“Ai, dear, have you done all your homework? It’s no good letting things slip now.” Mom said, and I rolled over on the sofa, waving calmly. Over oher chair, auntie Mori chuckled, though there was a trace of sadness in her smile. Still thinking about Eri, I guess. She’s still not better, but from what she says, she’s slowly feeling a little stronger. I don’t think Eri would lie to me…

  “It’s done, I kno, give me some credit. I’m not going to blow my ce of getting into uni.” I had done all of my homework a few ho, and it was easy enough nowadays. English was never any issue, and now mathematics was simirly trivial. Even my weaker subjects had been fixed by my better memory and faster brain. I was no long dumb Aiko, but a genius like Eri! Yeah, I hear my bro and Eri both saying I wasn’t that stupid, but pared to them it sometimes felt like it…

  “I wish my little Eri was so motivated.” Auntie Mori said quietly. “I’d love to see her go to uy as well. She’s always had the brains for it. But she’s on a different path.”

  “Your daughter, no, our daughter…” Mom grinned. She was in total high spirits all the time retly, especially when Shaeu sent her pictures or texts. That girl was a total photo-fiend, you’d never guess she wasn’t even human. Hinata- is good at sending messages too. And Kana- has ramped up retly. I guess they know my bro is soft on mom. Buttering her up is a smart move. “… wao be a wife, not a worker. As long as she’s following her dream, it’s all good!”

  “Besides…” I interrupted my mom, surprising her. “…I wouldn’t rule her out yet, you know? Everyorying to improve themselves to help out big bro, so Eri might find something else she wants to do, when she’s ba her feet.” Tasteless pun there, but Eri isn’t letting it get her down. Sure, she has her moments of depression, but being with Akio, and the irls looking after her, she’s fine…

  “I hope so.” Auntie said, and we fell silent for a moment, before dad called us from the other room, where he and uncle were watg television. We might as well move to a bigger house and all move in together. Uncle and auntie practically live here now. And it’s not like we have money worries, bro is filthy rich…

  “Everyone, e quickly!” he said urgently, and we all exged puzzled gnces. I hopped off the sofa and followed them in, only to see uncle and dad watg the TV, wide-eyed, dad with a serious expression in his grey eyes.

  “Hey, isn’t that…?” I was startled. “That’s the Queen of the United Kingdht?” I know my bro was there a few days ago. Meeting more Princesses. Wonder if he wooed her? That’d be , having her as a sister-in-w. Well, Eri might not think so…

  “It’s an emergency broadcast.” Dad said. “This will lead to trouble.” He said meaningfully, looking at me.

  Oh. I see. Wow, yeah… no kidding. The news reporters were looking grave and fused, but they were doing their best to offer their transtions and entary on the Queen’s words, not that I hem.

  “If we do nothing, that which protects Britain will be lost, and randdaughter and those who fight for our cause will perish, leaving us alone and unprotected in the new world. We ot allow this. So we implore you all…” she was saying, and I blinked, stunned, as the truth my bro and the others were trying to hide illed out so easily, to the world.

  “oo! Shit!” I decred, and for once dad didn’t se for undylike vulgarity.

  “There you have it!” the anchor, an older man, was saying. “This was broadcast in the United Kingdom mere minutes ago. We will be repying it on the hour, every hour until we have more news. Prince Henry has been mauled, and…”

  As they spoke, dad seemed ed. “This will lead to further digging on Kyoto. Both is. The truth will not be buried. As somebody there and involved, what will you do, Aiko?”

  “Me?” I shrugged. “That’s easy. Whatever bro and the others want. When I accepted the Favour, I accepted that I was going to have to step up. There’s nothing more priceless in the world right now, and bro trusted me with it. How I let him down?”

  “Ai, you’ve grown up!” Mom said, huggiight, nearly suffog me in her chest. I tapped on her arm until she let me go. Damn, will I get as big as mom one day? I hope so…

  “It’s going to be clear that we are involved. School knows little Eri was injured in Kyoto. And little Aki was too eye-catg in his previous visits. Even you’ve ged a lot, little Ai.” Auntie was saying, and I couldn’t disagree.

  “It doesn’t matter. If worst es to worst, well, I’ll pull out the golden sister army to protect us! We always move to Tokyo if the town turns on us.” I said, resolute. We tio discuss things, watg the news, until several hours ter, the hour well past my bedtime, though it wasn’t like I needed more than an hour or two of sleep to fully restore myself now, we saw another shog sight.

  “Live from London, a woman, impossibly fast, and seemingly of some importahe news anchor was saying again, and though the face was obscured with a wide-brimmed (and rather cute) hat, with that size and hair it could only be Shaeu. Guess bro is really there again…

  “You would bar-bar my way?” Her voice was clear on the footage, and the green glow of wind element unfolded her, hem of her dress fluttering prettily, leaves and debris spun into a vortex around her. She then named herself, and the reporters started talking about her, and her dispy.

  “That’s it. A lot of people in town will know.” Mom said. “Nobody fets a cutie like Shaeu. So, Aki’s there too, I guess? I thought his trip was over…”

  “Where there’s a girl in trouble, bro will be there.” I said, and auntie frowned, still irely pleased at the way bro was expanding his harem. I couldn’t say I bmed her, I did feel a little bad for Eri, but the girl herself had resigned herself to it, so who were we to pin? “I’m not fully clued-in ohing, but this whole Six Paths Prihing is a big deal. If Princess Eleanor is in danger, he'll have to go save her.” I 't wait to see all bro's girlfriends again. They're all so beautiful, especially Shiro. Damn, he's such a lucky dog. All those years of my jokes about him being a loser virgin have built up his karma, I bet!

  Now nobody was tellio go to bed, we stayed up, watg the footage. My ph, and I ig, but the instant messenger app on my phone was on fire. Sighing, I looked to see it was messages from girls in the volleyball and Kyūdō clubs, as well as other friends I had.

  “Yeah, no surprise, those who were asleep or busy have been called by everyone else, and now the whole town is watg and has seen Shaeu.” I typed back a message to the groups. Yes, I see that. Yes, obviously it’s Shaeu. No, I’m not going to talk about it right now. Calm down, I’m watg TV just like you all are.

  One girl, Tomoko-, from my volleyball team, pointed out that if Shaeu was there, and clearly using magic, my bro must be too. I had no ao that. Rika- and Yae- were messagioo, panicked, so I told them to calm down, that I’d handle everything. At least they are in it together with me, sihey had the Chirurgery. Sucks to be them now!

  The reporter had dug up information on Shaeu’s false family registry, seeming surprised she had a Japanese identity. As they specuted, and footage surfaced of Shaeu also leaping a wall twice her height and running faster than a car, talk did iurn to Kyoto, and there was also footage e rallies f, protesting outside the Diet building in Tokyo. Information on Kyoto was being repyed, and in light of this a lot of discrepancies were being re-examined.

  As the hrew te, there was more breaking news, that the Princess was safe, and there was footage of her, looking rather battered and bloody, along with Shaeu, her own white dress filthy and soiled. She won’t like that. It’s why I ge out of my uniform wheer the Boundary. At least I’m strong enough to do it safely from my own bed when I want now…

  “It seems the Queen has more to say, and…” There was footage of a hospital, where the Prince was bei alive, and… I froze. No way. That’s my bro. On TV. Being broadcast to the nation. Wait, what the… bro, you total moron! As my bro got out of the police vaers captured him perfectly, but not all of him!

  “Wait… Aki… why does he only have one arm?” Mom said, blue eyes wide. “I’m… not imagining things?”

  “The angle of filming is quite clear.” Dad said ominously. “There be no mistake. My foolish son…” He ched his fists, and I could see he was worried.

  “My boy, maimed. Oh Aki, what did you do? How will you…” mom was shaking and began to cry, but that was nothing pared to auntie, who was beginning to tremble fiercely, white as a sheet. She doubled over and heaved, spttering vomit over the floor.

  “It’s just like little Eri… no, I don’t want to see that again!” she said, tears on her face, more vomit trig from her lips, and I cursed myself for a fool.

  “Dad, uncle. Auntie needs help. She’s traumatised.” I said, rapidly putting an arm around her, while looking at mom.

  “Get it together! Bro’s alive, you clearly see that. Auntie needs you now!”

  Mom froze, blinking back tears, her shuddering stopping. “Yes. Yes, you’re right, Ai dear.” She swallowed, steeling herself. “Hana, it’s fi’ll be fi’s… only an arm.” Her face fell at those words.

  “Yes, Hana, it’ll be well. Your daughter is still safe in Japan, I have no doubt.” Dad soled her, and uncle joined iually, they got auntie and mom calmed down and in bed. Dad and uncle were drinking whiskey, not little sips, but big swigs. I held out a hand cheekily, more from force of habit when out with bro and his fiancées, and was surprised when he handed me a gss. My eyes widened in shock, and as he poured me some, he sighed.

  “I do not approve of under-age drinking. I have no wish for my daughter to go off the rails. It’s more dangerous for women as well. Bad men will take advantage of drunk girls. I don’t want your brother to bee a murderer. He would, if you got assaulted.”

  I that, imagining it. Yeah, bro hates those that hurt women more than anything. If some guy did… that… to me, he’d make him see hell before he died. I don’t like thinking about it, but it does make me happy bro cares.

  “But, you have a hearty stitution, and you are here at home. Besides, it is a night for it. I need a stiff drink, just to process this all. Right Junpei?”

  “Yes, I hardly believe it. I should though. After Kyoto, when son-in-w was involved with such important people.” He sighed. “You’re taking this rather calmly, young Ai.”

  “Calm? Me?” No way. I took a sip of the strong alcohol, feeling a warming glow. “I’m super-pissed, trust me. Bro losing an arm like that, what is he thinking? But… I know more about things than you all do. He’s a genius at Ether Healing. Apparently Shiro was in a state where her arm was ruined and now she’s all healed. If bro ’t regrow an arm now, he’ll learn how iure.” I had absolute faith in that. “Not that I care about that. When I see him, I’m going to give him a lecture he won’t soon fet! He promised me he’d be careful. And whes hurt, it’s not him who suffers, it’s the others!”

  “You believe in him very much, don’t you, my daughter?” Dad asked, and I nodded.

  “Nobody knows bro better than me. Except maybe Eri. We both know he’ll get through this. And… I hate to say it, but if he lost an arm, he lost it proteg somebody in need. I know it. A girl probably.” I snorted. “I wonder if there’s a woman alive who isn’t moved by that? Another one for the Rugby team probably…” I took another swig. “He’s still going to get that lecture though!”

  “I see. Well, I will fo my own chastisement and leave it to you then.” dad said, and I was shocked.

  “Seriously?” I asked, and he nodded.

  “Who better? You uand far more than we do, you said it yourself, daughter. So, feel free to lecture your brother to your heart’s tent. I will support you.”

  I finished off my gss and several others as we talked, watg the news, until the light of daw over the horizon. The Queen had released a statement, thanking the heroes from Japan who had e to their aid in a time of here were no names given, but the Japanese press were digging. It would only be a matter of time before my bro was well and truly famous… Wow, I’ve just thought, bro got all those women when he wasn’t known, if he’s a world-famous celebrity as well… Eri, I’ll support you! We’ll keep the gold-diggers away!

  *********

  “Settle down! Oh, e on…” our homeroom teacher was saying, befiving up with a bitter sigh. I had a little bit of a headache, and was tired, as I hadn’t slept all night. Luckily, mom had recovered by the m, and though auntie was still traumatised, she seemed a little better.

  Looks like it wasn’t just me who was awake all night… I could see excitement and fatigue on many faces, and the atmosphere in the was like a festival. I’m sure gd I timed my arrival just as the teacher did, or I’d have been swarmed over like locusts on crops. I gnced around, and saw Rika- and Yae-, both looking worn down, probably by endless questions from our cssmates.

  “Look, I saw the news, just like you all did. It seems unbelievable, but apparently it isn’t. Wait for the Govero crify though, until then…” the teacher tinued.

  “I have a question!” Tomoko- stuck up her hand, grinning. “That was totally Shaeu, who visited along with your brht Aiko-?” she said, and I resisted the urge to shout in annoyance. I said I’d talk about this ter… “Your brother was on the news as well. Uh… what about his arm though?” she said, actually a little trite, before excitement overwhelmed her again. “Is your brother one of the ohe Queen raising? I khere was no way your brother could have got so cool suddenly. Kenji-kun from the other css has been whining all m, calling your brother a cheat and a bully!”

  “Kenji-kun is an idiot.” Yae-san said, defending my bro. The homeroom teacher gave in with a sigh, smming her hand on the desk.

  “All right. I expected we’d get nothing dooday. So, homeroom will be extended and it’ll be self-study all day. I won’t expect you not to be excited, but… no engaging iion, and do respect people’s privacy.” The teacher looked at me sympathetically, and I nodded, a little grateful.

  “Yae-, thanks. But even my bro admitted he felt a little bad over bullying a dumb kid. But don’t think I feel sorry for Kenji-kun, he’s a jerk and I didn’t like him. My bro… yeah, it’s true.” I admitted.

  “What’s true? I saw Shaeu surrounded by a green glow, and it was like she was moving things with her mind, everything blowing and fpping about!” one boy said. “It’s a shame she was wearing a long dress, or we might have seen her…”

  I raised a hand, and a ball of fire formed on my palm, shimmering and bzing hot and yellow, drawing all attention. “You want to say that about my sister-in-w in front of me?” I said, angry. “I always burn your eyeballs so you ’t see.”

  Some people staggered away, chairs falling, but most people were shocked aed, crowding around. One idiot even reached for the fires, only to jerk his hand back, fingers burned. With a sigh, I dismissed the fireball, sparks of energy scattering. “Now I have your attention… I guess it’s time to speak.”

  I expined a little, nothing that bro wouldn’t want others to know, but about how certain rare people were chosen by the Gods. I glossed over my own Favour, only saying that my bro was able to train others. At that point, Rika- and Yae- were dragged in, our homeroom teacher, who had been watg the chaos with a twinkle in her eye, asking a perti question.

  “So, Oshiro-, are your ret improvements in your studies down to this training?”

  Before I could answer, I realised something was wrong. With a sigh, I gestured, and Yae- pulled open our door, only to see almost all the school waiting in the corridor, listening.

  “Wow, so annoying.” I sighed, but seeing familiar faces, such as Masaki-kun (Kenji-kun wisely had stayed away), my junior from kyūdō Akari-, and the rest of the volleyball team, curious boys and more, I realised there was no choice. Damn bro, this is something else you owe me! There were even teachers here, and the principal, so looking at my homeroom teacher, I asked if we should take this to the main hall.

  After that, the whole school assembled, and I found myself giving a speech, going over what I had talked about before, in as little detail as I could. When I mentiohat my bro was being from the new ws people had ughed about, and that he’d be marrying Eri, Shaeu and more, the hall was in uproar. I demonstrated a ball of fire, actually setting light to a desk with a fireball after the principal allowed it, and when I was done, he spoke.

  “I uand the situation is stimuting and fusing. You are young, you’ve not lived through ging times before… but rest assured, leave the adults to haters. Your education is still important. And nothing will ge that. Also…” he looked at me sympathetically. “I appreciate Oshiro-san being did with us. It seems her family situation is plicated, so please don’t be selfish, and give her space. As for the rest of the day…” he admitted defeat. “All csses are celled. But stay in school, remember your discipline!” He tio lecture us, expining that the Gover would be releasing a statement as soon as the facts were clear.

  When he was done, I was mobbed by people agaie his words. “Aiko-…” someone called. “Do that fireball again!”

  “No, what am I, a freakshow?” I protested. “I only did it so that you’d believe me. It’s not a game. This is serious…”

  “That’s right.” Yae- backed me up. “Little Ri-Ri got hurt, and… you saw the footage, right?”

  “That Prince looked really bad.” one girl said softly, and another boy piped up.

  “Yes, and your brother, it looked like he’d lost an arm?”

  There was more chaos at that, and I nodded. “It seems so. I haven’t spoken to him yet…”

  “But he’s dead when you do.” Rika- tried to lighten the mood. “We all know Ai- here is a serious bro. Though… you bme her? Looks like Akio-kun turned out to be someone special after all. Maybe Ai- was just ahead of the curve?”

  “Yes, Akio is cool.” Yae- agreed, and I held in a sigh. You should get over him, girl. Not sure you’d be able to squeeze yourself into the tangled harem he’s cultivating.

  “So, your brother, he’s a hero, Britain was saying, right? Shaeu too.” Tomoko- giggled. “But…” she looked at Rika- and Yae-. “Looks like two people here got unfair treatment. How e you two got earrings, and then Akio-kun trained you on top of that? That’s so unfair! We’re Aiko-’s friends too!” There was agreement from all around them.

  “Wow, rude.” I said, tired of this. “None of you know my bro, and you think you’re worthy of something so special? Don’t be selfish…”

  “Yeah.” Yae- smiled. “Besides…” she twirled a finger in her bleached blonde hair, cheeks flushed. “I was Akio’s first ever date. I dated a hero!”

  “Yeah, but you’re not one of the women he’s dating now, are you?” Tomoko- ughed. “Guess you got dumped by said hero!”

  “That’s mean! It’s just… he’s a gentleman, right Ai-? He’s… well, I see it now. He doesn’t want those who ’t ha involved. Even Ri-Ri got hurt, and he lost an arm. From London, from Kyoto… it sounds like this is really dangerous stuff. I feel… less bad about it, now. I’m not as brave as you, Ai-. And Ri-Ri has the crazy about her ever since she finally got Akio to date her.”

  “It is dangerous.” I nodded, everyone hanging on my every word. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m just ohat my bro has trained a bit…” I looked at the two fshy gals, and they kept their silence. Yeah, they know what they and ’t say. “So bro trained me and Eri. Eri’s strong now, when she’s ba her feet, if you give her any harassment…” I looked at the guys, remembering how many had tried hitting on her in the past, or had said perverted things about her. “… she’ll snap you in half.”

  “I get that.” One of the hentai kings said, waving what he was holding, a manga. Ugh, that’s some sort of lewd shit. What a me guy. I have to admit though, some of their advi light element was helpful… so iuraggered, as a bolt of light pierced the porn and it fred to ashes. He looked at it, stunned, while around me people ughed and cheered as the ash drifted to the floor like grey snow.

  “Don’t bring porn to school, and definitely don’t show it to us girls, not if you ever want to be popur!” I sighed. “Anyway, you were saying?”

  He looked at me, expression tense, face pale, before managing to squeak out his words. “… I was just saying, it’s how it always works. You get some sort of system, but it’s always because something bad is going to happen, like a zombie apocalypse, or a demon invasion.” His words spread a ripple of worry through the crowd.

  “Leave it to the Gover and the adults. All you have to think about now is studying.” Oeacher said, and others echoed them.

  “Yeah, I don’t know anything about that.” I lied. “But my bro, Shaeu, the others, they’re prepared. After all, looks like London was handled, right?” I’m still pissed off about your arm, bro…

  “I have a question…” one boy asked. He was in the first year, and I didn’t know him. He looked at me shyly, and I waited for him to speak. Is he hitting on me, or…

  “You seem fident that your brother will get his arm back through magic. … he heal illnesses and injuries?”

  “Yes.” I said, remembering his goal to heal Shiro. “My bro’s really good at that.” I showed off my hand. “I had a really bad burn here, he fixed it up, good as new.”

  “I see.” The boy said, his eyes turning hopeful. “Do you think…? My dad’s really sick. Could you ask him when he’s here , if he could take a look?”

  Ugh, my heart. At the expression on my face, the boy realised he might have been impolite, as he backed off, but instead I nodded. “No promises. My bro’s really busy, but… when he’s here , I’ll ask.”

  On hearing that, several others came forwards too, and apologising in my heart to my bro, I sighed. Well, I guess they aren’t scared of you because they know you, and our family. I wonder how the general public will react… I could see Rika- and Yae- being mobbed by people asking them about what they’d experienced and how close they really were to my bro, Yae- blushing and fidgeting, while Rika- was rolling her eyes, exasperated. Before I could say anything else, anirl asked me excitedly what else I could do, and if I could teach her too.

  “I’m not a circus exhibit…” I said loudly, resisting the urge to summon the golden sister army and drive everyone off. “…and you ’t afford my training! If you want that, apply to bro’s training school in Tokyo!”

  At that a buzz went round, and the sed hentai king said something stupid about being the true protagonist, overtaking Akio and having his ower harem. “Dream on, jackass!” I ughed derisorily at that. “You think you outdo my bro, you’d piss your pants the sed you ran into a tenth of what he did in Kyoto…”

  There was ughter all around, and that led to more questions. My eyes strayed to the adults, who unlike my excited cssmates, had grave, worried expressions, which sobered my amusement. Of course, most people e are used to this from anime, manga, puter games. To us it seems exg and the sort of thing dreams are made of. But… adults. They uand sequences and outes. And that this appearing now ’t be a good thing. Hentai king number one is right… Ohing was certain. With great power, came great danger. Every time my bro, Eri, Shaeu, Hyath, any of them, go into battle, I worry that this time their luck will run out. No, I have to stay positive. It’s why I took the Favour of Kannon. I want to be there, not merely sitting home, w. And seeing bro on the news, my resolve has only grown.

  “Akio-, Aiko-!” one girl from volleyball was saying. “It all makes sense, you’ve been so good at sport retly. Now would be a great time to show off what you really do!” The irls oeam agreed, as did a lot of the boys on their own team, though they likely had impure motives. With a sigh I ceded, and looking at the peakiement, the principal having ected up the big TV in the hall to the news, which was of course still talking about London, Kyoto and oddly enough, some i in South Korea, I khat the situation would only get worse, excitement building, not dying down…

  ********

  “Rough day?” mom asked. She was still a little shaken, but had recovered most of her strength. Auntie was at the table, sipping on a warm drink quietly, still rattled.

  “It sure was. School was chaos, lessons were celled and I ended up having to talk about what I could. I ended up demonstrating volleyball, kyūdō and athletics. I set a number of world records.” I let out a bitter sigh. “Though my bro would demolish all of them easily enough. Then I had to throw fireballs and shoot targets with sers. Nobody would stop asking about my bro.”

  “Us too.” She sighed. “Your father and Junpei mao persuade everyoo leave, but every old acquaintand most of Nishimorioka were here during the day. Poor Takeyabashi-san at the shrine was harried too, some people know his granddaughter is on an exge trip to Tokyo, and Aki was involved in that. Things will get worse before they get better. We did get a call from Suzuki-san. The Gover is suppressing information as best they , but Aki’s already been named on British TV so… there’s a limit.”

  I paused, worried. “Are we safe? I know bro had trouble with kidnappers before. If they e for us… I protect us, but I ’t always be here…” If anyone does try, I’ll show no mercy! The golden sister army will wade in blood if I have to. Bro trusted me to keep everyone safe!

  “There’s a lot of Aki’s personal bodyguards here apparently. The Gover has sent some soldiers undercover too. It should be all right. But… this is crazy. I hought my son would meet the Queen, much less save my home try…”

  As we talked, I slowly rexed, the tension of the day fading. Bro, answer your damn phone! I know you’re busy right now, but shit! I want to know everything’s all right! And to have you feel my pain! Her phone was vibrating non-stop, chat groups, emails, text messages, everything bei in a stant tide. Though I’m sure you have more annoying things to deal with than me… Feeling sympathetic despite myself, I managed a grin. “So, maybe we should go on a vacatio away for a while?”

  “No way! You’re too close to graduation! No, you…” Listening to mom, it’s like things are normal. Let me enjoy this brief moment of peace. Because the minute I open my phone… With a wry smile, I headed to my room, mentally exhausted...

  ShipTeaser