My Sister is Bronya

"Ishiu, you're worn out already. Just a few hours and you're tired? How are you supposed to satisfy Bronya?" Unlike Ishiu, who looked dejected, Bronya, having won more than she lost, was beaming and wished they could play a couple more rounds.

"Nonsense. Of course, it's fun when you keep winning. If I hadn't stopped playing for months and gotten rusty, there's no way I'd let you get cocky," Ishiu retorted stubbornly. In reality, even in the past, he'd lost more than he won against Bronya.

"Say whatever you want. You lost this time, so as agreed, you owe Bronya a prize." Bronya put away her handheld console, a slight curve lifting the corner of her mouth. She looked at Ishiu with the smile of a victor.

"Fine, what do you want?"

"No rush. We'll talk about it after the plane lands. For now... Bronya wants to take a nap." Bronya yawned, clearly not having slept well last night.

"Then you sleep. Do you need an eye mask?"

"No need. Just lend Bronya your shoulder to lean on." Bronya said, and without waiting for Ishiu's agreement, she tugged on his arm, leaned against his shoulder, closed her eyes, and began to sleep.

"She really does whatever she pleases." Ishiu shook his head, a wry smile on his face, and let Bronya have her way.

The plane still had about four to five hours until it reached its destination. Most of the passengers had already started sleeping. Ishiu, however, had slept soundly last night and enjoyed a leisurely morning, leaving him feeling refreshed and unable to sleep.

So, he took out his phone and started chatting with Miss Mei and Kiana.

However, Mei-sister seemed to be training at the moment, so only Kiana was left chatting with Ishiu. Their conversation was lively.

Through Kiana, Ishiu learned a lot about St. Freya Academy. For instance, there were only a little over a hundred students, all beautiful girls between the ages of thirteen and nineteen. The few male staff members were either teachers or janitors, making the male status there precarious.

The environment, however, was as Theresa had described: a standard European castle architectural style. But Kiana and Mei hadn't been assigned their own dorms; they were placed in Himeko's room and were living with her.

In their messages, Kiana went on a rant to Ishiu, listing almost all of Himeko's flaws. Ishiu almost thought the beautiful red-haired older woman he'd met that day wasn't the same person as the Himeko teacher Kiana described.

As they chatted, Kiana seemed to be heading for training as well, so she ended her conversation with Ishiu.

Without anyone to chat with, Ishiu felt bored. He put down his phone, intending to take a nap himself. However, his gaze inadvertently fell on Bronya, who was sleeping soundly, leaning on his shoulder.

Little Pudding's sleeping face was incredibly cute. Perhaps because she usually maintained a stern expression and had a strong aura, people tended to overlook how adorable she was, just like Seele.

Her silver-grey twin tails, her delicate and petite features like a doll's, her long eyelashes, her cherry-colored lips, her pores almost invisible to the naked eye... Ishiu had a rare opportunity to examine all of it closely now that Bronya was asleep.

As she slept, her lips parted slightly, and gentle breaths escaped, carrying a faint, sweet scent unique to young girls.

Looking at the adorable Bronya, Ishiu felt a playful urge welling up inside him.

First, he peeked around to make sure most people nearby were asleep and the flight attendants weren't around. Then, emboldened, he reached out his left hand and gently touched Bronya's cheek.

This touch was a completely new experience, different from their usual playful cheek-pinching. Ishiu discovered for the first time how smooth and tender Little Pudding's cheeks were, like a baby's skin, soft and yielding.

He touched her a few times, intending to play a prank, but the urge to prank gradually faded.

Ishiu hesitated for a moment, then boldly replaced his finger with his palm, gently stroking Bronya's cheek. The sensation was even more astonishing. Her soft, elastic cheeks molded into various shapes under Ishiu's palm. He played with them, lost in the moment.

Finally, his gaze settled on Bronya's lips, as beautiful as cherry blossom petals. Her slightly parted lips seemed like a siren's call, inviting him in.

However, Ishiu resisted. Playful as he was, he knew there were boundaries.

After playing with Little Pudding for a while longer, and then her spiral twin tails, Ishiu finally withdrew his hand, satisfied. He then took out his phone and took a selfie of the two of them. Bronya looked so cute; he had to capture the moment as a memento.

Perhaps because he was too engrossed, Ishiu didn't notice Bronya's eyelashes flutter slightly, nor the faint blush that crept up to her earlobes.

Four hours later, the plane landed. Ishiu woke up the sleeping Bronya, and they disembarked side-by-side.

After collecting their luggage and exiting the airport, Ishiu hailed a taxi and headed towards the address of St. Freya Academy.

St. Freya Academy was located on a mountain. The land there seemed to belong to Schicksal and had been designated as private property. Therefore, the taxi stopped at the foot of the mountain.

Ishiu was helpless but could only obediently get out of the car, preparing to climb the mountain.

However, before he could even enter the mountain's perimeter, a familiar voice called out from above.

"Ishiu!!!"

The voice was so loud it seemed to echo through the entire mountain forest, startling the birds into flight.

Ishiu instinctively looked up and saw Kiana on a winding mountain path above him.

She was dressed the same as two days ago, with her hair in braids, wearing an orange jacket, and even the safety shorts under her skirt were the familiar style as she got closer.

...Wait, closer? Holy crap! She actually jumped down?!

Ishiu's face contorted. Was this to be expected of Kiana? She jumped straight down from the mountain path above, disregarding the thirty-meter drop.

Although the height was considerable, Ishiu wasn't worried about Kiana getting hurt. After all, she was quite agile, and this distance wouldn't be a problem for her.

As expected, after jumping down, she landed on a tree branch below, using its springiness to absorb the impact before landing gracefully on the ground.

"Kiana, how have you been these past two days?" Ishiu waved and greeted her.

"Pretty good." Kiana ran over in a few steps. She looked at Ishiu, and although they'd only been apart for two days, she couldn't help but miss him. Now that she finally saw him in person, she didn't know what to say. In the end, she just scratched her head, revealing her signature goofy smile.

"What do you mean 'pretty good'? I hope you haven't been causing Mei any trouble these past two days," Ishiu teased, reaching out to pat Kiana's hair and remove any leaves she'd picked up.

His movements were practiced, and Kiana obediently tilted her head, letting Ishiu pat her hair. Their tacit understanding was as if they had rehearsed the action hundreds, even thousands, of times.

(Bronya: Why are you two so familiar with each other! How many times have you done this behind my and Seele's backs!)

Chapter 92: Bronya's Advance

"Of course not. Mei and I get along great," Kiana said with a grin, showing off her pearly white teeth. Then, as if just noticing Bronya, she looked at her with feigned surprise. "Huh? Little Pudding, what are you doing here?"

"Don't call Bronya 'Little Pudding'!" Bronya's face darkened. Looking at Kiana's silly grin, she really wanted to blast her away.

"Bronya was worried about me and came along. I'll tell Theresa later," Ishiu explained.

"Oh, I see," Kiana nodded in understanding and instinctively reached out to grab Ishiu's hand. "Then Ishiu, let's hurry. Mei and I have prepared a welcome party for you."

Snap!

Before her hand could even touch Ishiu's, it was slapped away by a small hand that suddenly intervened.

"Ah!" Kiana immediately withdrew her hand in pain, looking at Bronya with some displeasure. "Bronya, why did you hit me?"

"Men and women should not touch each other. Don't you understand?" Bronya said expressionlessly. Good thing she followed. Look at this, they're about to hold hands after only a few words. If they were left alone for longer, they'd end up sleeping in the same bed?

In a few more days, Seele's hat will turn into a broccoli!

"What's the big deal? I don't care," Kiana pouted. "He's just a brat anyway. Can he possibly take advantage of me?"

"You've misunderstood. Bronya is afraid you'll take advantage of him."

"Eh?"

"Wait, stop arguing. Mei and the others are here." Ishiu felt his head spin listening to their bickering and quickly tried to change the subject.

And on the mountain path not far away, Raiden Mei and Murata Himeko were walking side by side.

After two days, Miss Mei was as beautiful as ever. And perhaps something had happened, but the gloom between her brows had dissipated significantly. She exuded the unique vitality and charm of a young girl from head to toe.

Himeko's attire, on the other hand, was much more casual. Unlike the armor she wore the other day, in her casual clothes, she was less seductive but her aura as a languid beauty was even more pronounced.

"Ishiu." Compared to Kiana's constant chatter and fussing, Raiden Mei was undoubtedly more reserved. A smile played on her lips, and her expression was as gentle as ever. She walked up to Ishiu and, with a natural movement, tidied his clothes. "Your clothes are a bit ill-fitting. Shall I alter them for you when we get back?"

"No need, I'm quite comfortable. I guess I'm just growing," Ishiu said with a smile, shaking his head. "By the way, Mei, how have you been these past two days? Has St. Freya Academy been bullying you? I can help you settle the score."

"Hey, hey, don't make our St. Freya Academy sound like some delinquent organization. We're a normal school, and our students get along. There's no bullying here," Himeko said, strolling over and playfully pinching Ishiu's cheek. "But if you join the academy, you might get 'bullied' by the older girls~"

"Does that include you too? Sister Himeko?" Ishiu's mouth twitched. He quickly batted away Himeko's hand. How did he feel like this woman was being a bit too familiar with him? This was only their second meeting, and she was already getting handsy? You're not Kiana.

"Heh, guess?" Himeko winked at him with a smile. As expected of an older sister type. Her teasing skills are really something. It's a good thing Ishiu doesn't like her type, so he's immune. If it were some other young man, he'd probably be dizzy with infatuation.

"Teacher Himeko, stop teasing Ishiu. He's still young," Raiden Mei said to Himeko with a hint of helplessness. Her words were full of protectiveness towards Ishiu, and her doting, gentle tone made Bronya's skin crawl.

She suddenly felt a heavy burden on her shoulders. They hadn't even entered St. Freya Academy yet, and Ishiu was already surrounded by admirers. What would happen once he got inside?

No, I must keep a close eye on Ishiu to prevent anyone from stealing him away. Seele's happiness will be protected by me!

"Huh? I remember you're from Anti-Entropy. Why are you here too?" Himeko's eyes shifted, and she saw Bronya, her brow furrowing slightly.

"I am no longer with Anti-Entropy," Bronya said calmly, meeting Himeko's scrutinizing gaze. "Ishiu brought Raiden Mei out of Anti-Entropy before, and I provided him with the information. Therefore, I have also been expelled by Anti-Entropy."

"Oh? Is that so?" Himeko raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying.

"It is, Sister Himeko. Bronya is like family to me, and she followed because she was worried about me. Please give her your trust," Ishiu said earnestly.

"As you wish. I'm not in charge anyway. When we get to St. Freya Academy later, you can explain it to Theresa yourselves," Himeko said, shrugging indifferently. She was already busy with her work, responsible for the Hyperion and teaching students. As for these political games, she'd leave them to Theresa.

"Okay, I'll explain it to her," Ishiu nodded.

After a brief exchange, Ishiu and Bronya followed the three up the mountain.

St. Freya Academy was built halfway up the mountain. With Ishiu and the others' stamina, climbing the mountain was no effort at all, so they chatted and laughed all the way.

"Hey, Ishiu, did you know? The students at St. Freya Academy are all amazing. They're really skilled and perform excellently in shooting training," Kiana suddenly said. Her statement was a bit strange, as they had been discussing something else earlier, and her sudden interjection felt abrupt, leaving one unsure of her intention.

However, Ishiu, who had developed a good rapport with Kiana, knew her purpose and immediately played along with a smile. "Oh? Really? They're that good? How do you compare to them?"

Hearing Ishiu's cooperative response, Kiana's face lit up with a triumphant smile. She put one hand on her hip and pointed a finger at the sky, declaring boastfully, "Of course, I'm still the best! I'm always first in hand-to-hand combat and shooting classes."

"Amazing, amazing. Truly you," Ishiu said, clapping his hands with admiration.

"Hehe, I'm not that amazing, really. Just a tiny bit better than them," Kiana said, holding up her thumb and index finger to indicate a minuscule amount.

How could Ishiu not know her intentions? She just wanted him to praise her more, and he obliged, showering her with compliments that sent her spirits soaring. She was so delighted she almost hugged Ishiu and gave him a kiss.

"Alright Ishiu, don't spoil her too much. And Kiana, don't get too carried away. Don't you remember when Teacher Himeko disciplined you?" Raiden Mei finally couldn't stand it anymore. She patted Kiana's head, her tone becoming a bit stern.

"Uh..." Kiana, who had been beaming and puffing out her chest, suddenly deflated like a pricked balloon at Mei's words.

Earlier in class, she had been a bit arrogant while aiming to quickly advance to A-rank Valkyrie. As a result, Himeko had soundly beaten her, leaving her completely unable to fight back.

Now that Raiden Mei brought it up, she quickly grabbed Mei's hand and whispered in her ear, "My dear Mei, please don't bring up my embarrassing moments in front of this brat. I don't want him to laugh at me."

"You..." Raiden Mei shook her head helplessly. She used to think Kiana was just lively, but after living with her for two days, she felt increasingly sympathetic towards Ishiu.

How could he have lived with such a handful for a whole month?

Watching the group chatting and laughing, Bronya felt increasingly uneasy. She wasn't familiar with Kiana and the others, and she was naturally a person of few words. So, she could only watch as her Ishiu laughed and joked with other women, feeling like an irrelevant bystander, unable to join in.

No, I can't just sit here and do nothing. I need to be more proactive.

After some thought, Bronya tugged on Ishiu's arm. "Ishiu, do you remember the stakes from the plane ride earlier?"

"I remember. What's up?" Ishiu asked casually. He didn't know why Bronya was suddenly bringing this up.

"...Bronya is tired. Carry me up the mountain," Bronya said, her face slightly flushed, after hesitating for a moment and gritting her teeth.

Normally, she would never say something like this, but the situation was different now. For Seele's sake, what was a little loss of dignity?

"Ah? What did you say?" Ishiu thought he misheard and asked again.

"Bronya is tired. Carry me up the mountain," Bronya repeated.

"Uh... are you serious?" Ishiu's mouth twitched. He stopped walking and looked Bronya up and down, then walked behind her, intending to lift her clothes.

"Bang!"

Bronya immediately threw a punch, glaring at Ishiu in embarrassment. "What are you doing?!"

"I'm checking if you have a mole on your lower back," Ishiu said seriously. "I suspect you've been swapped out, because my Bronya isn't this cute!"

"Are you going to carry me?" Bronya bit her lip, feeling like she had completely lost her dignity as a sister today. Sigh, it's all for Seele.

"Of course, I'll carry you. You said you're tired, how could I not?" Ishiu had only intended to tease Little Pudding and see what she was up to, but seeing that the little girl seemed genuinely upset, he didn't dare to continue.

"Hmph..." Bronya snorted, then jumped onto Ishiu's back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her slender legs coiled around Ishiu's waist like boneless serpents.

After doing all that, she provocatively raised her eyebrows at Kiana and Raiden Mei.

Kiana didn't react much, just feeling a bit envious that Bronya didn't have to walk. She should have asked Ishiu to carry her earlier.

Raiden Mei, however, looked a little unsettled. Ever since her last meeting with Bronya, she had noticed that this little girl, who claimed to be Ishiu's sister, seemed to harbor strong hostility towards her, especially regarding Ishiu. Did she think Mei was threatening her position as his sister?

Hmm... I guess I'll need to interact with her more in the future, let her know that I won't try to take her place as his sister. Then she probably won't be so hostile towards me, right?

Everyone was lost in their own thoughts, and the latter half of the mountain path was much quieter. However, Kiana still talked a lot, and Ishiu would occasionally chat with Himeko.

Bronya, who was clinging to his back, had fallen completely silent. If he wasn't holding onto her legs, he might have thought she had disappeared.

The reason Bronya wasn't talking was simple: she was embarrassed.

Before, fueled by her resentment, she hadn't really registered it. But once she was on Ishiu's back, feeling his strong presence and her chest pressed tightly against his back, rubbing against him with his every step, the soft sensation made her legs go numb.

So, she buried her face in Ishiu's neck, afraid that anyone would see her flushed, blood-red face. Naturally, she couldn't speak.

After walking for about ten minutes on the mountain path like this, Ishiu finally arrived at St. Freya Academy.

The moment Ishiu laid eyes on the academy, he finally understood why Theresa boasted about it so much. Because this academy, Ishiu would believe it if you called it a castle.

From the outside, St. Freya Academy had a design style completely reminiscent of a European ancient castle, with semicircular barrel vaults, white walls, and towering spires. Everything looked so luxurious and stylish.