"Your school has an event today, right?"
Before Yuu left the house, Sora called out to him.
Standing barefoot on the slightly cold floor by the front door, the silver-haired girl hugged her stuffed toy, looking at him as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Yuu was momentarily surprised, then smiled.
"What, you want to come? It's perfect timing—our club has a performance today. Your big brother's going to be on stage. It wouldn't hurt to come watch."
"No way, a place like school…" Sora mumbled, looking away, slowly tightening her grip on the stuffed toy in her hands. "If your school only had two or three people, then maybe."
"What school only has two or three people?"
"Then forget it."
Hearing his sister's increasingly firm tone, Yuu shrugged helplessly.
Sora was fifteen this year, supposed to be in her third year of middle school, enjoying the vibrant teenage years of a young girl, preparing to shed her childishness and step into high school.
But two years ago, she took a leave from school due to physical and mental reasons, and since then, she'd become a true hikikomori.
Studying could be done independently at home, with guidance from her brother; meals and entertainment were handled by the internet; even for exercise, there was a fitness ring and treadmill. All her needs could be met at home.
Aside from hospital visits for checkups, Sora had no reason to leave the house, and naturally, she had no friends in the real world.
She always said: It's fine, as long as Yuu's there.
But if possible, Yuu still wanted Sora to return to school—to interact more with the outside world, instead of waiting for him to come home every day, with only the doctor's number and his own in her phone's contacts.
Even so, Yuu wouldn't force her to change.
He wouldn't roughly pull Sora out of her comfort zone, making her grow through pain.
Sora was a smart, obedient, and prematurely mature child.
So, her life should be her choice. As her older brother, Yuu had only one duty.
—To give her a gentle world, where even if she failed, even if she fell, she wouldn't have to worry about crying her heart out.
"It's fine if you don't come. I'll tell you about the fun stuff when I get home." Yuu raised his hand, patting Sora's head with a faint smile.
"Whenever you want to go to school, don't be afraid. I'll go with you. It's all up to your decision."
"Yuu…"
Sora looked up at him, her shallow eyes rippling softly, as if the warmth of early spring reflected in them.
A moment later, the cherry-colored corners of her lips curved into a small smile.
"I'm not scared, I just don't want to… But since you said that, if I ever feel like checking out your school, don't make excuses to dodge me."
"Of course!"
Yuu puffed out his chest, promising earnestly, "I might tease you sometimes, but I'll never lie to you!"
"Every promise I make, I'll keep. You can trust your big brother!"
"What's with this chuunibyou aura dialogue…"
With a slight giggle, Sora glanced at him, then suddenly paused, her brows furrowing slightly.
"You said you sometimes tease me? Yuu, in what ways have you teased me?"
"Ah, running out of time. I'm heading out!"
Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Yuu decisively turned and opened the door. "Lock the door, and if nothing comes up, I'll probably be back around three!"
Sora only realized then, "Wait, stop!—Stupid Yuu!"
*BANG!*
Locking his sister's angry voice behind the door, to prevent her from chasing him, Yuu immediately used Acceleration to sprint to the corner across the alley, slowing to a leisurely walk on the morning streets.
The sky wasn't very clear, thick gray clouds drifting slowly, much like himself.
The air was filled with a damp, cool scent, as if a drizzle could start any moment.
"Damn, forgot my umbrella… Whatever, getting wet won't kill me."
With his enhanced physical condition and the divine Fresh Return cleansing ability, Yuu didn't believe a little rain would make him catch a cold.
Maybe next time he could try running full speed in the rain, reliving the childhood memory of "if I run fast enough, the rain won't catch me"…
Letting his thoughts wander freely, the familiar slope came into view.
A familiar girl leaned against a utility pole, boredly gazing at the overcast sky—not raining, but not clear either.
On her slender wrist hung an unopened pink folding umbrella, swaying side to side like a clock's pendulum.
Noticing Yuu walking leisurely, the girl's expression brightened instantly, like the sky clearing after clouds parted. She waved at him enthusiastically—then hit her head with the umbrella.
"Ow, that hurt… Yuu-kun, good morning~"
Walking beside Yuigahama, Yuu suddenly raised his hand, flicking her tightly tied hair bun.
"You got up early to wait for me. Not tired?"
"I-I wasn't waiting for you!" Opening her mouth, Yuigahama seemed to want to deny it, but she looked away uncertainly, muttering, "I just happened to wake up early, and while walking here, I thought I might run into you, so I waited a bit… Yeah, just a bit!"
Yuu nodded. "Got it. Is this what they call tsundere?"
Unfortunately, Yuigahama didn't get it. "Tsundere? What's that? Sounds familiar."
"So normies really don't know that term? Never mind, Yukinoshita probably doesn't either…"
As he spoke, his gaze, initially on her cute and pretty face, unconsciously drifted downward.
From her full, slightly exposed chest to her flat stomach with its striking contrast; beneath her deliberately shortened skirt, a pair of plump, soft thighs peeked out. Not only did the white skin at the edge of her long stockings spark the imagination, but it also made one anticipate the moment the wind might lift her short skirt…
Before Yuigahama noticed, Yuu had already looked away, as if nothing had happened.
After all, morning was when a man was full of life.
"Yukinon doesn't know either? She reads those complicated books every day. I thought she knew everything…"
"Don't treat Yukinoshita like some perfect superhuman. To some people, she's just a slightly smart but stubborn little girl."
"Yuu-kun thinks so too?"
"That's why we don't get along."
"Hmm~ I think you two get along pretty well, like old friends who've known each other forever…"
"If you said that to her face, she'd probably puke in front of you."
"No way it's that bad!"
The two walked along the cool holiday streets, boarded a not-too-crowded train, and arrived at Sobu High.