First Chapter - Once Upon the Silent Classroom

Gasp─! Bright blue color shining above the firmament: likely, he gazed upon the second skies.

Amaterasu holds a secret, and it's that she can see the floating window right above her nii-chan's head. Fractured from the neck, as what she has freshly read apart from witnessing the ordeal. She already knew about the protocol─only she didn't expect the overlaid screen: the Magic Mirror.

Hands clasped to her blouse, she stepped aback.

She hasn't left the Magic Side all her life, and she could have wished she stayed ignorant about the Human Side.

Laying her eyes upon the window alone established an upsetting hypothesis.

When it could have mattered for her throbbing brain to find out the truth though, she felt guilty over killing someone as a collective.

Else, she can't possibly veer somewhere else when they're about to reconstruct their place in the universe.

"I'm sorry, Amaterasu."

Gasp─! Her mind felt itself in a sudden collapse, as she's submerged underwater herself.

"You're always so foolish, nii-chan…" she exclaimed to herself, letting his clasp loose.

Frigid wind hushed the corn fields, the clockwork flow of the river stopped. Snow covered the lands when the season was only gearing for autumn. Nothingness out of the blizzard, the storm cruised through the streets of the northern neighborhood in search of statues to topple down.

Her butterflies can no longer flap their wings nor prick anyone's eyes.

It has been only a day since the Magic Side was nearly frozen.

She couldn't help but lament on her uselessness during a time she could have contained the aberration.

Nothing was contributed in her name although she's named after the Japanese goddess of the sun. All she could do was wait for the kiss of death, her bones chosen to be buried in their childhood clubhouse. When the upcoming catastrophe would be a forced Pleistocene though, there's a high chance she would be subjected to a cold sleep instead.

It would have been both hilarious and painful if the scenario persisted.

As though a miracle, he appeared to save her for one last time.

He forced the door open, and rescued her out of an undeserved punishment.

"Even if it's temporary though, you're going to feel the peace you deserved after drifting in loneliness."

Amaterasu huffed a sigh: for her relief, unlike her nii-chan's routinely disappointment.

She's no longer in the frigid cityscape where time has stopped, and she's more than grateful they're given a chance against the catastrophe.

Now, to the situation at hand.

Shirase must have been trying to grasp what happened.

He hasn't yet moved from where he laid down, the frozen battlefield Yukihime created a while back. It has been more than a minute since everyone expected him to open his eyes.

If patience is to be talked about, a certain someone could no longer suppress her intrusive thoughts… and kicked him in the crotch.

Everyone winced, he showed no inherent reaction.

Downed for another one─and he twitched a little.

Amaterasu can't exactly pinpoint why it was pleasant to see otherwise, but the feeling spoke for itself.

"Yukihime, would you please stop playing dead and wake up already?" Naru begged politely, as in two words which don't mesh with each other. "I understand you're going by a different name now, but I won't be able to call you so if you'd sulk over not being properly addressed. I will kill you once more, you understand?"

Her call was terrible, resonating to an audacious crack as though he hadn't broken his neck a second ago.

Miss Narukami will be herself in all situations, she supposed.

As without power over the situation, they let his frenzied acting sister repeatedly act her thoughts out as she saw fit. Nayami worried over the aggressiveness and tried to stop Miss Narukami, which she managed to pull in a heartbeat.

It wasn't after a long while that her nii-chan opened his eyes and reclined his back to a relaxed position.

Smiling without precedent to the violence, as though saying he's gone through much more painful happenstance. Kicked by his beloved Naru might as well be considered a grace─not that it was what he thought. Most probably, he's embroiled in an internal scream he'd rather not share with anyone at all.

"Shirayuki!" He was clobbered by the cutest pincer attack he could have felt in a long time.

From hell to rainbow in a matter of seconds, the worried Nayami hugged him.

As the fake little sister, Amaterasu should have been in her position instead. However, it wasn't her time to be envious over a heartfelt situation. Nayami must've spent her morning roughly knowing her favorite person didn't recognize her. If Amaterasu was in her case, she'd also rush for the hug as soon as his memories are restored.

No, she's envious even if she denies the emotion.

It was the first time Shirayuki Otogibanashi has been touched.

After all, the expressionless Yukihime has always exuded an unyielding attitude. Any damage of any cause has always been regarded to close inspection, all in order not to feel his capacity as Amatsumikaboshi's protege. From his last clash alone, he didn't receive any strike from Nayami lest from himself as an accidental dilemma.

For four years, he hasn't been cut nor traumatized.

He hasn't touched anyone, nor let someone style his hair.

All his movements were precisely calculated down to the last decimal point.

For he was smiling now, none of his shenanigans considered.

"Wow, I've never seen a smiling Yukihime in four years…"

"And that's because I'm not him," Shirase confirmed and beamed more, casually waving his hand. "It's nice to meet all of you again, though."

Amaterasu cringed at the anticlimactic notion: all the trouble for something simple?

He must have been joking around.

Although, she could see why he wouldn't take the flamboyant stance.

Aside from not being the friendliest person in the first place, everyone took him as a surreal person, most likely of them reminiscing the old carefree Mage who inspired everyone's growth and darkness.

Gomi has her same mirrored reaction until now, her hand clasped on her buttons.

Kuroko awaited anxiously as his eyes shifted to someone sane enough to say something.

He came across Amaterasu.

Yet, she only curled her lips knowing she herself hadn't fully absorbed the situation.

Fingers cracked, not once but twice: all eyes turned to the sound.

"Man, I can finally relax from all the pizzazz…"

Tsukuyomi, her twin brother, broke the silence, stretching his hands high in preparation for a full sigh.

He's always been the icebreaker to all the tension in their class, and he might as well have been successful in his venture.

"Guys, how do we tell him?" Amaterasu asked in feigned awkwardness, her brother's arms to slowly drop for his near realization of the matter.

And so, what was brought forth was indistinct chatter among the class.

"Shirayuki, I'm sorry, I didn't do a good enough job!"

As though a child, Nayami bawled for her blunder while clobbering the living corpse.

Shirase, in turn, caressed her head in order to calm her down.

"At least you tried your best, Nayami," he said, heartfelt as what Amaterasu has observed without the bitterness in her mind.

She was jealous, of course, but she's happy to have her dear fake brother alive and well.

True, she must have been unsure whether the plan would work under his terms. Nothing about being immortal has been shared to her until yesterday─where everything made sense in one fell swoop. No more thorns in her heart can be felt nor seen.

And casting aside emotional attachment, they can move to the second stage.

Truth be told, they've had each other's attention the whole time.

He hasn't yet burned her butterflies.

Fake little sister and fake brother meeting each other's wavelengths, both their lips curved upwards to form what can only be sinister.

Sorrowful as they can be conveyed for hopelessness, but nihilists will take lemon and lime wholeheartedly as thrown at their doorsteps.

Amaterasu doesn't know what progressed from Snow White's future personality.

"Magic Mirror: who's the most slothful one of all?" He and Amaterasu vocalized in resonance.

"You," the personality lurking inside embellished─wrathful for the surface one.

"I'm sorry!" Miss Ayanami bowed down. "Miss Narukami said not to hold back so…"

One last time before she closed her door, it was her parting apology.

For now, I can only see her as an overbearing person once interaction has lasted for more than an hour. It was how she copes up with the world, a stagnant behavior at all cost. From what I read, she has been a prisoner of people's dominance─and she looked at me with such precise endeavor.

I walked Amaterasu home afterwards, inconspicuous it was for her that I didn't muffle off the condescension.

"Nayami was worried about you being knocked out. Little does she know you took the hit for a purpose," Amaterasu addressed in a faint chuckle.

The little devil doesn't fail at her surprises.

"(It's easier than being a hypocrite, you know?)"

"(As you say it, milady.)"

"It wasn't all intentional," I clarified for her. "For one, I didn't think even once I'd be asleep for too long. If I did sleep, that is."

I can't even fathom what plot holes she left behind.

None the attempt to answer and the character, the slave, would excite his escapist behavior.

Snow White has his loyalty pledged to the creator, and no matter what transpired.

"What do you mean?" For once in a while, Amaterasu actually tilted her head.

I would be lying if I said I didn't exploit the situation: I've been granted the chance to leave the throne. No matter how you twist it, the painstaking dilemma of being at the top would be discarded. I'd be decommissioned from always being the face of the year.

Alas, after four long years of anguish.

"Nothing," I said. "I hate being popular."

The sixth of September was Tuesday, and only the second day of the second semester.

I woke up from another bizarre dream, but I've cooked for my little sister this time: twice-baked potatoes, souffle omelet, and egg drop soup.

I walked to school as the classic deadbeat despised by everyone, none the erratic girlfriend to talk with until some distinct intersection. I entered the classroom, and the classes went on for the morning─and now, it's almost time for lunch. End of third period and for some reason, the next teacher was late─never mind late, it had been fifteen minutes. He would be marked as absent, and we were stuck in the insignificant hour.

Not that the school has rules about teachers marked absent at the passing of minutes.

For how diligent this particular teacher was though, there was no way he was at school.

For doubt's sake, the class president checked him out and for a good three minutes now.

She hasn't returned nor reported back yet.

I lazed about, not minding anyone's business as they all feigned calmness.

As if I don't know what happened yesterday, they're all trying hard not to show their worries. Losers can be jealous now. I'm surrounded by a bunch of tsunderes─which you're not. I'd love to manage an internal maniacal laugh.

One-hour extended free time, we're without any motivation to get out at all.

I decided to fiddle my smartphone: a technological black box unknown to Mages. I have one and you're correct, I smuggled it from the Human Side. Doesn't take any mage's curiosity and whatnot, they all assume it's one of the luxuries of the rich and privileged. Theories circulate that I tinkered the device and therefore, out of their reach.

Blatantly false─because the only tinkering I've done is the amplified wireless internet connection.

Principle read from human books, and applied by the spirits through the awed yet despised command.

And oh, I mostly play gacha games.

"Nii-chan!" In the next instant, after running eleven consecutive rolls, Amaterasu's face flashed upfront.

Her hand mischievously blocked my smartphone's screen, leaving my pulls hung for additional unwanted anxiety.

"Any news about Mister Oohara?"

Nothing to say but draw from the current digest.

I lifted my face, directing my eyes to look at her cute and playful visage.

"I don't know. I wasn't the one to find him. I think it was Gomi, and Nayami volunteered to search with her."

Missing out from yesterday, I'm bound to be slightly surprised about her friendship with any person in the class. Kuzuhara would be fitting for a first friend. Yes, it's realistic but for her to volunteer for her work must be taking it a little suspicious. I say so but the first time I met the class president myself, I ended up following her like she's the higher persona.

Must be because she's six years older than us.

"She did?" I feigned being taken aback.

"Yup! They happen to share some hobbies. Like, they were talking a lot about something yesterday?"

"Kuzuhara fits Nayami's welfare more, to be honest." I commented, exerting trust in the person. I looked at Amaterasu─slowly from her flawless hands up to her pretty face. "How long are you planning to block my screen, though?"

Seriously now, I was holding myself in suspense.

How cumbersome can one moment come?

"You just called me pretty."

"No, I didn't."

"Boo!"

With how she extended her arm at the final gacha glow, I didn't see the last card─so fretful that I leered at her commencing grin.

"What's the harm anyway?" She grimaced, nonetheless. "We both know you're the most unfortunate person in the universe."

"I won't know until you take your hands off."

We stared at each other.

Her eyes gleamed of forced innocence while I mimicked her style. Later turning to a staring contest, the air turned stagnant rather than heating up. Now then, who was the first to blink?

None of us really gave up but instead, the irksome battle ended as her arms raddled from being stretched out.

"Alright, I'll take it." She pulled her hands, meandering both with a wry grimace written in her face. "Well, what did you get?"

"Drop rates are lies."

"Whether you are aspiring as a detective or the iffy Strongest Mage, I don't think you have to doubt everything!"

"Ah, don't worry about that. I still have my common sense, more or less." I dropped my phone face down. "I'm bored."

"Last time I checked, your name was Shirayuki."

I remember being another person at one point namely Morgan Myers, the crown prince of an empire built on the base of Yggdrasil.

"Nii-chan, that's strangely an American name for someplace Nordic."

Hmm, nonetheless, we were dazzled by the stalemate condition─more or less, the most optimized environment for both of us.

Mostly, I was the one reaping all the benefits. Leaning her back at the backmost window, the constant flow of air I was supposed to capture was blocked. My fake little sister also blocked the sunlight hitting my desk─much to say that the perturbing issues were taken out.

Letting all expected significance can burn itself.

There's nothing to worry about until the world is set ablaze.

For Amaterasu Origami, I would discard all inconsequential thoughts and bask upon her sight. Her flippant yet sagacious Mind Mage pushed her body outside the window, alluringly bending to rest her arm in the windowsill. I won't see the sight for more than six trillion years, then I'd better burn the image into thine pristine eyes.

"So you do realize my charms!"

"Having a good view out there?"

I slowly lifted my hand to support my jaw, and yes, ignoring a route for anything flirtatious.

True as it comes that she's cute, our relationship as brothers and sisters rival even those related by blood.

"Decent," she replied, a sanctifying one-liner.

"We're third years already," I regarded, as a matter-of-fact. "I regret not being able to be excited for college."

Amaterasu looked behind, smirking a little for slight irritation─nonetheless complacent as well.

Melancholy covered the morning: the luxury I ought to carry without considering anything malicious. One order of slow life hasn't come in four years now. If that isn't misfortune, I don't like to know what the actual concept would do to the synapses I struggle to keep all the time.

Something was bound to happen sooner or later.

Once I huff a sigh of indignation thinking I could laze all day, the bulwark should open.

Amaterasu Origami, the fake little sister who first disturbed my childhood, would always be the one spearheading the misfortune.

She peered from the window, sight down to the schoolground once more. Eyebrows raised and tension amplified. Spirits left her domain, and she masked the irritation with the wry chuckle. One I've loathed for how overbearing they were─mechanical in the most literal sense.

"Nii-chan… Aya is at it again."

Click.

"Context?"

"Don't be the lazy gossiper. Why don't you just join me here?"

"I hate her."

I have the general outline already grasped.

Only I didn't want anything to do with the person she mentioned.

Ayase Kyoukaisenjou, the school's biggest villainess and the second in line to our school's power structure.

My supposed heiress according to everyone's consensus.

Once I graduated, she'd surely take the throne.

Also, a disowned fake little sister.

"So do I, but it's not the time for it." Amaterasu shot me a depreciating look. "You sure you don't want to?"

"No."

Amaterasu kept shooting me the menacing eyeful.

"Y'see, she's talking to Gomi and Nayami."

She went for the drastic measure, entirely unaware I've already covered the situation. Well, that's only a profoundly loathsome carriage to the skills I possess as a paranoid. More than anything, I don't want to advance alongside the story and let it crumble in its place.

Nonetheless, I'd be routing down her desires and let the rock roll downhill for as long and cumbersome Amaryllis of Crimson Gables will write.