Sibling Bond
「I'm tired..」[Nova]
Nova was wandering the halls of the school, aimlessly.
「Maybe I should go say hi to Oswald's sister..」[Nova]
Whenever he thought of it, he thought of her face.
「I.. can't get her out of my mind.」[Nova]
As he was walking around, he rounded the corner blankly.
That was when he collided with someone, and they both fell over.
『Ouch.. I'm sorry, are you okay?』[Nova]
That's when he realized who it was.
It was Oswald's little sister.
『...』[???]
Nova stood up, and offered his hand to her.
She looked at it reluctantly, before taking it.
『Oh. My name is Nova. What's your name?』[Nova]
『..Anastasia. Anastasia Soryl.』[Anastasia]
She glared at him, but then looked away with a complicated expression.
『..Do you have something against me?』[Nova]
She looked taken aback.
『No.』[Anastasia]
『Then.. Would you come with me for a moment?』[Nova]
『..For what reason?』[Anastasia]
『As an apology. Please, follow me.』[Nova]
She had that complicated look in her eyes again, but she ended up reluctantly nodding.
『..Alright.』[Anastasia]
She followed Nova from a distance until they came across a vending machine.
Nova bought 2 drinks from the vending machine with his student ID.
『..Would you listen to me for a moment?』[Nova]
『..Sure.』[Anastasia]
They sat on a cushioned bench, with some distance between them.
『Here.』[Nova]
Nova handed her a black coffee.
『I.. Haven't talked to many friends of my age before.』[Nova]
She stared at him with a puzzled look.
『...?』[Anastasia]
『I.. 』[Nova]
『...Get straight to the point.』[Anastasia]
『..I want to become friends with you.』[Nova]
Anastasia's face went blank.
『..Why?』[Anastasia]
『...You are Oswald's sister. He's been there for me.』[Nova]
She stared at him, with her emotionless face.
『Do you want to?』[Nova]
He smiled at her, even as she stared back blankly.
『..Are you sure?』[Anastasia]
『Yeah.』[Nova]
She looked forward with a conflicted look.
『...』[Anastasia]
『Could I see your student ID?』[Nova]
She grabbed it from her chest pocket and handed it to Nova.
Nova took the two and put them on top of each other for about 10 seconds.
They made a clicking noise, then Nova handed it back to her.
『If you have anything at all to talk about, please let me know.』[Nova]
『..Are.. 』[Anastasia]
She was slightly taken aback.
『I'm sure.』[Nova]
Nova stared confidently into her eyes.
『..』[Anastasia]
Anastasia broke eye contact.
『Will you?』[Nova]
『Why..?』[Anastasia]
『I feel like you get treated differently from us normal civilians. I want to treat you as I would anyone else.』[Nova]
Although Nova couldn't see her face, her ears were bright red.
『..I... I'll be honest with you.』[Anastasia]
『Please.』[Nova]
『I've been watching you.』[Anastasia]
Now it was Nova's turn to be taken aback.
『..Huh?』[Nova]
『Every day since you've awakened your seed, I've been watching you.』[Anastasia]
A creeping feeling crawled its way down Nova's spine.
『Under Soryl family orders, I've even seen you while you were sleeping.』[Anastasia]
He suddenly remembered the "intruder" that Rai talked about.
『I.. Uh..』[Nova]
『And you would still ask me to be by your side?』[Anastasia]
『...Well. Sure.』[Nova]
『..You would become friends with someone who has gone against you?』[Anastasia]
Nova nodded his head.
『Yeah.』[Nova]
『And if I betray you in the future?』[Anastasia]
『..If you wanted to do that you wouldn't have told me.』[Nova]
『...That's okay. But I am the future lady of the Soryl house, are you sure that it is a burden you.. can handle?』[Anastasia]
『...Yes.』[Nova]
『Very well… from now on.. please take care of me.』[Anastasia]
As she said that last part, she walked off.
Nova looked at her gradually shrinking figure.
『...Yeah.』[Nova]
Nova felt perturbed, but it was the least he could do for Oswald... he thinks.
----
Nova sat there for a little while longer.
『Yo! Nova!』[Oswald]
Nova looked up at Oswald.
『.."Yo?"』[Nova]
『Yeah, I heard it was friendly than "Hello" or my normal greeting, so that's what I'm trying! Hahaha!』[Oswald]
『I see..』[Nova]
『..Are you alright Nova?』[Oswald]
『I'm having trouble with something.』[Nova]
『..I see. This is serious. I'll sit here and listen to your concerns. Like an older brother.』[Oswald]
That last line made Nova freeze for a moment.
「Hm.. I wonder why he doesn't get along with his younger sister..」[Nova]
『Master. Can I call you Os-bro?』[Nova]
Oswald's concerned face froze.
『...Yes. Just do it, already.』[Oswald]
「This is.. the peak of my existence. I'm finally a true.. older brother.」[Oswald]
『Okay. Os-bro.』[Nova]
Oswald got into a posture reminiscent of Nova's, to better match him.
『So, why was this a problem?』[Oswald]
『I felt like we were just as close as Hanzo and Rai, and I felt master was too stiff.』[Nova]
『..Yes.. that's great, Nova.』[Oswald]
『..Yes.』[Nova]
Nova removed his glasses and massaged the bridge of his nose.
『Is there anything else?』[Oswald]
『...』[Nova]
Nova began to burn in a deep azure flame.
『..Nova?! Surely it can't be that bad right?!』[Oswald]
『I succeeded.』[Nova]
『In what?!』[Oswald]
『The food challenge.��[Nova]
Nova's flame began to disappear.
『..Hah..You really are a monster. That challenge wasn't created to be finished by humans. You made me think you didn't succeed. What did you get as a reward?』[Oswald]
『..100 merits.』[Nova]
『Woah! That's an amazing amount for just the first day of moving in.』[Oswald]
『..and a kiss on the cheek from the person in the kitchen...』[Nova]
『...Nova.』[Oswald]
Nova looked up at Oswald…
To find that he had become very similar to a dried up husk!
『...Not even I have gotten a kiss on the cheek yet...』[Oswald]
『...Oh.』[Nova]
『Well, less about myself- I can't really see that as a problem.』[Oswald]
『But.. Well you know! Kissing turns into dating- wait was that the other way around? Well, then I have to date her! Then I get married!』[Nova]
Oswald laughed while rubbing his nose with his knuckle.
『That's not a problem! The problem is I barely know her!』[Nova]
『Well, get to know her Nova! As long as you aren't two-timing!』[Oswald]
Nova froze up and started a cold sweat.
『Hahaha! Ha… ha?』[Oswald]
Oswald's laugh ended with him beginning a cold sweat as well.
『Nova? Are you..?』[Oswald]
『Well, no. I just wanted to play with you a bit.』[Nova]
Oswald breathed out a sigh of relief.
『You're picking up some bad habits from Sarena..』[Oswald]