“This is my favorite café in town, Hiroko”. We are currently in front of the coffee shop that Airi-san works at. Hiroko said she had always wanted to visit a maid café, so here we are. Not that it’s the only plan today, I’ll have to pick up our uniforms at the school’s exclusive tailoring shop. “I’m looking forward to meeting nii-chan’s girlfriend!” Said a smirking Hiroko. I ignored her. “Welcome to our maid café” We received warm greetings from people in maid outfits as we entered. As usual, this particular café has that pleasing atmosphere to it.
A maid then showed us to our table, even though it's still early in the morning, the café was already bustling with customers. I unconsciously starts looking around for Airi-san, but she was nowhere in sight. Well, what was I expecting? school’s starting next week, it’d be weird to see a high-schooler working without breaks this close to the entrance ceremony. As usual, Hiroko is reading the menu while chatting happily with the waitress. She’s a really sociable girl only acting mischievous when she's alone with me. She can also read the foreign food names in the menu with such ease, come to think of it, my little sister has always been the top of her class with her grades. I’m a bit proud of her...just a teeny bit. We then wait for our food to arrive. “Hey nii-chan, which one is your girlfriend again?” asked Hiroko. “She's not here, and she’s not my girlfriend-“ “Oh if it isn’t Sora-kun!” exclaimed a familiar voice. I turned around and looked in the direction the voice came from. Approaching us, was an orange-haired beauty in maid attire. “Good morning Airi-san! I thought you weren’t working today” I replied with a greeting, ignoring Hiroko poking my sides. “Morning! Um I actually have shifts every day until school starts, I was just taking out the trash at the back” She replied.
I really respect diligent girls like her, to be working while everyone else is either out having fun or wasting their high-school days doing drugs, or smoking. Contrary to a certain someone who only know to spend money needlessly. I gave Hiroko a bonk. “Stop poking me, you useless girl” “Useless?- anyway, introduce me to her, nii-chan!” She replied while rubbing her head. “Ahh, Airi-san, this is my little sister Hiroko. Hiroko, Airi-san” Yep, Hiroko’s doing it again, she’s rudely ogling Airi-san. “Nice to meet you Hiroko-chan, I didn’t know you had such a cute sister!”. “Likewise, I’m Hiroko, wait you two seems quite close to be on first name basis already? Perhaps…” Hiroko said with a face that implies she knows what's going on. “Geez, we’re just friends, stop that. I thought that if we’re going to be studying in the same grade and school anyway, there’s no need for the formalities” “That’s right Hiroko-chan, Sora-kun is my first male friend in high-school so I don't want us to be too formal”.
Heh, so I’m her first male high-school friend? For some reason, that made me terribly happy! She's also my first female friend. “Is that so, then please take care of onii-chan for the next 3 years, Airi-senpai!” Hiroko said happily. “You can count on me, also if you want, you can call me onee-chan too! Ahh I can't resist the cuteness!” Airi suddenly pinched Hiroko's cheeks. Phew, here I thought they wouldn’t get along.
After that, Hiroko and Airi-san talked about various stuff relating to favorite food, clothes etc. Well, I gave Hiroko another hearty smack after she told Airi-san about me having a muscle fetish. “Nii-chan might not show much emotion on his face, but for some reason you can just tell what he’s thinking” “True true, Sora-kun is actually easy to talk to once you get to know him, like a cat!”. I'm now being compared to a mere cat? Those emotionless little devils ughh, just the thought of getting cat hair on my clothes puts me off. I don't hate them, lets just say I mildly disliked them after getting clawed by one...
I don’t know whether I should be happy or sad when told that I lack facial expressions. Anyway, we still have to go buy our uniforms, I suddenly have an idea. “Um, Airi-san, have you prepared your uniform yet?” “No not yet, Ahh! I almost forgot. Have you guys gotten yours yet? Want to go together? I’ll have to ask for the manager’s permission for an early leave” I nod saying that we should definitely go together, I don’t want to spend too long wandering around.
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Hakoyama High School, a big and prestigious high school, despite boasting quite a number of famous successful graduates, it does not discriminate against a student’s family status nor background. Meaning, whether you come from a wealthy or poor family, as long as your academic records are good enough, you can get in, no entrance exams required, not for cheap though. But they do give scholarships to students who have exceptional grades.
We’re not scholarship students so that’s probably the reason why me and Hiroko were able to enter this school so easily, it also helps that the principal was an old friend of our father, ahem. “It's huge!” I muttered. Indeed, true to its high reputation, Hakoyama High is really grand. I think the campus covers a decently large area of forested land despite being in the city. With trees here and there, it could be mistaken for a national park, if it wasn’t for the humongous white buildings in the middle of the property. Not far from that, divided by a gate wall, are smaller buildings of similar designs, I guess that’s supposed to be the sister school, Hakoyama Junior High, which Hiroko will be attending for her final junior year. Too bad we're not allowed into the school property, as school hasn't officially resumed.
For now, let’s just go pick up our uniforms...Weirdly, the school’s exclusive store is a building located just outside of the main entrance. Inside, were shelves filled with study materials, textbooks, stationaries, and further at the back, similar to a clothing store, were racks full of black Gakurans (male uniforms) and Sailor Fukus (female uniforms). But there are also blazers for the junior high schoolers. The store’s clerk said something about the uniforms changing once every 3 years, and that for the next three years, the uniforms will come in black. Which is good considering how much each set of uniform costs. Having to change them once a year would have been a pain, financially.
Let’s see, 2 sets of medium-sized winter Gakuran for me, also the summer uniforms, Hiroko’s uniforms, not to mention the sport uniforms. While I’m adding up the cost in my brain, Hiroko wandered around and picked up a Sailor set that’s a few size too big for her, in the chest area that is. “Why do you want to buy that? you don’t need it yet” “Hehe, I can use it next year though, so why not, nii-chan please get this uniform for me~” She’s really spoiled beyond help. It’s mostly my fault she’s like this. “Fine”. I picked up my chosen sets and went to try them on in one of the dressing rooms. However, as this is a school’s clothing store, men and women have to use shared dressing rooms. Seems like Airi’s changing in the room next to me. I can literally hear her undressing. Gotta focus, don't be a creep here.
The uniforms fit me perfectly like they were custom tailored, maybe it’s because my body is pretty much average? I don’t think I will be growing much more tho. Airi’s seems like she finished trying on her uniforms as well. “Sora-nii, how do I look?” asked Hiroko as she stepped out of the dressing room. She's currently in blazers, and I have to admit. That black, above-knees short skirt is perfectly accentuating her long legs. I feel a little bit off about that, too much skin. “The skirt is too short, find a longer one” “But longer than this is not cute! Not cute at all!” pouted Hiroko. I handed her a longer skirt and told her not to complain, while keeping on a stern face.
See? I can be such a strict big brother at times. When the total fee was added up at the cashier, for the second time since returning to the city, I nearly had another heart attack. I hold back tears while fishing out nearly a month’s worth of a working adult's salary from my wallet. However, it seems like being a scholarship student, Airi is entitled to discounts on the uniforms. She’s really awesome. It’s probably a good thing the school doesn’t have specific shoes or bag requirements, otherwise it’s would’ve costed a lot more…
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It was high noon when we exited the school’s store, so we decided to find a place to eat. I was made to carry the bags again, Hiroko even went out of her way and insist that Airi-san let me carry her bags of uniforms as well. “Onii-chan looks so manly when he carries our stuff, Kya~ so cool” and such nonsense was said while she's forcing Airi-san to go along with her. “Will you be ok Sora-kun? I can carry mine though” “No! it’s not good to let a girl do all the heavy labor, be a man and take responsibility, nii-chan!” and thus, I was made the bag boy for the day. But my hellish experience didn’t end there, after lunch, the girls decided to have a stroll around the nearby shopping centers. While they were walking and chatting happily without a care, I, Sora the luggage boy, was trotting behind them like a dog, nearly dying of exhaustion from the bags. Airi-san didn’t notice as I tried not to show it, but Hiroko definitely knows, as she occasionally sends me innocent-looking smiles. Ugh, why does she enjoy torturing me so. She even nonchalantly leaked all my embarrassing childhood moments to Airi-san, who’s listening with great interest!
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“Onto the local evening news, a suspicious hooded man was seen wandering around the local park near the train station. The local authorities had approached him for questioning but he suspiciously ran away. Although he has yet to commit a crime, it is wise to be cautious and avoid this area when traveling alone after dark”. Scary~, I thought our neighborhood was amongst the safest ones in the city. “Hey Hiroko, you heard the news, right? Apparently there’s a suspicious person in the area, so don’t go outside alone at nigh-“ “Hmm?” replied a black-haired shirtless hunk fresh out of the bath. “…ah, never mind” No suspicious criminal in their right minds would want to assault that…
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“Say, Sora-nee, don’t you think you’re forgetting something?” asked Hiroko as he sat on the end of the living room sofa. “Forget what?” I replied while lazily sprawled out on the soft cushions. “Really? You don’t know what day it is today?” Hiroko inched closer to my feet. “Ah, it’s Friday, right?” I continued surfing the TV channels. Hiroko went quiet all of a sudden. Curious, I shot him a glance. “EeK! H-Hiroko w-what’s wrong my cute imouto?”. Hiroko loomed over my body with an angry smile on his face. “H-Hey, I’m sorry if I did something wrong my dear little cutie pi-!” He forcefully grabbed both of my hands. I gulped. The current Hiroko is definitely not cute at all! “Hahaha, just looking at your face, I can tell you forgot…MY BIRTHDAY!” Ahh so it's my cute little sister's birthday today, it has been a hectic year, I didn’t remember at all!
“Time to exact punishment then” “Hehh!?” Hiroko started tickling my stomach. “AHAHAHAH Hiro- HEHEHE Sto-“I gasped for air while trying to wriggle my hands free of Hiroko’s single handed grip. “NOOO AHEHEHE I-I’M SH-HAHAHA SHOWWY!!” “Sorry isn't enough nee-chan, to even forgot your own sister’s birthday, what a shame” Hiroko continued his assault with his free hand. “Let’s see this spot right here~” “HAHA N-NOT THE THIGHS! BAHAHAHAHA” I laughed till my stomach hurts, and only when tears came out did Hiroko stopped. “So, have you reflected on your mistake?” He asked calmly. Still out of breath I can only managed to nod along with a reddened face. “Good, now get dressed, as my gift, we’re eating out tonight” “Heh? B-but we still have leftovers…” I muttered. He sent me another glare “WE’RE EATING OUT, ARE WE NOT, NEE-CHAN” “Y-yes!” defeated, I crawled my way up to the closet. “Good girl” Said a satisfied Hiroko. What happened to the family hierarchy?! I’m still the head of the family, right? RIGHT??
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“Hiroko, it’s dangerous to go out at night, I think w-“ “Just stay close to me, besides it’s only 8”. And so, we are currently in a taxi on our way to a nearby restaurant. “Say, why do I have to wear a dress and what’s with these heels? My feet hurts”. Hiroko’s also dressed in formal attire, a black tuxedo neatly showing off his built frame. Where are we going? “Hey Hiroko, when did you buy that-“ “Shh, no question nee-chan, just sit there and look beautiful, we’ll arrived soon” He shut me up. 20 minutes later we arrived at a- heh? Isn’t this that high-class restaurant with 3 Pichelin Stars, so high in demand it requires you to make atleast a month reservation in advance?! Hiroko steps out of the car, paid the driver and helped me out of the taxi. “Well nee-chan, you’d better be on your best manners” Chuckled Hiroko. Why are you the one saying that?
Atleast give your big brother some respect and answer his questions. “I made a reservation for two, under the name, Itsuki Hiroko” Hiroko told the receptionist. “Ah, Itsuki-dono and Mademoiselle, your table is this way” an old foreign-looking man dressed in classy butler suit appeared. On our way to our designated table, everywhere I look, aren’t there a lot of famous people here? That table over there, is a famous politician with his super-model spouse and that one over there, wasn't that guy a world class actor who's currently trending on Pwitter right now? Just what in the world is Hiroko up to? I peeked at his face, he seems quite relaxed even though we are basically surrounded by VVIPs. No one here would even begin to imagine that Hiroko's actually a junior highschool girl, as he looks like he belongs with the VVIPs here. What's with this handsome, rich and powerful aura he's giving off...
Afraid of being in the center attention amongst these famous figures, I can only cast my gaze downward at the marble floor while walking. When we reached our table, Hiroko handled the food menu while pronouncing the foreign names fluently. The waiter diligently took our orders and taste preferences, only then did I ask Hiroko. “Oi oi, what’s going on here? I thought we were just going to celebrate your birthday normally?” “Hm? What are you afraid of? The owner of this place was an old acquaintance of our dad, didn't you know?” “R-really? I had no idea…” I never heard of our old man being friends with such an important person, I mean except the principal! What else do I not I know?
The dinner proceeded smoothly, of course, for Hiroko that is. I was too nervous about my table manners to fully enjoy the extravagant dishes, also the presence of the personal waiter assigned to our table is making my hands sweats. “Psst, Hiroko, how do you eat this?” I gestured to the clam dish in front of me. “Just use the fourchette in front of you” “The what?” I looked at the dinner wares on the table. A fork and a knife. How are you supposed to eat a clam with this? Can I use my hands? I shot a questioning glance at Hiroko only to be met with a disapproving head shake. Fine, I tried to pry open the clam with the knife holding one side of the shell down, while trying to wrestle the other side with a fork. Suddenly, just when I thought it finally stopped resisting, my hands slipped and the darn clam goes *boing out of my plate and landed with a “splat!” in front of the waiter. “…!?” (waiter-san). “…” Me, Hiroko gave me a reassuring smile, but his eyes! They are laughing at me! Argh! My manly pride took a massive hit! I hung my head in shame, feeling out of place in this fancy setting.
I avoided the troublesome-looking dishes, and tried to copy every moves Hiroko made after that. “Ahh, nee-chan, I forgot that our father’s old friend, the owner of this establishment also wants to meet us. The reason we’re eating here today is not solely because it my birthday…” “What? Why didn’t you tell me the important details before we came here?” I glared at him. Hiroko made a stupid expression that usually appears when he's in his female form and made a “Teehee~!” sound. I really want to smack him right now. Soon after, the classy old man in formal butler suit appeared again.
"Please follow me, young master and miss" He bowed and showed us the way to the meeting lounge, which is on the private 2nd floor reserved for VVVIPs only (I saw the VVVIPs Only sign, the amount of Vs here is irking me out). Why do I have the feelings that we’re about to enter some shady, illegal upper-society business deals? With the amount of security personnel here, I was probably not wrong either… “We have arrived” declared the old man, again bowing respectfully.
As soon as we entered the designated room, another old man in white suit (how many old men are in here?) rose from his expensive looking leather chair and approached us. Just with a glance, his expensive ornaments and suit screams “I’m super rich” “I’m super successful” and “I’m super Important” like one of those big organization bosses. “Good evening, Hiroko and Sora. You may have forgotten me, but we've met when you were still 5 and 4. I’m Okane Takahashi, an old and close friend of your late father, I was there at his funeral" He extended a hand, and we took turn introducing ourselves and shook his hand. “And of course, my son” he continued, and another ikemen appeared, he has a similar, athletic build to the current Hiroko, except for his platinum-blonde hair and this distinct facial feature that I can’t quite describe.
Contrary to the cool aura around Hiroko, his was more of an energetic and moody kind, like a young lion. “Bonsoir, I’m Ichiro Takahashi, I’m only a year older than you, so there’s no need to be so formal with me, consider me as a senpai” He flashed me a dazzling smile, and elegantly held my hand and kissed it. *Badum-Badum. “…! L-like wise” My heart nearly jumped out of my body. “He’s a man, He’s a dangerous man, I’m also a man, not as dangerous, but I’m a man” I chanted in my head. This one is definitely a womanizer, his aura is suffocating. They didn’t notice what was going on in my thoughts, and that’s a good thing. Phew... Behind me Hiroko is staring daggers at Ichiro-san. What’s wrong with him? The two ikemen shook hands but one seems to enjoy it, while the other is emiting hostility like an angry wolf. I shivered. After we introduced ourselves, we were escorted to a luxurious seating area.
“You two must be confused as to why you were called here, yes?” Okane-old man asked. We nodded. “Well you see, around 9 years ago, your father and I, we made this promise between men. That in the future, we would, one way or another, join our family together” The oldman cut straight to the point. I paled, “Okane-sama, you mean?” “Yes, Sora my dear, marriage, a marriage between our eldest child” He confirmed my suspicion in an instant, waving his hand at his eldest son, Ichiro. What!? Marriage? Out of the blue like that? Father, what were you thinking?! I’m a guy! Ichiro is also a guy! I became flustered, of course being told about that your marriage has been arranged so suddenly like this, it’s an understandable reaction.
“Now, now, I have yet to finish explaining. True it is a promise made between two family heads, but we would never force you to accept this marriage if it is not to your desire, it is of no rush. I think your old man would never want to force you to go along with things that you won’t accept, am I right?”. After hearing his somewhat, reasonable explanation, I calmed down. Hiroko, on the other hand, seems quite calm despite the sudden info dumps, like he was expecting it… “I understand, but-“ How should I explain it to them? Explain what, you ask? Of course, the gender-bending condition of our bodies. “Ahh about that, your father has already disclosed all the information about Sora and Hiroko to us” Ichiro-sama spoke out as if he was able to read my mind. Hm, so if father already told them about this, that means he trusts them, right? I don't, not at all.
“I see, but however I think I can't give an answer straight away, therefore I apologize to Okane-sama and Ichiro-sama” I gave an apologetic bow trying to emit as much feminine charm as I can to back out of this situation. “No need to be hasty, of course instead of declining immediately, why not take some time to think it over? After all it is your late father’s wish, isn't it worth atleast, some time to ponder over?” He got me there, this cunning old lion, I can’t just outright deny the proposal. “In fact, take a few years to think about it, isn’t that right Ichiro, my son?” Okane-sama continued. “That’s right Sora, time is of no limit, oh, in fact you will be attending the same high-school as me, right? Why don’t we take this chance to get to know each other more? I’ve already been informed of your male form, so why not start out as friends?” Ichiro-san said while flashing a dazzling smile. I have no choice but to go with the flow, for now, I nodded. “It appears to be quite late, apologies for keeping you here without regards for the time, Barnold, escort our guests home” The old lion gestured to the foreign butler. We said our goodbyes and Barnold-san appeared “This way please” …
Once we exited the restaurant, an expensive imported car was waiting for us. “Okane-sama instructed us to escort Sora-dono and Hiroko-dono back, as he is concerned for your safety” Barnold the butler informed us. Well, not only did we get a free ride, but we also ate at this high-end restaurant for free, they wouldn’t accept our payment even if we forced it on them. We're “Okane-sama’s esteemed guests” as they referred to us, well free or not, I have no intention of willing stepping foot back into this lion's den disguised a s a restaurant.
On the way back, I can't come up with any thoughts but to stare at the brightly lit city through the tinted car window. Hiroko seems like he has nothing to say, although he keeps sneaking glances at me. Probably to check if I’m okay. My female self right now is quite tired, sleepy, and has alot to process...
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As soon as we got home, I heads straight for bed. It has been a long evening, with so much going on, I don’t think I can handle anything else for the night. There’s a lot of questions I have to ask Hiroko, though she probably don't have the answers. Also, I may need to talk to the Takahashi family again, about the marriage, about why our father even made that promise is beyond me, there is probably a reason that he has not had the chance to tell us? Maybe I need to look into it more, what do the Takahashi benefits from marrying us, me, an orphan into their family? The world is not solely built on promises and kindness, specially so for a family as prominent as theirs.
School’s starting next week, I will have a lot of chances to interact with Ichiro Takahashi. I have no plan of marrying him, even though they seems genuine, I have no clue what their motives are.This is just too sudden and weird for me to accept. After all, I’m just a normal teenage boy who happens to possess both genders. With various thoughts still in my mind, i succumbs to the drowsiness...