Chapter 2: Developments of This and That! (6)

"Hrmm…"

"Uuu…"

Sora and Suzuka groaned after hearing Haru's sudden exposition. Haru let them digest his bullshit in peace. He feigned his calmness as he watched their expression, hiding his anxiety and fear of being rejected by them.

Haru discreetly 'Appraised' them. He endured the unpleasant downside of using 'Appraisal' and the guilty conscience for violating his loved ones' privacy. However, it was a price to pay to know what was Sora and Suzuka were thinking in their heads.

There was nothing free in the world. Even Haru's power came with his life as the price. However, that's beside the point.

As Haru expected, the girls were in turmoil. They were concerned, confused, conflicted, and scared. Well, it was natural. After all, Haru had just shown something absurd.

However, the most significant thing that Haru had gleaned was their concern for him. They were very concerned that he would change and leave them because of this.

"Sora, Suzuka, listen!" Haru called them firmly. After they turned their attention to him, he continued, "Don't worry. I'm still Haruka, whom you two know for years, though I have changed a bit because of the memory and experience of my past life. Whether you like it or not, I will stay by your side, protect you two, and make you two the happiest girls in this world!"

While enduring the shame and embarrassment from spouting such a corny speech, Haru gave them a gaze that contained his resolution, determination, and sincerity.

Their reaction to his corny declaration was as expected. They had a red-faced, gawking expression as they felt embarrassed by Haru's words. Well, anyone would become embarrassed if they received such embarrassing words that were spoken with a straight face.

While watching the flustered face of his sisters, Haru enjoyed their reaction and let them collect their thoughts.

After a while passed.

*Cough!*

Suzuka feigned a cough to get Haru's attention. "So, Magic is real?" She said. "And, Onii-chan is a reincarnated person? And a genius magician, at that?"

"Yup." Haru curtly replied while summoning back his plate. He then continued eating the food on it.

"Onii-chan remembered memories, er, from your past life?"

"Yup."

"Ummm. I don't know what to think…" Suzuka trailed off and looked troubled.

Letting Suzuka sort her mind in peace, Haru turned his head to Sora, who had been watching him with an unperturbed expression.

"What about you, Sora? Any question?"

"There is none. Haru is still Haru to me," Sora replied without hesitation.

"I suppose you have no problems with me being a reincarnated person?" Haru raised his brow and asked for her confirmation.

"Yeah." Sora nodded her head.

After that, Haru turned his head to Suzuka.

"To be honest, my mind has problems accepting this," Suzuka remarked after receiving Haru's attention. "It's something absurd, after all. But, as Nee-san said, Onii-chan is still Onii-chan. I realized that I don't really care about Onii-chan's past life. It's all in the past, after all."

Haru then alternated his gaze between Sora and Suzuka. He 'Appraised' them and found that their words were genuine, meaning that they had no qualms with the 'truth' that he'd spouted. He felt relieved.

"Thanks, Sora, Suzuka. You don't know how much it means to me. To be honest, I was nervous. I feared your two would hate me because of this," Haru said in a relieved tone.

After that, Kasugano Siblings moved on to a lighter topic and spent their time in harmony. And soon, they finished their diner. Haru raised his body from his chair. He took his dishes and planned to wash them in the sink immediately.

"I'll wash it later. Just put it in the sink," Sora notified Haru all of a sudden, changing Haru's plan.

Although Haru didn't seem to react to Sora's unexpected consideration and thoughtfulness, Suzuka was different. She gawked at Sora as if she was seeing an Unidentified Mysterious Animal.

"What's with that look?" Sora knitted her brows and shot an annoyed look at Suzuka. She felt wronged by Suzuka's stare.

"Ah. Uh. Nothing." Suzuka snapped out of her shock and acted flustered. She then concentrated on her food, though she furtively sent a strange look to Sora.

"What?" Sora asked after she felt irritated by Suzuka's furtive glances.

"Muuu… Did you remember your past life memory too?" Suzuka carefully inquired.

Sora gave Suzuka a strange gaze as if she was looking at something weird. "No," She curtly replied.

Haru finally returned from the kitchen and told them both. "I'm going back to my room. If you two need something, you can call me."

"Yeah."

"Very, well. Thank you for the offer, Onii-chan."

Sora and Suzuka responded.

After that, Haru went to his bedroom, leaving his sisters behind.

***

After Haru headed for his bedroom, Sora sent a glance to Suzuka from the corner of her eyes. She had finished her meal at this point and was playing with her utensil.

"Hei!" Sora suddenly called Suzuka.

"What?" Suzuka's hand stopped, and she sent a suspicious gaze at Sora from the corner of her eyes.

Suzuka blinked her eyes in bemusement when she a complicated expression on Sora's face. She put down her spoon and turned her head to Sora as she felt that Sora was going to talk about something important.

Suzuka was unsure if she could take another outrageous stuff. She was intentionally putting the topic about her brother's reincarnated status aside for the time being. After she returned to her room and finished her homework, she would begin digesting it. But, it seemed like it wouldn't proceed as she wished.

"Hypothetically speaking," Sora began, catching Suzuka's full attention. "If you have a chance to be with Haru as more than a pair of siblings, but you must share him with someone else, what will you do?"

After listening to Sora's strange question, Suzuka opened her mouth and was about to retort with "What the heck are you saying?". However, she stopped at the last moment and closed her mouth. She felt that there was something more in Sora's question. She contemplated for a short time before sending an "Are you mad?" look at Sora.

"Don't tell me," Suzuka said. "You want me and you to share Onii-chan."

*Tsk!* Sora clicked her tongue in irritation. Although Suzuka's guess was indeed correct, it didn't mean she liked to hear it. As a matter of fact, she truly wanted her twin for herself. She didn't like to share the love of her life with someone else.

"Just tell me your answer. Don't talk about unrelated things," Sora quietly said but not low enough for Suzuka to miss it.

"There is no way it's unrelated!" Suzuka whispered back. "What are you thinking?! Don't you think about Onii-chan's feelings when you ask that stupid question? Why do you think that we have been fighting for Onii-chan's affection? Would Onii-chan even accept polygamy? Well, not sure of Onii-chan's stand regarding polygamy since he remembered his past life memory. That aside, polygamy isn't legal in this country, you know!"

"At least, some countries still accept polygamy," Sora commented calmly. "Incest is almost universally frowned upon, you know."

Suzuka involuntarily flinched when she heard Sora's words despite how casual she said them.

In their race for their beloved brother's acceptance, Suzuka had an unsurmountable lead because she wasn't related by blood with Haruka. Then, she could change her surname to her mother's maiden name if she ever had a chance to marry Haruka in the future.

However, Sora was different. She wasn't only Haruka's blood-related sister, but she was also his twin. Even though she changed her surname, their similar characteristics would raise uncomfortable questions. When they asked to have a DNA test, the result would show that they were closely related by blood.

Even so, Sora didn't give a damn what society thinks.

Suzuka knew this fact, and she couldn't help but feel complicated. She thought that it was wrong for blood-related siblings to marry and wanted Sora to stop being her love-rival. However, she also admired Sora because Sora didn't let other's opinions to prevent her from obtaining her happiness.

Suzuka then pondered Sora's 'hypothetical question,' and Sora let her think in peace.

A couple of minutes later, "Uuuuh…" Suzuka softly groaned when she felt an upcoming headache. She moved her utensils and put her face on the table. She needed a short break.

Admittedly, her brother's reincarnated and magical status, as well as Sora's sudden inquiry, was too much for her.

*Sigh!*

Suzuka turned her head slightly when she heard the sound of a heavy sigh. Suzuka then saw Sora looking at her from the corner of her eyes while massaging her forehead. It seemed like she wasn't the only one who endured a headache.

"Just think it slowly. I'm not in a hurry to hear your answer," Sora said before she left her chair. She then collected the dishes on the table and carried them to the sink.

Suzuka watched Sora with a complicated expression. Although Sora's abrupt show of consideration surprised her, it wasn't something that heavily weighed her mind at the moment. It was Sora's 'hypothetical question' that occupied her mind and made her feel restless.

"What the heck?!" Suzuka softly muttered under her breath. "Why everything stops making sense? Ugh…"

After that, Suzuka sluggishly carried her body to her room. She needed a calm place to think Sora's 'hypothetical question' through. That topic was more important than her dear brother's reincarnated magician status.