Chapter 51

(Chinatsu pov)

I became the president of the student council after winning the election following the end of summer break. The reason I did this is simple. I want to prove to myself that I'm capable of standing by my brother's side.

Haha, anyway.

Today is the last day of the school festival. The festival is nothing special; it's probably the same as any other school festival. Takoyaki stands, haunted houses, and many more. The school is filled with excitement. As I walk through the crowd, the students notice me and greet me a little. Naturally, I greet them back, as I'm expected to. After a while, I arrive at my classroom.

However, there's a guy waiting at the entrance with two bento boxes. As usual, he doesn't care about those around him and is focused on his phone. I bet this guy is fully aware of the girls' attention on him, right?

"Oh my, it's Masamune-kun. What are you doing here?"

When I ask, his blue eyes glance sideways at me.

"Let's have lunch together."

With just that simple line, the girls around me start overreacting like fangirls. Tch, tch, what hopeless students.

"Then, can you wait for me in the student council room?"

"Oh, sure."

He left without a second thought! How cold is he! Tch, I was hoping he would wait for me a little.

"Hayase-san! Are you two finally dating?!"

"That's right! Tell us, tell us!"

These girls… There's no way I'm dating my brother.

"There's no way. Masamune-kun only sees me as a sister, and I see him as a good brother too," I say, trying to calm them down.

"Oh my, I'm so jealous! Is that why Makabe-senpai made you a bento?"

I smile. "Probably. He's kind of unpredictable too."

Of course, since we're actually blood-related siblings. Makabe Masamune is my brother, and we live under the same roof! Kekeke, what an amusing sight.

[Makabe Masamune is expected to be in the discipline committee room right now. We repeat…]

Huh? Again? This is the fifth time the discipline committee has called him. Sigh, what a hopeless brother. How many times do I have to help him? Shortly after, I receive a LUNE message that I need to come as well.

In the small room of the discipline committee, desks are set horizontally, where three students sit facing one student on the opposite side. Among them, I sit on the left. The other two are Iino Miko, the head of the discipline committee, and her deputy, Osaragi Kobachi.

"Makabe-senpai, I believe this is the fifth time we've called you here," Miko-senpai says with a stern face.

Watching Masamune's tired expression, he replies, "Whatever it is, make it quick."

"Are you being ignorant of your actions again?"

"Yeah, so what? Every time I come here, I always end up innocent." He then looks at me as if to say, Get me out of here, you heard me?

I just smile and enjoy the scene.

"Th-that's true… but this time, it's different! We have solid proof that Senpai has been engaging in indecent activities at this sacred school!" Miko-senpai says passionately.

"The hell? Well, whatever. Just tell me already…"

Seeing his indifferent attitude, I notice Miko-senpai's fist trembling on the table. Sigh, why does Onii-chan always make the girls around him go crazy?

"Then, Makabe Masamune-senpai, we'd like you to clarify what you were doing with this woman behind the school," Kobachi-senpai calmly asks, showing him a video on her phone.

When I see the video, I sigh inwardly.

"Oh, let me see…" Masamune stands up and approaches us. "Ah, that woman is my mother."

"I knew it!—what?!" Miko-senpai starts to act smug before realizing she was wrong.

Masamune smiles at Miko-senpai. However, "My mother came to the school to see the festival and brought me lunch. She also likes to kiss me on the cheek. What a joke…" His smile twitches with annoyance. Kekeke! What a sight! "The camera angle probably made it look like she was kissing me on the lips. Still, she's my mother."

"Re-really? Are you telling us the truth?"

Looking at Miko-senpai, he frowns a little. "Who cares? Why should I prove something I didn't do? That's your job if you care so much about the law, right?"

What a cold brother I have. Is he aware that his words are making Miko-senpai look really bad?! At this rate, he'll never get a girlfriend!

"Then, if you're telling us the truth, we'd like to apologize once again for this misunderstanding. If you want to know, actually, we received this—"

"I know who sent this video to make me look bad. Don't worry, I don't blame you all here. And you in the middle…"

Miko-senpai lifts her head a little as my brother continues, "I respect what you're all doing here, so don't blame yourselves. Still, next time, don't take every piece of information at face value without verifying it first."

I glance back at Miko-senpai, whose face is blushing bright red! Oh. My. God. Turning back to Masamune, he has already left his chair and exited the room.

"Haha, then we'll have to dismiss this case, right, senpai?"

They all nod in agreement.

"I thought he was a bit of a jerk because of some rumors about him, but he's actually a good person, isn't he?"

"We shouldn't trust rumors in the first place, Miko-chan. Well, thank you for coming again, President."

After that, I head to the student council room and find my brother sitting alone at a long table for eight people.

"Chinatsu, let's eat."

"Aye, aye, bro." I sit beside him. "Oh, by the way, I also heard that a beautiful woman came to the school with a lunchbox for Makabe-senpai a few hours ago."

Masamune sighs. "She was kind of bold at first before realizing she kissed me on the cheek in front of a crowd. What a clumsy mother."

My brother has a tendency to attract and push away women around him. If I had to say he had that intention, he doesn't. However, he's a natural. As a good little sister, I have an obligation to watch his back.

I giggle. "Then, what will you do about Shimizu Aimi?"

He glances at me. "So, you already know who sent that video?"

I smile back at him. "Don't underestimate me, Onii-chan. Don't forget who's sitting beside you. Keke."

"That smug face. Well, you're my sister. It's only natural."

Don't worry, Onii-chan. Leave the filthy monkeys to me. There's no way I'll let anyone mess with my brother when I, Chinatsu, am aware of it.

Then, I lean my head on his shoulder. "You know what to do."

I was expecting him to pat my head while I was eating, but instead, he flicks my forehead! Just wait, Masamune. I'll do something unexpected tomorrow morning.

Clack!

"Good afternoon!~~~ Ah, you guys are having lunch without us!"

I click my tongue as Chika-nee barges into the room, followed by two other girls. The girls are my friends and part of the student council: Fujiwara Moeha, the vice president, and Shirogane Kei, our lovely treasurer.

"Ah! It's Masamune-senpai!~" Moeha says. She always looks at Onii-chan in a strange way.

"Good afternoon, Senpai," Kei greets him respectfully.

"Oh, I'm sorry for eating my lunch here."

"That won't be a problem, Senpai~ By the way, I'm very hungry too."

Soon, they all sit down with their lunch boxes at the table.

"Moeha, get a grip." Chika pushes her away from Masamune before sitting beside him. Wait, there's something strange about her lately. "And what are you doing here alone with Chinatsu, Masamune-kun?"

"I'm just having lunch with her. Why?"

Chika then puts on a smug face. "Did you forget already? I'm your girlfriend, remember?"

"Huh?" x3

---

(Masamune pov)

It's 7 PM, and the sky is already dark. The wind is quite chilly as winter approaches. Since it's the last day of the festival, students are still wandering around the school because there's one final event left.

As I sit on the sidelines, I watch an arrow with flames soar into the woods, and suddenly a bright light shines upon us all.

Soon, the students approach the light enthusiastically in pairs. It's said that if you dance around the campfire with someone, your love will be eternal.

Now, I'm confused. How are these people putting their fate in myth like this? You'd be better off working hard and making money. However, I can't just destroy their dreams, right?

After all, who doesn't like a bit of hope? Even adults like to buy hope—a dream to escape reality. These teenagers are the same.

"Chika, are you still mad?"

She sits beside me, watching the campfire quietly.

"Honestly, I thought that since we became a couple for a stupid reason, it wouldn't hurt me at all. But I don't know why…"

Ah, shit. Now I've made this airhead girl like this. And to make matters worse, Kaguya would look at me with those eyes.

"Well, just kidding~~~~~ Keke! There's no way I'd be sad over something like this. But if you hurt me, I could just sue you for the mental damage I suffered."

I look at her. "You're a politician's daughter, right?"

She suddenly turns smug. "Well, both my parents are diplomats. But my grandfather was a former prime minister."

"Hm…"

She giggles, then bends her knees and leans her right cheek on her hand, smiling at me. "Though, it's Kaguya-san who would kill you if she heard I was hurt by you. Now, I'm sad for real. Why did she have to go back to Kyoto so suddenly?"

Right, Kaguya apologized before, saying she couldn't help much with our class because she had something to attend to at her family's main residence in Kyoto.

"Hey, since you're my boyfriend, can you help her out for me?"

Turning back to Chika, I notice she looks sentimental. "You mean Kaguya?"

She nods. "You're aware that she's actually a kind person, right? It's just her family that made her like that. It's not much; just being her friend is enough for me. And sure, I'd even let you two-time me as long as it's with Kaguya-san."

"...." I pause. Chika is a sweet girl. I know she's a bit of a psycho, but Chika is honest with her friends. Personally, I enjoy spending time with her because she's a fun person.

I know I hate dating, but Chika is built differently.

I stand up. "Hey, come on. I'm bored, so let's dance, Chika."

Chika looks at me, unimpressed. "I expected a more romantic approach. But Masamune-kun is just being himself, huh? Well, I don't have another choice, heh heh~"

She takes my hand as I lead her to the center of the field. With this sudden move, all eyes are fixed on us. What? Because Chika is supposed to be the impossible girl. But here I am, bringing her close to the campfire and dancing with me.

There's no music playing. We're just dancing as if we've forgotten everyone else exists.

"Oh my~ You're keeping up with me, and you're holding me close so I can't take the lead. I thought you'd step on my feet, hm.... but you seem to have experience, huh?"

I smile. "Yeah, I learned it by accident."

"Heh...?" As she stares at me, she raises an eyebrow. "From who?"

"My… mother…"

As I help her twirl, Chika still looks at me suspiciously. Sorry, Mom, but there's no way I'm telling her about that British girl.

---

The day has come to an end. I'm now walking to the parking lot with Chika by my side.

Just then, my phone vibrates.

[Moeha and Kei are having a sleepover with me, so don't come back home for now. Take Chika-nee with you. Lol. How's that? Don't worry, I'll be the best wingman for you, Onii-chan.]

It was a LUNE message from Chinatsu. Right, Chika told them we're dating now.

"Chika, I'll take you home."

"...Okay." She looks away.

Again, she becomes really quiet all of a sudden. I hand her a helmet. After that, I push my bike out of the school grounds. Chika hops on without me saying a word and hugs my waist silently. Well, it's not her first time.

After a while, we arrive.

"All right, we're here, Chika."

She gets off with a small jump, takes off the helmet cheerfully, but flinches when our eyes meet.

"What's wrong?"

"Um..." Chika plays with her index finger, blushing intentionally. "It's kind of sudden, but my family... everyone told me they won't be home tonight. So... wanna come in?" Chika blushes even more.

Sudden? What a scary coincidence.

"Okay."

I say it without hesitation. I'm no hypocrite. Also, I'm a man—there's no way I'd reject a girl who invites me, right? Plus, she's my girlfriend. Honestly, Chika is pretty straightforward.

Long story short, I take a bath after her. She cooks me dinner. We watch a comedy movie, laugh together, and then head to bed.

Hold up. She gave me a guest room. So, we're not in the same room. Maybe she's still shy. Well, no problem. I mean, we just started dating.

I take off my shirt and lie down on the bed.

.

.

.

.

.

Clack...

Suddenly, the door to the bedroom opens. Thud! I tilt my head to see—wait, that's Chika?

"Hey, ah... sorry, did I wake you?"

"Uh... no, can't sleep?"

Chika nods meekly.

"Masamune-kun... I borrowed this lingerie from my big sis's wardrobe. Do you like it?"

She's wearing simple black lingerie, but it looks really mature on her. Seeing her in that, I get up from the bed and walk over to her.

"Eek!"

I lead her to the corner and slam my hand against the door behind her back—yup, a classic kabedon.

"Don't regret this, all right?"

She looks away shyly. "I-if you're a s-scaredy-cat, well, don't force yourself."

"KYAA!"

I lift her up in a princess carry and gently lay her down on the bed. Her smug face shifts completely to nervousness, but she forces herself to smirk at me.

"He-hey, whatcha doin', Masamune-kun? Heh, heh~" Her smugness fades as she gives up, looking away shyly. Then she adds, "Why stop now?"

To shut her up, I simply kiss her, and... we don't stop there.

---

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