Big brother?

Marcel did not have to wait too long for his food before it was brought to his table together with his drink. He ate his meal silently as he thought about the dance routine.

He had memorised it already and Avian had pretty much saved the whole thing in his database so he reviewed the parts that he had forgotten about.

As he sat at his table the restaurant gradually filled up. He attributed it to being lunchtime but the staff knew it was abnormal since almost all of their customers were women.

When Marcel's focus moved from outside the window to his surroundings he was surprised to see that all the tables around him were all occupied.

He felt like he was taking too long and that there were probably other people waiting to enter the restaurant while he was occupying a table meant for four people so his eating speed increased significantly.

Not even ten minutes later, he finished his meal and went to pay at the counter. The waitress that brought him food was behind the counter and when she saw him, her face turned red once more.

"How much is it going to be?" Marcel asked as he took out his wallet.

"Um, about that. Someone already paid for your meal" the girl said and clasped her hands together.

"How come?" Marcel asked and suddenly turned just to notice that most of the customers were looking at him. He finally understood what was happening.

"Who paid for it, shouldn't I at least say thanks?" Marcel asked.

"They asked not to tell you," the girl said looking like she was falling even deeper for him.

"That's unfortunate. If they come again, will you thank them for me?" Marcel asked and winked at the girl with a smile. The girl could only nod vigorously making him smile wider at her before leaving the restaurant.

The girl stood at the door and watched him walk away until his figure could not be seen anymore. She sighed in slight disappointment only to be face to face with the manager.

"Why aren't you taking orders?" the manager asked her while narrowing his eyes.

"I'm going, geez," the girl said and rolled her eyes at him before going to take the menus from the counter. The manager watched her leave wondering why he had to go through such treatment when she was the one that was slacking off.

It didn't take Marcel long to arrive at Big Star Entertainment as he checked the time on his phone, he saw that he was thirty minutes early which he didn't mind since he could just go and rehearse the dance moves first.

He went to the front desk first to ask about the practice room that was going to be used by Sherry before he walked to the elevators as the elevator doors were closing, he heard a female voice shouting for him to hold the elevator. He immediately pressed the button that held the doors open and three stunning girls rushed in while panting. They obviously ran their way to the elevator.

"Thank you," one of them said as she fanned her face.

"Mmh, which floor?" Marcel asked.

"Third," another one said. Marcel tilted his head when he saw that they were going to the same floor and leaned back against the elevator wall.

It didn't take long for the elevator to reach the third floor. When the elevator doors opened he waited for the three girls to get off before he too got off and made a beeline to the practice room.

When he opened the door he found that Sherry was already inside and was fiddling with the speakers. She turned around when she heard the door close and furrowed her eyebrows when she saw the hooded figure standing in the practice room.

"May I help you?" Sherry asked cautiously but that cautious expression bloomed into a bright smile when Marcel pulled the hoodie away from his face.

"I think so?" Marcel said as he smiled back at Sherry.

"You came early," Sherry said as she continued to fiddle with the sound system. Marcel didn't even offer to help because he would probably be worse than she was.

He silently walked to one of the chairs that were arranged at the corners of the practice room. A short while later he finally heard music blaring out of the speakers and Sherry'ss relieved sigh.

"Do you want to practise together before the instructors come?" Sherry asked before she turned around and saw Marcel fiddle with his phone. He was trying to get customised to the interface and was not paying to his surroundings as he was listening to Avian's instructions on how to use primitive technology.

"You finally got a phone? Give me your number" Sherry said redirecting his focus.

"Uh, okay?" Marcel said and the phone disappeared from his hands. Sherry typed in her number and called her own phone before giving the phone back to him. Marcel just saved her name and set it aside.

Sherry took out her phone and saved Marcel as 'cute young brother' before she lifted her head to look at him.

"How did you save me?" Sherry asked.

"As Sherina" Marcel replied as he stood up.

"Shouldn't you call me big sis? I saw your portfolio and you're younger than I am" Sherry asked and Marcel's expression became awkward.

This kid that 15 years younger than him wanted to be called big sister? He really wanted to laugh at his fate. On the other side, for the first time, Marcel could hear Avian laugh hysterically in his head.

<Is it that amusing? Couldn't you at least put me in the body of someone who is not barely legal?> Marcel complained.

[This was the only one that was compatible. I haven't heard you complain about being young and handsome before now] Avian replied and Marcel could imagine him wipe the tears off his face.

"You're older? I really thought you were younger than me and even wanted you to call me big brother" Marcel replied in full acting mode. He was able to maintain a straight face even when Avian was having a field day with his current predicament.

Sherry did not expect him to say that he had wanted her to call him older brother. Even though his aura was that of someone older, she felt that people would think she was a pervert if she actually did so.

"I don't think I look that young" Sherry said and turned away to hide her smile.

[Shouldn't she at least try not to look so happy about it?] Avian commented. Marcel did not even bother conversing with Avian anymore at this point.

"You do. For the sake of this project, since I'll be acting the role of an older man, you can call me big si- brother so you can get in character. Don't you think?" Marcel asked and smiled innocently. He almost made a blunder that had even managed to silence Avian who was laughing seconds ago.

Sherry pondered for a bit and felt that what he said made sense, so she didn't insist on having him call her big sister.

"You're okay with that right? Then you can start calling me big brother today" Marcel said and didn't wait for Sherry to respond before he walked around her and went to place his phone on the table.

"Right?" Marcel asked when he didn't hear anything from her and fondly patted her head once she nodded.

Avian was surprised at their development. He didn't believe that she had just accepted it so easily.

[Do you have hidden skills?] Avian asked sceptically.

<Shh, I'm in character> Marcel responded

[...]