Chapter 1 | April 12th (5:30 PM)

(Student Dormitory · Moving Day)

First, I must say.

This story was supposed to be,

“A monotonous tale that simply follows the peaceful, uneventful daily life of two siblings who, after being separated for a while due to certain circumstances, have come to live under the same roof again, without any particular beginning, development, turn, or conclusion.”

……That was the plan, but things didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped.

It will probably turn into a very noisy, lively, and bright story.

Now that the glamorous student council members have moved into the dormitory where the two siblings were supposed to live modestly, there’s no way we can expect a peaceful life.

I had gone through a lot of trouble to be able to live with my sister again, precisely because I wanted that kind of quiet life——but now it’s too late.

There might be a big event, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were unexpected developments, and there might even be some flashy action scenes.

I thought that since it’s just the two of us, siblings, there wouldn’t be any romantic scenes, but now that we have four beautiful women and one man living under the same roof, it would be unnatural if nothing happened.

But that’s okay.

Even though it’s completely different from what I had hoped for, it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Not to mention my old friend Ginbei, but the student council president, Nikaidō, and the vice president, Nasuhara, are undoubtedly top-notch talents, and despite their difficult personalities, they always provide valuable stimulation. It’s an environment I couldn’t have hoped for, even if it’s the opposite of what I wanted.

Not only for me, but for my sister Akiko as well, this environment is probably the best for self-improvement.

So there’s no need to be sulky.

There’s no need to complain that things didn’t go as planned.

Let’s embrace this unexpected opportunity positively, and have a bright, cheerful, energetic, and wonderful school life——

“It’s impossible.”

……Unfortunately, my argument was immediately rejected.

“It’s impossible, and it doesn’t make sense, and it’s unthinkable. This dormitory is our special place, just for me and Onii-chan. If it were newspaper or religious solicitors, that would be one thing, but living under the same roof together? With those student council members? No way. I can’t possibly endure such a situation.”

In the dormitory manager’s room operated by St. Liliana Academy, which is also the room where my sister and I live.

My sister, Himenokōji Akiko, furrowed her brows and, with a face full of frustration, directly opposed the situation we were in.

“Listen, Onii-chan. It’s not even a full month, you know?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

“We’ve only been able to live together after being separated for so long, and it’s not even been a full month yet. We haven’t had enough time to enjoy our sweet, private life together, and now it’s all going to be ruined. It’s so unreasonable. After all, we waited for six years, right? We endured and waited for six years just to finally have this precious time together.”

“Yeah. That’s true.”

“For six years, I endured so much. Even though we were siblings, we were separated, but I followed Onii-chan’s instructions and behaved well, always preparing myself to be ready for the day when we could live together again. I polished myself so that I could be a good girl for Onii-chan. And now, as a reward, we finally have this life together. Right, Onii-chan?”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re absolutely right.”

“I entered St. Liliana Academy, a prestigious school, with top-class grades, and I’ve maintained a top-three ranking since then. Now, I even hold the important position of secretary in the prestigious student council.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’ve done really well. I’m truly proud of you.”

“And that’s not all. I’ve also learned all sorts of traditional arts like flower arrangement and tea ceremony. I can cook, clean, and do laundry perfectly. Most importantly, I’ve worked hard to become the kind of cute girl that Onii-chan likes. You agree with the results of my efforts, don’t you, Onii-chan?”

“Ah, yeah, indeed. You’ve really grown into a wonderful girl. You’re my pride, and I’m not ashamed to show you off anywhere.”

“But considering the current situation, it seems like my efforts haven’t been rewarded enough. For such a cute sister like me, Onii-chan doesn’t pat my head, doesn’t hug me, and doesn’t even give me a kiss. Our cohabitation should be much sweeter and more loving. What’s with Onii-chan? It’s like he’s a monk living an ascetic life in a monastery, not touching me at all. There’s a saying, ‘A man who refuses a set table is a disgrace.’ Onii-chan is the epitome of that. To prove that he’s a real man, Onii-chan needs to make a move on me as soon as possible.”

“……Isn’t the conversation getting a bit off track?”

“Anyway!”

Akiko raised her voice and continued to argue.

“This dormitory where we live is strictly off-limits to outsiders. It’s bad enough that those people have moved in, but they should leave as soon as possible.”

“Well, that’s easier said than done.”

Nikaidō Arashi.

Nasuhara Anastasia.

Sawatari Ginbei Haruomi.

Their move-in is pretty much complete, and it’s not realistic to ask them to leave now.

Besides, I don’t even have the authority to do that. I’ve only managed to secure my position as the dormitory manager and resident in this building that was supposed to be demolished.

“Those three have negotiated with the academy and obtained the right to live here. I don’t think I can just interfere at this point. And those three also have their own reasons for moving in. It would be quite unreasonable to ask them to leave at this stage, don’t you think?”

“That’s true, but I still can’t accept it.”

“You shouldn’t dislike them so much, right? Those three are members of the student council, which means they’re our teammates. We should value our teammates more.”

“I would value them if it weren’t for this matter. But not this time.”

“Or maybe you should change your perspective. The fact that those three have moved in means that all the student council members are now gathered in this dormitory. This way, we’ll be able to see each other all the time, naturally fostering a sense of camaraderie, and we can freely hold student council meetings. It’s actually quite a good thing, don’t you think?”

“I acknowledge the benefits, but it’s not worth sacrificing the advantages of living alone with Onii-chan.”

“Well, don’t say that——”

“Onii-chan, don’t you think something’s a bit off?”

My sister looked at me with a sidelong glance.

“You seem to be overly supportive of those three.”

“Do I? Well, I don’t think I am, but——”

“No, Akiko’s eyes can’t be deceived. After all, it was Onii-chan who arranged for us to live together, and it was Onii-chan who worked hard for it. You should be the one complaining about the current situation more than me. Right?”

“No, no, I’m not that petty. Of course our life together is important, but the lives of the student council members are just as important, right?”

“No, I can’t accept that. Onii-chan today is a bit strange. The usual Onii-chan wouldn’t say something like that, would he?”

“Well, what do you want me to say to make you understand?”

“Here’s what the usual Onii-chan would say. ‘Don’t worry, Akiko. You’re the most important person in the world to me. I’ll do whatever it takes to kick those three out of this dormitory and get back our sweet life together. I love you, Akiko. Marry me right now.'”

“The usual me wouldn’t say something like that, though, right?”

“Then Onii-chan would gently hug me and kiss me……Whoa～, That’s not okay, Onii-chan! I need some mental preparation too!”

“…………”

I ignored my sister, who was squirming awkwardly. She seems to be getting more and more out there every day……Maybe we need to have a serious talk?

But setting aside her strange behavior, my sister’s point isn’t wrong. It’s true that I’m somewhat supportive of the three who moved in.

The reason is clear.

Their move this time is also a countermeasure against Akiko’s over-attachment to me.

Akiko has grown into a fine young lady, following my instructions, but the long separation has exacerbated her over-attachment. As a child under the care of the Arisugawa family, or as a member of the St. Liliana Academy Student Council, all the status and reputation she has built up could be jeopardized by her excessive clinginess.

So, to act as a buffer, those three have moved into this dormitory.

Of course, I’m not exactly thrilled about it either.

I was finally able to reclaim our quiet life together, and it’s only natural to want to prolong it as much as possible.

But those three have the noble cause of dealing with Akiko’s over-attachment. And as her brother, or rather, as her guardian, I have the duty to raise her properly——

“Hey, you two. Can I get your attention for a moment?”

And then, a voice came from the hallway.

“We’ve pretty much finished moving in for now. I’d like to have a little meeting to discuss our future dormitory life. Could you two come over for a bit?”

◆

“Come on now. You shouldn’t be making such a sulky face.”

In the dormitory’s first-floor conference room, which also serves as a dining area.

The student council president, Nikaidō Arashi, shrugged his shoulders as he sat down on a chair.

“We’ve got more people living under the same roof now. Couldn’t you at least put on a smile, even if it’s just for show? Huh?”

“I don’t want to.”

Akiko, who was reprimanded, made an even more sullen face.

“Why should I be polite to people who intruded into my and Onii-chan’s love nest without permission?”

“That’s just being an adult.”

“Then I’m perfectly fine being a child.”

“Hehehe, well, you’ve certainly made me disliked. But I must say, I absolutely adore your innocent smile. Could you show me a smile, just for a moment?”

“The only way to bring back my smile is for everyone except me and Onii-chan to pack up and leave this place right now.”

“Hmm, is that so? That’s a shame. But you see, we’ve got official permission from the board of directors to live in this dormitory. No matter how much you throw a tantrum, this decision won’t be overturned, you know?”

“Mmm……Guh……”

“There’s only one way to get us out of this dormitory. If you become my lover and share ecstatic pleasures with me every night.”

“Absolutely not!”

“Well, if not a lover, how about becoming my bride?”

“Keep your jokes to your eye patch and katana!”

“Now, now, there’s no need to get so angry,”

the vice president, Nasuhara, interjected.

“Otherwise, your already unremarkable appearance will become even more pitiful. Act more cheerful, like a bulldog sneezing, and maybe your face will look somewhat presentable.”

“B-Bulldog!? I don’t have such a weird face!”

“Oh, really? I must apologize. At the recent St. Liliana Academy’s traditional Miss Contest, you were narrowly defeated by me, weren’t you?”

“Grr……Don’t say such condescending things again! The vote was only by one or two votes!”

“But the fact remains that a difference of just one or two votes can decide the winner and the loser.”

“Even so, you have no right to insult me like that!”

“Yes, you’re right. I apologize for hurting you with such thoughtless words. I have this bad habit of not being able to distinguish between myself and those beneath me. To be honest, I’m not quite sure how much difference there is between your face and that of a bulldog. I sincerely apologize. Please forgive me.”

“Ugh……You’re pretending to be humble, but you’re still insulting me!”

“Alright, alright, both of you. Stop fighting.”

And then the treasurer, Ginbei, stepped in.

“Himenokōji Akiko. I admit that moving into this dormitory without your consent was a bit thoughtless. I’m sorry.”

“Absolutely! Intruding into my and Onii-chan’s love nest……You should really reflect on your actions! And after reflecting, I’d be happy if you could leave immediately! Right now! Just now!”

“I’d love to, but you see, the president and vice president might be different, but I’m living on a shoestring budget. Thanks to this move, my pockets are literally empty. To be honest, I don’t even have the money to leave.”

“Uh……That’s……”

“This dormitory, where only a handful of people live, is still funded by the academy, so I won’t have to worry about food or a place to sleep. I can barely get by here. If I were kicked out, I’d be wandering around in the chilly April air, with few friends to rely on after just moving from Kyoto.”

“……Ugh～“

“You see, one of the few friends I have is your brother. When I lived in Kyoto, Akito and I were close friends. We helped each other out whenever we could, and I’d like to maintain that kind of relationship here at this academy. Given my current precarious situation, I’d really like to rely on Akito’s kindness as the dormitory manager.”

“……Ugh ugh～“

“Akiko. I’ve heard from Akito that you’re a truly wonderful sister, and I can see that for myself. I think Akito’s opinion of you would be even higher if you could be more understanding about his social circle.”

“……Ugh ugh ugh～“

“You know how your brother is. He can be secretive and sometimes he tends to act on his own. You know what I’m talking about, right?”

“……Well, that’s true, I suppose, but——”

“Right? In fact, when we were in Kyoto, Akito often got into trouble because of his personality. I’d like to be the one to rein him in. I want to support him by living here in this dormitory, you see?”

“……So you need my cooperation for that?”

“I’m glad you understand so quickly. Working together with you, who knows Akito best, and me, who knows him well from our time in Kyoto, we can ensure everything goes smoothly. What do you think?”

“……Ugh ugh ugh ugh～“

Akiko, unable to retort.

Presenting sound arguments, appealing to emotions, and highlighting mutual benefits. Ginbei’s eloquence is as flawless as ever. When faced with such a well-reasoned approach, there’s hardly any way to fight back except to sulk in frustration.

“Ugh……Onii-chan……?”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much it.”

To my sister, who looked up at me as a last resort, I delivered the final blow.

“At this point, we just have to go with the flow, don’t we? It’s not all bad for either of us, so let’s try to be more positive.”

“Ugh～“

Akiko drooped her shoulders dejectedly, and said,

“Alas……The sweet life I finally got to share with Onii-chan is going to vanish like a fleeting dream, so soon. The color of the Sala tree’s flowers, the resonance of impermanence——like building blocks that are assembled only to be dismantled, like a sandcastle on the beach. Happy times, it seems, never last long…”

“You’re being a bit dramatic, aren’t you?”

“Hey, could this be a dream sequence or something?”

“Unfortunately, this is reality. No doubt about it.”

“Is that so～. Reality, huh～.”

Akiko drooped her shoulders again, but then quickly straightened her back, flipping her mood like the other side of a coin.

“──But neverthelesss!”

She immediately regained her composure and declared,

“I’m not going to be discouraged by this! After enduring for six long years, this kind of trial is nothing to me!”

“Oh, that’s the spirit.”

“That’s right, the spirit! And so, I, Himenokōji Akiko, hereby declare once again! The bond between me and Onii-chan is absolute and eternal!”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“In fact, I believe that only by overcoming this trial will our relationship as husband and wife truly be solidified! Let’s strengthen our sibling bond even more, so that we can be fully prepared for the night that is to come, Onii-chan, right!?”

“Well, I can’t quite agree with that last part.”

There still seems to be a significant gap between my sister’s and my understanding, but I’ll let it go. Since things are finally settling down in a positive way.

“Alright. So, moving forward, I’ll leave it to you guys.”

Nikaidō, sensing the right moment, began to wrap things up.

“Anyway, now that fate has brought us five people together here, we each have our own thoughts, but since we’re in this situation, let’s all cooperate and strive for a better life together.”

Although he often makes grand statements, he is the student council president of the prestigious St. Liliana Academy. Even though his words may seem commonplace, each one carries weight.

“Now, regarding the management of this dormitory from now on, there’s something I need to let the dormitory manager, Himenokōji Akito, know.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah, you. You see, we found some old records from when this dormitory was still in use.”

Saying that, Nikaidō took out a file and said,

“This here has a whole list of dormitory rules that were established for living here.”

“Hmmm～“

“Yesterday, this place was essentially just for the Himenokōji siblings, but from today on, that’s not the case anymore. We need some rules for our communal living, right?”

“Well, yeah, I suppose so.”

“It’s not about adhering strictly to precedent, but these rules were created by the seniors who lived here before, using their wisdom. They’re definitely beneficial to some extent. And to be honest, when we were reviving this dormitory, the board of directors set one condition.”

“Hmm. So it’s something like following the rules written in that file?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

That seems reasonable enough.

Moreover, it is not only reasonable but rather something to be desired. Starting from scratch to establish new rules for communal living would be extremely troublesome. The members gathered in this dormitory are all highly individualistic, which makes the process of creating rules even more challenging.

“Besides, we’re supposed to be role models for the students as members of the student council. Although our academy advocates student autonomy and self-discipline, we can’t just disregard the board’s authority.”

“I see. If all these conditions are met, there’s no reason not to comply, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Is there anyone here who objects?”

Nikaidō scanned the room, but no one seemed to have any objections.

“Alright, I’ll make copies of this file and distribute it to everyone later, so make sure to read it thoroughly. Any questions? … Okay, good. For now, that’s it, and we’ll call it a day today. We still have some unpacking to do, so let’s save the detailed discussions for after we’ve settled in, alright?”

◆

So.

The first day with the student council members all gathered ended without any major upheavals.

Of course, at that time, I had no idea.

That the “rules” unearthed by Nikaidō, which we all agreed to follow, would gradually have an impact on us like a body blow in the days to come.