Right now, I'm walking to school with Lala. The school doesn't allow students to bring personal vehicles, which sucks, because if they did, I'd have brought the Hardboilder. Maybe tomorrow the Machine Kivaa… and so on.
"Ace, don't space out while walking," Lala said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"What were you thinking about?" she asked.
"I was just wondering which bike I'd bring to school if it were allowed."
"How about a car? You could fit more people that way," she suggested.
"You mean the Tridoron? No way. It's too flashy, I don't even have a car license yet, and Tridoron only fits two people anyway."
We kept chatting until we reached school.
When we got to class, we saw Masachika lying flat on the floor.
"Uhh… domestic violence?" I asked.
"No." Masachika said flatly as he got up.
"Alisa-san, please don't use violence in public. Think about the children," I said to her.
"Ace, be serious." Masachika sighed.
"Масачика и я ещё даже не женаты (Masachika and I aren't even married yet),"
(Author Note: I don't know if this spelling is correct, I used a translator.)
Alisa said in Russian, her face bright red.
'Wow, she said that out loud,' I thought.
How do I know Russian? Easy. When I was a kid, I traveled the world with my dad. He's a famous treasure hunter known as The Immortal Fang. Because of his work, he has a ton of connections and goes wherever he wants, exploring ruins and retrieving artifacts. He can speak a lot of languages, so I asked him to teach me some Russian included. Why? No reason, just because I wanted to.
I noticed Masachika's face turning a bit red, so I shook my head and went to my seat.
---
During lunch break, Masachika was asked for help by Yuki, so he didn't join us in the cafeteria. While Lala and I were eating, a group of students came over.
"Excuse me, my name's Maiko Shu, but you can call me Shu. Mind if we sit with you?" he asked.
"Sure, Lala, you don't mind, right?" I asked her.
"Not at all," she said.
"See? I told you they'd let us join," Shu said, calling over his friends, Raku's group.
"Hi, I'm Ichijo Raku, we're in the same class," Raku introduced himself.
"Yeah, I know. I remember my classmates' names," I replied.
"Then you must know these two, Onodera Kosaki and Miyamoto Ruri," Shu said, introducing them.
"Yeah, I'm Akashi Ace. Just call me Ace, and this is Lala Satalin Deviluke," I said.
"You can just call me Lala," she smiled.
As we were chatting, Shu suddenly asked,
"Yesterday I saw you talking with Kujo-san and Suou-san. What's your relationship with them?"
"Acquaintances? Friends? Whatever. There were three others talking with them too, Lala included and I only spoke with Yuki. Alisa-san just sat and watched."
"You even call them by their first names. You must be close, huh?" Shu teased.
"Alisa-san was in my class in our first year, and Yuki told me not to be so formal, so I just go with their names."
"So, what's it like talking to famous people?!" Shu asked excitedly.
"Like talking to normal people. What did you expect?" I said.
"Like, 'Wow, they're glowing!' or 'They're super smart,' that kind of thing," Shu replied.
"That only happens in manga," I said.
After lunch, we went back to class and continued lessons until the end of the day.
When the final bell rang, Lala and I met up with Yuki. The three of us chatted while walking. Yuki and Lala seemed pretty close, even though they'd only met yesterday. When we reached the school gate, we said goodbye to Yuki. She waved at me with a smile, and I waved back.
'Yuki's cute and pretty. Even though I know her real personality is wilder than her princess act, she still totally fits my type… Wait, what am I thinking? Am I really gonna build a harem here? Well, this world's full of anime harems, and that's basically every guy's dream. Lala would probably be fine with it but better ask first.'
"Lala, if I… you know, ended up with another girl, what would you think?" I asked.
"Hm? Oh! I'd totally be fine with it. You mean Yuki, right? I'll even help you talk to her!" Lala said.
"… Am I that easy to read?" I sighed.
"Not really. It's just that your eyes when you looked at Yuki were the same as when you first looked at me. So I figured you felt the same way," Lala said.
"Yeah… but you don't need to help. I can handle it myself."
'But how, though? Yuki's kind of a brocon… Masachika, we've always been brothers, but with Yuki we can be true siblings!' I thought as we walked home together.
---
Yuki's POV
I was looking for a seat in the cafeteria with Alisa-san when I spotted my brother eating with his friends.
'Hehehe, let's go there.'
"Masachika-kun, can we sit here?" I asked.
"Sure. You guys don't mind, right?" he asked his friends.
"Of course not," said a black-haired boy.
'Akashi Ace. He's been friends with my brother since their first year. Always in the top five, good at sports and kendo,' I thought.
"Thanks," I said.
"Ah, Ace, you know them, right? This-"
Before my brother could finish, Akashi-kun interrupted.
"I know. Suou Yuki, the student council member," he said.
"Are they famous, Ace?" asked the pink-haired girl beside him.
'Who is she? A new student? Wow, she's pretty AND WHAT'S WITH THAT CHEST!?'
"Of course," Akashi-kun said.
"Oh? And who might this be?" I asked.
"Akashi Ace. This is Lala, and that's Kato Megumi," he said, introducing his friends.
"Hi~" Lala waved.
"Nice to meet you," Kato added.
'Wait, she's been there the whole time? Is she from a hidden ninja clan or something!?' I thought.
"Well then, since you've already introduced us, we don't need to introduce ourselves again," I said, sitting across from Akashi-kun while Alisa took the seat next to my brother.
"Wow, Masachika-kun, we ordered the same thing," I said.
"Actually, Ace did too," Masachika said.
"Oh, so you like spicy food, Akashi-kun?" I asked.
"It's not that spicy. You know that yourself, Suou-san," he said.
"No need to be so formal, Akashi-kun. We're in the same year," I replied.
"Fair enough. I'll just call you Suou, then," he said with a grin, taking a bite.
"How can you two even eat something that spicy?" Kato asked.
'I'm still not over the ninja theory,' I thought.
"Because it's delicious," Ace said.
"Speaking of spicy food, Ace, you said you were gonna make extra-hot mapo tofu, right?" Masachika said.
'Oh? He can cook?'
"Of course. Want me to bring some to school?" Akashi-kun asked.
'This… this is a BL scene!!'
"No thanks, I'm not eating a bento made by a guy," Masachika said.
'Tch, my brother, why?! In that case, I'll take it!' I thought.
"Oh, what about me, Akashi-kun?" I asked.
"If you want, I can bring you some," he said.
"Eh? Are you trying to flirt with me, Akashi-kun?" I teased.
"You should be careful. Don't take food from people you don't know well. I could've put something in it," he said seriously.
'Heh, you think that'll scare me!?'
"Hm… would you really do that, Akashi-kun?"
He put his hands together in front of his face, thumbs touching under his chin, eyes locking onto mine.
"Who knows," he said with a sharp gaze.
Ka-ching!
'What was that feeling and why does he look kinda handsome WAIT, WHAT AM I THINKING?! BROTHER, YOUR CUTE LITTLE SISTER IS BEING HYPNOTIZED!!'
My face heated up.
"Suou, if it's too spicy, just drink something," Akashi-kun said.
"Y-yeah, thanks for the reminder, Akashi-kun," I stammered.
We kept talking until the bell rang. Later, while walking in the hallway, I ran into Lala.
"Ah, hi, Suou!!" Lala shouted.
"Hi, Lala-san. Just call me Yuki. What are you doing?"
"I'm waiting for Ace. He said he had to do something first," she said.
"Oh, I see… Lala-san, what's your relationship with Akashi-kun?" I asked.
"Ace is my fiancé," she said cheerfully.
'Ah—what is this pain in my chest?!'
"Yuki, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I said.
"Ah, you like Ace, don't you?"
"!!!! W-why would you think that?!"
'What?! Am I that easy to read? Wait, no, that's not the point!'
"Yeah, your eyes were just like mine when I first met Ace, you felt it too, right? That jolt through your body?"
'So she felt it too… THAT'S IT! AKASHI-KUN IS USING HYPNOSIS! First he catches his prey with emotion, then slowly traps them so they can't escape! Lala must be his first victim and I'm the second!!'
"Yuki, you're zoning out again," Lala said.
"Eh, ehem, no, it's nothing. Lala-san, would it be okay if I… liked Akashi-kun?"
"Of course! That'd be great, I'd get more sisters!"
'THIS WOMAN! SHE'S BEEN HYPNOTIZED BEYOND SAVING! AKASHI-KUN, I'LL EXPOSE YOUR TRICKS AND FREE LALA-SAN!'
"Yuki, you're zoning out again," Lala said.
"Eh, no, I'm fine," I replied quickly.
Just then, Akashi-kun's voice came from behind us.
"Hey, Lala, did you wait long? Oh, and hi, Suou," he greeted.
"Not at all! Yuki was here keeping me company," Lala said.
"Yeah, Akashi-kun. And please, just call me Yuki," I said.
'WHY DID I SAY THAT?!'
"Well, if you insist. You can call me Ace, then," he said with a grin.
"Then I'll get going. See you tomorrow, Lala and Ace," I said quickly.
'I have to run before his hypnosis gets stronger!'
"Bye~" Lala waved.
I finally got home or rather, to my brother's house.
'He's not back yet,' I thought. I changed clothes and read manga to distract myself, but it didn't work.
"WHY IS THE HYPNOSIS SO STRONG?!" I shouted.
"I'm home," my brother's voice came from the door.
"Why are you yelling?" he asked.
"It's… special effects!" I said quickly.
"Huh?"
"Never mind. Anyway, look at this manga! The MC and heroine are holding hands, he's totally her brother, right? It's obvious!" I said.
"Hey, don't say that."
"Wait, so the heroine's dating her brother?"
"A classic trope," Masachika said.
"He just kissed her!"
"For real?!"
"For real! Ew, siblings in love!"
"They're probably step-siblings, right?"
"You idiot! Isn't it better if they're real siblings?!" I shouted, grabbing his collar.
---
The next day at school, I didn't see Akashi-kun at all until the end of the day.
'Good, that means the hypnosis is fading,' I thought. But as I walked down the hall, I ran into him and Lala again. I had no choice but to greet them. We ended up chatting for a while.
'He's actually kind of fun to talk to-NO, THE HYPNOSIS IS BACK!' I thought.
When we were about to part ways, I somehow gave him my number.
'I was supposed to go to the Student Council room, but I followed them all the way to the gate! DAMN YOU, MASTER HYPNOTIST!' I thought, storming off toward the council room.