After that banter. "Whoa… It 's even redder than it was in the picture. "
"That looks way too spicy."
"Not at all. It needs to be spicier if anything. Still tastes good, though."Sitting across from Masachika, Takeshi and Hikaru watched in obvious disbelief as he slurped up his noodles,but Masachika himself was calm as could be.
"Wait that's not the point!"
"It's not?"
Takeshi inhaled and said "AHHHHHHH I WANT TO BE POPULAR!" After a pause Hikaru looked at Dino.
"So, what's you're eating Deeno?" Hikaru asked.
"Hey, don't ignore me!"
"Oh... I thought it's just one of your everyday life crises" Hiraku replied in a teasing voice.
The subtle pity on his voice pierce through Takashi that he slumped forward.
"This is why popular people" Hikaru said exaggerated faking sadness. When all of a sudden, there was a commotion at the cafeteria's entrance. They instinctively looked towards the noise, and three girls walk in.
"Oh, it's the student council… I don't see the president or the vice president anywhere, though. Still not every day you see three of them together like this. It's… Wow. "
Takeshi gasped as he watched them walk by, his peers oohing and aahing the whole time. The guys were drooling over them while the girls looked up tothem like idols.
"The Kujou sisters are so beautiful, aren't they?" Hikaru muttered softly ashe
looked at Alisa, who stood out the most due to her silver hair, and the slightly shorter girl walking in front of her. This girl, Maria Mikhailovna Kujou, was a second year student and the student council secretary. She was Alisa's older sister by one year and was called Masha
by those close to her.
However, neither her hair color nor style were anything like her sister's. While Maria had fair skin,it was more like light compared with the average Japanese person's, unlike Alisa's almost translucent milky-white skin. Her shoulder-length wavy hair waslight brown, and she had bright, chocolate colored, gentle almond-shaped eyes.
Her figure, including her baby face, was also closer to that of the averageJapanese person. It was almost hard to tell which one of them was older at first glance when she stood next to Alisa, who had a slim, tall, and mature figure. However, one glance below Maria's face would clear up any misunderstanding. She had the body of an older sister.
More specifically, she had huge breasts. Anda huge rear as well. While Alisa had a figure that stood out from the average Japanese lerson's, Maria had an even more "feminine" body. Her voluptuous figure and inherently gentle personality and style gave her a very maternal appearance, which was unexpected from someone her age. In fact, she was even called Madonna by some of her peers.
"Kujou-senpai is so cute. I'd love to get to know her"
"I heard she had a boyfriend though," Hikaru chimed in.
"Yeah, I know! Dammit! Who's the lucky guy?"
Takeshi's dreaming expression turned into a scowl slowly, gritting his teeth.
"What, Takeshi? You don't know? I thought you of all people would know" Masachika said it while glancing at Deeno.
"..? Hmmm... I don't know who it is either... Why're you looking at me?" Dino said rolling his eyes in a tired voice.
Picking up his tray, Dino stood up slowly. "Well... I've got something to do. Later."
He gave a lazy wave, then strolled away at his usual unhurried pace.
"…He totally ran away just now, didn't he?" a soft voice spoke from behind Masachika.
"Whoa—Yuki?" Masachika turned slightly, surprised. "Guess he sensed a Demon King approaching."
Yuki tilted her head with a gentle smile.
"Oh my. Who are you talking about?"
"No one in particular."
Yuki chuckled. "Masachika-kun, are these seats taken?"
All eyes at the table turned to her as they noticed her. The slight furrow in Alisa's brows as she observed their interaction went unnoticed.
"Nope, they're all yours," Masachika said casually. "You guys don't mind, right?"
"O-Of course not," one of the boys stammered.
"Be my guest," Hikaru added with a smile.
A few minutes later, after some casual chatter, Hikaru and Takeshi stood up, waving goodbye as they left.
Once they were gone, Yuki leaned forward slightly. "So, what were you all talking about before Takeshi-kun's scream echoed through the hallway, Masachika-kun?"
Masachika paused mid-sip. "Ah... that. It was about Deeno and Nonoa dating. Apparently started around spring break."
Then, realizing who he was talking to, he slowly glanced toward her.
"…Hoo~ So something like that happened," Yuki replied, smiling—but her eyes didn't quite match. "I'm happy for them."
"Eh? Deeno-san's dating someone?" Alisa blinked, surprised. "And Nonoa-san… who's that, Kuze-kun?"
"Childhood friend," Masachika answered. "The four of us—me, Deeno, Nonoa, and Yuki—we've known each other since grade school. With how close those two were, it's not exactly surprising."
Yuki, now uncharacteristically quiet, drew Alya's attention.
"Yuki-san?" Alisa asked softly.
"Yes, Alisa-san?"
"Ah—no, never mind..." she said, quickly glancing away. Masachika mirrored her awkward silence.
Alisa leaned toward Masachika and whispered, "Did I say something wrong?"
He gave a small grin. "Nope. She's probably just... questioning life."
Yuki, still within earshot, let out a quiet sigh, resting her cheek lightly against her hand. She didn't say anything at first.
"Wait… Yuki-san, are you… jealous?" Alisa asked, tilting her head with pure curiosity in her voice. "Do you… like Dino-san?"
Yuki's lips curved into a small smile, but her gaze was distant. "Mm… maybe?" she answered lightly. "I'm not sure myself. I just… felt oddly irritated hearing he's dating someone. Don't worry about it, Alisa-san."
"O-oh… I see," Alisa murmured, looking uncertain.
Masachika, sensing the awkward air, casually slid in. "Well, to be fair… these two have been engaged since they were kids. Some arrangement between Deeno's parents and her grandfather. The guy comes from one of those old, prestigious families abroad."
"Ehh… is that so?" Alisa said, her posture stiffening a little.
"Yup. And, you know, polygamy's technically in some kind of family right(supernatural). Deeno probably just doesn't know how to deal with Yuki—that's why he bailed the moment he spotted her," Masachika continued with a smirk. "He's blunt with most people, but when it comes to the ones he's close to… he gets awkward."
Yuki gave a soft, almost self-deprecating chuckle. "Anyway, enough about me, Alisa-san. How about you? Do you have someone you like? …Or is it Deeno too?" Her tone was polite, but the teasing edge was unmistakable.
"E-eh?! N-no, not at all!" Alisa flustered, waving her hands quickly. "I see him more like… a reliable—but somehow unreliable—older brother. That's the vibe I get."
"I see. That's all, then," Yuki replied with a faint smile that was hard to read.
An older brother, huh? Masachika thought, watching the exchange. That… actually fits him.
But then another thought crossed his mind, making him frown slightly. Still… now I'm wondering what's going on between him and Masha.
Alisa's voice suddenly dropped to a murmur, speaking in Russian under her breath:
"Ghh—! Cough, cough! W-what did you just say, Alya?!" Masachika spluttered, his ears turning red.
"Nothing," she replied instantly, looking away in a huff.
As amusing as it is to watch Onii-sama and Alisa-san fluster each other like this… Yuki thought with a faint smile, I really do need to figure out how I'm going to talk to Deeno.