Life In The Reverse World

After finishing breakfast at Chouko’s apartment, Harutaki took the train back to his own home.

His school uniform was still hanging in the closet, and obviously he couldn’t go to school in casual clothes—he’d probably be stopped at the gate before even getting inside.

His timing turned out to be perfect. Just as he arrived at the Hoshikawa house, he ran into his younger sisters, who were about to head out for school at St. Lilium Girls’ Academy.

“So the idiot aniki had fun playing outside for three whole days, huh?” Ayaka said.

“Tch. I’m a hero who saved a fallen young lady from danger, you know. And after returning home, instead of a warm welcome I’m being criticized…”

He could tell Ayaka had missed him a lot. Even though they’d talked on the phone and exchanged plenty of messages on Line during those three days, he knew that no form of communication could really replace seeing each other face to face.

“Some other day, I’ll invite Shihou over to visit. You can ask her to tell you all about your big brother’s glorious heroic deeds.”

“You sound like one of those salaryman uncles in an izakaya who spend all night bragging about how awesome they used to be.”

Fuyuno mercilessly shredded Harutaki’s fragile pride.

“I-I believe Harutaki must have done something amazing…”

Ah, Chiaki really is the best.

He couldn’t help feeling a little moved and decided he’d reward the girl later tonight with a selfie.

A very wholesome, perfectly healthy one, of course.

Having one troublemaker like Fuyuno in the house was already enough—Chiaki should stay a normal girl if possible.

“I-I guess you did okay…”

Ayaka mumbled awkwardly as she walked past him with her school bag. She suddenly reached out and gave him a quick hug.

Seeing that, Fuyuno immediately pounced as well, clinging to him like a nimble kitten climbing a tree.

But before he could properly appreciate the faint milky scent coming from her—

Sniff sniff.

“There’s a girl’s smell on you!”

Are you a dog or a cat?!

Harutaki swallowed nervously. He’d scrubbed himself with body wash several times that morning. Logically speaking, there shouldn’t be any trace of Chouko’s scent left on him.

Yet Fuyuno’s comment made him uneasy as he frantically searched his mind for any possible slipups.

“Y-you’re imagining it. I just borrowed their bathroom and body wash…”

“Oh really?”

A mischievous grin spread across Fuyuno’s small childish face.

Oh no.

Seeing that expression, he immediately realized what was happening.

“Harutaki, you don’t sound very confident. Why is that?”

She tilted her head innocently, pressing a finger to her lips.

“Yeah… why is that?”

“I’ve got a way to verify whether idiot aniki is innocent—”

She grabbed his waistband with a grin.

“—If the amount isn’t very much, that means—wah! Ouch! That hurts!”

The eldest sister Ayaka intervened just in time, making Harutaki release a long breath of relief.

The pink-haired girl grabbed Fuyuno by the ear and pulled her off him.

To an outsider, the scene might look like a high schooler bullying an elementary school kid—especially with the pitiful expression on Fuyuno’s face that could make anyone want to defend her.

But…

“Pfft. Serves you right, trash Fuyuno.”

Harutaki smirked mercilessly at his sister. He wasn’t going to be fooled by her weak appearance anymore.

After all, inside that small body lurked a very “evil” little devil.

She’d already dragged him into depravity twice. Terrifying.

However, before he could enjoy his victory for more than a few seconds, a sharp pain shot through his ear.

Ayaka had grabbed him too.

“Ow ow ow… I didn’t do anything wrong, did I…?”

“I…I know idiot Harutaki didn’t do anything wrong… but I still feel like punching you!”

Wow. What a convincing reason.

Harutaki had nothing to say. He simply let her vent before rubbing his ear.

To be honest, he was a little surprised.

The usually strict and disciplined Ayaka would never have said something like that before—or used such a reason to “punish” him.

“Um… Harutaki… during those three days with Chouko-senpai…?”

Her delicate cheeks were flushed the same pink as her hair, and her aqua-blue eyes avoided meeting his.

Ah… so that’s it.

Harutaki thought to himself.

Ayaka feeling a little jealous was perfectly normal.

Ever since their “practice date,” he had sensed that her feelings toward him were somewhat unusual.

It probably wasn’t romantic love… but it was definitely something beyond ordinary family affection.

After all… no normal family members would kiss each other, right?

Though to be fair, the Hoshikawa household wasn’t exactly what you’d call “normal.”

“Hmm… You can trust in the virgin power of Hoshikawa Harutaki.”

Sorry, Ayaka!

He defended himself jokingly.

“Wait another ten or twenty years and maybe you’ll see me become a wizard who throws fireballs.”

“Honestly…”

Ayaka’s mood visibly relaxed.

“…As if a scumbag like you would stay a virgin. Don’t come home before graduation with a niece or nephew in tow.”

Don’t worry. If that happens, they’ll be sent to Kyoto.

Before his sisters left through the entrance, Harutaki didn’t forget to hug the silent Chiaki as well.

The girl immediately turned bright red and fled out the door with her head lowered.

“Chiaki too… Idiot Harutaki, I already washed and ironed your uniform yesterday. Just take it out of the closet and wear it.”

She suddenly stopped, holding her bag in one hand while brushing aside her cherry-pink hair with the other.

Then she turned back toward him with a smile.

“And… welcome home.”

“I’m home. And… thanks! I like Ayaka the most~”

“W-what do you mean li-li-like… stop saying nonsense…”

“Cute. I like you~”

Thunk.

“Idiot!”

Right on cue, he received a punch to the ribs.

But honestly… he kind of liked the familiar feeling.

…..

“What do you mean ‘you actually came back’?!”

“What do you mean I actually came back…?”

Seriously, what’s with this smoking-addict teacher?

After arriving at school, Harutaki went to the staff room during the first break to report to Asama-sensei and collect the lecture notes from the past three days.

But the man’s expression looked like he’d just seen a ghost.

Apparently the teacher hadn’t expected him to return at all.

“I figured the best outcome for you would be staying in Kyoto as a rich family’s son-in-law… Damn it, what an enviable fate.”

Wow, that jealousy is really showing.

Asama-sensei handed over the stack of notes from his drawer while continuing the conversation.

“So? Shihou came back to school too, right?”

“Yeah. She should be in the principal’s office right now.”

“Well, even if you didn’t become a noble family’s son-in-law overnight, that’s the beauty of youth—and life.”

Asama-sensei walked over and patted Harutaki’s shoulder in consolation.

Strangely enough, Harutaki noticed there was no smell of cigarettes on him today.

“You win some, you lose some. Just learn to accept it. With your abilities—”

“Sorry to disappoint you, sensei. The head of the Shihou family told me to hurry up and have a child with Shihou and send it to her to raise. So unfortunately, I haven’t quite missed out on the ‘joys of youth’ yet—”

“YOU BASTARD!”

Asama-sensei’s comforting shoulder pat suddenly turned into a judo-style chokehold as he grabbed Harutaki by the neck and shook him violently.

This is the staff room! Please remember your professional dignity!

“A guy who gets to hug D-cup and E-cup high school girls like that deserves to be wiped from humanity!”

“Actually, they’re a little bigger than E.”

The moment Harutaki finished speaking, the room fell into silence.

“…Very well.”

Asama-sensei loosened his tie dramatically and looked at him with a straight face.

“Due to improper relationships with female students, you are required to submit a 1500-word reflection essay to the class life-guidance teacher. Preferably with detailed descriptions so we can analyze the problems involved. Otherwise… prepare for a serious warning and suspension.”

“May I ask who this ‘life-guidance teacher’ is?”

“The illustrious Asama Masayuki.”

“That’s YOU!”

Harutaki didn’t even know where to begin complaining about this guy.

This teacher who constantly talks about loving high school girls…

Yet after all these years teaching, he still hasn’t—

Wait.

Harutaki suddenly realized something and stared at him suspiciously.

“What are you looking at? I’m an ethical and professional teacher who merely appreciates the external beauty of high school girls.”

“The moment you say that, your ethics become highly questionable…”

Harutaki paused, then bowed sincerely.

“…But still, thank you for your guidance and advice earlier. You really are a great teacher.”

Asama-sensei leaned back in his swivel chair, crossing his legs with a satisfied snort.

He seemed uncomfortable with his tightened tie and loosened it again, looking like a worn-out middle-aged man who had just lost his job—someone who reminded people of the burst of Japan’s bubble economy just by walking down the street.

“Say a few more nice things and maybe I’ll tell you what’s on the final exam.”

“Seriously?”

“Of course not! If you want good grades, study properly in my literature class, you idiot!”

This old man is hopeless.