I walk over to Sira and Arc talking to Kazuto in a clearly upset tone. Sira notices me behind her and turns to me. She says, "Can you believe the nerve of this guy, claiming to be your brother separated at birth just because his looks and name are similar to yours." Arc looks at me, clearly waiting apprehensively for my reply.I take a deep breath and speak. "I honestly do not know whether he is telling the truth or not. There is a possibility that he is lying about the brother part, but that doesn't mean we arent related somehow. The chances of him looking and sounding like me are very low. I want to believe he is my brother, but that does not mean that I trust him. For now, I say we just get along with each other."Sira turns her head away annoyed with a 'Tch' and Arc looks nervous, so I 'comfort' Arc by smiling at him knowingly with a big plastered smile that threatened to expose his photo bank. He sighs and gives in saying, "Alright fine. I'll leave him alone." He walks past me and says, "I've got things I need to do, so ya'll can head to the next class without me."I raise my hand in good bye when Kazuto speaks up, "My little bro has it rough, doesn't he?" he says to Sira. Clearly unamused, she 'harumphs' and walks away with her arms crossed.The day passes with me unable to focus on most of the classes. I start fidgeting halfway through a class and am promptly told to shut up. As soon as the last class is over, I snatch my rucksack and bolt out of the classroom. I have no idea where I'm going as I run down the halls. Before I realize it, I'm standing in front of the open door to a classroom I have never visited, panting as I stare at my supposed brother. I have a desperate need to satisfy my curiosity and walk up, pull a desk across from him, and sit down expectantlyI realize he won't speak until I do as he stares at me strangely. I ask the only thing that's been on my mind since he claimed to be my brother. "Do you know anything about where I am from?"My supposed brother tells me stories of our parents that seem too detailed to be fabrications. He never answers my first question. However, I slowly start warming up to him as he talks more and more about all the places he's been and what he was doing to find me. They aren't grand tales of adventure, but they also aren't depressing stories. They feel detailed enough to be believable but not extravagant enough to be a tale of a search for a lost family member We spend the evening in the classroom chatting away and laughing as if we were two friends catching up who hadn't seen each other in a while. I lost track of time and was laughing at a story he told when Sira came in and told me off for staying so late. Kazuto comments on this, saying, "You two must be really close. I'm glad my brother has found such a cute girlfriend," At his words, both our faces turn scarlet, and I say embarrassed, "Oh uh... We are not actually dating yet." As I realize what I said, I turn even redder somehow, and I turn to Sira. She is twirling her hair as she shyly looks down at her feet. Steam would be emanating from her head if this were a cartoon or anime. She runs away and I halfheartedly call out to her and get up to go after her before stopping myself. I sit back down and Kazuto says, "I am... uh... I am sorry about that. I should have been more considerate."I put my hand across my eyes as I lean back my head. "No. It is not your fault. If it was anyone's fault, it was mine for the way I finished that sentence. I should probably go Kazuto. I had a lot of fun talking to you. I would like to chat more in the future." With that, I run out the door with my rucksack.I find Sira leaning over the edge of a balcony in one of the unused clubrooms. The moonlight surrounds her as the curtain blows. It is a stunning scene. I stop and stare as it reminds me of the night I became friends with Sira. I snap out of my trance as she turns and looks at me, her face a little red. I join her on the balcony and we stand there in silence for a minute before I say, "Just now, you reminded me of that time, that day we became friends."I was walking down the rural village street. This village felt like it was ripped straight out of a fantasy world, mentality included, with brick streets and houses surrounding a market square that was usually bustling at this time of day. People were throwing stones at me as I walked, and I passed an alleyway that I happened to look down. I stopped as I saw a girl in a frilly dress with red hair that was being beaten. I wondered if I should intervene before I rushed into help her when I remembered how bad it hurt to be beaten. I started shooting small fireballs as I ran at the men beating her up. This didn't do any real damage and only seemed to piss them off. They changed targets towards me and started beating me. I tried to use more magic, but they knocked me to the ground before I could focus enough to do it and started kicking me. They stopped suddenly and said, "Tch. This kid ain't worth it." They walked away annoyed.The girl went to help me up, but I ignored her and got up on my own. I spit the blood out of my mouth and walked away. As I walked away, I said to her, "You should not be walking down places like this. It is dangerous."She watches me walk away, and I slink back home to my adoptive mother being yelled at by my adoptive dad, asking why dinner wasn't ready. I made myself small as I walked by, but my shirt was grabbed by my dad as he angrily said, "What are you looking at brat?"I give a shaky reply, "Sorry Father. I'm sorry. Please forgive me." That was the only way to handle that situation. I begged for forgiveness, hoping that he would be in a good enough mood not to beat the shit out of me. He was not.I'm lying in my dirty bed as I curse my shitty life. I never should have helped that girl. It only created wounds to be reopened. Mother slides food under my door using an installed doggy door as she says, "Eat up, brat."I eat the bland soup and stale bread as I hear the wooden boards creak, signaling that my mother was gone. I fall asleep crying that night as usual, trying to keep my voice down, so that I'm not beaten again.I'm walking down the street the next day and overhear someone talking about a cursed red haired child that was seen around recently. They go on to say that if you meet her, your life will be in danger. I ignore them as I call bullshit, but they over hear me and glare at me before deciding to throw a tomato at me. I dodge and run away but I trip and am pelted with stones as I get back up and continue running. I run. I run as tears flow down my face. I run cursing the world. I run as I yell out, "WHY?! WHY WAS I BORN INTO THIS STUPID MIDIEVAL TOWN IN THE MODERN DAY?! SCREW MY DUMBASS DAD! FUCK MY RETARDED MOM! WHY WAS I EVEN BORN AT THIS POINT!!DAMNIT! DAMNIT!" "DAAAAAAAAAAAAMMNNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT"As I continue cursing my existence, I trip on a root and realize that I ran into a nearby forest. The moon was out and shining through the canopy of trees. I get up and start walking aimlessly in a direction. I see a pond in the distance I walk up to it, intending to wash off.The first words that come to my mind are 'How beautiful' when I gaze upon the red haired girl sitting on a tall rock. She has a few cuts and bruises, but her figure is framed so beautifully by the radiant moonlight that it drowns out the ugliness of the bruises as her hair gently dances to the breeze's tune. She wears a thin white dress that helps amplify her mysterious yet enticing figure. It's as if an angel in a painting I once saw came to life right in front of me. I gazed upon the sight, awestruck. She noticed me staring and said in a strangely elegant voice, "You must be pretty cool to talk to me after everything."I decide I want to be her friend in that instant, but I feel as though me speaking up would ruin her beauty. Nevertheless, I muster up my courage and say, "You looked just like an angel, and Angels are supposed to be good people." I gulp nervously before continuing. "What I am trying to say is, will you be my friend?!" The last part of the sentence spills out of me frantically. I look down, fully expecting her to decline my offerShe looks surprised, but she smiles happily and says, " Thank you for the compliment. To answer your question, I would love to be friends with you." As soon as I hear her answer, I'm overcome with joy, but it's quickly drowned out as I feel myself lose conscious as exhaustion overtakes me.We reminisce on the balcony. I leave out the parts about my family since she doesn't remember most of it. Rather, I won't let her remember. She goes on to sarcastically say, "You were a real smooth talker back then."I chuckle embarrassedly before saying, "Can you blame me? I was desperate for a friend."She looks out at the stars before asking, "What did you mean by 'yet' from before?"I freeze as I think of an excuse, but I realize that it would be better to be honest in this situation. I scratch the back of my head, thinking of the right words to express my feelings, and as I turn to Sira, I say, "Well, I guess I should do this properly." I grab Sira's hands in mine and look her in her piercing green eyes. "Sira. You have been an amazing friend for a while now, but I do not wish that for us anymore. Every time I see you smile, I feel my spirits lift a little. The thought of waking up in bed next to you everyday in the future makes me giddy. Every time you stand up for me, I cannot help but feel like I do not deserve you. I am in love with every part of you. Your smile. Your laugh. Your eyes. Your beautiful red hair. That fiery passion you have. The way that you stand up for others even if doing so will get you in trouble. I guess what I am trying to ask is will you please go out with me?" After I finish pouring out my confession, I turn beet red as I wait for her answer. She stares at the ground and suddenly clasps her hands to face as she squats down. She says something I can't quite hear, so I ask her to repeat herself. Hands still covering her face while she squats, she suddenly screams, "I love you too and would love to be in love with you."I look at her a little confused before chuckling to myself. "It is so like you to mess up the part where you answer."She stands up and hits me on the chest repeatedly while muttering 'Idiot', although, it doesn't hurt. I hug her gently and pulling away, I look at her face and realize that it's very close to mine and getting closer. Suddenly the door is shoved open as Kazuto, Arc, and Levey come tumbling forward. Sira's face turns from pink to red as she realizes what happened. She proceeds to chant a high level fire spell aimed at the group. I know I should stop her, but I'm pretty pissed as well. Arc looks at me pleadingly, but I turn away in response. They all start to run out of the clubroom, but it's too late. They are all blasted against the wall as the spell hits them, leaving light burns on their backs. I sigh, and pulling Sira close to me, I give her a long kiss with everybody watching. She melts into it and we enjoy the kiss for a few more moments before pulling away.Everyone is shell shocked, giving me an opportunity to pick Sira up princess style and carry her back to our dorms. As I carry her she says, "Why are you only this bold at the worst times, pervert?"Still running to our dorms, I ask her, "Did you dislike it?"In an uncharacteristic move, she wraps my arms around my shoulders and kisses me again, forcing me to stop running. "Does that answer your question, pervert?" We stare at each other for a few moments before busting out laughing as I place her down next to me.We sit down against the hallway walls and collect ourselves. I go on to say, "We should probably keep our relationship a secret. They might separate us." She looks down and agrees with me. The other three idiots catch up to us and stand there, panting and out of breath. We tell them to keep a secret, and they agree. Kazuto looks at me, crosses his arms, and says, "I did not know my brother was such a bold charmer." I look away annoyed and roll my eyes. "I would not have had to do all that if you did not suddenly burst in like a bunch of wedding crashers."Sira glares at them and adds on, "I oughta burn you to ash here and now." She threateningly conjures a small fireball in her hand. I grab her hand and pull her up, dispelling the fireball forcefully without her realizing. She looks at me confused, and I wink at her to keep quiet.I yawn and stretch my arms. "I am pretty tired. Kazuto, I will see you tomorrow. Goodnight." With that, I walk towards the dormitory of squad three with Sira holding my hand next to me, and Arc and Levey follow behind us. We arrive, and I collapse on my bed, falling asleep instantly."Well that was quite a strange report. To think they got together at all. I thought both of them were too stubborn to pull it off after what you said." The man with shoulder length hair is relaxing on his bunk as the boy with unique hair kneeled before him. "It won't matter anyways. Is there anything else to report?" the man says as he fiddles with a feather in his bunk. "There is nothing, sir. Everything is going according to plan. That women is too tired to deal with everything we set up at once." The man lying in bed nonchalantly says, "You are dismissed." The boy again disappears as if he became one with his shadow, and the man smirks to himself as he continues fiddling with the feather in his hand.