Chapter 2: Takashi-kun, Back from the Warzone. He Just Wants a Normal Reunion with His Family

Today marks three years since my little brother was sent off to the warzone.

The invasion came out of nowhere—Space Invaders, they called them. And in that war, my brother Takashi was chosen as a soldier.

Japan had declared it wouldn’t join the fight, but when it’s a matter of survival against aliens, pretty words don’t mean much. Still, sending soldiers recklessly would’ve sparked public outrage, so the government went with a selective draft system.

In plain terms, instead of sending a thousand nobodies, they’d send one elite soldier the nation could be proud of.

I don’t know what criteria they used, but by picking soldiers this way, they cut down the draft from hundreds of thousands to just a hundred or so.

Japan’s far from the front lines, with minimal troop deployment.

Compared to other countries, we’re incredibly lucky.

Some places had their entire nations wiped out.

By that measure, we’re fortunate.

At least, that’s what I thought.

Until the draft notice came for my brother.

When Takashi was chosen, I couldn’t believe my ears.

My own family, drafted? It was unthinkable.

He’s just an average kid—decent grades, nothing special. From his big sister’s eyes, he’s just a kind, ordinary boy. My precious little brother.

I couldn’t accept it.

Terrified of being torn apart, I screamed and cried, begging our parents to stop it, refusing to let him go.

That day, when I was ready to kill the officials dragging him away, he looked at me and said, “I’ll be fine… I’m off.”

That day, sitting in his empty room, drowning in a void of despair, I cried endlessly.

Since that day, I haven’t been able to move on.

If he died in battle, the military would notify the family.

Knowing that, I prayed every single day that no such news would come.

Every morning, I’d check the mail first thing, making sure there was no notice from the military.

All day, I’d tremble, praying no express delivery brought bad news.

The only time I could breathe was at nine p.m., when the day’s deliveries were done.

Only then could I feel, for certain, that Takashi was still alive today.

A daily ritual of checking for life or death.

It was driving me insane.

Over time, I grew terrified of even looking at the mail.

What if the news of his death was waiting there? The fear became unbearable.

What if today was the day I got word?

My little brother, just starting middle school, so small, dying alone in some far-off land.

I was scared.

I didn’t want to imagine it.

I didn’t want to think he was dead.

Even considering it was agony.

Losing someone I love—I was utterly terrified of it.

Today, alone in Takashi’s room, lost in memories of him, the doorbell chimed.

Normally, I’d ignore it, but this visitor was persistent, ringing over and over.

A flicker of unease hit me at the relentless ding-dong, ding-dong. I headed to the front door to check.

“Nobody’s coming out~!”

“You’re ringing it too much… You’ll break it, stop.”

“In my country, this is just polite~!”

“Your country’s nuts… Talk about culture shock.”

“Lying, obviously. You’re so gullible~!”

“Pfft, shut up.”

“Heh, don’t take it seriously~ I’m not complimenting you~!”

Young voices—a guy and a girl—came through the door.

Old friends, maybe?

Irritated by their lack of manners, I flung open the door, ready to chew them out—

And my mind went blank.

“…Hey, Nee-san. Been a while. Somehow, I made it back alive.”

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

It felt like a dream, like I was hallucinating.

“Nee-san? Y-you okay?”

A gentle smile on a plain, familiar face.

He was taller, his voice deeper, but there was no mistaking it—my little brother was standing right there.

“A… ah…”

I couldn’t breathe properly.

My thoughts wouldn’t come together.

“A… ah… Ta… Ta…”

A hoarse whisper escaped my lips, barely forming words.

Tears welled up on their own, unstoppable.

There was only one thing I could do.

“Ta… kasī-kun… Dasī… ah… aaaaah…”

I lunged from the doorway and wrapped my arms around my brother, squeezing with everything I had.

Tighter, tighter.

The brother I’d dreamed of seeing again.

The brother I’d given up on ever meeting, only to cry over and over, refusing to let go.

He was here.

I thanked God from the bottom of my heart.

“N-Nee-san… Ka-Karin-Nee-san… I-I can’t breathe… T-tap out…”

“Ohh~ Look at Takashi squirming~!”

Ignoring his struggling, I kept holding him tight.

Feeling his warmth, his skin, his scent—it hit me that my brother was truly alive, back home.

In the heat of the moment, I kissed his lips. Carried away, I licked his cheek. And, for good measure, nibbled his earlobe.

The familiar sensation, unchanged from years ago, soothed the hollow ache in my chest.

I’m never letting go.

Not ever.

Not my brother. Not to anyone.

Reuniting with Nee-san after three years, I could see she was worn down.

She was always slim, but now she was downright gaunt.

The bags under her eyes were brutal, her hair frayed and damaged… Is she okay? She looks like she’s in rough shape.

“Nee-san, you eating properly? You look pale.”

“A… sniff… I-I’m eating… n… waaah…”

She sobbed, choking on her tears.

You gotta eat right, come on. Forget celebrating the reunion—food comes first.

“Let’s grab some gyudon or something. I’m starving.”

“Taaakasī~ You’ve got a cute girl like me with you, and you’re picking gyudon? Pick somewhere classier~!”

Here we go again…

Before she could complain more, I roughly patted Natalie’s head.

“What’re you talking about? If it’s a first date, sure, I’d pick a nice place. But with my wife? Gyudon’s the go-to.”

“H-huh? W-wife!?”

“I want my dear wife Natalie to taste my favorite food…”

At my half-assed line, Natalie’s face turned beet red, flustered.

Too easy, this girl.

“Ta… Tak-kun… Wh-who’s she…?”

Nee-san, watching our lazy flirting, sniffled and spoke up.

“Natalie. Say hi.”

“Yo, what’s good! I’m Natalie Turquoise Pinkstar~! Takashi and I are married, ready to start popping out kids~!”

As expected, she dropped a bombshell like it was nothing.

Thanks to her, Nee-san froze.

“Nee-san, calm down. This idiot’s my war buddy. She had nowhere else to go, so she tagged along. I’ll handle her, so just ignore her, okay?”

“Heyyy~ Don’t tell her to ignore me~! I wanna get along with my little mother-in-law~!”

“L-little mother-in-law!?”

Nee-san’s voice shot up in shock.

Natalie’s poison was clearly too much for my pure-hearted sister. She scrambled to pull out some common sense.

“N-no way! I’m not letting Tak-kun marry her!”

“Ooh~ Looks like we’ve got our first hurdle as a couple, Takashi~!”

“The higher the wall, the hotter the love burns… Be a tall wall for us, Nee-san!”

“W-wait, Tak-kun! What’s with this vibe!? You weren’t the type to joke like this!”

Her retorts only made me and Natalie crack up.

I dunno, it’s fun for us, but probably a drag for whoever gets roped in. Guess this dumb banter’s gotta stop. I steadied Nee-san as she wobbled.

“For now, let’s grab some food. We’ll talk details there.”

“A… okay… I’m not totally satisfied, though…”

Muttering to herself, Nee-san trailed behind as my mood lifted naturally.

It’d been forever since I’d eaten anything decent, not just military rations.

The thought alone had my heart racing.

At the gyudon joint, Natalie and I chowed down, using one bowl as a side for another.

Nee-san watched us, her face twitching.

“Y-you two… eating that much, you won’t get sick? You okay?”

“More like, is that enough for you, Nee-san?”

She had a single small bowl of gyudon in front of her.

It’d been a while, and she’d barely touched half of it.

“A… yeah… It’s been a bit since I had rice, so this is kinda a lot…”

“No way, Nee-san. You gotta eat more to keep your strength up.”

“I’m grabbing a drink and some curry~ What about you two~?”

“I’ll take katsu curry. Nee-san?”

“…I-I’m good with water…”

She started picking at her food with tiny bites, but then suddenly blurted, “W-wait, this isn’t the time for gyudon!”

“N-Natalie-chan, what’s your deal with Tak-kun!?”

“Best buds, maybe.”

“We’re, like, the ultimate power couple~!”

“Answer seriously…”

Nee-san’s eyes started tearing up again, so I gave in and answered properly.

“Like I said, Natalie’s my war buddy. I’ll let her sightsee a bit, then ship her back to the military. Be nice to her till then.”

“Hold up! I’m not going back~! I’m sticking with Takashi till we share a grave~!”

“Bring it on~!”

“Don’t compete… Tak-kun…”

Watching Nee-san get all flustered, I couldn’t help but think she’s still adorable.

She’s the kind of person who sparks your protective instincts, you know?

Even with our dumb antics, she responds so earnestly. Whoever marries her is definitely gonna be the possessive type.

Lost in thoughts of her future, Nee-san asked, teary-eyed, “I-I still don’t get your relationship… Are you two dating?”

“Dating…?”

What a sweet, bittersweet word. Haven’t heard that in ages.

Before the war, I used to get all excited over who was dating who.

“Dating, huh~? That takes me back~!”

“Yeah… makes it feel like the war’s really over.”

“Dating… dating, huh~? Heh… dating~…”

We chuckled, glancing down.

Nee-san, watching us, started to panic.

“W-what? Did I say something weird?”

“Nah, nothing strange.”

“Then… what’s with that reaction…?”

Ugh, how do I explain this…?

It’s hard to put this feeling into words.

“So… the place we were fighting in, the death rate was insane. Entire units getting wiped out was normal, and even the lucky ones who survived one day often died in the next day’s suicide mission.”

“Uh… y-yeah…”

“So the fear of death was unreal… Some tried escaping with drugs or booze, but that’d screw up their performance and get them killed, so it just made people lose it even more…”

“…”

“Even the toughest guys would start cracking in that environment. To stay sane, we’d blurt out any shred of hope we could think of—getting married, having kids, seeing family again.”

Our curry arrived, so I washed down some gyudon with it while continuing.

“If you survived today, you’d dream of a happy tomorrow… That kind of fantasy kept us going, forced us to push forward. Nobody bothered talking about something as small as dating—”

“Takashi~ Your sister’s freaking out. Maybe cool it with this talk~?”

Natalie pointed at Nee-san.

My story had her on the verge of tears again.

“…Ugh… sniff… I-It was tough, huh… Takeshi-kun…”

“S-sorry. Shouldn’t have brought it up.”

I always end up spilling my guts in front of Nee-san. Meant to keep things light, but I screwed that up.

I’m still such a mess.

Trying to clear the heavy air, I changed the subject.

“Oh, by the way, are Dad and Mom at work today?”

“Sniff… Y-yeah… Oh no! I forgot to tell them you’re back!”

She fumbled with her phone, panicking.

Crying one second, freaking out the next—her emotions flip so fast, it’s kinda cute.

Feeling all warm and fuzzy, I watched her until Natalie piped up, “Yo, yo~!”

“So, Takashi’s mom— she cool with international marriages? If she’s against it, you better have my back~♡”

“It’ll just spark a war between you and her. Good luck.”

“I’m not climbing the war ladder again. Help me out~!”

Natalie’ll figure it out.

Without thinking too hard, I polished off the rest of my gyudon.

“A… ah… aaah…”

“Ta… Taka… waaah…”

An hour after Nee-san’s call, Mom and Dad came rushing home.

Reuniting with my parents after three years, their faces crumpled the moment they saw me.

They must’ve been shaken. Mom trembled for a moment before stumbling toward me, letting out a choked sob.

“Aaaah… T-Takashi… waaah… sob…”

She hugged me with all her strength, burying her face in my neck.

I could feel her tears soaking through my long-sleeve tee.

“I’m home, Mom. Made it back alive somehow. Pretty impressive, huh?”

“W-welcome… sob… Welcome home… Takashi… waaah…”

I hugged her back, feeling her warmth.

Was Mom’s body always this small and frail? I’ve totally outgrown her in height.

Like Nee-san, she’s looking worn out. Must’ve been carrying a ton of stress—her hair’s got way more gray than I remember.

Three years apart, and she’s changed this much. The bold, youthful Mom I knew feels so fragile now.

Hugging her tightly to share some of my strength, Dad joined in, wrapping us both in his arms.

“Thank God… sniff… Thank God you’re okay… Really, thank God… sob…”

His voice cracked as he cried, a real man’s tears.

Dad’s looking smaller too… Must be the stress. His hair’s thinned out in this subtle, awkward way.

I must’ve put them through hell.

Three years feels short, but it’s long enough to weigh heavy on everyone. I feel bad for making them worry so much.

“Dad, I’m home. Sorry for stressing you out.”

“It’s fine… As long as you’re safe… That’s all that matters…!”

I’d never heard Dad’s voice like this, raw with emotion.

His tone made it clear how overjoyed he was.

Maybe it’s not the time for this thought, but hearing Dad’s gentle voice hit me with the reality of my survival.

I’d made it back to the normal life I dreamed of.

Feeling my eyes well up a bit, I noticed Natalie off to the side, wildly gesturing.

“Come on! Hurry up and introduce your adorable Natalie-chan to the family!” Her exaggerated, sleazy motions screamed that.

My teary moment dried up real fast.

Can someone rein this idiot in? Her over-the-top self-assertion is killing the heartfelt reunion vibe…

Still, ignoring her felt kinda harsh, so I beckoned her over lightly.

“Mom, Dad, I’ve got a favor to ask. Can we take her in? She’s my war buddy, and her hometown got wiped out, so she’s got nowhere to go.”

“Heya~! I’m Natalie Turquoise Pinkstar~! My hometown’s gone, family’s all dead, so Takashi’s my only lifeline~! I won’t be a bother, so please let me join the family~!”

She bowed with gusto, launching into her greeting.

Sneaking in that “join the family” bit was a slick move. It sounds earnest at first, but you can see her shameless plan to weasel into the Shibuzaki household as a bride.

That’s my Natalie. Most people wouldn’t dare say that much on a first meeting.

Impressed by her nerve, I watched as Mom, still sniffling, asked, “W-war buddy? Sniff… War buddy means… Takashi’s friend…?”

“Friend’s one way to put it, but yeah, war buddy’s more accurate. Natalie saved my ass a ton on the battlefield, so I wanna look out for her from now on.”

“Saved you…?”

Mom gave Natalie a curious look.

Yeah, I get it. Natalie doesn’t look like the saving type.

I clarified, “She might not seem like it, but she’s a damn good soldier. Pretty much everyone in the military knows her name, that’s how skilled she is.”

“R-really…?”

“She was that good. Saved my hide more times than I can count. I’m standing here because of her. Without her, I probably wouldn’t have made it back.”

“…”

“So, since she’s my lifesaver, I want her to be happy. That’s why letting her stay—”

Mid-sentence, Mom let go of me and threw her arms around Natalie.

She hugged her tightly and started sobbing again.

“N-Natalie-chan… Th-thank you… Thank you so much… sob…”

“Wha—? H-huh? What’s up, Takashi’s mom…?”

“For saving my son… sniff… Thank you… waaah…”

“Uh… yeah…”

“You can stay forever… Stay with us as long as you want… Thank you… Thank you…!”

“Oh… Y-yeah! Thanks right back at ya~!”

Maybe it was Mom’s kindness, but a soft smile lit up Natalie’s face.

Getting such genuine gratitude and instant acceptance must’ve hit her hard—she was smiling from the heart.

She probably didn’t expect to be welcomed this fast. That was a rare, unguarded look for her.

Seeing it warmed me up a bit.

“Man, your parents are awesome~ Didn’t think they’d accept me so quick~!”

Back in my room, Natalie chirped at me, clearly thrilled.

Guess getting the green light to stay as my war buddy meant a lot to her. She sidled up, grinning with those teasing, upturned eyes.

Her smug look made me wanna mess with her.

“Was kinda hoping they’d say, ‘No way you’re getting our son!’”

“Too bad for you~ My amazing inner beauty must’ve shone through~ Pfft~!”

I tried to rile her up, and she fired right back.

Pretty sure they accepted you because your inner self didn’t show. Don’t get cocky.

I glared at her silently, but she dodged it by changing the subject.

“Hey, you sure you didn’t wanna tell ‘em~?”

“Tell ‘em what?”

“About your body.”

Her voice turned serious all of a sudden.

Meeting her steady gaze, I answered just as seriously.

“No need to bring it up. Our bodies are classified military secrets.”

“Who cares about that~? The military can’t stop us anyway~!”

Yeah, sure, but… don’t assume we’re gonna stir up trouble. I don’t wanna screw over the Commander, even if I don’t care about the normals.

I shrugged, letting out a small laugh.

“Honestly, I was gonna tell Mom and Dad before we reunited. But seeing Mom like that… I just couldn’t.”

“Yeah~ Your mom’s joy was on another level~…”

“No way you can say anything after seeing her cry like that. Telling her her son’s body got modified…?”

It wouldn’t make anyone happy. Better to keep it under wraps.

I can at least read the room that much.

“It doesn’t affect daily life, so I’ll keep it hidden forever. Telling them wouldn’t do anyone any good.”

“Don’t let it slip~ You’re kinda a klutz sometimes, Takashi~!”

“There’s some truth to that.”

Rolling around on the floor, Natalie cackled.

That’s what I like about her. She worries but doesn’t pry too deep.

She’s so easy to be around.

We locked eyes, grinning like idiots, when Nee-san burst in, clutching a pillow.

“I-I’m keeping an eye on you two to make sure nothing weird happens tonight!”

She scanned us, declaring it loudly.

No idea what she’s misunderstanding, but her determination’s coming through loud and clear. Looks like she’s planning to sleep in here with us.

“Hey, Nee-chan~ What’s this ‘weird stuff’~? Teach pure, innocent me~!”

“A… uh… ugh…”

Natalie’s teasing jab left Nee-san stammering.

Guess I’ll throw her a lifeline.

“I’ll teach her for ya. Get on that bed, Natalie, on all fours. I’ll show you some love~!”

“Wha—? Huh? T-Takashi, you serious!? I-I’m thrilled! L-lemme shower real quick!”

“Don’t take it seriously. You know that’s not how I roll.”

If you’re gonna play dumb, I was ready to teach you with my body~ (sultry voice).

Nee-san jumped in, flustered by my sleazy remark.

“S-see! You two are in some impure relationship… No way! Big sister’s not allowing it!”

“Dismissing the clash of love as impure is just wrong! It’s a disgrace to passion!”

“Tak-kun, whose side are you on…?”

Nee-san’s eyes started watering again.

More importantly, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask.

“Hey, Nee-san, your high school—uniforms or casual clothes?”

“Huh? U-uniforms…?”

“You hear that, Natalie!! Transfer destination locked in—Nee-san’s high school!!”

Gotta be uniforms for high school. Non-negotiable.

They just scream youth, you know? During the war, I dreamed of that kind of school life.

“Ugh~… You’re seriously going to school, Takashi~…? I’m good~…”

Natalie, sprawled out and rolling on the floor, shot me down.

Figured she’d say that.

“It’ll be a blast, I swear! Come on, let’s live the school life together!”

“No way~… Why do I gotta go back to group living after escaping it~? I’m full, thanks~!”

“It’s not the same as the military! It’s gonna be fun, trust me! Come on, let’s enjoy it together!”

“Nope~… School’s not fun~… I just wanna laze around at home~…”

Like a brat throwing a tantrum, Natalie kept shaking her head.

I grabbed her head, pulling her face close.

“I’ll make your high school life epic, Natalie. I promise. So let’s go!”

Her expression shifted to a stunned, wide-eyed look.

After a moment of thought, Natalie grinned with her usual sticky-sweet expression.

“For real~? If it’s not fun, you gonna take responsibility~?”

“I’ll make you cry from how awesome high school life’s gonna be. Brace yourself.”

“Uhehehe~ I’ll hold you to that~!”

Licking her lips, Natalie’s big cat-like eyes narrowed with a sly smile.

I owe this girl big time. Since she’s come all the way to Japan, I’m gonna make sure she gets to enjoy a normal high school life.

“Ta-Tak-kun, you’re seriously planning to go to my high school?”

“Yup.”

“N-no way… It’s like a dream… sniff…”

Hearing our exchange, Nee-san’s eyes started watering again.

Seeing her smile so happily, I quickly threw in a reality check.

“Nee-san, I’ve still gotta pass the entrance exam, so it’s not set in stone yet. I’m gonna have to study my ass off.”

“What? Takashi, you’re actually gonna study? Why not pull some strings with the military to get us in~?”

No way.

I’m done with the military.

“If we lean on the military, it’ll scream ‘war hero’s back’ and draw way too much attention. No thanks! I just want a normal high school life!”

“Not exactly the vibe of a triumphant warrior~…”

Natalie laughed, clearly unimpressed.

Say what you want, but some things I won’t budge on.

I’d do anything to avoid standing out. For real.

“So we’re gonna study like normal and take the entrance exam! That way, no one’ll bat an eye!”

“Ugh, what a hassle~…”

“You’ve got your abilities, Natalie—it’ll be a breeze! Step it up!”

“Ughhh~…”

She waved her hand half-heartedly, no enthusiasm in sight.

She might not be motivated, but I’m in deeper shit than her.

My grades? They’re straight-up tragic.

I swore to myself I’d hit the books ASAP.

Five days have passed since Tak-kun came back from the warzone.

After five days, my scrambled brain’s finally starting to settle, and I can look at things more clearly.

Let me just say it outright.

What is the deal with Tak-kun and Natalie-chan?

Seriously, what’s their deal? Friends? Lovers?

They’re so close it’s driving me nuts.

They’re always together, obviously, and sharing a room like it’s no big deal. For two teenagers, their sense of personal space is completely busted, even if you squint and try to see it charitably.

Yesterday morning, I woke up to find Natalie-chan crawling into Tak-kun’s bed, snuggling up to him and sleeping like a baby, all cozy and content.

And Tak-kun? He doesn’t even get flustered—just gives this mildly annoyed look and shrugs it off.

Their conversations don’t scream “couple,” though. More like super close friends, or maybe partners-in-crime.

But… Natalie-chan’s constantly playing the “main wife” card, 24/7… It’s so confusing…

Speaking of confusing, Tak-kun’s behavior lately’s been a total mystery too.

Take today. They’re both studying to get into my high school.

With only two weeks until the entrance exam, there’s barely any time to study.

And yet, the way Tak-kun and Natalie-chan are trying to catch up on three years of missed schoolwork? It’s beyond comprehension.

You think this makes sense?

Two people trying to cover three years of middle school curriculum by skimming books at the department store’s book section.

Not going to a cram school, not even buying the study guides—just standing there, reading reference books to get into my high school!

No, no, no! What are you doing!?

My school’s not some low-tier place where you can pass the exam just by flipping through books!

It’s actually one of the top schools in the prefecture! I was so excited thinking I might go to school with Tak-kun, but this is just setting me up for disappointment!

When I tried teaching them with a study guide in hand, both Tak-kun and Natalie-chan brushed me off with, “That won’t cut it in time,” and politely declined…

They’re dead-set on studying together by skimming books.

What the hell… They’re off in their own little world…

I sat on a bench in the bookstore, watching them devour books with laser focus.

They’ve been at it for, like, six hours straight…

For the past five days, they’ve been reading from store open to close.

Their concentration’s honestly impressive, even if it’s not exactly praiseworthy behavior.

Lost in thought, staring at them vaguely, I saw Natalie-chan put a book back on the shelf and stretch dramatically.

She said something to Tak-kun, then came jogging over to me.

“Nee-chan~! We’re done studying, so let’s go check out the shops~!”

“…Huh?”

Beaming with a full-on smile, she grabbed my hand and pulled me up. She’s got such a delicate frame, but she tugged me along like it was nothing.

“Don’t wanna keep you stuck watching us study forever~ Let’s go shopping—clothes, clothes~!”

What’s with this… Her carefree smile’s making my chest ache. I tagged along to keep an eye on them, but her saying that’s got guilt bubbling up like crazy.

Shaking it off, I steered the conversation back.

“Y-you sure studying’s okay?”

“No prob~! We’re totally set~!”

“R-really?”

Where’s this confidence coming from when all they did was read reference books?

Thinking that’s enough to prep for the exam is straight-up disrespecting every student out there.

“Hehehe~ Nee-chan worries about a humble ol’ me too, huh~? That’s why I love ya~!”

Her innocent joy made my heart skip a beat. I almost fell for her, and we’re both girls.

That doll-like face smiling at me needs to stop. Her friendliness is just unfair.

She already stands out enough, but laughing so freely? She’s practically an angel.

Look, even now, everyone around us is staring at Natalie-chan—

“Yo? What’s up, Nee-chan~?”

She gave me a curious look as I froze, speechless.

I couldn’t answer her question.

Couldn’t even try.

It wasn’t the time for that.

At the edge of my vision was a guy I never wanted to see, someone I’d avoided at all costs.

A guy I absolutely didn’t want to deal with.

And he was staring right at us, drawing all the attention.

With a sickening, slimy grin, he bellowed at me.

“Heyyy~… Shibuzaki~… Why are you dodging my calls, huh!?”

The worst guy found us.

Trembling with fear, I instinctively grabbed Natalie-chan’s arm tightly.

Amagawa Tenga.

No student at my high school doesn’t know his name.

He’s got the build of an elite athlete—tall, ripped, with muscles so freakishly developed he could probably take down a pro fighter without breaking a sweat.

Rumor has it, if he trained in martial arts, he’d be top-tier in no time. They say he’s got a natural-born talent.

If only he had a decent personality to match… Too bad the heavens didn’t give him both.

His character’s broken on a pathological level.

He stirs up trouble constantly, hurting people for no reason.

Seeing others sad or in pain seems to be his ultimate thrill. He’s driven multiple students to refuse to come to school.

What’s worse, his parents are prominent local bigshots, powerful enough to sweep any issue under the rug, so even teachers can’t rein him in.

A tyrant who does whatever he wants.

A cancer to our generation.

That’s Amagawa Tenga.

“Shibuzaki!! You listening to me, huh!? Oi!!”

The demon swaggered closer, shoulders rolling with intimidation, and my legs felt like they were made of lead.

My vision blurred with tears of fear. My stomach churned.

This guy’s been hounding me forever.

“Gonna grab the car, so come with me today or else—”

The second Amagawa-kun’s hand reached for me, Natalie-chan yanked me close.

“Don’t touch me.”

A sharp, commanding voice cut through the air.

I didn’t even realize who it belonged to at first.

“Huh? What’s that, you little shit? Wanna get smashed up after Shibuzaki!?”

“What? Wanna die?”

“Ha!? What’s that look!? Acting all cocky… Fine, I’m gonna fuck you up too!!”

“OK. I’ll kill you!”

That’s when I realized Natalie-chan was the one shielding me, her voice ringing out.

Her tone, so cold and unfamiliar, stunned me. Before I could process it, a light chop landed on her head.

“Hey, what’s with the murderous vibe…?”

It was Tak-kun.

Guess he’d finished studying and caught up with us.

As more people gathered, Amagawa-kun’s face twisted with irritation.

“Takashi!! I didn’t do anything!! This meathead’s the one being a prick~!! Let’s crush him~!!”

“Look, don’t go causing trouble for civilians…”

“I’m not the one causing trouble, he is~! He’s been harassing Nee-chan~!”

“Nee-san?”

Tak-kun’s gaze shifted to Amagawa-kun.

He stared for a moment, then dropped a bombshell.

“This guy is your boyfriend, Nee-san?”

“No way!!”

I couldn’t help shouting.

Like I’d ever date a creep like him! I’m all about Tak-kun!

“S-sorry… Thought maybe your boyfriend was hitting on Natalie and pissed her off… She’s got a short fuse…”

“That little comment says a lot about how you see me, huh, Takashi…”

Amagawa-kun watched Tak-kun and Natalie-chan banter, his eyes glinting with interest.

What’s with that look…? Like he’s scheming something…

A flicker of unease hit me as he spoke to Tak-kun.

“You Shibuzaki’s brother? Heard you were off at war or some shit…”

“Yeah, that’s me. You know a lot, huh?”

“Hmph…”

With a sleazy grin, he turned and walked off without another word.

Tak-kun and Natalie-chan exchanged puzzled looks.

“Who was that guy? Why’s he wearing such a tight shirt? You can see his freaking nipples.”

“No clue~ Probably too dumb to know his own size~!”

“Hey, you two, shush!”

I hurriedly stopped them, not wanting their words to carry.

Thankfully, he didn’t hear, but if he had, it could’ve been life-or-death.

That monster wouldn’t let it slide.

Still, why’d he leave so easily?

With his obsessive streak, I was braced for a bigger mess…

Puzzled but relieved we’d dodged trouble for now, I felt a wave of gratitude that no harm came to Tak-kun and his friend.

That is, until an hour later, when a text popped up.

[If you don’t want your brother dead, come to my place.]

Guess I’ve always been the type guys tease.

Back in elementary school, every boy in class picked on me. Wearing a skirt? It’d get flipped every minute.

After Tak-kun was drafted, the teasing eased up—maybe out of pity—but it never fully stopped.

A friend once said I’ve got a look that just begs to be bullied, like I spark some sadistic urge.

Even a girl friend with a crush on me got pretty aggressive once… so it’s probably true.

Amagawa-kun set his sights on me about six months after I started high school.

Something about my “easy target” vibe must’ve drawn him in, because he started hounding me relentlessly.

Yelling at me out of nowhere, shoving me, throwing stuff.

At first, I thought it’d pass, so I stayed quiet and took it.

I’d heard the rumors about him. Standing up to him or saying no? No telling what he’d do.

So I kept enduring, waiting for him to lose interest.

But… the more he bullied me, the worse it got. He started saying I should be his girl.

Why the hell…?

I just wanted him to leave me alone.

If I’d known it’d come to this, I should’ve fought back harder. Not that it would’ve fixed anything.

Every day, he’d threaten me to be his.

If I refused, he’d take it out on my classmates.

Not me—my classmates.

He’d beat them up to corner me indirectly.

My classmates were kind, shielding me with their own bodies, but that only trapped me more.

Because of me, they got hurt. Boys, girls, didn’t matter—if they protected me, Amagawa-kun would lash out.

It was too much, and I stopped going to school.

The loss of Tak-kun had already broken me, and school—my last refuge—was taken away.

My heart shattered.

That’s right…

In the joy of Tak-kun’s return, I’d forgotten…

I’m… a school dropout…

“Done with exam prep already? That’s way too fast, isn’t it?”

“Fufufu~ With my skills, it’s a piece of cake~! Entrance exam? Pfft, bring it on~!”

“I’m only, like, thirty percent done…”

Back from the department store, we were munching on a late afternoon snack.

Tak-kun and Natalie-chan were hyped, chatting about how their studying went today.

They’d completely forgotten about running into Amagawa-kun.

“Hey, Takashi, you cut your studying short too, right~? What’s up with that~?”

“After you stopped skimming, Natalie, the clerk chewed me out right away. ‘How long you gonna stand there reading!? Get out!’”

“Oh, dang~!”

“Well, yeah, skimming books from morning till night every day? Bound to piss someone off…”

Watching them work so hard to get into my high school squeezed my heart.

That school’s got him.

Amagawa, the devil.

“But, like… when Natalie was skimming, the clerk was all smiles. Why’d he flip out the second I was alone? Guy was furious.”

“‘Cause I get the cute-girl discount, duh~! Plus, I’m a high schooler-in-training, so it’s only natural~!”

“What the hell… From a distance, I’ve got a cute face too, don’t I…?”

Today’s mess means their faces are probably known now.

Even if I dropped out of school, Amagawa-kun would likely use Tak-kun and Natalie-chan to lure me out.

There’s no way he wouldn’t target my weak spot.

He’d definitely hurt them.

That’s… something I can’t bear.

They finally made it back alive… I don’t want them to suffer.

I don’t want to drag them into this.

Should I just steel myself and give in to his demands?

Is that… the only way…?

“Nee-san, you think I’m cute, right?”

“Hahaha! You’re way too hung up on that, Takashi~! Hahaha!”

That’s it.

If I endure it, it’ll be fine.

If I keep running, the things I love will get destroyed.

So I just have to take it.

Yeah.

That’s the way.

“Nee-san? You zoning out? You hearing me?”

Tak-kun’s face leaned in close, almost nose-to-nose.

I snapped back, realizing they’d been calling me.

“Wha!? Huh? W-what? What’s up?”

“Big sis, you’re freaking out too much~!”

“You’ve been like this since we got back. Something happen?”

Panicking at their questions, I tried to play it off.

“W-what’re you talking about? N-nothing! I’m totally normal!”

“You’re way too bad at lying.”

Tak-kun smirked thinly, while Natalie-chan, munching snacks, pointed it out.

“Bet it’s about that guy from earlier~ Ever since we ran into him, Nee-chan has been acting weird~!”

“N-no! It’s n-not like that…!”

Natalie-chan’s comment made Tak-kun’s face harden.

I don’t want to drag them into this.

I’ve gotta change the subject.

“No, really! There’s nothing for you guys to worry about!”

“You went dead silent the whole way back from the store, and there’s nothing?”

“Uh…! I-I was just lost in thought! Just… thinking…”

“Thinking about what with a face like you’re about to cry?”

“...!!”

His sharp observation threw me off.

I never thought Tak-kun was watching me that closely.

That one comment shook the half-made resolve I’d been clinging to.

I want help.

But I don’t want them involved.

I need saving.

But they can’t get dragged in.

Two conflicting emotions tore at me.

Unable to say anything, I hung my head, and Tak-kun murmured in a gentle voice.

“Nee-san, it’s better to share your problems than try to solve them alone. Bottling it up narrows your perspective, makes it harder to handle things right. Plus, talking it out might lead to an easier fix than you think.”

My vision blurred.

If I cry now, it’ll be obvious I’m struggling.

I can’t cry, but Tak-kun’s kind words made my emotions disobey.

“Just tell us. We’re family, right?”

“…A… sob… waaah…”

That one sentence broke me. Big, fat tears spilled over.

No hiding it now.

Guilt for dragging them in mixed with deep gratitude for their willingness to listen, and in a mess of emotions, I spilled everything to them.

“What a piece of work.”

“No kidding.”

Hearing Nee-san’s story, we were floored by this Amagawa guy.

He’s hounding her way worse than I thought. No wonder she clammed up.

“Like, what kind of upbringing makes someone that vile? That’s not even funny-level trash.”

“Guys like him are the ones we needed on the battlefield. Would’ve killed him off in a heartbeat, though.”

Natalie was visibly disgusted, tapping her temple with her index finger, her irritation plain as day.

This is bad…

Natalie’s showing that nasty habit she hasn’t let out in a while. If she crosses paths with Amagawa again, things could get ugly.

“So, he texted you to meet up earlier…?”

Nee-san nodded, holding out her phone.

The screen showed a message: come to his place, or he’d kill me.

Kill, huh…

“Hmm.”

“Tch… Tak-kun, you’re so chill about it… Aren’t you scared?”

“Scared?”

“He’s threatening you! You’re not freaked out that he’s got his eyes on you?”

“Didn’t even cross my mind…”

Thinking calmly, I get it—a guy with his build coming at you would be terrifying. Especially for someone as delicate as Nee-san.

I’ve been on the battlefield so long, my sense of danger’s dulled. I’m not keeping up with normal, peaceful thinking.

Staring at her phone, I mulled it over, and Nee-san muttered, looking guilty.

“So… I was thinking, if it means keeping you safe, maybe I should just go meet him…”

“What’re you saying, Nee-san…?”

Her perspective’s totally warped.

I can’t let her charge headfirst into what Amagawa wants. Good thing we got her to open up.

“Look, just ignore it. Don’t engage.”

“H-huh? N-no, but… if I ignore him, who knows what he’ll do…”

“Then call the cops. That’s what they’re for.”

“C-cops? The police…?”

Nee-san put a hand to her chin, looking troubled.

“If I report him, it’ll only make things worse… Even if he gets arrested, he’ll be out in no time… And he’ll definitely hold a grudge…”

“Then keep ignoring him. Gimme your phone.”

I snatched the phone in front of her and tapped away.

Two minutes later, I handed it back to a stunned Nee-san.

“There. Done.”

“Wha!? H-huh? Tak-kun, what’d you do…?”

“Blocked his number and texts. Also sent him a reply saying, ‘Go cry yourself to sleep, I’m calling the cops.’”

“T-Tak-kun?!?!”

“Hahaha! Nice one, Takashi~! Keep it up~! Hahaha!”

Natalie clapped, laughing her head off. Looks like my move eased her tension, which is a relief.

“W-what’re you doing…!? This is bad… So bad…!”

“It’s fine. You worry too much, Nee-san.”

“You only say that ‘cause you don’t know how scary Amagawa-kun is…!”

“It’s all good, trust me. Leave it to me. As long as Natalie and I are with you, no one’s touching you.”

“B-but then you and Natalie-chan could get hurt…”

She glared at me with teary, trembling eyes.

God, this girl… Always worrying about others more than herself…

I flashed a reassuring smile at her adorable, angry face.

“It’ll work out!”

“No, it won’t~!”

Nee-san’s shout echoed through the dining room.

◇◇◇

“Gahhh!? Don’t screw with me, you bastard!!”

The moment he read the message, Amagawa Tenga hurled his phone across the room.

It smashed into the wall, the screen cracking with a sharp snap.

“Grrrgh!! You think you can mock me, you little shit… you shit!!”

Unable to rein in his fury, he pounded the wall with heavy, relentless fists.

There was a reason Amagawa was this pissed off.

A single text message had just come through.

It threatened to call the cops on him—a threat that, to Amagawa, was an unforgivable insult. The audacity of someone daring to send it without a shred of fear drove him up the wall.

And who sent it? None other than Shibuzaki Karin.

That timid little nobody, the kind of girl who seemed too spineless to ever stand up to anyone.

Her defiance—her gall—was shredding what little self-control Amagawa had left.

He’d ruined countless classmates before her. Threatening their families if they didn’t obey, wielding cruelty like a blunt weapon—it was his usual playbook. For someone like Karin to shrug off his tactics? Unacceptable.

Worse, she had the nerve to threaten him with the police. The taunting, almost mocking tone of her message only fueled his rage further.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. Amagawa’s anger was curdling into something darker—something murderous.

His thoughts twisted, growing more dangerous by the second.

I’ll break her.

I’ll break everything.

I’ll make Karin watch as I destroy her little brother. I’ll violate her until she loses her mind.

That white-haired chick, too. She’ll get the same.

I’ll make them regret being alive.

Hell, it might be fun to let the brother watch his sister’s disgrace. Karin’s reaction would be priceless.

They’ll regret crossing me. I’ll make them regret it until their last breath.

Until they’re dead.

A vile smirk spread across his face as he stooped to pick up the cracked phone.

Fingers trembling with rage, he tapped at the shattered screen, summoning his crew.

The next day.

Me, Nee-san, and Natalie were strolling toward a different bookstore than yesterday’s.

After what happened, Nee-san insisted it was too dangerous to go out, but with my transfer exams looming, holing up at home wasn’t an option.

No way was I letting my dream of a perfect high school life slip away. So, I strong-armed Nee-san into agreeing, and the three of us headed out together.

Truth be told, I’d considered leaving Natalie and Nee-san at home. But the thought of Amagawa showing up while I was gone? That’d be a disaster. So, I scrapped that plan.

Knowing Natalie, if she got caught in a mess like that, she’d go full berserk.

I didn’t want to come home to a street lined with cop cars. For Amagawa’s sake—and ours—I figured it was safer to stick together today… or so I thought.

“Takashi~,” Natalie singsonged. “We’re being tailed~.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Three guys were trailing us as we walked.

Judging by their gait and the way they shifted their weight, they were probably carrying something like switchblades. Amateurs at tailing, though—their sloppiness was glaring. Even I could spot them, which is saying something. Natalie? She’d probably clocked them before I did.

Didn’t expect them to move this fast, though. Acting the very next day? Gotta hand it to them for the quick hustle.

“What a pain in the ass,” Natalie drawled. “Takashi~? Can I just take ‘em out~?”

“You’d go way overboard,” I shot back. “I wanna handle this quietly, so hold off for now.”

I waved her down, steering us toward a less crowded street.

Nee-san blinked, confused. “Huh? Tak-kun, where’re we going? The bookstore’s that way.”

“Just taking care of your little problem first,” I said.

“Wha—? Wait, what does that mean?”

“Don’t worry about it, don’t worry about it.”

I nudged her forward, ignoring her flustered protests.

Sure enough, the three goons followed, right on cue.

A few minutes down a quiet alley, a van screeched up beside us.

“W-What!? Huh? W-What’s going on!?” Nee-san yelped, her voice trembling in that adorable, panicky way.

Next to her, Natalie just smirked, half-amused.

Talk about night and day.

Guess that’s what happens when you’re hardened by war like Natalie and me. Nee-san’s reaction felt so… pure. Almost refreshing.

While I was marveling at her innocence, a hulking figure stepped out of the van.

Amagawa-kun himself.

“Shibuzakiii!! Oraaaa!! Uraaaa!!”

He was wearing a balaclava, but the skintight shirt and his limited vocabulary of threats gave him away. No doubt it was Amagawa. Same build, too. What’s the point of hiding your face if you’re that obvious?

Nee-san froze, stunned. Natalie, meanwhile, shifted into a subtle but unmistakable combat stance.

I stepped in front of them quickly. Gotta keep an eye on Natalie—next thing you know, there’d be a pile of bodies.

“Oi, what’s your deal!?” Amagawa roared. “Wanna die!?”

“Don’t get cocky just ‘cause there’s girls around, you punk!!”

“Get in the van, or we’ll kill ya!!”

His goons started barking as I stepped forward. What, did they think I was intimidated?

Are these guys stupid?

“Chill out,” I said. “Yell like that, and someone’s gonna call the cops.”

“Tak-kun!!” Nee-san squeaked. “Let them call the cops! What are you saying!?”

Fair point. But calling the police wouldn’t fix this. Not really.

Sending one snarky text got him this riled up. If we don’t settle this now, it’s only gonna get worse.

“Look, man,” I said, turning to Amagawa. “Why’re you so obsessed with Nee-san? If you’re trying to confess or something, there’s better ways to go about it.”

“You little shit!!” one of his goons snapped. “Who do you think you’re talking to!? Don’t get cocky with Amagawa-san!!”

“Keep shouting like that, and Amagawa-kun can’t even get a word in!” I fired back. “Apologize! Right now, say sorry to Amagawa-kun!”

“…Huh? Uh, I-I mean, s-sorry, Amagawa-san!!” Goon A stammered, actually buying my sarcasm.

Yup. Definitely idiots.

“You…” Amagawa growled, his mouth twitching. His eyes were bloodshot. “You think you can mock me?”

“What? Mock you?” I said. “Nah, I wouldn’t. You probably stink too much for me to get that close.”

“Grrrrghhh!?”

“Whoa, what’s with that reaction? Did you want me to lick you or something?”

“I didn’t say that!!”

“Then why’re you so pissed…?”

What is he, an attention whore?

Even through the balaclava, I could see his face flush red. His voice trembled as he muttered, “Nobody’s ever disrespected me like this… I’m not letting you get away with it… I’ll never let you get away…”

He started panting, his breath heavy and ragged, spilling his twisted thoughts unprompted.

“I’ll break you… while I violate Shibuzaki… She can cry, scream, beg—it won’t matter. I’ll torture you and ruin her… You mocked me… I’ll show you hell on earth…”

“Dude, you’re creepy,” I said.

What the hell? Did he just blurt out his sick fantasies like that?

That’s gotta be the most disgusting confession I’ve ever heard.

“Takashi,” Natalie cut in, her voice dripping with disgust.

“What?”

“You said you’d make high school fun. Make me cry at graduation, right?”

“Yup.”

“How’s that supposed to happen with this creep in the same school? You think I can enjoy myself? That you can make me cry at graduation with him around?”

“…”

“Takashi, I don’t wanna go to a school with this guy.”

“Yeah… fair enough.”

She’s got a point.

Seeing him in person made it clear—he’s way more unhinged than I thought. Harassing Nee-san? He’s not stopping with just words.

What do I do here…?

“Oi, trash,” Natalie said, stepping toward Amagawa, pointing right at him.

“What!?” he snarled.

“Don’t you feel any shame? Ganging up with your buddies to attack a girl just to get your kicks? If I were you, I’d be so pathetic I’d off myself.”

“Grahhh!?”

“God, you’re loud. Stop throwing a tantrum every two seconds. Nee-san’s not your mom.”

Natalie stepped right up to Amagawa, spitting her words like venom. “Go cry to your mama, you pathetic mama’s boy.”

Even through the balaclava, you could see Amagawa’s face twist. His teeth ground together, a grating clench, and he raised a trembling fist.

I wanted to keep this civil, but yeah, that’s not happening now.

With a sigh, I stomped the ground hard.

Natalie-chan’s taunting finally pushed Amagawa-kun over the edge. He swung at her, his fist cutting through the air.

The punch landed with a sharp crack—or so it seemed. It looked like it was connected. Natalie-chan and Amagawa-kun were a good distance from us, and barely a few seconds passed between her provocation and his swing. No one should’ve been able to stop it.

And yet… Tak-kun was there, catching Amagawa-kun’s fist with one hand.

When did he move? One second he was next to me, and now he’s right beside Natalie-chan.

And stopping that massive guy’s punch with one hand? What’s going on here?

“Natalie’s right,” Tak-kun said, his voice calm as ever.

His tone didn’t waver, even as he held Amagawa-kun’s fist in a vice-like grip.

“With a guy like this around, no way we’re getting that dream school life, huh?”

“Exactly~,” Natalie-chan chirped. “Sherry wouldn’t rest easy with this creep around~.”

“She ain’t dead,” Tak-kun shot back.

Something’s… off. Those two were joking around like it was nothing, while Amagawa-kun writhed, his face contorted in pain.

All Tak-kun was doing was holding his fist. Just that. And it was enough to bring Amagawa-kun to his knees, clutching his arm in agony.

“Hey, Amagawa,” Tak-kun said, his voice cutting through the guy’s suffering.

Amagawa-kun was too busy gritting his teeth, blood-flecked foam dribbling from his mouth, to respond.

“You started this. Better be ready for the consequences.”

With that, Tak-kun crushed his fist.

A sickening crunch echoed, the sound of bones splintering. In the same motion, Tak-kun swept Amagawa-kun’s legs, sending him crashing onto his back with a heavy thud.

That wasn’t a kick. It sounded like… BOOM. Like something massive collided.

Tak-kun clenched his fist again, looming over the fallen Amagawa-kun. He raised it, muscles tensing like he was charging up, then brought it down with a force that roared like two trucks slamming head-on.

The sound was deafening, threatening to burst eardrums. A cloud of dust and sand billowed up, and the asphalt buckled under the impact.

What the hell was that?

The sheer chaos of it left everyone—me included—frozen in shock. Well, almost everyone. Natalie-chan just watched with a blank, unbothered expression.

When the dust settled, Amagawa-kun was curled up, clutching his head, tears streaming down his distorted face. Was it the pain from his shattered hand? The terror of that impact? Both?

For a second, I thought a meteor had crashed down. But no—it was Tak-kun. He caused that.

Tak-kun yanked his fist from the cratered ground and grabbed Amagawa-kun’s head, lifting him effortlessly with one hand. He glared at the trembling bully, clicking his tongue in annoyance, then turned to the goons cowering nearby.

“Mind showing me to this guy’s place?”

“Uh… guh…” they stammered, barely coherent.

“Hey, don’t ignore me,” Tak-kun said. “You’ll hurt my feelings.”

“Eek!” one squeaked, practically jumping out of his skin.

Can’t blame them. After seeing that kind of power, who wouldn’t be terrified? I… might’ve leaked a little myself.

“Takashi~,” Natalie-chan drawled. “You moving him? Why not just finish him here~?”

“Nah, that hit probably blew out his eardrums. Can’t exactly have a conversation now,” Tak-kun replied.

“Lame~! Why’d you go and punch the ground, then~?”

“Wanted to scare the crap outta him. Guess I overdid it.”

“Clumsy as ever~.”

“We’ll draw a crowd with that noise, so let’s move. Plus, he’s still a high schooler. His parents can deal with the fallout.”

“Want me to tag along~?”

“I got this. You take Nee-san and go have some fun. I’ll be back by morning.”

“Got it~!”

They kept up their casual banter, like they hadn’t just shattered a road with their bare hands. Watching them chat so nonchalantly, I realized just how abnormal they were.

What happened to Tak-kun out there on the battlefield…?

“Alright, let’s move, you lot,” Tak-kun said to the goons. “Don’t wanna end up like Amagawa, do ya? Running’s pointless, so don’t try it.”

“Eeeeek!”

“Relax, relax. Do what I say, and I’ll let you go.”

“R-Really!?”

“I only need Amagawa. Help me out, and you’ll walk away in one piece.”

“G-Got it!”

The trembling goons surrounded Amagawa-kun, shoving him into the van they came in.

“I’ll be back soon,” Tak-kun said to me, hopping into the van. And just like that, they sped off.

Left behind were me and Natalie-chan.

“C’mon, Nee-chan~,” she said with a grin. “Let’s go grab some sweets~.”

I could only stare, dumbfounded, as she smiled like nothing had happened.

The next morning, Tak-kun came back like it was no big deal and told me to step outside.

I had a million questions, but he kept insisting I go out, so I reluctantly headed to the front door. There, waiting for me, was Amagawa-kun and his parents, groveling on their knees.

The moment they saw me, they started wailing, spewing apologies at the top of their lungs.

The Amagawa family—big shots around here—were reduced to a pathetic, sobbing mess.

“I talked to Amagawa’s folks,” Tak-kun said. “They really wanted to apologize to you, Nee-san.”

Really?

The same parents who’d been covering up Amagawa-kun’s crap all this time? Just talking made them come groveling?

And the way they’re trembling—it’s not normal. They keep sneaking terrified glances at Tak-kun, like he’s some kind of monster.

What kind of talk did he have with them…?

“Shibuzaki-san!” Amagawa-kun’s parents cried. “We’re so, so sorry!!”

“Our idiot son messed up bad! Please, just spare him… spare his life!!”

Why are they begging for his life!?

“Nee-chan~,” Natalie-chan said, smirking. “They’re saying they’ll do anything~. Wanna start by chopping off a finger or two~?”

“N-No chopping!” I yelped.

“C’mon, Big sis, fish gotta eat~,” she teased, laughing.

Her jokes aren’t funny. Especially when she says them—they don’t sound like jokes at all.

“Here, Nee-san,” Tak-kun said, handing me a stack of worn bankbooks. “Take these.”

“What’s this?”

“Passbooks and seals,” he said. “Their savings, fixed deposits, insurance—the works. They said you can take whatever you want.”

“I can’t take this!” I protested.

I looked closer—savings, bonds, policies. They’d scraped together everything.

“Nee-chan~,” Natalie-chan said. “You should take it. They put you through hell, didn’t they~?”

“She’s right, Nee-san,” Tak-kun added. “You’ve earned this. Right?” He turned to the Amagawa family.

Everyone except the deaf Amagawa-kun flinched hard enough to see from a mile away.

“O-Of course!” his parents stammered. “Take it all…”

“See?” Tak-kun said.

“Ugh…” I groaned.

Watching the Amagawa family sob, it was clear as day—Tak-kun had scared the living hell out of them.

What did he do to them…?

“I don’t want their money!” I said. “They apologized, and that’s enough!”

“What? You’re letting them off free?” Tak-kun asked, incredulous.

“Yup!”

Taking their money just feels like asking for trouble later. I want to live in peace, not deal with grudges.

“You hear that, Natalie?” Tak-kun said. “She’s letting them off. Talk about a Yamato Nadeshiko.”

“Wow~,” Natalie-chan said. “I knew Nee-chan was kind, but this is next-level~.”

“Here I thought you’d at least demand we neuter him,” Tak-kun said, pulling a huge pair of pliers from his pocket and setting them on the ground. “Guess I didn’t need these.”

What was he planning to do with those…?

“Thank you so much!” Amagawa-kun’s dad said, visibly relieved. “We’ll make sure he changes his ways!”

But Tak-kun’s icy voice cut through like a blade. “Nee-san might be fine with that, but you didn’t think you’d get off scot-free, did you?”

“Huh?” the dad stammered.

“Your kid’s ruined lives,” Tak-kun said. “I heard all about it. You really think there’s no price to pay for that?”

“Uh… guh…”

Tak-kun crouched to meet their eyes, his voice chillingly cold. “Take all the money you’ve got here and split it among his victims. Then pack up and leave. Never come back.”

“Y-Yes…” Amagawa’s dad mumbled.

“And don’t even think about stepping foot in Kanto, Chubu, or Kinki again. I don’t ever wanna see your faces.”

“U-Understood…”

The Amagawa family hung their heads, bowing low.

Tak-kun’s demands were outright absurd, but their compliance was so immediate it was eerie.

“Move out by tonight,” he said. “If I see you tomorrow, I won’t be happy. Alright, scram!”

With a sharp clap of his hands, they bolted upright like startled rabbits and fled.

The tyrant Amagawa-kun, untouchable by anyone, was nowhere to be seen anymore.

“Well, that’s settled,” Tak-kun said, stretching with a yawn. “Back to studying for those exams, I guess~.”

Thanks to Tak-kun’s handiwork, things had changed—drastically.

A week after the Amagawa mess, Natalie and I wrapped up our transfer exams.

My grades were barely scraping by, so I was sweating bullets, but the tests themselves were surprisingly easy. Nailed about ninety percent of it, I think. Probably fine.

Natalie, of course, breezed through like it was nothing. Typical.

Back home, we were chilling and chatting about high school life when Nee-san barged in, her face all serious. Her lips were pursed in a pout, brows knit in that adorable, troubled way.

What’s with that look? Is she mad?

I was still trying to figure it out when she pointed at me, sharp and dramatic. “Tak-kun! Exams are done, so it’s time to fess up!”

“Fess up about what?”

“Your body!” she said, glaring straight at me.

Looks like she’s onto the fact that I’ve been… modified.

“No idea what you’re talking about,” I said, playing dumb.

“Don’t play coy! Something happened to you out there in the war, didn’t it? There’s no way a normal person could shatter asphalt like that!”

“It’s normal, Nee-san. Totally normal. I mean, the sister I love was being harassed! Adrenaline kicked in, and I smashed the ground. Easy.”

“L-Love…?” She flushed bright red, shaking her head furiously. “N-No! You’re not dodging this! I love you too, Tak-kun, but you’re gonna answer me properly!”

Her reactions are too cute. Every little gesture’s just… adorable.

“Takashi~,” Natalie chimed in, munching on senbei with a goofy grin. “Just spill it~. No way you’re fooling her now~.”

Yeah, she’s right.

I knew I screwed up the second I punched through the asphalt. Nee-san was bound to grill me eventually. Honestly, I’m just glad she waited until after exams to bring it up. Classic Yamato Nadeshiko—always so considerate.

“You’ll keep this from Mom and Dad, right?” I said. “Don’t wanna stress them out more than they already are.”

“Y-Yeah… okay,” she nodded.

Where do I even start?

This stuff’s military classified, so I can’t spill everything. But skimming over it might just confuse her more. Tricky spot.

“How much do you know about the war I was in, Nee-san?”

“Not much,” she admitted. “Just that space invaders attacked. I scoured the internet to see if you were okay, but there was barely anything. Nothing at all.”

“Wow~,” Natalie said. “They really locked that info down tight~.”

Sounds like Nee-san knows next to nothing. If I say too much, the military might put her under surveillance, so I’ll stick to what’s safe.

“Long story short, Natalie and I got modified by the military. To wipe out the aliens. Thoroughly.”

“…Modified?” she gasped. “Like… changed?”

“It’s not normal to send an untrained middle schooler like me to a warzone, right? They picked people with the right ‘aptitude’ and turned us into… superhumans, basically.”

Nee-san’s eyes widened, her mouth opening and closing like a fish. Hesitantly, she grabbed my hand, her face a mix of disbelief as she started kneading my palm.

“Modified… like, you’re a machine now?”

“Some guys got mechanized, but mine’s different. They, uh, ‘integrated’ stuff into me to boost my physical abilities.”

“It… feels soft. Warm,” she said, still rubbing my hand. “What kind of ‘stuff’?”

“Uh… can’t really say.”

Her face fell. “Oh… it’s classified, huh?”

Yeah, she’d probably freak out if I told her.

No way I could admit they pumped me full of alien cells. Even thinking about it, the military’s insane. They threw out every shred of human decency.

But, well, survival kinda demanded it.

“So, the modifications made you strong enough to smash asphalt?” she asked.

“Pretty much.”

“That’s not all~,” Natalie piped up, grinning like she was proud. “Takashi’s adaptability was off the charts, even among soldiers~. He took every experimental drug without a single side effect~.”

“Natalie,” I warned.

“That gave him freakish strength and insane durability~. He was the trump card against the aliens. They called him humanity’s ‘Arrival Point’—that’s how famous he was~.”

“Natalie.”

“His performance was unreal~. After he joined, the whole war turned around. The Deneb Retreat, the Gulf Strait Defense—if Takashi wasn’t there, me and Sherry would’ve—”

“Yo, I’m trying to be careful here, and you’re spilling military secrets like it’s nothing!” I snapped, smacking her head with a few light chops.

Natalie just giggled. “Ehehe~! It’s fine, right~?” she said, popping another senbei in her mouth.

This girl has zero respect for the military…

I switched to an iron claw, ruffling her head, when Nee-san spoke up, hesitant. “Can I ask one thing?”

“What’s up, Nee-san?”

“Y-You’re still human, right, Tak-kun?”

Oof. I get why she’d ask, but damn.

“What if I said I was a monster?” I teased, flashing a cocky grin.

Just a little joke, like always. But Nee-san didn’t bite. She stared at me, dead serious, not even a flicker of a smile.

“Nothing changes,” she said softly.

“Huh?”

Her voice trembled as she continued. “W-While I was living my normal life… y-you were going through something… unimaginable…”

Tears welled up, spilling down her cheeks.

“No matter what your body is, you’re my family, Tak-kun. You and Natalie-chan both…”

She started sobbing, clinging to my neck. “No matter what! We’re family! You fought for us all this time! Now it’s my turn to protect you! I swear! I swear…!”

Her shaky voice dissolved into full-on wails. “F-For us… hic… thank you… thank you so much… waaah!”

She bawled like a kid, her cries echoing through the room.

Natalie and I exchanged a glance, stunned.

I’d braced for disgust over the modifications, not… gratitude. The military never said a word like that. To hear it from Nee-san, of all people—the words we’d always wanted to hear…

“Nee-chan’s so kind~,” Natalie said, her usual playful tone replaced with something softer. Her eyes were misty. “I’m so happy~…”

She must’ve been really touched. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her like that.

“We’re gonna go to the same high school as Nee-san,” I said. “It’s gonna be a blast.”

“Yeah,” Natalie agreed.

“Let’s start that boring, fun high school life!”

“Hell yeah!”

I patted Nee-san’s head as she sniffled against my neck, and Natalie and I shared a laugh.

Sure, Amagawa was a minor hiccup, but now that it’s handled, it’s smooth sailing from here.

No way we’re getting dragged into more trouble.

That’s what I thought, at least.

I was so damn naive.

I never imagined the chaos waiting for us—a love triangle mess with a childhood friend thanks to Natalie, old war buddies from the military transferring to my school out of nowhere, or an international pop diva we met at a wartime morale show showing up unannounced.

Our quiet, ordinary life? Yeah, that was about to get real noisy.