Six months have passed since Miu joined our family.
April arrives, cherry blossoms blooming everywhere. Time's flown by. Miu and I both got into our top choice, Kuoh Academy. It used to be an all-girls school but went co-ed a few years ago, so there are still more girls than guys.
Truth be told, that's why I picked it. A school life surrounded by girls? Every guy's dream!
"Hey, Issei! There you are!"
"And Miu-chan's with him? Why does Issei get such a cute sister? We're all perverts!"
My old buddies, Matsuda (bald) and Motohama (glasses), approach. They're infamous perverts like me, but good guys at heart, loyal to their friends.
"Being a pervert's got nothing to do with getting a sister," I retort.
I'm not wrong. Sure, Miu's adorable, but that's unrelated to my… tendencies.
They snap.
"We know that! We're just jealous!"
"And last summer, you came back all buff and taller! The girls' reactions to you changed!"
"Yeah! What happened to our no-girlfriend pact? You're just as pervy, but now you're popular? Unfair!"
They swing at me simultaneously.
What could I do? I had to train to survive! And my height? That's three years of growth! Not that I can tell them.
I deflect their fists with my palms.
Thud!
Nice, they hit each other.
They clutch their noses, crouching. Miu steps in.
"You okay, Matsuda-kun, Motohama-kun?"
"They're fine, Miu. Don't worry," I say.
But she's already wiping their nosebleeds. So kind.
The two tear up, touched by her care or rather, by a pretty girl tending to them.
"Miu-chan's kindness hits the soul!"
"Unlike that traitor, Issei!"
C'mon, Motohama, I didn't betray anyone! Though, yeah, girls do treat me better now.
"Let's get to class, or we'll be late on day one," Miu says.
I drag the three to our classroom.
It's just a long homeroom today, no classes, so we're dismissed at noon.
Miu and I are in the same class lucky break. She's still adjusting, so I can keep an eye on her. Matsuda and Motohama are in our class too. They get along with Miu, so they'll help out. Another stroke of luck.
But if they try anything with her, big brother's gonna lose it♪
Time for lunch. Mom overslept, so no bentos today. Cafeteria it is.
"Where's Miu?"
I scan the classroom and spot a crowd. Curious, I approach Miu's surrounded by guys bombarding her with questions. Her beauty's already drawing attention. Time for big brother to step in.
"Hey, Miu! Let's grab lunch!"
"Oh, big brother! Sorry, everyone, my brother's calling. Gotta go!"
"Big brother!?" the class gasps in unison.
A girl nearby pipes up. "Hyoudou-kun? I noticed during roll call, but are you and Miu twins?"
Fair assumption. Same last name, chatting like buddies before homeroom.
I grin. "Nah, not twins. We're adoptive siblings. Miu's our foster sister, no blood relation."
The room freezes. Then
"WHAAAT!?"
The class erupts again. Is it that shocking?
"Lucky bastard, Hyoudou!"
"Trade sisters with me! Mine's a brat!"
No way I'm trading! And I don't even know your sister!
I glance at Miu now she's swarmed by girls.
"So jealous! Even if he's a perv, I want a cool brother like that!"
"Miu-san, trade with my idiot brother!"
How do they already know I'm a perv!? But the girls' reactions? Kinda flattering.
"Die, traitor!"
Matsuda and Motohama swing again. I dodge easily.
Miu's frozen, steam practically rising from her head, overwhelmed by questions.
I grab her arm and bolt from the classroom.
Outside, I check on her. "Rough first day, huh? You okay?"
"Y-yeah. Thanks for the save… Um, big brother?"
"Yeah?"
"Where are we?"
"Huh?"
I look around we're in a forest.
Okay, the classroom got chaotic, and some classmates tried following, so I ran us far from the school building. It's good to let Miu mingle, but that scene was too much for her.
But seriously, where are we? Lost at my own school? How huge is this campus!? A forest on the grounds? Someone's gonna get stranded! (Probably!)
Let's find a map. Or maybe sense someone's presence with my energy?
Miu tugs my sleeve. "Big brother, over there. A student, maybe?"
"Where?"
"That person on the path."
"Nice spot, Miu! Hey, you there! Can you help us?"
I call out to the guy. He hears and jogs over.
"Need help?"
A kind-looking blond guy. I explain.
"Yeah, we're lost. Looking for someone…"
"Haha, this campus is huge. Newbies get lost every year. I'll guide you back to the school building."
He flashes a bright smile. Every year, huh? Kuoh Academy, do something about this!
"Thanks, man," I say.
"Thank you!" Miu adds.
"No need to be formal. I'm a freshman too," he says.
"Really? You seem to know this place well."
"My friend goes here. I've visited a few times. Just came from their club."
"You joining that club?"
"Yup. Oh, we haven't introduced ourselves."
"My bad. I'm Issei Hyoudou, Class 1-C. This is my sister, Miu Hyoudou."
"Miu Hyoudou. Nice to meet you," she says.
"I'm Yuuto Kiba, Class 1-B. Nice to meet you both. Sister, huh? Twins?"
"Nah, adoptive siblings."
"Got it. Here we are."
We're back at the school building. Almost got stranded for real.
"Thanks, Kiba. I owe you one."
"No big deal, Hyoudou-kun. I've got somewhere to be, so see you later."
"Later!"
"Thank you, Kiba-san!"
We part ways with Kiba. Once he's gone, I check with Miu.
"You noticed?"
"Yeah. Kiba-san's not human. And there are others like him here."
"Yup. He hid his presence well, but it's not human. Ddraig, any ideas?"
First time meeting non-humans in this world. Ddraig might know something.
"He's a devil," Ddraig says.
"Devil?" Miu and I echo.
"Remember what I told you?" Ddraig asks.
I dig through my memory. "One of the races that sealed you?"
"Exactly. This world has mythical beings devils, like those in the Bible. I mentioned the ancient war between God, angels, fallen angels, and devils, right?"
"Yeah, and the three factions called a truce after losing numbers."
"Correct. Devils are one of those factions."
"But Kiba didn't seem evil," Miu says. "He felt kind."
"Same," I agree.
"Devil's just a race," Ddraig explains. "Like humans, some are good, some bad."
Got it. Not all devils are villains. Good to know Kiba's cool. I want to be friends, despite the species difference.
As I relax
Grrrr!
Miu's stomach roars. Her face turns beet red.
I chuckle.
"That's mean, big brother!"
She playfully smacks me. So cute.
"Sorry, sorry. I'm hungry too. Cafeteria?"
I pat her head always cheers her up.
"Yup!"
She grabs my arm, dragging me off. So hungry, huh?
I let her pull me to the cafeteria.
By the way, Miu ordered three full meals and polished them off. Everyone in the cafeteria was stunned, me included. First time seeing that. The cafeteria lady was thrilled watching Miu eat so heartily.
A year passes, and we settle into peaceful school life. Studying, school events, hanging with classmates. Kiba and I get along great too.
It's been a fulfilling year for both Miu and me.