Chapter - 20

There was a large shopping mall near Hagun Academy, and their destination Cinema Land was located on the fourth and highest floor. The group didn't head there right away, because as Shizuku pointed out, there was still a while until the movie started. The fourth floor only had the theater and some merchandise shops so they didn't need to go there so early. Instead, the group went to the food court on the first floor to pass some time.

"Nn~. This is delicious~"

Stella's voice started to waver at the taste of the crepes they bought on Arisuin's recommendation. Shizuku agreed, and nibbled away with her small mouth.

"I thought they were ridiculously expensive, but they're really worth it."

Arisuin nodded as well.

"It is, right? The crepes from this court uses some very rich cream―♪ But if it's ice cream, I'd suggest the Thirteen Ice Cream shop on the third floor."

"You seem familiar with a lot of things."

"Well, visiting this place from time to time pays off. And pastry is something every girl lives for―♪"

"Alice is definitely the one to ask about sweet pastries or beautiful clothes, if you're looking for anything."

"I haven't seen any shops that sell dresses for a cute princess, but for tasty sweets I can point you to a number of places. Shall I be the guide today?"

"Really? Wow, sounds fun! What other stores do you know about?"

"Well, there's a coffee shop in this mall, and the tiramisu there is―"

While the girls(?) had fun eating crepes and discussing food, Ikki watched from outside their circle. He didn't like sweets that much, so he couldn't find a way to join this conversation.

But Alice sure mixed in fast.

Even Stella, who had been more surprised about Arisuin, was talking with him far more closely than she did with the boys in class. Arisuin really might be the onee-san type, though girls would probably fall in love with his beauty alone.

While Ikki sipped his iced coffee in solitude, he noticed a bit of cream stuck on Shizuku's cheek.

Uh oh.

That would sully the make-up. Sure, Ikki felt nervous about Shizuku's appearance, and he was relieved and thankful to not be mesmerized anymore, but…

…But still, the makeup took so much time to prepare, spoiling it would be such a waste.

"Hey, Shizuku."

"Yes? What is it?"

When Shizuku turned towards him, he wiped the cream off her cheek with his finger and―

"This was on your face. Since you went to the trouble of dressing up so nicely, you should be more careful."

―he licked it off without any hesitation at all.

Shizuku's whole body went red as if she had burst into flame, and she dashed behind Arisuin's chair. Taking cover immediately whenever she got embarrassed was one of Shizuku's old habits.

"My my, can it be that Shizuku's the type with all attack and no defense?"

"Sh-Sh-Shut up Alice! It happened so s-suddenly, I-I was just a bit surprised!"

Ikki watched Shizuku stutter while hiding behind Alice.

"You really don't have to be so embarrassed just because of some cream."

Alice smiled at his comment.

"I don't think that's the reason, but great job, big brother."

"Oh? Then why?"

"Hahaha―♪ That's not something you should hear from me."

Arisuin smoothly dodged his question. And from the side of the table, Stella started coughing violently.

"Sorry, sorry."

"Huh, Stella? What's the matter? Do you have a cold or―"

When Ikki turned, he saw Stella's whole mouth covered in cream, like she was wearing a Santa Claus beard.

"What's the matter, Ikki? You look so shocked. Is there something on my face?"

"You think there isn't!? That's even more shocking!"

"I-I-If there's something… then… that… can't you wipe it off, l-like with Shizuku?"

"No, it's not an amount I can wipe off with a finger! I'll bring a towel, so just wait a bit."

"Huh? But―"

Not pausing for Stella to finish her words, Ikki went to borrow a towel from the shop clerk.

"…Erm. Stella-san… Could it be… that you're a moron?"

"Oh, that was so awkwardly cute it makes me want to help you out too."

"Sh-Sh-Shut up! It's not like I had a secret motive or anything! My hand just slipped and it got on my mouth! That's all! Really!"

After the four of them finished eating crepes, they ended up chatting until the movie was about to start.

"It seems to be about time, so let's go to the fourth floor."

When Shizuku proposed that, all of them prepared to leave the food court, which was when Stella raised a very late question.

"Hey Ikki, what movie are we watching today?"

"I don't know yet."

After all, the invitation came from the cute little sister Ikki hadn't seen in four years. He wouldn't refuse in any case, so he didn't ask for that detail.

"…You, why did you even come here?"

"Shouldn't we ask you the same thing?"

"I'm only here to chaperone, so it's fine. Shizuku, what movie are we watching?"

"Just a normal love story."

"Of course it is. You see? I was right to tag along!"

Stella sighed.

"And the title?"

"I Fell in Love with My Little Sister. Rated R-15."

"How is that a normal love story!?"

"It's a love that's normal and pure, if you don't mind them being siblings."

"How is something so immoral in any way pure!? And how little sense do you have!? You've got some nerve trying to see this stuff with your brother! You think the atmosphere is going to be normal? That'll go way past mere surprise!"

"I don't want a lecture from someone who declares herself a slave in front of all her classmates."

That was quite an apt rebuttal, but Ikki wasn't so lacking in sense that he'd see a movie like this alone with his little sister.

"Shi-Shizuku…. let's not watch this."

"Eh~? Why? What's wrong with it?"

"Please explain what's not wrong with it."

Wouldn't it be terrible if he, with his little sister, had to see an R-rated love story about a forbidden sibling relationship?

"A-Anyhow, I can't do it! Let's watch something else!"

"Hrm, if you're that unwilling, I guess I'll have to accept it. What do we watch then?"

Shizuku used her student datapad to access the theater's website, and Stella voiced a preference.

"Ah! Isn't this one good? Karna, the Desert Queen. It's an animated movie where Princess Karna gets kidnapped by desert bandits but ends up falling in love with the young bandit leader. It sounds like a romantic―"

"Rejected."

"Why!?"

"I don't want to see a movie starring a bitch who opens her legs for a hoodlum she doesn't know anything about."

"It's far better than a perverted movie where siblings do this and that!"

Alice sighed.

"Well, it seems like we won't make up our minds even if we argue more. How about we compromise and go with Men's Fallen Paradise? Also R-15."

"Who said to compromise on gender!?"

Stella and Shizuku's comeback was in complete harmony. Maybe they could get along rather well, even if it made Alice pout.

"How inflexible. Then there's only one option left, an action movie."

Ikki glanced at the schedule.

"There's not much time before it starts, though."

"That's unavoidable since it's a small theater."

"But I think both boys and girls can enjoy an action film. Is that okay with you two?"

"Ugh. It's regrettable, but if Onii-sama says so…."

"We don't have any other choices. But since I like action too, that's fine I guess."

Alice nodded at Shizuku and Stella's responses.

"Then there we go. The movie will start soon, so let's hurry."

"By the way Alice, what's the title?"

"Gandhi, the Nirvana of Rage."

On the website's movie poster, beneath the word Gandhi, there was a macho man in a tank top carrying heavy weaponry and standing against a flaming background. The tag line was "You said forgiveness is a sign of strength, huh? That's a lie."

"What the heck is that!? I wanna see it!"

Drawn to that exaggerated image, they reached an easy consensus, so Ikki and company headed for the escalator going up to the fourth floor. But as they reached the third, Ikki stepped off.

"Sorry everyone, I need to go to the washroom. Please buy the tickets for me."

Arisuin also followed Ikki.

"Oh my, I think I'll join you."

Stella and Shizuku nodded.

"Then we'll go on ahead and buy your share, so pay back the money later."

"And please get back before the movie starts. There's not much time left, you know."

"Okay, we'll come back as soon as we can."

"Shizuku Shizuku, I want a seat beside Ikki~♪"

"Onii-sama, we're buying tickets for three."

"No! That was a joke, a joke!"

And so Stella and Shizuku left, while the two boys headed for the third floor washroom.

"Hahaha~♪ Finally, it's just the two of us."

Ikki cringed at Arisuin's words.

"Umm, if you say it like that...."

"Eh? Heading for the washroom wasn't an excuse?"

"You're totally wrong!"

"I know, I was just kidding. You really are easy to tease."

"…Sorry, it's my first time talking with someone like you, so I can't seem to grasp the distance well…."

"You just have to treat me like a normal girl―"

Yeah, that's not possible.

"―but don't worry, I'm not interested in straight men."

"S-Straight!?"

"In other words, I'm not sexually interested in you."

"O-Oh, so that's what you mean. Yeah, that helps, that really helps."

"But it's true that I wanted to talk with you alone. I've heard a lot of things from Shizuku so I was wondering what kind of person you were."

"I was also interested in you, I guess."

"Oh my? My my my! That's a surprise! Then should the two of us go and see Men's Fallen Paradise right now?"

"Not in that way! It's just that, you know, Shizuku's really shy so she doesn't make friends easily, especially with boys, so I was curious."

"Well, I'm just a normal girl… hey, what's with that look? Are you objecting?"

"No, not really."

Is he serious? Is he seriously saying that?

It really was impossible to know how people of this tribe think right after meeting one. Ikki knew he shouldn't step unprepared into a topic he didn't understand, so he changed it quickly.

"About the things you heard about me from Shizuku, what sort of stuff were they?"

"That's a secret between girls."

Arisuin put a long, slender, pianist-like finger before his lips. It might be unrefined, Ikki figured, to continue being bothered about this sort of behavior. Luckily, Arisuin relented.

"…But she told me Ikki Kurogane is a very strong and interesting man. After meeting you today, I agree. You're just like she said. But something bothers me. May I ask?"

"Sure."

"Is it true that you couldn't participate in any combat because of your family's interference?"

"Y-Yeah, the school banned me from doing so. From both classes and mock battles."

Ikki wondered whether Shizuku also talked about his dispute with the Kurogane house, even though it was considered a family disgrace unsuitable for gossip. Shizuku, still part of the Kurogane household, wouldn't share it unless she trusted Arisuin deeply.

"But it's fine this year. The new board chairman changed the policy."

"Isn't that just good fortune? What would you be doing if the chairman hadn't come?"

"Whatever I can, as usual. I didn't know about her appointment or plans when I decided to repeat the year, after all."

"Don't you think doing the same thing for another year would be pointless?"

"Not at all. I think Alice already knows this, but the teachers at the academy are professionals. They can grasp a student's strength just by looking at them. And for a mage-knight academy, there's nothing more noteworthy than producing a Seven Stars Sword King, so really, all I have to do is convince the teachers I can reach that level. I'll just become strong enough to make them believe it, no matter how many years it takes."

With effort, he would make himself so valuable that Hagun couldn't sell him out to the Kurogane house. Ikki kept his conviction strong as always.

"But I'm grateful to the new chairman. Even I wouldn't go through so much trouble if another road was open."

"I see. I understand now."

For a moment, Ikki saw something in Arisuin's eyes as Arisuin looked at him from an outsider's vantage. It was… pity.

"Ikki… you… you've become used to being hurt, haven't you?"

"Alice?"

"This is something from my own experience, so it might not apply to you. Strength is, in the end, all about just how much you're able to endure. If you don't let strength go once in a while, and continue to struggle under your burden, then one day you'll break hard enough that you can't be fixed anymore. Normally, the heart would cry out with all its anger, sadness, and irritation, that 'I want someone to know my pain' and 'I want someone to understand my sorrow'. But you've been holding it in so long you no longer hear that cry."

Ikki was surprised by these words. He couldn't understand them, even though Arisuin's face closed as if grieving.

"….Th-That, I don't think that's the case though."

Ikki didn't lack such emotions, and there were certainly times Ikki felt angry or sad. But Arisuin shook his head.

"No, you can't hear it. At the least, you can't right now. I mean, if you could, how would you stay so calm? How would you smile so easily?"

I haven't exactly sailed through life so far.

But still, Arisuin was probably over-thinking it, so Ikki couldn't do much but show a troubled smile even though Arisuin was talking so seriously with such a grim face. Arisuin sighed at Ikki's unclear expression.

Well, there's no way my words would reach him.

How much weight did these words possess? Ikki was a stranger whom Arisuin just met today, but even though Arisuin knew he wouldn't get far, he ended up trying anyway. He wanted to open Ikki's eyes, because not only was Ikki Kurogane important to Shizuku, but Arisuin also thought him a pleasant person.

In the end, Arisuin gave an encouraging smile, and kissed the silver rosary hung around his neck.

"It'd be nice if someone who can hear that cry for you ever appeared. I pray from the bottom of my heart, as a friend."

But Ikki didn't understand that prayer. Was he supposed to thank Arisuin? He couldn't help but be confused, and Arisuin's words remained in his mind, echoing almost as if it was a kind of revelation.

Suddenly, Arisuin's expression hardened. It wasn't the sad expression he just wore, but a tense one filled with concern. He started to scan their surroundings.

"Alice?"

"Ikki, could you follow me for a bit?"