The hardly awaited but still requested continuation of this irrelevant fic is here! Enjoy!

"This is going to be harder than I thought"

"Onii-chan, you have to respect a man's romance!"

"You're both girls"

"You're getting really annoying, Hachiman"

"Yuzuru, I don't want to hear this from you, specially after I saw how you facepalmed a few minutes ago"

"Hachi-kun...I love my sister enough to not get in the way of her dreams, not like you"

"Yuzu-chan...don't you dare doubt the love I have for my sister"

There was static in the air.

'What is going on?'

"Now you see what you've done?! You're both creeping poor Shou-chan out!"

""We did not!""

Shouko was later informed of this interaction.

It was expected, yet an unwelcome challenge if there ever was one.

Komachi and I were on our second visit to Nishimiya's house. Considering that yesterday, all afternoon was wasted with bonding 'exercises' between my dear and cute little imouto and Shouko.

It really was just both them writing to each other in their respective notebooks.

It was quite late by the time both of them realized how the day was gone. Yaeko-san arrived just in time, looking with an unreadable expression at the scene she had come to. Both Shouko and Komachi giggling like hormonal teenagers and far to the side, little Yuzuru and I watching them inconspicuously from a corner of the room.

I don't blame her. The sight probably looked quite odd.

So, after she kicked us out (read; she gave us a ride home and told us to continue another day), we came the next day without any invitation. I couldn't even warn Shouko, as this was just the result of Komachi's impulsive actions. I mean...I arrived home after my daily routine of going to school, getting some 'love' from my classmates, and sharing a few moments with Shouko while waiting for her mom to arrive.

Imagine my surprise when, the moment I came home, I found Komachi, earlier than normal, fully ready to go out.

"A-Are you going out with some friends?" I asked her…

Foolish me.

"YES! and Komachi is dragging you Onii-chan!"

It was like a stab—Komachi wants to introduce me to her friends?—part of me was delighted, part of me was scared. My sister and I may be siblings, but you couldn't find two people that were more different from each other.

I tried to filter my self doubt. "You sure, Komachi?" but I knew it was useless. I could say 'no', but I couldn't handle saying 'no' to her. I had this stupid idea that it would break her heart, and breaking her heart would break mine.

"What are you on about, Onii-chan?" she looked puzzled for a moment, then shrugged and put on a playful and cute smirk that only she could pull off "Anyway! follow Komachi!" and what followed was the embarrassing display of a ten year-old girl hauling a prepubescent boy in a rather forceful manner with some complaints voiced out here and there.

Half an hour later I realized where we were going.

It became obvious when we stopped in front of a familiar house, and after Komachi knocked three times, the door was opened by a familiar wrinkled face.

"Well well, how lovely" Ito-san spoke, her crinkle face crinkled even further and I could smell conspiracy in the air if the muffled 'Kukuku' of my little sister were anything to go by.

We were let inside by the grandma and were made to wait on the sofa in the middle of the living room, just like yesterday. Silent tap-tap-tap sounds were Shouko's announcement, and if she knew about Komachi's plan...well, her surprised expression betrayed all emotions.

Yeah...Shouko knew nothing about it. And...is that a wild Yuzuru that I see from the corner of my eyes? Funny—the girl is looking more surprised than I'm.

Shouko ran back to her room, probably to look for her notebook.

"Wha...what are you doing here?" the tomboy imouto asked.

I look at her, trying to convey that I'm not part of this skim, but it seems that my telepathy skills are a bit rusty "Komachi came to visit a friend" at least that's what she said, I try to guilt trip my sister with my look, but she doesn't even look sheepish at all.

Damn, if she wasn't so cute!

"And what are you doing here?" Now she takes an edge on her tone when referring to me.

What? Do I have the cooties or something? Is she in a phase where all the boys are 'ew'? Do I make you want to wash yourself, Yuzuru-chan? I'm hurt.

"I was dragged" I omitted the word 'literally' for my dignity's sake.

She gives me the stinky eye and I blow raspberries in retaliation. One may think this manner of communication is quite immature, but what did you expect from a kid? Komachi just gives a bell-like giggle to the side, seeing our interaction, it seems she came to the wrong conclusion that we got along.

"Komachi is happy that Onii-chan made a friend"

What's with that Face Yuzuru-chan?! I should be the one offended by such a statement. Now, I'm anything but a sage, Buda pales in comparison when it comes to patience in matters related to my little sister, so, I was going to give a long and really interesting speech about how wrong my dear Imouto was when Shouko came back. A shy smile plastered on her face. I think? Hard to know since she's hiding her blushing cheeks behind her notebook.

Of course, Komachi, like the angel she is, notices her first. "Shou-chan!" she rushes to the shy girl hugs her...heh, I guess they really did get along. I interchange glances with Yuzuru and we both nod at the same time. It seemed that we had this connection as dotting siblings in which they were the important part of the equation. For Yuzuru, as long as Shouko was happy, she was fine with it; and for me, as long as Komachi smiled, I was fine with it too.

We exchanged pleasantries and Ito-san brough manjuu. Again. What was up with that? Not that I'm complaining, just thought that it was worth pointing it out. The two extroverted girls sat side by side, Yuzuru on the farther chair just kept a vigilant eye on them. They were about to go on with their exchange and talks like yesterday so I had to force myself to interrupt my little sister with a fake cough. It hurts! Don't look at me like that Komachi! Please, I beg of you, don't pout!

"We better start with the singing lessons"

"Oh...right, that's why we came here, right?"

I lightly hit Komachi's head with a karate chop. She squints her eyes at me with a betrayed expression.

"This is important for Shouko"

She nods in understanding. Thankyou for forgiving your Onii-chan for daring to interrupt you, my dear sister.

"It's okay, but I won't forgive you"

My heart!

Anyways, I proceed to give Shouko the basics on how we will work this out. I'm pretty sure we could manage something, I spent all my night without sleeping just to come up with this method. Basically, we will rely on Shouko's muscle memory. She will try to sing and we will pitch in if she should go for higher or lower notes. With time, her body will be able to tell on it's own what note corresponds to the type of movement her mouth or throat has to make.

"This is stupid" Yuzuru gives her oh so much requested opinion. I know it's stupid, but please, I couldn't manage anything else. "As if you would know anything about singing. How will you be able to tell if she's using the right tone and pitch?"

"..."

"Ne, Onii-chan...you really didn't think this through, did ya?"

You two are lucky I have a weak spot for little sisters. And what are you writing to Shouko, Komachi?

'I-I'll try my best?'

Wha-? How do you stutter when writing? And why the question mark?!

'Though, are you sure it's the best way?'

Shou-chan! Not you too!

Faith is something intrinsic to mankind, it is a fact that we have the capabilities to believe, and as long as we believe, we will try. Those beliefs lead to dreams that we wish to accomplish, even if they only have a marginal percentage of coming true, we will steer the whole universe and fool ourselves in the delusion that we will get what we deserve. The girl you like? Keep trying buddy! She will definitely look your way! The job of your dream with high pay and manageable working hours? Sure! Keep studying and they will hire you!

Of course, that kind of thought process is destined to fail; you will have a mental breakdown and a broken marriage with someone you will end up hating, and they will hate your guts in turn.

But...I'm a firm believer that even if your dreams don't come true, your hard work won't fail you. You may end up with a tattered soul but you can say 'I did my best' as consolation.

Right now, this is what I'm aiming for Shouko...though...that may as well be a dream too.

"~AAAAAAAAA~!"

A broken cacophony made its way through the hall and I'm surprised and even impressed that Ito-san hasn't flinched during the whole afternoon. Yuzuru is face down covering her ears, Komachi is making some kind of hand signals trying to convey the idea of 'Lower! Lower!' and Shouko has her eyes tightly shut. It seems that her idea of 'trying my best' is yelling as loud as she can in hopes of getting something right.

It's practically her own version of 'Throw everything to the wall and see what sticks'.

"This is going to be harder than I thought".

Yuzuru facepalmed, though she made sure that Shouko wasn't looking when she did.

Such a nice little sister.

Fuaaahhh...This chapter is much shorter than the previous one. But I can work better with this length, otherwise the writing process will keep dragging indefinitely. and no one wants that. Right?

Besides, this one is just to make you guys know that I'm back...kind of.

Honestly this story is writing itself, and not in a good way. Because I don't know where the hell this is going.

See you in a few days!