad

egg!!!!" [14]

I remembered.

The last time I exposed myself that much had been a long time ago.

Saying what was on my mind, I let out a tired sigh.

"Ha….Ha…."

"….Did you calm down?"

"I'm not!"

Hearing Kyousuke-shi's question, I vigorously shook my head.

*Clank* I took out the 'Phoenix Chapter' that I received from Kuroneko-shi and showed it to everyone.

"Kuroneko-shi."

"…Yes?"

"The last page of this book showed your ideal world…..right?"

It showed a happy breakfast. That ideal world had Kyousuke-shi, Kiririn-shi, Kuroneko-shi….

"Uhm…so what?"

Turning to the slightly trembled Kuroneko-shi, I kindly asked:

"Where am I – gozaru?"

"….."

*Blink blink blink blink blink*

Seeing Kuroneko-shi's attempt to avoid my eyes, I smiled:

"There is no need for me, right?"

"No, it wasn't like that…there is another reason…."

Kuroneko-shi swallowed hard then pointed at a somewhere on her illustration.

"…Under this table, there was a cat, a black cat, right?"

"Maybe? So?"

"Ha…this is a metaphor for Saori. If I drew you in this place, wouldn't it make you lower? So to avoid it, I made that change."

Can you just say the truth that drawing me in that illustration would make it looked stupid?

But she didn't look like she was lying. Her proud expression is the evidence.

Kuroneko-shi made a fortune teller's pose and nodded:

"I hope you can understand: my precious friend, Saori – your soul resides in this cat."

"In other words, in your ideal world, I have already died?"

"Yes."

"My body could probably get stuck at Hell's Gate."

"…I thought you wouldn't complain anyway."

Kyousuke-shi commented. I think that there is something unusual about him today.

I grit my teeth and stared at Kuroneko. She made a 'You asked too much'

expression and calmly picked up a pen, drew something into the notebook.

"How about now?"

Next to her, Kirino muttered 'let me see it for a second' and immediately burst into laughter. I got a bad feeling about it.

In this illustration, the cat now had a @w@ face

"Kuroneko-shi! What have you drawn on this cat?!"

I pulled Kuroneko's shoulders and started shaking her! She could only say incomprehensable words like "What what wait wait…"

Seeing that, Kyousuke and Kirino's laughter turned from "Pfff…" to "Pff Hahaha"

"….What are you guys laughing about?"

"Sorry, sorry! But, really…"

"It is so funny!"

Kirino covered her mouth with one hand and laughed:

"I rarely see you expressing your emotion that much. It was so different from before…Um, so this could make you angry?"

Then Kirino smiled:

"Seeing you without restriction is much better."

"…."

I released Kuroneko's shoulders.

"Hm."

I made an angry expression. There is no way I could just 'forget' about it. I will not forgive them so easily.

And then, I heard an unexpected voice.

"What is that? I think I heard a familiar voice – isn't it my cute little sister?"

"Ya!?"

I turned my head to the source of this voice while asking myself 'how could it be?. Right behind me was a beautiful black haired girl, the last woman I wanted to see.

She was wearing jeans and casual clothing.

"Yo, Saori. Long time no see. You look great."

"Ah ---- Kaori-nee-san!?"

I jumped up and yelled.

Hearing that, everyone turned to each other.

"Kaori-nee-san…?"

"Could it be…?"

"Saori's big sister?"

"Yup."

Her body half turned to us, Kaori-nee-san looked at us with wolf eyes, like we were just a bunch of rabbits.

She pointed behind her, and said:

"I gathered them too."

Behind her were many familiar faces.

"Yo! Long time no see, Kaori's sibling! Wow, you are so big! Ah, I saw some one who looked like you on a magazine, how about I call you

'Assault Saori'?"

"Please to meet you, Captain! Thank you for your help!"

"Hm hm, actually I met them at the Comicket ~ right, Saori?"

All of them were ex-members of 'Pretty garden'.

"…Everyone."

Seeing them was like a dream. I could only stare.

Sometimes I met one or two of them if I had a chance….but I never thought to meet so many of them. Not all members were present, but all the key members were here.

"Why… is everyone gathered here today?"

Nee-san simply said:

"Because that's my circle. As long as I have my order, everyone will come."

It has been a long time since I heard her voice.

But now, all I felt was -------------------- anger.

You are good. I tried so hard without success, but that circle revived with only one word from you.

Once more, I became aware of the difference between Makishima Saori and Makishima Kaori.

"Nee-san…why are you here?"

I knew the answer already, but I had to ask.

"Of course to meet up with my online friends – what about you?"

"I'm meeting with my online friends too – what a coincidence."

Like a debate, I returned her gaze with my eyes full of hostility.

Still, no matter how I acted, they already saw what I just said to my friends.

I lost again!

"But I have no intention of introducing them to you. We were about to end anyway."

I put on an unyielding expression. Nee-san made a 'ah, is that so?' face and said:

"Take care of yourself. However, you probably don't need me to say it. "

"Of course, such a cold heartless sister, I don't want to have any relation with you."

Hearing that, my sister showed a wry smile and stood up.

Then, members of 'Pretty Garden' followed her to the outside.

During that time, some people came to greet us.

"See you next time, Captain."

"Bye ~ Saori, Kirino. Next time remember to buy from my shop. Be sure to bring the cute witch over there too."

From the look of it, "Pretty Garden' members planned to go back before us.

Seeing my old friends didn't make me feel lonely.

Because now I had some wonderful friends.

"Ah…why are you here…"

"…Ah? She just said 'next time, remember to buy from my shop'…did we meet somewhere before?"

"She called me 'cute witch'? What a rude girl."

Well, there is a high probability to meet someone you know at Akihabara.

One of them stopped midway and came back to me.

She was wearing fashion clothes, completely different from before. No headband, no spiral glasses, no red clothes.

Kanata-san asked me in her unchanged naïve tone:

"I forgot to ask, have you reached your goal back then, Saori?"

I shrugged and replied:

"Who knows? I never felt that I got any closer to her. Sometimes I feel so powerless ----"

But even so, I could proudly say:

"But I have meet some wonderful friends. So it's fine. Even though I have no proof."

"No proof at all?"

"Yes."

I nodded.

Actually, it was a lie. It's not like I don't have proof. Because they showed me that they could get back together again.

I will definitely not lose to them….

"….You don't wear my glasses anymore?"

"Yes, just for today I left them at home."

"I see. If you don't need them anymore, just give them to someone else."

"Sure, I will."

The only one who could be called my friend in this group turned around and left.

I looked at her back until she was out of sight then turned to my friends.

On my face – were the spiral glasses.

"Good! Follow me, you have to make up for this – gozaru!"

My previous goal – which is to win against her had gradually faded.

In my heart was a new goal.

In order to allow the immature, powerless and helpless me to stay with my friends, I will continue to mimic a chameleon for a while.

Someday, I could go meet them without my glasses.

Because I felt that when I was with them, that is my trueself.

Charge - Maiden's Road

My name is Kousaka Kirino. I am a very cute little sister to a very siscon Aniki.

What the very super cute me is doing right now is ----

"Clank clank~! Kirino! This is the paradise for girls – Ikebukuro[15]!"

"I see ~~~~"

This was my newest otaku friend – Little Sena[16]. I went with her to

"maiden's road".

To my right was Sunshine60[17] with Animate[18] in front of me.

"Haah… So this is paradise for girls?"

"Hehe~. I know this place like the back of my hand, so just leave everything to me!"

*Boing*. Little Sena's breasts – and I felt a little jealous about this – were jiggling.

Her real name is Akagi Sena, and it seems she also has a very siscon brother. We've been meeting occasionally for the reason of complaining about our brothers.

Sena was one year older than me and she liked BL games.

To be honest, I didn't have much interest in BL games. My only experience was with a light BL game called "The perverted Aniki" (which I bought due to it having a misleading title).

"A-Ah ---- I see."

Then while I was talking about it with Little Sena, I had to interrupt her BL

speech by saying:

"My perverted Aniki wants to harass me."

"You truly are my best friend!"

She almost destroyed my eardrums.

Little Sena held firmly on to this "perverted Aniki" topic and continued her violent ranting ---

"Let's meet again Kirino! Tomorrow after school, let's go to the Holy Land together!"

That's how it ended up like this.

Ikebukuro isn't as big as Akihabara, but it's still got a lot of unique manga, game shops, collage shops, the Sunshine building and cinemas. It was a nice place for otaku girls. If you had time, you could even stroll around looking at clothes.

Anyway, I came to this paradise for girls with Sena but I didn't get to pay much attention afterward, because Sena talks too much.

Well, it isn't like I didn't pay attention at all.

"I've fallen in love with the new Maschera art recently."

"Ah --- Yamanashi-sensei's work? I only know that he took part in making Meruru, but Maschera's art is totally different thanks to him."

Yamanashi-sensei's normal works and commercial works are totally different from one another. Kuroneko once said "I don't like people who have a different side to them when dealing with commercial interests.", now that I think about it, about a year ago Kuroneko went to a show of Yamanashi-sensei's alone, maybe that was because she didn't know how she should react to him.

… Nah, that couldn't be. She loved the original manga so much.

Hearing my comment regarding Yamanashi-sensei, Sena immediately began talking again.

"That's right, that's right, that's right! I didn't know that the original BL was so different than the anime! That was the biggest regret of my life! It would have been so much better if Gokou-san told me that sooner! Hey Kirino, what did you think of the scene where the second queen delivered a kick between Shinya's legs? I think that was the best scene ever!

YESSSSSSSS! Even though Gokou-san thinks differently, I truly believe the current pairing sucks. What do they think they're doing, just wasting the time of the viewers like that!?"

I had already started thinking Sena was talking too much, but the truth is, later on she ranted even more.

I could tolerate it because Sena was my friend, but she should really pay more attention to her surroundings. Like me.

After a stroll we brought our spoils to a cafe shop in Sunshine to take a break, that was Sena's suggestion. So, fujoshi usually took this route, huh?

We were drinking fruit juice while checking out what we bought earlier.

"Yep. Those are the easiest games that I could recommend to a beginner such as yourself, before we meet again be sure to play them at least twice.

That is your homework."

"… Homework huh?"

You simply imposed your decision on me.

Well, I bought them anyway.

Sena's glasess flashed: "After you finish your entry level test, we could move to the next level, then I could lend you some more in-depth works."

"… I have to ask, did you buy all of this stuff by yourself?"

"Nope. Most of the time I ask my brother to buy it for me."

"… Brother… You asked your elder brother to buy BL stuff for you?"

That's bad, right? There's something wrong with that, right?

"What are you saying, Kirino? You asked Kousaka-senpai to buy eroge for you, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did!… but don't you think that there is some thing different about that case?"

"I think it's the same."

"It's not! That is BL stuff! Sena… is your brother… gay?"

"Yes!"

A very confident answer.

"Really?"

"My brother is 10000% percent gay."

Scary!

We were raising our voices while talking about this gay topic, so I thought the other customers would be staring at us – only to find that people around me were discussing similar topics.

Sunshine was such a frightening place. I hope today was just the exception.

Toward that rotten topic, I had no choice but to force a smile.

"… I see."

"Yes, ehehehe."

Sena was embarrassed.

"Ah… about… but Sena's brother… it seems like he's got a good relationship with Kyousuke?"

"The truth is that they are actually going out!"

"Really!?"

"Yes!"

*Bang Bang* We slammed on the table and leaned toward each other.

Ack… no, wait, wait, wait, wait…

"… That's a joke, right?"

"It's the truth! Don't you trust me, Kirino?"

Where did all this confidence come from? Following a rational line of thought, that was impossible, but if this continued… I might start to think

"Ah… could it be true!?"

"But… but…. he has gone out with a girl before."

Even though they broke up… I think that was in name only.

Besides, he even said "Before you get a boyfriend, I will not get a girlfriend."

So -----

"How could two boys go out with each other!?"

"You are too naïve, Kirino! Your thinking is too restricted by common sense. Just because you see something, that doesn't make it true."

Sena took her glasses off and opened her eyes wide.

"… Just open your eyes, Kirino. Your brother is an uke[19] type!"

"U… Uke… type?"

What are you saying?

Even though I didn't fully understand what she was talking about, I was still creeped out. Truly, Sena was worthy of the title "The Wielder of the Mystic Eyes."

Sena took a deep breath and continued talking in a disgusting way.

"That's right – not only should he be wearing cat ears already, he should have started an unrequited love like a certain legendary super soldier…

That is your brother, Kirino!"

"Sorry, Sena! I'm not following you!"

Actually, does there exist another person in this world that can follow her at this point?

So this is why otaku are only active in Akihabara!

A Fujoshi's power increases ten-fold at Ikebukuro. Ah, I really --- really ---

really shouldn't have come here alone! I should have at least called Kuroneko…!

Also, I should ask Kyousuke the question "Are you really going out with Sena's big brother!?", just to be sure.

"Could we talk about something else?"

I tried my best to change the topic.

"Something else?"

Sena made an expression that said "What else can we talk about at Ikebukuro besides BL-related topics?".

What a difficult problem. If I wanted to change topics, I had to use something that captured Sena's attention as much as BL. After thinking about it for a while, I had an idea ----

"Sena, do you have someone you like?"

"Oh, that? Listen to me!"

She took the bait! She took it all, hook, line and sinker! Her reaction was stronger than the time I mentioned "Perverted Aniki" earlier.

Sena slammed her hands on the table and started her machine gun-like speech saying "Please listen to me, listen, just listen to me."

"Recently, my relationship with my Onii-chan has become very bad! The amount of attention my Onii-chan has been showing me was sometimes so disgusting that I didn't know how to respond."

You started talking about your brother when I brought up a love topic…

You are 10000% brocon!

"Yes, I understand your concerns… but you said your brother is gay, so it's a little weird…"

"Just listen to me!"

*Bang Bang*. Sena slammed on the table again.

Based on the look on her face, she was about to start ranting again. This abnormal state was fairly common, so I quickly and obediently said:

"What happened between you and your brother?"

"That… Well…. Keep it a secret, okay?"

"Sure."

Sena nodded and whispered to me ----

"… I kissed my Onii-chan."

"Pfffffff!"

I spat my juice out.

"What… What, what, what, what… What did you… Just say!?"

"On the cheek! Just on the cheek!"

"On the cheek? Oh, could it be… that picture!?"

"Yes."

I knew about that picture, Kyousuke looked quite jealous back then.

"Phew… you scared me. I thought that you kissed him lip-to-lip…!"

"How could it be!? That's disgusting!"

Sena shook her head furiously. I murmured:

"… Even on the cheek, I still think it's gross."

"Ack…! How could you say that? Ki… Kirino, didn't you take a lovey dovey photo booth picture with your brother? I heard it from Onii-chan."

"Please forget you heard that! It was my dark history! Dark history!"

"Huh --- Really? So, why do you still stick this photo booth picture on your cell phone?"

"Ack…! That… was because…"

I forced a smile and tried to explain, but Sena's eyes widened.

"Ack… You really do?"

……………

"You… You tricked me! It's be- because Kousaka-senpai stuck it on his phone too, so I thought… well… uh... It's not like that!"

"Ack --- What is not like what?"

"That… That serves as a reminder that he is a disgusting siscon. He is the disgusting one here, not me. In contrast, Sena, since you're the one who kisses her brother, you're the disgusting one here, alright?"

"What kind of sophistry is that!? True, I was a little gross… but you have no right to tell me that! Either way, Kousaka-senpai is not as much of a siscon as my Onii-chan."

"Ha!? ------ What did you just say? That's impossible, he is a way bigger siscon than your brother."

"Wrong! My Onii-chan likes me so much that he was willing to go to a BL

game shop in the middle of the night to buy a game for me!"

"My Aniki also helped me buy eroge! Not only that, but because he missed the last train and was unable to get back before morning, he borrowed a bicycle and went back to Chiba from Akihabara – He likes me that much!

Isn't it awesome!? Isn't he a huge siscon?"

"Damn… There was one time at Akihabara's adult shop where my Onii-chan planned to buy a sex doll that looked like me!"

"Sex…!?"

Sex doll --- you mean ----

Sena boasted at the speechless me:

"How was that? Siscon enough?"

"That's not siscon, that's just plain perversion!"

He should be arrested immediately!

"Hm, perversion? How could you say that about my Onii-chan! What about your brother? He tries to fondle my breasts every time we meet."

Sena covered her breasts.

"That… That has to be a lie."

"It's not, it's the truth. He's even earned a nickname at school – "Sexual harassment senpai". He once said to me 'I will fondle your breasts, you female pig'…".

"Ugh ----"

If that's true, I'll kill him.

We never expected our conversation could turn into a contest to see which brother is the biggest siscon.

Sena seemed to believe that she had the upper hand and delivered her finishing strike.

"Hm, hm --- Compared to Kousaka-senpai who has fallen for many girls, my Onii-chan is different. He has always only liked me. It looks like my Onii-chan is the winner."

"On the other hand, Kyousuke told me that your brother once said he wanted to marry Ayase."

"Who is Ayase?"

"A model. She's one of my classmates whose picture was also features in a magazine."

"A---! It's her! So it's her! But… but…"

"Hehehe, it looks like your brother is not at loyal as you thought, Sena."

"You are horrible, Kirino!"

"Doesn't matter."

"You…! Ohhhh… So it's a fight you want, huh!? My Onii-chan is the bigger siscon! There's a ton of evidence to support this!"

Facing an enthusiastic Sena, I casually said:

"Hm – by the way, he broke up with his girlfriend because I said that I disliked it."

"Hah!?"

Sena's eyes almost jumped out of her sockets.

"Girlfriend – you mean Gokou-san?"

"Yes."

"Impossible! That must be a lie! It's totally impossible!"

"Not long ago, he assaulted me at night."

"Eeehhhhh!?"

"While I was studying abroad he flew to America and said to me 'I will die without you' while crying…"

"….."

Sena didn't say anything.

I waited for a few seconds and whispered:

"So… What do you think?"

"Ah…."

"I'm going to tell Onii-chaaan -------!"

Sena got angry and run away.

I watched, stupefied, as she fled.

"… What exactly is she trying to do? Tell her brother? Huh… Could it be…

that she wanted to do something even more extreme with him!?"

I started to imagine an H-event[20] occurring inside the Akagi household.

A few days later, after school Sena contacted me via Skype.

"Kirino! Do you have a pixiv account?"

That was the first thing she said.

"I have one… but so what!? You ran away without waiting for me!"

"I'm sorry! I'm very sorry! Please listen to me!"

It looks like she has something special to say.

"Actually, I recently became acquainted with an artist on pixiv. He helped me a lot to improve my drawing skills. That – Ah, you'd better take a look at this! Here's a demonstration!"

"… This?"

A URL had appeared in the chatbox, I clicked without hesitation.

It was a BL illustration.

"… You wanted to show me this?"

"Ack!? You didn't even notice?"

"No… I realize one of them is Kyousuke."

But why did she show me this?

I felt a little unhappy.

"Ack!? You really don't?"

"No idea. Who is the other guy here? I thought you always paired your brother with Kyousuke?"

"I have a new combination now."

"Really…?"

So you wanted to show off. Yeah, I understand the feeling.

"So who is he? He must be someone you know, right?"

Light brown hair, slim body and a hairpin ----

"This is Kirino-kun."

"What?", I asked blankly, and in shock.

"Wh…What? What? Say it again…"

"Good looks, excellent in both his studies and sports, but the truth is he is a younger brother who loves BL games! His name is Kirino-kun!"

Her unpleasant laughter came from the headphones.

"He took advantage of life consultations to do naughty things with his elder brother."

"What do you mean by 'do'!? How did it come to this!?"

"Our conversation a few days ago with romance as the topic gave me inspiration, so I made a Kirino male version and paired him with Kyousuke!

Hm, hm, to think that I could have such a brilliant, creative mind!"

You…..!

"You fujoshi! I will kill you! Delete it immediately!!"

"That's impossible – it's art from a famous artist, it's already been spread all over the internet by now. There's no way to take down a picture once it's begun circulating."

"Get lost you fujoshi!!!!!"

*Bang!*

Hah… hah… hah… hah…

I logged out of Skype while my shoulders were still shaking.

"Sena… What have you done?… Ahhhhhh… This is a heavy blow to my spirit…"

I let out a tired sigh.

… That's enough, I should forget about it…

I took a long, hard look at the picture entitled "Kirino-kun assaults Kyousuke" on my screen.

Dark Angel's Mistake

My name is Aragaki Ayase. I'm Kirino's good friend, classmate and her co-worker in modeling.

Right now I'm talking on the phone in my room.

"Huh? Why can't you call that manager to the next event?"

I was talking to my classmate, Kurusu Kanako. She was working at the same agency as me and she's asking something of me.

"Didn't I tell you that he got fired because they found out that he sexually harassed you?"

"I knew that already, but I don't mind~. To tell you the truth, he's better than my current manager. Can you think of something?"

It looks like Kanako was quite pleased with the "fake manager" Kousaka Kyousuke, who is also Kirino's Onii-san.

That pervert! What has he done to Kanako?

"What do you mean?"

"Like making him return to work?"

"I told you that is impossible!"

"Ha~ Then just ask him to be my friend."

"Why…? Kanako, why do you want to meet him so much?"

"That…! I don't…! It's not like Kanako wants to meet him that badly…

but…"

"But?"

"He is… Kanako's fan. He's my first fan, so I should cherish him, right?"

"Your fan?"

"Yes. He said that Kanako had the potential to be a model. I was very happy."

She laughed in embarrassment. You are so weak to praise, Kanako.

"So I want to repay him. Just call him for me, please. I don't have any way to contact him, not even his name~"

I sighed.

"I understand… I will try."

"Really!? Thank you Ayase! I love you the most!"

"… Me too."

I hung up and let out another tired sigh…

Kanako was very happy, but I had a bad feeling about this.

What a strange request… I couldn't even ask him for help right now.

For some reason I have been arguing with Onii-san. Actually… I'm the one who broke off contact in the first place. I couldn't just ask him to come to Kanako's event out of the blue.

Besides, I'm still angry at him! I don't want to talk to him!

What should I do…?

I lied down on my bed. I couldn't think of any good ideas.

Suddenly, *Beep, beep, beep*, my phone started ringing.

It is Onee-chan – Tamura Manami's number.

"How are you?"

"Ayase-san? Good evening~~"

"Good evening."

For some reason, whenever I hear her voice I sit upright with my back straight. Her voice is very gentle, but I couldn't help but hold a great amount of respect for her.

"Is something wrong? Onee-san rarely calls me."

"Um? Ayase-san."

"Yes?"

"Didn't you say you had a quarrel with Kyou-chan?"

" ------- About that..."

My voice dropped below freezing level.

I closed my eyes for a few seconds, reopened them, and then I said in a serious tone:

"----Onee-san… How should we dispose of him? That thieving cat."

"H-He is not a thieving cat!"

"Huh? Didn't you call me to form a plan to dispose of him?"

"Of course not! Ay… Ayase-san, what kind of person do you think I am?"

"My goal as a woman?"

"… Since when did you make me your goal?" Manami sighed.

"I think that I am being seriously misunderstood."

"Really?"

"Anyway, don't make such dangerous jokes, okay?"

She gently scolded me. Every time I heard this, my evil thoughts vanished.

"I'm sorry… so…"

"Ah, you want to know why I'm calling you, right?"

"Yes."

"Hm, calm down and listen, okay?"

"It looks like Kyou-chan has broken up with his girlfriend."

"Er?"

Er ---!

After I ended my phone call with Manami, I called Kousaka Kyousuke…

Kirino's elder brother. Usually, he would pick up without hesitation, but not today. He should be home right now, shouldn't he?

"… Really… Could it be… He was taking a bath?"

I shook my head and purged my mind of weird thoughts. Finally, he picked up.

"Good evening."

"Good evening, Onii-san. Sorry to call you this late."

"No problem… So, what do you need?"

"Can't I call you unless I need something from you, Onii-san?"

"I didn't mean it like that… but weren't you angry at me?"

… Ah? For some reason, today Onii-san seems colder than usual…

Ah… So… He really cared about what happened.

My chest hurt a little. Yes… Until I heard what happened from Onee-san, I would have hesitated to make a normal call.

Was that the reason for his half-hearted response? Normally, if Onii-san heard my voice he would say "I was so happy to hear your voice" or "Ah, my Ayase!"… or something equally perverted.

"… Aren't you going to sexual harass me today?"

"I told you I will never do that again… didn't I?" Onii-san said gently.

"After everything that has happened, I should be more serious from now on

… that is what I have decided."

"… I see."

I coughed slightly and tried to speak in my best cordial tone.

"By the way, Onii-san… I heard… That you broke up with your girlfriend?"

"You sound so happy."

"I… I'm not."

"You are clearly happy about it. Are you calling me today to make fun of me since I broke up with my girlfriend?"

"That was never my intention! How evil do you think I am!?"

But it's very worrying if that's what you think.

I have to atone for Onii-san's mistake.

Because – Onii-san's loss was all my fault.

So, I began to comfort him!

"I really didn't mean it like that… Onii-san, there is something I want to ask you…"

"What is it?"

………….

"… Onii-san, it was my fault that you broke up with your girlfriend, right?"

"Huh? Why?"

… Really… Still trying to play dumb…

"The last time we met… I… I said some horrible things, like 'You're a liar!'

and 'You said you wanted to marry me!'… so… Onii-san must have been concerned about it… So, I thought that maybe you felt guilty because of that."

"Ah, well, no, it was nothing like that."

He answered in a very normal tone.

Really… He is such a liar…

…….

"… You broke up with your girlfriend because of me, right?"

A long silence…

"… No, it's not like that."

"You are lying again."

"No, it's the truth."

…….

"Really? The reason you broke up with your girlfriend is not related to me in any way?"

"Yes."

--------------------- I see.

A dark flame bursted into existence in my eyes. My hand gripped my cell phone tighter. It started to crank.

"A..Ayase?"

"Onii-san! There is some thing I need to ask you!"

"Ask me!? Why are you suddenly changing the topic!?"

"I don't care! Sunday, this week! Kanako has a live performance! Please come and see!"

"What kind of savagely request is that?"

"Annoying! Are you going to listen to my request or not!?"

"You sounded like you are threatening me, not making a request! – ah, fine, I will go!"

------ Just do it

I hung up and dropped my head.

"….Idiot."

How could it turn into this….

I'm the idiot here….

That Sunday, I went together with onii-san.

The sky was clear. It was the perfect weather for a live performance.

I maintained my cold silence and noticed onii-san was watching me awkwardly.

"---- I never thought I would wear these clothes again."

He was wearing a western style suit, his hair combed carefully.

I looked away from him and raised a corner of my mouth.

"…I didn't think that you would come."

"Why?"

Onii-san made a questioning expression.

This man…Did he really not understand?

He acted like this is something he should do – Followed a girl's vague request and wasted one of his weekends.

Even when he should be very busy because of his upcoming exam.

"When we were talking by phone, I was angry. I thought that back then, my request was very unreasonable."

"So you didn't think that I would come?"

"Yes."

"Of course I would come. This is a good chance after all."

"Er?"

"I had thought hard about your criticism….Yes, I wasn't honest with you. I had reflected about it."

"…What, what are you saying?"

Er? Er…er? If he kept up this momentum….

Onii-san lowered his head in a commendable attitude.

"After I said 'I like you the most', 'Please marry me' and then go out with someone else, anyone would be angry."

Onii-san! You really have ----

" --- I was only joking back then, sorry."

I want to kill you.

I felt a blood vessel on my temple was about to burst.

But, I don't know what to do – because he really reflected on this….this apology.

I could feel his sincere feelings behind it.

I finally noticed the contradictions in my own thinking.

Of course, I couldn't take all of this nonsense that onii-san said seriously.

'I like you' – 'Please marry me'….yes, all of those perverted things he had done to me….All of that was just a joke! I knew it already!

….Oh? So…why am I angry now?

" --- Ayase?"

"Nothing! Nothing! Nothing at all!...So, can we make up now?"

"Of course, if you agree."

How could he suddenly say something so serious….

"So…you will not do those perverted things to me anymore?"

"Absolutely not."

"Hm, really? So suspicious."

"What must I do to earn your trust?"

"….I don't know."

I looked away, but secretly took a peak at onii-san and whispered:

"I got it. Let's make up…"

"Really?"

Really…when you answered with such bright voice, I couldn't say 'no way'.

"Never do that again, got it?"

"---- Got it. Thank you, Ayase."

And then I made up with onii-san.

…Onii-san said he will not sexually harass me again.

…He will not do that to me again.

Oh, oh, oh! I couldn't let my guard down! Maybe he just pretended to do that in order to make up with me.

As soon as I make a mistake, he surely would do something perverted to me! That's certain!

"Hm…."

"Is something wrong? You look down."

"I'm not! Come on, let's go to where Kanako is."

"Alright…I'm starting to feel nervous."

Zepp Tokyou is located inside the Tokyo Big Sight's live house, which can hold up to 2700 people. Today, there is a Meruru performance which Kanako is participating in.

I brought onii-san to the waiting room.

There were already two cosplay girls inside when we got there.

They were Kanako and Bridget. First, I spoke with Kanako:

" --- Kanako, I brought the one you wanted to meet."

"Thank you Ayase! Long time no see, sexual harassment manager-san ♪."

From the sofa, Kanako, in a Dark Magical Girl Meruru outfit, jumped up in excitement.

*Bang*

She high-fived onii-san.

"Er? Haha, you looked so happy you brat. Who are you calling sexual harassment manager?"

"Hehee, weren't you fired because they found out that you sexual harassed Kanako?"

"Who told you that crazy story? Who?"

"Ayase."

"Ayase ----!"

Onii-san turned to me. I quickly whispered to him.

"…Because I couldn't think of any excuses."

Still….some how it suited him, didn't it?

"I see. Forget it… Long time no see, Bridget-chan."

"Yes. Pleased to meet you."

Bridget-chan, who cosplays as Al-chan, seemed scared.

"Ah…Bridget-chan seems scared of onii-san?"

"Wasn't that because you made me look like a sex offender?"

Onii-san stared at me fiercely. I ignored it.

"There is no need to be scared, okay? As long as I'm here, no one will lay a hand on you."

"Hey, I think that there is some better way to convince her."

"No…I am not…I'm not afraid of manager-san." Bridget-chan replied in a smooth Japanese tone.

"Oh! In that case…then why?"

"It's nothing…I think that I misunderstood something…"

What is she saying? I sent a glare to onii-san, asking 'do you have any idea?', but he looked away. So suspicious.

"Ah…Could it be that onii-san had laid his hand on Bridget-chan too?"

"Who would do that?"

Yes, he wouldn't lay his hand on such a small girl – at least I hope so.

If he dares to betray my trust this time, I will definitely burn him alive.

Onii-san coughed a few time and changed the topic.

"Say, Kanako."

"Yes?"

"Thank you for inviting me. Especially when you even had to get a ticket for me."

"Hehee, I told you already. You are Kanako's first fan."

My twin tail friend seemed embarrassed.

"After I form my fan club later, you will be the first member."

"This is my honor." Onii-san smiled wryly.

"After you become a super idol, everyone will be jealous of me."

"Of course ♪. How about we make a trade? Become Kanako's servant for a day? Okay?"

"Haha, I will do my best."

They looked like a good pair of siblings.

I couldn't help but recall when I first meet onii-san.

---- I was really admiring this gentle onii-san.

That was my first thought.

"By the way, tell me your name ~"

"Didn't I tell you on our first meeting?"

"I forgot. This time I will remember."

"Then, I am ---"

He made a thinking posture.

When he was acting as a manager before, he was using an alias Akagi Kouhei. I thought that he would continue using that….

"Call me Kyousuke."

But he used his real name….is that okay?

All I saw was Kanako poke at her temple in thought.

"Kyousuke, huh? Got it."

"Then, please to meet you."

He must had a good impression with Kanako, so he didn't lie to her….Really, he is too kind…there is no cure for him.

What should I do if Kirino tells Kanako her brother's name?

Forget it, Kanako is very stupid. She wouldn't pay attention anyway. But please be careful, onii-san.

What if Kanako remembers something? Today onii-san didn't wear sunglasses, his face was left open.

Hm, of course I will not remind him of that. But if Kirino carelessly told Kanako that secret, I will silence her.

Still, there was something I didn't know. Why has Bridget-chan been looking at onii-san since the beginning?

Could it be that she likes onii-san? – I think that is impossible.

To kill time, I asked:

"Say – what are you going to do today?"

"Oh? You don't know? This is Meruru's ceremony."

Bridget-chan was the one answered me. Both Kanako and onii-san looked at me with a puzzled expression, like they wanted to say 'You…you couldn't'.

"Er? Ah?"

Why is everyone looking at me like that?

"Today is 'Stardust Witch Meruru Carnival, shortened as 'Meruru ceremony'."

Kanako answered.

"In short, today they will show the anime, the seiyuu will sing their character's song, and cosplayers like Kanako will sing the theme song."

"Ah…"

Because I wasn't interested in them, I didn't feel any excitement.

"But….really! Ayase-sama doesn't know anything…."

Bridget-chan was angry. Onii-san looked at me with a chilling gaze.

"Ayase…you, you made Bridget-chan call you Ayase-sama?"

"Of, of course not! There is a reason for that."

"What kind of reason could force a little girl to call you – sama?"

"She saw me when I was punishing Kanako….."

"Ah….."

I wanted to stop that topic. What would he think of me now?

"Say --- Bridget-chan, what did you mean earlier?"

"Yah!"

I was asking a normal question, but Bridget-chan let out a terrified scream.

Kanako's eyes widened in anger.

"Hey Ayase! Don't bully her!"

"I wasn't! I just asked her a normal question!"

"I'm not talking about your words, but the way you asked is scary. Even your eyes were scary."

I didn't mean to! You bullied me….I wanted to die…

Ah….how could a child be scared of me that much? I'm a gentle girl. I don't get it.

"Today, ClariS [21] will participate too.

I couldn't believe that onii-san just answered in place of Bridget-chan.

"ClariS?"

"Yes, the duo singers who sings Meruru's newest opening. Bridget-chan must be a fan of ClairS, right?"

"Yes!"

Bridget-chan answered, her eyes sparkling.

"ClariS is a group of middle school girls who sang anime songs and submitted them to Nico nico! [22]However no one has ever seen their face!

But their combination is simply excellent!"

"Middle school girls?"

In an instant, I thought that was a setting for a novel, but then I remembered that Kirino is an example.

Even I'm a model…Really, everything is possible….

Bridget-chan continued:

"I was also participating as a member of Nico nico anime's dancing group. I was so excited when I saw ClariS!"

Ha….so that's why Bridget-chan wanted to meet ClairS that much.

"You said that no one has ever seen their face…in other words, no one knows what they look like?"

"Yes! Both of them only used avatars instead."

"But what about today's activity?"

"That's right! Today is the first time ClariS is doing a live performance!"

Bridget-chan showed me her most beautiful smile.

"Since the beginning, that girl only spoke about how she could finally meet ClairS and stuff ---"

Kanako said uninterested. She's probably jealous because one of her fans likes someone else.

Kanako seemed like to have a cute side too.

"That's meaningless. Kanako is better at singing than ClairS."

"Don't get full of yourself!"

Onii-san interrupted.

"Kana Kana-chan! Don't say bad thing about ClariS!"

"Oh…."

Kanako seemed regret of her words. I think that she was more suited with the 'Stardust Witch Meruru' cosplay than 'Dark Witch Meruru'.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

I opened the door. There were two girls outside.

They looked like a close pair of sisters, both wearing white performance dresses.

"Please to meet you."

Both of them bowed.

"My name is Alice."

"I'm Clara."

"Please take care of me."

Both of them said in unison. It looked like they had practiced quite a lot.

They were about my age, but their appearance was different from each others.

Alice was a cheerful girl, her eyes always filled with self-confidence, her smile seemed like it could transfer to others.

On the other hand, Clara gave off a gentle feeling. Her short, wavy black hair is particular eye-catching.

"Are Kana Kana-chan and Bridget-chan here?"

"Yes, please wait while I introduce you two."

"I…"

"We are fans of Kana Kana-chan."

Wow…so they were here to speak with Kanako.

"What what? You are Kanako's fans?"

Hearing her name, Kanako immediately ran to the door.

"Yes."

"Your performance in the cosplay contest is so awesome!"

"We had become your fans since then!"

"Really? You really are Kanako's fans?"

In short, Kanako is captivated.

The cosplay contest they were talking about must be the one that we tricked Kanako to participate in to get a present for Kirino. During that time, Kanako both danced and sang Meruru's theme song and left a good impression upon the viewers. Were these two among those otakus? There were so many people here, they could blend in easily.

"Heehee, don't just stand here. Come in come in. We still have lots of time

--- Kyousuke, make tea!"

"Of course."

Kanako and Bridget-chan brought them to the tea table.

While onii-san made tea, Bridget-chan unpacked her bag in panic. Why was she so nervous?

"P….p…..please sit down!"

What is with her? She was such a mess.

"Thank you."

Alice and Clara sat down on the sofa.

"Hi."

In front of them, Kanako was sitting in a posture that a girl definitely shouldn't.

This scene looked like those two girls were kidnapped by gangsters and were about to be questioned by a godfather.

"Why are you sitting like that? Your underwear is all exposed!"

Onii-san immediately reminded her. I must admit that there is no way I could interrupt someone as fast as him.

But Kanako was looking down on him, so the chance that she listened was slim. I should add my opinion too.

"Kanako! Be aware of your image!"

"Yeah, yeah ~"

Kanako stood up unwillingly and clapped her hands together in a loud bang.

"Kyousuke! Chair!"

"Got it."

I don't know if onii-san had predicted this order, but he already had a chair in his hand and slipped it under Kanako's butt.

"Good."

"It's nothing. All for my beloved Kanako-sama (emotionless voice)."

"Oh, oh! Your devotion is worthy of my praise!"

The stupid Kanako didn't realize that this was just empty praise.

Then onii-san moved the table to Kanako's side and placed snacks and tea on it. Seeing that, I couldn't help but say:

"….Onii-san, you looked surprisingly suited to be a servant."

"I'm not happy to hear that!"

In the end, onii-san acted like a perfect butler for Kanako….Even I don't want to admit it, but he looked cool. I finally understood what Kanako meant when she kept telling him to 'keep up this work'.

Truly, he was more suited to be a servant than a manager.

"About…"

Alice spoke to Kanako.

"During that live show, you were so amazing!"

"Really? I think it was normal thought."

Anyone could see that Kanako was lying, she was very happy inside.

Alice kept shaking her head.

"It's not!"

Even Clara added:

"During that live show, your song – Meteor Impact – was it true that you choose that by random?"

"Ah, that? Yup, I truly sharpen my sword on the battlefield."[23]

"Amazing!"

"How could you do it?"

"Can you teach me your secret?"

"My secret? Hmm, that's because Kanako is a genius. I'm just that good even without training at all~"

I merciless added:

"However, your random song list only had one song, and you trained in dancing everyday."

"….Keep your month shut."

She still pretended to be a genius. Kanako didn't want others to know about how hard she had tried.

Still, almost anyone who had succeed in the world is a perspiration person.

So, 'genius' and 'perspiration' is actually different.

Onii-san smiled and tried to smooth things over.

"Still, your singing was amazing! You sounded like a pro!"

"Really? You mean I'm on a different level from ClariS?"

"Ka…Kana-chan!"

Inside the sofa, Bridget raised her objection. Hearing that, Kanako turned her attention back to this poor girl.

"What's wrong Bridget? You looked like you are about to cry."

Unlike her casual tone, Kanako's eyes were serious.

"Because…because…because…."

Seeing Bridget on the verge of tears, Kanako showed a confident smile.

"Haha ~ are you getting nervous before the event? Don't worry, you are just like Kanako's background, it's fine even if you make some mistakes."

"I…I didn't mean it that way."

"So why?"

"…Er…"

She hesitated. She clearly had something to say, but she couldn't put it into words --- this is the feeling that I had felt recently. I was in a similar situation, so I understood her trouble. No matter how we asked, she wouldn't give us an answer.

Kanako's lips curved:

"Are you getting angry because I speak badly about your favorite ClariS?

But, it's true that Kanako is better, right?"

"No you are not!"

"Ha? How?"

…..It began to sound like a kid's fight.

I interrupted:

"Stop that, Kanako. Because ClairS is a professional band while you aren't, there is nothing to compare between you and them."

"You, what did you just say?"

"I just tell the truth."

"(Anger)…."

Seeing Kanako gritting her teeth, both Alice and Clara suddenly decided to join in.

"Okay, okay, please calm down."

"About that…I think ClariS was able to debut was because they had a good luck and found some fans who understood them."

"Yes, yes. If Kana Kana-chan had such good luck…"

"…..That wasn't the case…"

The hard earned peace was one more shattered by Kanako. She spoke in an awkward but seriously tone:

"They said 'luck' is a part of your strength, but even if you had a chance, it'd be meaningless unless you had the quality to pull it off. Without it, even if you could debut, no one would welcome your CD."

Still unwillingly, Kanako admitted:

"--- Just like Ayase said, now, I couldn't win against them."

"What a stubborn girl."

Onii-san smiled wryly and shrugged.

"Noisy!"

Saying that, Kanako raised her hand to Alice and Clara.

"You two…don't look down on those ClairS. One day I shall beat them!"

She made her declaration.

Alice and Clara turned to each others ----

"Right!"

They replied in unison.

After that was a peaceful time. Alice played the listener part, hearing Kanako's story while Clara spoke with Bridget about her favorite anime, especially Meruru and other famous ones.

During that time, onii-san and I kept our distance and watched over them.

"Why does Bridget-chan still look nervous?"

"I think she was better than before."

"But why? They only talked about their favorite anime?"

"Well, because those two are ClariS."

"Eh?"

He said it so suddenly that I temporary doubted my own ears.

"What….did you just say?"

"I just noticed it right now. If I take into account of today's event, then Alice and Clara could only be ClairS."

No wonder Bridget-chan was acting strange.

"…..Does Kanako know?"

"Probably not."

"Still, she was badmouthing them earlier."

But thankfully they didn't seem to mind….I will have to discipline her later.

"Say…today onii-san seemed different from usual."

"Really?"

Onii-san looked like he wasn't convinced, so I continued:

"Oh…I think….I think that you seemed calmer than usual. Did something happen?"

"…Well….a lot of things have happened."

Onii-san smiled wryly. Seemed like there was more than the story I heard from Manami-onee-san. He is still kind and gentle, but his old flirting is gone.

"I see….Hmmmmm"

"…..Did I say something wrong?"

"No, it was nothing. Nothing at all." I hastily answered.

The truth is…since the beginning, I had (only to make sure he wouldn't sexual harass me again, I had no other intentions!) tried to get my face closer to him, or smiled with him, but there wasn't even the slightest effect.

Before, onii-san would surely feel very happy.

….I was truly happy because he wouldn't sexually harass me again…

…But somehow…I felt a little annoyed.

Of course, I didn't want him to do perverted thing to me! I only mean that he made it look like I'm not attractive at all.

Next to me, onii-san said:

"…Calm? I'm not."

He mocked himself.

At that time ----

"Kyousuke ~ More tea ♪"

Kanako ordered in a boring but sweet tone.

Hearing that, onii-san looked up and replied, "Coming."

However, someone beat him to that task.

"Ah, I can make tea too."

Bridget. She probably wanted to do something for her favorite idols. She quickly moved to the tea pot.

"Sorry, it was oblivious my job."

"It's fine."

Saying that, Bridget happily poured the tea.

I looked back to Kanako.

My Dark Witch classmate was requested to make a live performance right now by ClairS. Kanako stood up and took the wand, grunting all the way.

"Don't you think that this time Meruru looks like a villian? So I think that I should do something different in my live performance this time."

While everyone's attention was on Kanako ---

"Damn!"

Onii-san suddenly did something strange.

He drove his head into Clara's skirt!

"Ahhhhhhh!"

A scream. After that, I heard something fall onto the floor.

"That…that…"

I had no idea what is going on. During that chaos, the only thing I saw was onii-san sexually harass a girl in the most shameless manner.

"Don't --- please don't push your head into my skirt!"

Clara was blushing madly, while Bridget was clearly panicked.

"What are you doing?"

Kanako threw her wand in anger and screamed at him.

"Kyou, Kyousuke! You really are a lolicon!"

"No I'm not! There is a reason for this…."

"Anyway, stay back!"

Alice kneed onii-san a few time in his face. Clara looked down blushing and held her skirt's hem.

"…Oh…"

"Ah! She is about to cry! Damn it ~ Ayase-sama! Kill him!"

You don't need to remind me!

I moved a few step forward, carefully measured the best distance then spun myself ----

"Go to hell ------------!"

I unleashed a roundhouse kick on this sexual harassment bastard.

After that ------

"That was my fault! I was about to spill the tea! He was only trying to prevent everyone from the hot tea…Please forgive me!"

Thanks to Bridget's explanation, onii-san's sin was cleared.

"But, but….even that…"

"Please forgive him. Thanks to him, our dresses are not wet."

"Yes…I agree."

Alice and Clara forgave him.

……That was what happened while we weren't looking.

"So that is why."

I smiled naturally and looked to far distance.

"….I believed in onii-san. Onii-san would not do something like that."

"You punished him despite his innocence, yet you still able to say that! You really are Ayase-sama!"

Kanako showed a stiff smile.

After getting hit by hot tea and having received a roundhouse kick from me, onii-san was lying motionless on the sofa. Next to him, Bridget and Clara were trying to treat him. Alice slowly opened her eyes and said to Kanako.

"It will start soon…we have to go back and prepare ourselves."

"I see. Then I should prepare myself too."

"Kana Kana-chan, thank you for today. After this event, we will come see you again."

"Do your best on the stage!"

In the end, without knowing that they were ClariS, Kanako still pretended to act tough.

Alice looked at the unconscious onii-san and smiled.

"You have a great manager."

"Heehee, are you jealous?"

Kanako showed a smug smile, revealed her two little fangs.

Clara walked to the side of Alice and said:

"After manager-san wakes up, please tell him I'm sorry for the misunderstanding."

"I will tell him. Don't worry, he is a lolicon, so he probably doesn't mind. –

Bridget, can you show them the way out?"

"Okay."

After ClariS left, onii-san woke up.

He was still recovering on the sofa.

"…Are you alive, onii-san?"

"….Yeah…"

Maybe he was still dazed, his answer was weak.

"…Sorry, please let me rest for a bit more before we continue."

"How could you continue in that state? Just rest here."

Really…. a strange place and strange habit…

Right then, *beep beep beep*.

It was a message sound. Hearing that, onii-san struggled to lift his head and took a look at this cell phone. He probably was reading the newest message.

A few second later, onii-san --- suddenly stood up from his sofa.

"It hurts….."

"Wait a second, onii-san!? What are you doing?"

"Something urgent came up."

"Urgent? But you still need rest. Didn't you come here to watch Kanako's live performance?"

"Sorry, I have to go back right now."

It looked like trying to convince him is was waste of time. He fixed his suits and said:

"I will come back later if possible."

He dashed out of the room, totally unlike someone who had just been knocked out.

Really….

Just what kind of urgent matter it is?

"---- Be careful on your way, onii-san!"

My Little Sister's Wedding Dress

Today I, Kousaka Kirino, wore special clothes and went to a hotel for a photo shoot. This hotel was located inside a jungle, behind a slope.

This job was recommended to me by my female manager, Fujima Misaki.

After I'd failed in my studies abroad, I hesitated to return to modeling but in the end I accepted, because I felt like this could help me find my way forward again.

I couldn't deny the fact that the job interested me this time around, though.

… Even though it caused me to miss a concert I'd been looking forward to…

According to the schedule we should have been finished by 2:00PM, but it took longer than expected.

It is now 6:00PM, the concert had already begun. After I finished my job and changed into my casual clothes – even if I went by car I wouldn't be able to make it there in time. Since I made my job my priority, I had no choice but to give up on the concert.

----- I cannot go to the concert today.

"… Ah."

After I sent my message, I let out a depressed sigh.

"Tch, I was looking forward to it so much."

Even though I said that, I still started walking toward the photo room without hesitation.

I had taken an opportunity during a quick break to send that message, but right now I had to return to my work.

Missing that concert upset me a lot, of course, but right now I couldn't let it affect my work, because this is something I chose to do on my own.

If I didn't finish it, there is no way I could face myself again.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Good --- Kousaka Kirino-san, please come here ---"

"Please take care of me."

With these purely work related words of encouragement, I returned to the photo room.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Not long after that, my job was done.

I was chatting with some of my co-workers who were taking photos together with me now.

"Thank you for you hard work Kirino. Thanks to you we got a lot of nice pictures."

The photographer who had worked with me a few times before said that.

"Really? Eheehee."

"Yes, you are very cute. Ah, I wanted to wear that dress too ----", One of the models, Ran-chan, said with a perfunctory, courtesy smile.

"Still, your clothes aren't bad."

Really? We kept chatting in harmony.

"Did you have fun?"

Some of the other models joined the conversation and the scene became noisy.

Ran-chan, who looked up at the building which served as the scene for the photo shoot – a wedding hall, said:

"A church at sunset, it's a very nice scene."

"Taking pictures at a church is nice."

"Right, right! Virgin road and the organ! My maiden heart was racing! I want to get married as soon as possible."

"Yes yes! Virgin road[24] and the organ! My maiden heart was racing! I

wanted to marry as soon as possible."

"Ahahaha!"

Everyone was laughing when one of the managers said:

"How about we go to a party next?"

"Nice!"

"Do you want to come too, Kirino-san? Consider it a welcome back celebration for you!"

"Ah… I will pass. My house has a strict curfew…"

Actually, I was out well past my curfew. I planned to go to the concert at 6:00PM so I told my Mom that I'd be working late – but I still had to reconcile with Dad.

"Ah ---"

"It'll be fine!"

"Come with us!"

"Just give your house a call!"

"Ah ----"

What should I do?

The concert had started. Even if I go now, I probably wouldn't make it.

I put on a courtesy smile while hesitating, but then…

" --- Ohhhhhhhhhhhh."

With a cry of anguish, a guy riding his bicycle climbed over the slope.

" ---- Ahhhhhhhh."

He was standing on the pedals and pushed down with all of his might, even at this distance I could tell he was in a hurry.

"… Looks like someone is coming this way." Ran-chan whispered.

I felt like something was off, and as the bicycle drew closer… the ominous feeling only grew stronger.

" -------- Ohhhhhhhhhhh!"

That idiot in a suit… could it be…

While I was busy thinking, the bicycle made it to the top of the slope and stopped right in front of us.

"Ha… Ha… Ha…"

Climbing that huge slope clearly took a lot out of him, his shoulders dropped and he started trembling. I didn't know if he had fell along the way, but there was a bruise on his face and he was covered in branches, dirt and leaves.

At first glance you could tell he is dirty.

"Ah!?"

"Who are you!?"

"What is going on!?"

The other models looked at him in surprise.

My heart almost jumped out of my throat, he looked like a mess but that wasn't the biggest surprise. The main reason was the strange design of the bicycle under him.

The primary color was pink, it was adult sized but it had training wheels for a kid. The body of the bicycle was female style with a small basket in front and a place to sit on in the back, the bell had been replaced with a horn and both of the main wheels were covered with a picture of Meruru and Arefa during their transformation sequence (in other words, nearly naked).

It wouldn't be unusual if the police arrested him.

" ---- Oh."

Even though I like Meruru, this was too much for me.

This was beyond otaku style[25], it was plain terrifying.

"Oh…"

"Don't look at me…"

The models started to panic because a very weird person has appeared.

"Pervert!!!!!"

Ran-chan and the other models started screaming and some workers and photography staff immediately tried apprehending him.

"Hey! What are you doing!?"

"That is my line! Who are you?"

--- He is my Aniki

How could I say that!?!?

What is going on?

That's right. The weirdo with the otaku Meruru bike was my Aniki.

"Is something wrong Kirino? You're sweating."

"I… I'm fine."

"Is this weird guy making you uncomfortable?"

No.

He is my Aniki.

What should I do…? I want to pretend like I didn't see a thing… but it would be even worse if they arrested him…

I looked over to him discreetly only to see him trying to explain himself.

"I told you already, haven't I? My little sister is here! She's a model!"

"I wouldn't believe that kind of bold statement for even a second! Just one look at you tells me you are way too suspicious! I'm calling the guard!"

Oops!

"Wait…!"

I can't help but to reach out my hand.

This idiot! Idiot, idiot! What is he doing!?

I quickly took a step forward and tried to speak, my face reddened.

"This man… is my…"

"Your?"

"… My elder brother."

"Hah!?"

Everyone aside from me had the same reaction.

"… Really?"

I nodded.

The scene became silent again.

It's not my fault, right? It's all his fault!

I silently walked to Kyousuke's side in this awkward atmosphere.

"Anyway… So, please release him."

"Ah, right."

The staff member who was holding on to Kyousuke released him and Kyousuke let out a sigh of relief.

"… I'm saved."

" --- Listen, you!"

Just as I was about to discipline him, Kyousuke said:

"Wait a second… Ki… Kirino… You…"

As soon as Kyousuke saw my clothes – he froze.

His eyes widened, his jaw dropped --- and then.

After a few seconds, he blushed.

"… What's with those clothes?"

"They're my work clothes."

"Work clothes…"

"Anyway, come with me."

I couldn't speak to him in front of everyone so I took his hand and pulled him into a corner.

"Hey… Stop pulling me."

Kyousuke looks like he is still dreaming.

"Hmm."

Well, I guess it is understandable that he was staring at me like a helpless idiot; right now I'm wearing a pure white wedding dress.

My job today was to take photos at this wedding chapel, though I'm wearing a beautiful wedding dress, this kind of photo shoot was a "new type" – or so I heard, so this time we didn't have a groom.

---- I never thought that he would see me like this!

I took a look around to confirm that we were at a safe distance from the others, and then I asked Kyousuke:

" ---- You… What are you doing here, what's with your clothes, and what the hell is with that otaku bicycle!?"

"Don't ask me so many questions at once. Ah, about that, huh?"

Kyousuke pointed to the otaku bicycle he was still holding.

"This… Well, based on the current traffic conditions… I thought going by bicycle would be faster than a taxi."

"No, no. I'm not asking why you came here on a bicycle, I'm asking where you got such a crazy bicycle in the first place! How long have you had a hobby like that?"

"I wasn't fine with it; it hurt my pride to ride it as well! I borrowed it from somebody I know."

"So, who does it belong to?"

"Mikagami."

"Mikagami-san is so amazing!"

"It looks like he drew this illustrations himself."

"So he could draw too!"

"He called it the 'Shooting Star'."

He was addicted to Meruru… Well, I guess that sort of dedication was expected from a god-like anime like Meruru.

"Even still, the wheels are kind of scary."

"Shooting Star"… leaving the societal embarrassment aside, was quite good looking. I wanted to get one for my room. There's no way I'd ride it outside, though.

Is that what they call "high skill, low quality"[26]?

All that aside, I must ask the most important question.

"So – why are you here?"

"What are you talking about?"

Kyousuke looked like he remembered something important and sighed.

"I came to pick you up!"

"Huh?"

"Haven't you been waiting to see this concert for a long time?"

"……"

I was speechless. I didn't know what to say.

That's right. Originally, Kyousuke invited me to this concert. "You like Meruru, right? I've got some tickets, do you want to go together…?" is what he said.

I have to go to a concert with him? Please spare me. I only said yes because he wanted to go with me so badly and I was interested in the concert as well, plus I thought my work would be finished by 2:00PM.

Since the photo shoot took longer than expected, I couldn't go. That's why I sent him the message.

"… So you came here to pick me up?"

"Yes."

Kyousuke glanced at his watch.

"So hurry up and get changed."

"Umm."

For some reason I couldn't bring myself to look Kyousuke in the eyes.

"But, even if we leave now…"

"We can still make it. I'll try. Going by bicycle is faster than going by taxi."

Kyousuke said in a normal tone, and patted the back seat of the "Shooting Star".

"You… Want me to sit there?"

"Yes. We will go all the way to the concert."

"Do you realize what you've just said?"

"Of course. Now hurry up and get changed."

He is serious. Is it possible that he's received so much trauma from society that he's become immune to its criticism?

"But… But… Changing out of this dress will take a long time…"

While I was hesitant…

"--- Then just go in that dress." said a familiar voice with a hint of amusement.

"Who's that!?"

I turned around and saw a woman coming this way.

That is Fujima Misaki-san.

"I understand the situation. You don't have time to change out of the dress, right? Just go in the dress – it's fine even if it gets dirty. I will take care of your belongings."

"What are you saying!?"

I shoot her a look that says "Stop messing with me" but she has a serious look on her face.

I'm done for. They both have serious problems with their heads.

"How can I sit on the back of a bicycle with this puffy dress ----?"

"Leave it to me."

Ignoring my objections, Misaki walked up to me and took the helm of my dress by her hand ---- *Riiippppp*

"Wha! Wait, wait, wait!?"

"How about that? There's no problem now, right?"

She sounds totally calm. I had the feeling she was joking though since her lips were slightly curved.

"But… But that makes me feel even more embarrassed!"

"I don't think there is any problem from a designer's perspective."

"I didn't mean it like that…"

She just tore it off, but it didn't look ruined…

The long part of the dress was torn off and it exposed the mini-skirt underneath.

How should I put it… Right now, I feel like I'm a princess.

"I don't know what kind of concert it is, but if you go in wearing that it would be good publicity for us."

"That's got to be a lie!"

I couldn't conceal my anger toward Misaki-san behind a smile any longer.

I've made up my mind. Actually, it's more like I've given up.

" ---- Ahhh! I get it! Just you wait, I will definitely pay you back for this humiliation!"

"Ahahaha, be careful on the way~"

Damn it! Just you wait!

I carved the anger toward Misaki-san deep in my heart and climbed up onto the back seat of the bicycle.

"Alright, hurry up and start moving!"

On the way down the slope the bicycle started building up speed.

"Hey… don't move around so much!"

"It's dangerous on the way down so hold on to me tightly!"

"Wh- Huh? You want my breasts to touch your back!? You pervert!

Siscon!"

I kept hitting Kyousuke's back.

"It's still better than falling down isn't it?"

"Hey, wh… What are you doing!?"

Don't make such sharp movements, I'll have no choice but to hold firmly on to you!

"You… I'll get you back after this!"

"Sure, sure. I came for your sake but you're so unreasonable."

"It's because you always try to do something perverted to your little sister!

You've been playing too many sister-based eroge!"

"You're the one who forced me to play them in the first place! Besides, this bicycle is too small, some intimate body contact is unavoidable and it's not perverted. We are siblings, so it's fine!"

"Recently you've been using the 'we are siblings' line so much that I think you're just using it as an excuse to sexually harass your sister."

"You're over-thinking things! You can't ever mention that to Ayase!"

While we were talking the bicycle kept along the road, there was a traffic jam so it seemed like we wouldn't have been able to make it in time.

Indeed, a bicycle was the fastest choice.

… Still, every time we stop at a red light there's weird gazes coming from vehicles on the road.

It's understandable.

There was a guy covered in bruises wearing a suit with a beautiful girl wearing a wedding dress on a crazy bicycle. This scene was too unbelievable.

"… I'm so ashamed of myself I don't want to see anyone ever again."

"It's fine, you'll get used to it soon."

He is too optimistic. Now that I think about it, when he came back from Akihabara in the middle of the night – he had to endure this type of situation by himself. That made me feel like saying "I'm sorry".

"Who were you talking with just now?"

"Misaki-san, haven't you met her already?"

"Ah… She has changed so much that I failed to recognize her."

"She's only changed her hair style; you should get your eyes checked."

"By the way, you wanted to see ClariS' live performance, right?"

"Yes, it's the new opening for Meruru."

"I see."

"… Can we make it in time?"

"Just leave it to me."

We kept talking along the way.

"… How long until we get there?"

"I'm not sure, we're about half way there – I will definitely get you there in time, don't worry."

Even as he was sweating and breathing hard, Kyousuke kept going at full speed. We kept moving without slowing down even a bit.

That's not what I was asking, though. What I meant was: How long do I have to endure this embarrassment?

"Hey, what happened to you? Why is there a bruise on your face?"

"Really? I hadn't noticed."

"Hadn't noticed…"

How's that even possible, it must have hurt a lot. He must have fallen down on the way here… In order to get me to the concert on time he kept pushing his bicycle forward – I realized in embarrassment.

"… Disgusting. Just how much of a siscon are you?"

"You are annoying."

How many times have we had this exchange?

I don't know what Kyousuke's expression looked like.

I also didn't know what my expression looked like.

The road kept going straight after one of the turns.

Kyousuke leaned forward to gather some momentum as we began to move faster.

I held on to him tighter with my forehead pressed against his back to prevent myself from falling.

"……."

The older brother was wearing a suit covered in sweat while the little sister was wearing a torn wedding dress. They were both riding atop an extremely embarrassing bicycle.

From an outsider's point of view, this had to be one very strange scene.

"Ah, so, this is how we ended up riding a bicycle together for the first time.

We're probably unique in that we're the only siblings that have done this."

"Hahh… I don't want to think about it. I'm about to cry."

We teased each other and smiled wryly.

He must be thinking the same thing I am.

Even if it's completely unbelievable, even if we don't want to admit it ----

This just might be our style.

" ---- Here we are."

The bicycle stopped at the concert's front gate.

"Hurry up!"

"Right, right."

Aniki takes my hand.

We both run in together.

Sometimes a surprised gaze directed at me is enough to make me want to find a hole to hide in.

I started hearing the song.

The voice of two people ---

Looks like --- we made it.

We pass through the main gate and are immediately assaulted by the cheers.

"------"

"------"

Everyone here is so noisy that our words were drowned out.

We could only hear each other by screaming face to face.

"It's too crowded!"

"That's right, but it seems Kanako's live performance has already ended!"

"That's because you are too slow! I think a taxi would have been much faster!"

"Ah! You… how can you say that? You only wanted to see your favorite show, right!?"

"Annoying! Where are our seats?"

"Not here! This way!"

"So why are we even here!? Idiot!"

"Because the view from here is great!"

"We'll cause problems for others! Aargghh! I can't stand you!"

Even in this crowd we're quarreling.

Really… Our relationship is still the same.

We always cause so much commotion but in the end there's no progress.

Even without progress, the oath remained unchanged.

"Hey."

"Yes?"

"…….."

"What did you just say?" asked Kyousuke with a wry smile on his face.

Ah, it seems like my words were drowned out by the crowd.

I could just repeat myself once more, but for me, using my words to express my feelings is a difficult challenge, not to mention that this wasn't something I could just repeat.

So at the very least.

"Hmph. It's nothing!"

I held his hand tightly.

Hopefully I will never make the mistake of letting it go.

References

1. ↑ http://en.Web.taisachnhanh.cloud/wiki/Nine-tailed_fox#Japanese_version 2. ↑ Cat of darkness 3. ↑ Tsundere moment, I guess 4. ↑ Volume 8 Chapter 1

5. ↑ A Japanese custom, after 30 to 100 days since birth, a child is taken to a temple and pray for his/her safety. Then they will come back when they are three years old (for both boys and girls), five years old (for boys), and seven years old (for girls) to finish this custom.

6. ↑ Yugioh style 7. ↑ English in original 8. ↑ A position where you are on your hands and knees while your head is looking down, usually in defeat. orz Imagine the head being the

'o', the upper torso and arms being the 'r' and the lower torso and legs being the 'z'

9. ↑ 5'2''

10. ↑ 5'9''

11. ↑ GAINAX is the animation studio famous for the Evangelion

franchise. So I'm assuming its a pose from one of the animes they were responsible for.

12. ↑ A reference for the manga Saint Seiya. For female saints, they must wear masks, and if a man sees her uncovered face, she would be given two choices: Love him or kill him

13. ↑ Probably an English case 14. ↑ just a way of saying in Japanese.

15. ↑ Ikebukoro is a commercial district in Tokyo.

16. ↑ English in the original. Probably her nickname 17. ↑ Sunshine60 is a 60 story skyscraper.

18. ↑ Animate is a manga, anime, and games store.

19. ↑ Uke (defender or receiver): The "passive" partner, or bottom.

Sometimes neko, "cat", by analogy to gay slang.

20. ↑ An H-event is also known as a Sex Scene. The term is an eroge reference.

21. ↑ ClariS is the music group that sings the OP to the Oreimo anime.

22. ↑ Nico nico is a Japanese video sharing site.

23. ↑ A phrase meaning you procrastinate until there is no time left. I.E.

Kanako didn't practice the song at all before going on stage and performing.

24. ↑ Author note: Virgin road: the road which was covered in white cloth during wedding ceremony (Don't know if he got it right) 25. ↑ Originally – "itasha"

26. ↑ It's an idiom meaning somebody is very skilled, but spends their time working on useless things.

Disclaimer

Under no circumstances would you be allowed to take this work for commercial activities or for personal gain.

Baka-Tsuki does not and will not condone any activities of such, including but not limited to rent, sell, print, auction.

Credits

Story

:

Tsukasa Fushimi

Illustrator

:

Hiro Kanzaki

Translator :

Chaos

Generated on Sun May 19 18:01:19 2013

Document Outline

Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai 9

Prologue

My Big Sister is Denpa Maiden and a Holy Angel

Girl's talk at late night

My little sister is extremely cute

Chameleon Girl

Charge - Maiden's Road

Dark Angel's Mistake

My Little Sister's Wedding Dress

References

Disclaimer/Credits