On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

Aiko stifled a yawn, opening her bleary eyes back on the Material. Checking her phone, she grimaced. Just before five in the morning. Oh well, I’ve always been an early riser…  Getting to school for club activities, Kyūdō, or volleyball practice, had become second nature to her over the years, and she still didn’t sleep much, the need to be active ingrained in her mind and body.

Even less now. I’m always overflowing with stamina, and there’s other advantages. She had been training fiercely once more, trying to master gold element, with help from Hinata-chan and Haanōbō. Haanōbō, huh, wow, my bro, he’s got no idea, has he…

Not sure whether that thought was comforting or frustrating, Aiko tossed off the thin bedsheet and got up, rubbing at her sapphire blue eyes that had earned her unusual middle name. She was back at the estate, at least in the Material, that was their new home now, one of the perks of being important, she guessed. Important, huh…? Wow, what a pain…

Having caught an hour of sleep in the other mansion, the equally, if not more spectacular one in the Fae realms, it was as if she had slept for four or more hours, so her physical fatigue was gone, but it didn’t clear the fuzz in her mind from the hard, fatiguing effort she was putting in.

“Oh well…” Aiko muttered, her voice seeming shockingly loud in the silence. It didn’t seem like her parents or Eri’s were up yet, though she could faintly hear someone downstairs, her keen ears more than up to the task. Probably one of the maids. Yeah, living the good life now, aren’t we? All thanks to my bro, of course…

Stripping off the oversized t-shirt she had been using for pyjamas, she headed for the shower, another luxury, as all the rooms in this second mansion on her bro’s land were en suite. She briefly glanced at the bath, before deciding that was just too much effort, and so she let the hot water flow over her, washing away the fog of exhaustion. Pouring some shampoo, an expensive foreign brand, which Hinata-chan had provided for her, along with no end of other beauty products and makeup, not that Aiko used any of that… after all, it was banned at school anyway, and I was always proud of my good looks and smooth skin. Eri too. No need to gild the lily, as mom would say… she lathered up her lustrous black hair, free from the pigtails or ponytail she usually wore it in.

“This is the life…” She let out a contented sigh, her tension melting away as she massaged her scalp. “I still can’t grasp metal. It’s strange, as I’ve got both earth and flame now… ugh, wow, so damn annoying!” Even with Hinata-chan stalling her own training to help her, she was still failing.

“No, it’s fine…” she reassured herself, rinsing the suds off her hair and applying conditioner. Tilting her head, the warm water streaming down her body, she was momentarily distracted. “Maybe I should grow my hair out a bit? I kept it shorter than I’d like as I do sports, though I’m glad I’m not a boy doing baseball, or I’d have to shave it to almost nothing… anyway, it’s not like I have to worry about it much anymore, and girls look great with long hair. Most of the ones around my bro are like that… Eri’s really let hers grow out recently too…”

Washing her body, she grimaced. “Wow, I’m so scatterbrained at the moment. Can’t stay fixed on one subject. Metal, metal… I don’t have long left, not if I’m going to become the Autumn West in that big ceremony. No pressure, am I right? Shit!” She let out a passionate, unladylike curse. “It’s just like always. Good little Aiko-chan, everybody likes her, she’s a hard worker, never gives up, but… when it comes to tournaments… I never win, do I? Always falling at the final hurdle.”

It had been that way her whole life. Always just coming up short. When she and Eri were menaced by that damn dog, she’d frozen, and left it to her bro. Everyone had told her it was only natural, that she was just a young girl, that if she’d have moved, Akio wouldn’t have been able to protect both of them… protect, huh? As if getting mauled by a big bastard of a shitty dog in front of us was protecting… no, I’m not being fair. But… The shower water was hot on her face, running down her cheeks and nose soothingly, getting in her eyes, making them sting and burn.

Sometimes it was hard to be powerless. When Eri had been maimed, torn apart before her very eyes, because Aiko had insisted her bro take her along on his urgent, critical rescue mission… again, nobody blamed her, everyone always blamed her bro. But Aiko remembered how she had felt that day, and… no, I’m sick of dwelling on this. I…

Setting everything aside, she took a deep breath and turned off the shower. Stepping out into her room after drying herself off, she grimaced at the darkness outside. Oh yeah, it’s Christmas Eve, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s hard to keep track of the days, what with everything that’s going on… there was a small, metre-tall Christmas Tree set in the corner of her room, decked in tinsel and with colourful fairy lights, though they were currently off. Mom’s doing, I guess. I… don’t exactly feel very festive. This isn’t like me, I know. Not like cheerful, brave, stupid Aiko, who never lets anything get her down…

Grabbing her underwear, she pulled it on, before throwing on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Flopping back on her bed, making a star shape with her arms, she stared at the ceiling, mind wandering, though… it’s not going to wander there. But… I always feel it. And… I remember…

“I’m such a fickle bitch.” Aiko turned her head, heart aching, the heavy weight a match to the equally oppressive feeling that lay at the back of her mind, her very spirit. “I need to get it together. I don’t want to worry everyone. I’m a team player, always have been!”

She lay there in silence, gathering her willpower to get up, before a knock sounded on her door. Thinking it was one of the maids, perhaps bringing her breakfast, as Aiko’s daily routine was well known to the staff, she bid them enter, and the door slid open, only to reveal a surprise visitor.

“Good morning.” Eri greeted her, before her expression changed, to one of critical disapproval. “I know it’s still early, but… you’ve not exactly made an effort, have you? It’s Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve!”

Aiko let out a frustrated grunt. “Yeah, don’t I know it? I’m not like you, all lovey-dovey with my bro, ready to spend the day on romantic dates.” She noticed Eri was very dressed up, wearing a red and white dress, which was modest, showing only a bare hint of cleavage, and the skirt and sleeves were long, but the white fake fur and red and white lace decorations gave it an extremely cute air. She had also braided her hair, threading it with red and white ribbons, completing the ensemble. “Though… I suppose my bro can only spare you a bit of time today, can’t he? Sorry.”

“Sorry?” Eri sat down beside the bed gracefully, and Aiko could hardly believe how much her best friend had changed. She was open, confident, mature… forgiving. “Why would you be sorry?”

Everyone changes but me, it seems. No, I’ve changed, but… is it for the better, and is… it just a mask still?

“All this.” Aiko waved an arm wearily. “If I hadn’t pushed my bro, pushed you… I… don’t know how you cope. I really don’t. I’m so jealous I can…” She bit down on her lip hard enough to make it bleed, regretting the words that slipped out, but Eri either didn’t notice, or pretended not to.

“Yes, I won’t say I’m entirely free from the pangs of jealousy. But then, would I be a woman if I was?” Eri poured herself a glass of water from the jug left by the bedside, and offered it to Aiko, who took it, before pouring herself one, sipping on it, gathering her thoughts. “It’s only natural. But… you weren’t wrong, Aiko. And even if you were, you had our best interests at heart.”

“Did I?” Aiko asked, hating that she was no longer sure. “Or did I just have mine?”

“Ah.” Eri’s smile was rather dismissive, an unusual one that Aiko had never seen directed at her before, and she blinked, confused, as if Eri had suddenly been replaced by someone else. “So that’s it, is it? I get it. But…” Aiko suddenly winced as Eri waved her free hand, her arm elongating and her hand, now able to reach her, pulling at her cheek painfully. “…don’t we all? I love Akio, I do. And I believed I could be happy so long as he was, even without him, even not being in his life. But that’s just the lie I told myself to deal with my unhappiness. My mask. Don’t mistake me…”

She enjoyed pulling at Aiko’s face until Aiko let out a growl and pulled off the arm forcefully, only to have it vanish from her grasp, shrinking back to normal size. “I want Akio to be happy, but… our happiness is intertwined. Neither of us can be happy unless the other is. Sound familiar?” Eri’s tail had appeared and crept out from under her dress, and was also bizarrely long, tapping Aiko’s feet as if to prove a point.

“Stop using your Neko form to bully me!” Aiko pouted, teary eyed. “I get it. I want you and my bro to be happy too, but…”

“Everyone’s noticed. I probably noticed first, but Akio surely did too, but he’s hoping you’ll talk to him, or me, or someone else you’ll trust. Shaeula’s no fool either, but… Kana has seen you acting strange. She’s an observant, frustrating woman.”

Frustrating? No, that doesn’t matter. I… “I don’t know what you mean.” Aiko shrugged, kicking away the tail, which also vanished. “I’m just… a bit exhausted. We’ve all been working so hard!”

“True.” Eri agreed. “I won’t argue with that. But… do you think you can lie to me? It’s Christmas Eve, you’re in Tokyo, you’ve got all the money you could wish for… and you’re lying in bed in old jeans and a plain t-shirt? Come on. I’m not an idiot, Aiko.”

“Hey. It’s not like I have a date. Tokyo’s going to be full of couples. Not like I want to see that.” Aiko shot back.

“Maybe not, but you do have friends, yes? Rika-san and Yae-san are here, aren’t they?”

“You’re so cold, Eri! Still not using -chan for them, despite all we’ve been through together?”

Eri narrowed her eyes, and for a moment Aiko was captivated by her Charm. Eri really is beautiful. More so than ever now. My bro’s so lucky, but…

“That’s insincere, and you know it.” Eri finished her water, before waving a hand, and aether flicked on the lights of the Christmas Tree, red, green, blue and white lights twinkling prettily, dyeing the dark room with festive lighting. “Yes, I count them as friends. Though I think Yae-san is rather foolish. She’s chosen a painful path indeed. But… if I was her, I’d have done the same, so I sympathise. But I’m like you, Aiko. We’ve been too influenced by our families, and due to mother-in-law Emily’s influence, we’re far less… rigid… than most Japanese. But my manner of address is honest. Yours… is rather insincere.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Aiko looked away from Eri’s searching gaze, feeling a little sick. Worse, she started to remember, before hastily clamping down on the thoughts and sensations, Resilience and Determination boiling. If I was my bro now, I’d be getting messages saying Resilience has increased… no, not thinking of that now…

“You do. But you never poked at my insecurities, my baser feelings, so I left yours alone as well. We’re friends. Closer than that. Real sisters, honestly. That’s how I saw you. Akio is the most important person in the world to me, but… you’re right there next to him. Alongside Shaeula and some of the others now…”

“Only some? Wow, that’s petty, Eri…” The words slipped out before Aiko could stop them, and she realised it, realised she wanted to hurt Eri at that moment, but all Eri did was tilt her head, smiling as if she was delighted by the response.

“Petty? It’s honest. I’m not going to lie and claim I like someone more than I do, just because she’s one of Akio’s fiancées, or a friend of a friend, or even a relative. But I know they are all worth getting to know. My friendships are forged through accumulation. Yours… Aiko, you called me Eri-chan all those years too. Aiko, beloved by all at school, even adored here… yet… you had dozens of friends, but… really, you never really connected with any of them, did you? Not your teammates, Akari-san from Kyūdō, even Rika-san and Yae-san…” Eri’s eyes narrowed. “…you never let anyone touch your core, your true self. The closest I’ve ever seen it is…”

“I don’t want to hear it!” Aiko turned away, pushing her face into the pillow, holding her ears like a child. I… Eri… Her thoughts were interrupted as Eri pulled her hands away.

“…when Shaeula told us about what they had been doing… you were going to murder her, with that arrow!”

“No, I… I wasn’t…”  Aiko babbled, unable to close her ears to Eri’s pointed accusations. “I just… I worried, I didn’t want…”

“Shaeula’s got better insight than even she knows.” Eri used her strength to seize Aiko, lifting her up and turning her to once more face Eri and her words. “We’re mirrors to each other, we three. Akio, me, you.”

“No, I’m not… I can’t be… I can’t…” Aiko’s eyes were burning.

“Don’t cry.” Eri’s words were suddenly tender, and she wiped away Aiko’s forming tears. “It’s Christmas Eve, after all. And I’m not trying to bully you. I’m concerned. Because no matter what, we love you, Aiko.”

“I know you do.” She sniffled, confused by Eri’s sudden changes of direction. “I love you too, believe me!”

“I do. Absolutely. Just as Akio does.” Eri nodded. “Anyway… it’s Christmas Eve. And you’re right, I don’t get to spend it all with your brother. And I’m okay with that. I waited years to finally have the love from him I wanted. Love’s a funny thing…” Eri stood, going to the walk-in wardrobe, pulling it open. “…there’s so many kinds. I knew Akio loved me, and that should have been enough for me. But… I wanted romantic love, passionate love, to be his wife, not just a little sister. Fortunately…” She turned back, smiling teasingly at Aiko. “…I have that. And while it’s human nature, instinctive to want, to crave more… I’ve also learned there’s joy in sharing. With the right people. Which is why I don’t call Rika-san and Yae-san carelessly.”

“I… the way you said I called you Eri-chan… I love you, Eri! I always have! You know that, right?” I couldn’t face it if Eri thinks everything was a lie. It wasn’t, it isn’t! I can’t bear the thought of the three of us not being together, of us… breaking apart… of our memories being… washed away… becoming the past, of… there being no time for me!

“I do. You missed the point, as usual. Really, Aiko…” Eri clicked her tongue, as she started going through the contents of the wardrobe, picking things out, frowning at them, before putting them back and picking out another hangar. “…you’re the one who is supposed to understand people. Like Akio. He’s always been preceptive, it’s himself he never believed in. So he could pick up on my desires but told himself it was for the best he ignored them. Shiro told me too, he was always attentive to her needs, but… he never pushed, never made her uncomfortable. He was always just… there for her. She thinks that’s why she started calling him Aki, because even amongst their friends, he was a comforting, gentle presence.”

“That’s my bro, so what.” Aiko grumbled defensively, crossing her arms. “We were talking about us.”

“There’s no us without him. You know that. Maybe that’s the problem? One of them, anyway.” Eri shrugged, looking down at what she had gathered. “Anyway, I lied to you all the time, didn’t I? When I said that Akio was just my big brother, that I didn’t want him to come back. It was easier for me, but… you knew I was lying, didn’t you? Just as I know you loved me, despite the false nature of your habit of masking your feelings by calling everyone -chan or -kun without the closeness that it really should have been built on. Yes… perfect.”

Eri laid out an outfit on the bed, and Aiko blinked at it, confused.

“Mirrors reflect, but they reflect the opposite. Move your right hand, and the mirror shows it lifting its left, yes? I was like a cold, hard neutron star. If you tried to get close to my true self, I’d close in and crush you with the gravity of my fears and insecurities. You… you’re the supernova. Bright, blinding and you push away with the fury of your warmth. Yet at your heart, you remain as cold and isolated as I was. See, mirrors?”

“That’s…” Aiko couldn’t deny it. It was harsh, unfair, but… I know it, don’t I? It’s true… I’m very popular, my teammates, my classmates… I want everyone to adore me, but… my bro and Eri were the only ones I’ve opened my heart too. Shaeula… Shaeula too, I guess. But… now, by Eri’s metaphor, there’s something the fury of my explosion can’t push away…

“I can hazard a guess at why, I suppose. But that’s for later.” Eri patted the bed. “Now come on. It’s Christmas Eve, you should go on a date, especially as next year you’ll be busy.”

“I’m busy now. So… uh…” Aiko glanced at the clothes Eri had laid out for her, including some rather cute underwear. “…do I need to dress up for a date with you? Oh, I’m not saying you don’t look gorgeous, but that’s… that’s for my bro, right? And… underwear?”

“Every date needs lucky underwear, doesn’t it? Shiro insists on it. She’s such a pain. Reminds me a lot of you, Aiko. She’s also not honest with herself or others, but she doesn’t mean any harm by it. Just… clumsy. I blame Akio. After all, he raised us and pampered her too much. Made it too easy for us to lie. Even… especially… to ourselves. And those are the most damaging lies of all.”

“Are you wearing them…?” Aiko asked, unable to contain the question, and Eri chuckled.

“Of course. But alas, we all agreed there would be no time for sex today on the dates. Sadly Akio’s time is precious, and if he tried to make love to all of us, greedy as we are, he’d die. That doesn’t mean we should look less than our best though.” Eri winked, and Aiko shook her head, a laugh bubbling up and escaping. My head hurts, my thoughts are a mess, but… Eri’s still always Eri. I envy that…

“You madly love my bro, don’t you? Despite everything…”

“Of course. I’m like that neutron star. Once he’s within my gravity, I’ll collapse into a black hole and he won’t be able to escape my love!”

“There’s that yandERI I remember…” Aiko chuckled. “So intense. But… ah… are you going to let me change?”

“What’s the problem?” Eri shrugged. “We’ve seen each other naked no end of times, and we bathe together in the hot springs at this estate when we get the chance. Why, are you shy? How adorable.”

“No, I’m… I’m not.” Aiko insisted, pulling off her t-shirt, and unclasping the plain, functional bra she had put on. “I’ll tell my bro you’ve been two-timing him by ogling me though.” she warned teasingly, trying to recover her usual equilibrium.

“That would make him jealous.” Eri agreed. “But he’d understand. Now then…” Eri clapped her hands, as Aiko pulled off her jeans. “…best get a move on. Scheduling is tight, six sharp is when it needs to begin.”

“Oh?” Aiko looked down at the crimson bra and panties, oddly sexy and fashionable, with transparent sides made of fine mesh, wondering why she had bought them. I guess… I am a girl? I like to feel desirable, just like Eri, just like anyone else, but… Starting to put them on, she frowned. “I’d have thought you were first date. Maybe it’s Shaeula then? Damn, my bro’s greedy. Scheduling must be a bitch, but I’ve no sympathy for him.”

“Yes.” Eri agreed, watching Aiko, which made her blush, skin darkening to a similar shade as her panties. As she pushed her breasts into her bra and adjusted the straps, she listened to Eri’s amused grumbles.

“It would be far worse though, if everyone hadn’t split themselves between the Boundary and here in Tokyo. Shiro’s lucky, she gets double, doesn’t she? And it’d be a disaster if Rossweisse and Ortlinde could come here…”

“Doesn’t it… bother you?” Aiko asked, before she finally took in the clothes Eri had laid out. Cute micro-shorts in red, with white thigh socks, and a two layered red and white halter-neck-style top, showing off her toned shoulders and arms. “Hey, this is a super boyish ensemble? What are you trying to say? And the colours match yours. Are we going for couple’s outfits? What’s got into you today?”

“Play to your strengths, Aiko. You do have them.” Eri insisted. “In all things. As for… bothering me…” Eri narrowed her eyes. “You mean Tan… no, in this case, I suppose I should call her Taṇhā, it would be more appropriate. I’d be lying if I didn’t wonder how I can compete against a genuine Goddess… but I only wonder how, not if. If you search your heart, you’ll find that’s how you think too. We’re mirrors, after all.”

“I’m going to be cold, it’s winter!” Aiko muttered, as she pulled on her shorts. “This is abuse of power!”

“You love it.” Eri insisted. “Besides, we barely feel the cold due to our stats. Anyway, don’t worry about breakfast.”

“Are you paying?” Aiko asked. “You should, after this free show!”

Eri shrugged. “What show? I love you, Aiko, but I’m not interested in you that way.”

“I know. Wow, damn…” Aiko declared, flushing again. “Don’t take my jokes too seriously, okay? They’re just…”

“Yeah, your brilliant nova of humour and cheer, used to push everyone away. I get it. Everyone loves watching the fireworks, but… when the flashy explosions are gone…”

“…they just fade to memory…” Aiko’s words were quiet, heartfelt. I don’t… I can’t face it… being just fading sparks… I saw it, felt it, feel it… even she can fade…

“Maybe so. But that’s the beauty of bonds, of connections…” Eri grinned, looking up and down the dressed Aiko, before frowning. “Your hair… let me do it.”

“You?” Aiko was surprised. “You really are going all out for this date. Not joking this time, I’m starting to feel a little weird…”

“Foresight, maybe?” Eri chuckled, grabbing a comb and straightening the tangle, before twisting it into pigtails. “Yes, that look has to be matched with pigtails. And… I’m going to ask you for one favour.”

“A favour? Sure.” Aiko answered, only to freeze as Eri’s black eyes seemed to stare deep into her very spirit.

“No flippant responses, please. I’m serious. As your best friend, I want you to promise me… no lies during the date. Complete openness. Else how can we know how we can help? There…” Eri bound in some cute red and white ribbons, like those in her own hair. “You look beautiful, Aiko. Perfect for a Christmas Eve date. Although…”

“Although…?” Aiko repeated, feeling very confused, but… it’s warm. Eri… maybe I should have confided in her. But… how could I even say it? I… don’t know what I want, but I know what I absolutely don’t, never want! I can’t bear it if she despises me, or if she forgets me, drawn to… to her new life…

“You’d best tell me if you’ve actually already got a boyfriend. Or maybe a girlfriend? I don’t judge, so long as you aren’t a pervert about it like Aliyah. I don’t believe in two-timing. And it’d be an awkward harem indeed…”

Wowowowowowowowow? What the hell? Aiko froze for a moment, before rolling her eyes, an annoyed smile on her face. “Don’t tease me, Eri! You know I’m single! It’s not easy to win my heart, you know? Any guy would have to be at least as good as yours… oh. Stop that!” She blushed furiously. “Wow, you’ve changed so much, Eri. It’s… kind of… upsetting. Wow, sorry, I didn’t mean to say that…” She backpedalled, but Eri only patted her shoulder reassuringly.

“I can imagine. But… we’re not mind readers. How can we know how you are hurting, if you won’t talk to us? And while we could ask Haru-san, I hate taking her for granted.”

“Yeah.” Aiko agreed, feeling guilty. “I’d… not want her to read my mind either. She’s been through a lot. I hope she can find what she’s looking for too…”

“Right now we’re talking about you. And Haru-san is many things, but an idiot like you isn’t one of them! She’s just cautious. I’d expect no less from a woman of her… experiences. When she’s ready to move on, she’ll not dither and run like you.”

“Run from what?” Aiko complained, and Eri shrugged.

“That’s what you’re going to confess on this date. Though… it should be fun too. It’s Christmas Eve!”

They argued back and forth for a while, Aiko gradually loosening up under Eri’s teasing bombardment. Upsetting. I shouldn’t have said that. How can I? I wanted Eri to change… I wanted my bro to change. Or… was that just the lies I tell myself often enough even I believe them to be true? I wanted to kill Shauela, Eri says? Was that… because I was angry she put my bro in danger or… because I hated her in that moment for upending my bro’s life, and starting the changes in Eri? I… can’t face that truth, not even in the darkness of my own heart. I’m… so weak. Little sis sapphire, always fails at the last second…

“All right then.” Eri must have noticed her drifting thoughts, as she stood up. “A little early, but… we’ve a busy day ahead of us. Are you ready?”

“I guess so. And…” Aiko gathered up her tattered courage. “Thanks, Eri. And… I’m sorry. For… what I might say. Forgive me, okay?”

“I think you’ve misunderstood something.” Eri chuckled softly. “The three of us, Shaeula, and…  honestly yes, the others too… we’re not going to be broken apart by some resentment or ill-feelings. I told you… we’re connected.” Eri grasped Aiko’s hand, making her blush. “And you, me, Akio… we’ve been reflecting each other so long, that… our images are permanently etched on each other…”

“Oh, like burn-in, on your old TV?” Aiko remembered, and it was Eri’s turn to blush.

“Don’t remind me. Until your parents gave us your old TV, saying you desperately needed a new one, which I know you didn’t and couldn’t really afford, we had that archaic piece of junk, with the ghost images from age. But yes, it’s like that. We’re indelible, so long as we wish to be. And I’m not having a life without you. And if you honestly think Akio wants that, I’m going to slap you hard! Though I’ll avoid the face, wouldn’t want to spoil your beauty for the date!”

“Wow, so violent! And yeah, walking around with me sporting a black eye and swelling cheek would look bad!” I know. I know. But I also understand… it isn’t what we want, but… how life is. I’m just me, and…

There was a knock on the door, and Eri let go of Aiko’s hand. “Come in.” she said, and the door opened, to reveal Aiko’s bro, dressed very fashionably in neat black designer jeans and a red silk shirt, several buttons artfully undone to show off his manly chest. Huh?

“Hey bro, why are you here? Isn’t your date with Eri in a few hours?” she asked, confused, and he gave her a satisfied look.

“Actually, I think you’re mistaken. I’m actually here to pick you up, sis… no, Aiko.” With a smile he held out one hand, and she looked down at it, uncomprehending, before glancing over to Eri, who had a mischievous grin on her face, one that would have suited Shaeula rather more.

“I never said I was going with you, did I?” Eri giggled, and Aiko reviewed her memories, realising that was true.

“No way. Wow, shocking betrayal. But…” She turned her wide blue eyes on her bro. “No way, piss off! I’m not going on a date with my own bro!”

“Oh?” Eri crossed her arms, obsidian eyes hardening. “And who was it that enjoyed teasing him in the hot tub in Vegas, or any number of other times? And how many jokes have you made about Akio needing to take responsibility for you, making it sound like you’d been up to lewd stuff?”

“Maybe I’m growing up…” Aiko countered, and Eri sniffed.

“Sure. And I get it, it’s all your usual deflection, trying to be witty, to be liked. But… underneath it all, you cherish every moment we spend together, right?”

“I do, but… wow, this is a bridge too far! It’s Christmas Eve, damn it… hey bro, let go!” Akio had seized her hand, and she struggled to pull free, but… Yeah, no way in hell I can fight off my bro anymore. He’s way above me now… no, I can’t… I… I…

“Aiko…” His voice was kind, and how she always remembered it, and at his soft words, she paused. “If you really don’t want to go, I’ll back off. But… everyone’s worried about you. I’m worried about you! Eri even gave up her chance at a date today for your sake. But really, I should have been thinking more of you too. I’ve been busy, I know. I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you. But I’m here now, aren’t I?”

Oh… Unwilling to shed tears, Aiko was trying to keep them in with force of will. She turned to glare accusingly at Eri, who only smirked, well satisfied with her prank, it seemed.

“Don’t mind me. I told you earlier. I waited years, and I can wait a day without any trouble now. Besides, Kana was going to give up her date for you, and I can’t allow that.”

“Kana-chan was?” Aiko was stunned. “Why?”

“Because she likes you, dummy.” Akio insisted. “You’re really being a little sis sapphire today, aren’t you?”

“Yes, she is. So take good care of her and get her to talk. She’s promised me no lies, and Aiko wouldn’t dare break that promise to me.” Eri sounded sure, and Aiko wished she was as confident, but… Eri, my bro… they’re everything to me… which is why it hurts… which is why I have to keep pushing, have to keep smiling… I caused all this, I’m…

“Kana noticed you weren’t being your usual clingy, inappropriate self.” Eri continued. “And she’s well experienced when it comes to masks. She had one of her own for the longest time.” Eri sighed, exasperated. “She’s too perceptive for her own good. So… my final instruction to you. Akio, show Aiko a good time. Aiko, open up. And not like a supernova, all lights, fury and an effort to hide the real you by drowning it out with blinding light, pushing everyone away. Like… like Akio has finally learned to do. After all…”

Her smile was warm, and Aiko finally shed a small scattering of tears, though her bro and Eri kindly pretended not to notice the silvery droplets as they slid down her cheeks.  “…we’re so very much alike, we three. But maybe it’s time to reflect our ideal selves, rather than all the parts of us which… are probably fairly shitty.”

“Oh, fine then. Wow… was not expecting this when I woke up this morning.” Aiko used that opportunity to scrub away her tears. “So then… guess there’s no running. Bro, take care of me today, it’s my first time, so I’m inexperienced…”

“That’s better.” Eri nodded, expression fond. And somehow condescending! Wow, Eri, you’re only like four months older than me!

“I have experience.” Eri seemed to read her mind. “And I don’t mean that kind. Though the difference between a woman with it and without it is large indeed. Though as Motoko and the nobles would say… it’s only allowable with those you are going to spend the rest of your lives with.” Eri lectured, and Aiko couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “No…” She continued. “…I mean in facing my ugly, pathetic side. And even when you clean the filth away, there’s always more. Life can be rough. But… expose your true heart, your true spirit… your Truesoul, maybe?” Eri winked at her and Akio. “You trust us, don’t you, Aiko? Trust that we love you deeply?”

“Yeah…” She surrendered, feeling exhausted, but also slightly warmer. “I’m just glad you didn’t tell me to expose my body… oh wait, you already ogled me, Eri! Bro, bro, Eri stripped me down and made me dress up for her! I think she’s cheating on you…” I can’t just… stop being me. But… Eri’s right. My bro’s right… since that day, I realised…

***

“Shall we go then?” I asked my sis, as she finally calmed down. She was making her usual quips and jokes again, but I wasn’t an idiot, I knew she was putting on a brave face.

“Go where?” she asked. “Oh, is Arisu-chan picking us up again?”

“Nope.” I shook my head. “I’m already working her too hard today, I’d feel bad. Besides, I can handle this myself, even with you in tow. Oh…” I looked at my sister carefully. “That’s… a really cute outfit. Brings out your many charms.”

“So you’re saying I’m a boy, huh? Calling me little bro from now on then?”

“I don’t know if you’re really annoyed by that or just teasing, but… you’re my sister. And that’ll never change. If you ever need anything, I’ll make time. Like today.”

“Yeah, but… Kana-chan and Eri prompted you, didn’t they?” Aiko pouted, still holding my hand.

“And that’s my bad. I’m apologising from the heart. I’ll be sure to keep you in my sight from now on, okay?”

My sis flushed a little, but nodded slowly. “Sure, okay. I’ll take your word for it. At least for now. So, where to? Are we taking a car into central Tokyo?”

“Nope.” I grinned, sweeping her up into a princess carry. My sis went crimson, eyes swimming, as I held her thighs and back. “We’ll just jump…”

With a flash of spatial element, I leapt through space, and we reappeared in a small side alley. My sis squawked in annoyance, squirming in my arms. “Put me down bro! Now! And give me some damn warning next time! I nearly pissed myself, and what would you have done then?”

“Maybe it’d have been a reward?” I chuckled, and she gave me a flat stare as I set her down, and she brushed herself as if straightening her clothes.

“It’s talk like that which is why everyone calls you a siscon, bro.” she said at last, and I patted her head, startling her.

“Or maybe they’re just jealous I’ve got the best sister in the world? It’s impossible not to adore you, sis. Which is why… I’m worried, okay?”

“Best sister, huh? Well, you seem unsatisfied, as you’re collecting more, aren’t you?” My sis puffed out her cheeks disconsolately. “I wouldn’t normally say this, as I’ll come across as a selfish, petty bitch…” She took a deep breath. “I hate that you’re calling other girls your sister. I’m your sister! I should be enough for you!”

“But that’s…” I understood, but it seemed such a small thing. “…illogical. After all, you pushed me to accept Shaeula, and even Hinata and the others you didn’t show any opposition to…”

“I know, okay? Wow, this is why it’s so much easier to laugh and joke about pissing myself.” She was sullen now, but honestly, seeing a side of my sis I rarely, if ever did, was a delight. I can’t just understand the best of her. I owe it to her to know the worst too. After all, none of us are perfect. I remembered the conversation with Mae, where she told me I couldn’t bear to let those I loved see some of the things within my heart. It seemed my sis was once again, very like me.

“I’m a hypocrite, and selfish. But you and Eri… you’re both mine, bro. You have to be. I spent… a long time, working out what a perfect sister would be. A perfect friend to Eri. I wanted you both to look at me. But now, you’re looking at everyone but me. I can rationalise it if it’s your girlfriends, bro, even if it annoys the hell out of me, but… sisters… ah, fuck!” She screamed, and that drew the eyes of some passers-by into the alleyway but seeing us standing there calmly they did the usual Japanese thing of minding their own business.

“I can’t really understand it myself, but… if you were screwing Haanōbō, Violet, the others who you’ve decided are family but not lovers… I’d be able to tolerate it. Eri… she laughed at me, thinking I was getting a taste of my own medicine, but… it hurts, bro. Bro…?”

She seemed surprised I was hugging her, but I needed her to feel how much I cared for her. “Sorry. That I didn’t notice. But… you don’t have to try to be a perfect friend and sister. You are! Or as close as we can ever get. You know we both love you, don’t you? And no matter what, I only have one little sis sapphire. But if what I’m doing bothers you, tell me, okay? Even if I can’t change it, I can always reassure you.”

“All right, all right!” she punched my arm. “I’m okay, so let go!”

I released her, and she looked away for a while, calming herself, before turning back to me. “Damn, bro. Way to grope your sister. I know you’re used to hugging your hotties, but you instinctively were grabbing my ass! Wow, what a pervert!”

“I was certainly not.” I chuckled. “Don’t lie. Anyway, let’s get this date started, shall we? I’ve already learned a little about your true feelings, so I’m happy.”

“Sure. I’ve no idea why you would be to learn your sister’s actually a selfish…” She paused as I shook my head.

“Enough of that. You have a problem. Honestly, an understandable one. Now I know, I can deal with it. Somehow. So…” I grabbed her hand, and she made no effort to stop me this time. “Akiba awaits!”

We stepped out of the alleyway into Akihabara’s main streets. It wasn’t yet dawn, so the illuminations of all the buildings around us, the anime playing on the big screens, was quite the spectacle. Despite the early hour, when Akiba would usually be quiet, it was bustling, as due to being Christmas Eve the arcades, cafés, bars and shops were opening up, ready for the rush of those on their dates. Indeed, already we could see couples strolling about, and my sis clutched my hand tighter, palms sweaty, face red.

“Wow, shit, I’m so embarrassed I could die. If anyone I know sees me…”

“Aww, so cute.” I teased her. “You know, when we were young, didn’t you say ‘I’m going to marry you when I grow up, big bro!’ a few times?”

“No way! You need to get your memories checked, bro!” Aiko pouted. “That was the shitty anime you watched. I’d never have said that. Eri was always with us, yeah?”

“I know.” I grinned. “But it perked you up, didn’t it? Getting angry at me… I don’t mind it. Your happiness, sorrows, anger, disdain… I’ll take it all. Though of course, as your brother, I’d much rather you were happy. But I know life isn’t that easy.”

“No shit, bro.” she swore. “All right then. I promise to be more open. Like the sun, not a supernova.”

Huh? “Sounds good, I… think? Anyway, this arcade here is where we’ll start our date.”

“Taking me to this? Wow. Lame. I’m feeling sorry for the others now.” Aiko taunted, and I only chuckled in response.

“Sure, say that now. But this place is perfect for you. Trust me. We’ll work up an appetite for a couple of hours.” Once inside, Aiko could see what I meant.

“Oh, not one for games, or girly stuff like purikura booths. Nice. I guess you do know me after all, bro. Come on then, let’s go, go!” She pulled me over towards the batting cages by my hand, passing basketball hoops, gun games and other assortments of skill-based activities. It seems I don’t know everything about Aiko, but I do know she loves moving her body, and being competitive…

“All right, you’re paying, since it’s a date, right, Akio?” she used my name with a cheeky smile, mirroring me from earlier.

“Yeah. So, want a wager?”

“No way, do I look dumb? I’m just going to… work out some frustration!” she insisted.

Nope. This date isn’t just to have fun. You’ve told me you’re upset with my ever-growing band of new sisters, but… yeah, I think that does piss you off, but… it’s scratching the surface.

“I’ll give you a handicap.” I offered. “And how about this. Loser grants one wish to the winner?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Nothing perverted, okay?”

“As if I would to my darling sister!” I feigned horror. “No, nothing that would hurt our conscience, of course.”

There was an uncomfortably long pause, before she nodded. “Okay then, but… how do we determine the winner?”

After some discussion, we entered the batting cages next to each other, and cranked the speed to the maximum, one hundred and forty kilometres an hour. I then shut my eyes, as Aiko had insisted I could only use my other senses.

This might actually be good training. My sis has the spirit of an athlete for sure… I heard the whoosh of the pitching machine, and I actually hit the ball, but I just missed the plate for a home run, unlike my sis, who middled it spectacularly, and the machine played the triumphant fanfare.

“Looks like I’ve got you now, bro!” she crowed. “All I have to do is hit twenty-nine more home runs and you’ve no chance.”

“You may be cute, but you talk big!” one guy called. A small crowd of people on their own dates, or just solo guys coming to Akiba to play and forget their loneliness, glanced over at the sound of the home run, and seeing the one to do it was my cute sister, they were attracted over.

“Yeah, bet you hit a softball…” another grumbled, and my sis winked.

“Watch and see. Anyway, bro… best do better, you’re in front of a crowd! But no opening those eyes, okay?”

“Sure!” I agreed, and as the machines popped, there were gasps, as the balls were clearly on the maximum settings.

“Nailed it!” my sis declared, as once more the music jingled, but this time it came from mine too. “Wow, you adjust fast, bro. Sure you’re not cheating by peeking with your Eyes?”

“No more than you would.” I chuckled. Then a third ball was launched, and we both scored home runs again. And a fourth, and a fifth… now the crowd had grown, even the staff here watching in awe. I did use my Eyes to watch my sis, and seeing her swinging away, pigtails bouncing, a slight smile on her face, I knew coming here was the right call.

“Are they even human?” one girl asked her date, who shrugged.

“I doubt it, he’s even got his damn eyes shut. Wait a minute… I…” He was on his phone, even as I hit my fifteenth home run in a row, whilst my sis had done a perfect series of sixteen.

A buzz of noise and chatter was coming from the watching crowd, and I saw with my expanded vision (still not cheating of course) they had footage of me, and also of my sis from the leaked Korean broadcast. Now there was great excitement, but my sis paid it no mind, merely showboating, switching to her left hand for another home run.

Soon, we had wrapped it up, my sis striking a perfect thirty, whereas I had a mere twenty-nine. Applause and cheers rang out, and as the cages opened up, my sis, ignoring the crowd, sauntered over. “It seems like I won, Akio. You wouldn’t go back on your word, would you?”

“Never.” I laughed. “Well done. And I learned a few things too.”

“Then we both won.” She grasped my hand, smiling sweetly, and I could tell she was playing up to the audience.

“Excuse me, you’re Oshiro Akio, right?” one man asked me, and a younger boy, who probably shouldn’t have been out this early, pointed to my sis.

“You were on TV. You’re a Chosen, right? Are you together? Where’s Shaeula?”

That question was echoed by others, though some were asking for Shiro, others asking about Yukiko or even Motoko and Natsumi, though not by name. My sis, seemingly exasperated, pulled me close, so our arms were linked.

“Of course we’re together. It’s Christmas Eve, what do you think we’re doing? As for Shaeula and the others… he’s a sinful man, is my… my Akio. He’s got a tight schedule to keep. But now, it’s my time for some attention.”

“Can we get selfies? Or your phone number!” one hopeful man asked, to the disgust of his girlfriend, who immediately started making eyes at me in retaliation, and my sis let out a rich giggle.

“Brave, aren’t you? Hitting on me in front of my date? A date that just hit twenty-nine home runs with his eyes shut.” That’s my sis. She’s upset with me, troubled, and yet she’s still proud of me…

“Uh… well…” the man began to stammer, but my sis was used to being popular and the centre of attention back in Nishimorioka, so she only winked.

“I’m a fair woman. Anyone who can beat these targets…” She rattled off two numbers for each game here, one for men, and one for women, which was slightly lower. “…can have a selfie with us. But if not… my time is precious, so… please respect our precious Christmas Eve. You all get it, right?”

That silenced the crowd, apart from the few who were dateless. Some of the more confident men and even a few women entered the batting cages, while others moved to different games. “So then, what’s next?” Aiko winked at me, leaning close, putting on a show. “Another wager?”

“Just for fun now.” I insisted, and at the basketball hoops, we decided to make things more interesting by playing multiple games at once. We still had a crowd of observers, but they kept a proper distance after my sis cowed and charmed them. As our scores reached absurd numbers, my sis throwing into multiple hoops at once with her arms full of basketballs, me even kicking them in while I threw, I could see my sis was having fun, but… there was still a tension there.

Rushing is counterproductive. She’s opened up a little, so if I keep showing her I’m here for her, that I care… she’ll tell me. I believe in my little sister. I always have…

“Looks like you won.” my sis declared, her smile bright. Her white knee socks had turned faintly transparent with sweat, and seeing I was looking she momentarily frowned, before putting on a soft tone. “Oh Akio, you pervert! At least buy a girl dinner first!”

“I’ll buy you anything you want!” I laughed, before we moved onto a different game, shooting darts at targets. Needless to say, even with my eyes shut, now I’d adjusted, I still won, though there wasn’t much in it, as my sis was skilled and had high stats.

“Damn, it’s like being at a tournament. I start off well, then I go home a loser.” she grumbled. “Anyway, I’m a woman of my word, so…” There had actually been two people who had managed to set the score she had demanded, and proudly they stood beside us, though obviously they both wanted to stand beside my sis.

“No touching, or Akio will make you regret it!” She giggled cheekily. “And don’t be using this selfie for anything weird. This is a family heirloom and… a priceless memory. Don’t let it fade.”

I noticed the slight pause, and as the guys took their photos with us, I pondered what that meant. As she inspected their pictures, giving an approving thumbs up, I decided a change of pace might be nice.

“You want to get a picture? Seems like there is a purikura booth after all.” I pointed to one tucked away in the corner, the old-fashioned style a bit out of place, a large velvet curtain blocking the insides from view. “This really isn’t the sort of place that attracts a lot of girls, so I suppose they don’t need a lot, or the newer models…”

“That what you’re into, bro?” she was back to that manner of address, as the crowd had dispersed after our selfie event, though I could hear the whacking of bat on balls, and the sound of basketballs being thrown, a few last desperate attempts to win the prize of a picture with us, though my sis had given a strict time limit, so I doubted any more would win. “Never would have pegged you for that. If Shaeula finds out, she’ll laugh at you. Or wait, she’ll probably insist on hundreds of sets… damn…”

“It’s good to record priceless memories, isn’t it?” I replied casually, and her shoulders jerked. Still, she kept her best calm expression on her face, only rolling her eyes. I’m not going to push, not yet…

“Whatever. I’ll give you the same advice I gave those guys though, no using my pics for anything weird, okay?”

“As if I would…” I chuckled, leading her by the hand to the old-fashioned booth. Inside, there was a double seat, as unlike passport photo booths, nobody did purikura alone, that would just be the ultimate humiliation.

“All right then. We don’t have this back home, but I’m a girl, should be second nature to me…” My sis bent over, tapping at the screen, and soon we were centred in the viewscreen. “We get to take five. So… a normal one to start?” she asked, and I agreed. The picture was taken, and we did a couple more with funny poses, before she winked at me, and asked if we should do a couple’s pose, since we were on a date.

“You think I won’t call your bluff?” I laughed, pulling her into my shoulder, and my sis pressed the button.

“Fine then. You’re just a big bro moonstone, you don’t get to be cool….” She trailed off and didn’t even notice she had paused for an uncomfortably long time, before she blinked, as if reawakening. “Fine then! You might no longer be my earnest, bumbling virgin of a big bro, but… final pic!” She leaned in, giving a peace sign to the camera, and pressed her lips softly against my cheek, her other hand pressing the trigger.

“Yeah, that’s a good one.” my sis winked. “Did I surprise you, bro? Well…” She puffed out her cheeks, pouting adorably, her blue eyes glinting. “…you shocked me, pulling a trick like that with Eri. Taking me on a date… you’re an incorrigible siscon…”

“Says the brocon who just kissed me…” I countered teasingly, and she laughed.

“Just on the cheek bro, don’t get all hot and bothered. Really, with all the girls you kiss and more with, surely that won’t phase you. Anyway…” She turned back to the controls. “We’ve got the five pictures, now the fun starts, so I’m told…” She brought up the first one and began to decorate the photo, drawing wavy lines, adding sparkles and other effects. “Come on bro, don’t be lame. Join in! If you want to make memories… might as well make them sparkly ones, yeah?”

“All right…” I chuckled, and soon we were on the third picture.

“How about… ah…” I clicked on an option, and suddenly Aiko and me were sporting fox ears and tails of a cartoony nature. Seeing that, my sis froze for a moment.

“Hey, you okay?” I asked, when the pause went on longer than usual, and she turned to me, and I could clearly see there was something wrong. Her eyes were… I’d never quite seen her like that before.

“Hey, bro… no, Akio…” Her tone was light, but the intensity was there, and she seemed… distant, almost ephemeral, like she’d vanish if I took my eyes off her. “If I asked you to honour your wager and not ask me about anything more, would you?”

All right. It seems like… now’s the time. But…

“You know I wouldn’t lie to you, Aiko.” I insisted.

“Really? You lied to me plenty when you first came to Nishimorioka. And I know you thought it was for my own good, but… ah, that’s then, and this is now. So, if I ask you to just… enjoy the rest of your little date with me, and forget about me, would you?”

“No.” I noticed a pattern to her words and odd behaviours, and glancing at the photograph of us smiling together, looking like Kitsune, I was starting to get an inkling. Why though, it doesn’t exactly make sense…

“No?” Her expression was strained. “Wow, got to admit, bro, never expected that refusal.”

“Hey!” I flicked her forehead gently. “You didn’t give me time to finish. I said no, because of your ‘phrasing.’” I took the tone Eri did when she chastised Aiko for her off-colour jokes. “I can not ask anything and enjoy our date. But I’ll never forget about you.”

She pursed her lips, touching her forehead where I had tapped her. “Huh, Eri’s right. You’re annoyingly sharp at times, bro. It was easier when you played dumb and pretended you didn’t get how we felt.”

“That’s a pitiful way to live, though. Your brother was an idiot. Maybe I still am, but at least I’m a happy idiot, and I hope those around me are happier too. So, I’d honour my word, but… just because I couldn’t ask you, doesn’t mean I’d stop trying to understand what’s wrong, and how I can help you feel better.”

“So persistent. But…” My sis looked away, back at the screen. “So, bro. I know you went off with the foxes last night. So, did you do them? Do I have to call them both sister-in-law?”

“Hardly. If you must know, I still hold a deep grudge against Nebisuki for her treatment of Eri that time. As for Mae…” I was focusing all my attention on my sister as I talked idly, and I noticed at that name her eyes trembled. Why, though? Mae’s not harmed Aiko or anyone else, far from it… “…all I did was groom her, though… honestly… you should be proud of your big brother!” I patted my chest. “…resisting the urge to do something I shouldn’t was hard, even for me. It turns out Kitsune really like having their tails brushed. And it’s kind of hard to do without seeing things I shouldn’t.”

“Pervert. Telling your sister about your sexual escapades!” she grumbled. “But…” She paused. “Hey, bro… can I cash in my prize now?”

I see. Not enough, huh? I nodded slowly and regretfully, and seeing that, my sis flicked across the image to the first of our fake date pictures. She began to prettify it up, not looking at me, though I could see her eyes in the reflection of the screen. “Bro, I’m going to ramble a bit, and them I’m going to ask you a question, okay? I want you to think very deeply about the answer, to search your Truesoul, as you’d call it. I don’t want to hear comforting words, tender lies, half-truths or what you think I want or need to hear. Not for my own good, like when you hid the truth about you and Shaeula from me. Not what you feel compelled to say. The truth. Your truth. That okay, Akio?”

I nodded slowly, surprised. “You’ll be telling me the truth too, right? Like Eri asked you to?”

“Way to distrust your sweet little sister.” She sighed, her eyes meeting mine through the reflection. “Yeah. I promise. On everything you, me and Eri have shared.”

“Then no matter what, even if the answer makes you despise me, I’ll speak.” I promised. I’ve no idea what she’s talking about, but… it seems to be about memories, about being forgotten, left behind… and about Mae?

“You think the truth will hurt me? Maybe. But I’d hardly hate you for that, Akio.” She moved to the final photo, her kissing my cheek. “Damn, this is a cute photograph. Wasted on you though. No, I guess that’s not fair… I’m happy. But… such happiness is fleeting, you know?” She took a deep breath.

“Hey, you remember that mess with Tamamo-no-Mae? Don’t answer that, no way you could forget it. I can’t either. It was… not what I expected. Battle is… like that school in Korea, yeah? Guns, throwing fireballs and laser beams, abilities clashing… not… not whatever the hell it was!” She shook her head. “Do you know how hard it is to watch that? Not just watch it, but… to feel it too?”

“I… know I was selfish, but…” I grunted as my sis’ elbow struck me in the ribs. Oddly enough it hurt, perhaps because I instructively didn’t guard my body against her.

“Selfish? Wow, yeah you’re always selfish, but… it’s selfishness for others. Even Haanōbō, I know the story, bro. You hated her being mistreated by her brothers, because… you’d never ever tolerate anyone, especially you, mistreating me, right?”

I nodded, surreptitiously rubbing my side, and she continued her story. “I had to see it, feel it. Everything you endured, everything she endured. And I could help. A little, but… I wanted to help for so long, Akio. Because… we couldn’t stay the same. But we never could, could we?” She tapped at the image, spraying tacky floating hearts and kiss-marks all over the screen. “Eri says I couldn’t face that we’ve grown up, that our relationships have changed. Maybe… maybe she’s right. We’re mirrors. Eri was too cowardly to admit her love, you were too cowardly to face the feelings of others you could understand better than you felt you should, and me… me, I’m the biggest coward of all. The cowardly lion who tries to always be brave.”

I didn’t think I should speak. My sister was opening her heart, and it was raw, ragged. But… I had to know a wound was there before I could heal it.

“I’m just as much a loner as Eri, but worse… she’s a quiet, pretty darkness, while I’m the flashy, brilliant light, but I used that light to prevent anyone getting too close to me. But that doesn’t matter.”

“Oh, it does.” I disagreed, and she frowned.

“I’m the one speaking here. If we’re on a date, at least listen to your partner. You’re a playboy now, you should at least know girls love a good listener.” At my silence, she relaxed a little. “I’m not stupid… I’m not that smart, either, obviously… considering the state I’m in. Hah…” She exhaled, a sad sound. “I thought I was my usual bright, brilliant self, adored by all… but seems that Eri and Shaeula have been wearing sunglasses. Even Kana-chan can see though the false glow. Like the Wizard of Oz, behind the light it’s… it’s empty.”

You’re not empty, sis, I know that, but… I’d rather you spit it all out. All the poison, the bitterness, I’ll take it all, and Eri, me, Shaeula, our family… if you are lacking, we’ll help fill you up again…

“You know, your existence is cruel, Akio.” I blinked at that, and she turned to face me, hand pressing the trigger, locking in the most embarrassing photo of us possible, one so garish and over-the-top that no self-respecting girl would ever display it. “Poor Yae-chan fell into your clutches and she’s even willing to dedicate herself to a career of violence and hardships, knowing you probably still won’t love her back. Oh, don’t say anything, I know you told her you weren’t interested, but… you’re too kind still, and she can’t forget the feeling of being won, and then treated like she was precious, even if you were just being needlessly gallant. There’s others too. Yu-mi… she’s so pitiful too. I like her. I’d have been furious in her place, an arranged marriage to save her cousin, dedicating her life to a man she’d never met, only knew rumours about. Yet you turned out to be so understanding and let her break it off. Only for her to quickly realise that was her mistake. That she spat on a chance of genuine happiness, that misfortune and fortune are both a toss of a coin away. I get it. I wanted you to come back to Nishimorioka, I wanted us to be together again. I wanted you to love Eri, but… I also feared it. I’m empty, like I said. But when I’m with Eri, with you… I don’t feel that way. I wanted to be filled… get it?”

At my slow blinks, she sighed. “You can speak now. If you stay on topic, Akio.”

“If you’re talking about the opposite of what you wanted, then… has being filled hurt you?” I asked shrewdly, and she nodded.

“I felt all that you were, Akio. And all that you are isn’t a false light like mine… it’s blinding. You burned yourself to ashes to save Tamamo-no-Mae, and… I had to share it all. Share myself with you too. Connections… that’s your Path. So very you, Akio. But what do you do when the connections aren’t beneficial? I can see you want to say something. Go ahead…”

“Let’s get out of here. I don’t feel comfortable.” I grabbed Aiko by the arm and we vanished, the curtain billowing as air rushed into the space we had just occupied. I took the pictures with us, of course, snatched up by my spatial element, because no matter what… My sis might not think so, but… this is her time, and I treasure spending time with her…

“No princess carry this time?” my sis complained, as we appeared on a rooftop nearby. The café with grand views out over the city wasn’t open yet, but I’d had it arranged for our use, so there were chairs and drinks laid out, as well as breakfast. “Quite thoughtful though, having this set up. Unless it was meant for someone else, other than me?”

“No. I made the arrangements specifically for our date.” I pulled the pictures from my pocket, and with a wicked grin, picked the most embarrassing one. “I’ll keep this one. For a precious memory.”

“Lies.” My sis snorted, sitting down. “You’re just going to destroy it. I don’t blame you. I made it as annoying as possible on purpose.”

“You don’t get me as well as you think you do, sis. Just like I never fully understood Eri, and I surely didn’t understand you. Mirrors may reflect, but… they’re not perfect. Even the best mirrors don’t reflect a hundred percent of who we are. Some light is always absorbed. So, your question… if a Connection hurts… then yes, one way is to sever it. I want to release Nebisuki’s and Mae’s tails, when it’s safe to do so…”

“So, you’d cut it?” my sis asked, and I’d never seen her looking so serious.

“That’s one way. Ideally, the best way is to change the Connection, so it no longer causes pain, is no longer a burden. Is that it? Is Lovers’ Link causing you distress? The situation was abnormal, I never expected it to get so strong, I’m sorry…”

“Distress?” She tasted the word, as if puzzled by it. “That’s one way to put it…” Looking out to the East, the dawn was slowly creeping over the horizon, a pretty sight. “…but not in the way you think. It’s… reassuring, to know you love me, Akio. Even if it’s annoying sometimes, when I’m fearful, when I’m failing, when I can’t live up to everyone’s expectations, Aiko, the hard worker, Aiko, the cheerful, bubbly ray of sunshine, Aiko, always second best, never winning. You… want to hear my question now, the one you promised to answer for me?”

I nodded slowly, feeling a sense of incoming dread. I reached out for Lovers’ Link, and Aiko grimaced.

“Don’t do that, Akio. That’s cheating. And it’s hard for me to keep my emotions controlled. Really hard. So, I felt, I was a part of, what you went through to save Tamamo-no-Mae. You burned yourself to ashes, risked your very existence, and not just then… for Eri, for Tsukiko, for Shaeula, even for Asha… you risk everything time and time again. And not just that… you even persuaded the damn government to make polygamy legal, so you can marry your women without them being ashamed. You’re the man who took the virginity of a Goddess! And I know you’ll end up changing the world, for her, and for them, and maybe even changing realms I can’t even imagine. Whereas me…”

Aiko took a sip of the waiting drink with a trembling hand, eyes sparkling with tears both shed and yet to flow. “…I’m the sister of someone who has gone far beyond common sense. Worse… you’re not just my brother, Akio, you’re also my other half, or maybe I should say, other third. Damn it, it sounds way cooler when Shaeula says her thing about the moons….” She scrubbed away her tears. “…I finally realised it. I’ve been trying, and trying, but… I can’t go back to our childhood, when I never had to think of anything but being by your side, by Eri’s side, and we were happy, and I wasn’t jealous of Eri, or you, of everyone! But it’s not just that… I know it.” she whispered. “Your heart, Eri’s heart… eventually, there’ll be nothing left of me but memories. Shaeula’s, Kana-chan’s, Shiro’s, I’m the fading remnants of a supernova, Eri says, but who cares about the pitiful husk of a star left behind?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but she shook her head. “I’m almost there, Akio. Worse… I saw Tamamo-no-Mae. She was so powerful, lived so long, yet… her memories were burned away, turned to dust… nothing lasts forever, not even her treasured emotions. I… don’t want to be the one who is left behind. Like you left me, left Eri! You bastard!” She punched me, suddenly furious. “How could you do that, you coward?”

I let her beat on me until she cried herself out, her fists raw. Her Ether Healing was fixing them, but I waved a hand, and aether quickly washed away her aches. Seeing that, she blinked at me guiltily. “Sorry, Akio. I promised I was over that. I promised I understood, that I knew we pressured you, that it was our fault too, but… I’m scared, okay? Scared… everything is too much. I look and I see Eri doesn’t need me, you definitely don’t need me… I can’t even master gold element and be useful to you that way… I was the first to get a Favour, but I’m still not good enough… I know, when it comes to it, that placed on a scale, I’m just your sister.”

She took a deep breath. “Now, here’s the question at last. If it came down to it, if the only way to make me happy, to save me, was to risk yourself, not just like you did for the others, but… more fundamentally. I know you’re brave, but… could you burn everything down to ashes for me? Could you earn disgust and hatred from the world, from those closest to us, could you go against their wishes, could you throw everything into the fires for me, taint all those treasured memories…”

She seriously can’t mean… no, no way. I’m reading her wrong. But… am I?

“…Aiko…” My tone was calm, yet she paused, waiting, the expression on her face one of utter self-loathing. “…are you asking… do you mean… you and me…?”

Her blue eyes went wide, and she spat out a bitterly amused laugh. “Bro, no, piss off! I’m not asking you to… to that…”

Oh, thank God. Then… what though? But… if I’m truly, objectively honest with myself, with no filters or walls… completely free of preconceived feelings…

***

“Aiko…” Her brother called her name with such cold detachment, and she could read the anger and annoyance in his eyes. I’ve gone too far, asking him to cast everyone aside, put Eri and those he loves at risk, just for my selfish jealousy and loneliness. “…are you asking…” He began to stutter, and he was blushing, and worse, his eyes had started looking me up and down, and I started wishing I wasn’t in such cute clothes. “…do you mean… you and me…?”

Wait? What the hell. Wow. Wow. Wowowowowowowowow? No! Not…

“Bro, no, piss off!” I cried instinctively, now scarlet, covering my chest with my arms. “I’m not asking you to… to that…” I know he loves me, but… “…okay? No, no… I know… I know I’m the best little sister in the world, but… you can’t! Eri would be disgusted! Dad and mom would disown and kill you! You’d lose most of your fiancées in disgrace. Shaeula would stay, I get that, but…” Her words were pouring out of her, only to realise her brother was laughing at her, or in relief, it was hard to tell.

“Seriously…” He wiped at his eyes. “I thought you were about to hit me with asking me to be your lover.”

“Wow, shit bro, just how highly do you think of yourself!” Aiko grimaced. No, no… I love my bro, but… not like that! Although… Her eyes suddenly narrowed. “But… now you’ve confessed your perverted love for your innocent little sister…” She tried to make light of it, but honestly, it was an opportunity. “…it’s not a bad idea?”

“It’s not?” He began to sweat, and she smiled sweetly.

“Pervert. You want to check I’m wearing lucky underwear too, I bet. No, I mean the question. It’s… that level of commitment. I’m asking… could you give me that level of love, even if it destroyed all you held dear, or at least had the potential to? Let me clarify once again…” Aiko fanned her suddenly crimson face and downed her drink hastily. “…I’m not suddenly confessing to you, bro. And if you confess to me now, I won’t know what to do. Eri would die…”

“I think you’d be surprised.” He shook his head. “Do you honestly think Eri cares anything about how others see us? But don’t worry…” He suddenly leant in and kissed my cheek, mirroring the cheeky picture I had taken earlier. “…I’m not a pervert who lusts after the underwear of my sister, even if she is suspiciously wearing lucky underwear on a date with her innocent big bro!”

“Fuck you!” Aiko howled, mortified, but her chest throbbed, as did the bond she had been so forcibly supressing these past two and a bit weeks. Genuine care and affection and worry trickled through, but that was what was bothering her, gnawing at her, yet now… there was something else… an emotion she couldn’t detect. “Eri made me wear them!”

“See? I don’t think Eri has any ulterior motives, but… if anyone could accept the absurd, so long as we were together, she could.” her bro responded smugly, and her fists clenched and she wondered if she could slug him a few more times. “Now then…” he continued calmly, which pissed her off more. “…I still don’t quite get everything, but I’ve got a grasp on the problem. And I can see some of it is my fault…”

Damn right it is, but… I’m also being unfair. It’s mostly my own fears, insecurities. I had to be the strong one for Eri, then… my bro came back, took over, and ever since… I’ve made bad choices, not been good enough, watched as everyone moved ahead of me. I tried to be who I always was, tried to keep our same roles, same banter, same love… but what Akio and Eri have, what I and Eri have, what I and my bro have… it’s all changed. They did, but despite everything, I didn’t, I couldn’t, and seeing, experiencing everything when I overlapped with Akio’s very existence… I realised just how far gone I was, how wrong I was… and how much I desperately craved them both to love me as deeply as I needed to love them.

“…but…” He was stern now, and as he approached, she flinched, only for him to put his arms around her. “…a lot of it is that you’re a troublemaker. But no matter what, you’re my troublemaker.”

Chest throbbing, Aiko let herself go limp and finally let go of the death-grip on Lovers’ Link, letting the truth flow through.

“Sorry, bro. Sorry…” She began to sob. “Don’t leave me, don’t hate me! I just… I just…”

“There, there.” He patted her back gently. “It’s fine. I get it… well, no, not really. I think you underestimate just how much everyone adores you. And if you don’t live up to my expectations… are you dumb? You always said you were, so maybe you know yourself best?”

“Hey!” Aiko grumbled, messily blowing her nose on his shirt as revenge. “Are you supposed to be making me feel better or not?”

“All right then. I will.” He grinned, and her heart clenched. I can’t do it. Not alone. I don’t know why, but… without my bro, without Eri, I’m useless.

“I threatened to burn worlds for Shiro.” As her eyes narrowed, annoyed he would talk about someone else now, her bro merely stroked her hair gently, like they were kids again. “I’d have destroyed my conscience and my sanity for that. If you were in trouble sis… don’t you think I’d do the same, or go further? You wanted an answer to your question? I can’t see you as anything but my adorable, needy, idiotic but always kind little sister, the genuine best in the world. I may see other girls as family, but… just as Eri was my only childhood friend, you’re my only childhood sister! Yet… if the only way to make you happy, truly happy was to…” He looked up at the sky above, the dawning Christmas Eve. “Damn, sis, you’re determined to hold blackmail material over me for life. But… isn’t that what you wanted? A guarantee that I’ll always treasure you, no matter what? I can see why you might think I’m slipping away.”

“Yes…” she whispered. “…too many women love you, and you love too many. It’s hard for me, just your sister, to feel… to feel I can compete. There’s things I can never do…”

“Yeah. Though…” He was serious, holding her close, and their hearts beat as one, in time to the bonds between them. “I get to name this one, okay…?” he murmured, and she looked up, puzzled. “…there’s things as a sister, love as a sister, you can give that they can’t either. Not even Eri. But…” He leant in, and his breath ticked her ear, as he spoke words that both mortified and thrilled her.

“I’m genuinely not a pervert. I’ve only ever appreciated you as my cute sister, the cutest sister in the world, actually. Yet if you ever felt the only way to go on would be… for us to cross that line… for you, I’d learn to be a monster, a beast. Because Aiko, I treasure you just as much as I treasure Eri, or Shaeula, or any of the others.”

He… he’d destroy himself, torch his relationships for me… all for me… he… he’ll never forget me… always have time for me…

“Don’t worry. I know you’re just seeking reassurance. And I damn well hope we never have to ever mention this again. But… if you think that anything you can do would destroy the love we’ve built up, then… you’re wrong. And I can prove it, and… give you a gift nobody else has and ever will have. But…”

He hesitated, and Aiko shivered. What gift? My heart’s not prepared… are we going to kiss… no, wait, I didn’t ask for that… oh wow, my brain’s broken…

“Being a brother is hard, you know? I actually feel a bit of sympathy for father.” His words were teasing and warm, as warm as the strange glow that was washing over her. Soullight, maybe? The Eye I got from Kana-chan… ugh, I suppose I should thank that crazy stalker of my bro’s too… doesn’t have the clarity bro’s does, but I can see the shimmering light enfolding me, entering me…

“Oh, why?” she asked, curious.

“Because you see, Eri, Kana, Shiro, the others… I’ve taken their lives in my hands, and me into theirs. But you’re different, sis. One day, you’ll find love, find someone you want to be with, a dream to achieve that takes you away from us. And so long as he… or she, if you want to go after a nice girl, go for it…”

“Like there’s any around you I can snag before you take them all. Not that I swing that way!” she insisted dreamily, starting to feel very strange, a languid, soft feeling creeping up over her.

“So… anyway…” He ignored her dig at him. “One day it’ll be someone else’s job to take care of you, sis. There’s things in good conscience I can’t do for you.”

“That’s it then? Wave me goodbye and I’m someone else’s problem, huh?” she grumbled.

“It’s not like that.” Akio insisted, and Aiko felt a sting of guilt, warring with the warm, comfortable sensation she was experiencing being enfolded in soullight. I’m still being… a bit of a bitch, but… it makes me feel good, that he won’t reject me, even like this…

“If you’re in trouble, it doesn’t matter, I’ll be there.” he insisted, the steel in his grey eyes calming her. “But don’t you feel sorry for your boyfriend, whoever he might be? It won’t be a pleasure for him, me storming to your rescue. Just like I wouldn’t be happy if Yukiko’s or Eleanor’s brothers butted in on our relationships. It’s different for girls, they join their new family…”

“That’s sexist as hell, bro.” Aiko grumbled. “But maybe my boyfriend shouldn’t be pathetic enough to need your help then?”

“Ouch.” He winced, as if a nerve had been struck. “That’s cold, sis. With an attitude like that, you’ll never find love. And if you do, I’d pity your boyfriend. You know… there are plenty of great guys out there. And as long as they treat you right, I’ll support them a hundred percent. Eri will too. And Shaeula. You really owe her an apology. She adores you as if you’re one of her sisters. And I know you love her too, no matter what your guilt and stress says.”

“Shut it.” Aiko snapped, though she wasn’t angry, just… ashamed. “I know, all right. And I’m not going to take lectures from my bro, who admitted he lusts after my body and wants to make me one of his wives!”

“Hey!” he cried, shocked by her retort. “Didn’t we agree never to mention that, ever? Besides, you know that’s not what I meant. It’s just… there’s no limits to how far I’d go to see you smile, okay? Though…” His expression was suddenly serious. “…all this about destroying my relationships, sacrificing everything for you is a nonsense. Because no matter how down on yourself you are now, Eri and I know you best. You may be scared, may be difficult, but you’re not the sort of girl who would make others unhappy for your own happiness. You looked after Eri all these years, and sure, maybe you needed her too, that’s healthier a relationship anyway. But… I know you, sis. I’ve known you since the day you were born. You’re not a destroyer, a taker, but someone who builds, gives, even if you don’t believe it yourself, have fallen for your own lies.”

Wow, shit. Bro… this is how you made the others fall for you, isn’t it? Be still my heart… huh, wait, something’s happening…

“Relax, I’m just messing with you, bro. Like you said, I… love the way you went beyond even what I could have asked of you. A less devoted sister would be utterly disgusted, but… I guess I’m a little sis sapphire after all. I… need to change, don’t I? But…” She pursed her lips in a sweet smile. “…it’s reassuring. That… no matter what… you’ll always believe in me, even when I don’t, be with me, even when it’s hard… huh?”

“It’s done.” Akio released his hug, and for a moment, Aiko felt the absence. But then… What? It’s… gone? Lovers’ Link? He… cut it? Why? I know I said I resented it, it made unhappy, but… it wasn’t because I hated the closeness, it just reminded me I could never have the affection from my bro the others, Eri, Shaeula, could… but I know I was wrong. If I wished for it, my bro would even throw away his dignity, morals, his pride…

“How could you do that, bro?” she complained. “Your whole Path is bonds! You can’t just toss that aside because I’m upset! Have you been listening to me? I thought you understood I’m suffering from a crisis of self-esteem and inadequacy here! Now it’ll get…” She paused as her bro kissed her cheek again.

“That shut you up. It’s quite the effective weapon.” he smirked teasingly. “Though to be used sparingly, and never around Shaeula. Seriously, never tell her about any of this, okay? Firstly, you’ll hurt her feelings, and secondly, she’ll try and talk us into romance. She’s given up on that, I’d hate to restart it.”

“Make up your damn mind, big bro moonstone.” Aiko touched her cheek. I’m so easy. I was resolved that I had to find a way to accept I’d always be left behind, but… her cheeks twitching, a smile creeping over her lips despite her resolve to remain composed, she complained. “You told me to apologise to her, now you say don’t say anything? Be consistent! And don’t change the damn subject!”

“Fine.” He waved a hand to dismiss her anger. “Yes, bonds, connections, they are a huge part of my Path. But… I’ve seen it. Not all bonds are desirable, bring joy. I think my Path is Connection that benefits both parties, not that takes, not that curses or harms. And so, if a bond brings dismay, despair… best to deal with it…”

“That makes sense. But…” But that was our bond, bro. And honestly… I loved it because it was from you! There isn’t anything in life that doesn’t have downsides! It’s because I was too pathetic, not down to you, bro!

“Who says I removed it? Sis, any gift I give you isn’t for me to take away. But… if it’s a gift that doesn’t suit you anymore… let your beloved big bro… handle it. You’ve got all the tools in your box now.” He tapped under his eye, and Aiko suddenly understood. Pouring aether into her new Eye, she felt it… wait, Lovers’ Link is connected to my Eye now… huh… words?

“Your Skill…” she read, her blue eyes, one glittering with rainbow aether, wide and awed. “…Lovers’ Link Rank Four has become Brother’s Bond Rank 5. This unique Connection, created by the Bonds shared by a foolishly overprotective brother and his younger blood-related sister, separated out by the one who treads the Path of… huh…” Aiko paused. “My vision is blurring. I think it said… bond-something? Oh, it’s clear now… wow…” Aiko burst out laughing, her stress, anger, resentment, grief, jealousy… all of it was melting away, replaced by warmth, love, amusement… and regret too. Eri was right. I… always believed I was being friends with everyone, that I cared for Shaeula and the others, but… in the end all I was doing was keeping my true self hidden away, in the shadows cast by my false light. Hidden so deep even I was fooled into thinking I was being genuine, I was being happy. No more…

“…that’s… just… wow. Bro, I’m feeling sick! Quick, kiss me again!”

Puzzled, he bent over and kissed her cheek once more, and Aiko giggled. “Yep. That’s somehow not as embarrassing as this… anyway… treads the Path of the Twister Of Connection’s Strands, Loom That Weaves Bonds, Blade That Severs Misfortune…”

“That damn Tree…” Akio muttered under his breath.

“…and fortified by a generous measure of Soullight that soothes and protects, this Skill has separated into numerous strands, each controlled by the sister, who is able to activate and deactivate them at her will. At Rank Five, there are three strands. The first strand connects to the Chakra network, and grants one percent of the brother’s Statistics per Rank of the Skill as a benefit she can draw on, up to a maximum of his maximum Statistics. The second strand connects to the spirit, and allows sharing of some subtle emotions and thoughts in both directions, the intensity and clarity increasing as the Skill grows in Ranks. The third strand connects to the Spiritual Eye Of Earth, and allows limited reflection of the brother’s superior Eyes, though overusing this will cause significant backlash. In addition, the brother and sister will find their Soullight has become more aligned, and all strands of Connection will transfer Soullight from the stronger party to the weaker when there is an excess, and such Soullight is held within the strands, and will be deployed in an emergency to repair, restore and cleanse, averting disaster. This Skill is indeed displaying a burgeoning proficiency with the Path of the Twister Of Connection’s Strands, Loom That Weaves Bonds, Blade That Severs Misfortune, but beware, as one should not fall too far and follow the myths of the Sun and the Moon that illuminates your lands… oh wow, what a mouthful. And now my head aches…” Aiko blinked blearily. “So, I can… shut it off… oh yes, it’s disappeared.”

Akio, you… big bro… why am I such a fool? No… I… can accept it. It’s hard but I need to be honest.

“Yeah, Lovers’ Link… I wanted you to have it, I’d never forgive myself if you died due to missing that strength. But… I never intended it to grow the way it did, put such pressure on you…” He was apologetic, and that… pisses me off…

“Bro…” Aiko grinned, reaching out and gripping his collar, pulling him close. Oops, I can see where I wept and sneezed all over him while crying. He’d best change shirts before he meets who’s next. Before… I’d have felt bitter than he was running off to leave me to hang out with his girlfriend, but… I feel refreshed, honestly. But to finally be able to move forward, I have to get everything off my chest.

“I think it’s clear I love you. After all… it’s time to own it. I’m the ultimate brocon little sister. And that’s hard. You’re… look, they say that younger siblings of successful people have it rough, yeah? And you… you’re going to be Astral Emperor! That’s more important than being Tan, an actual Goddess! Before that… you might end up being Emperor of Japan… I doubt you’ll get Britain too, but… you’ll be a Prince in mom’s homeland, surely? Me? I’m trying hard, but I can’t even manage to master gold element and help you out. I’ve hurt Eri, and… look, I can recite my mistakes all day. But…” She pointed to the rising sun. “I don’t want to waste the rest of my date. So, just promise me this… never change, okay bro? And I’ll always be following.”

“That’s…” he paused. “I want you to be happy. You’re my sister, Aiko. And that’ll never change.”

“That’s all I need. That and to know… just how far you’d go for me. But you make it hard, yeah?”

“How so?” he asked, and Aiko stuck out her tongue.

“How is anyone going to win me over when you’re here, bro? I’m not losing to Eri, so… yeah. Look, I’ll make it work. I want to be Autumn West, and not to help you… but because… I’m your sister. I can’t believe I let my insecurities crush me.” She slapped her cheeks, as if she was hyping herself up for a sporting tournament. “It’s very like me, though. I always stumble at the final hurdle and end up missing the gold. Missing the gold, huh? For the first time, I feel like… I’m going to win first place. Because… you’re watching me, aren’t you, bro?”

“Always. But now, when the time comes you don’t want me to, because it’s a new stage of your life, and you have to stand on your own, or you want to walk with someone else you found a place for in your heart… you’re in charge.”

“Yeah, I am.” Aiko winked. “You know… I can’t say I’m not curious, but… curiosity killed the cat, didn’t it? I’ll content myself with the fact you don’t lie bro, and I’ll never forget what you told me today. Besides, I’m a fool, aren’t I? I thought that if even Tamamo-no-Mae would be ground away, and those she cared about were lost and forgotten, there’d be no chance you’d remember me in the future, when you go even further ahead of me… but once more, I missed the point, didn’t I? Firstly, you cleaned the dirt and dust of despair from her dreams, didn’t you bro? Even if it sounds like you got the sort of reward guys dream of in return…” She crossed her arms under her chest, glowering at her bro, before she cracked an amused smile. “…and as your adoring, brocon little sis, I’ll express proper jealousy. After all, that’ll make you happy, right?” She winked.

I was playing the perfect sister all this time. I thought I’d realised that when Eri, Shaeula and I talked, but… the escalating pressure, my bro’s transformation from loveable loser to… to basically the peak of manhood… though I’ll never tell him I think that… the mistakes I kept making, all the times I didn’t speak my mind, tell him I was proud of him, that he was the world to me, I just talked him down… the need to outdo the new sisters, to match his ever-increasing harem of increasingly absurd women… Princesses, Valkyries, Goddesses… what the hell’s next? Demons? Dragons? Yeah… I fell back into old routines, worse than ever. But now… I’m not trying to be the perfect sister. Nor do I have to hold back… I’ll just be the perfect Aiko. And trust… that Akio, that Eri, that Shaeula and the others love me for me, and I don’t have to be this façade of myself I’ve built to keep them happy… and for those I’ve treated as friends but never truly let into my heart… I’ve time to change.

“So long as you’re happy.” he repeated, and I rolled my eyes.

“Since I’ve owned my brocon nature, time to put your hand on your heart and admit you love your little sister just as much as anyone, it’s only fair. Oh, you already did!” She grinned wickedly. “Anyway… secondly…” She raised a finger, and her Eye could see a faint shimmer of what surely was Soullight on it. “…I’m tied to you, by my own will now, my own choice. So neither of us have any need for guilt. And… the faster you run… the faster I’ll be dragged along. And I’m okay with that. It’ll be a fun but exhausting ride. You know, I often joked I’d be a terrible mean sister-in-law, having you and Eri taking care of me for the rest of my life. It was a joke, but… hey, being that for a while doesn’t seem so bad. I’m young yet, I’m in no rush to fly the nest. So for now…” She reactivated all the strands, feeling the sweet warmth of her bro’s power rushing through her, stronger than ever. “…is the date over? If so, you’re a failure bro. Way to finish on a low note!”

As her brother laughed, checking his watch and promising, no, there was an hour or so left, Aiko clapped her hands. Great then. Damn it, I’m emotionally exhausted. What a rollercoaster. But… Eri was right. And I owe her an apology for taking my anger out on her too. I wore my mask so long I became it, even able to lie to myself. Mirrors should reflect our ideal selves, not the self we think others want or need to see. I still don’t know what mine is… but I know what it isn’t… I wanted everything to stay the same, I felt threatened enough that despite wishing Eri to be happy, despite becoming fond of Shaeula… I would have turned back time, to go back to those glorious, sunlit days in Nishimorioka. But now…

“Okay then, bro. What are we waiting for?” Aiko grabbed some of the snacks from the table and wolfed them down, suddenly feeling hungry and full of energy for the first time in a while. “A kiss? Give a guy one kiss and he starts getting greedy. I’m going to tell on you…”

“Sure. Eat up…” he laughed. “Oh, that’s not sure to a kiss, sis. Just… oh, who cares. Compared to you being so miserable, I’ll take some embarrassment and teasing. Just… don’t bottle stuff up again, okay? And…” He winked, and Aiko giggled at his overexaggerated actions. “…you’ll definitely master gold element. You’re next on my list, I promise.”

“Great!” Before, I’d have worried he was only doing it because I pushed him, threw a tantrum and played on our guilt… but now… I know it’s because I’m as important to him as Eri has become. It’s… such… a… she turned away, watching the sunrise, tears in her eyes, knowing she couldn’t hide them from her brother, and not meaning to. …relief… to no longer have to put on the mask…