Mikiya Kokutou's personality, to put it nicely, is mature and composed, but to put it bluntly, he lacks the youthful vigor that young people should have.
He maintains a mild attitude almost at all times, whether he's happy or angry, never displaying overt expressions of excitement or fury. One could say he is a man immune to words like "ecstatic" or "enraged."
However, now, this emotionally reserved man has uncommonly shown a significant emotional fluctuation—he spewed a mouthful of coffee onto the office coffee table.
After spraying the coffee, he didn't even bother to grab a cloth to wipe it off. Instead, he stood up directly from the couch, staring at the girl standing behind him as if she were an alien. "What did you just say?"
"I just said that our school's teachers organized a student outing called 'Enkai'..."
"Enkai" is the abbreviation for "Enjo-kosai" or "compensated dating," a term coined in Japan. Originally, it referred to young girls agreeing to go on dates with men in exchange for money. However, nowadays, it has become synonymous with students engaging in certain activities for monetary benefits. Legally, it is defined as "young girls (especially middle school students who have not yet entered society) accepting 'support' from adult men in the form of material enjoyments such as money, clothing, accessories, and food; and adult men accepting 'support' from young girls in the form of physical intimacy."
In Japan, Enjo-kosai is a very common social phenomenon, so it's not something surprising. However, if your biological sister says such a thing, that's a different story altogether.
Yes, the girl who uttered those words was none other than Mikiya's biological sister, the authentic JK (Japanese high school girl), Azaka Kokutou. She fits the definition of Enjo-kosai in terms of age. Mikiya is a rare representative of purity and conservatism in Japan, to the extent that he hasn't even kissed Shiki yet. So, it's not hard to understand why he was startled by his sister's explosive statement and ended up spewing coffee.
It wasn't just Mikiya who was startled; Shinji was as well. Normally, Shinji's personality would exhibit more exaggerated reactions than Mikiya's, but this time, he didn't. He just sat on the couch with a pale face and, twisted expression, crying without looking like he was crying and smiling without looking like he was smiling. No wonder Azaka asked, "Hey, what's wrong with you?"
Shinji clenched his stiff facial muscles with his right hand, forcing them back to normal, and said, "I'm experiencing some health issues and need to rest for a while. During this time, please don't provoke strong emotions in me, or I'll end up like I was just now."
The so-called health issues refer to a minor surgery he underwent to transplant the Buddha relic left by Souren Araya into his left hand. Currently, his body and the relic are in the adjustment period, and every few minutes, he experiences intermittent spasms. And that's only when he keeps his left hand still. If he accidentally touches his left hand, it's excruciatingly painful.
Azaka's explosive remark caught Shinji off guard, and just as his expression was changing, he accidentally touched his left hand. If it were an ordinary person, they wouldn't be able to endure the repulsive reaction of the relic. In short, Shinji had long since become accustomed to pain under Scáthach's Spartan education, and his outward reactions were limited to changes in facial muscles, resulting in a twisted expression that was neither crying nor laughing.
Seeing Mikiya hastily cleaning up and Shinji's anxious and uncomfortable appearance, the main culprit revealed a mischievous smile like that of a little demon who had succeeded in their prank.
The mischievous little demon raised her head high and spoke with a righteous tone, "Isn't it just Enjo-kosai? Is it necessary to be so surprised? Even elementary school students know about it. You two... unexpectedly innocent."
Having learned his lesson once, Shinji was prepared and wasn't startled by Azaka's remark. Regardless of what she said, Shinji wouldn't have had a strong reaction because he knew Azaka's background.
Azaka's background is considered "taboo." She is naturally attracted to things that defy common sense, and her affection for her brother Mikiya is both coincidental and inevitable. In Azaka's eyes, the blood relationship between siblings is not an obstacle but rather something that excites her even more. (Young lady, you should go to Germany. It's more suitable for you there, and they have top-notch orthopedic care to treat all kinds of broken limbs.)
To win over Mikiya, the ten-year-old Azaka spared no effort.
She pretended to have an illness, claiming to be allergic to the city's air, and used it as an excuse to move to relatives in the countryside. This was done deliberately to downplay their sibling relationship, unrelated to household registration, but rather to subconsciously diminish Azaka's identity as Mikiya's sister.
Analyzing Mikiya's preferences, Azaka made changes accordingly. She was confident that when she reached the age to pursue romantic relationships, she would easily win over Mikiya.
The plan was meticulous, and her intentions were profound. Without any surprises, Mikiya would likely end up in Azaka's hands. Unfortunately, the plan didn't account for unexpected changes—Mikiya encountered Shiki.
It's easy to imagine the emotions Azaka felt when she returned home one day and saw Mikiya bringing a female classmate to their house.
At that time, Azaka had the intention to return home and reclaim her brother. However, she soon received news that Shiki had been in a car accident and was critically injured and unconscious. Although she felt some sympathy for Shiki, Azaka's predominant feeling was relief. Finally, no one could compete with her for her brother. But she never expected that two years later, Shiki would wake up, and her foolish brother would remain dedicated to her.
Azaka immediately transferred to the school closest to her brother, Reien Girl's Academy. Upon learning about Shiki's unusual circumstances, she became a disciple of Touko Aozaki and learned magecraft, hoping to confront her greatest rival. Azaka also had her special ability—she could ignite herself, and Touko referred to this ability as "Spontaneous Combustion."
Setting aside ethical concerns, Shinji admired Azaka's relentless efforts for Mikiya. He had considered helping her, such as finding a way to awaken her origin and see what kind of ending this biological sibling pair would have. However, upon careful consideration, he gave up on the idea. Awakened origin users cannot resist the impulses derived from their origin. Currently, apart from her obsession with her brother, Azaka could still be considered normal. If her "origin" were to awaken, she might attempt all forbidden acts.
Since it is a taboo, it means it is untouchable or goes against the mainstream. Considering Azaka's cunning and determination, Shinji was certain that this teenage girl's life would be ruined in no time.
Compared to all of these matters, the shocking statement was nothing.
Taking a deep breath and relying on his willpower and physical recovery ability to overcome the reaction, Shinji slowly exhaled and said to Azaka, "Tell me the details, and we'll decide whether to cause trouble at Reien Girl's Academy or have Sakura and Fujino transfer schools. I believe Mikiya would think the same."
=====
Support Me At Patreon.com/AbsoluteCode