[Ringgg~]

A loud sound of an alarm clock resounded in a room where Akagami Yasuo is in deep slumber but despite that..

[zzzz..]

It was still ineffective.

Tired from his evening part-time job, he’s like a log that cannot be moved.

Half of the school fees, bills and stuffs are handled by him because his parents got divorced. He knew this will happen eventually because his mother often questions his father as to why how he always got home late and got suspicious. Turns out his mother were right. It was a big fight and later they got into consensus, decided to get divorce. He was made to choose and his little sister whether they will go to mother’s side or their father’s but they chose not to be biased and chose to live separately. Although they decided on that, still he can’t afford a house or an apartment so they asked them for a little support.

Their parent’s later agreed and bought them their own apartment. Well it was on loan at first.

At some point, Yasuo tried to convince his sister to move to her mother’s side but vehemently refused. She doesn’t want to get separated to his brother that much? Thought of him. Although it made him happy but he also thought it would be difficult for them. he can support himself by doing part-time but his sister is only 15 a third year in middle school nonetheless. We can manage somehow quoted he.

Going back..

“Onii-chan! Wake up! Wake up! You’ll be late you know?”

Akagami Irina shakes her brother violently because she knew that waking him up normally won’t work.

“Ugh.. mmm.. 5 hours more..”

“shouldn’t that be 5 minutes more?!”

“mmm.. ok.. 5 minutes more.. zzzzz”

Shinzu wen’t back to sleep but before he does, Irina shakes him even more.

“Like I will give you that! wake up! It’s the start of our new semester. You really can’t afford to absent or be late you know?”

“Dear sister.. a certain story I know that a prince won’t wake up in his eternal slumber if he doesn’t get a kiss from a princess.”

“That should be the other way around! And you’re not even cursed”

“Don’t mind the small details.”

He buried his face back to his pillow and grabbed the blanket to cover. His evening shift as a waiter on a family restaurant is making a toll on his body. I’m dead tired Yasuo complain in his mind.

Seeing his brother’s stubbornness, a mischievous smile appeared on her face.

“Onii-chan, morning is kinda cold these days. Wanna have something hot? A kiss perhaps?”

Irina slowly got on top of his brother, her small pale-white fingers slowly slid down his blanket and her face brought closer.

Hm? The blanket seemed empty. She flipped it out and found out his brother wasn’t there.

In a blink of an eye. Yasuo was already in a bathrobe ready to wash himself.

“You’re prank sure sounds dangerous. Where’d you learn that?”

She frowned seeing her brother escaped her clutches but showed a fearless smile.

“Isn’t it obvious? In your porn books. Where do you think it is?”

“I don’t have one. Even if I had, you wouldn’t know where it is. Duummy”

“Hah! That sounds suspicious! You have one right? Right? Throw it all at once!”

“Who knows?”

He only shrugged her questioning attitude.

i don’t have that kind of hobby. I’d rather purchase a kitchen ware, something that is useful.

“More importantly Irina, is the breakfast ready?”

“Yes~ I’ve prepared something special”

“Hooh~ ok get ready. The entrance ceremony will start at 8. Don’t be late”

“Like you’re one to talk. Mou”

After the usual banters, the siblings finished eating and departed. Their apartment is located on the fourth floor of a commercial sized building where you can rent or purchase your own place like a condo unit but it’s not something luxurious but a normal apartment found commonly in Japan.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

It’s quite expensive so they put it on loan but last year, their mother able to pay it on full. She works abroad so her salary is a level above from a black-tie worker. Of course their father helped with the payment too.

They go to the same school where it’s only 3 blocks away so they can fairly save a little from traveling expenses which was a small convenience for Yasuo who pays ½ of the entire expenses. He doesn’t want to be a burden to her mother so he wants to be of some help.

“You can’t do that Yasuo. You’re only high school”

“No mom. I can do at least this much. Please let me”

“Hmm if you’re that determined, I’ll allow it but don’t overdo it. Call me if you need something Yasuo. Take care of Irina for me, okay?”

“That goes without saying mom.”

As they walk, he remembered their past conversation with his which made him nostalgic and disperse it on his mind. He took a side glance at his cheerful sister and asked.

“Hey Irina, do you miss our parents?”

She didn’t expect that kind of question out of nowhere. She pondered a bit and answered.

For a moment, Yasuo notices her distant face expression.

“Hmm. I miss them especially mother. You know I stick to mother always, right?”

“Un.”

Yasuo’s response was only a nod.

“After they separated, mom wanted me go with her but I rejected”

“Why? You love mom right?”

“Yes. I really love mom just as much as I love Onii-chan”

“Oy. Mom will cry hearing that”

He jokingly said but Irina was quite serious. So he dismissed his playful attitude.

“I want to stay at mom’s side but I can’t bear to travel abroad and be separated with Onii-chan. I can only experience this now so I can’t afford to lose it. Going to the same school with you is what I wanted to do most.”

Hearing this, Yasuo felt very happy from the bottom of his heart. His hand naturally reaches out her sister’s head and patted it gently. On the other hand, Irina showed a bashful smile.

“I see but don’t forget to call mom everyday like you always do, okay?”

“Un!”

Yasuo felt relived at her enthusiastic reply.

This smile that I wanted to protect, I’d even work till morning if I had to.

A strong resolved is what keeps him going.

After they arrived to school, they bid goodbye and separated. The middle school department is located adjacently on the high school department connected only by a single overpass and series of path made of pavements.

They may be connected but high school students are not allowed to wander in the middle school area. Basically because it has something to do with the younger student’s safety. The rule wasn’t like this before until in recent increasing rates of incidents involving high school boys harassing middle school girls. A single or two incidents are on tolerable number but with escalating situations, the board decided to prohibit high school in middle school grounds in class hours and after school.

Yasuo thought of this as annoying but he still understands the concerns. It’s just that when Irina needs something or him, it’s troublesome because every time they want to go the other department, they will need a pass from the teaching staff explaining what the reason is and it’s really a hassle. They still need to go to the first floor to ask for permission. In some incident, they even forgot what they need to say or something that they want to give so they agreed on to never meet during lunch break and decided to wait for after school.

At first, Irina was angry but Yasuo understands her. Well if it concerns something important, they just have to bear with the hassle.

Inside the gym where the entrance ceremony always held, the seats were full of students waiting for the principal for the welcoming messages. It was rowdy. The venue is full of idle chatters as they wait.

Once the principal arrived, the rowdy students turn silent and turned to the stage. The principal began his welcoming message and about 30 minutes or so, the entrance ceremony ended and everybody turn to their designated rooms.

“Yawnns~.. guh!”

Yasuo is walking towards his classroom with a tired expression and suddenly someone bump to him from the back.

“Yo shinzu! We’re on the same class again!”

Looking at his classmate with an uninterested look. Ah Mitsuo Sarutobi, huh? Again with this idiot perv.

Mumbles to himself.

“Yeah. Isn’t it unfortunate? For me that is”

“How cold. I know that you’re happy, right?”

Shinzu showed him a dead pan expression

“Does this look like I’m happy?”

Sarutobi only laughs and changes the topic.

“Anyways, Yasuo, did you notice something at the entrance ceremony hall?”

“Hmm? Nothing of the sort. Why?”

“I was looking at the first year column and…”

“And?”

“39% percent of the girls were high level”

I thought it was something interesting. Well we’re talking about sarutobi here. Yasuo presses his temple seemingly annoyed.

“And?”

“What “and”? It was a bit higher than the previous batch you know? Not bad North High. Hm hm”

“sigh.. seriously, why my class?”

“? Did you say something?”

“Nothing. Sigh”

“I see. Oh apparently our suppose to be teacher was-“

“Enough of your useless information. Let’s get going”

“What do you mean useless?! Oy! Yasuo! Wait!”

He couldn’t put up with him any longer so Yasuo fasten his walking pace intending to leave Sarutobi. Fatigue clearly is visible on his face.

Arriving at the room with a sign written above the door 2-B. Yasuo entered and seated at the bottom left row. Since the seating order hasn’t been decided or perhaps it might not, for now he sits as to where he was most comfortable of.

“Good morning, Yasuo-kun”

Noticing someone talked to him in a gentle voice, he knew who it was felt relaxed somehow.

“Yo. Good morning Mana”

“We’re on the same class again. Please take care of me”

Beaming smile fit for her gentle-looking face. Sakimori Mana, is the class rep when they were still on first year. She has this approachable aura around her that he didn’t have any problems getting along with her.

“What’s with the formality? Shouldn’t be the other way around?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

She’s innocent too.

“Well even before, you were the one that helps me a lot. Be it school or other things”

“What are you saying Yasuo-kun? Helping others is only natural right?”

“Maybe so. Or Sakimori Mana is just plain kind?”

“Mu~ you haven’t change you tease”

“I’m complimenting you. Also I can say the same thing to you. You haven’t change Mana”

“I have! This morning I measured my height and I’ve grown 1 centimeter. I’ve been drinking milk since its good for my body so maybe finally it showed its result?”

“Only 1 centimeter? And.. hoho.. not just height huh? Hmm….”

“? What?”

Mana tilted her head.

Staaaare..

“E-eh? W-what?”

Staaaare…

Yasuo continued to stare Mana from head to toe causing her to fidget. This continued for a couple of seconds and then he showed an expression like some just found out who the killer was.

“Your brea-”

But before he can even answer, a strong straight punch was directed to Yasuo but he was 1 step ahead and blocked it with only 1 hand.

“Waa! Hi-himeji-chan! What are you doing?!”

“tch.”

“That won’t do Hime-chan.” Said Yasuo with a mocking smile on his face to the girl in front of him who showed a furious face towards him.