The sun cast warm hues over the quiet neighborhood, turning the breakfast table into a picture of calm. The familiar aroma of miso soup, grilled fish, and perfectly cooked tamagoyaki should have made everything feel normal. But for Kitsune and Taiyo, normal was nowhere to be found.
Kitsune, ever the gyaru fashionista, strutted into the kitchen in her signature short plaid skirt, a loose tie, and enough accessories to outshine a Christmas tree. Meanwhile, Taiyo trailed behind in his oversized hoodie, looking like a sleep-deprived cryptid.
Beneath the routine of school mornings, a lingering tension still clung to them—remnants of Kitsune's relentless teasing about that crazy anime incident. Kitsune was riding high on her victory, flashing a smug grin every time she glanced at her brother, while Taiyo's still recovering from the humiliation.
Then, just when Taiyo thought his day couldn't get any worse, the air exploded with a piercing call:
"Kitsuuuuu~!"
Kitsune froze mid-step as Taiyo barely had time to glance up. A trio of vibrant gyaru girls—blonde, pink, and teal—stormed toward them, their heels clicking with purpose. Their coordinated outfits were a fashion assault, and their confident energy left no room for subtlety.
"Yo, girl! Who's the kid?" one of them, Blondie, asked as she eyed Taiyo up and down.
Taiyo scowled. "I'm literally taller than you," he muttered.
But Kitsune barely heard him. Her mind was still foggy from memories of the Isekai world. Panic threatened to rise—she couldn't stand there like an NPC waiting to load. So she improvised:
"Ahaha! Hey, uh… Blondie, Pinkie, Tealie! Long time no see!" she chirped, shooting out finger guns as if naming them was as natural as breathing.
The girls blinked in surprise before bursting into laughter. "Blondie?! Pinkie?! You're so weird, Kitsune!"
Giggling, she elbowed Taiyo. "See? They totally get me!"
Taiyo, still rubbing his sore ribs, muttered, "You're the worst."
Then came the cringe moment. One of the girls, Pinkie, nodded toward Taiyo and asked, "So, who's this?"
Kitsune hesitated for a split second before blurting out the worst answer imaginable, "My… roommate!"
Taiyo's jaw practically dropped. "Roommate?!" he sputtered.
"Yeah! We live together! Totally normal, totally not weird!" Kitsune doubled down, her voice rising in mock cheer.
The gyaru squad exchanged knowing glances, their smiles mischievous as they whispered conspiracies among themselves.
"Wait… you live together? Like, in the same house?" Blondie pressed.
"Yup!" Kitsune chirped, "Just… roommate things!"
Blondie smirked. "Roommate things, huh? Is that why he looks so tired? Did you two—"
"NO!" Taiyo shouted, his face flushing bright red. "We're siblings! SIBLINGS!"
The squad gasped in unison, as if performing a perfectly rehearsed scene.
"Siblings who live together?" Pinkie giggled, eyebrows dancing. "Girl, I didn't know you were into that kinda thing!"
Kitsune's eyes widened in horror. "WHAT?! No, no, no—y'all got it all wrong!"
But the damage was done. The girls erupted into laughter, whispering and giggling as they teased relentlessly.
"You're totally gonna corrupt him, Kitsune," Tealie teased, twirling a neon strand of hair. "Poor kid doesn't stand a chance!"
Taiyo, mortified and wishing he could disappear, buried his face in his hoodie. "This is a nightmare."
Realizing there was no escape, Kitsune leaned into the chaos. With an exaggerated flourish, she swung an arm around Taiyo's shoulders and declared, "Yup, that's right! I'm the boss around here! My little bro—uh, roommate—knows who's in charge!"
Taiyo groaned, "Kill me now."
As the gyaru squad sauntered ahead, still cackling over the "sibling/roommate" debacle, Taiyo turned to her, his eyes heavy with despair. "Why… WHY would you call me your roommate?! Do you know how sus that sounds?!"
Kitsune grinned, poking his cheek. "Relax, Mr. Anime All-Nighter. It's not my fault you give off hopeless little brother vibes."
"Fuck it, I hate this. I hate you," Taiyo mumbled, and Kitsune playfully pulled him into a headlock. "Aww, you love me. Admit it."
As they neared the school gates, Taiyo muttered, "I swear, one day I'm moving out."
"Sure you will, roomie," Kitsune teased with a wink.
The Calm Before the Next Storm
Despite all the relentless teasing and public humiliation, there was something oddly comforting about the chaos. No matter how much Kitsune drove him crazy, Taiyo knew he'd never trade her for anything—even if he'd never admit it out loud.
But as they stepped into the school, a strange feeling settled in Kitsune's gut. A flicker of memory from that wild Isekai world stirred inside her. Something about this place just didn't add up.
Taiyo seemed to notice it too, but for now, they shoved those thoughts aside. Today, they had bigger issues to deal with—like surviving high school, dodging more gyaru gossip, and maybe, just maybe, getting through the day without causing another epic scene.
But knowing Kitsune? That last part was utterly impossible.
TO BE CONTINUED…