Younger Brother Matters

Yuuta: (...Sigh. It kinda sucks eating all alone in the garden terrace.)

(I was having fun with Shinobu-kun, but he had stuff to do for the student council and left immediately.)

(Damn student council stole Shinobu-kun away from me.)

Ritsu: Mm. You, the twin from the light music club.

Your hair’s all different and you’re all alone, so I’m guessing you’re Yuuta-kun.

Yuuta: Nailed it. But I’d appreciate if you didn’t use such terrible things to remember me by.

Like, I’m so sorry I don’t have as many friends as Aniki.

Ritsu: I didn’t say it was a bad thing, did I? Your worth isn’t dependent on how many friends you have.

I was basically friendless for the longest time, too.

Some people like being surrounded by a ton of fair-weather friends, and some people want really close relationships with just a few people. It’s different for everyone.

Well anyway, it’s stupid for one person to monopolize a whole table like this. Lemme sit with you?

Yuuta: Be my guest~

I do wanna make one small amendment though. I haven’t been alone this whole time.

My bestie Shinobu-kun was with me, but he had to leave to do something for the student council.

Ritsu: What a coincidence. I’m in the same boat as you.

I was going to have lunch with Maa~kun, but he blew me off for a student council meeting, too.

I hate that thing. I wish a meteor would fall right on their stupid room.

Yuuta: Ahaha, well that’s kind of extreme~ I’m pretty sure a meteor strike would cause a much bigger disaster.

Ritsu: It’d be fine~ If it ever happened, Ecchan would use all his money and power to do something about it.

And even if the world was destroyed, me and Maa~kun would still survive with the power of our love... ♪

Anyway, it looks like you’ve made some breakthroughs since last year’s Setsubun Festival.^[1]

I barely see you and Hinata-kun hanging out together in school anymore.

Did you finally get what I was telling you? You got tired of always being compared to your brother, didn’t you?

You wanted to make sure everyone knew that you’re your own person, not just an extension of him, right?

Yuuta: ......

...Back then, I thought you and I had different values. But now I understand what you were trying to say.

It’s like you knew exactly how things would play out...

Ritsu: Fufu. My age isn’t just for show, y’know ♪

Yuuta: You’re only two years older than me, though.

Ritsu: I’m still older than you.

Whatever. I don’t think I hate this change of yours, Yuuta-kun.

Like I said before, that thing we call an “older brother” has no value in life without the existence of a “younger brother.”^[2]

So we can just lie back and relax; we just have to treat them well enough that they don’t die. For people like us, those guys are just the thorns in our sides that’ll keep clinging to us their whole lives.

Hiiro: —Good afternoon, Yuuta-kun! And Ritsu-senpai! Could I sit with you?

Yuuta: Oh, Hiiro-kun. Sure, why not?

Hiiro: Thank you! What are you two talking about?

Ritsu: Just how younger brothers have the right to push their older brothers around as much as they want~

Yuuta: It must suck for you, Hiiro-kun, having a brother like that in your family.

You must have gone through so much growing up, huh?

Hiiro: Growing up? Actually I was the one always causing trouble for him back in my hometown.

Nii-san protected me often when I was very young. He loved me a lot.

I would like to one day return the favor he gave me. If it were possible, I’d like him to cause me some trouble, too.

Ritsu: You want him to cause trouble for you? What a weirdo.

Yuuta: I’d have thought he was totally a pain in your ass even now, though, even when you don’t want anything to do with him.

Hiiro: That’s not true at all. I’m still inexperienced, so I don’t have the ability to support him properly.

But... Nii-san praised me once, and that made me very happy.

He called me on the phone while he was drunk, and I ended up carrying him home. And that’s when he told me I’m “doin’ real good lately.”^[3]

He’s probably forgotten all about it, but it’s one of my most cherished moments from my birthday.

Yuuta: Wow, I had no idea about that.

...Wait, what? He made you be his babysitter on your birthday?

No, that’s so evil. I hope Rinne-senpai gets hit by a meteor.

Hiiro: A meteor? Hey, Yuuta-kun. You and Nii-san always speak so easily with each other, right? I envy that about you.

Yuuta: You think so? I mean, we’re in the same agency, so I guess we’re always seeing each other around.

Hiiro: Even so, I see it as a wonderful thing.

Because you’re such good friends with Nii-san, I’d like to ask a favor of you.

Yuuta: We’re not good friends, but what’s up?

Hiiro: I’d like your help in picking out a birthday present for him.

There’s still a long time before his birthday, but I was unable to celebrate it last year, and this will be the first time that we can celebrate it together in the city. As such, I’d like to give him something special. Would you help me?

Yuuta: A birthday present, huh?

(What a pain... How am I supposed to know what Rinne-senpai would like? Just take him gambling or something.)

(No, just kidding. Hiiro-kun is pure and innocent, so I’m sure he’d be satisfied with something pretty generic and inoffensive.)

(...Hang on now. This is the perfect opportunity to pull a totally legal (?) prank on Rinne-senpai ♪)

...Hehe ♪

Ritsu: Whoa. What the hell are you scheming, Yuuta-kun?

Yuuta: Oh c’mon, stop saying stuff that’ll ruin my reputation.

But yeah, I’ll help you if you really want me to, Hiiro-kun.

Hiiro: Thank you! I feel very reassured with your assistance, Yuuta-kun!

Yuuta: Mhmm. We can really take our time putting together a present he’ll never, ever forget... ♪