“Absolutely not.
What are you thinking?”
“Why!?”
At his mother’s denial, Issei slammed his hand on the dining table with a bang.
They had been talking about making an appearance at Kenji’s middle school cultural festival, but when Issei said he would go too, his mother put a stop to it.
“I was told by the middle school teachers.
They said to please stop Issei from coming to the cultural festival.
Look, dear, you caused quite a lot of trouble when you were in middle school, didn’t you?”
“Ugh!?
B-But I’m an alumnus of that middle school!
What’s wrong with just showing my face!?”
“I was also told by my homeroom teacher from when my brother was in his third year to absolutely not let him come, so I’d rather you didn’t come either.”
“Even Kenji!”
Being told by even his younger brother not to come, Issei banged on the table repeatedly.
“That’s cruel, it’s discrimination, discrimination!!
No matter how much of a mess I was, I wouldn’t do anything weird at my alma mater, especially with middle schoolers as the targets!”
“…You reaped what you sowed.”
At Koneko’s murmur, Issei’s expression became bitter.
“Your father and I would also like you to refrain this time, Issei.
It’s Kenji’s big moment after all, and your father and I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
“Even Dad!?
Why is it a prerequisite that I’ll cause trouble!”
This time, since Kenji said he was doing a band, the Hyodo couple had specifically purchased a new video camera.
And reasonably speaking, the Hyodo couple also believed that letting Issei participate in the middle school cultural festival was impossible.
Furthermore, they didn’t want the recording of the performance to be obstructed.
Asia raised her hand slightly and asked a question.
“Um…
is it really no good for Issei-san to go?”
“There are still students who were victims of my brother’s peeping, and the teachers will likely be marking him.
Besides, I don’t want him to come.
Absolutely.”
“Kenji!?”
Kenji had remained silent, thinking that Issei wouldn’t come if he didn’t say anything.
(I don’t know what my brother would do if he saw someone like Lucifuge-sensei.
And if he ended up meeting Hitomi Natsunaka, there would probably be a conflict.)
It would be unbearable if that beautiful teacher, who was considerate in many ways, became a victim of his brother, and lately, Hitomi Natsunaka’s thorns had been disappearing.
He wanted no more trouble than this.
Thereupon, Rossweisse, a teacher at Kuoh Academy who had recently started living with them, wrinkled her brow and looked at Issei.
“Issei-kun.
Just how much trouble did you cause? This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
The school trip will be alright, won’t it?”
“No, please don’t look at me with those eyes!
It’ll be fine!”
Issei pleaded his case desperately, but because his usual behavior was what it was, no one could defend him.
“If that’s the case, it can’t be helped.
Well then, let’s all go except for Issei.”
“President!?”
“It can’t be helped, right?
I want Asia and the others to experience a cultural festival, which is similar to our academy festival, and get a feel for the atmosphere.
Besides, I want to hear Kenji’s band live too.”
“I’m flattered.”
Kenji shrank slightly under Rias’s gaze.
“Issei.
We’ll buy you some souvenirs, so just stay home quietly this time.
Look, it’s right after the school trip, so your body can rest, right?”
“U~haa…”
Indeed, having been told this much, he had no choice but to back down; Issei’s shoulders slumped heavily.
The next day, the Church Trio and Issei were shopping for the school trip on their way home from school.
“Daily necessities like toothbrushes.
Oh!
We have to buy new pajamas too, right?”
“Yes!
If we’re at it, why don’t we get matching ones?
In different colors.”
“That sounds good!
Zenovia, do you have any preferences?”
“I’m unfamiliar with these things.
I’ll leave it to you two──── Hmm, if we’re at it, how about letting Issei decide?”
“Eh!?
Me!”
“That’s great!
Issei-kun’s sense will be put to the test!
But, really lewd designs are a no-go, okay?”
Issei was bewildered by the sudden turn of the conversation.
Moreover, lewd designs were off-limits.
While he was worrying about what to do, Asia suddenly noticed something.
“Oh?
Isn’t that Kenji-kun over there?”
“Eh?”
Looking over, Kenji was walking and talking amiably with a girl who looked to be the same age.
Kenji-kuun!!”
When Irina waved and called out, Kenji, who noticed, twisted his mouth into a frown for a second but immediately fixed it and approached.
“Hello.
Are you shopping?”
“Yes!
For the school trip the day after tomorrow!
Kenji-kun, are you…
perhaps on a date…”
Asia was being considerate, thinking she might have done something bad by calling out if that were the case.
However, Kenji denied it.
“No.
A string broke during band practice, but I don’t know how to restringing it, so I asked her to guide me to a shop to get it fixed.
This is something I borrowed from a friend’s older brother.”
Kenji explained the reason why they were walking alone together.
While listening to that, Issei looked at the girl who was his brother’s friend.
A quiet-looking girl wearing glasses, with bangs about half the length of her forehead and hair grown down to her back.
Her physique was also slender, typical for a middle schooler.
(Among my acquaintances, the closest would be the President with long hair?
She’s quite a cute girl.)
Thinking that way, Kenji introduced her to Yoriko Kasahori, who was next to him.
“Kasahori-san.
These people are international students doing a homestay at my place, and this is…
my brother…”
Kenji became hesitant only when introducing Issei.
Having been introduced, Yoriko nodded slightly as if convinced and lowered her head lightly.
“I’m Yoriko Kasahori, Hyodo-kun’s classmate.”
When she introduced herself, Issei also gave his name.
“I’m Issei Hyodo, Kenji’s older brother.
Nice to meet you!”
Kenji grabbed Issei’s hand, which he had held out to shake hands.
“What are you doing shaking hands yourself!?”
“I’d be in trouble if my brother did something to Kasahori-san.”
“I won’t!?
You, your suspicion of me has been excessive lately!
Trust me a little!”
“…Please, let me trust you.
Earn my trust, really.”
As Kenji replied with eyes like a dead fish, Issei let go of his hand with a groan.