The setting sun broke through the thick clouds, casting reddish light over the city below. At this hour, the streets were still bustling with pedestrians.

However, under curious stares from passersby, a boy clutching a plastic bag was being chased by a girl wielding a parasol. They looked like sworn enemies.

“Who are you?! What do you want?!”

I sprinted wildly, dodging attacks from her weapon, roaring in anger.

“My name is Kurara Takanashi! It is my duty to purge Bureau magic wielders like you!” the girl declared, hand pressed on her parasol.

Hearing her chuunibyou lines, I nearly choked on my rage.

—Hey, hey! I was just joking back then—why take it seriously?!

And I said “meme mage”! Not “magic wielder”! The meaning’s totally different, damn it!!

While frantically evading in my mind, I spotted Nagisa Ushio ahead. His aqua-blue hair flowed as he walked away. My eyes lit up instantly.

“Nagisa!” I shouted. The moment he turned, I tossed the plastic bag at him. “Hold this!!”

“Eh?!” Nagisa fumbled to catch it. “What’s going on, Chiyo?”

“No time to explain!”

The instant the bag transferred, I spun around. A black umbrella shot from my sleeve.

In my view, it was instantly wrapped in eerie black aura, morphing into a pitch-black katana.

CLANG!!!—

My katana clashed with her weapon. Feeling the force, I realized her umbrella had transformed under unknown power—but her strength hadn’t increased at all.

I should easily defeat her! Just like last night, end this bizarre scene fast.

Silently resolved, I rolled swiftly aside.

“—Dark Matter Flames!!”

Kurara yelled. Complex magic circles flared on her weapon, shooting black flames at me.

“This boring move again?!!”

I shouted, swinging my katana to shatter the flames.

Nagisa, holding the plastic bag, stared blankly at us.

To him, we were just kids playing with umbrellas.

“…Is this what Chiyo meant by chuunibyou?…” Nagisa muttered, eye twitching.

“But he never said… chuunibyou is contagious?…”

Though Nagisa saw us fooling around, to me this was a deadly serious battle. Only I could see it…

“Avalon Crusher!!!”

Kurara screamed. A yellow energy ball formed at her weapon’s tip, shooting straight at me.

“Enough!!” I roared, blocking it with my katana. “How many times with this boring attack?!!”

“Let’s end this!!”

I charged forward, slashing my katana down on her head.

“Ow!—”

She dropped her weapon instantly, crouching with arms over her head. I shrugged helplessly.

As everything returned to normal, I crouched, picked up her parasol, and stuffed it into her bag.

“Give up already! You’ll never beat me.”

Sighing, I walked back to the bewildered Nagisa and took my groceries.

“Thanks for this time.”

“…Uh… I didn’t really help…” Nagisa said confusedly. “But your actions startled me, Chiyo!”

“Don’t worry! Forget it. Come to my place for hot pot?”

My expression turned awkward. I slung an arm around his shoulders.

“It might be rude… and my mother…” Nagisa hesitated, remembering his strict parent.

“Daijoubu! Mo da nai!” I waved a finger. “Saying you’re studying at a classmate’s house? No parent refuses that!”

“…I need to call home first…”

Nagisa pulled out his phone and stepped aside to call.

Watching him, I shook my head. His home life wasn’t simple either…

Bored, I glanced where Kurara had been—she’d already vanished.

“…Seriously, why does she keep bothering me…”

“Um… Chiyo, my mother agreed,” Nagisa said, returning.

“Then let’s go!”

I nodded casually and headed toward the Shindo Residence.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

“I’m home!”

I slipped off my shoes at the genkan, entered the living room, and set the groceries on the table. Nagisa still stood in the hallway.

“Come in, Nagisa! Why linger at the door?”

“…Hi!… Sorry for intruding.” Nagisa snapped out of it, stepping inside. “This is your house, Chiyo? It’s huge!”

“It’s just okay! Only my siblings and I live here—it feels too big.”

I nonchalantly stuffed groceries into the fridge, then popped my head out. “Tea, juice, or milk, Nagisa?”

“…Juice…”

Nagisa scratched his chin, sat at the dining table, and eyed the ingredients. “Three people… Chiyo, where are your parents?”

“They’re busy working abroad, enjoying their couple time. They hardly come back all year.”

I poured juice into a glass, placed it before him.

“I see… I really envy you, Chiyo!” Nagisa lifted the glass.

“Envy?” I froze. “First time I’ve heard that!”

“Onii-chan!~ What’s for dinner?” Hidetomo’s voice called from upstairs. He stepped out of his room.

“Hot pot tonight!” I called back.

“Hot pot?!” Hidetomo spotted Nagisa at the table and hurried down. “Huh? A guest?”

“Is he your sister, Chiyo? So cute!”

“Wrong. He’s my brother.” I deadpanned.

“…Huh?…” Nagisa’s face flushed; his juice glass paused halfway to his mouth.

“Hey hey! Onii-chan! What’s this sister’s name?!”

Hidetomo’s question made Nagisa lower his head, embarrassment deepening.

“…Hidetomo, he’s not a sister. He’s a brother…”

I kept my deadpan stare at the two adorable boys.

“Brother?!” Hidetomo’s surprise shifted to a suggestive smile at me.

I knew trouble was coming—recalling last night’s events. He was definitely imagining terrible scenarios!

—My foolish otouto! Watch your sexuality, damn it!! Is this like attracts like?!

“Hey hey! Can this brother play in my room?”

Hidetomo grabbed Nagisa’s hand and yanked him upstairs, face alight like he’d found a toy.

Watching the flustered Nagisa dragged away, I shook my head.

These two cute boys together—who knows what sparks will fly…

—Maybe they’ll even develop some sacred love.

Clearing my mind, I rushed to the kitchen, rummaged through cabinets, and found the yuan yang pot.

After washing it, I added hot pot seasonings, poured in hot water, and carried it to the table.

I chopped and arranged the ingredients, then set them out. Dumping broth ingredients into the pot, I turned on the heat.

Bowl and chopsticks ready, I glanced upstairs.

Weird… Why aren’t they down yet? Don’t tell me they’re doing something unspeakable…

“Hidetomo! Ruri! Nagisa! Dinner’s ready!! Come eat!”

I sat at the table, watching the bubbling hot pot. But then… loud noises erupted from upstairs?

What are they doing? Could they really be up to something unspeakable?

If my foolish otouto has truly fallen, as his brother, I’ll have to correct his worldview…

…Yeah! He’s still young—fixing him shouldn’t be too hard…