Disclaimer: Campione! was written by Taketsuki Jou, I get nothing out of writing this fanfic save personal satisfaction (and possibly reviews).

Author's Notes: I would like to thank everyone that has reviewed this story so far. Also if you have some time please drop by my author page to answer a poll. Happy New Year Everyone!

A little heads up on Shizuka's narration. I will have Shizuka use the Japanese way of calling/referring to one's relatives as much as possible. (For those who don't know or unsure: Onii for brother, Oji is for grandfather, uncle or an elder man, Oka is for mother and Otou is for father.) The family situation of the Kusanagi family is rather complicated and not really a focus, so this fic will be showing an approximation based on what appears on the light novel.

This was last Updated/Corrected Jan 10, 2013.

- - - 7th - - -

Pet na Campione-sama!

- - - 7th - - -

Insert Six-Seven: Shizuka: "Onii-chan..."

- - - 7th - - -

"I'm home!"

I declared as I opened the door to our home. I stepped in without waiting for an answer and closed the door behind me.

The smell of old books, was familiar and almost welcome. The entrance part of the house used to be a second hand bookstore, but my grandfather had closed shop after grandmother passed away. It bothered me at first, but lately it was a smell that told me 'I was home'.

I took off my outdoor shoes and changed into a pair of house slippers.

As I entered deeper, the old store part of the house ended and the living space began. From here, the house was usually saturated with scent of food or cooking oil. But with onii-chan away from home, we've decided to save some trouble with our meals and eat out or have things delivered. Today, I had eaten out with my club mates and upperclassmen because we had to stay out late for our preparations, for the new school year recruitment, that was still behind schedule.

It's not funny that one person can completely mess up the food routine of this house. Because of onii-chan's unusual metabolism oji-chan had switched most of our cooking tools with larger ones. Which had been very convenient so long as onii-chan was around to eat everything (which he usually was). But without him here, the only things we can cook in the right portions are miso soup, tamagoyaki, roasted fish and rice. It's rather inconvenient.

Also, the house feels a little lonely...

Oji-chan seemed to be out... probably flirting with a woman his age and getting free dinner. Oka-chan had lived on her own after the divorce, but sometimes visited us. And otou-sa is probably in some strange part of the world, doing who knows what.

So right now, the only one home is me...

"Meow."

And our cat, Himari. Onii-chan wanted to name her Shiro... but I didn't think it was cute and had him change it.

Himari was a stray cat that onii-chan brought home over two years ago. She was so badly injured and malnourished back then, that we feared that she wouldn't make it. However with a lot of love and care, she eventually completely recovered.

The only sad part is that, even though I was the one who cared for her, she's more attached to onii-chan.

A friend had told me that some animals just tend to like owners of the opposite gender more. So I shouldn't mind it too much, but it annoys me that she coming to me for attention only while onii-chan is away.

I picked up the snow white cat and brought her with me to the kitchen. She was a rather picky eater (completely unlike my brother, who'll eat anything edible) and didn't like canned or dried food, so I had to bring home some steamed fish from the restaurant I was at.

I turned on the lights and then the television (which just happened to had been left at a news channel), before I deposited the cat on the counter. I dropped the bag, that I carried from school, somewhere I'd see it later and unwrapped the take-out bag.

In the background, I vaguely heard someone mention something about a murder, then a robbery... sadly happens everywhere from time to time... I'll change the channel after I feed the cat.

The fish had been ordered along with my food, so it was just barely warm now. I cut it up into chunks with pair of chop sticks and placed a portion enough for dinner, before I slid the plate over to her.

Himari sniffed the fish, turned to meow at me, then turned back to her food and proceeded to eat.

'News Flash! A second sudden storm in Sardinia, Italy-'

I nearly gasped in surprised as I heard the news anchor mentioned those words. I moved to get closer and increased the volume. The anchor reports that a storm had suddenly appeared an hour ago in Oliena, Sardinia.

It was right where onii-chan was supposed to be headed.

I felt faint. I did not know if he and Liliana-san were there yet. Liliana-san hadn't called yesterday, even though she had promised to call every day. I tried calling her instead, but the operator told me that they could not connect to the number.

I dug my phone out of my skirt pocket and tried calling Liliana again. But like yesterday, it would not connect.

Maybe her phone got broken in the storm?

Maybe the phone lines were done in by the storm?

Maybe...

"AH! I'M WORRIED! I'M SO WORRIED! I'M SO VERY WORRIED!"

My screams almost scared the cat.

I sighed. Panicking was counterproductive. To calm myself I took a few deep breaths.

Breath in... breath out... in... out... in... out...

I remembered that Liliana called at around nine p.m. last time. A quick glance at my phone's clock told me I had a little over an hour of waiting. So I'll wait until then... before I panic some more.

- - - 7th - - -

After deciding to wait, I choose to take a bath and calm down some more. I had my cell phone close at hand, just in case Liliana called though.

I sighed again.

I tried to think of something else, but each time my mind would wander back to my odd ball of an older brother. He had always been strange... even before I learned what strange was.

He didn't have friends back then. Most of the other kids our age then were afraid that he was some kind of robot. The other kids would bully him constantly. But onii-chan wouldn't even flinch, he just stood and took all the mean things they did and said to him.

It seemed to deter the other kids after a while, but eventually they wondered what would get a reaction from him and continued.

But then one day, I got fed up with them and tried to defend him. It didn't really come to my mind back then, but those bullying him were larger than both of us combined. So with just a tap from them, I easily stumbled over.

To my surprise- to everyone's surprise- that was the one thing that did set off my brother. He gave the one who pushed me a good hard shove into the sand box, which easily made the bigger boy cry. The bully's friends tried to help him and tried to push onii-chan out of the way, but instead onii-chan manhandled all of them with ease.

Since then I've changed how I thought of him.

I won't say it out loud, but onii-chan isn't strange person- he's a special existence! It's rather hard to understand him and I doubt I will every fully understand what goes on in his head... but I do know that he treasures me a lot.

- - - 7th - - -

At around half passed nine the house phone rang. I rushed down from my room, almost glad that oji-chan wasn't home yet to answer it. I was also so happy that a phone finally rang that I forgot that I did not give our Liliana the number to our house phone.

I picked it up the phone and greeted, "Hello, this is the Kusanagi Residence."

But the voice that greeted me back wasn't the one I was hoping for. Instead of the fluent but gruff voice of the foreigner I've gotten to know recently, it was a soft and very familiar voice.

'A good evening to you, Shizuka-san.' It was Mariya Yuri-sempai, an upperclassman in school and a member of the same club.

"Ah! Mariya-sempai! A g-good evening to you as-well. To w-what do I-i owe this pleasure?" I don't know why, but every time I talk to her I tend to try to speak formally.

'I was wondering about your health.'

"Eh?!"

'You were not very lively today. I thought that you were ill, yet still went to our club activity to help.'

I was surprised. Sure I thought I was sluggish today, but I didn't think I looked sick. But Mariya-sempai is such a great lady. Not only was she well spoken, but she's a great person. I have to strive harder and follow her example!

"I wasn't sick at all, sempai. I just lacked sleep. I was waiting for a phone call that didn't come yesterday."

'Oh? From who, if I my ask?' Sempai sounded amused. She wasn't usually the type that gossiped, but every now and again she shows interest what just randomly came up in conversation.

"Uh... a new friend who is escorting my onii-chan in Italy."

'Onii-chan?... Ah! Shizuka-san's infamously beloved brother, Kusanagi Godou-san.'

Infamous huh?... It figures, that even Mariya-sempai has heard of my brother. Actually, thinking about it now, it would be more surprising if she had not a heard of him. They were in the same year level, so hearing rumors related to him should reach her without any effort. Plus, my coming and going from his classroom, on a near daily basis, is more or less common knowledge.

"Yes, Him. Have you met my onii-chan, sempai?" I hesitantly asked. I always thought that onii-chan was quite good looking. And I know that, so long as he just sat in one spot and behaved, onii-chan was able to attract the attention of girls left and right. Fortunately, his appetite and his weirdness has repulsed all of them.

'Unfortunately no, I had not the pleasure and I'm not good with boys.'

I sighed in relief.

'Is something the matter?'

"It's nothing." As if I could tell her that I'm relieved she hasn't met the source of my troubles.

'Is that so? In any case, I'm glad that you sound well.'

"I am sorry to have troubled you, sempai!"

'It's no trouble. Well then, have a pleasant evening.'

"Thank you, please have a pleasant evening as well." With that Mariya-sempai ended the call.

I replaced the phone receiver and let out a sigh.

"It wasn't Liliana-san." I told Himari, who was just starting at me from her basket.

- - - 7th - - -

I stayed up later than I normally allowed myself waiting for Liliana-san to call. But I was eventually forced to give up and sleep when the clock stuck eleven. I still had club activities tomorrow, and after worrying Mariya-sempai... I could not allow myself to appear in the same condition as yesterday.

It would not be until the next day that I'll learn that had I stayed up another five minutes, I might have been able to talk to Liliana.

- - - 7th - - -

Insert Chapter Six-Seven: End

- - - 7th - - -

Chapter End Notes: Sorry, no fight scenes or our favorite cast this chapter! I wanted to write a chapter with a character that would allow for Godou childhood flashbacks (It was sort of suggested in the reviews... and I thought it was a great change of pace). It's rather short, mostly because it's an insert chapter... yet I feel like I didn't do it Justice (sorry about that).

But I completed the objectives I set for this chapter. So as an insert it's passable, I guess. I might expand and update (and correct) this chapter later (because I was half asleep when I was proofreading it XD). But I wanted it posted today.