A Perfectly Chaotic Morning
The sun painted the quiet neighborhood in warm hues, a seemingly peaceful start to the day. But for Kitsune and Taiyo, "peaceful" was nowhere on the agenda. Kitsune—ever the gyaru fashionista—stepped out in her signature short plaid skirt, loose tie, and an overload of accessories that could rival a Christmas tree. Taiyo, on the other hand, trudged behind her in an oversized hoodie, looking like a sleep-deprived cryptid.
But beneath the routine of school mornings, something lingered—an unspoken tension from earlier. Taiyo still reeled from Kitsune's relentless teasing about the anime incident, while Kitsune basked in her victory, flashing a smug grin every time she glanced at him.
And then, just when Taiyo thought things couldn't get worse—
Enter: The Gyaru Squad
"Kitsuuuuu~!"
The shrill call sliced through the air.
Kitsune froze. Taiyo barely had time to look up before a trio of vibrantly styled gyaru girls strutted toward them, their heels clicking against the pavement. Blonde, Pink, and Teal—each with hair dyed in their respective colors—oozed confidence, their coordinated outfits dazzling like a synchronized fashion attack.
"Yo, girl! Who's the kid?" Blondie asked, giving Taiyo a once-over.
Taiyo scowled. "I'm literally taller than you."
But Kitsune was barely listening. Her mind scrambled through the foggy memories left over from the Isekai world. What were their names again? Panic crept in, but she couldn't just stand there like an NPC buffering.
Improvise.
"Ahaha! Hey, uh… Blondie, Pinkie, Tealie! Long time no see!" Kitsune greeted them with finger guns, as if naming them like Power Rangers was a totally normal thing to do.
The squad blinked before bursting into laughter. "Blondie?! Pinkie?! You're so weird, Kitsune!"
Kitsune laughed nervously, elbowing Taiyo. "See? They get me!"
Taiyo, still rubbing his ribs, muttered, "You're the worst."
And Here Comes the Cringe
"So, who's this?" Pinkie nodded toward Taiyo.
Kitsune hesitated for a fraction of a second before blurting out the worst possible answer.
"My… roommate!"
Taiyo's jaw hit the floor. "Roommate?!"
"Yeah!" Kitsune continued, doubling down. "We live together! Totally normal, totally not weird!"
The gyaru squad exchanged knowing glances, their glossy lips curving into mischievous smiles.
"Wait… you live together?" Blondie leaned in. "Like, in the same house?"
"Yup!" Kitsune chirped. "Roommates! You know, just… roommate things!"
Blondie smirked. "Roommate things, huh? Is that why he looks so tired? Did you two—"
"NO!" Taiyo shouted, his face instantly burning. "We're siblings! SIBLINGS!"
The squad gasped in perfect sync, like a well-rehearsed drama club.
"Siblings who live together?" Pinkie giggled, wiggling her eyebrows. "Girl, I didn't know you were into that kinda thing!"
Kitsune's soul left her body. "WHAT?! No, no, no, no—y'all got it all wrong!"
But the damage was done. The gyaru squad erupted into laughter, whispering conspiracies to each other.
"You're totally gonna corrupt him, Kitsune," Tealie teased, twirling a strand of neon hair. "Poor kid doesn't stand a chance!"
Taiyo, fully regretting all life choices, buried his face in his hoodie. "This is a nightmare."
Might As Well Go Full Chaos Mode
Realizing there was no escape, Kitsune decided to lean into the chaos. With an exaggerated flourish, she threw an arm around Taiyo's shoulders.
"Yup, that's right! I'm the boss around here! My little bro—uh, roommate—knows who's in charge!"
Taiyo groaned. "Kill me now."
As the squad walked ahead, still cackling over the "sibling/roommate" situation, Taiyo turned to Kitsune, his eyes filled with despair.
"Why… WHY would you call me your roommate?! Do you know how sus that sounds?!"
Kitsune grinned, poking his cheek. "Relax, Mr. Anime All-Nighter. It's not my fault you give off hopeless little brother vibes."
Taiyo swatted her hand away. "I hate this. I hate you."
Kitsune yanked him into a playful headlock. "Aww, you love me. Admit it."
As they neared the school gates, Taiyo muttered, "I swear, one day I'm moving out."
"Sure you will, roomie," Kitsune teased with a wink.
The Calm Before the Next Storm
Despite the relentless teasing and their ongoing streak of public humiliation, there was something oddly comforting about it. As annoying as Kitsune was, Taiyo knew he'd never trade her for anything—though he'd never actually admit it.
But as they stepped into the school, a strange feeling settled in Kitsune's gut. A memory from the Isekai world flickered in her mind. Something about this world felt… off.
Taiyo seemed to notice it too. But for now, they shoved the thought aside.
Because today, they had more pressing matters to deal with—like surviving high school, avoiding more gyaru gossip, and maybe, just maybe, getting through the day without causing another scene.
But knowing Kitsune? That last one was impossible.
TO BE CONTINUED...