"...You really do play the doting big brother well, don't you?"
"Hm? What's that supposed to mean?" Hachiman asked.
"I've been watching the whole time," Kurisu replied.
"Huh?"
Startled by her comment, Hachiman's eyes darted toward the monitor where he had first spoken to the two girls. There, on the screen, Ai and Yuu were grinning ear-to-ear, watching his every move. He realized then that Ai must have secretly flipped the monitor's 'on' switch from the inside.
"...You creep," Kurisu muttered.
"Hey, what for?! If you were watching, then you know—that wasn't my fault!"
"If you say so."
"Don't go spreading rumors that'll ruin my reputation."
Kurisu gestured toward the corner of the room. "Anyway, Meguri-san over there is practically vibrating with embarrassment. If you're going to tease her, shouldn't you go over and get it over with?"
"Wait, seriously? She saw all that too...?"
Resigned, Hachiman approached Meguri, who was indeed trembling with bashfulness. He spoke to her softly.
"Uh, hey, Meguri..."
"Y-Yes?"
"Look... it's fine. You've still got it. You can totally pull off that look."
"Uuugh... R-Really? You didn't think it was a bit of a stretch?"
"I'm telling you, it's fine. Look, if it's bothering you that much, I'll delete the photo, okay?"
Hachiman reached out to wipe the image, but Meguri's hand shot out, catching his wrist in a panic.
"No! Don't delete it!"
(Make up your mind... Women are a total mystery,) Hachiman thought.
"Oh. Uh, okay."
"It's a little embarrassing, but... please, keep it. Properly," she whispered.
"I... I get it."
Watching the two of them, Kurisu could only manage a wry smile. As Hachiman walked back toward them, Rinko spoke up.
"Hachiman-kun, you've brought us a wonderful girl. Thanks to her advice, it looks like we can speed up the production of the Medicuboids."
"Really? That much of an impact?"
"Yes. At this rate, I think we can bring the rest of the children here very soon."
"I see... That's great. Truly."
Hachiman nodded, then turned back toward the monitor.
"Well, you heard her. Everyone's going to be together soon. Make sure you keep them all in line, Ai."
"Got it! I'll do my best."
"While you're at it, why don't you come up with a name for the team?"
Ai tilted her head, falling into deep thought at Hachiman's suggestion.
"Let's see... how about 'Valhalla Resort Mini'?"
"Don't plagiarize! And it's too long!"
"I'm joking, I'm joking. Okay, then... let's go with the 'Sleeping Knights.'"
Hachiman nodded in approval. "Yeah. I like it."
"In that case, I hereby appoint Hachiman as our Special Representative Assistant Paramour."
"I'll accept the title if you cut that last word out."
"But that's the most important part!"
"Just go," Hachiman sighed. "Take what I taught you earlier and go study those movement patterns. I'll talk to you later for real this time, Ai, Yuu."
He reached out to cut the feed, but the sisters stopped him.
"Wait! Let us talk to Kuririn!"
"Hm? Oh, sure."
Hachiman beckoned Kurisu over to the monitor. "Hey, Kuririn. These two have business with you."
"Who are you calling Kuririn?!"
"Just get over here."
Despite her grumbling, Kurisu walked over to the screen.
"Ah, Kuririn! Thanks for the kind words earlier," Ai said. "We're not going to give up. We're going to work hard so we can walk around the city with you one day!"
"Yes, and I'll provide all the support I can," Kurisu replied. "By the way... could we maybe stop with the 'Kuririn' thing?"
"Why? It's cute!"
"No, I mean... you know?"
"We're the same age, so what's the harm?"
"I mean, yes, but... it's a bit too famous of a name, don't you think?" Kurisu tried desperately to talk them out of the nickname.
"Aw, fine. What a shame. I guess we'll give up on it... Christmas."
"That doesn't even make sense."
"Christie..."
"Don't you dare add 'Tina' to that!" Kurisu snapped reflexively.
"...I was actually taking that from Agatha Christie," Ai teased.
"O-Oh. Right. Well, still. Don't you think 'Kurisu' is perfectly fine on its own?"
"I suppose. Alright then, Kurisu. Let's be friends. I'm Ai—Konno Aiko."
"I'm Yuu—Konno Yuuki."
"I am Makise Kurisu. It's a pleasure to meet you both."
The three exchanged warm greetings and promised to meet again before the connection finally cut out.
"Well then," Kurisu said, turning to Hachiman. "Shall we head to your place?"
"Yeah. Asuna's probably tired of waiting. Rinko-san, Keiko-san, Meguri—I'll leave the rest to you."
"Leave it to us. We'll pick up the pace," Rinko promised.
"Finally, the forest of sleep begins to wake," Keiko added.
"See you later, Hachiman-kun!" Meguri called out.
"Is Komachi-chan going out again today?" Asuna asked back at the house.
"Yeah, she's doing a report at a friend's place..."
"I see. I guess I'll be living that kind of life soon, too."
"You'll be fine," Komachi chimed in. "You've got plenty of powerful allies, Big Sis! Yukino-san, Haruno-san, Cruz-san, Kurisu-san..."
"When you put it that way, I suppose you're right."
"Or," Komachi said, her voice rising with enthusiasm, "you could just skip university and take up 'permanent employment' in this house! Or we could just build a new house somewhere!"
"Oh, stop it! Don't tease me," Asuna laughed. "But... I suppose that wouldn't be so bad."
"Exactly! But listen, Komachi doesn't want to be called 'Auntie' at this age, so if you're going to have kids, please wait until I'm at least thirty!"
"Honestly, Komachi-chan... Oh, wait. Don't you already have a cousin with a child?"
"Gah! W-Well, we aren't close and we never see them, so that doesn't count!"
"Haha... I see." Asuna smiled, figuring that if they weren't close, that was that.
"Phew... it feels like we're finally becoming a real family, Big Sis. I'm so glad I'm Big Brother's sister."
"Out of curiosity," Asuna asked, "what did you think of him back in high school?"
"Hmm. I used to think, 'Ugh, I'm stuck as this guy's sister for life. It's my fate, but he's such a pain!'"
"Ahaha..."
Komachi gathered her things, preparing to head out. "Alright, I'm off!"
"Good luck with your report," Asuna called out.
Just then, Hachiman walked through the door with Kurisu in tow.
"Oh, Komachi. You heading out?"
"Yep. Working on a report with friends."
"Right. Be careful."
"You too, Kurisu-san!"
"See you later," Kurisu replied.
After watching Komachi leave, Kurisu murmured to herself. "Hey... why is it that even people older than me end up calling me '-san'?"
"Who knows," Hachiman shrugged. "Asuna, what do you think?"
"Depends on the person, I guess?"
"There's your answer."
"I see... maybe I shouldn't let it bother me."
"You're fine," Hachiman said. "You definitely look more mature than your age, but that's because of the weight of the responsibility on your shoulders. It's not about how you look."
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