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In the afternoon, Shichen spent a little time getting used to his new home.
The place not only had a room set aside for him but also all sorts of personal items—right down to clothes and underwear, and even the boxers were exactly the kind he liked.
He had no idea who had prepared everything. Shichen rather hoped it had been Itsuka Kotori; Murasame Reine would be acceptable too.
Anyone but Kannazuki Kyouhei.
Kotori was only fourteen now, still in middle school. Shichen hadn't been home long before she came back.
"Shichen-nii, I'm home!"
"Welcome back."
"Oh ~ that's just what I wanted to hear!"
Kotori launched herself straight into Shichen's arms.
"Why do you like jumping on me so much?" Shichen asked with a laugh.
"Because five years ago Shichen-nii always held me like this," Kotori answered, her smile dazzling.
"So… did I do anything weird back then?"
"Weird?" Kotori blinked, then giggled. "What exactly do you mean by weird, Onii-chan?"
"A‑hem… I didn't do anything to you, right?"
"Hmph‑hmph ~ what do you think?"
"I'd rather trust myself."
"You didn't, of course. You only hugged me. If you'd done anything else, you'd have been a lolicon—and I wouldn't be this close to you now."
"Good." Shichen let out a breath of relief.
Kotori's current age was already the lowest he could accept; he had no wish to cross that line. Apparently his future self hadn't turned into an even bigger pervert.
"Onii-chan, now that I'm older, you can… do things to me, you know …"
Kotori's face turned crimson; she spoke in a tiny, embarrassed voice.
"What nonsense!" Shichen gave her a light chop on the head.
"Uu‑… Am I not cute? Don't you have any feelings for me?" Kotori puffed her cheeks, rubbing her head.
"Who calls themselves cute?"
"You did—at lunchtime!"
"All right, but there's something I need to make clear first."
"What is it?"
"I'm not yet the Onii-chan you know."
"Oh, I've known that for ages," Kotori said smugly.
"You… knew?" That stopped Shichen short.
"Sure. Five years ago you told me you were my brother from the future. I didn't get it at all back then."
"Uh… right."
"So some day you'll travel back to save me, won't you?"
—"So it really was like that—"
"I know nothing ~" Kotori pressed a finger to his lips.
"When the time comes you need to act on your own feelings, not on what you already know. Otherwise you'll have an agenda."
"You're talking in riddles now?" Shichen shook his head helplessly.
"He‑he‑he ~ just looking out for my past self."
"Fine, I won't ask any more."
"As expected of my Onii-chan."
Kotori snuggled closer, rubbing her head against his chest.
"You're all sweaty—how about a bath?" Shichen said in mock disgust.
"I am not! I came straight back via Fraxinus teleport. And even if I did sweat, it would still smell nice!" Kotori protested.
"Is Fraxinus really for that? And aren't you a bit too confident?"
"Isn't that how it is?"
"All right, all right—Kotori, you smell nice. Satisfied?"
"Then how about you sniff some more?"
"You little imp!"
Shichen rapped her head again, this time not so lightly.
"Ouch—!"
Kotori let go, holding her head and glaring.
"Onii-chan, how can you hit me that hard?"
"Who told you to tempt me?"
"I'm just happy we finally met again—"
"That's no reason to seduce me. What if I lose control?"
"Wouldn't that be great?"
"I said I'm not yet that Onii-chan. Technically we've only just met."
"Onii-chan, you're way too pure. How are you supposed to capture Spirits and have them wrapped around your little finger like that?"
"Starting tomorrow, I'll give you special training!"
"S‑special training?" Shichen's eyebrow twitched. He felt uneasy.
"Of course—training to make you a romance master!" Kotori said excitedly.
"Are you… serious?"
"All for world peace."
"You're making me feel guilty here."
"Ha‑ha‑ha ~ then it's settled. Training!"
"Aren't you jealous?"
"No problem—I'm your little sister. There's only one of me in the world."
"Your mindset is really—"
"Anyway, for the sake of world peace, do your best, Onii-chan!"
"With you asking, how can I refuse?"
"He‑he‑~"
After Kotori's "guidance," Shichen decided he really did need to train himself.
No other reason—just to do his part for world peace.
Some sacrifices were necessary.
That night Shichen cooked Kotori a lavish dinner—she'd said she hadn't tasted his cooking in ages. How could he refuse?
Kotori ate happily, a radiant smile never leaving her face. Shichen didn't need to ask; clearly she hadn't shared a meal with anyone in a long while.
After dinner they watched TV in the living room for a bit, then each retired to their rooms.
He had to turn in early. Tomorrow he had to report for work.
Through some miracle he'd been appointed a PE teacher at Metropolitan Raizen High.
Raizen was no ordinary school: top‑tier facilities rare in a public high, a campus only a few years old so everything looked brand‑new, and—because the site lay in a former disaster zone—an ultra‑modern underground shelter.
Getting him a post there must have taken a lot of strings.
Luckily he'd taught PE before, so he wasn't fazed.
Night passed peacefully—no midnight raid from Kotori.
At daybreak they had breakfast together and left for school: she to class, he to his first day.
Outside their building they found a drowsy figure with long bangs and dark circles visible even behind her glasses.
"Morning, Shichen-kun, Kotori… haa‑aah ~"
Murasame Reine couldn't finish greeting before she yawned.
"Oh—morning, Reine!" Kotori replied brightly.
"Shichen-kun?" Shichen blinked.
"I heard Kotori call you Shichen-nii yesterday," Reine explained. "Should I call you that too?"
"Uh… no need. But Murasame-san, why are you here?"
"Just call me Reine. I'm accompanying you to report in today."
"Accompanying me?"
"Yep," Kotori chimed in, hands on her hips. "Since you might not know the ropes, Reine's coming along. She's on staff at Raizen too—as a physics teacher ~"
"Seriously?"
Reine stood straighter—the little black‑cat plushie in her pocket poked its head out.
"Could've fooled me," Shichen muttered.
"Really…? That hurts a bit," Reine sighed.
"All right, enough of that—let's head out."
"Can't we just use the Fraxinus teleport? I want to try it," Shichen asked.
"Forget it, Onii-chan—everyone's still asleep," Kotori said.
"Fine…"
The school wasn't far. Following Kotori and Reine, Shichen soon arrived.
"Onii-chan, I'm off to the middle‑school wing. If you've got questions, ask Reine," Kotori urged.
"Can't you have a little faith in me?" Shichen smiled wryly.
"He‑he‑~ show me after you capture your first Spirit, Onii-chan.
Bye‑bye—see you at noon!"
"Noon? You're coming then?"
"Of course. What about that special training?"
"…All right."
"I'm off!"
Kotori skipped away, her light steps brimming with youthful energy.
"Shichen-kun, stop staring. Let's go," Reine reminded him in her calm voice.
"Right."
He followed Reine—left, right, past several buildings—to the administration block.
To his surprise the formalities were ridiculously easy: the principal checked his papers and accepted him on the spot. Kotori had even taken care of his credentials.
"Shichen-kun, next you just need to introduce yourself to Class 2‑4," Reine explained as they left. "There's a PE period today as well—will that be okay?"
"Even you doubt me?" Shichen sighed.
"I have faith in you," Reine replied evenly.
"Thanks."
"I'll take you to the staff room so you can meet everyone."
"Okay… hmm?"
"What is it?"
Following his gaze, Reine looked toward the school gate.
Students were filing in now, and among them strolled a girl with snowy‑white short hair, moving at a leisurely pace…
~~~
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