Chapter 3: Hibiki's Older Sister

"I've been waiting for you—Hirose!"

After school, Hirose visited Hibiki’s house. Hibiki, of course, was the one who had invited him. The reason being...

"Hirose, thank you! The skill's effect is fully out! How do I look? Well?! Am I cute?!"

Hibiki was practically bouncing with joy in the entryway. Seeing her so happy made Hirose feel a warmth in his own chest.

"Yeah. You're incredibly cute. You were cute before, but you're even cuter now. And... is your makeup lighter today?"

"Ah, you noticed? Yes! Before, I had to work so hard to hide the breakouts and redness, but now I don't need to do any of that. My pores are gone too, so I can get away with just a light touch-up!"

This was something Himari and Umiri had pointed out as well. Both of them had been green with envy, repeatedly poking Hibiki’s cheeks just to feel how bouncy they were.

"I see. I'm just glad you're happy, Hibiki."

"Yeah. That’s why... I wanted to give you a reward today, Hirose..."

"Eh?"

Hibiki took Hirose’s hand and led him up to her room on the second floor. Once inside, she didn't say a word before she began pulling off her uniform, stripping down to her underwear.

"Um..."

"Honestly, you've seen me so many times now. It's weird to be shy about it at this point."

"It’s just... you don't usually start stripping the second we walk in..."

"I wanted you to see. Not just my face, but my whole body. Look how beautiful it’s become."

"Ah—"

He was staring at a body far more beautiful than anything he had seen before. Hirose was absolutely entranced. Smooth, velvety, supple, silky, radiant... there were a dozen words for it, but she seemed to embody all of them at once.

"Being stared at that intensely is... kind of embarrassing."

"You were the one who told me to look."

"Hehe, I guess I did. Hirose... thank you. Really."

Still in her underwear, Hibiki threw her arms around him. Startled for a moment, Hirose felt her body heat and a sweet, citrusy scent before he finally hugged her back.

"Now... take yours off?"

"What?"

"I told you, this is a reward."

"Right..."

He didn't need any more explanation to know what was coming. Hibiki took off his school blazer and began carefully unbuttoning his shirt.

"Since you haven't used your skills today, you’ve got plenty of energy left, right?"

"I mean... when you put it that way, yeah."

He didn't have the usual exhaustion that followed a treatment. Once Hirose was bare-chested, they locked eyes. Their faces drew closer until he could see the slight tremor in her pupils. Their lips were about to meet—

Ding-dong!

"Ah..."

The doorbell rang at the worst possible moment.

"Um... maybe you should go see who it is?"

"Aww... Hiroseeee..."

Hibiki’s shoulders slumped in utter defeat. Despite how often he’d been here, this was the first time someone had actually come to the door.

"Fine, fine. I’ll go see. Just wait here."

"Okay."

Hibiki threw her uniform back on and headed to the entryway. "Coming!" she called out as she opened the door.

"Yoo-hoo! It’s been a while!"

Standing there was someone Hibiki knew very well. A woman with long blonde hair reaching down to her waist. She looked a bit taller and more mature than Hibiki, but she was wearing a high school uniform.

"Wait... Mizuki-nee?!"

Hibiki’s eyes went wide. The woman just offered a bright smile.

"I’m coming in~"

"Hold on a secoooooond!"

"Hmm? What's up?"

Mizuki tried to slide past her, but Hibiki threw out an arm to block her path. Normally, she wouldn't have a problem letting her in, but...

Not now! Hirose is here... I have to get her to leave. Besides... we were just about to do it!

"What are you doing? I just came here to dote on my adorable little Hibiki—hm?"

"W-what...?"

Mizuki had been trying to duck under Hibiki’s arm, but she suddenly stopped. She leaned in close, peering at Hibiki’s face as if examining a specimen under a microscope.

"Mizuki-nee...?"

"Hey, Hibiki... have you become, like, super gorgeous lately?!"

The words were almost identical to what her classmates had said. Hibiki felt a small wave of relief.

"My friends said the same thing. I've just been working really hard on my skincare and diet. So—"

"My skill is reacting."

"Huh?"

Hibiki’s heart nearly stopped. Had her secret been found out? Had the skill Hirose used been exposed? But it was strange. As far as Hibiki knew, Mizuki didn't have a skill like that...

"I learned a new skill recently—<Mana Vision>. It lets me see the residue of mana after someone uses a Gift, or the flow of mana when it's active... and your body, your face, it’s glowing a little. Actually... is it your whole body?"

The last time Hirose had used a skill on her was a few days ago. Normally, mana residue shouldn't last that long. That’s just how skills worked.

Wait... could it be because the final effects manifested today? Hibiki wondered. If the ultimate result of the skill was achieved this morning, perhaps that counted as the skill 'activating' in a sense.

"...Well, whatever. If my cute little Hibiki is getting pretty, then I’m happy too. Anyway, coming in!"

"Ah! No, wait!"

Seizing a momentary opening, Mizuki slipped into the entryway. The first thing that caught her eye was the two pairs of loafers sitting there. One pair was Hibiki's. The other was clearly too large to belong to a girl.

"Oh, crap..." Hibiki muttered, seeing where Mizuki was looking.

That was the final nail in the coffin. Mizuki turned around with a predatory grin.

"Hibiki’s got a boooooy in here!!"

"No, wait—!"

As if a party had just started, Mizuki began bouncing around as she forced her way deeper into the house. She flung open the living room door, but it was empty. After checking behind the sofa, she dashed back into the hallway and headed for the stairs.

"Mizuki-nee! Stop! You can't!"

"I have to judge what kind of guy Hibiki’s boyfriend is!"

"He’s not my boyfriend..."

"Oh, so he’s not your boyfriend yet."

"Stop it! Just leave for today...!"

The two of them shoved and pulled at each other at the base of the stairs. But Hibiki was no match for Mizuki’s physical strength.

"Give it up, sweetie."

"Ow, ow, ow, ow!"

Hibiki was easily overpowered. Mizuki charged up the stairs, reached Hibiki’s room, and threw the door open without a second’s hesitation.

"Wait—?!"

Hirose was sitting at the table. His eyes went wide at the sight of the sudden blonde intruder. Meanwhile, Mizuki stared at him, seemingly appraising his worth.

"You're... well, you're a bit more 'reserved' than I expected for Hibiki’s taste."

"Mizuki-nee! You can't just barge in like that!" Hibiki finally arrived, trying to drag her cousin out of the room, though her efforts were futile against Mizuki’s strength.

"Um... who is this?" Hirose asked.

"I’m Housaka Mizuki—Hibiki’s big sister! Well... technically we're cousins, but we’ve been together since we were tiny, so we're basically sisters!"

"...I'm Takanashi Hirose. Nice to meet you."

Mizuki introduced herself, and Hirose gave a polite nod in return. Despite Hibiki’s protests, Mizuki plopped herself down at the table.

"Ugh... this was not how today was supposed to go..." Hibiki moaned, giving up and sitting down as well. She looked at Hirose and blinked rapidly.

(Hirose, please.)

(Wait, what? What are you saying?)

(Don't say anything weird, okay?)

(I have no idea what she’s trying to tell me...)

Hibiki tried to communicate through her winks, but as expected, the message didn't reach him at all.

"Hmm, hmm... So, Hirose-kun, what exactly is your relationship with Hibiki?"

"Uh... we're just classmates."

"That’s not what I mean~ Is he your boyfriend?"

"Ah... no, I'm not her boyfriend."

Mizuki had asked Hibiki already, but now she was getting it from the source. The answer was the same.

"I see..."

"Um... excuse me!"

Ever since he’d first seen her, there was something Hirose had been dying to ask.

"Housaka Mizuki... are you, by any chance, the one from the <Tenchi Guild>...?"

She looked exactly like the person he’d seen on TV countless times. The name was the same, too. He forced the question out through a tight throat.

"Hmm? Yeah, that's me. Wait, you know who I am? I'm so happy!"

When Hirose’s suspicion was confirmed, Mizuki beamed with pride. While he hadn't necessarily dreamed of joining that specific guild when he wanted to be an adventurer, she was a person who had been all over the news lately.

"Well... yes. You're famous, after all..."

"Hirose... I never mentioned it, did I? Sorry," Hibiki said.

"No, it's fine."

Hibiki knew Hirose had wanted to be an adventurer and how much he’d struggled with it. That’s why she never brought up the fact that she had an adventurer in her family. An A-rank adventurer from the <Tenchi Guild> might be someone Hirose looked up to... she hadn't wanted to hurt him by bringing it up.

"I see... so Hirose-kun wanted to be an adventurer."

"Yes, but—"

"You didn't get a combat-type skill, huh?"

"Exactly."

Without him needing to say another word, Mizuki had nailed it. Perhaps sensing his mood, her voice softened slightly.

"Okay, haven't you seen enough? Go home already!" Hibiki interjected.

"To think my own Hibiki would say such a thing to me... how cruel!"

"You're the one who’s cruel for barging in!"

"Fiiiine, I get it. I get that Hibiki just loves her Hirose-kun so much."

"Wh-what are you talking about, you idiot?! There's no way I love him! ...Ah."

Caught up in Mizuki’s teasing, Hibiki had blurted out the exact opposite of what she felt. Hirose gave a wry smile. Seeing this, Hibiki rushed to correct herself.

"H-Hirose, that's not... I just got carried away... anyway, that’s not what I meant!"

"Thanks. I understand."

"Maybe I went a little too far? Fine, I’ll head out for today."

"Ugh, finally! Just go!"

Hibiki stood Mizuki up and shoved her toward the door. She pushed her down the stairs and all the way to the entryway.

"...You can come over whenever Hirose isn't here, but don't you dare do something like this again!"

"Yeah, yeah. See ya later!"

"Yeah... bye."

Hibiki didn't hate Mizuki. In fact, she loved her. Mizuki was the one who had helped her when she was trying to fix her appearance. She was grateful and wanted to stay close. But being teased about Hirose was another story.

"Hirose... I’m sorry about earlier. I really am."

"I told you, it’s fine. Don't worry about it."

"But... Ah."

Hibiki apologized again for her slip of the tongue. Her face was much gloomier than before. Seeing that, Hirose was the one who pulled her into a hug.

He didn't usually initiate things like this, but he couldn't just stand by and watch her look so down.

"Do you want to use a skill today after all? It usually helps change your mood, right?"

"Stubid. You shouldn't use that as an excuse for sex."

"We’ve used it for that plenty of times, though."

"Geez... you're a big dummy, Hirose..."

Exchanging those words, they naturally drifted toward the bed. They began to undress each other slowly once more. As they did, their eyes met. This time, with conviction, they leaned in. Their faces drew closer. And then—

"Oh! Sorry, sorry! I forgot my phone—Whoa. Get it, Hibiki!"

Just as their lips were about to touch, the door flew open and Mizuki burst back in. The two of them were half-undressed on the bed, Hirose’s hands on Hibiki’s waist. Anyone with eyes could tell exactly what they were about to do.

"......"

Hirose and Hibiki stared at Mizuki. And then, simultaneously...

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH?!"

"GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH?!"

They screamed in absolute, mortifying embarrassment.

After Mizuki finally grabbed her phone and left for real, the mood was thoroughly killed. They straightened their clothes, shared a quick, light kiss, and then just sat at the table chatting until it was time for Hirose to head home.

Despite the humiliating moment, Hibiki wasn't as angry as she could have been. In fact, she’d decided not to be angry at all.

"You know, Mizuki-nee is actually a virgin. Apparently, when you're a super-strong adventurer, guys are too scared to approach you. So... I'm winning, right?!"

Despite the teasing and the embarrassment, she was lightyears ahead in terms of romance. It wasn't exactly a competition, but sharing Mizuki’s secret with Hirose seemed to clear away the last of her frustration for the day.

Hirose wondered if it was really okay to be told about someone's sexual history like that, but he decided that Hibiki’s feelings were the priority. After all, he’d been just as embarrassed about being caught.