The moment we crossed through the connecting corridor and entered the middle school building, the volume of stares spiked. High school and middle school uniforms are differently designed, so identification was instant.
The stares were probably because high schoolers were unusual in this building.
“Lots of looks.”
“Yeah, the kill the loiterer gaze from the boys is the bonus track, as usual.”
Hanging out with Reona or Riona reliably draws me hostile looks; I’m used to it. As Reona’s strong, confident stride drew the soaked-in attention of horny middle schoolers, a familiar face appeared down the hall.
“Oh — Onii-chan and Reona-san?”
“Oh, Mio-chan, hi.”
“What a coincidence — we ran into you.”
“That’s my line. I get Reona-san being here but why are you, Onii-chan?”
Mio delivered the casual punch. Fair — I’d genuinely thought I wouldn’t be in this building again until graduation.
“I don’t know his target, but Ryouya-kun was heading to the middle school building with bloodshot eyes, so I’m monitoring in case he commits a misstep.”
“Thank you, I don’t want a criminal in the family.”
“Reona is casually lying — Mio, don’t just buy it. I’m here to help with class-leader duties.”
“That’s obvious from the fans you’re both carrying.”
“This is the greeting form of communication.”
“Stop insulting me as a greeting substitute…”
Their bond was strong. Initially Mio had been so tense she called them senpai; now it’s -san, and behind their backs she calls them Onee-chan.
“Mio-chan, your class’s festival prep going well?”
“Yeah — booth and team banner both on schedule, should be fine.”
“Good — when those fall behind the class atmosphere goes nuclear.”
Last year my class leader had stood up on vibes alone, no plan, and progress fell visibly behind everyone else’s.
The progress wasn’t even being reported, until the third-year team leader noticed and dropped a thunderbolt — which finally moved things forward, miserably. The back half had been a funeral.
“How about your and Reona-san’s class, Onii-chan?”
“Smooth. Prep, banners, the play, the sports-day events — everything’s on track.”
“Yeah, because the class leader — Reona — is insanely competent.”
Reona was juggling overall scheduling, supporting individual students, and managing her own play rehearsal. Genuinely respect-tier output. I couldn’t.
“Ryouya-kun finally appreciates my abilities.”
“Less abusing your class-leader privileges to drag me around and it’d be even better.”
“You ruined a perfectly nice compliment with the second clause.”
“Yeah, Onii-chan is Onii-chan.”
Both gave me flat looks. Verbal slip number whatever, please forgive me.
“Mio-chan’s portion is replenished, we’ll head off.”
“Yeah, see you after school. Tonight’s dinner is gratin — look forward to it.”
“Yes — can’t wait.”
“See you.”
We left Mio and continued. The casual assumption of dinner at my house I did not bother flagging.
“Oh, and there’s more I need help with after we finish distributing fans.”
“There’s more?”
“Class leader is busy. I want every hand I can borrow.”
“Could you not pull from someone else?”
“No — I can’t let Ryouya-kun out of my sight in case of irretrievable consequences. You need to stay in my field of view.”
“I am not a toddler…”
I was a high schooler and not that prone to irretrievable consequences. What was she worried about, exactly?