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Teitan Elementary School, Class 6-B.
Morning sunlight streamed through the spotless windows, spilling across the classroom.
The bell hadn't rung yet. Groups of sixth graders clustered together, chattering noisily.
By the window, Kasugano Sora sat at her desk, stuffing her small school bag into the drawer. Resting her chin in her hands, she stared out at the birds flitting past. Her doll-like face was as pretty as ever, but the mood written all over it said one thing loud and clear: stay away.
The image from this morning kept replaying in her mind. Her brother, Lucian, sitting at the table with that "fox of a girl," sharing a cozy breakfast. And then there were the… sounds from next door last night that made her cheeks burn just remembering them.
Sora ground her teeth.
"Stupid Luu… you used to make breakfast just for me…"
While she sulked, a few girls from the class gathered around her, buzzing with curiosity.
"Sora, Sora! Is your brother coming to pick you up after school today?"
"Yeah! My mom said he just became a high school teacher, right? At Sobu High? That's amazing!"
"Your brother is so handsome! Way better than TV idols! The last time I saw him smile at you, my heart almost jumped out of my chest!"
Faced with their gossip and starry-eyed admiration, Sora's mood lifted a little.
She straightened her slim back, tilting her pale chin up with a proud smile.
"Of course! My brother is a real genius! He became a high school teacher at nineteen!" she said without a hint of modesty. Then her tone shifted, and she shot them a sharp look, like a kitten guarding its food. "But Luu is mine. Don't even think about it."
At this school, Lucian was ridiculously popular.
As an orphan raising his younger sister, he used to pick Sora up whenever he had time. With his good looks and the gentle, patient way he doted on her, he completely charmed the girls just starting to understand crushes.
Even some of the younger moms who came to pick up their kids couldn't help sneaking a few extra glances at him.
"Tch, Sora's so stingy," the girls teased, sticking out their tongues before scattering.
In the middle of the classroom, a few kids wearing "Junior Detective League" badges sat together.
"Kasugano is as cold as ever," one of them muttered.
"Yeah, but her brother's lunches must be amazing! I saw her lunch box once—there were fried shrimp in it! It smelled so good…" Genta swallowed, clearly thinking about eel rice and tempura.
A boy with black-rimmed glasses and a red bow tie sighed helplessly at the group. "Hey… is that really all you guys care about? Her brother and her lunch?"
Ayumi clasped her hands to her cheeks, gazing dreamily toward Sora. "But Kasugano is like a princess! And her brother is really handsome. Conan, are you jealous?"
"Huh? Jealous of what…" Conan twitched.
I know that guy too, you know…
Just then—
The classroom door slid open.
The noisy chatter died instantly.
Their homeroom teacher, Mafuyu Kirisu, stepped onto the podium.
She had long cherry-pink hair, wore a sharp black suit, and a pair of black-framed glasses. Her beautiful face held no unnecessary expression, and her cold, strict aura made every student sit up straight.
She placed her materials down and swept her gaze across the class. When her eyes passed over Sora, they paused for just a moment.
As a homeroom teacher, she'd met Lucian before.
Even with her high standards and indifferent attitude toward men, she had to admit—he was strikingly handsome, and well-spoken too.
Apparently, he'd started teaching at Sobu High recently. She wondered if she'd still see that tall figure at the school gate as often…
"Cough." Mafuyu snapped out of her rare distraction, adjusted her glasses, and said coolly, "Class is starting. Everyone, stand."
…
The long morning finally came to an end, giving way to lunch break.
Ignoring her classmates' invitations, Sora took her carefully prepared lunch—made by Lucian himself—and headed to the quiet courtyard garden she knew well.
Two girls were already waiting for her there.
One had short light-brown hair and a gentle, serene smile—Nishimiya Shoko.
The other had long black hair, elegant posture, and an unmistakable refined air—Daidouji Tomoyo.
They were Sora's closest friends at school.
"Sora, over here~" Tomoyo waved with a smile. Beside her sat an expensive-looking lunch box.
Shoko, though hearing-impaired, noticed Sora right away. She smiled softly, then quickly wrote something in her notebook in cute handwriting and held it up:
["Sora, you don't seem very happy today?"]
"…Hmph."
Sora sat between them and opened her lunch. Inside were rice balls shaped like little rabbits, carefully made by her brother.
She'd had an appetite before, but now she just poked at the rabbit's ears with her chopsticks, her mood gone.
"What's wrong? Didn't sleep well last night? You've got dark circles," Tomoyo observed sharply.
"I…" Sora bit her lip, hesitating.
She couldn't exactly tell them her brother had brought a high school girl home last night—and that they'd been making those kinds of noises next door all night, right? That would completely ruin his image!
"Well… it's not me. It's… a friend."
She cleared her throat, awkwardly launching into the classic "asking for a friend" line while nervously fidgeting with her skirt.
"My friend has a brother she really, really likes. But yesterday, he suddenly brought home a… a girl from high school."
"That girl even took over his bed and wore matching pajamas with him! And the worst part is, she has that mature vibe older girls have!"
Sora paused, puffing her cheeks. Then her eyes lit up as she thought of a counterattack, and she lowered her voice.
"But! My friend noticed that girl's figure isn't that great! Totally flat—like a washboard. Not much better than me… I mean, my friend!"
"Still, even if her figure isn't great, those long legs and that mature aura make my friend feel really threatened. So… what should she do to win her brother's heart back completely?"
Hearing this roundabout confession, Tomoyo and Shoko exchanged a look.
Shoko thought seriously for a moment, then began writing quickly in her notebook before handing it over.
["If that girl is flat, then this is your friend's biggest chance! Your friend is only in sixth grade, still growing! If she's not satisfied, she can drink more milk and eat papaya. My mom says papaya milk is really good for development. As long as she gets enough nutrition, she'll definitely grow better than that older girl!"]
At the end, Shoko even drew a cute little cheering doodle.
"Papaya… milk?"
Sora stared at the note, deep in thought, clenching her small fists.
That's right! She was only in sixth grade—she still had tons of room to grow! That "fox" was already in high school and still flat, which meant she had no potential left! As long as Sora drank all the milk her brother made and ate more papaya, she could totally surpass her!
"Shoko's suggestion is great for the long term," Tomoyo said, resting her chin on her hand, her purple-gray eyes gleaming with an almost dangerous excitement. "But growth takes time. It won't solve the immediate problem."
As a self-proclaimed outfit enthusiast, anything involving "female charm competition" instantly lit a fire in her.
"Sora, tell your friend this." Tomoyo leaned in, sounding like a master strategist. "High school girls may have maturity, but younger girls have a unique weapon they can't replicate."
"The best way to defeat your rival is to catch them off guard. And for brothers… what do you think is the most effective weapon?"
Sora was completely drawn into her momentum, shaking her head without thinking. "W-what?"
Tomoyo's eyes shone as she enunciated each word:
"A maid outfit."
"Eh?!" Sora squeaked, her face instantly turning bright red.
"Think about it." Tomoyo clasped her hands dreamily. "A cute little sister with silver twin tails, wearing a black-and-white lace maid outfit, a cat-ear headband… greeting her brother at the door after work with a sweet 'Welcome home'…"
Thump. Thump.
Sora's heart started racing uncontrollably. In her mind, she could already see herself in that outfit, standing in front of Lucian.
He'd be shocked, then deeply moved—maybe even nosebleeding—before pulling her into a hug and completely forgetting about that flat, expressionless Yukinoshita!
"Th-that's way too embarrassing!" Sora covered her burning cheeks, trying to argue, but her wavering eyes gave her away.
"Oh come on, a little sacrifice for your brother is nothing!" Tomoyo declared boldly, patting her chest. "Leave it to me! I just happen to have some high-quality lace at home. I'll take your measurements this afternoon—"
"Tomorrow! I'll personally sew the ultimate 'decisive maid outfit' and give it to you!"
Looking at her two best friends supporting her so wholeheartedly, Sora took a deep breath.
Her eyes became more determined than ever.
That's right!
She'd drink the milk! She'd wear the maid outfit!
Some cold, flat "fox" really thought she could steal her brother?
Dream on.
"....."