[52] Could It Be That She's Fallen for Her Junior Brother?

"Cheers~!"

In the student council room, the members of the student council had gathered to celebrate Touka's first victory in the selection battles.

Kanata sipped her black tea elegantly, while Utakata and Ikazuchi drank green tea. Only Renren was chugging beer, occasionally letting out a satisfied "Puhaha!"

"This is too much. It's just the first victory. There's no need for such a celebration!"

Touka had put her glasses back on, as if switching personalities. The fierce, demon-like demeanor she had on the battlefield was gone, replaced by her usual gentle, older-sister persona.

"Hahaha, actually, we just wanted to relax a bit ourselves. The celebration is just an excuse!"

Renren, her face slightly flushed, gave Touka a thumbs-up, unabashedly revealing the truth.

"Taking this opportunity for the president and secretary to rest is a good idea."

Ikazuchi spoke in a stern, resolute voice.

With the selection battles underway, both the student council and the executive committee were extremely busy. They had to handle many internal school affairs, with Touka and Kanata bearing the brunt of the workload, often so busy they barely had time to catch their breath.

"How about recruiting some new members into the student council?"

Kanata set down her teacup, which was adorned with a lily pattern, and placed her hands neatly on her lap. With a dignified expression, she made the suggestion to Touka.

"We're already in our third year, and it's about time we step down from our student council positions and start nurturing new talent. I remember there are a few promising first-years, like your junior brother, for example. Why not consider him?"

Although his rank wasn't high and his magical power was the lowest at F, as one of the only two Causation Interference-type Blazers in the academy, Eiji was fully qualified to join the student council.

Touka seemed hesitant.

If she brought her junior brother into the council, she would have more time to spend with him every day, nurturing their relationship.

However, after some thought, she shook her head.

"My junior brother has been quite busy these days. It's better not to disturb him. We can think about nurturing new talent next semester. The selection battles aren't the right time for that."

Fortunately, now that the selection battles had started, everything was on track, and they would gradually have more free time. Otherwise, they really would have to consider recruiting more people.

"Your junior brother is busy?"

Kanata raised an eyebrow slightly, asking nonchalantly, "I heard he's been skipping classes quite a lot recently, barely attending a few sessions a week. How busy could he be?"

"There's such a thing?"

Touka looked surprised but then became puzzled. "Wait, even I, who live with him, didn't notice. How did you know, Kanata?"

"...I heard it by chance."

"Is that so?"

Touka didn't doubt Kanata. After all, they had grown up together as close friends and trusted each other deeply.

"I don't know exactly how busy he is, but after the match ended earlier, I invited him to the student council room for the celebration, but he left in a hurry with Nene-sensei."

That was an hour ago. Right after the match ended, Touka, with a heart full of excitement, wanted to celebrate with her junior brother and even hoped he would praise her.

But when she turned around, she saw him with Nene-sensei, wearing a look of grim determination. After she invited him, he politely declined, leaving her feeling disappointed as she walked away.

"Eh? Even if he's busy, is there a need to skip Touka's celebration?"

Renren couldn't help but comment, "Touka, aren't you spoiling your junior brother too much? Making him feel like he can get away with anything?"

"Not really? I'm just taking care of him normally."

Touka replied, though not very confidently.

"I think Touka's 'normal' must not be normal, considering she treats her junior brother like a son."

Utakata had a look on his face that said "this must be it," grinning as he spoke.   

Kanata parted her lips slightly, wanting to say something but holding back.

She had wanted to say this for a while now—Touka was spoiling her junior brother too much. At the dorm, she didn't let him do any chores, and outside, she constantly reminded him to take care of his health, as if she had taken on all the responsibilities herself.

Even his own mother might not have gone to such lengths, was Kanata's thought.

"Could it be that you've fallen for your junior brother?"

Utakata's face showed a teasing smile as he couldn't help but rub his hands together, leaning in with a curious look.

"Don't lie to me, okay? We grew up together. Don't I know you? Your behavior is clearly over the top!"

Like Touka, Utakata was also an orphan from Wakaba House. He had often been taken care of by Touka when they were young and knew her personality well.

"T-This... it's not particularly..."

A faint blush appeared on Touka's fair cheeks, and her tone became hesitant, clearly losing confidence.

She wasn't good at lying.

She did have a certain level of romantic interest in her junior brother, and at night, she would even hope he might do something like sneak into her bed. She knew her feelings for him were anything but ordinary.

"Really? Touka likes that handsome junior brother?"

Renren was thrilled. "Yay! Rather than letting that handsome junior brother fall into someone else's hands, let's keep it in the family. Touka, if you and your junior brother get together, let me play with him too—"

Duang~!

A sudden punch came out of nowhere, and Renren was instantly knocked to the ground, her eyes spinning like a coil.

"Just kidding..."

"Well, I won't deny that I like my junior brother, but I think you all misunderstood!"

Touka retracted her fist and waved her hands shyly at Kanata and Utakata, who were looking at her.

"The reason I take such good care of him is that my junior brother used to be in very poor health. Speaking of which, I don't think I've ever told you about his past, have I?"

"Nope."

"Do tell."

"Alright, then I'll tell you. My junior brother is truly remarkable!"

Touka cleared her throat, her face taking on a nostalgic expression.

***

At 5 p.m., the clear, melodious sound of the bell rang out across Hagun Academy, chiming five times and echoing throughout the campus.

"I never knew Touka's junior brother had such a past. That was quite enlightening."

Utakata packed up his bag and walked out of the student council room with Renren and Ikazuchi, his voice filled with self-reflection.

"He really is remarkable. If I were in that situation, I probably wouldn't have been able to endure it."

Renren hugged her shoulders and shuddered at the thought.

She preferred activity over stillness and felt restless when things were too quiet. The idea of lying in bed, unable to move for over a decade, was enough to make her shudder.

In the student council room, only Touka and Kanata remained, handling the remaining documents for the day.

Kanata listened carefully to the footsteps outside the door. Only when Renren and the others had walked far away did she look up, her curiosity barely concealed.

"Touka, what does it feel like to fall for someone?"

***

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