#4) Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai Plot bunny attack~!

"Oi oi oi, you're kidding me right? This kind of stuff doesn't happen in real life." I pulled my cheek as hard as I can and let it go when it became too painful. The smack that resounded in the bathroom could've easily made it in the world's record book as the most audible sound to ever be made in a bathroom's wall... then again, that'll be too specific. Maybe the record for the most painful cheek pinch? Or maybe the record for the furthest possible distance a human cheek can be pulled. No no no, gotta concentrate on the matter at hand.

I looked intently into the mirror again and tried to find any tricks to it. It's following every one of my movements and doesn't feel fake to the touch. A punch to the glass might yield more definite results but I honestly don't want to make up an excuse should my fantasy-loving mind be actually correct. Next I walk to the scales and checked my weight. I scowled at the result that either supports my ridiculous theory or proved that someone enjoys messing with my mind... actually, I can think of many people who would enjoy messing with my mind, my very own mother have a secret tendency to do such things often.

I sighed aloud once more and walked back to my room. This is certainly not a dream because I felt a whole lot of pain when I pulled on my cheeks. This is certainly not a joke as it is too elaborately made. Either my height has been lowered without me knowing or the house grew a couple of inches. My most likely bet is on the first choice.

I opened the door to my room and found myself in an unfamiliar and yet nostalgic environment. It is the room that I've not been in for three years. After graduation and moving onto college, this room was left behind and was never actually vacated. Then again, if this situation is real, this room probably won't get vacated for quite a while.

I glanced at the calender in the room and sighed at the result. I looked down to the only table in the room and found a pile of half finished homework papers. I did a small calculation in my head and recognized why the pages are so lethargically done. It's been a year and a few months since the Akimi Sakurai incident. The stable point in when I finished my metamorphosis from an overly energetic middle school student to an average boy my age (abet slightly lazy). AKA, my parents have given up on me being more than regular and Kirino started a cold war on me.

The clock says that it was a Saturday and more likely then not, Manami will be expecting me and my homework to show up at her doors tomorrow. Perhaps I should finish these up so that I can hang out with her more instead...yeah that's the plan.

...

Oi oi oi! These are all wrong! What've you been doing little me? You're not even using the right equation to solve that problem! Are you even trying?... No, of course not. This is the period in my life when I had no motivation to do anything or rather, I didn't want any motivation to do anything. It looks like I really did troubled Manami a lot when I was small. No wonder she had developed that super granny personality, after all, she had to look after the lousy no-good son character that is little me.

I put down the worksheets and take a look outside my window to find that the sun has still not risen yet. The clock in my room says that it's only 4:30 so nobody will be awake at this time. Lets see now, no ridiculously complicated homework given by my hated professors, no plans to get to my part-time job in a hurry (or at all), no test reviews that I need to cram in a hurry and best of all, an enticingly comfortable bed staring at me straight in the eye. There really is only one answer for this metaphorical question.

I jumped on my beloved bed and rolled into a comfortable position before wrapping my blankets around me. Closing my eyes, I waited for sweet unconsciousness to come and get me.

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God dammit I can't sleep. Damn you college habits of staying awake~! Damn you homework that make me wake up in ungodly hours to study~! Damn you teenage energy that's keeping me awake~! How am I supposed to be a lazy teenage boy at this rate!

...

Yeah okay, I'm getting up now. I got out of bed again and looked at the clock again. Five minutes has passed and it's still too early for anything to be happening. I walked around my room, looked at my homework and shrugged. Might as well do these. Another five minutes passed and I finished all the homework that laid on the table. I looked through my school bag to find anything else I needed to do and got nothing. Just a few already graded worksheets, a test that I barely passed, a schedule for the month and some rice ball plastic wrappings.

I sighed once more and started trudging around my room once more. I have absolutely nothing to do. If this is a prank, then it is a very boring one. I now honestly doubt that this is a prank or even a dream though. The more time I spent in this body, the more I get accustomed to it. Accustomed, as in my mind is unconsciously starting to accept that this is my body. There is less discomfort the more I walk around the room. The more I think, the more I remember what should be long forgotten memories. Like what Manami made for me last week or what I did the night before. Trace memories that should be long gone from my short term memory space appear if I tried to remember it. Too elaborate to be a prank, too true to be a dream, that only leaves one answer... I have traveled through time and am now back to my middle school days.

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Damn I sound like a chuunibyou. Argh~! So embarrassing~! Think of something else already brain~!

GURGLEEEEEEEEE~!

Oh? Good job stomach, I can always count on you to help me out.

GURGLEEEEEEEEE~!

Alright! Lets go get some food!

-Downstairs-

Coast is clear. There's nobody here, preparing operation, nab some food... Wait, why do I need to sneak around? This is my house too. Toododododo, what is for breakfast today I wonder? Cold curry? Nah thanks brah. Half eaten apple? I think I should throw that away, it's kinda rotting. A cup of pudding? Maybe, but I don't want mom and/or Kirino to go after my head anytime soon. Yup, there's nothing breakfasty available in the fridge. That only means that we'll have to wait for mom to wake up and make breakfast. Sorry stomach.

GURGLEEEEEEEEE~

Well how can I deny that argument. Fine we'll just have to make breakfast for the family. Hope they'll like rice, soup, fish, omelet and pickled vegetables cause that's the only thing I know how to prepare! first the rice... hmmm, four people so that'll be two cups of rice and two and a half-ish cup of water. Thank you grandma Manami for teaching me how to survive on my own, I'm forever in your debt! What's next? Fish? That should be somewhere... here we go! Alright, now to heat up the oven throw you in the grill. While that's cooking, let's get to soup. Tofu, check, miso, check, stock, check, stuff, check and double check. Good, now to just throw all of these in a pot and hope for the best, just kidding~ Teehee!

GURGLEEEEEEEEE!

Ouch, low blow bro. Low blow. Anyways, how did Manami teach me to make this? Heat the stock, add the miso, let it stay in low temperature until others come and then throw in the tofu? That sounds about right. Yeah let's do that.

...

Once I made the omelet I looked at the clock again to check the time. Wow, how did that take me an hour to make? I really am a lousy cook. If there were actually people waiting, they'd probably die of starvation already.

GURGLEEEEEEEEE...

Oh right, I almost forgot about you. Got it chief, preparing dishes for consumption right now.

"Kyousuke? Is that you?" A voice spoke up from behind me as I was getting the plates to put the fish in. I turned around after setting down the plates and saw that it was mom who was looking at me questionably. I guess it is pretty weird to see your lazy teenage son waking up before you, especially on a weekend morning. In fact, I made it a habit to sleep in until the sun is completely up in the sky, if my memory is correct.

"Breakfast is almost ready. Please wait at the table." I turned on the heat for the miso again and added the tofu when I heard heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. Since mom is down here and giving me a strange stare, I guessed that the person coming down was dad. Kirino should be coming down soon as well since according to my memory, I never see her at home when I wake up. I do recall mom mentioning something about track and modelling. Guess Kirino has already got a job at around this time.

I managed to put all the food onto some dishes and even made it presentable before setting it on a tray and carrying it towards the table. Mom was in her usual seat, continuing to look at me with that strange look of... worry? Why would she be worry? Did she think I messed up the salt with the sugar? I'm not cute, clumsy or girly enough for that to pass mother. I made sure that the food is edible as I was cooking it.

Dad came in as I sat down at the table after setting up the breakfast menu. He paused when he saw me and gave a rare show of emotion, if a raised eyebrow can even be called that. He sat next to mom and across from me before giving the food in front of him a glance. He looked at mom as if to asked her how she made the food so quickly. Before mom could answer though, I clapped my hands loudly, said "Itadakimasu" and dug into my meal. My parents followed suit and went through the same steps. We ate in relative silence that was only stopped when mom went to make coffee, in response to dad's silent question.

When we were finished, I cleaned up the plates and helped mom to wash it. Dad looked up from his newspaper to give another silent question and mom helplessly shrugged as she had no idea what was going on either. Finishing drying the last of the dishes and putting it in the cabinets, I looked at the clock again and noticed that it was getting close the seven. Dang, I was hoping this would kill more time than that. Arg! I have nothing to do~... Well, technically I could sit on the couch all day and watch the television but that doesn't have much appeal.

Usually I would be doing my homework, working on one of my programming side projects (AKA making eroges for comiket), cleaning the dorm or playing some eroge that my sister lent me. Curently I already finished my homework, have no computers to do any programming projects, I just really don't want to clean the house even if it is my last resort and I'm pretty sure that Kirino hasn't got hooked on eroges yet. I don't know Kouhei yet so I can't go hang out with him and it would be a bother for Manami if I visited her too much. Maybe a walk around Akihabara will give him something to do. Yeah, that's today's plan I guess.

I went upstairs to change my clothes into something more street appropriate and got some pocket money. I walked downstairs again when I looked decent enough and told my mom and dad that "I'll be out for a bit." Mom asked if I was going to Manami's house but I shook my head and said that I'm just going to take a walk around. Mom gave me a look that I couldn't identify and consented. Dad gave me a glance over his shoulder and went back to his newspaper. I guess that was the most reaction I'll be getting out of him. When I turned around to close the front door, I caught a glimpse of an adorable face with blonde hair and turquoise blue eyes staring at me from halfway up the stairs. Our eyes crossed and she harrumphs and looks away just as the door closed.

"Ah truly, my little sister can't be that cute." I turned around and jogged to the train station.

-Some time later in Akihabara-

Wow, I seriously have nothing to do. I've been wandering around for hours on end now and there is still seriously nothing that jumps into my mind and scream notice me. I mean come on! I'm in the pop culture center of Tokyo here, there's gotta be something I can do right? Apparently not as I'm sitting in a random McDonelbs drinking my coke soda. Kinda wishing that I could stay at home and browse the web, maybe play an eroge or two. But in order to do either of those two tasks, I need a computer or a laptop. And in order to get said computer and/or laptop, I need money. Mom and dad probably won't get me one so I'd have two get one for myself and that would mean getting a job... Huh, I wonder if that guy hires middle schoolers.

I suddenly got up from my seat and ran to the store that I've become really acquainted to after two years of working there.

-A store called "Miura's Electronics"-

Whoa this place hasn't changed even after a six year difference. That's really somehow kinda amazing, the owner's laziness to improving his store that is. I open the door and hear the familiar jingling sound of the door chime exclaiming a customer has come in. I waited for a few moment to see if my future employer was going to greet his customer or not. When no one came, I walked to the back. There was no one manning the register or was there anyone in the break room (the back of the shop). I figured that there was my future employer is not in here at the moment and scowled at the fact that the man had the gull to just leave his shop unattended like this.

The doorbell chimed again and I heard a faint "Excuse me, is there anyone that can help me?" from the front of the shop. Out of pure habit, I walked to the front of the shop and stood at the register before addressing the shop's customer.

"Is there something I can help you with?"

"Huh oh, over there." The customer shuffled from the front of the shop to the register and paused when he saw my young appearance. He shrugged it off as a trick of lighting (which is sorely lacking for an electronic shop) and said "My laptop has been glitching on me lately and I want to ask if you can fix it. My friend recommended this place so do you think you can fix it?"

"Certainly sir, please write down in details what it is you wish for us to fix as well as your contact information and the owner will contact you if anything is needed." I pulled out a sheet of paper for the man to write down his problems and when he was done, I took the laptop and the piece of paper that was taped to it to the back. When I got to the front again I noticed that the customer was fidgeting around. I smiled and said "The owner will call you when he finishes and you can pay at that time. If there is anything that is not to your satisfaction, the service will be free of charge. Is there anything else you need?"

"No, that is all. Thank you very much." The man smiles gratefully and walks out the door. I hummed when I heard the jingle that proclaimed his leaving and decided to continue manning the shop.

After thirty minutes passed, I looked around the shop and decided to attempt to organize the mess into something orderly looking. Hours passed, customers came and went and the shop still looked the same only less dusty. I heard the door chime again and gave up my newest attempt to organize the hardware section of the shop to man the counter once more. The person who walked in blink when he saw me at the register, I stared at him straight in the eyes without looking away.

"Well now, I don't remember hiring anyone to look after the shop while I was gone."

"I heard you were looking for someone. I am willing to work for minimum wage."

"...What is your work schedule."

"I am free after four on weekdays and can work full time on the weekends while you go do your work."

"...I expect to see you here by opening time tomorrow."

"Please to work with you, I'm Kyousuke Kousaka."

"Kai Miura." He offered me a hand to shake and I immediately took out the prank shocker that was waiting in his palm before shaking his hands. He gave a "tch" as he went to the back to work on the things that the customers dropped off from earlier.

-Later-

"Hey kid, you better leave now before it gets too dark. Don't want your parents worrying or anything right?" Kai said to me after the clock declared that it was six. He closes the shop at eight so I looked at him questionably. He caught the look and waved it off while saying "Don't worry about it, nobody comes here after five anyways."

"Thank you." I bowed to him and began walking out of the shop before he stopped me and came out of the back.

"Here, take this one. It should work just fine for the purpose you're looking for." He handed me a case that had a laptop, a few disks and a charger in it. As the day had past, Kai got to know me better and found out my reason for wanting to get a job. He laughed when I straight out told him that I wanted one for playing eroges and offered me a chance to rent one from him until I gained enough money to buy one of my own. Now, I'm working for three quarters of minimum pay but in return, I now have access to a strong computer modified by Kai himself. I pulled out the disk and widened my eyes when I saw what it was. I quickly stuffed it back into the case and glared at Kai. The man was grinning like a lunatic.

"Try out that series. I originally wanted to give it to my nephew since he was into this kinda thing but who am I to reject a chance at corrupting another youth, huh?"

I pulled a Kirino and walked out the door without responding to him. As I got to the streets, he stuck his head out the window and yelled "I expect you to finish the little sister route by tomorrow, you hear me kid?"

I ignored the man and kept walking.

-House-

"I'm home." I called out to nobody in particular as I walked in the doors. It was around six thirty so there shouldn't be anyone home right now. Mom's probably still shopping for tonight's dinner, Dad's still at work and Kirino is doing whatever she does, most likely track and modelling. I walked into my room and turned on the laptop for it to automatically set up (since Kai wiped everything before handing it to me). As the laptop booted up, I noticed that my throat is a bit scratchy from lack of water. I decided to go to the kitchen to get a drink while the laptop continues its initializing. Walking the last steps of the stairs, I remembered that there was nothing to drink in the fridge besides water.

I felt like some some barley tea would sooth that itch in my throat and walked out the door again to visit the convenience store. The laptop seemed like it would take a while before it finishes booting up anyways. Hmm, come to think of it. This is the most active I've been in a while huh? Maybe I should tell my parents that I have a part-time job. Sigh, making an argument to persuade dad will take a while. Maybe if I get a good grade on the test next week, it'll improve my point. Yeah, let's leave the persuasion til next week. Until then, I'm sorry laptop but you'll be sleeping under my bed for the most part.

I grabbed a few bottles of barley tea from the shelf and made my way to the register when I paused at the ice cream box. Maybe some ice cream too will be a nice touch. Would Kirino like it if I buy her some? Maybe I could end the cold war faster this time if I get on her good side. Otherwise... it'll be a lonely year waiting for me. Yeah, I better buy her an ice cream... what flavor did she like? Ugh, I can't remember. She had always had a strict diet and rarely ate any sweets. Fine, vanilla it is. Vanilla's always the safest bet.

I paid the the items with the early pay Kai gave me to buy my "toys" with. That man really is too trusting sometimes but he is at least a good judge character... sort of. The sun was coming down and the sky was tinted in orange instead of blue so I guessed that it was around seven now. At times like this, I wished I had a phone so I could check the time but sadly enough, I won't be getting one until next year. Maybe I can convince dad... Then again, I have nobody to put into the contact list accept the mom, dad, Manami (does she even have a cellphone?) and Kai. It's a sad truth but I have no friends... cries.

I opened the door and walked in to see two extra pairs of foot wears than from when I left. Figuring that one of them belongs to Kirino, I wonder whose the other one is. If I were to listen carefully, I could hear Kirino energetically talking to someone in the living room. Maybe it's a friend from her school... Dang I only know two of her friends, Kanako and Ayase-tan. Either way, I better make a good impression. Should I try pulling off the cool guy act? No, Kirino said that I looked like a constipated retard. Silent loner? Well... I got the loner part right... no friends... sob. Meh whatever, default option: lousy but caring older brother it is. I closed the door and called out, "I'm home" for the second time that day.

Kirino's energetic voice stopped. Ah, I can see it now. She probably thought I'd be staying at Manami's house for the weekend and invited a friend over once I was gone. Please keep talking, don't make it look like my presence is a bad omen. If you do, nii-chan's feelings are going to hurt even more you know.

I walked into the room and caught a glance of blonde sitting next to luscious black. I immediately recognized Ayase's face. Whoa, even though it's six years into the past, she looks adorable. Passing by the two who were looking at my back, I put the tea in the cooling side of the fridge and the ice cream in the freezer side. Deciding to eat the ice cream first while I check on the laptop, I pulled out the chocolate flavored bar and ate it as I walked out of the kitchen area again. I caught Kirino's stare and said "I bought you some vanilla ice cream" before quickly exiting the living room. It wasn't until I made it to the top of the stairs before Ayase started the conversation again. I briefly heard something to do with the word brother and smiled nostalgically. I seriously wish I could hear her call me Onii-san one more time. I haven't talked to her for over a month now (before this happened). I miss my angel Ayase-tan~!

Oh the computer has finally finish booting up. Alright, my energy is fully restored after seeing my lovely angel! Lets install those pesky programs and get them out of the way first!

Challenge to put in the story!

*Not much of any challenge, just do whatever. Have Kyousuke start his own multi-million selling Eroges or make him win a lottery or something, he has the technology and the knowledge, plus he's six years ahead of everyone.

*Have him reconciliate with Kirino in the most awkward and funny way possible, free rein, just make it funny.

*Have fun writing the story.