170 - The Birth of Brow-niichan

RAW

Under the gradually brightening sky.

When Haruto and the others arrived at the station, they found Saki and Shizuku already waiting for them.

"Ah, hey there!"

Saki, who had been chatting with Shizuku, raised her hand lightly when she spotted them.

"Ryota managed to wake up on time too, huh? Impressive."

"Good morning, Saki-oneechan! You know what? I woke up before oneechan today! So I got to wake her up!"

"Really now? If Ryota was the one waking you up, Ayaka, you’ve got to step up your game."

"Ryota only got up because Haruto woke him up."

Ayaka shot back lightly at her brother’s smug expression.

"Then maybe oneechan should’ve just slept with onii-chan too."

"That’s… not something I’m ready for yet…"

Blushing at Ryota’s comment, Ayaka fidgeted shyly. Shizuku, eyes still half-lidded with sleep, let out a tired voice as she glanced at Ayaka.

"Honestly, can we not open the floodgates to a pink-hued world first thing in the morning, Ayaka-senpai the closet romantic?"

"I—I am not a closet romantic!"

"Self-unaware romantics are the worst kind."

"I said I’m not!"

While Ayaka and Shizuku started bickering in their usual friendly way, Haruto adjusted his backpack and turned to Saki.

"Aizawa-san, I actually made some lunch for today and brought it with me, so I thought we could all eat together while waiting for the park to open."

"Seriously? That saves me the trouble of going to the convenience store. Thanks, Otsuki-kun."

"Saki-oneechan! I helped with the lunch too!"

"Ohh, good job, Ryota! You deserve some high praise!"

Saki crouched down and ruffled Ryota’s hair with both hands. Ryota squinted with delight, laughing as if it tickled.

While they were chatting, Ishikura arrived at the station.

"Yo, morning."

"Good morning, Kazu-senpai."

Haruto returned the one-handed greeting with a smile.

Ishikura glanced at Ryota, who was still getting petted by Saki, then crouched slightly and smiled warmly.

"Good morning, Ryota-kun. Let’s have a good day today."

"!? Y-yes... please take care of me..."

Ryota flinched and quickly retreated behind Haruto’s legs.

Shizuku, pausing her quarrel with Ayaka, observed the scene and looked up at Ishikura.

"Kazu-senpai, is this a kidnapping attempt? Striking during the early hours when fewer people are around?"

"Of course not! Don’t say such messed-up stuff!"

Ishikura shot her a glare in protest.

"You do look like a complete criminal though?"

"Shut it!"

Waving off her comment, Ishikura pointed to the distance Ryota had backed away to.

"The first time we met, he ran all the way from the front door to the living room. But now, he only retreats to Haruto’s feet. That means I’ve definitely closed the distance between us."

Ishikura said proudly, while Haruto internally thought, You're still getting fled from either way… and smiled wryly.

Shizuku nodded thoughtfully and then crouched beside Ryota, pointing to Ishikura.

"Ryota-kun, do you know the name of this scary-looking big brother?"

"Um… He’s the one who made me yummy sweets… but his name is…"

Ryota fumbled. While he’d instantly remembered names like Shizuku and Tomoya, the intimidating aura around Ishikura had apparently overwhelmed his memory.

Shizuku gently patted Ryota’s head and then looked up at Ishikura.

"Ryota-kun, this scary-looking big brother is the one who makes delicious brownies. So let’s call him Brow-niichan."

"Brow-niichan?"

"Yes, that’s right. Now, Ryota-kun, let’s say it together. One, two… Brow-niichan!"

"Cut it out! Don’t teach Ryota weird nicknames!"

Hearing the exchange, Saki chuckled softly at the name “Brow-niichan,” while Ayaka covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

Shizuku tried again to get the name to stick.

"Brow-niichan is catchy, trendy, stylish, and totally now. There’s nothing weird about it. Alright Ryota-kun, repeat after me—'Brow-niichan!' Everybody say it!"

"It’s not 'everybody say it!' Stop pushing this!"

As Ishikura protested, Ryota looked back and forth between the two of them, then cautiously stepped out from behind Haruto and moved a little closer to Ishikura. With big eyes, he looked up at him.

"…Brow-niichan."

"!!"

Pierced by Ryota’s innocent gaze, Ishikura’s previous protests melted away as he broke into a wide, doting smile.

"Yes! Ryota-kun! Brow-niichan is here for you!"

Watching him fall apart so quickly, Shizuku snorted.

"Pathetically easy."

"Um… Brow-niichan, today you’re going on a date with Shizuku-oneechan, right?"

"Yep, that’s right!"

Pleased by Ryota initiating conversation, Ishikura nodded eagerly. Shizuku, uncharacteristically, let her expression twist into something hard to interpret.

Ryota then turned to Saki.

"Saki-oneechan, you’re going on a date with Tomoya-onii-chan, right?"

"Huh!? Ah, well… sort of… just as friends?"

Saki looked flustered and gave an evasive answer.

But Ryota took it as confirmation, looked at Ishikura, Shizuku, and Saki in turn, then declared cheerfully:

"I’ll be cheering for all of you so you can become lovey-dovey couples just like oneechan and onii-chan!"

Saki and Shizuku both froze at his pure-hearted support, faces twitching.

But Ishikura, a natural lover of children, lit up with joy.

"Thank you, Ryota-kun! Brow-niichan will do his best to live up to your support!"

His tough-guy face practically sparkled from the intensity of his smile. Haruto, holding back laughter, leaned over to Ayaka and whispered:

"Kazu-senpai just called himself Brow-niichan..."

"Hehe, looks like in Ryota’s heart, Kazu-senpai’s name is officially set."

"Totally."

As the two giggled, Shizuku stepped up to Ishikura.

"Kazu-senpai!"

"Huh? What is it?"

"Trying to win me over by using Ryota-kun is pointless!"

"That’s not why I’m talking to him. I just genuinely like you, and I’m happy about today’s date."

"!? Even if you say that, it doesn’t affect me in the slightest! I’m no longer the me of the past—I’m Shizuku-chan Mk.2 now!"

"Huh? What the heck is that?"

Shizuku puffed out her chest as she declared it. Ishikura blinked in confusion. Saki and Ayaka also tilted their heads. Only Haruto smiled wryly, thinking, So she’s still running with that bit, huh.

"Shizuku-chan Mk.2 is the ultimate version. She’s way more powerful than the previous model!"

"…I don’t really get it, but whether it’s Mk.2 or Mk.3, I’ll just keep doing my best to show you how much I like you."

"Hmph! Shizuku-chan Mk.2 has no weaknesses! I’m totally ignoring everything you just said!"

"Could you not ignore it!?"

"Shut it! Alright, Demon Lord Kazu-senpai! Behold the might of Shizuku-chan Mk.2! Come at me anytime!!"

Suddenly, Shizuku began breathing deeply, then burst into a flurry of rapid-fire punches.

"Atatatatatatatata! Attattattattattatta! Uwah-chaaa!!"

She shouted like a warrior from the apocalypse, her form crisp and lightning-fast thanks to her actual karate skills.

"Hey! Don’t scream like a maniac at the station in the morning!"

Even Ishikura stepped back at her antics.

Ryota looked up at Haruto.

"Hey onii-chan, what’s Shizuku-oneechan doing?"

"Ah… I think she’s fighting desperately."

"With who?"

"…Probably herself."

"Hmm, that’s amazing!"

Ryota didn’t quite get it, but was still impressed by Shizuku’s intensity.

"Hyachaa! Acha-cha-cha! Cha-cha-cha-cha-cha!"

"Alright, alright! Calm down!"

"Atatatatat! Then stop saying you like me so casually! Tatatatatata!!"

"I won’t! I won’t say it casually anymore!"

Trying to stop her, Ishikura finally managed to get her to halt her wild punches.

"Ha! Kazu-senpai… has been defeated."

She straightened and pointed at Ishikura.

"Kazu-senpai, you are already—"

"Yo! Whoa, everyone’s already here?"

Tomoya appeared just in time to cut off her dramatic line, cheerfully waving at the group.

"I heard some weird shouting from over here—what happened?"

"Mk.2 went out of control."

Haruto kept it brief, then took Ryota’s hand and called out to the group.

"Alright, now that we’re all here, let’s go through the ticket gate."

Before even reaching the amusement park, Haruto’s group was already as lively as ever.