Chapter 18 – Sister-ish Rivalry

"Well, now…things have really escalated quickly now, haven't they? How will Mugi-senpai get herself out of this mess? Read on, Readers. And you will find the answer!"

"Wh-When did you get here?!" Mio yelled at Jun as she was in the middle of breaking the 4th wall again.

"I snuck in as the chapters were changing. I'm using these 4th wall breaks to my advantage now. Like a dimensional-breaking ninja or something like that."

"*sigh* I swear. You and Azusa are taking these 4th wall breaks way too far."

"But it's fun…" Both Jun and Azusa whined.

"Uh…guys. Can we continue the story now?" I asked.

"Yeah, I really want to know what this maid thing is about." Ritsu added.

"*sigh* Fine, whatever. It's not like these 4th wall breaks are going to stop."

"Ui was right when she said that we're slowly turning into Yuru Yuri." Yui said.

"W-We better not!"

Anyway…getting back on track, the six of us (well, seven. Since Jun's here) were still beyond shocked when Mugi had told us that Mikuru's new friend, Sumirror…Satoe…or whatever her name is, is her personal maid. The fact that maids in Japan can be this young is…wow.

Rich people must have their own rulesets or something…

"Sumire-san. You really work for Kotobuki-san?" Mikuru asked.

"Yes. I do. I have worked for Tsumugi-ojōsama and the Kotobuki family for most of my life. In fact, it is more like a…family business of sorts."

"I…see."

"You know…I'm not really surprised that Mugi-senpai has a maid. But I'm more surprised that she's this young." Jun said.

"Yeah, no kidding." Azusa said. "I think she's the same age as Mikuru-san."

"I am currently 15-years-old." The maid girl said. "But I will be turning 16 later this year."

"Woah…" Both second-years said in union.

"Anyway…it is good to see you again, Tsumugi-ojōsama. It has been a long while since we've last seen each other."

"Y-Yeah…s-same to you, Sumire…" Mugi had a stressed-out look of defeat on her face. That message she sent me this morning about something in this school was going to make our lives complete and total hell came true after all. And she was kicking herself in the gut hard right now.

Geez. Poor Mugi.

I then felt an intense stare of hate coming my way. And looking at the source, I felt a chill down my spine. As this Sumirror girl was staring me down with an evil glare in her eyes.

Cr-Crap! Th-This girl's creeping me out!

"So…is this the one? The long lost half-sister?" Sumirror asked.

"S-So, you've heard of me…"

"How could I have not? After all…it is because of you that Tsumugi-ojōsama left the mansion and left me all alone! How DARE you take my Onee-chan away from me?!"

"O-Onee-chan?!" The four bandmates, Mikuru, and Jun yelled in total shock.

"*clears throat* I do apologize for that. I have lost my composer due to my emotions." Sumirror then said after calming down a little.

"Uh…Onee-chan? Is that some kind of pet name or something?" I asked.

"Onee-chan means "older sister", senpai." Azusa said.

"Older sister? Mugi, you have an actual sister?"

"N-No, Miharu. Sumire just calls me that because we grew up together."

"Oh…"

I still didn't get it.

"Although…it's been years since you've referred me as such, Sumire. Why bring it up, all of a sudden?"

"Because, Ojōsama. You do not understand how much I have been hurting since your departure. I have been living alone at the mansion…wishing that you would come home already…while you have the fun and the excitement with this…this…illegitimate child!"

"S-Sumire!"

"Il-le-gi-ti…mate? Is that another Japanese word?" I asked while being totally confused.

"N-No, Miharu." Ritsu said with a sweatdrop.

"*sigh* Forgive me, Ojōsama. I have lost my composer again."

"Geez, it's like this girl has a switch or something."

*BONK*

"Ow!"

"Shut it!" Azusa said after hitting Jun in the head.

"You are forgiven, Sumire." Mugi said. "But I will not allow you to disrespect my half-sister again. She is very special to me."

"But am I not special to you, Ojōsama? We used to be inseparable. All the favors I preformed for you…I secretly brought manga to you so that you can better understand the life of a "regular" girl."

"Regular girl?" The rest of us were now looking at Mugi with insulted looks on our faces.

"I-I was naïve as a child. Pl-Please forget that." Mugi replied in a somewhat panicked tone.

"It was grueling work, sure. But I enjoyed it none the less. It was all for my beloved Onee-cha…Ojōsama…and I would do anything to make her happy."

Sumirror then looked at me again with the same creepy glare of hate from before. And the chill in my spine came back, as well.

"But…I haven't been able to do such a thing…in over six months. I have been alone for that long…hoping that Ojōsama will one day return to me and my shattered heart will be restored. But that has not happened yet. And it is because of YOU, Neroni! You stole my Onee-chan from me!"

"Gah!" I yelled in fear as I backed up towards Azusa. "G-Guys, this Sumirror girl is really creeping me out!"

"Sumire!" Mugi yelled at her. Both girls had soon calmed down afterward. "*sigh* Look, I truly am sorry for leaving without telling you. But it was not my decision. Father had kicked me out after I had refused to leave Miharu. It is his fault that this has turned out how it is."

"I understand that, Ojōsama. But do you not think this has gone on long enough? You have been estranged from your family for half a year at this point. How are you surviving on your own like this?"

"I'm surviving due to the support of my friends…and my half-sister. Miharu is the one family member that understands me on a spiritual level. She sees me not as a mistress or a stereotypical rich girl…but as a normal 17-year-old teenage girl. Something very few people tend to do. She understands me and what I am going through. And I hope that you will do the same, Sumire."

"Wh-What? B-But, Ojōsama…"

"That is an order, Sumire." Mugi said in a stern look and tone. Looking completely serious.

"*sigh* F…Fine. I-I shall obey. I will try to accept Neroni into your life."

"Thank you, Sumire. And please. Refer to my half-sister as…Miharu-ojōsama."

"Wh-What?! O-Ojōsama, you cannot be serious! I-I could never…"

"Sumire…"

"F-Fine. A-As you wish. I-It will be…a-a pleasure to…g-get to…kn-know you, M…Mi…Miharu-ojōsama." It looked like it took every part of her strength for Sumirror to say that. And even then, it was still scary as hell.

"Um…same here…Sumirror." I said.

*INSERT CLASSIC JAPANESE SCHOOL BELL CHIME HERE*

"Aw, man. Lunch is over already. This was getting good."

"Don't make this like a TV soap opera." Mio retorted to Ritsu.

"Oh, Sumire." Mugi said. "I would like to continue this conversation after school. So, please return here to me and Miharu."

"Huh? B-But, Ojōsama…"

"Mugi. I really don't think I should be involved in this." I chimed in. "Sumirror clearly doesn't like me."

"It'll be fine, Miharu. Sumire knows clearly well what happens if she disobeys my orders. Right, Sumire?"

"I…I…Ugh. Y-Yes. A-As you command, Tsumugi-ojōsama." Sumirror said with a look of defeat in her eyes before making her way out of the clubroom. But before leaving completely, she turned to face me one more time. And the sudden chill in my spine returned once more.

"Oh. And Miharu-ojōsama. Please…cease referring to me as "Sumirror". I have dealt with it this entire chapter and it is pissing me off."

"Alright! A fellow 4th wall-breaker! High five!" Jun cheered as she and Azusa had high-fived each other.

"Honestly, you two…" Mio said with a facepalm.

"S-Sorry, about that. I don't know any Japanese." I said while rubbing the back of my head.

"*sigh* Whatever. I am going back to class. I will meet you there, Mikuru-san."

"O-Okay. I will meet you there, Sumire-san." Mikuru said.

Once Su…Su…wh-what's-her-face had left, I felt the chill leave my spine and the tense atmosphere ceasing to exist. I don't know what I was dragged into, but I feel like I'm going to hate every minute of it.

"Ugh. Geez. That was something." I said. "Why did you involve me into that, Mugi?"

"I know. Thinking it over, that was a stupid thing to do. Now I feel like the situation is only going to get worse."

"How would it get worse than it already is?" Mio asked.

"I'm not sure, Mio-chan. It's just…this feeling in my gut."

"I see…"

"Well…let's just head back to class and let this breeze over a little. It's still the first day." Ricchan said.

"*sigh* Yeah, I guess."

"Zzz…Haaah…Zzz…"

We looked over at the table to see Yui completely knocked out on the table. Her face smeared with frosting from the cake she was eating and the fork she was using still in her right hand.

"W-Was she…Was she asleep this whole time?" I asked.

"*sigh* Damnit, Yui…" Ritsu and Mio facepalmed hard.

"H-Hirasawa-san…i-is a third-year?" Mikuru asked.

"We're just as shocked as you are, Mikuru-san." Azusa and Jun said in union.

"Yui-chan…Yui-chan, it's time to wake up." Mugi said as she shook her body to wake her up.

"H-Huh? Oh. *yawn* Hey, guys. What I miss?"

"Pretty much the entire chapter." We all said as we collectively gained a huge sweatdrop. While Yui was left with a huge confused look on hers.

And yet, I'm the one labeled as "something else"…

Author's Note: A small update this time with not much else to say. Although, I will say that I wish Sumire had a birthday listed somewhere instead of me guessing what it is. Must be because she only appears in the manga. Oh, well.

And yes, it will be a running gag that Miharu can never get Sumire's name right. I just find it funny. No real reason to it.

Thanks for reading. Later.