"Today is a special day for this class because there will be new face joining us, please come in."
Hearing the teacher calling for her from outside the classroom, Valerie, now disguised as Igarashi Seele, pulled the sliding door aside and entered with determination. But seeing the students much younger than her, Seele somehow feels slightly relaxed. This was all within Kousuke's plan, if she was transferred to the class according to her age, she would be graduating high school and attending college by now.
But thanks to the Ring of Transfiguration worn on her ring middle finger, she now stood slightly shorter than her usual heights and a slightly younger looking face to fit her disguise even further. And of course, her current appearance shared closed resemblance to Kousuke more than her actual identity as Valerie Tepes.
Just like every boys at adolescent age, they cheered the moment they saw a beautiful bluish-raven haired girl entering the classroom. The girls were also just as curious to know about the new face, none of them harbor any ill intentions toward her which was a good thing. The teacher nodded approvingly from the side before telling her to introduce herself to the class, this was the moment she had been waiting for.
"I'm Igarashi Seele, you can call me Seele. I transferred to this school because my brother also enrolled here, um... that's all? Please treat me well." She answered, tilting her head to the side in the end, unsure if she did a good job or a bad one. Some classmates muttered the name Igarashi as if they're recalling something at the back of the mind, then their eyes widened in realization.
"Your brother is Igarashi Kousuke? That rumored playboy with many girlfriends?" One boy asked with his hand raised. The teacher raised her eyebrows at that, but otherwise remained quiet as if it was none of her business.
"Yes! He is pretty cool, isn't he?" Seele replied cheerfully, the smile on her face were like the sun itself. Being bask in such radiant light, the students were stunned and couldn't form proper sentences. He had thought she would be embarrassed, or outright denied such baseless rumors. But it appears she knew, and was even proud of it. Why wouldn't she? The moment he adopted her, his girlfriends also treated her like a family member. Even the cold Morgan couldn't resist from spoiling her. Living in Yasaka's mansion was great to her mental health as well. Then there was Kunou, despite her young age, the growing foxian quickly becomes closer to her.
"Right right, go ahead to your seat, it's over there near the windows," the teacher interjected and pointed her toward the empty seat. She bow her head flawlessly as if she had practices it countless times before. When she sat on her seat and looks forward as the teacher begins taking attendance, Valerie didn't feels out of place as she imagined. She fits in almost naturally, akin to placing the final piece to complete the puzzle of life.
Her seatmate was especially kind to her, she introduced herself as Miko Yotsuya and helped her understands the coming lessons. She has pretty silky black hair and mesmerizing golden pupils, unfortunately she rarely smiles and wouldn't even look at her in the eyes for some reasons. Though Valerie wasn't offended in the least, she simply thinks the person might have been shy around stranger, or very friendly but came off awkward. Most likely the latter.
When the bell rang signalling lunch, Valerie stood up from her seat and kindly rejected her classmates offer to eat with them. Once she exited the classroom, she immediately heads straight to the stairs and keeps climbing until she reached the door of the rooftop. She twisted the door knob and pushed it open. There and then, she was greeted with her adopted brother laying on the floor with his head on top of his hands and eyes closed as breeze swept his hair aside. She closed the door behind her before approaching him and quietly sat on the floor next to him.
"So, how was the first half of the classes? Is it too hard? Is there anyone being mean to you in particular?"
Despite barely reacting to her appearance, Kousuke barrage her with questions after another like a brother with sister complex. Anyone would normally be annoyed at that, but instead, strange warmness filled her heart at his overprotective reaction. She giggles before retelling him about her first experience attending classes, how she made a new friend, and lastly, she noticed that most of the girls questions were directed towards him—her 'brother'. Since none of them were close to him, they fully believes in her disguises. Valerie felt slightly guilty lying to her new friend, but it was also for their safety as well so she held it in.
"Don't think about it too much, in the meantime, you should keep up with your training," Kousuke said softly, his hand now resting on top of her head almost a habit. She looks up and immediately looks away with faint blush upon catching a glimpse of his tender gaze. "Once you fully mastered your Sacred Gear, no one will able to hurt you so there will be no need to lie anymore by then."
"Really? Can I be as strong as you?"
"Haha, one can dream but unfortunately, young padawan would never surpassed their master." He said jokingly before ruffling her hair to a mess. The addition of her pout only makes her looking more adorable and less threatening in his eyes, which he couldn't resist and give her soft cheeks a couple of squeeze.
Then, he pulled out the Bento box she prepared early this morning. It had sat in his inventory for hours, yet it was still piping hot when he pulled the top lid open. It wasn't anything fancy—just two handful onigiri for each of them, some delicious karaage covered in Igarashi's homemade sauce, and lastly, fresh healthy salad to ends it all.
"Thanks for the food, it was scrumptious." He didn't forget to compliments Valerie after putting the finished Bento box back into his inventory. It had to be done, after all her cooking skill leveled up right after he gives her some meaningful tips to further enriched the flavours. He couldn't help but thought that whoever her future partner would be, they are pretty lucky.
Though they will have to go through him first before they can dream of making any move on her. He is after all her brother, it is within his right to dictated that not just anyone could be her partner. A weak person won't be able to protect her properly, and would in fact becomes hindrances to her. Though if they had the strength yet acts like Issei, they will have to go through his self-created 'deep and profound' self discovery training regime for a month. The corner of his lips curled up at the thought.