"Why do we have to be here?"
Kagami Taiga, a first-year junior high student, grumbled alongside two others near the airport exit. After an exhausting day of basketball, he was growing restless without his favorite burgers. "I'm really hungry. How about grabbing something to eat, Tatsuya?"
Himuro Tatsuya, a second-year junior high student, stayed quiet, but his disinterested expression spoke volumes. He shared Kagami's feelings, finding no reason to engage with a stranger they wouldn't be around often. Their encounters were infrequent, limited to training sessions under Alex, unlike the camaraderie he and Kagami had enjoyed back in elementary school. That is not something anyone can force onto another.
Himuro couldn't help but wonder if they had to interact with anyone just because they were connected to her.
Despite Kagami's grumbling, Himuro chose to ignore him, maintaining a stoic expression. He could already feel the unsettling aura radiating from Alex, which seemed to focus on the complaining brat. It was a palpable tension that made the air feel heavy, and Himuro couldn't shake the instinct that it would be best to keep a safe distance.
Kagami continued to fidget, the restlessness evident in his body language. It was clear that the hunger was getting to him, but Himuro had seen enough of Alex's fierce demeanor to know that provoking her in any way would be unwise. So, he stood back, mentally weighing his options and hoping that the situation wouldn't escalate. The last thing he wanted was to be caught in the crossfire. Instead, he observed quietly, ready to step away if things took a turn for the worse.
"I could really go for a burger right now," Kagami said after being ignored. He rubbed his stomach while trying to hint at Himuro with a meaningful look.
Alex felt a strong urge to smack the head of the insensitive brat, but the occasional gurgling sound from his stomach reminded her that he was simply hungry. Just as she was about to suggest that the two go grab something to eat while they waited, she spotted the distinctive hair that had become so familiar to her during her time in Japan. In a flash, she grabbed both of their heads and made them bow.
"Now, now, she's here! Make sure to greet my niece properly," Alex said, her smile bright as she watched her niece approach. However, the firmness in her voice made the two feel a bit apprehensive. Reluctantly, they kept the bow and forced themselves to comply, knowing Alex wouldn't tolerate any nonsense.
"Welcome to the States," they mumbled in a flat, monotonous tone, their reluctance palpable. The lack of enthusiasm didn't go unnoticed, and Alex responded with a playful yet firm squeeze on their scalps, causing both to wince in surprise and discomfort.
Kagami and Himuro were ready to voice their objections against child brutality when a sudden chuckle interrupted, pulling them away from their feelings of annoyance and anger.
They both looked up to find a girl around their age smiling at them. She didn't resemble any of the girls in their class. The striking streak of blonde in her jet-black hair caught their attention, and her lashes, a blend of those two colors, gave her an enchanting and distinctive appearance. They noticed her familiar eye color but found it somehow more appealing on her than on the tyrant they typically had to endure.
What surprised the two boys even more was that they hadn't expected to come face to face with "them."
'To develop to that extent at such a young age—what intimidating family genes they must have!'
"Hope you didn't wait too long; thank you for coming to get me." Her smile, along with something else, left the two boys momentarily speechless. Noticing their unusual reaction, Akari couldn't help but wonder what was going on with them.
'Am I disliked right now?' Akari wondered.
"Aunt Alex, did you force them to come?" Akari asked, glancing at the two boys and their awkwardness.
Alex looked away, a hint of guilt on her face. "Not exactly. I promised them snacks after you got here, so it was more of a trade."
Wanting to shift the conversation, she finally let go of the boys and walked over to help with the large suitcase Akari was struggling with. "Why didn't anyone help you with this? Can't they see you're having a hard time? Were they short-staffed or something?" she asked, noticing how difficult it was for Akari to manage her baggage.
Even with the crutch on her left side, which somewhat altered their perception of her, there was something delicate about her. Maybe it was the confidence she radiated that kept any sympathy at bay, making it hard for anyone to approach her.
"I'm fine, really! They offered to help, but I declined. I've managed this far on my own, and it's not like I'll need this crutch for long. I really need to get back to using my legs," Akari replied with a reassuring smile. "There's not much pain, so you don't need to worry."
"Still, pain is pain. No need to be so stubborn," Alex said, ruffling Akari's hair affectionately as she reached out to support her while they walked.
After hearing the conversation, the two boys, who had been in a trance and rooted to the spot, finally snapped out of it and rushed forward to catch up with Alex and Akari.
"I… I can carry your backpack for you," Himuro said to Akari, glancing away to mask his embarrassment. He completely understood why the other guys were flustered; facing someone like her, especially with her 'striking' figure, made it tough to think straight for a moment.
Akari noticed his ears had turned bright red, but she decided not to mention it. Instead, she chuckled as she slipped her backpack off and handed it to the cute volunteer.
"Thank you. Tatsuya-kun, right?" Akari beams at this still young lady killer later in high school.
Himuro's blush deepened, and he attempted to hide it by walking slightly ahead of Akari.
"I… I can carry you!" Kagami blurted out, feeling a bit out of his element for not having anything useful to offer. He just said the first thing that popped into his head. As he realized what his offer entails, his face turned beet red, but he didn't back down.
Himuro looked a bit shocked, feeling like he'd just been outdone by Kagami.
Kagami kept his gaze fixed on Akari, who looked surprised. But she didn't think much of it; this wasn't the first time someone had offered to carry her. So she nodded in agreement. Luckily, she was wearing loose jogging pants that made it easy to move around, no matter the situation.
"I'd like that, Taiga-kun."
Kagami didn't expect his sudden suggestion to be accepted. He only snapped back to reality when he stood up and felt something firm yet soft press against his back as Akari wrapped her arms around his shoulders. The contact made him blush.
"Let's go, Taiga-kun~" Akari leaned in and whispered in one of his ears.
Kagami literally shivered, feeling a rush of energy as he moved forward.
Himuro, watching the scene unfold, felt the urge to kick the lucky guy but knew he couldn't risk Akari. What if he dropped her? He could only follow behind, his usually stoic expression slipping to reveal his envy.
Finally, Akari caught on to what was happening. She glanced down at her chest and sighed to herself, resigned to this inevitable situation.
'Lily's D cup and my tiny C-ish cup have definitely activated some family genes. I've probably hit the E cup by now. No wonder Aunt Yumi kept hinting that I might have forgotten something—like bras in a different size,' Akari thought to herself, finally piecing it all together. 'No wonder the fit was a bit tight. Better buy new ones as soon as I can.'
She reflected on how Shoyo's friends had been acting competitively, while her male classmates seemed either demoralized for not being chosen as her chaperone or thrilled when she engaged with them. Now, watching one of them looking genuinely jealous, it all made sense.
Akari cast a quick glance at Himuro and found him staring at Kagami's back—no, at what was pressing against it. She was truly taken aback by the whole situation.
'Woe is us, my past self… we're really messing up this new world we've entered…'
…
'But I'm actually not against it~'
It is a fact that her presence here wasn't exactly following the script, so why not embrace the changes that come? Akari couldn't help but hum in delight at her silly, tangled thoughts.
The two boys who heard her found her reaction adorable.
"Taiga-kun."
Akari's sudden call nearly startled Kagami, making him worry he'd been caught enjoying things he shouldn't. Meanwhile, Himuro almost gave himself whiplash as he quickly turned his head away, anxious that he'd been caught looking at something he shouldn't have been, either.
Of course, Akari was fully aware of what was happening; she was intentionally messing with them, after all.
"If you get tired, just let me know, okay?" Akari said to Kagami, who quickly shook his head.
"I'm good," he replied confidently.
"Yeah, we can switch if you need a break, Taiga," Himuro added, raising an eyebrow.
"Please, I can carry her all day!" Kagami shot back, sticking his tongue out at his brother.
"Oh really? You think you're stronger now?" Himuro smirked, crossing his arms.
"I always was, you just have better luck! You'd be out of breath in five minutes!" Kagami retorted, grinning.
Himuro rolled his eyes. "Right, because we all know who's the real athlete here."
"Maybe, but I'm the one getting the workout now!" Kagami laughed, clearly reveling in having one-upped Himuro.
"Tsk," Himuro could only retort, struggling to keep a straight face while clearly annoyed.
Akari was left speechless at the exchange between the two.
Alex, walking ahead of the three, smiled at their banter. If she had turned around, she might have felt tempted to flip out and strangle these hormonal boys for their inappropriate thoughts about her beloved niece.
"Come on, you three!" she called out. "Let's grab a bite before heading home!"