After talking with my classmates about the magic tournament, I head home.
I think about changing my clothes, and just as I reach for my uniform, I hear a knock at the door.
“Who is it?”
Since someone knocked, it must be my mother.
“Tsukasa, is that you?”
That voice is…
I approach the door and open it.
Standing there is a handsome guy with blonde hair styled to the side.
“Erik-kun!”
“Tsukasa, it’s been a while.”
Erik-kun smiles. He’s really cool.
“You really came?”
“Yeah. Just for a little while, but nice to see you.”
“Well, come in then. I’ll change right away.”
I let Erik-kun into the room and hurry to change.
“Oh, Tsukasa, wait a minute. My grandmother told me to take a picture.”
Erik-kun says that and takes out his smartphone.
“A picture? Why?”
“She’s just really happy. When she heard you were going to the magic academy, she cried.”
What a family that cries easily.
“I was just taking it easy for a bit.”
“We have family meetings almost every day. Each time, Grandma concluded that they should call you to Paris, and Grandpa argued that since you’re still young, you should be allowed to do as you please.”
A family meeting was being held far away…
Sorry…
“Grandma was also looking for a bride, right?”
“That’s been going on since forever.”
“It’s unnecessary.”
“Well, whatever. Hurry and take the picture.”
Saying that, I pull out a test paper for basic studies with an 86 on it and pose with a peace sign.
“You’re here to make Grandma cry, huh?”
“I’ll probably get some pocket money.”
“You’re still the scheming siblings as always. I’m taking the picture now.”
Erik-kun snaps a photo with his smartphone.
“Is it done?”
“Okay.”
Now that he seems done, I start to take off my uniform.
“Have you seen Toko?”
“She probably hasn’t come back yet. There’s a magic tournament coming up, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right. This year, everyone has to participate.”
“Things really changed suddenly. Back in our day, it was a small event that got exciting because of betting.”
So they were actually betting on it.
“You’ve never participated even once, have you?”
“Who told you that?”
“Michelle.”
“Oh, that girl… I heard she’s a bodyguard now.”
Grandma and Erik-kun must know about that incident.
“Right. I really don’t need a bodyguard though.”
“Well, Tsukasa is strong, but you never know what could happen, so it’s good to have someone just in case.”
Michelle doesn’t get in the way, and in fact, she’s helping me with the magic tournament, so I don’t mind.
“Erik-kun, is that why you came?”
“That’s part of it, but mainly it’s about the changes in the magic tournament and work in Japan. Also, I brought a message from Grandma that she wants to see you before she dies.”
That old lady probably isn’t going to die anytime soon.
“Paris is far away, huh? Can’t you do something with the gate?”
“Of course, crossing countries without permission is illegal. That’s why I had to come all the way to Japan. I was pretty bored on the plane.”
Illegal entry is a no-go.
“Isn’t it risky?”
“To be honest, if it’s inside the house, you can get away with it. There were dorm students who went out to play sometimes. But going outside is out of the question.”
Using Frank’s gate to go to Frank’s house is okay then.
“Where are you planning to go to Astral from?”
“I was thinking of going from your place, but you’re hiding the fact that you’re siblings with Toko, right? So I’ll ask Michelle instead.”
You’re going from Michelle’s house, huh.
“Sorry about that.”
“Is it too much of a concern? Grandma was scratching her head over it too.”
“It is a concern. Grandma’s doing unnecessary things like putting Toko in the same class as you.”
You’d normally avoid that.
We’re in high school, after all.
“You two give off a strong paired vibe.”
Why is that?
Look at us individually.
While Erik-kun and I are talking, I hear noises coming from the next room.
“Oh, Toko is back too.”
“I’ll go say hi.”
Erik-kun says that and leaves the room.
Since I finished changing, I start reading a comic.
“Erik-kun is here!”
That guy is loud…
“Big Bro! It’s Erik-kun!”
I know.
“Big Bro?!”
Shut up…
Since it can’t be helped, I stand up and head to the next room.
As expected, Toko in her uniform and Erik-kun are there.
“Oh, Big Bro, it’s Erik-kun! How rare!”
“I’ve met him already. I was in the room just now.”
“Oh, is that so?”
You should know.
“Oh, Toko, can I take a picture? Grandma told me to bring one.”
It’s for Toko too.
“Am I not a former NEET compared to you?”
“Tsukasa just took a picture with an answer sheet for an 86.”
“Oh really?”
Toko pulls out a paper from her desk and poses peace for Erik-kun.
That paper has a perfect score of 100 in herbal studies.
“I knew it.”
“He might give me some pocket money.”
“Sure, sure. Still saying the same thing… I’m taking the picture now.”
Erik-kun says that and points his smartphone at Toko, taking a photo.
“Did it turn out cute?”
“It did, it did. I’m sure Grandma will be satisfied seeing you pose like Tsukasa.”
Unnecessary comment.
“Okay, we’ll be next door, so hurry and change.”
“Got it!”
Erik-kun and I leave Toko’s room and head back to mine.
“Why didn’t you close the door?!”
You’re not closing it either.
Thank you for reading.
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