Volume 1 Chapter 6 The Sister’s Visit
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Yoo-hoo! Long time no see!”
When Hibiki swung open the door, a tall girl with waist-length golden hair stood there, sunlight flashing off every strand. She looked older, refined—yet wore a high school uniform.
”Wh—what!? Mizuki-nee!?” Hibiki’s eyes went wide. Her cousin grinned in triumph.
”Mind if I come in—oopsie!” Mizuki leaned forward, ready to barge right in, but Hibiki’s arm shot out, blocking her with all the might of panic.
(Oh no, not now! Hirose’s here… I cannot let her see him!)
”Come on, what’s with the block, huh? Your sweet sis came to dote on you, and—hmm?” Mizuki’s teasing tone wavered as her eyes narrowed. She leaned close, scanning Hibiki’s face as if reading a secret script written in light.
”Hey, Hibiki… did you get prettier or what!?”
”That’s what my friends said too! I’ve been working on skincare and—”
”My Skill’s reacting.”
”Wha—what!?”
Hibiki’s heart froze mid-beat. Did she just expose the Skill Hirose used on her? But Mizuki’s power was different… wasn’t it?
”Picked up something new lately—’Magic Vision.’ Lets me see traces of power use. You’re… kinda glowing, you know? Like, all over.”
Hibiki swallowed. That glow—was it still Hirose’s Skill effect lingering from this morning?
”Well, whatever~! If my cute little sis is shining, that’s just adorable! Anyway, I’m comin’ in!”
”W-wait—don’t—!”
Too late. Mizuki darted inside. Two pairs of loafers greeted her eyes—Hibiki’s small ones, and another much larger pair. Male-sized.
”Ah… crap.” The words slipped before Hibiki could swallow them.
Mizuki’s smile sharpened like a blade. “Hibiki’s got a boy here~~!!”
”It’s not—what you think!”
Mizuki pranced through the house like it was a victory parade, checking behind sofas, then bounding upstairs. Hibiki clung to her arm, tugging. “Please, Mizuki-nee, stop!”
”Not till I see what kinda guy you’ve snared, my dear!”
”He’s not—my boyfriend!”
”‘Yet,’ you mean!”
”Argh—stop twisting it!”
They tussled halfway up the stairs. Hibiki lost—strength was not her stat.
”Give it up already~” Mizuki teased, easily pulling ahead. The next second, she flung open Hibiki’s bedroom door.
A boy sat there, startled mid-turn. Hirose’s eyes widened at the sight of the radiant blonde stranger now standing framed in the doorway.
”You must be… quite the calm pick for my little cousin,” Mizuki said, studying him top to bottom.
”M-Mizuki-nee! Don’t just—barge in!” Hibiki sputtered, cheeks aflame.
Hirose stood quickly, bowing a little. “Um, I’m Takanashi Hirose.”
”I’m Housaka Mizuki—Hibiki’s big sis! Well, technically cousin, but same difference!” She winked, then plopped down at the table like she owned it.
Hibiki sighed and followed, shoulders slumped.
(Oh no… this wasn’t how today was supposed to go.)
Across the table, she blinked meaningfully at Hirose. (Hirose, please!)
(Huh? What’s going on?)
(Don’t say anything weird!)
(I… totally don’t get this…)
Hibiki’s silent plea went completely over his head. Her heart thudded as Mizuki’s grin widened like she’d just found her next favorite drama.
”Sooo, Hirose-kun,” Mizuki leaned in across the table, eyes sparkling. “What’s your deal with Hibiki, huh?”
”Uh… just classmates,” Hirose replied, posture tightening.
”Uh-huh, suuure~ But are you her boyfriend?”
”Ah—no, not that.”
Mizuki hummed theatrically, lips pursed. The air tightened. Then Hirose gathered his nerve. “Excuse me… are you that Housaka Mizuki? From the Tenchi Guild?”
Her grin widened. “Yup! You know me? Aww, that’s so sweet!”
Hirose blinked, half starstruck. Of course he’d seen her before—one of the top A-rank adventurers on TV. A person every magic-aspiring teen knew.
”I mean… you’re kind of famous,” he murmured.
Hibiki tugged her sleeve. “I, um, didn’t tell him. Sorry.”
”It’s fine.”
She knew his past dream to be an adventurer. She also knew the pain of not receiving a battle Skill—why remind him that her cousin had?
Mizuki softened her tone, voice lowering. “So… you didn’t get a combat Skill, huh?”
”That’s right.”
”Thought so.”
The air grew gentler for a moment. Then Hibiki exhaled hard. “Okay, that’s enough, right? Please go home.”
”Oh wow, the Hibiki I know never tells me to leave! So cruel!”
”What’s cruel is barging in uninvited!”
”Fine, fine! I get it—Hibiki’s head over heels for Hirose!”
”Wh-what!? No way! I’m not—! I mean—!”
The room froze. Hirose smiled awkwardly. Hibiki’s voice cracked. “I didn’t mean that! It just slipped out!”
”It’s okay. Really,” Hirose said softly.
Mizuki stood, stretching. “Guess I teased too hard. I’ll leave you lovebirds to it.”
”Ughhh, just go already!” Hibiki groaned, ushering her to the door.
At the entrance, Mizuki laughed. “Totally got it—Hibiki’s got it bad.”
”Come anytime—but not like today!”
”Roger that! See ya~!”
”Bye…”
The silence afterward hung heavy. Hibiki’s chest tightened. She didn’t hate Mizuki. She admired her—Mizuki had been the one who helped her learn confidence, after all. But teasing about Hirose stung too close to home.
She turned to him. “Hirose… I’m sorry. Really.”
”It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
”But I—”
He stepped closer before she could finish and pulled her into his arms. For once, he moved first.
”Should I use the Skill again?” he whispered. “It always helps you relax.”
”Dummy. Don’t use magic as an excuse for—stuff like that.”
”You’re the one who attacked me last time.”
”Ugh, you’re such an idiot…” she muttered, though her voice trembled with affection.
They drifted toward the bed, breath mingling, fingertips brushing. Clothes loosened. Their eyes met—this time, she didn’t look away.
And then—
SLAM.
”Sorry, sorry, I forgot my phone—whoaaa, Hibiki! You go, girl!”
Mizuki stood frozen in the doorway, phone in hand, eyes wide.
Hibiki and Hirose, half undressed, locked in an unmistakable pose, turned simultaneously.
”KYAAAAAAA—!!”
”GYAAAAAAA—!!”
Two screams echoed through the house, overlapping in sheer panic.
Notes:
• Housaka Mizuki – A famous, admired model and A-rank adventurer (F, 18yo, 162cm, long blonde hair, E-cup). With intimidating skills and high appeal, Mizuki complicates Hirose’s situation, representing the broader implications of beauty and strength in-universe.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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