Character Story 8: The Magic Spell That Makes My Heart Pound

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Scene: A restaurant in Landsol.

Rino
Ahh... After a long day of work, food tastes especially good!

Rino
I feel so alive right now, big brother!

Rino
Hee hee. It was a lot of work, but finally, the guild master's apron-

Rino
Um, I mean, we finally gathered all the tailoring materials that I need!

Rino
All thanks to you, big brother!

Rino
Mm-hmm! All's smooth that ends well! ^[1]

Rino
Man, but that spider at the end was super strong... It really tired me out.

Rino
Big brother, you're not hurt or anything, are you? Is there anything pressing I can help you with?

Rino
Ha ha. It's like I've picked up a whole bunch of things, like survival skills and archery, for no reason at all.

Rino
No matter what environment I'm in, I should still be able to stay determined and survive.

Rino
If I manage to get into the school that I'm studying for right now, one day I'll become a successful fashion designer...

Rino
In that case, no matter how good I am at fighting, it doesn't really mean anything.

Rino
But it did help with collecting materials and things like that! Those skills were a doom... a boon? Yeah, that!

Rino
So I guess it wasn't for no reason after all, right, big brother?

Rino
For you, the time you spent with me like this...

Rino
As long as you don't feel like it was a waste of time, as long as you feel like you got something out of it... As long that that's true, then I'm glad.

Rino
Even if, one day, you forget all of these memories again...

Rino
I'm sure that, in your body, and in your spirit... There'll still be something there.

Rino
Heh heh. Sorry. I said something weird.

Rino
I guess I really am pretty tired, huh? Ooh, can I get seconds on dessert?

A light shines.

Rino
Whoa! Big brother! You suddenly started glowing again!

Rino
It's always so sudden... I thought that your spirit was leaving your body!

Scene: A dream. A cake shop in Japan.

Rino
Big brother! Over here, over here!

Rino
Honestly, you're too slow! I guess that's just like usual, huh?

Rino
I guess the fact that I started eating this cake without waiting for you... That's also just like usual!

Rino
Ahhh, man, this cake is so good!

Rino
Big brother, you should order something you like, too! It's my treat today!

Rino
It's hard to find time to take a break from studying, but I wanted to thank you for always helping to tutor me!

Rino
So please, eat all your favorite cakes!

Rino
I'm also going to order some more... Which ~ one ~ should ~ I ~ choose?

Rino
This is my seventh piece, so I'm going to have to talk it out with my stomach...

Rino
Eh? Eating too much? There's no such thing!

Rino
These are just hors d'oeuvres! The main dish is still to come!

Rino
Hee hee. Studying takes a lot of brain power, you know! So no matter how much I eat, I'll still be fine!

Rino
In fact, I need to eat this many sweets, more like!

Rino
Huh? What high school am I applying to? Did I not say?

Rino
Hmm... Well, it's kind of embarrassing, so keep it a secret for now.

Rino
Hee hee. When I say it like that, it feels like we're on a date of some kind, huh...

Rino
Oh, no, I'm not dodging the question. I just genuinely feel really happy to be spending time with big brother... Ah!

Rino
Wahhh!

Rino
Oooh... I accidentally lost my balance, and all the stuff in my bag fell out...

Rino
Y-Yeah, I'm not hurt...

Rino
Because you caught me right away and pulled me towards you...

Rino
Ah, you don't need to help me pick up my things! I can do it myself!

Rino
Uhh... You saw it, huh.

Rino
Yeah, those are some past questions from metropolitan entrance exams.

Rino
The only metropolitan school around here is Camellia Hill High School ^[2], so... I guess that spoils which school I'm applying to.

Rino
Right. The same high school as you.

Rino
Boo... I wanted to tell you after I'd gotten in, so I could surprise you.

Rino
And also because, considering my standardized test scores, I probably have a fifty-fifty chance of getting in, so... I'm not quite confident about it.

Rino
If I told you about it, but then I didn't get in, then... I'd feel really lame.

Rino
... Hee hee. Hey, big brother.

Rino
For the sake of sharing a high school experience with your cute little sister... Could you cast a "school acceptance" spell on me?

Rino
I've always liked your good luck spells.

Rino
No matter what it is, if I have one of your spells, then I always feel like I can do it!

Rino
So, big brother... Mmm...

Rino
Huh? This is the "if you kiss someone you like, you'll be accepted to the school" spell!

Rino
I read about this in a magazine earlier! Big brother, hurry and do it!

...

Rino
Aww, and I thought that if I asked you really energetically, you'd say okay to it...

Rino
Oh, well. I'll give up on this for now.

Rino
But, if I do get in, you have to give me a reward spell!

Rino
It's a promise, big brother!

Rino
Hee hee! I'm going to study super hard!

End of dream.

Ames
... Wow... You're a lot more assertive than I'd thought, Rino.

Ames
Semms like that girl's not satisfied with just having the "little sister" position.

Ames
Hmm? Why do you look so dumbfounded?

Ames
Jeez, you're thick. Why do you think Rino's applying to your school? Do you really not know?

Ames
Ehhh? Didn't she even say "if you kiss someone you like", clear as day?

Ames
Wasn't that the "school acceptance spell"?

Ames
And then she said that if she got accepted, you'd have to give her a "reward spell"! That's the same thing!

Ames
Read between the lines! Seriously...

Ames
Well, whatever. You made a promise -- if Rino gets into the school, you have to give her a kiss.

Ames
You're the ideal "big brother" that Rino's always yearned to have.

Ames
So if you break your promise, you'll really leave her disillusioned. So do your best, big brother!

Ames
Well, then, let's leave it at that for today. Bye-bye! See you later.

End of Ames conversation.

Scene: The same restaurant in Landsol.

Rino
Big brother? The cake you ordered is here. Aren't you going to eat it?

Rino
Nah, I'm already full. Even though, between the two of us, when it comes to sweets, I'm the better one at stuffing myself.

Rino
No, but, we did get a lot of exercise while gathering those materials, so if I don't replenish those calories...

Rino
It would be bad if I were to pass out from starvation on the day of the test. Nom, nom...

Rino
Mm. Collecting those materials was a break from studying, to begin with.

Rino
I don't want to end up crying about not getting in again, so I'm going to study really hard!

Rino
Huh? If I get in, you'll give me a kiss...?

Rino
Eh... Eh!? What are you saying, all of a sudden? A k-k-kiss!

Rino
We're siblings...

Rino
N-No, we're not related by blood, so ethically and legally, it's not like there's a problem, but... Isn't it still too early!?

Rino
Ahh... You said such a weird thing out of the blue, big brother... That was a big shock...

Rino
I feel like all the things I was studying just flew right out my head.

Rino
That means, if I don't get in this time, it'll be all your fault, won't it? I'll blame you for it forever, okay?

Rino
... A kiss, huh...

Rino
Hee hee. You know, I can really feel my motivation welling up now. I'll study my hardest, big brother!