Chapter 14. He's Just Seele's Brother
"Key, the restaurant you've always wanted to try around here—I've already booked it.
In a moment, order whatever you guys want.
Don't hold back.
Also, I preordered this place's desserts for next week so everyone can take some home as souvenirs."
"Big Bro—no, godfather!!!"
Ken Sugisaki nearly dropped to his knees.
He'd promised the student council he'd bring them gifts and had only mentioned it once.
He hadn't expected Xander to remember.
Then Xander said, "You've worked hard all day.
Naturally, you can't just go straight home after dinner.
There's a pretty good place twenty minutes from here by car.
I've already booked full-body massages and a whole set of services.
Of course, since you're minors, nothing over the line.
But, well, if it just toes the line a little…"
Thud.
Iori Kitahara actually knelt.
He looked at Xander with tears almost in his eyes.
"Big Bro, you'll always be my Big Bro, forever!!"
Seeing this, Xander nodded in satisfaction.
Last, he turned to Grandpa Kirito.
The guy looked uninterested in the previous two items—clearly not into them—so Xander pulled a card from his pocket, one he'd prepared long ago, and handed it over.
"A little gift for you.
It's an official giveaway card.
I don't need it, so I'll just give it to you.
Catch."
He tossed the card over.
Kirito fumbled to catch it, and the instant he saw what it was, his eyes went wide.
It was a special Titan game account.
It came with ten thousand game points and early-tester access to play closed-beta or internal test versions of games.
Game points are the currency for buying games, and over here in the Far East the exchange rate is about 1:20.
Those ten thousand points alone were enough to make Grandpa Kirito waver, and the tester privilege after that had his hands shaking with excitement.
Seeing the three of them like this, Xander was finally satisfied.
After all, the three good bros were going to be his cattle and horses for a week here…
No, not that—his "staff."
Naturally, he couldn't shortchange them.
"It's getting late.
Let's head out now—"
Ding-ding-dang, ding-ding-dang~
Right then, Xander's phone rang.
Seeing "World's Cutest Seele" on the screen, he gave the three an apologetic smile and stepped aside to answer.
"Hello, Seele.
What's up?"
"Nothing much.
Seele just wanted to ask if Brother is done over there."
"Mm, basically wrapped up.
Did something happen with Bronya?
I can come help."
He glanced back at the three "workhorses" and gave a slight nod.
"No, not that.
Bronya-sis and I and a few friends from school—everyone finished quickly together.
It's just that we're all going to eat now.
Does Brother want to come?"
"Eat together?
But I might not know your friends.
Wouldn't that be kind of awkward?"
"It would be awkward.
In that case, then…
Then they definitely won't mind.
Mm, Seele is sure!!"
Although something about Seele's words felt a little off, he looked back at his bros and slowly shook his head.
"Sorry, Seele.
I've got friends to keep company here, so you guys just—"
"But we're all girls here.
And it's everyone's first time around.
Seele is a little scared…"
"Where are you?
I'm coming right now!"
"But, Brother, your friends…"
"It's fine.
They're a bunch of rough guys.
They won't mind."
Let the workhorses go eat grass by themselves.
He had to go keep Seele company.
"Oh, then Seele and everyone will wait for Brother at the place where we split up.
Seele isn't in a hurry…
Very much in a hurry.
Brother, hurry over!"
"Mm."
Hanging up, Xander looked at his three good bros with apologetic eyes.
"What's up?"
Ken Sugisaki asked, puzzled.
"Friends from another game just asked to eat together.
I didn't want to go, but, you know, there are some things you can't turn down."
As he spoke, he made a "you know if you know" face.
He hadn't considered taking the three along—he knew the rule that guests don't bring guests.
The three understood at once, feeling a little sentimental that their good brother had become a real man of society now—already doing business dinners.
"But don't worry.
I've already booked the place for you.
I'll send the info to your phones.
Eat well and have fun—don't hold back."
"Hey, go take care of your business.
We'll eat you broke," Iori Kitahara said with a "vicious" grin, and Ken Sugisaki put on a mock-villainous face as well.
"Be careful and don't drink," only Grandpa Kirito said with genuine concern.
"Mm.
Don't worry.
All acquaintances—no problem."
Waving goodbye, Xander headed for the rendezvous point.
Though… he might have forgotten—would Seele really be scared?
…
"Um, can you all let go of Seele now?"
Seele's call had satisfied the group, so Kiana and Sirin released her at the same time.
There were five girls present in total:
Seele, Bronya, and their school friends—lively, cute Kiana with her silver hair; Sirin with long purple hair, equally lively with a touch of tsundere; and finally a long-haired black-haired girl, Mei, who stood to the side with a gentle, maternal smile as she watched them horse around.
These past few months at school, every day they'd heard Seele talk about "Brother this, Brother that."
Three out of every ten sentences couldn't keep away from "Brother."
Their curiosity had been killing them.
Now that they finally had the chance, they "coerced" Seele into inviting her brother out.
Once released, Seele shot Bronya-sis a resentful look.
When she'd been under duress just now, her Bronya-sis hadn't helped at all—she'd just stood there, grinning and watching the show.
Is that okay?
That is not okay!
Honestly, what if they immediately made things hard for Brother?
She'd planned to slip Brother a hint, but with everyone staring at her, she couldn't say anything.
"Hey now, don't be mad.
We're just curious about the person you like.
Relax—we won't make things hard for him~"
Kiana patted her chest, signaling Seele to rest easy.
"W-what do you mean 'the person I like'?
H-he's just Seele's brother…"
"Aiya ya, 'Seele's'~
So sugary~"
"N-no, that's not—Seele, Seele—boo-hoo…"
"Okay, okay—Brother.
'Brother' it is, alright?"
Sirin tossed it out casually, her tone full of perfunctory dismissal.
Seeing Seele's face flushed red and her posture like she was about to bury her head in the ground, Sirin thought: and that's not liking him?
Come on—get real.
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