A week passed without much happenings. After the night where we met, Asia Argento and I did not talk much in or out the school. Part of the reasons is because people still flocked onto her since she's a foreigner, and part of it is because she's a member of the Occult Research Club, thus elevating her status as one of the most known people in Kuoh Academy. Well, not that I mind. But if Asia Argento one day approached me and asked me to shop things together then who am I to refuse?

Aside from that, Akihito and I started to consider mailing each other as regulars, particularly Akihito who liked to have a sudden bout of English mumbo jumbo in his mind and asking me in the mail and sometimes in the call. And although not every day since Akihito also has his club meeting, our tutoring session also progressing nicely.

But really in the past week, what concerned me the most is the way Riku acted. Yes. That night isn't the only night Riku acted strangely. The following days, Riku tidied up his bed alone, and took a bath alone, did his homework alone, cleaning the house. Well, cooking breakfast was still left to me, but it's as if Riku is growing up.

And it really bugs me. Big time.

That's why, in this particular morning, I am going to skip going to school. The reason? I'm going to spy on Riku the entire day.

That is a justified reason. After all, changes began from a stimulus. Riku has already shown a mark of change, thus I conclude that something is the reason and I want to find out what it is.

School? Meh, Riku is more important than anything. And besides, there's no English today so there's nothing I like. As for Akihito, I can tell him later that I can't make it today if my looking out for Riku isn't finished by evening.

So here am I, behind a stone wall that separates the area of Riku's elementary school and the pavement, peeking to check from the dozens of children who plays on their break time about Riku's whereabouts.

My eyes darts over and over the children. I even have to change the place where I peek to see the wider picture. And I haven't found Riku yet. Maybe he likes to spend his break inside the building? It makes sense. As much as Riku loves to tell me in detail about his days, I never realize I missed small but important things such as how he spent his breaks. That's an oversight in my part. It won't happen again, I promise it!

So when someone pokes me in my shoulder, understandably I am shocked. I even let out an embarrassing 'kya' which fortunately is soft enough that I'm not sure whoever poked me doesn't hear it.

"Ha, what a cute voice. You should let them out more often, Hanazono-san."

Or not.

I grimace as the figure of Hyoudou Issei let out a small chuckle. "What are you doing skipping school like this?"

"I am not. I just broke a rule of not leaving the school grounds on break time. You see, I find this cheap but delicious boxed lunch on a convenience store one day, so if I have the time, I usually go out and buy it. See?" he shows me the bag he carries. "the question is, what are you doing skipping school like this?"

"Ha ha. Throw it back at me, would you?"

"I mean, who'd have thought that the plain normal Hanazono-san is apparently a secret delinquent!"

The way he said that actually makes me want to strangle him. It's annoying.

"Tch," I throw my face forward, and continue my search of Riku. "I'm spying my little brother."

"Whoa whoa, what is this about spying and little brother? Are you a brocon? You're a brocon aren't you? You're a brocon!"

"Do you need to repeat it three times? And the last part is a statement isn't it? I truly want to say profanities to you Hyoudou but I will refrain for the sake of the children here."

"Yeah yeah, whatever suits you." God I want to wipe that smug smirk on his face off his annoying face. "Anyway, do I need to call the police?"

"Go to hell, Hyoudou. I have no time nor the will to engage you in any verbal combat."

"I'm hurt, and the children doesn't need to hear that, you cruel witch!"

I ignore him in favour of one last scan. There he is! Riku is walking towards a bench… is Riku chatting with a girl? The girl is smiling? And Riku is grinning?

What's happening?

"Oh, so that's your little brother."

That one remark reminds me that Hyoudou is still here. "The best little brother the world ever has."

"What about me?"

"Huh?" I stare at him.

"Aren't I your little brother too, Onee-chan?"

I should be annoyed, or angry at him. The way he said the 'Onee-chan' part is clearly mocking me. And I truly want to response with a thorn, but somehow I bite my tongue and my words dies in my throat.

"What's wrong, Onee-sama?"

My mouth is open, but no sound comes out. I can't say anything to save my face.

"Your face is red, do you have a fever, Ane-ue?"

My breath is erratic. I actually get excited when Hyoudou refer me as his big sister. What's wrong with me? It's not as if he had triggered my big sister switch! So there's no reason for me to act like this around him! That's right, the problem is Hyoudou!

"Don't call me that you idiot!"

I punch him in the chest. I'm not that powerful so I don't expect him to fall from my weak punch. I even barely exercise, I just did it in order to balance my diet and maintain my body shape which sadly is not going where I hoped. So to say I am a little surprised that I feel pain from punching him is understandable.

"Ouch. What's your chest made of? Steel?"

"Stones actually."

"Ha ha, very funny. Now shoo, you're annoying me and my holy quest."

"And this holy quest refers to?"

I take a glance at him before dismissing his entire being then and there. Right now there's more important things than Hyoudou's question. I continue to observe Riku's interaction with the mysterious stranger girl.

It seems that after seeing me ignoring him, Hyoudou also observes Riku.

When Riku blushes at the girl's smile, Hyoudou speaks.

"Ha! Your little brother is totally crushing on that girl!"

I fall down to knees in despair. He couldn't be… Riku couldn't be… my Riku has a crush? How could this be happening to me?!

"Riku…"

"Hello, earth to Hanazono-san. Do you copy?"

And of course, the pervert in front of me have to kill my mood for crying. I wipe the tears that have begun to gather in the corner of my eyes and reply, "Hanazono to Hyoudou. Fuck you and your theory of Riku's crush."

"You're really angry to resort to profanities, huh?"

"We-Well, who said I'm angry? There's no reason for me to be angry in the first place. You said Riku is crushing on that mysterious unknown stranger girl just to annoy me, don't you? P-Please tell me I'm not wrong!" There is actually cracks on my voice as I demand to him while shaking his shoulders.

"Ca-Calm down, geez. I can't answer you if you're shaking my body like this."

He's right. I take a deep breath and calm myself. No use losing my composure like this. Anyway, I need to know why Hyoudou said Riku is crushing on that girl. Riku is totally not crushing that girl. The only crush Riku should have is the cute kiddie crush a little brother has on his big sister. That's right, mysterious stranger elementary schooler, you think Riku is crushing on you, but it is me, Rise!

Suddenly I get the urge to make a ridiculous pose. Meh, whatever.

"So why did you say that my cute little brother has a crush on that unremarkable girl? You're just joking, right? Hahahahaha, that's funny, Hyoudou."

"Unfortunately for you, I'm not joking," Hyoudou replies while shaking his head in disagreement. "Take it from a guy who had experienced a crush before. Your little brother there, is exuding a sign of a boy crushing on a girl. Does his behaviour change recently?"

I nod, "Ever since last week, he began to be more independent and less and less relied on me. I thought it was just a phase of growing up. I mean, I was like that when I was his age…"

I slump to the ground. Energies leaving my body as I feel powerless to do anything. Riku…

Hyoudou suddenly pats my back. On his face he wears a sympathetic expression. "It must be hard for a brocon like you to see this. Let's get away from this."

I cannot find the word to deny him, and just nod at him. I take the hand he extends towards me and we get away from peeking an elementary school to a nearby park which had benches. Hyoudou let me rest there while he began eating his bought boxed lunch.

Time passes in silence, as I keep contemplating what it means for Riku to have a crush while Hyoudou finishes his meal.

"it's not as if you're going to lose your brother. In the end, a crush is just that; a crush," Hyoudou attempts a conversation. I would appreciate it if he doesn't begin it with that sentences though, it just makes me more depressed.

"You don't understand."

"Well, of course I won't. I don't have any siblings. In the end, I think I'm envious of you, you got a brother. I always want to know the feeling of having a sibling. Either younger or older I don't care. A cute tsundere little sister who is fond of you but too embarrassed to show it. A sexy mature big sister who loves to tease you but deep down cares for you. An annoying younger brother whom I can share my obsession with. Or a reliable elder brother whom I can share my problem to."

I look at Hyoudou as he let out the feeling inside his heart. We're already 16, it's uncommon for two siblings to have age differences more than fifteen years. And Hyoudou is only child. That means either his parents don't want to, or they can't. I can't say which is true, but if it's the latter, then Hyoudou will never have a sibling.

"Huh? What? Is there anything on my face?" Hyoudou points at himself when he feels my gaze on him.

As much as a pervert he is, deep down I know he's a kind person. Despite teasing me earlier, he still brought me here and spend time with me until I calmed myself down. He must be skipping the lesson right now. It's because of me.

So…

"I don't mind," I say with a firm tone.

"Huh?" Hyoudou looks at me. Despite saying it confidently, I can't help but averting my gaze from him to the trees in front of me.

"The way you call me earlier, I don't mind it."

"What? The way I call you earlier? Hanazono-san?"

"That's not it, idiot."

"Onee-chan?"

I cover my face with my palm, hiding my red cheeks. With how warm I feel my face, I don't think the redness is visible only on my cheeks.

"Oooh!" from between my fingers, I can see Hyoudou's face lights up in understanding. A teasing smile then forms on his face.

"Onee-chan? Onee-tan? Onee-sama? Onee-chama?"

"Gah! You're infuriating!"

"I can't help it."

"And besides, shouldn't it be me who teases you?"

"Well, that part is already covered by Akeno-san," he points out proudly.

Himejima Akeno, huh? I shouldn't be surprised since he's a member of Occult Research Club now.

"Then what role do you think fits me?"

"That's easy," Hyoudou says as he stands up from his position. "You're the wise big sister who fully supports her little brother in his quest to be a Harem King! Sometimes you left a mysterious clue! Sometimes, you give a wise advice! Everything is in order to help me achieve my dream!" he finishes by pointing his finger to the sky.

"I refuse."

"Eeeehhh?!"

"There is nothing in any shape or form that can convince me to believe a pervert like you can get a harem. So I don't want a useless role."

"Your lack of faith in this little brother is hurting me. Oh right, I forgot that you're a brocon. Want to join my harem?"

I end up punching his arm as he laughs.

"Seriously, Onee-chan. Just be yourself."

"That's the most clichéd advice you can give to someone. How can you be yourself if you don't even recognize what makes you as yourself, what distinguish you from other people that one can say that you need to be yourself. It's like you're saying you need to shape the clay as a clay."

"I don't understand? So you're saying that you don't know yourself?"

I pause at his question.

"Do you know yourself?"

"Not completely, but I do."

"I'm the same," I reply as I look at the sky. "sometimes I wonder what it takes to know oneself fully. I know my behaviour, my ambition, my likes, my dislikes, and even then I don't feel complete. What does it take to understand oneself completely? Hey, foolish little brother of mine, if you ever find the answer before me, would you be willing to this humble big sister the answer to this very question?"

"What are you saying? We're going to find it together."

I admit, I am a little stunned by his answer. Slowly, a smile forms on my lips. That's right. We're going to find it together.

"But I forbid you from calling me Onee-chan in public."

"Yeah yeah, I know you're too embarrassed to admit it publicly."

"It would be bad for my non-existent reputation," I point out to him.

"About that," Hyoudou replies. "I looked into it since the first time you said it to me. Do you even realize your own reputation?"

"What reputation? I do not stand out in between hundreds of Kuoh Academy's students. There's nothing exceptional about me," I said as I spread out my hand to emphasize my point.

"But when I asked around, people seemed to recognize you instantly when I said your name. And apparently you also have a nickname. What was it again…?" wait wait seriously? People recognizes me? And I have a nickname? Please tell me you're just messing with me, Hyoudou.

"Ah!" Hyoudou snaps his fingers. "Just kidding. Hehehe," he rubs his head sheepishly.

What a relief. My efforts to go unnoticed is paid off.

"But they do know about you, they said you're one of the best students when it comes to English subject."

Well, that's better than I think. One of the best means that I am one in many, thus will not stand out.

"Of course I am. My dream is to study overseas, possibly in England."

"Huh, is that why you're so passionate in learning English?"

My brain halts its thought processing Hyoudou's words.

I'm sorry, let me correct it.

My brain halts its thought processing Hyoudou's words in perfect English without accent! I watch enough documentaries and movies in English to know how the westerners speaks, and compares it to the way Japanese speaks. There are slight accents that makes it noticeably different.

And Hyoudou pulls out a perfect accent-less English out of nowhere.

If this is not a Deus ex Machina then I don't know what is.

"Care to repeat that Hyoudou?"

"What?" he looks at me with a puzzled expression. This guy… if that was just coincidence then I'll let it go. If it isn't though…

"Can you repeat what you said in English?"

"Huh? I spoke in English…? I mean, yeah, I said that. What was it again? Ehehehe, I think I said it out of nowhere that I forgot."

I look at his face, trying to find any sign that he is lying.

"Er, Hanazono-san?"

Despite feeling that he's trying to avoid the request, I don't find any sign of lie on his face. Either he has a good poker face, or he's telling the truth. But I doubt it's the latter.

"Shouldn't you be at school? Break time is over since ages ago."

Hyoudou freezes as he remembers where he is supposed to be.

"See you later!" he says while running towards the direction of the school.

That guy. He loves to get the last words so much. I don't even get to say my thanks for cheering me up.

Pulling out my phone, I send a mail to Hyoudou.

Thx J

Who knows a single word can contain a myriad of thoughts?

"Ise, where we you?" that is the words that greets him when he arrives in the clubroom. "Yuuto couldn't find you in the lunch break."

Issei rubs his head and laugh sheepishly at that, "Ehehehe, I… might have broken some rules and go outside to buy a nice cheap and delicious boxed lunch in a convenience store far from here?"

Rias who questions him just sighs. Meanwhile Asia tries to get Issei's attention.

"I-If you like I can try to make you boxed lunch tomorrow…"

"My efforts are not in vain, you know! I managed to save a kid's life! And Asia-chan, of course I would like to."

Ah, today is a good day. He talked with Hanazono and Asia want to make boxed lunch for him.

Whatever Issei thought about having a good day goes away instantly the moment that prick of a Yakitori comes out from the transport circle.