The Sekirei’s Covenant

Time: Eight years later.

"Shizuka, hurry up! We're going to be late!"

"Ugh… Onii-chan, wait for me!"

"Hah… Seriously, every day is like this. What's so hard about fixing your hair?"

"Hmph, Onii-chan is the one who doesn't understand a girl's modesty at all."

"Ah, what a bother. Grandpa, we're off to school."

"Oh, Sora, Shizuka, be careful on your way!"

…

This scene basically happens every morning at the Kusanagi household. Watching the boy and girl in their school uniforms shouting and running around, Kusanagi Ichirou shows a loving and knowing smile.

Since his wife passed away four years ago, the three of them—grandfather and grandchildren—have been living together. Although compared to other kids, they are a bit wild and rebellious, Kusanagi Ichirou is always grateful to heaven for sending that brat right in front of him and Shizuka.

If it weren't for him, little Shizuka might still be unable to recover from the pain of her parents' divorce and her grandmother's death. If that were the case, he would never see his adorable granddaughter's smiling face again…

"O-Onii-chan, you're too fast… I can't keep up!"

The boy and girl, each carrying their own backpacks, ran toward the school. Not long after, the girl was already panting and falling behind.

"Shizuka, I've told you to exercise more."

Though his tone was complaining, the boy turned back, hung his backpack in front, and lifted the girl onto his back in one swift move.

Normally, this would cause a scream, but the girl looked like she was used to it, smiling brightly with her big eyes curved like crescent moons, tightly hugging the boy's shoulders with an expression that said she had been waiting for this.

"I've been exercising every day! It's all your fault for being too amazing, Onii-chan!"

"Hey, hold on tight, Shizuka!"

"Got it, Onii-chan!"

The boy, Sora, firmly supported the girl named Shizuka on his back. With knees slightly bent, he leapt forward carrying both of them.

He jumped onto a utility pole by the roadside, then onto Mrs. Inoue's balcony, then onto a thick branch of a roadside tree… In this exaggerated but swift manner, they quickly made their way toward the school.

"Onii-chan, so many people are watching us again. Maybe we should get down and walk."

Though she was used to it, every time she saw the surprised looks of passersby, the girl's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Tch, let them watch if they want. Who cares?"

"Well, I don't mind, but if Shizuka wants to get down and walk, I'll put you down now."

Sora replied while continuing to leap.

"No!"

"Y-yeah, it's better this way."

She instinctively refused. Although it was a bit embarrassing to be watched, being carried by Onii-chan to school was the happiest moment for Shizuka. She didn't want to walk alone to school.

Shizuka knew very well that this cute but annoying older brother would really do it—if she agreed, he would immediately drop her and run off humming happily by himself!

"Yo, Asuka, you're still dawdling!"

"Good morning, Asuka-nee!"

Stopping in front of a grocery store, Sora looked up at the energetic girl with a small backpack standing at the second-floor window, waiting for the tram.

Tokunaga Asuka was roughly the childhood friend of Sora and Shizuka. They lived on the same street and their families were on good terms.

"Sora, Shizuka-chan, you two are doing such shameless things again!"

Pointing at Sora and Shizuka, the girl blushed and stammered.

"Tch, I think you're just jealous! We're not waiting for you, let's go!"

Shizuka smiled awkwardly, embarrassed to answer, while Sora looked completely indifferent. He didn't know why, but he felt he was naturally gifted when it came to having a thick skin!

"Damn it, that annoying guy!"

Seeing Sora actually leave without waiting for her, Asuka stomped her feet angrily.

"Since you know I'm jealous… Ah!!!"

She was muttering with her head down, feeling wronged, when suddenly she felt herself being lifted up. Asuka screamed in fright.

"What are you screaming for? If you scream again, I'll drop you!"

"Hmph, if we weren't almost late, I wouldn't bother carrying you. You're so heavy."

One hand supported Shizuka, the other held Asuka, Sora said with a displeased look.

"Haha… Asuka-nee, don't be mad. Onii-chan is just like this."

Shizuka waved her small hand at Asuka with a twitching eye.

"Hmph, I'm not mad at that annoying guy."

Pouting, Asuka snorted. She thought to herself, this annoying brat has been like this since childhood, and she knew him too well!

Looking down at the retreating road and houses, Asuka had often wondered what kind of weirdo Sora was—always jumping around like a superhero. But after seeing it so many times, she got used to it and stopped thinking too much.

Though he was annoying, his moves were always precise. When he said she was "heavy," maybe she really had gained some weight recently?

No, she'd have to eat less from now on, or else this annoying guy would have another excuse to tease her during arguments!

Besides, she heard boys usually prefer slimmer girls…

Both Shizuka and Asuka were lost in their own thoughts, which had become a daily habit at this time.

Before long, the three arrived at school. Under the envious and jealous gazes of other students, Sora calmly put the two girls down.

Private Jounan Academy was the school they attended. Little Shizuka was a first-year junior high student, while Asuka and Sora were third-year junior high students.

Although the entrance exams were just a few days away, for convenience, Sora didn't plan to go anywhere else and intended to continue muddling through at the high school division of this Jounan Academy.

"I… I'm going to the classroom first!"

"Um… Sora, thank you…"

With her cheeks flushed, Asuka didn't have the thick skin that Sora had. She couldn't stand the gazes from the people around her, so she quietly muttered a thank you like a faint mosquito's whine and then ran off toward her classroom as if escaping.

"Onii-chan, after school today you have to wait for me to go home together! If you run off alone again, I won't make you dinner!"

Although her cheeks were also red, Shizuka was clearly much calmer than the fleeing Asuka. She clenched her small fists and seriously reminded Sora.

"Alright, alright, you stubborn girl, you only know how to threaten me with that."

"You're going to that tea ceremony club again, aren't you? Seriously, what's so good about that place? I'm really worried that one day my little sister will be corrupted by that scary woman!"

Scratching his head with a displeased look, Sora didn't refuse. But when he mentioned that so-called "scary woman," there was a hint of fear in his tone.

"Hmph, Onii-chan is the scary one, idiot, idiot, idiot!"

"Senpai Mariya is such an outstanding person—graceful, composed, and so beautiful. She's super famous at school! There are so many people who like her they could line up for blocks. So why does my dumb big brother have to call her a 'scary woman'?"

Stomping hard on Sora's foot, Shizuka wore an extremely speechless and troubled expression, as if she was completely at her wit's end with her hopelessly dumb big brother.

"Tch, graceful, beautiful, but just a chatterbox little sister…"

Recalling the image of that scary girl in his mind, Sora sneered and muttered quietly.

"What?!!"

Almost driven mad by this dumb big brother, Asuka thought. Senpai Mariya was just serious by nature, yet this annoying big brother called her a chatterbox. If this idiot wasn't family, Shizuka would have kicked him already!

"I didn't say anything!"

"Alright, alright, I promise I'll come pick you up this afternoon. I'm going to class now!"

Seeing Shizuka about to lose it, Sora shrank his neck and quickly took a step back.

In his heart, he added another mark against that Mariya Yuri girl. How annoying, how annoying—she even managed to make his little sister Shizuka like this!

"Idiot big brother!"

Watching Sora flee, Shizuka pouted and muttered softly.

But she wasn't really angry. On the contrary, there was a hint of relief on the girl's face.

Fortunately, her big brother wasn't like those annoying boys who got infatuated with the outstanding Mariya Senpai. If that happened, she would…

Thinking of something embarrassing, the girl's face instantly turned bright red. Realizing people were staring at her, she screamed and quickly covered her face, running toward her classroom…