ASCC-Chapter 52 Could It Be That You've Fallen for Your Junior Brother?

"Cheers~!"

In the Student Council room, all the members gathered to celebrate Toudou Touka's first victory in the battle selection.

Totokubara Kanata sipped her red tea lightly, while Misogi had foam on her lips from her drink, and Saijou Ikazuchi enjoyed his green tea. Only Tomaru Renren was downing beer, occasionally letting out satisfied "Puha" sounds.

"That's a bit much, isn't it? It's just the first battle win; there's no need to celebrate this hard!"

Toudou Touka adjusted her glasses, and it was as if she transformed— her fierce and intimidating presence from the battlefield vanished, replaced by her usual gentle "Big Sister" vibe.

"Hahaha, we just wanted to unwind a bit! The celebration is just an excuse!"

Tomaru Renren's cheeks were slightly flushed as she gave Toudou Touka a thumbs-up, casually adding, "We're just taking the chance to relax. The President and the Secretary deserve a break too."

Saijou Ikazuchi, with his usual stern expression, spoke in a firm tone.

Since the battle selection had started, both the Student Council and the Executive Committee had been incredibly busy, managing many of the school's affairs. Among them, Toudou Touka and Totokubara Kanata were the busiest, often running around without a moment to spare.

"How about recruiting more people into the Student Council?"

Totokubara Kanata placed her teacup, adorned with a lily pattern, down and folded her hands in front of her abdomen, looking at Toudou Touka with a composed expression as she made the suggestion.

"We're in our third year, and soon we'll be stepping down from our positions. It's time to nurture some rookies. I recall there are some promising first-year students. For example, Touka's Junior Brother— he might be worth considering?"

Although his level wasn't high and his Magic Power was still at the lowest F rank, Ryoji was one of only two Causation Manipulation Blazers in the school, making him fully qualified to join the Student Council.

Toudou Touka hesitated for a moment.

If she brought her Junior Brother in, it would mean more time spent together, allowing their relationship to grow stronger.

But after thinking for a while, she shook her head.

"Junior Brother has been quite busy lately. I'll let him focus on his own things for now. Recruiting rookies can wait until next semester. The battle selection isn't the right time for that."

Thankfully, once the battle selection was over, everything would fall back into order, and they'd have more free time. Otherwise, they'd really have to consider bringing in more people.

"Your Junior Brother has been busy?"

Totokubara Kanata raised an eyebrow and asked nonchalantly, "I heard he's been skipping class quite a bit recently, hardly attending any classes for a whole week. How busy can he be?"

"Is that so?"

Toudou Touka showed a surprised expression but quickly became confused. "Wait a moment, even I, who live with him, didn't notice. How do you know this, Kanata?"

"...I heard it by chance."

"Is that so?"

Toudou Touka didn't suspect Totokubara Kanata at all. After all, they had grown up together and were very close, so they trusted each other completely.

"I'm not sure how busy he actually is, but just now, when the competition ended, I invited Junior Brother to join us in the Student Council room for the celebration. However, he was in such a hurry that he left with Saikyou Nene-sensei."

This had happened about an hour ago. After the competition ended, Toudou Touka, filled with excitement, wanted to celebrate with her Junior Brother, even hoping for a little praise from him.

But when she turned around, she saw him with Saikyou Nene-sensei, wearing a look as though he had nothing to lose. After inviting him, Junior Brother politely refused, leaving her feeling disappointed.

"Eh? Even if he's busy, does he really need to refuse Touka's celebration party?"

Tomaru Renren couldn't help but comment, "Touka, are you spoiling your Junior Brother too much? Is that why he's so confident?"

"I don't think so. I'm just taking care of him in a normal way."

Toudou Touka spoke with a slight lack of confidence.

"I think 'normal' for you, Touka, isn't really normal. After all, you treat your Junior Brother like he's your son."

Misogi had a look on her face that said, "I knew it!" and grinned.

Totokubara Kanata's pink lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something but held herself back.

She had wanted to mention it for a while— how Toudou Touka was spoiling her Junior Brother too much. She never let him do any chores in the dorms and always reminded him to take care of his health when they were out as if she was personally shouldering all of his responsibilities.

Even his mother probably wouldn't do that much, Kanata thought.

"Could it be that you've fallen for your Junior Brother?"

Misogi's face lit up with a mischievous smile, rubbing her hands together eagerly as she leaned in with curiosity.

"Don't lie to me now; we've grown up together. I know you too well. You're clearly overdoing it!"

Like Toudou Touka, Misogi was also an orphan from Wakaba House, and she had often been cared for by Touka when they were young. She knew her personality better than anyone.

"Th-this... it's not like that..."

A hint of pink spread across Toudou Touka's fair cheeks as her tone became hesitant, clearly losing her usual confidence.

She wasn't good at lying.

She did feel a level of interest in her Junior Brother on an emotional level, and sometimes she hoped he'd make a move on her at night. She was aware that her feelings for him were not ordinary.

"Is that true? Touka likes that Ikemen Junior Brother?"

Tomaru Renren was excited. "Great! Instead of letting Ikemen Junior Brother be taken by someone else, let's keep it within the group. Touka, if you and Junior Brother get together, let me hang out with him too—"

"Duang~!"

Suddenly, a punch landed, and Tomaru Renren was knocked to the ground, her eyes spinning like a coil.

"I was just joking..."

"Well, I won't deny that I like Junior Brother, but I think everyone's misunderstood!"

Toudou Touka withdrew her fist and waved her hand at Totokubara Kanata and Misogi, who were looking at her with some embarrassment.

"I take care of Junior Brother because his health was really bad in the past. By the way, I don't think I've ever told you about his situation?"

"No, you haven't."

"I see. Well, let me tell you about him; he's actually quite remarkable!"

Toudou Touka cleared her throat, her face taking on a nostalgic expression as she began her story.

...

At 5 p.m., the clear and melodic sound of the vintage clock rang out within Hagun Academy, chiming five times and echoing across the campus.

"I didn't expect Touka's Junior Brother to have such a past. I've learned something new."

Misogi packed her bag and, along with Tomaru Renren and Saijou Ikazuchi, left the Student Council room. As she walked, she reflected on what she had just learned.

"That's really impressive. If I were in his situation, I don't think I could have persevered."

Tomaru Renren shuddered at the thought of that kind of life. She wasn't good at being still and would feel lost and restless if forced to be quiet. The idea of lying in bed for over ten years without being able to move made her shiver in fear.

In the Student Council room, only Toudou Touka and Totokubara Kanata remained, still handling the remaining documents for the day.

Totokubara Kanata listened carefully to the footsteps outside the door. When Tomaru Renren and the others had gradually walked away, she raised her head, her expression betraying her curiosity.

"Touka, what's it like to like someone?"

(End of Chapter)

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