Chapter 3 | June 10th (7:00 PM)

(Student Dormitory)

 

“Akito-niisama. Do you have a moment?”

One day, at the student dormitory.

As I walked down the hallway after getting out of the bath, Arisa called out to me.

“Hm? What’s up?”

“Yes. Um, well, that is—”

“Oh, could it be you wanted to take a bath with me? No way, Arisa, you’re twelve now, you can’t say such spoiled things. The only one who can get away with such reckless requests is Akiko—”

“N-No, that’s not it! Arisa taking a bath with Niisama, that’s just… I mean, that was something I could do when I was a little kid, but now, absolutely, absolutely impossible!”

“Is that so? I wouldn’t mind taking a bath together, though.”

“Hweh!? N-N-N-No way, Niisama, that’s too much, for Arisa it’s still too early, or rather, I’m not mentally prepared—”

“Haha, you don’t have to freak out so much, you know? Arisa’s still a kid, so taking a bath with me wouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“…” (← Arisa instantly puffs up her cheeks like a blowfish)

“Sorry, sorry, don’t get so mad. I was just kidding.”

“…Niisama, you’re awful. Arisa believes everything you say right away, so please don’t tease me.”

“Haha, sorry, sorry. I didn’t mean any harm, forgive me. Your expressions change so much and it’s cute, so I couldn’t help but tease you.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll forgive you. So, Niisama, from now on, teasing Arisa is banned. Got it?”

“Yep, yep, got it. I won’t tease Arisa anymore. Is that okay?”

“Yes, that’s fine. That way, Arisa can talk to Niisama with peace of mind.”

“I see, I see, that’s good.”

“Yes, it’s good.”

“By the way, though. The other day, I took a bath with Akiko.”

“!?(゜д゜)”

“And it wasn’t just Akiko, there were others too. The president, Nasuhara-san, Ginbei, and Akiko. We all took a bath together happily.”

“W-W-W-What, what do you…”

“No, I mean exactly what I said.”

“…Niisama, you’re joking again. You just promised Arisa, and now you’re being awful. Telling such lies—”

“By the way, we also washed each other’s backs.”

“(゜д゜)”

…She really is a kid whose expressions change a lot.

Man, this is fun… Oops, no, no. Arisa’s taking it too seriously and is starting to get teary-eyed. I should clear things up and get to her main point.

“…Um, about my older sisters.”

Though still shaken even after my explanation, Arisa managed to pull herself together and said,

“I was wondering what kind of life everyone is living at the academy. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like you to tell Arisa about it.”

“Hm? Meaning?”

“Arisa is the dorm manager, so I can’t go to school with everyone. But since everyone is a student I’m managing, I think it’s better if I know as much as I can about them. That way, I can support their lives more easily.”

That makes some sense.

The people living in this dorm aren’t particularly selfish or demanding, but they’re not exactly easygoing either. Part of it’s because I’m the only guy here, but honestly, handling them has been a bit of a struggle at times—that’s my honest take from when I was the dorm manager until recently.

Especially for Arisa, even though her practical skills are top-notch, she’s still so young. Quoting “Know your enemy and know yourself, and you won’t be defeated in a hundred battles” might be overdramatic, but it’s only natural she’d want to gather enough info to deal with four older girls she’s just met.

“Okay, got it. I’ll tell you as much as I can.”

“Yes! Thank you so much. Then, could I take a bit of your time right now?”

“Okay, okay, for Arisa’s sake, it’s no trouble at—”

And that’s when I realized.

I don’t even know that much about what Akiko, Nasuhara-san, Ginbei, and the president are up to at St. Liliana Academy myself!

Sure, we’re student council colleagues, so I know a fair bit about what we do there, but… it’s not that different from when we’re hanging out at the dorm.

Come to think of it,

I haven’t been transferred here for that long myself, and outside of student council and the dorm, I barely have any contact with them.

At St. Liliana Academy, where elites gather, the student council picks the cream of the crop—the best of the best.

These ace-level girls—what do they think about, how do they act, and what kind of school life do they lead?

 

◆◆◆

 

So, I decided to start investigating right away.

The plan is to find out how the student council members spend their time when I’m not around—see it with my own eyes and report back to Arisa.

That said, as you know, I’m almost always with at least one of them at school—during breaks, student council, or even extracurriculars—so sneaking a peek at their true selves without me around isn’t going to be easy.

Just as I was wondering how to pull this off, a rare chance conveniently rolled my way.

My first target: my unworthy little sister, Himenokōji Akiko.

That day, after school,

As I headed to the student council room like usual, I spotted my sister walking with a few other students.

Naturally, this was unusual. Akiko’s the student council secretary, and like me, she’d normally head straight to the council room after school—but they were walking in the opposite direction.

Hmm, what’s up with her today?

I decided to secretly follow them.

“Are you really okay with me—”

“No way, if anything, it has to be—Himenokōji-san—”

“Exactly, Himenokōji-san—no one else could—”

“Man, I’m so glad—please do it—thank you, thank you—”

Weaving through the students heading home, I kept my distance while tailing them, catching bits of their conversation.

Huh, what’s this all about?

The vibe seems friendly, so it’s not like she’s been called out behind the gym or anything shady. It’s a bit out of the ordinary, though, and I can’t quite predict where this is going.

—Wait!?

No way, no way, but could it be someone’s about to confess to her?

If that’s the case, it’s a serious situation. With a girl as cute as Akiko, it’s no surprise guys would line up to ask her out… but it’s way too early for that. Since I transferred here, Akiko’s extreme bro-con tendencies have kept all the random guys at bay—or so I thought. Maybe I let my guard down.

No way, Onii-chan won’t allow it! Akiko’s still a kid, and if she started dating someone, who knows how they might trick her or make her cry? As her stand-in guardian, my job is to keep her close and raise her into a proper lady, slowly and carefully. …Hm? How long is “slowly and carefully”? Well, let’s say I’ll keep her by my side for at least another twenty years—Huh? Too long, she’ll miss her chance to marry? That’s fine, I’ll take care of her for life if that happens.

…I got a bit carried away thinking ahead there, but it probably won’t come to that, right? No one’s going to confess to her in a group like this, and there are girls among them too.

And that’s when I finally noticed.

Some of the students are carrying pretty big bags over their shoulders. Too big for club gear—what are they planning to do, and where are they headed?

Puzzled, I kept following them. Eventually, they reached the courtyard.

After school, with the academy buzzing, they settled into a quiet corner with lots of trees and bushes, starting to set something up.

Staying out of sight but getting as close as I could, I strained to listen.

“Okay then, Himenokōji-san, thanks again for helping out today!”

“Yes. My pleasure as well.”

“But really, sorry for asking you out of the blue like this. The girl who was supposed to model had a sudden emergency and couldn’t make it…”

“Helping each other in times of need is only natural. As a classmate and a student council member, it’s my duty to assist.”

“That’s a huge relief to hear. But still, I heard you don’t usually do stuff like this because of your circumstances, so I feel bad dragging you into it like this…”

“Please don’t worry about it. If anything, I’ve been feeling guilty about not being able to help with the class project, so this works out perfectly for me.”

…Hm.

Starting to get the picture here?

Listening to the conversation between Akiko and the boy who seemed to be the group’s leader, I glanced at what the others were preparing.

The students with the big bags were pulling stuff out and setting it up—looks like tripods and cameras.

Another student was getting a big, shiny reflector ready, and yet another was laying out what looked like makeup tools.

“Um, by the way, what kind of role should I play?”

“Oh, don’t worry, no lines or anything. Just stand there and smile naturally—that’s more than enough. Himenokōji-san, you’re picture-perfect just as you are.”

“That’s all? Since I agreed to help, I was ready to read and memorize a script right now if needed.”

“Haha, someone like you could probably pull off the heroine role on the spot. But it’s fine—honestly, we can tweak the script later. Right now, the priority is capturing your charm on film. Don’t sweat the details, just be yourself in front of the camera.”

…At this point, it’s pretty clear.

Looks like they’re shooting a movie or something. Judging by the context, it’s probably for the fall culture festival. Starting this early, before summer break even hits, shows some serious dedication.

Anyway, this feels like a lucky break. A perfect chance to see how Akiko acts when I’m not around. I should be heading to the student council, but I’ll stick around and observe.

“Alright, Himenokōji-san, could you step into the shade of that tree over there?”

“Yes. …Like this?”

“Yeah, yeah, just like that. Now, give the camera a little glance—perfect, that’s it, we’ve got it!”

Filming started.

From what I can see, there aren’t many staff, but they’re working pretty smoothly. As expected of St. Liliana’s elites—everything’s well-prepped.

Meanwhile, Akiko, the only one being filmed, started off a bit stiff but gradually let her natural charm shine through. Following the leader’s (director’s?) instructions, her smile became more genuine.

“Okay, now let’s try walking a bit. Keep pace with the camera, head toward the field—no, don’t look at the camera, just straight ahead. Or gaze at the scenery if you want. …Yeah, like that. Looking good.”

“Uuu… This is kind of embarrassing for me. It’s my first time being filmed like this.”

“No, no, it’s great, totally fine. You’ll get used to it, and even this fresh, unpolished vibe works perfectly. …Okay, now stop there. Yep, and give me a little spin in place.”

“Um… like this?”

“Yes! That’s it! Man, that’s amazing, Himenokōji-san, you really light up the screen!”

“—Alright, looking good, you’re getting into it. Now, could you sit on that bench over there?”

“Got it. Just sit normally?”

“Yeah, that’s fine. Himenokōji-san, every move you make is so refined, so you don’t need to do anything special… Oh, now let’s try an interview-style thing. I’ll ask you some questions—can you handle that?”

“Of course. Anything I can answer, I will.”

…Man, though.

This feels kinda fresh.

Come to think of it, since reuniting with my sister, I’ve only known the “Akiko who’s with me.”

Seeing her chat with others without me around like this—it’s pretty rare.

Huh, so that’s how Akiko is.

She’s practically a different person from when she’s with me.

Always proper, her tone super calm, every word crisp and clear—like a cool breeze on a summer plateau, endlessly positive—total “perfect lady” vibes. Where’d the usual loud, super-emotional Akiko go? It’s almost mind-boggling.

Yeah.

This Akiko’s nice too. The usual Akiko’s great, but this one’s got its charm. If she could switch between them now and then, I’d be thrilled.

“Okay, I’ll start asking then.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Let’s start simple. What’s your favorite food, Himenokōji-san?”

“Hm, I don’t have strong likes or dislikes… but if I had to pick, I prefer Japanese food over Western. Things like chikuzenni or dashi-maki tamago.”

“Oh, pretty simple tastes, huh? Fits your elegant, Japanese beauty vibe perfectly. I love how you’re not all flashy or extravagant.”

“Is that so? Thank you.”

“Okay, next… Do you have a favorite celebrity?”

“Celebrities? No, I don’t watch much TV or anything, so I wouldn’t know.”

“You don’t mess with your phone or browse the net much either?”

“I use my phone just for basic communication. I go online when I need to—like looking up recipes or studying—but that’s about it.”

“Got it. So you’ve got that sheltered wealthy young lady thing going, but you’re still savvy with modern stuff in your own way. That judgment’s pretty impressive.”

“Oh. Is that so?”

“Next question… Any favorite authors or manga artists?”

“Yes. Shindō Kōichirō-sensei.”

“Oh? First instant answer!”

“Yes. Shindō-sensei’s still a newbie writer, but to me, he’s very special. His fresh style, his passionate storytelling—I truly believe he’ll go down in history as a novelist someday.”

“Wow, that’s a refined pick… But yeah, that kinda adds to your charm, Himenokōji-san. Maybe I’ll grab one of his books soon.”

The interview kept going in a super chill vibe.

Yep, she’s handling it like a pro—worthy of being my little sister. It’s got a slight AV intro vibe, but I’ll let that slide.

But man, something’s itching at me. Why’s that?

It’s not like I’m annoyed because that director guy asking Akiko questions is so smooth and experienced—not to mention he’s got a pretty-boy face that probably gets him girls and gives off a host vibe I can’t stand. Nope, not that.

And it’s definitely not because Akiko and the director could look like a cozy couple from a certain angle, fueling my irritation.

Nor is it because seeing Akiko having so much fun with her classmates makes me, as her brother, feel a tiny bit lonely—me, who only ever wants her happiness. No way.

Well, whatever.

For now, I got to see a side of Akiko I don’t usually see, so I’ve got plenty to report to Arisa. Time to head to the student council before they start nagging—time to pull out.

Convinced, I stepped away from my hiding spot, turning my back on the filming.

…Ugh. Seriously, what’s with this feeling? It’s like a kindergartner sulking because Mom won’t pay attention to them—this restless, antsy, can’t-sit-still vibe. Leaving quietly like this feels off, like I’ll regret it later—

“Ah!? Onii-chan!”

…Huh?

For some reason, my sister’s looking at me, her eyes sparkling. I was supposed to head the opposite way toward the student council room… Ugh, damn it, I got so lost in thought I went the wrong way.

“Onii-chan, why are you here?”

Dropping the interview instantly, my sister ran over to me and said,

“But perfect timing! Right now, I’m doing a little interview for our class’s culture festival project. Please stay and watch if you want! Oh, it’s for a movie we’re filming.”

“Hm, I see. But wouldn’t me watching get in the way of everyone working hard on the shoot?”

“What are you saying? There’s no way Onii-chan could be in the way. If anyone thinks that, I’ll quit the movie right now.”

“Hey, don’t say silly things. Besides, I’ve got to head to the student council soon, so I’ll have to pass on seeing you shine, Akiko.”

“No way…”

Her eyebrows drooped, and her mood sank like a stone. The brightness she’d shown during filming vanished without a trace. No way they’d get good footage if she kept shooting like this.

“Onii-chan. Akiko wants you to watch.”

“Ugh, I get that, but—”

“Please. It’ll definitely turn out better if Onii-chan’s watching. It’ll boost Akiko’s motivation a ton.”

“Umm…”

“Please. Please.”

She tugged at my sleeve, begging desperately.

What to do? Spoiling her too much isn’t good for her upbringing…

“—Could we ask you too?”

And then,

The movie director guy cut in,

“Looks like Himenokōji-san gets way more fired up with you around. If you’re cool with it, please stay.”

“No, but—”

“Come on, do us a favor. Think of it as helping out.”

“…Ugh. Fine, just for a bit then.”

“Yay! Thank you, Onii-chan!”

Jumping like a kid, Akiko grabbed my arm and dragged me to the camera. Hard to believe she was totally down just a minute ago—her mood swings are like mountain weather.

“Well, might as well capture this side of her on film too… Alright, let’s resume shooting. Himenokōji-san, could you sit on the bench again?”

“Yes! Okay, Onii-chan, stay as close as you can and watch, okay?”

“Yeah, well, as long as I don’t get in the way.”

“How about we sit side by side instead!”

“No, that’d totally mess up the shoot.”

“Not just sitting—how about a lap pillow too? That’d be nice!”

“That’d completely change the movie’s whole concept.”

“Or better yet, how about we film me and Onii-chan’s first kiss right here!”

“—Uh, sorry, Director-san. Just start without worrying about my sister. I’ll stand off to the side. I’ll stay out of the way.”

“Oh, yeah. Let’s do that then… Alright, Himenokōji-san, ready when you are. Let’s show your brother your best.”

“Yes! I’ll give it my all, body and soul!”

And so,

What was supposed to be a stealth mission ended with me joining in, and filming resumed.

My carelessness caused this mess, so I might’ve inconvenienced the crew… but Akiko’s energy was night-and-day with me there versus not. Her bro-con antics went full throttle after I showed up—cute in its own way—but it definitely brought a lively spark to her filming, so it was a net positive, I’d say.

In conclusion, I guess this worked out fine. Yep, all good, all good.

 

◆◆◆

 

By the way, when I reported all this, Arisa gave me a complicated look and said,

“Nii-sama. I’ve got a question.”

“Hm? What’s up?”

“After you showed up, Akito-niisama, was Akiko-neesama acting like her usual self the whole time? By usual self, I mean, like, full-on bro-con mode as always?”

“Yeah, pretty much. Full-swing bro-con mode.”

“And how did the staff around you two react to seeing her—and you—like that?”

“Hm? Dunno, nothing special, I think.”

“…Really? Arisa feels like I can totally picture what kind of faces the staff were making then…”

“Oh? That’s impressive, Arisa, picking up on details like that from the little I told you. Seriously, amazing.”

“Haah.”

“Man, though, Akiko’s such a bro-con, huh? Her bro-con-ness doesn’t care about time or place, so I’m always dealing with it. As her brother, I’m thinking I need to do something about that soon.”

“…What I just heard feels more like an episode highlighting your sis-con tendencies, though…”

“Hm? What’d you say?”

“Oh, no, nothing. Anyway, thank you. I’d be happy if you could tell me about someone other than Akiko-neesama next time. Please and thank you.”

“Okay, leave it to me. I’ll dig up some more fun stories.”

And so, it seems I successfully met the demands of my requester, Arisa.

For my cute little sister figure, I’ll keep the mission going strong.