That "wickedly charming" handsome face he'd carefully prepared all morning instantly collapsed, transforming into a face full of "life has lost all meaning."
"Sys... system..." He sent a trembling question into his mind. "This... this is the surprise you mentioned?!"
[That's right, host.] The system's voice was full of innocence.
[Look, Miss Kusanagi Aoi has looks, status, Three Sacred Treasures bloodline with unlimited potential. Most importantly... she's your most loyal little fangirl. Taking her to compete not only strengthens bonds but satisfies that little vanity of yours. Isn't this... a huge surprise?]
Surprise my ass!
Cloud roared internally!
This isn't a teammate?! This is clearly a "deadweight" I'll need to protect the entire time!
Taking her to KOF 95?
What's the difference between that and bringing a Chihuahua to the "World Ferocious Dog Championship"?!
"What's wrong? Cloud-oniisan?" Kusanagi Aoi tugged Cloud's arm, tilting her head with innocent confusion. "You... don't seem very happy?"
"No... no." Cloud forced out a smile uglier than crying. "I'm just... too surprised. So surprised I'm... speechless."
Just then.
Knock knock knock.
Another round of knocking sounded.
However, this knocking was filled with impatience and irritation.
"There's another one!"
Hope instantly reignited in Cloud's heart!
No problem! One deadweight is manageable!
As long as the other teammate is a reliable powerhouse, then... it's barely acceptable!
He carefully "peeled" the still-clinging Kusanagi Aoi off himself, then full of anticipation, opened the door again.
This time, standing outside was finally someone he didn't recognize, a stunning beauty radiating a powerful "fighter's" aura.
A girl completely different from Kusanagi Aoi's "cute style"—filled with "aloof" and "tsundere" energy, with brilliant red hair.
Around seventeen or eighteen, her flame-red hair cascaded to her waist.
That breathtakingly beautiful face was like an iceberg—cold and emotionless.
She wore a uniquely styled black-and-red gothic dress, with black combat boots equally full of "edgelord" vibes.
Her entire being radiated a "keep away" queen-like haughty aura.
Especially those narrow, crescent-shaped blood-red eyes that, upon seeing Cloud's "disappointed" face, flashed with extreme displeasure.
"You are... Cloud?"
Her voice was ice-cold, crisp—like two blocks of ice colliding—carrying an innate arrogance that looked down on everyone.
"Yes... that's me." Cloud nodded reflexively.
"Hmph."
The girl let out a disdainful snort from her nose.
She looked Cloud up and down, her gaze like a picky queen examining her "disobedient" servant.
"Doesn't look like much."
"Agreeing to team with someone like you is your blessing. You should... feel honored."
Cloud: "..."
Good lord.
One is a "brainless" little fangirl.
One is a "tsundere" queen.
This team composition...
Why does it feel exactly like the opening of some "romance dating sim"?
"May I ask the young lady's name?" Cloud still asked politely.
The red-haired girl glanced at him coldly.
Then in a tone full of "bestowing grace," slowly pronounced five words—
"Yata Tsukihime."
"Oh, Yata Tsukihime, that's a nice name..."
Cloud nodded, about to say more when he suddenly froze!
He felt the surname "Yata" seemed... somewhat familiar?
Wait!
Yata?!
Wasn't that... the Yagami clan's original surname?!
Holy crap!!!!!!
A lightning bolt struck Cloud's brain!
Looking at this red-haired, tsundere girl before him, even that "I'm number one in the world" edgelord aura identical to a certain someone...
An absolutely terrifying, utterly absurd thought surged in his mind!
Could it be...
Could she be...
Iori Yagami's... little sister?!
[Congratulations host, you guessed correctly.] The system's voice was full of schadenfreude.
[Yata Tsukihime, Iori Yagami's half-sister from a different mother, another inheritor of the "Yasakani Magatama" bloodline. How about it? Is this surprise big enough? Exciting enough?]
Exciting...
Way too fucking exciting!
Cloud felt his heart about to leap from his throat!
Looking at these two before him—one his "convenient older brother's" sister, the other his "convenient arch-rival's" sister...
The little sisters of two "Children of Destiny" had actually... both ended up on this "cheater player's" team?!
What kind of divine plot twist is this?!
System, come out here! I promise I won't beat you to death!
You call this recruiting teammates?! You clearly want me to... experience the ultimate form of a "battle royale" in advance!
...
The following days, Cloud spent in a bizarre atmosphere filled with "chaos" and "ice and fire."
Kusanagi Aoi—this "little sun"—was practically a "human accessory."
Every day she'd punctually arrive with her handmade "love breakfast" and knock on Cloud's door.
"Cloud-oniisan! Wake up! The sun's toasting your butt!"
Then all day she'd follow behind Cloud like a shadow.
When Cloud trained, she'd sit with her chin in her hands, staring with lovestruck eyes, occasionally exclaiming "Wow! Oniisan you're so cool!"
When Cloud read, she'd sit obediently beside him giving leg massages and shoulder rubs, serving as attentively as a personal maid.
Cloud found it both amusing and secretly satisfying.
Meanwhile, Yata Tsukihime—this "Ice Queen"—was the complete opposite extreme.
She perpetually wore that "the whole world owes me eight million" aloof expression.
...
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