I really don't want to be reborn.

Kyosuke Kousaka showed a rare hint of embarrassment: "Um... Kirino, I just thought Kirino was cute when she was asleep, so—"

"Ah."

The younger sister's expression was calm, and she showed no signs of dissatisfaction.

"You're sick, so stay home and rest for a couple of days. Mom has already asked for leave for you."

"OK, all right."

"Then I'll go out and bring your food up first."

"...Thank you, brother."

She didn't make a scene, nor did she try to stop her.

It seems that all his actions are like water flowing into water, or a knife piercing cotton—leaving no trace, making no sound.

"Kirino, you're really not angry, are you?"

"If it's just a kiss on the forehead and cheek, then I'm not angry. After all, my brother is a teenage boy."

She smiled nonchalantly, whether with joy or anger, she was obviously feigning ignorance, and feigning ignorance is an extremely difficult art.

"However, now that my brother has a girlfriend, he should be more careful about his behavior."

"I will be careful."

He walked to the door of his sister's bedroom.

At this time of year in winter, the morning sun struggles to penetrate the room, and turning off the lights instantly makes the bedroom feel much darker.

He turned back silently before closing the door.

Although she was in the shadows, her expression still revealed some clues.

Closed eyes and clenched lips.

To escape the torment of this heart-wrenching feeling, Kousaka Kyosuke quickened his pace downstairs.

------

Chapter Ten: Anyone over fifteen years old is an old woman.

"Is Kirino feeling better?"

"He's basically recovered. That guy's been pretty busy lately, my little sister."

Kyosuke Kosaka smiled with a hint of pride and arrogance: "Whenever she wants to do something or accomplish something, her will becomes exceptionally strong and tenacious."

"I can see that; it's very much your style."

"I accepted my girlfriend's tactful praise without any qualms."

Morning break.

Kasumigaoka Utaha gave the boy in the front row a silent smile: "So, boyfriend, can you tell me what happened to the scratches on your face? Don't tell me you fell down."

Kyosuke Kosaka touched his face, expressionless: "Ah, this is a rather long story."

Akagi Kohei, always eager to stir up trouble, stepped in to sow discord: "Maybe it was Kosaka who harassed another girl and got beaten up—"

Kyosuke Kosaka didn't say anything, and didn't even look at him.

"...I misunderstood Kasumigaoka-kun. I'm going to the restroom now. My friend is waiting for me to play soccer there."

Akagi left the classroom after being intimidated by Kasumigaoka Utaha's cold glare.

"and then?"

"Well, Akagi wasn't wrong. He does have some relationships with other girls, it's quite complicated."

This happened on a weekend in December when he met with his sister's friend in the park.

"Um, could you please say it again?"

"First of all, as you know, Kirino is a die-hard fan of anime like Meruru, and Aragaki, you need to understand that first."

Ayase Aragaki, dressed in a stylish outfit, nodded: "I already know. Although I don't really like it, I have to admit it's not a bad thing."

Ms. Aragaki, are you serious?

...It seems better not to tell her that Meruru's transformation scene is a scene of elementary school students being completely naked.

"So how about the Meruru restricted figure? It would be the perfect gift. It's something you can't buy, and for die-hard fans, it's of extraordinary value."

"I don't really understand, but if my brother says it's like this... then it's like this."

Ayase Aragaki wore a stiff smile, not because she had any issues with Kyosuke Kousaka, but because she still harbored a sliver of hope, since she had already heard about how to obtain restricted-edition figures once before.

But they were unwilling to accept it...

"I didn't hear you very clearly, could you please say it again?"

"Then I'll say it again, stand firm—this figure is the prize for winning the Magical Girl Meruru Cosplay Contest."

"...You mean you want me to make an appearance?"

Ayase Aragaki's eyes had lost their sparkle.

I feel like... she might turn evil at any moment.

That makes sense. After all, compared to Kirino and Kuroneko, a well-behaved girl like her wouldn't even be interested in glancing at a cosplay convention, let alone participating herself.

Being watched by so many otaku must be more painful than being killed.

"You're a model, you're supposed to be a beautiful young woman..."

"At least?"

"Judging from your expression, you're unwilling?"

Ayase Aragaki nearly exploded, yelling, "Of course! How could I possibly stand on stage dressed like a slut?! You want me to kill you, you pervert?! I'm calling the police!"

"Meruru is not a slut! Apologize to all the sluts in the world right now!"

"How dare you not admit you're a pervert? Anyway, I would never wear clothes like that!"

"Understood."

Kyosuke flipped through the official statement in his hand: "Please calm down and let me finish! Even if you wear Meruru's clothes, it's just eroticism, it doesn't look like Meruru at all."

"I……"

"You're not petite enough."

Aragaki started to speak but stopped.

"Of course, I'm not short either, so even if I'm dressed as a woman, I can't just blend in."

Hearing his regretful tone, Ayase Aragaki crossed her arms and swallowed hard, feeling a little scared.

To be able to say such things so calmly and easily.

Just who exactly is Kirino's brother...?

"I did some research. The official cosplay convention sponsored by the manufacturer was held once before. The winner was a British girl who cosplayed the character Alpha Omega from the Meruru series."

He held the official statement up to Aragaki's face: "Look, this is her, the blonde one, isn't she cute? So if she doesn't perfectly match the original character design, no matter how pretty she is or how good her figure is, she's bound to lose."

"Ah, is it imitating this character...? It really does look very similar."

"Right? If it's TMA or something... Oh, let's get down to business. If you participate, it's not like you have absolutely no chance of winning."

He looked down and turned the pages, his speech quickening: "Because you have a big advantage. After all, you're a professional model, and you have unique skills in dressing."

Despite being praised, Ayase wasn't happy at all.

It's more like swallowing a fly while using the toilet.

"Plus, with language interaction, you'll definitely have an advantage over foreigners, right? As long as you don't speak the Qin language, you'll basically be able to win smoothly..."

She was about to refuse.

"...Won't I be able to get the gift for Kirino then?"

It hit the fatal spot.

I can't refuse this.

"I see, is there a character who's a lot like me?"

Wow, this child has finally figured it out!

Kyosuke calmly turned to a page: "Look at this design, the Dark Witch, Thanatos Eros in her adult form, is the final boss of this anime, a villain parasitizing a fetus..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly took a step back.

He dodged the girl's enraged chop to the head.

"Isn't this basically being completely naked? Go die, die, die, die—!"

Immediately following was a high kick that grazed his cheek. Kousaka Kyosuke was caught off guard. He didn't expect that this seemingly frail girl actually knew a thing or two. Not only did he not completely dodge the kick, but he also almost twisted his waist.

"It seems I've always given you the impression that I have a very good temper."

"Shut up! Be quiet or you might as well die! Do you really want me to wear such filthy clothes?"

Kyosuke Kosaka took a few steps back, dodging Aragaki's three-pronged attack, then grinned maliciously, grabbed her by the neck, and dragged her into the bushes...

"I'm going to call the police!"

"Then I'll have my fun first!"

A girl's mournful cry, enough to make one blush, emanated from the bushes.

That's roughly how things went.

Kasumigaoka's eyebrows twitched as she listened to him recount the 18+ scenes, muttering to herself, "It's a very familiar plot, like I've seen it in some doujinshi—do you think I'd believe that?"

Faced with his girlfriend's questioning, Kyosuke Kosaka laughed: "Okay, I'll tell you the truth. That girl almost kicked my face that day, and just as I was about to teach her a lesson, I heard—"

"hear?"

With a tearing sound, several high kicks ripped her pants... She left behind the words, "I'll figure something out, you just wait, you pervert," and fled in a panic.

Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly leaned closer: "I should be able to cosplay that Thanatos adult mode from earlier, right? I'm definitely better looking than Aragaki, you know."