[Miha Side]
Two days after the Auros Academy incident.
Classes ended at noon, so I headed home early.
"I'm back!"
Mom peeked from the laundry room as I kicked off my shoes.
"You're early. Where're Ise and the others?"
"Classes wrapped this morning. Onii-chan said they'd stop by the clubroom—should be home in an hour. …I've got stuff to do, so I came ahead."
Mission—no exaggeration.
I'd finish today.
I rushed to my room, dropped my bag, tied on a bandana—game face.
Target in sight.
I'd faced it countless times. Always lost.
Today, I win.
My foe—
"…Manga really piles up, huh…"
▼
Manga—one of my addictions since coming here.
Started with Onii-chan's stash. Boredom led to disaster.
First contact? Mind blown.
This world has this?!
Astaroth had no manga culture. As the Maou's daughter, princess life meant zero fun. (Dad was strict.)
Manga was a revolution.
Every allowance—bookstore sprint or second-hand haul.
City Hunter, Haganai, One Piece—battle junk. Kochikame, Gintama—gags. To Love-Ru—rom-coms.
Lately, light novels too.
Result—
"Ugh… no shelves left…"
Over 500 volumes. Add novels—nearing 1,000.
Floor buried.
How… did this happen?!
Allowances mostly manga. Onii-chan's full sets as gifts—I did indulge.
This is a bookstore!
Tried parting ways—couldn't.
Reread cravings.
Tried organizing—failed.
Read while sorting.
One volume = full series binge.
Weak-willed trash…!
But today!
I'll sort them!
No more losing to myself!
I'm the Red Dragon Emperor's Bishop!
Can't call myself his servant if I can't do this!
I reached for the floor stack—
▼
"Sniff… this scene always gets me… Wait—NO! What am I doing?!"
Started strong—pulled books from shelves…
Then read five volumes.
Clock: one hour gone.
Progress: worse.
Floor: manga ocean.
I collapsed to my knees.
This wasn't the plan…
Halfway by now—supposed to be.
Vision blurred. Tears.
Will I finish today?
Onii-chan could help—keep me from reading.
But that's cheating.
Don't wanna bother him with this.
Sweating bullets.
Then—something caught my eye.
"This…"
Photo album—Onii-chan made for our memories.
Flipped through.
Beach. Amusement park. Festival with family.
"Ah, Matsuda-kun and Motohama-kun. Karaoke foursome."
Everyday moments.
Proof he treasures me.
Stopped at one page.
Fountain backdrop. Me—shy. Onii-chan—grinning.
Checked the back—date.
"…A week after arriving?"
Couldn't call him "Onii-chan" yet.
Happy for family—too shy.
How did I start?
▼
—Three Years Ago, Summer—
"Miha, wanna hit Tokyo today?"
Onii-chan at breakfast.
I swallowed bread.
"Tokyo?"
Japan's capital… right?
One week here. Onii-chan and parents took me everywhere—parks, school, shopping street.
Ordinary to them. Brand new to me.
Auto-doors still freak me out.
He nodded.
"Yeah. We've done local spots. Time for the big city."
Dad chimed in.
"Good idea. Farther out's fine."
Mom worried.
"Bit soon? She's still adjusting here…"
"Big city'll make this town feel small. And with Ise—she's safe. He tracks her aura."
Onii-chan smiled, ruffled my hair.
Warm. Safe.
Like rare pats from real dad—Maou Sirius.
…Still couldn't say it.
Wanted to. Embarrassed. What if he thought it weird?
He continued.
"So, Mom—Miha's safe with me. Big bro duty."
Mom laughed.
"You've grown since Miha joined. Three years in another world—natural?"
"Maybe. Miha—wanna see Japan's big city?"
Tokyo… bigger than Kuoh?
Bit scary… but for me…
With Onii-chan—probably fine.
"I'll go. Thanks, Ise."
"Sweet!"
▼
Noon.
Hour by train.
He spread arms.
"Behold—Akihabara!"
I was stunned.
Buildings! Shops! Chaos—alive!
Tokyo!
"W-Wow…"
"Overwhelmed?"
Grinning.
I nodded.
So much…
"People everywhere… another world."
"Literally."
Ignored his jab.
This exists?!
Astaroth had nothing like it.
"Manga galore here. See that anime sign? Huge bookstore—tons of manga."
"Really?!"
Loved manga since borrowing his.
Helped learn Japanese.
"Let's browse. Pick anything. Parents loaded me—'spoil Miha!' …Hey, what about your son?! No allowance for me?!"
Yelling at sky.
Haha… loud guy.
He grabbed my hand.
"Let's go. Study's fine—enjoy."
"Ah… y-yeah!"
Face hot…
▼
"Whew… walked a ton."
Park bench on outskirts.
Paper bags at his feet.
I bowed.
"Sorry… bought so much…"
Three hours. Clothes, manga, anything I liked—he got it. Bags overflowed.
He carried them.
He smiled.
"Maybe overdid it. But—investment. Dad said 'anything.'"
"…Not wasteful?"
"Nope. Helps you settle. Not waste. …Or Dad'll yell at me."
Bitter laugh.
Guess so?
He bought tea, handed it.
"Thirsty?"
"Thanks…"
About to drink—indirect kiss?!
Does he know?
Glanced—he yawned huge.
"Fwaa… sleep-deprived."
I'm freaking—he's yawning!
Drank. Asked.
"Couldn't sleep?"
Scratched cheek.
"Research. Where to take you… Planned a fun route. …Good?"
"!"
Dark circles.
For me…
Guilt + joy.
"…Thank you, Ise."
"Hm?"
"Today was… really fun."
"Good."
Stood, stretched. Ruffled my hair.
"Honestly? Nervous. Rarely hang with girls. You had fun—that's worth it."
Gentle smile.
I knew it.
Overheard in castle—Urumu on Red Dragon Emperor, Hyoudou Issei.
"Bravest, noblest warrior—always first."
Enemy—yet praised.
Watched battles via magic.
Red dragon saving demons.
Perverted moves—punched by women.
Still helped the fallen. Even enemies.
Stopped allies to save demons.
Wrong by logic.
But his straight heart—captivated me.
Same face now.
Warm hand.
…Now?
Clenched fists. Whispered.
"U-Um…"
"More places? I'll take you."
"N-No… um…"
Heart racing.
Embarrassing.
Sudden change—creepy?
But… I want to.
"…O-Onii… chan…"
"…Huh?"
Dumbstruck.
Time froze.
He—he shook.
"D-Did you just… 'Onii-chan'…?"
"Y-Yeah… Wanna call you… Onii-chan…"
"!"
Eyes wide. Unbelieving.
…Bad idea?
Sudden—blood not related—resistance?
Regret rising—
"I-Ise…? C-Crying?"
"Uwaaa! Never thought… 'Onii-chan' would hit this hard! WAAAAH!"
"EEEEH?!"
Waterfalls!
That moving?!
"Tears won't stop! Damn—need more tissues!"
"Not that big—"
"HUGE! Heart's shaking! So happy—cute overload!"
"Wah!"
Hugged tight.
"Call me anytime! More! One more please!"
Uh…
New side of him.
But he answered my feelings—happy.
"Onii-chan…"
"Yes! Again!"
"Onii-chan."
"Tearing up! One more!"
"Onii-chan!"
"…Might die happy…"
"WHY?!"
"Memorial! First 'Onii-chan'! Photo! Line up!"
From that day—I called him "Onii-chan."
▼
"Haha… he happy-cried on the train home too…"
Stares galore.
Didn't expect that joy…
Embarrassing…
No regrets.
Glad I said it.
Memories matter.
Not just in mind—tangible.
More to come.
Long demon lives.
Decades, centuries, millennia with Onii-chan.
Unknown future—but with him—anywhere.
Door opened.
"Sorting going?"
Onii-chan—bagless, stopped by his room first.
"Welcome back. It's—"
…Zero progress.
Album distraction!
Floor—manga apocalypse!
"UWAAAAH! Failed again!"
Head in hands.
Early return—nothing done!
Tears of stupidity.
He laughed.
"Haha… I'll help. Quick with two."
"Really?! Thanks, Onii-chan! Love you!"
Later—collection perfectly sorted.
[Miha Side Out]
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