"Oh my god. Why is this line taking so long?" Kirino blurted out amidst her rampant foot tapping. Her impatience began to rub off on her already bothered brother behind her. She continued to mutter out similar nonsense every other second, either loud enough for her own ears to hear or to pester her partner (mostly the latter), which caused Kyousuke to rustle around in restlessness.
Kyousuke, alongside his [un]joyful group of hostages under Isshenji's leadership, had hardly passed the midway point of the ascending tower in the past hour. If the overhead intensity of the sun or the cramped space within that spiral staircase wasn't enough to tinge his nerves, then the cold, fierce stare that came from his sister would have been. He could feel through those chill blue irises the depths of her agitation, whether that be from the wait or something more personal. For the umpteenth time, she exaggerated another sigh.
"Seriously, we haven't moved a pace in soooo long," Kirino whined in a dragged out gesture. Everyone around her ignored her comment, more set with waiting out the pause, though Kyousuke merely chided her.
"You're the one who wanted to ride the largest one first. You should have known there'd be a line."
Kirino's defensive stubbornness met with retaliation. "NO. That was your obnoxious friend who insisted we ride this one. He literally dragged us here!" She spurted out before crossing her arms. "Why can't you just speak up for once and recommend something else more convenient?"
"Like that would have worked with this guy." Kyousuke spoke more to himself than the group, but he was overheard by the vigilant leader.
"Hey, bickering won't get you anywhere, Mansaka! Not any closer to the end of the line at least!" Isshenji hoist his finger forward while flashing his annoying grin. "Waiting is yet another virtue of a man!"
"So insightful, Henshin-sama." Saori encouraged Isshenji further, much to the dismay of the siblings. Earlier, she must have made such her priority of their time together because she continued to praise Isshenji for any detail he would sputter, as though he was the savant of her kind. Kyousuke groaned at the next laughter that burst out of the man's mouth from the compliment.
"If you haven't noticed, I'm not the impatient one here."
"She's your imouto, so you must take on her responsibility. After all, you agreed to follow my most excellent agenda." Isshenji scratched his nose in pride, but Kyousuke huffed.
"I did not. You dragged us here regardless of what I said."
"But I knew, deep within your seeking heart, that you yearn to endeavor on the righteous path set by none other than the transcendent Henshin! Haha!"
"Kiss ass," Kirino playfully whispered underneath a smirk to Kyousuke, as though he planned to act like one.
"Oh you shut it."
Instead of continuing his downfall through this one-sided dialog, Kyousuke look aside over the railing to the park below. They must be close to three floors above ground level, and the view truly conveyed such. The crowd below became more merged than distinguishable by person, and the shack roofs were the only objects separating him from the ground. He worried about the possibility of falling from such heights, which brought up a sweat. Kirino noticed him wiping at his brow and took the bait to toy with Kyousuke.
"Rather high up, aren't we? Would be quite painful to slip down~." Kirino nudged her foot against his, and he twitched from the contact. His heart fluttered in panic after strapping his arms around the railing.
"Quit that! It's not even funny."
"So Kyousuke-shi is afraid of heights?" Saori giggled, extended her arm out to free his, and coupled theirs together. "You can hang on to little ol' me if it will calm you down."
Kyousuke flustered at the offer, but more-so because of how her large bosom began to rub against his arm. "Th-That won't be necessary, I assure you. I can handle simple heights like these."
"Oh don't be shy, Kyousuke-shi." Saori covered her face with her free hand to guise her provocation. "I won't even mind if you do something more~, just be gentle."
"I-I-"
Kirino growled with boiled-over frustration and stepped in to distance them. "My stupid brother doesn't deserve any assistance. He can get over his faults by himself."
"Th-Thanks anyways Saori," Kyousuke wheezed out and gathered himself. Saori winked at him with more intent than playful, which clearly angered Kirino. She turned around and nabbed Kyousuke in the gut.
"Ow, what was that for?"
"Watch it."
"About what?" Kirino's eyes narrowed into a threatening leer.
"Trying to get a feel on Saori. I'll beat you up if you do it, especially right in front of me."
"Like heck I would. Besides, you shouldn't have been playing around in the first place."
"Heh, siblings fighting over the climb to the sky. What an enjoyable sight," Isshenji commented without need. Kyousuke didn't even speak up about the wrongful observation, but Isshenji carried on nonetheless. "That reminds me of another grand journey of mine-"
"No, please not another," Kirino muttered to herself, which Kyousuke agreed to himself. However, Saori didn't share a similar view.
"Please do go on, Henshin-sama. Did you brave it by yourself like the previous stories?"
"Heh, that's the only way this body knows of! Imagine it: Out on the Mongolian plain, during the winter tundra that favors no man's expectations, there's this-"
Kirino and Kyousuke reeled at the outrageous start of another Isshenji Henshin tale. These ludicrous oral telling live up to the self-deemed 'Isshenji Henshin' trademark on the account that none of the actions or events could ever possibly be legit. Much like the five 'long story short' epics that preceded, this Mongolian venture gave way to the protagonist performing outlandish feats during outlandish ploys. Seriously, who could believe in Isshenji's upcoming claim to have dived from the tallest peak among the Altai Mountains without utilities... only after fending off a ravenous skirmish against the furious remnants of the Great Kahn Hordes? If such were true, he'd easily overwhelm even epics of old, like Homer's Illiad and Odyssey.
'Thanks alot, Saori,' Kyousuke sarcastically thought to himself as he endured the exquisite details that Isshenji carefully emphasized with words and hands. Out of forced curiosity, Kyousuke began to wonder just how much more or less the pain from the fall would compare to this verbal abuse.
He wished he had dropped out of the group much like Kuroneko before they arrived at the ride entrance so long ago. Luckily for her, she had siblings of her own to look after so her excuse was believable. He bet not even a pathetic attempt at leaving for the bathroom would be bought by their host, even if the pain was overplayed.
He caught a glimpse upward at the staircase above him from the side. There were still two sets to follow from his spot. Judging from the three they had already overcome, another hour or so remained before they reached the summit. Sure enough, Isshenji still had plenty of adventure left to portray to his unwilling audience. Kyousuke sighed in defeat. Why did the line queue at the front betray his expectation of a 20-30 minute wait into a 2 hour torture session?
'I should have clung to Kuroneko when she offered the chance to get out,' Kyousuke admitted to himself. Unfortunately at that time, Kirino was adamant for him to stay beside her because she couldn't deal with staying with Isshenji, neither would he let her. However...
"Damn it aniki, why didn't you take the offer to follow Kuroneko?" Kirino whispered to her brother while Isshenji drew more utterly absorbed into his story alongside the blissful Saori. Kyousuke knew that Kirino had really wanted to tail along with Kuroneko instead, but not for the same reason necessarily. Rather, after Kuroneko came up with the valid reason to check up on her sisters, he imagined an overzealous Kirino gleaming at the thought of younger sisters in trouble. She would never admit it, but her eyes claimed otherwise to Kyousuke.
In fact, Kyousuke could just fathom the numerous scenarios that roamed through his eroge-tainted sister: ranging from the joyful moments of sliding along great long tubes, splashing in the cool water, to the chaotic terrors of putting those girls through the same trials as themselves, if only to watch them tremble in fear.
"Urgh, I can't wait anymore."
Kirino's sudden outburst brought Kyousuke back out of his trailing thoughts. He merely nudged her on the shoulder to reprimand her.
"You know Kirino-shi, sometimes waiting makes the ride seem even better than you thought before," Saori added in as some matter of fact before submitting herself back to Isshenji's tale, somewhere along the climax of his skirmish with the horde (Kyousuke didn't give a damn anyways). Kirino only scoffed at that suggestion.
"If that's so, then this ride would be the greatest feat of the world by now."
"Maybe so," Kyousuke mused without much thought. He had nothing better to respond with anyways. Kyousuke looked down again at the park, but noticed something different this time around. Just west of the beaching segment, employees or volunteers were assembling equipment and tarps with quick movements.
Members were armed well with technical supplies and covered decorations as they hastily reached their destinations. Even some bystanders were busy observing their work rather than enjoy the attractions. Then again, the mystery underneath the sheets were quite an attraction themselves to those who didn't know better. Kyousuke, for instance.
He hadn't noticed it before because they were some distance away and he didn't recall anything important being present during that time, but it definitely drew his bored curiosity now. "Say, what are they working on over there?" He pointed out to his sister whom he assumed knew about it, but she feigned acknowledgement.
"Nothing. Don't worry about it."
"...I wasn't worried about it, I was just asking since you kept me in the dark about that event." He sneered at a late realization. "Actually, you still haven't said anything about it since."
"..."
Kyousuke didn't like the silence that followed from her. It was too horribly foreboding for his taste. "Kirino."
"...Just... don't think about it. Really." He didn't take that poor demand so easily.
"You've got something to do with it, don't you?"
"N-No!"
"I bet you do," Kyousuke accused, much more intrigued to have her spill the beans than the first time around. Much to her displeasure, Saori noticed the sight as well and cheered with amazement.
"Awesome, they are getting it all ready! Kind of a shame they are still keeping it a mystery behind the scenes."
"So what is it, Saori? Kirino seems to not want to say," Kyousuke pointed out to put pressure on his dismissing sister. She waved to her friend not to mention anything, but Saori instead dragged on the suspicion.
"Oh, I just wonder why you wouldn't have known, Kyousuke-shi. They even had the advertisements available at the front gate."
Kyousuke tapped his chin and tried to remember the entrance. "...I couldn't see anything. There were too many people crowding around, blocking the view. Plus Kirino was... Hey! So that's why you were rushing me in!"
"I- I don't know what you're talking about!" Kirino darted aside to avoid the accusation. "Of course I would push you in if you are being retard slow, idiot!"
Saori chuckled at the cute defense. "Oh my, she really wanted to surprise you with this day. How adorable~."
"S-SAORI!" Kirino jabbed at her, though Saori continued to tease with gestures and exaggerated laughs as if to mock her.
"Oh don't worry, my lips are sealed." Saori elaborated her statement with a finger to her lips. The gesture did not seem to ease the girl, nor did he satisfy Kyousuke's annoyance.
"I'm going to find out sooner or later. I don't know why I haven't just asked the guy behind me-"
"D-DON'T YOU DARE!" Kirino roared out, causing everybody nearby to shift their attention to the outburst, though not the continued ramblings of Isshenji. Kirino softened up after realizing the new stares, and gained closer to Kyousuke. She intensely stared him down despite their height difference to ensure her threat.
"Just stay ignorant of the whole thing, got it? You ask anyone and I'll never forgive you."
"Is it that bad for me to know? Geez, you shouldn't have chosen this place as our- uh... date," Kyousuke mumbled out in a significant low tone to avoid anyone's ears.
"Th-That may be... but still," Kirino trailed off once she took in her own fault. She took a moment to consider before she met his glare. "Let's just leave after this ride. It's too busy anyways. I can't enjoy myself with those two around to spoil things."
Kyousuke sighed and rustled his hair in confusion. 'She is so fickle,' he thought to himself before meeting her weakened glance. Her front was giving away, showing how worried she apparently was. He nodded in defeat. "You're the one who chose the day anyways. I have no right to argue."
Just then, she finally let out a relieved smile. One he hadn't seen since they arrived.
"Thanks."
"Yeah, but the only problem you have are our guests. You can't possibly believe they'll allow us to simply slip off without an explanation."
"...Ne, you have a point," Kirino admitted in reluctance, suddenly deep in thought. She bit at her lip in strict concentration, but bared no fruit for her labor. Though he had none of his own, he patted her on the head to confide her effort.
"We'll manage something along the way. Let's just enjoy the ride for now."
"...Yeah."
"-Don't you agree, Mansaka?" Isshenji randomly broke off from his epic for some recognition, but Kyousuke didn't notice. The situation didn't help that Kirino was still clung tight to Kyousuke from the confrontation.
"MANSAKA!"
"H-Heh?"
"Mansaka, you better not tell me you chose to block out your sister from hearing the grace of my youthful perils?!" Isshenji crackled his knuckles to add physical strain behind his confrontation. Kyousuke pushed Kirino aside and let out a weak laugh.
"N-No, just thought I saw something on my sister's face. Heheh, yeah I just had to take care of that so she was presentable!"
"Maybe something else, I wonder," Saori wondered to herself aloud.
Isshenji furrowed his brow and adjusted his glasses. "Really now? That sure is somewhat admirable of you."
"...Huh?"
"For you to polish up my future trophy, that is!" Isshenji reeled in laughter and drew Kirino in. She didn't even realize when she was thrown into the air and placed atop his bicep, displayed like some honored bird sitting atop a brazen tree. Granted, it was much more like being hoisted atop a masculine pervert from Kyousuke's perspective.
"See? Not that bad of a set right here! Haha!" Kirino blushed from the sudden interaction as well as the chattering people around them admiring the setup. Kyousuke took some offense to the added comments murmuring around him about 'boyfriend and girlfriend flaunting' or relevant nonsense.
"My my Henshin-sama, you sure are strong!" Saori praised aloud and clasped her hands in awe. Isshenji chuckled and adjusted his glasses again to feign embarrassment. However, that was replaced by him scooping up Saori as well into his other arm and positioning her in a similar pose on his other arm. Unlike the uncomfortable Kirino, Saori played on to the ploy by striking some seductive pose leaned into his arm, allowing her legs to flow perfectly down. Her larger chest emphasized more from her leaning which earned some wooing and whistles from the crowd.
Kyousuke stood below the manly titan in disgusted awe. Isshenji really had the strength to flaunt his feats; Kyousuke didn't know any other being capable of lifting two girls at once, definitely not himself.
Isshenji sneered down at the baffled friend and flexed his pectorals in a purposeful taunt. "Don't you wish you could achieve this pinnacle of manliness, Mansaka! Haha, only in your dreams!"
"P-Put me down already!" Kirino yelled out and stomped her foot into his face with all her might, but he didn't flinch a bit. Instead, he merely shifted down and let her slide off and smacking her on the butt.
"Heh, not bad. You've got some strength in those legs, but nothing to dent this handsome face." Saori took her own cue to slip off her muscled throne as well, but not before petting her former seat.
"You sure must be the envy of so many people. Only figures of legends could pull off something so manly," Saori praised with high regards. At that rate, Kyousuke wondered if she was planning to milk him into becoming her personal tank or something more comical or sinister.
"Naturally! It's all about the upper body for a man. Even Mansaka here must be ashamed of his own. Look how he continues to wear his shirt in shame," Isshenji hinted with a taunting gnarl. Kyousuke didn't mind it, of course, but Kirino seemed to realize it.
"Hey, why are you still wearing your shirt? You didn't even get that tan I ordered you to get!" Kyousuke's eye bulged after being caught. He had managed to slip under the radar about his appearance for so long that he thought he could get away with it.
"I-Is that so? Aren't shirts suppose to strengthen the tanning process or something?" He tried to lie through his teeth though he knew it wouldn't work. He was right.
"No, that's just stupid like yourself." Kirino pulled at its hem to hasten her demand. "Take it off already. You look like a fool being the only one with a shirt."
"N-No. I feel much better with it on, thank you."
"Kyousuke-shi, are you sure you're not burning up in that shirt?" Saori added in fake concern to encourage his sister to strengthen her attempt. Heck, he even caught the sly glimmer through her thick glasses and raised grin as she provoked. He cursed her under his breath while still fighting off Kirino.
"I'm fine! Don't worry about me!"
"Like hell I care about you! You're ruining MY image just being around me like a dork!"
The useless struggle carried on for awhile, the hem raising dangerously close to his reddened scar for the world to see; for his sister/girlfriend to see. Kyousuke hastily scurried through his mind for an excuse while wrestling with Kirino. He knew chunky shit was about to hit the fan.
Fortunately just then, the line quickly picked up as the line in front rushed forward to reach the top. Isshenji was the first to catch the progress and cheered the opportunity. "Right on! A rush to the top!"
"Rrgh, not before I-"
"No time for that nonsense! Haste is also a man's virtue!"
Isshenji scooped up the brawling siblings into his mighty grip along with Saori and plowed forward, even past the couples ahead of him, clearly his intention after blitzing straight through the long line without regards. No one seemed to mind or react to his rush, probably based on the fact that he was too muscular for a mere mortal to confront. Kyousuke made sure to shout apologizes to everyone they passed, but quietly thanked the behemoth for being so bluntly forceful. At least for now a crisis was averted.
A/N: Been to long, I'm sure you know that. I have to admit I didn't expect to live past 12/21, so my desire to write had been trampled ever since the letdown. Now I'm left picking up my shattered reality. Anyways, I hate to admit this chapter wasn't what it initially was; lots of dialogue just for myself so I know that I won't be dropping the ball with this upcoming 'event' just yet. Well, mostly because what I wanted became more moggy after I stopped writing back at the beginning of December.
Urgh, enough of that. I want to carry on this chapter quickly because I'm not satisfied where it ends, so expect another chapter this week. I'm also going to be working on a OreImo oneshot while I'm at it, but don't expect me to tell you what it's about (just a sign of appreciation for all of you for bearing with me)! I will hint, however, that it is very similiar to Breaching. Until then!
Marlosa: Hm, sorry you weren't impressed with their involvement. To be honest, I'm bored with the set of characters bound in the OreImo universe, hence why I use many OCs. Unfortunately, I can't say I'll be dropping them soon because I can see some good potential with their inclusion, but I'll try to remain in our known community.
VVolf: I think I'll cover most of this in PM, but I'm glad that I was able to capture their character well enough despite only seeing a few episodes. Totally didn't know about them sharing the same seiryuu (seriously, lol). Oh, and I just totally imagined some glistening twinkles around your avatar's eyes exclaiming "I'M CURIOUS!".
Izanagi00: Yeah, I remember you mentioned that some time ago. Thanks for your everlasting support, though it'd be nice to see another chapter in that Kuroneko entry of yours... Hint?
NA6425: I wouldn't necessary agree with that. Kyousuke definitely has a masochistic pleasure about him. I'm sure he gets much joy out of being trampled on. Otherwise we wouldn't have the same great protagonist that we admire.
archangel77: Yeah it is. Aren't you missing a chapter update as well?
Annie Thompson: Muchos gracias, aunque yo no hablo español con fluidez. En cuanto a los capítulos, usted debe esperar definitivamente 100+. Así que espero que disfrutes el futuro de SC.