Archive of Our Own

1.

Towering over the teachers.  Massive, muscular frame was enough to keep anyone from daring to cross him. Beneath the school uniform, his skin was heavily inked with tattoos. The sight was so intimidating that not a single faculty member possessed the courage to discipline him. He possessed undeniably handsome features, yet they were always twisted into a wicked, mocking smirk.

Before heading home, students always prayed they wouldn't cross paths with him on the streets. To refuse him your lunch or the contents of your wallet meant preparing to serve as his personal punching bag. He had effortlessly dethroned the school's previous delinquent leader, and now, no gang in the area dared to challenge him.

His name was Endo Yamato.

At least, that was what Nirei, a new student at Furin High School, had heard from his classmates. The rumors about Endo Yamato had reached even to freshmen like them. Especially after Sakura showed up to class with a badly bruised face, having inadvertently caught the school tyrant's attention. True to his arrogant nature, Sakura boasted loudly that he had managed to land a solid punch right on Endo’s face, drawing blood in return.

Nirei couldn't help but scold him. He hated when Sakura actively looked for trouble, especially with an attention-seeking school tyrant like Endo. Sensing the danger of a walking hazard like Endo himself, Suo immediately stepped in to guard Nirei. Walking him home from that day forward so Endo wouldn't find an opportunity to corner the short and fragile sweetheart.

Nirei declined, insisting that Suo shouldn't trouble himself and that he was perfectly capable of looking after himself. Suo remained persistent, dropping subtle hints that his concern went a bit questionable that one would ask him if he was flirting.

As fate would have it, halfway down the street, they ran directly into Endo Yamato. The legend himself looked genuinely surprised to see them. "Well, aren't you sweet little things strayed too far away?" Endo purred, a dangerous glint in his eye.

Hearing Endo's smooth provocation, Suo acting like a protective boyfriend, or at least a very determined aspiring one instantly stepped in front of Nirei, dropping into a defensive stance.

"Don't move, Nirei. Stay behind me," Suo commanded. Having been raised by a dojo master and currently training in kyudo, he felt it was his absolute duty to keep Nirei safe.

Endo watched Suo's martial arts stance with sudden, genuine interest. He dropped his cigarette butt, grinding it into the pavement beneath his shoe, and cracked his knuckles. He was more than eager to see exactly what Suo could bring to a fight.

Nirei merely let out a long, exhausted sigh. Completely ignoring the building tension, he calmly walked right past a panicked and frantic Suo.

And then, he slapped Endo across the face.

SMACK!

The sound cracked through the air so loudly that students walking nearby whipped their heads around to find the source. A bright red handprint immediately began to bloom across Endo's cheek.

"Don't you dare mess with my friends!" Nirei shouted.

Suo froze instantly, completely speechless. N-N-N-Nirei?! He couldn't wrap his mind around the sheer, reckless bravery of the smaller boy. He found himself trapped in a state of absolute awe, simultaneously terrified for the safety of this reckless classmate.

"You could at least say hello first, little brother. A nice 'Good morning, Endo-nii chan!’ would be great," Endo grumbled, rubbing his bruising cheek.

"Not a chance! You don't even know how to do a polite greeting yourself," Nirei snapped, planting his hands firmly on his hips.

"It hurts, you know," Endo pouted. A mischievous, teasing grin spread across his face as he pointed to the red mark. "Kiss it better. Your nii chan is in pain."

"Nirei?!" Suo cried out, his expression a mix of utter disbelief and possessive jealousy.

"Don't listen to this idiot. He's just my incredibly annoying older brother."

Nirei shut down any misunderstanding instantly. Even though he loathed admitting he was related to Endo, he needed to salvage his own reputation as a perfectly peaceful single person who definitely didn't belong to a walking red flag. The thought of being related to Endo at all made him want to gag.

"You don't need to worry about me, Suo. I'll be going home with him today." After bidding Suo a polite, sweet farewell, Nirei reached up and firmly grabbed Endo by the ear. The towering older brother was forced to bend down awkwardly, stumbling to keep up with his younger sibling's brisk pace.

"Ow, ow, ow! Don't drag me, Nirei-chan! That actually hurts~"

"I don't care. Consider this your punishment for hurting my friend, Sakura."

"Oh! So that guy is your friend? He's seriously strong, and his fighting style is actually pretty impressive—"

"You're noisy. Shut up."

Following that entirely absurd Wednesday afternoon, a brand-new rumor spread like wildfire through the school. Everyone finally knew about the only person capable of completely taming the fierce school tyrant. That is his own younger brother, Nirei Akihiko. No one could have ever guessed that a student as cute and diligent as Nirei shared a bloodline with the school's most feared tyrant, but that was simply reality. The world, it seemed, was a very strange and amusing place.

2.

"Is Endo really your older brother?" Suo asked.

The lunch bell had only just rung, and Suo, who had been dying of curiosity since arriving at school, couldn't hold the question back any longer. He still couldn't quite wrap his head around the stage show he had witnessed yesterday afternoon.

Nirei could only let out a heavy sigh and nod. It seemed no one ever believed they were related. Even back in middle school, his classmates had been utterly shocked when Nirei’s older brother showed up to pick up his report card.

"Well, we have different fathers, which is why our last names are different," Nirei explained. "My mom married Endo's dad years after Endo's mother passed away."

"Oh, that explains why you two looked completely different."

"By the way... why do you look so  relieved?" Nirei asked, throwing a suspicious glance in his direction.

Suo merely offered a sweet, serene smile as he calmly took a sip of his bottled ocha. Thank goodness, he thought. Glad that Nirei is such a good, sweet boy. Of course he doesn't share a single drop of blood with a demon like Endo. It was living proof that Nirei was an absolute angel through and through.

"No reason," Suo replied smoothly. "The tea just tastes exceptionally sweet today."

"What are you even talking about, Suo? That's the exact same brand you buy every single day," Nirei laughed, completely amused by Suo's occasionally baffling behavior. Suo, for his part, was beyond delighted to make his crush laugh so happily.

"But man, it must be exhausting having such a high-maintenance brother. Thank goodness I'm an only child," Sakura chimed in, leaning over to join the conversation. As Nirei's close friend, Sakura sat right on the desk in front of him.

"Dealing with one is exhausting enough. But I actually have another older brother."

"Huh?!"

Suo and Sakura stared at him, completely jaw-dropped. Since when did Nirei have two older brothers? He had never mentioned this before!

"My other brother isn't a total menace like Endo, but his antics still give me a massive headache," Nirei said, casually rummaging through his school bag as if searching for something. He checked his desk locker. He got nothing. He peeked under his chair. Still got nothing.

"Everything okay, Nire-kun?" Suo asked, noticing Nirei scratching his head in utter bewilderment.

"What are you looking for anyway?" Sakura asked, leaning his body forward, feeling curious.

"I think I left my lunchbox at home," Nirei said with a sheepish grimace.

Sakura immediately burst out laughing at Nirei's silly clumsiness. Seeing the perfect opportunity to get closer to Nirei, Suo promptly invited him to go buy lunch at the cafeteria. Nirei hesitated, admitting he hadn't brought any money, but Sakura quickly offered to treat him.

Before any of them could even stand up from their chairs, Anzai's voice echoed across the room, calling out to Nirei. "Hey, Nirei! Someone's here looking for you!"

Several classmates whipped their heads toward the door, and a flurry of excited whispers instantly filled the classroom. It was Togame! The popular school prince from second-year! What business could he possibly have in a freshman classroom?

After all, who didn't know Togame? Even more so than Endo, Togame was a legend of a name, especially among the girls who fiercely admired the handsome, tall second-year with the long, flowing black hair.

But he wasn't just mesmerizing to look at; Togame was famously kind and a total gentleman. He was the type of guy who would always help anyone in need—whether it was carrying heavy stacks of books from the teachers' lounge or rescuing a stranded cat from a tall tree. He also quite having an incredibly endearing gap moe, occasionally forgetting a thing or two due to his naturally careless streak.

"Nirei~ I came to drop something off for you!"

Nirei’s classmates stared toward the doorway with wide, unblinking eyes. What kind of connection did this seemingly ordinary freshman have with the most famous prince of Furin High?!

Nirei could feel the weight of countless suspicious glares—especially from the girls—burning into his back as he walked toward the door. Everyone was dying to know what the school prince was giving him.

"Here you go. You left your lunchbox m, you silly!" Togame smiled, a playful, teasing smirk playing on his lips, as if finding Nirei's forgetfulness completely adorable.

"Thanks... but Togame-nii san, couldn't you have just asked someone else to drop it off?" Nirei muttered, accepting the lunchbox from Togame’s hands while keeping his face cast downward.

"Ehhh? Why are you being like that? Do you hate seeing your nii-san at school that much?" Togame pouted slightly, looking offended by Nirei’s incredibly cold tone, as if he couldn't stand his older brother’s presence.

"Togame nii-san, you attract way too much attention. I don't want to end up trending on the school gossip forums," Nirei answered honestly. In reality, his name had already been circulating constantly ever since the truth came out about him being the younger brother of the school's  delinquent.

Togame burst into an amused, charmed laugh. He reached out and fondly pinched Nirei's cheek. For some reason, Nirei's logical worries always sounded utterly hilarious to him.

Meanwhile, his admirers could only watch with yearning eyes at how breathtakingly handsome Togame looked when he laughed, while flashing Nirei looks of pure jealousy. They would give anything to be the center of the school prince's undivided attention.

What's wrong, Nirei-chan? If you get a little famous, won't it be way easier for you to find a partner?" Togame teased.

"No way! I'm here to study!!"

"Alright, alright. Make sure you eat all of your bento, okay? I worked hard cooking it. Try not to forget it next time. Goodbye, sweetheart~" Before Togame took his leave, he didn't miss the chance to affectionately ruffle Nirei’s fluffy blonde hair. Nirei swatted Togame’s hand away with a sharp glare, though his older brother easily dodged it, effortlessly utilizing his height advantage.

With the encounter over, Nirei knew he wouldn't have a single second of peace to go to the cafeteria anyway. The girls in his class were already gearing up to interrogate him, eager to ask what it was like to have Togame dote on him every day—and demanding to know the secret to getting their own hair patted by Togame’s large, charming hands.

Fortunately, Nirei had two incredibly reliable bodyguards. Sakura, with his explosive stamina, and Suo, who was famously a champion in kyudo. It was the ultimate combination, successfully deterring anyone from coming within five centimeters of Nirei. 

Together, the trio walked out to the school’s backyard garden, their usual sanctuary where they could enjoy their lunch while looking over the plants.

"Your other brother seems not that bad, though. Why does he give you a headache?" Sakura asked, completely bewildered. 

As someone who deeply appreciated good food, Sakura figured having a brother who was a fantastic cook was a dream come true. It was basically like having a personal chef. He even found himself idly wondering if he should just marry Nirei to secure a personal chef of his own.

Nirei pouted. "He's actually too nice. Togame nii-san always treats me like a toddler. It's honestly exhausting dealing with it."

Suo and Sakura could only break out into shared laughter. After all, Nirei really was cute and incredibly endearing. It made perfect sense why Togame babied him so much.

3.

The three-story house was home to only three high school students. Endo, a third-year. Togame, a second-year. And Nirei, the newest high school freshman.

The head of the household was a man in his late forties, the owner of Japan's largest home technology manufacturing corporation. Ever since the passing of his third wife, the man had become an increasingly rare sight at home, spending the remainder of his life burying himself in work and forging corporate alliances overseas.

Consequently, the massive house was left entirely in the care of three young men. Their father had actually tried to hire a housekeeper and a personal chef for his three sons, but the towering egos of the first and second-born led them to reject the offer flat out. If he didn't care enough to actually be a parent, he didn't need to try so hard pretending to be a father now.

And so, the upkeep of the three-story house fell solely on the shoulders of the three brothers. In the beginning, finding a rhythm where they could actually cooperate was incredibly difficult, largely due to how completely unreliable the eldest was. If left in the kitchen, he would undoubtedly burn the house down. If told to clean the living room, he would just end up slacking off. If tasked with taking out the trash, the garbage collectors would end up knocking on their door because he never sorted the recycling properly.

Because of this, Endo was assigned the job requiring the absolute least amount of effort: doing the laundry. All he had to do was gather the dirty clothes, wait in front of the washing machine for an hour, and then spend another hour in front of the dryer.

Today was Sunday, which meant it was laundry day as usual. Endo burst through Nirei’s bedroom door without even bothering to knock.

"Nirei-chan~ Where are your dirty clothes??? Bring them here so I can wash them!" Endo shouted gleefully, looking far too ecstatic for Nirei's own safety. He was in the middle of decorating his journal with markers. Endo's loud voice accidentally drew a wild streak across the page from the jumpscare.

Nirei groaned in annoyance. "At least say something before you walk in!"

“Oh?? Afraid I'll catch you naked? Are you a girl or something?"

Girl or boy, it didn't matter. Nirei absolutely loathed the idea of Endo seeing him change clothes. Unfortunately, the older brother's sense of boundaries and basic morality were highly questionable.

"Oh! Don't tell me... you were watching forbidden videos and doing something inappropriate! Oh my god, Nirei! Look how much you've grown!"

Endo actually managed to look genuinely shocked by the completely baseless accusation he had just thrown at his brother. Meanwhile, Nirei who already have zero patience when it came to dealing with Endo's abnormalities instantly hurled his pile of dirty clothes straight into his older brother's face.

"That's all of them! Sort them out yourself! Now go do the laundry, hurry! hurry!" Nirei snapped, shoving Endo backward out of his bedroom sanctuary.

Endo easily caught the bundle of dirty clothes with his broad hands. He brought the layers of fabric right up to his face, burying his nose deep into the pile of Nirei's clothes.

"Mhmmm... Nirei smells so good. Even when dirty, they still smell sweet. Like baby powder mixed with sweat. Can I just keep this shirt for myself, Nirei-chan?"

Nirei's eyes widened in horror at Endo. A shiver ran down his entire spine. He lunged forward to claw his clothes back from Endo’s inappropriate clutches. "Ew, ew, ew, give my clothes back! And what do you mean baby powder?? I'm not a kid!"

Endo laughed, reaching out to mess up Nirei's soft hair. Nirei tried his best to swat Endo’s hand away, but his brother's large, muscular arms were far too difficult to move. He could only grumble under his breath, letting Endo press down and play with his head like he was some adorable doll.

"I only use baby powder so I'm not smelly..." Nirei muttered, his face flushing red. He wasn't a child, and he hated being treated like one. Besides, baby powder for him was good to prevent body odor and didn't leave him feeling itchy like other deodorants did.

Endo smiled softly. "Yeah, nii chan know. Your skin is sensitive."

Endo was familiar with that fact. He knew it so well he could probably bathe and dress a baby Nirei with his eyes closed. As a five-year-old, Nirei's skin would break out in rashes incredibly easily if he wasn't dried off properly, and Endo always made sure to dap plenty of baby powder all over his little brother's body. Nirei's dependency on baby powder could also probably of Endo's fault.

"You already know that, but you still tease me. Meanie." Nirei pouted. Endo grinned without a shred of remorse and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

"Don't frown so much, it makes your cheeks cuter. Once I'm done with the laundry, let's head to the convenience store and buy some ice cream!"

Nirei wasn't a child, but he would always lose the battle when free treats were on the line. He nodded, deciding it was perfectly fine to be called a kid if it meant getting the most expensive ice cream on the shelf. "Just don't take forever with the laundry!"

"Understood, young master~" Endo said, turning to walk away. "Oh, look, underwear's in here too. I wonder if it smells just as sweet—"

A heavy English dictionary flew straight toward the back of Endo's head, and there was absolutely no question as to who threw it.

4.

Only one person in the entire three-story house was permitted to rule over the kitchen, and that was the second-born: Togame. Tonight, just like any other night, Togame was already busy chopping vegetables, marinating meat, and blending a mix of spices.

To be completely honest, Togame didn't even like cooking that much. However, in a house shared by three growing guys, having culinary skills was less of a hobby and more of a survival requirement.

They had actually tried giving Endo a turn at cooking once. It was a disaster. Expecting a proper meal on the table was out of the question. If he wasn't scorching a  pan or setting a skillet ablaze, he was causing a pot to practically explode.

Nirei had also tried sneaking into the kitchen before his older brothers woke up, wanting to surprise them with breakfast. Visually, the food actually looked quite convincing. However, the moment it entered their mouths, not even a seasoned meteorologist could have predicted the bizarre weather system of flavors hitting their tongues. It was a chaotic roulette of sour tamagoyaki, overly sweet miso soup, and pancakes that tasted inexplicably spicy.

Despite the highly questionable flavors, the two older brothers who absolutely adored their kind-hearted, sincere little brother could never bring themselves to tell him it tasted awful. Endo and Togame had choked down every single bite of Nirei's cooking until the plates were completely spotless, all just to keep that proud, satisfied smile on their little brother's face. Of course, those mornings were followed by endless, urgent trips to the bathroom, but to them, it was entirely worth it for the adorable smile he gave them.

Ever since the incidents of the kitchen fire and the toxic breakfast, Togame had no choice but to permanently take the reins. He had to learn how to cook properly, or the three of them would genuinely starve to death. Besides, Togame was well aware that his own portions were massive. By reigning supreme over the kitchen, he could indulge in as many taste-test samples as his heart desired.

Tonight's menu was beef curry with potatoes and carrots. It was Nirei’s absolute favorite. Togame held up a spoon piled high with rice and coated in thick, steaming curry right in front of his brother's face. "Come on, eat up. Say aaa~~"

Nirei obediently opened his mouth and took the bite straight from Togame’s hand. The long-haired second-year smiled with  satisfaction as he watched Nirei eat heartily. The younger boy's cheeks puffed out cutely, leaving a tiny smudge of curry at the corner of his lip. Togame's heart melted a little; his little Nirei just looked so incredibly endearing.

"You should eat too, nii-san. I can feed myself," Nirei said with a shy, self-conscious smile. He felt bad watching his brother skip his own meal just to feed him.

Togame shook his head, insisting he was already full just from watching Nirei eat so happily. Instead, he started cutting up pieces of beef from the main serving bowl to make them extra tender, piling them all onto Nirei's plate. The mountain of meat became so high that the rice underneath completely vanished from sight.

"Togame, look at you playing favorites. Where's my meat?! Is my plate just supposed to be nothing but carrots and potatoes?!" Endo bellowed in protest from across the table, thrusting his plate forward with an offended look.

"Have some pity on your little brother, he's so tiny and petite. He needs all the nutrients he can get so he can grow taller," Togame replied smoothly, stating it as if it were a fundamental law of the universe that everyone should already know.

Endo was fully prepared to start throwing a tantrum, but before he could utter a single word, Nirei silenced him by scooping up a generous portion of meat from his own plate and dropping it onto Endo's. The beef was instantly greeted by Endo’s sparkling, wide eyes.

"Gosh, I love having such a thoughtful little brother~ It feels so great to be doted on by my Nirei-chan," Endo cooed in a sweet, dramatic voice. Nirei merely rolled his eyes.

"Just eat your food," Nirei replied coldly. Endo was already far too blissful over receiving the prize meat from Nirei to care about his little brother's hateful attitude, happily devouring the special piece of beef.

Once dinner wound down, it was Nirei's turn to handle the dishes. No one had actually forced the chore on him, but he felt a sense of responsibility. Since Togame nii-san had done all the cooking, Nirei had volunteered to do the cleanup. He stood up, gathering the dirty utensils and cooking ware over to the sink.

The sink water was running at full blast, which was why Nirei wore an apron to protect his clothes from the flying droplets. His hands were busy scrubbing away at a dirty plate with a soapy sponge. 

However, his peaceful moment was short-lived when a pair of strong, solid arms suddenly wrapped firmly around his waist from behind. Nirei flinched, a wave of goosebumps washing over him as he felt a heavy chin rest lazily on his shoulder.

"Togame nii-san, that tickles! I'm trying to wash the dishes here!" Nirei wiggled his shoulders, attempting to shake off the clingy giant hanging onto his back. Instead of listening, Togame leaned in further, burying his face into the crook of Nirei's neck and nuzzling his hair against his skin, sending a ticklish shivers through the younger boy.

Nirei let out a soft moan. "Nii-san..."

Togame completely ignored the protest. He tightened his embrace instead, breathing in the comforting scent of baby powder from his brother's body. It fit perfectly against his chest. For Togame, wrapping his arms around Nirei’s petite frame felt exactly like plugging into a charger after a long, exhausting day of dealing with the outside world.

"Let brother stay like this for a little bit, okay? I'm exhausted," Togame murmured softly.

"But I'm still washing dishes, will be going to be moving around a lot and must be uncomfortable for you. You're going to get splashed with water, nii-san," Nirei reasoned, trying to look at the situation logically.

Togame felt an overwhelming urge to just squeeze, kiss, and pamper his  considerate little brother. "It's fine, Nirei. Just being like this makes your brother perfectly happy."

5.

Cheers of victory screamed across the outdoor courts of Furin High School. Class 1-1 was ecstatic because they had just won the inter-class basketball tournament. It was hardly a surprise, given that their group featured Sakura with his unbelievable skills, the incredibly agile Kiryu, Sugishita towering over everyone at 180 cm, and Tsugeura with his seemingly bottomless pit of stamina.

However, the unexpected, hidden MVP of the match was Suo Hayato. He calmly, effortlessly sank three-pointers from deep across the court, looking like a seasoned professional. In reality, he didn't care much for sports that demanded constant physical exertion and running around. Too much hassle, Suo would say. 

He was much better suited for activities focused on elegance and precision, like kyudo. Yet, it was exactly that sharp archer's precision that allowed him to nail the hoop from such a distance without breaking a sweat.

Their classmates immediately agreed that Suo had to join the basketball team for the upcoming sports festival. Unfortunately, the boy with the eyepatch rejected the idea flat out. But to convince Suo to join, the class refused to back down. To bring down a dragon, one must simply look for its weakness—and Suo's weakness was incredibly easy to target.

"Nirei, if Suo joins the basketball team, we'll completely crush the competition."

"That's true. He's good at sport."

"Could you join the cheer squad?"

"Why? What for?"

"If Suo has you cheering him on, his motivation will skyrocket by a hundred percent."

"Okay!"

And that was how Nirei became the official mascot of the Class 1-1 cheer squad. On the day of the sports festival, Nirei showed up wearing a pair of prop angel wings strapped to his back, carrying a toy magic wand.

"Suo-san, do your best~~ If we win, we can go grab ice cream together on the way home!!"

Suo felt as if he had been struck directly in the heart by a love arrow, practically spitting blood from an overload of affection. He simply couldn't handle how adorable Nirei looked. Armed with burning motivation, Suo unleashed a relentless barrage of three-pointers, leaving their opponents staring at him with a mix of envy and awe.

Once the basketball tournament wrapped up, Sakura invited them to go watch the upperclassmen play. Umemiya and Hiragi were older students Sakura was close with, and they were playing on the same court. Having no other events scheduled for the day, Nirei and Suo agreed to tag along.

They were all feeling pretty spent after a full day of physical activities. Spreading out a picnic mat at the edge of the field to watch the game while enjoying their lunch bentos felt like the perfect way to unwind. 

On top of that, the Borrowing Race was up next, which was always an entertaining and  ridiculous event to watch.

Nirei sat comfortably, savoring a few pieces of tempura that Togame had packed for him. However, his peaceful lunch was disturbed when a cloud of dust suddenly kicked up from the edge of the field. 

From a distance, a massive, muscular,  tattooed frame came sprinting across the track at full speed. It was Endo Yamato, sporting his wicked grin, charging straight toward their picnic spot.

"Nirei-chan~ You're coming with me!"

Before Nirei's brain could even process what was happening, the piece of tempura slipped from his chopsticks. Suddenly, his body was airborne. Endo effortlessly scooped Nirei up and hoisted him over his shoulder like a heavy sack of rice.

"Huh?! Hey!! What do you think you're doing, kidnapping Nirei like that?!" Sakura gaped, his mouth still full of food. Endo laughed loudly, playfully sticking his tongue out in an annoying taunt. "Borrowing him for a second!"

Suo, who usually remained entirely unbothered, bolted to his feet, his only visible eye widening in sheer disbelief as he watched his cute crush get hauled away by the school's resident demon.

"Endo!! Put me down!! I'm going to fall, ah!! This is so embarrassing!!" Nirei thrashed wildly, bringing his toy magic wand down on Endo's rock-hard back, making it emit a succession of hilarious, squeaky toy noises.

Endo didn't care in the slightest. With unbelievable speed, he carried Nirei all the way to the judges' table at the finish line. Endo was the fastest participant, securing a comfortable first place way ahead of the other students.

The MC immediately thrust a microphone in front of Endo's face. "Incredible! Endo-san from the third-year class crosses the finish line first! Let's see, what keyword did you draw?"

With a proud smirk, Endo held up the slip of paper he had drawn toward the camera. Written clearly on the paper was a single word: Angel.

"This is my beloved angel!" Endo announced confidently, giving a playful pat to Nirei's backside as the boy remained draped over his shoulder. Nirei let out a sharp groan of frustration and retaliated by giving his older brother's hair a vicious tug.

"Impressive! You actually found someone wearing wings like thatl!" the MC nodded in agreement.

"Just ignore how he's acting right now," Endo said, gesturing to Nirei, who was currently pinching his arm and demanding to be let down. "He always shares his food, loves helping out with chores around the house, and with a face as pretty as this, he's definitely a one-hundred percent certified angel!"

Face burning as red as a tomato from being put on display in front of the entire school, Nirei could only bury his face in his hands, grumbling endlessly under his breath. Meanwhile, watching the entire scene play out from the edge of the field, Suo clapped his hands with a bright, adoring smile. In his heart, Suo couldn't agree more with Endo's statement. Nirei truly was the most beautiful angel in the entire universe.

Thanks to Nirei being officially validated as an "Angel" by the judges, Endo was crowned the official first winner of the race. The grand prize was a voucher for a one-hour, all-you-can-eat meal at the popular ramen shop located right across the school.

The moment his feet touched the ground, Nirei planted his hands firmly on his hips, pouting with irritation. "That voucher is mine! I'm literally the reason you’ve won and I didn't even consent anything about it." Nirei demanded, thrusting his hand out to claim the prize as compensation for his wounded dignity.

Endo chuckled softly, amused by his little brother's tantrum. He reached out and affectionately ruffled Nirei's fluffy blonde hair. "Alright, alright, here you go," Endo said, dropping the voucher into Nirei's open palm. "I'll accompany you after school. We can go on a ramen date tonight, okay?"

The moment the words "free ramen" registered, Nirei's frustration evaporated completely. Even though Endo was a massive embarrassment at school, Nirei had to admit his older brother knew exactly how to bribe his stomach. Nirei's eyes instantly sparkled with delight, prompting an affectionate, wide grin from Endo.

6.

At night, the three-story house became unusually quiet. After an exhausting day at school, Nirei just wanted to take a warm bath to refresh his body and go straight to sleep. Carrying his towel and a change of clothes, Nirei stepped toward the second-floor bathroom. He knocked on the wooden door a few times.

"Is anyone inside?"

Before Nirei could even finish his question, the bathroom door suddenly swung wide open from the inside. A large, solid hand reached out, gently wrapping around Nirei's wrist, and pulled him right into the room, which was already thick with warm steam.

"Oww, Togame nii-san?!" Nirei gasped, nearly dropping his change of clothes onto the wet floor.

Standing before him was Togame, long black hair already tied up, leaving a few damp strands clinging to his temples. Holding a bottle of body wash, Togame flashed his signature gentle smile.

"Let's take a bath together!" Togame invited cheerfully, without a care in the world.

Nirei's face instantly flushed bright red all the way to his ears. He reflexively took a step back and clutched his change of clothes tightly to his chest. 

"N-No way! I'm 16 years old! I can bathe myself just fine!" Nirei protested frantically, reaching for the doorknob to make his escape.

Seeing his younger brother's reaction, Togame let out a soft chuckle. His low laughter resonated inside the spacious bathroom. He lightly held Nirei's shoulders to keep him from running away.

"Why do you have to be so shy about it? After all, who do you think used to bathe you all the time when you were little, hm?" Togame teased, playfully tapping Nirei's nose. "Back then, you used to cry if brother didn't accompany you in the bath."

Nirei was instantly silenced, pouting with the remaining flush on his cheeks. Togame's words weren't wrong at all. Childhood memories of the three of them soaking in the same bathtub while playing with rubber ducks suddenly flashed through his mind. In the end, Nirei could only let out a resigned sigh, entirely defeated by his older brother's physical and mental persistence.

Nirei sat down on a small bath stool, while Togame took his position behind him. Togame poured a fruit-scented liquid body wash onto a sponge and began helping to scrub Nirei's back. Togame's large fingers moved with care, ensuring he didn't scrub too hard since he knew intimately how sensitive his brother's skin could be.

"Your back is so tiny, Nirei. You know those kickboards kids use to learn how to swim? It looks exactly like that," Togame commented, which made Nirei laugh because of his brother's absurdity. Nirei squirmed and shifted as the soapy suds covered his back. His body kept dodging away from the ticklish sensation, making Togame chuckle fondly once again.

After rinsing Nirei's back with a warm shower stream, Togame reached for the shampoo bottle. He poured the liquid onto Nirei's fluffy blonde hair, which now looked neatly flattened from the water. Togame's fingers began to move nimbly, massaging his little brother's scalp with tenderness.

Nirei closed his eyes, savoring every single touch of his brother's hands. Nirei always loved it best when his head was massaged while being shampooed. The exhaustion and tension in his head from a full day of copying down math formulas began to melt away. He let out a soft sigh, letting his head lean back completely against Togame's chest behind him.

"Does it feel good?" Togame asked softly, feeling his younger brother's body begin to fully relax.

"Hnggg, feels heavenly..." Nirei murmured with his eyes half-closed, sending a warm wave through Togame's heart. Once all the suds were completely rinsed away, it was finally time to soak. The large, rectangular bathtub in the corner of the room had been filled to the brim with warm water, sending up thin plumes of steam.

Togame climbed in first, his hand opening toward Nirei, inviting him into the tub. Nirei stepped carefully into the bath as the tub was a little too small for two large growing teenager. The moment their bodies were submerged in the warm water, both of them let out a synchronized sigh of relief.

Nirei sat facing away Togame, resting his back against To game's naked chest while stretching out his legs. The warm water submerged them up to their chests. Inside the small, soothing space, Nirei began venting about Endo's ridiculous antics at school.

Togame stared at Nirei, who occasionally blew at the rising steam in front of him. His brother's wet blonde hair clung to his forehead, framing a pure, cute, and sweet face. In his eyes, Nirei would always be the little brother he needed to protect and cherish.

When Nirei spotted the little yellow ducks floating near him, his face lit up instantly. With an innocent expression, Nirei reached for one of the rubber ducks. 

He submerged it slightly underwater, then released it, letting the toy create tiny air bubbles on the surface. Nirei completely lost in his own little world.

Watching this scene unfold, Togame couldn't help but hold back a smile. He let out a small gasp of adoration, seeing his high-school brother still playing with ducks. He couldn't resist reaching out to fondly pinch Nirei's cheek, which had flushed pink from the warm steam.

"Nirei-chan, you're so adorable, just like your little duck," Togame teased with a soft laugh.

Surprisingly, Nirei didn't pout or get angry about being teased like a child this time. Instead, he looked up, meeting Togame's gaze with his wide, clear eyes, and pointed the yellow duck directly in front of his older brother's nose.

Quack! Quack!

Nirei squeezed the rubber duck's plump belly hard until the toy let out a loud, silly squeak.

"My duck is cute, right?" Nirei defended, puckering his lips slightly before squeezing the duck in front of Togame's face again, making it squeak repeatedly in succession.

"Yes, yes... it's adorable," Togame agreed, laughing heartily at his brother, who was easily a thousand times cuter than the rubber duck he was holding. He eventually reached out to grab another yellow duck himself, playfully kissing Nirei's cheek with its puckered mouth.

7.

"I'm kind of curious," Sakura piped up amidst the noisy chatter of recess. He spun around in his chair, propping his chin on his hands while staring at Nirei, who was busy organizing his notes. "Why do you always call Togame-san nii-san,' but you never call Endo-san as such?"

Nirei let out a soft huff, pausing his pen for a moment. "Does an anomaly like him even deserve to be called nii-san? Absolutely not."

Sakura instantly burst out laughing, imagining how the fierce tyrant of Furin would completely crumble if he heard his own younger brother's words. "True. It really is hard to imagine Endo-san as a responsible older brother figure."

Nirei offered a faint smile in response to Sakura's laughter. However, after Sakura turned back around to his own desk, Nirei's gaze shifted, staring blankly down at his notebook. Sakura's question had somehow triggered a distant memories in his head.

In reality, Nirei wasn't always this harsh or fierce toward Endo. Their relationship wasn't strictly made up of slaps, flying objects, or endless, heated arguments. Deep down in his heart, Nirei truly loved Endo.

When he was little, Nirei's life wasn't nearly as comfortable as it was now. His biological father had passed away in a workplace accident, leaving a young Nirei to grow up with only his mother. Nirei was incredibly close to his mom. Even though he realized she was often overwhelmed with grief after their loss, Nirei always tried his best to do small things just to see a smile on her face.

Then, a new chapter began when his mother decided to remarry a wealthy man who owned a massive tech corporation in Japan who also happened to be the father of Endo and Togame. After the wedding, his mother did seem much happier. However, that happiness was directed entirely toward her new husband. She became incredibly busy, constantly accompanying him on overseas business trips and vacations.

Nirei was frequently left alone in that massive, unfamiliar house. During those days, a deep resentment began to grow in young Nirei's heart. He hated Endo, Togame, and especially their father, whom he blamed for stealing away all of his mother's attention and affection.

Until one day, fate took a cruel turn. His mother fell gravely ill and took her last breath. Her passing left a painful wound in Nirei's chest. He felt an overwhelming sorrow. Heartbroken by the fact that during her remaining time alive, he had rarely received the warm, comforting embraces they used to share.

Despite the lingering ache of feeling cast aside at the end of her life, Nirei still wept hysterically, mourning the greatest loss of his existence. For days after the funeral, Nirei locked himself away in his unfamiliar bedroom. Every night, he would sob beneath his covers until his eyes swelled and his breath grew shallow.

Until one evening, his bedroom door was abruptly knocked open. Endo, who was just a rebellious elementary school kid at the time, barged right in without asking. "You crybaby. You're being way too noisy, I can't sleep," Endo grumbled.

Nirei didn't answer, only burying his face deeper into his pillow. But instead of leaving after complaining, Endo threw his large frame right onto Nirei's bed. Without a single word of warning, Endo's solid arms hauled Nirei's tiny body flush against his chest, wrapping his little brother in a fierce, tight embrace.

Nirei froze. It had been so long since he last felt the comforting warmth of a mother's hug at bedtime. Strangely, being held against Endo's broad, sturdy chest felt incredibly warm and safe. Slowly, Nirei's continuous sobs began to quiet down, replaced by a drowsiness that carried him off to sleep until morning.

From that night onward, Endo formed a new habit. Every single night, he would slip into Nirei's room to sleep beside him. Thanks to the constant physical presence of his big brother, Nirei gradually stopped crying himself to sleep, even if the lingering ache of longing and grief would never truly vanish.

A few months after Endo started his nightly routine, he secretly took Nirei out to a summer festival. Nirei remembered that day vividly. The steaming portion of warm yakisoba, the trick of catching toy bouncy balls with thin paper scoops, his very first taste of kakigori, and the massive plush prize Endo had won for him at a booth.

Yet, when the very first firework launched and exploded beautifully across the night sky, Nirei's tears suddenly spilled over. The memory of his last fireworks festival with his mother, back when their lives were simple, replayed in his mind. Seeing his brother starting to cry again, Endo didn't panic. Instead, he reached out his large hands and gave both of Nirei's cheeks a firm pinch.

"Endo-nii!! That hurts my cheeks!!" Nirei whined.

Endo smirked. "You look ugly when you cry. Smile for your brother, c’mon."

BOOM!!

The next firework detonated with a thunderous roar directly over their heads. The sudden, startling blast made both of them jump, causing half of the shaved ice in Nirei's hands to spill directly onto the dirt. Nirei stared open-mouthed at his tragic, fallen dessert, then looked up at Endo, who looked equally shocked with his eyes comically wide. A second later, their shared laughter broke out beneath the glowing, colorful canopy of fireworks.

That was the first time Endo had seen Nirei laugh freely after months of being shrouded in grief. While brushing away the remaining tears from his little brother's cheek, Endo grinned widely. "Before we head home, I'll buy you another kakigori, okay?"

Nirei smiled sweetly. "Can I choose strawberry this time?"

Endo smiled back. "I'll buy you the whole damn stall if you want!"

But that night ended not so happily. The moment they stepped back inside the house, Endo was met with their father's wrath. Their father was furious that Endo had snuck out and taken a young Nirei to such a crowded, dangerous place all by themselves.

Endo was scolded ruthlessly, and he was punished with having to clean the bathrooms. However, Nirei couldn't recall Endo ever showing a shred of fear while being yelled at, nor did he hold any resentment toward Nirei for getting him punished. On the contrary, his smile remained mindlessly bright.

When Nirei secretly approached Endo in the living room later to ask if he was doing okay after the punishment, Endo, looking exhausted, simply turned his head and offered his absolute best smile.

"As long as my little brother isn't sad anymore, I'm aperfectly happy!" Endo answered casually, ruffling Nirei's hair until the younger boy's head spun. From that day on, Nirei promised himself he wouldn't cry again.

Nirei’s train of thought suddenly snapped back to reality. The corners of his lips lifted automatically, forming a warm, genuine smile. "Endo-nii actually is a good older brother, despite all of his weirdness," Nirei murmured softly, unconsciously speaking his thoughts aloud.

Sakura, who was just about to take a sip from his milk carton, choked instantly. He stared at Nirei with a furrowed brow, his expression twisted in absolute bewilderment. "Huh?! What exact part of Endo-swn can be considered 'good'?"

Nirei didn't answer. He only offered a quiet chuckle, turning his face toward the classroom window. The weather outside was beautiful, the blue sky completely clear and cloudless.

However, Nirei’s eyes suddenly locked onto a scene unfolding down on the school grounds. Beneath the scorching sun, several freshmen were being punished, forced to stand outside for causing trouble. And right there, with his uniform completely disheveled, was Endo, walking in circles around the miserable students while laughing mischievously at them.

Nirei's eyebrow twitched instantly. The warm smile vanished from his face in a flash, replaced by the familiar, annoyed scowl that always emerged whenever he looked at his eldest brother. "Forget what I just said, Sakura," Nirei corrected flatly, squeezing his pen with immense irritation. "That man who lacks a single ounce of shame is not my brother!"

8.

Valentine’s Day at Furin High School was always a day packed with drama and gossip, especially for Togame. As the school prince, famous for being friendly and a total gentleman, his shoe locker had been bursting at the seams with all kinds of ribbon-adorned chocolate boxes since early morning. In fact, his school bag was no longer large enough to hold all the declarations of love from the female students who admired his good looks.

Despite his hands being completely full carrying large bags of chocolate from his admirers, Togame had only one focus during lunch recess: finding his little brother, Nirei. 

However, the moment Togame stepped into the first-floor corridor heading toward Class 1-1, his footsteps ground to a sudden halt. The sight inside the classroom made his eyes narrow. The protective big brother radar inside him flared a warning red.

Standing near Nirei's desk was Suo Hayato, handing over a meticulously wrapped chocolate box that had clearly been crafted with sincere effort. "Happy Valentine's Day, Nirei," Suo said with his signature calm smile. "I made it myself, so let me know if it suits your taste."

Nirei gasped, his face instantly blushing a perfect red all the way to his ears. "E-Eh? For me, Suo? But we didn't plan on exchanging friendship chocolates..." Nirei stammered nervously, accepting the box with both hands slightly trembling.

Suo could only weep silently in his heart. What else did he have to do to make Nirei notice his feelings? "It's fine. I just wanted to give you a gift because you've been such a wonderful friend to me," Suo replied smoothly. 

He then casually reached out to brush through Nirei's fluffy blonde hair. A privilege that was supposed to belong strictly to Togame!

"Aww, Suo! Thank you so much! On White Day, I'll definitely give you some chocolate in return!"

"Hm! I can't wait for your chocolate, Nire-kun!"

Watching the scene play out from just outside the doorway, Togame felt his place was threatened. Who is this freshman whose eyes aren't even both showing? How dare he sneak opportunities to stroke my sweet little brother's head?! Togame thought bitterly.

This could not be tolerated. Togame covertly tailed Suo and Nirei from behind. As it turned out, they were heading to the rooftop. Togame’s mind immediately descended into a panic. What if something happens to little brother on that secluded rooftop? He absolutely had to intervene and protect his little brother from that sly fox.

"Wow, this is so pretty! How did you make this, Suo?" Nirei’s faint voice drifted over just as Togame pushed the rooftop door open.

"Nirei-chan~ Found you at last. Togame-nii has been looking everywhere for you." Togame offered a gentle smile, acting as if he hadn't been shadowing the two freshmen's exact footsteps all the way from Class 1-1.

"Oh, Togame-nii san? What are you doing up here?" Nirei looked surprised, while Suo met his gaze with an unreadable expression. Internally, Suo let out an annoyed huff, deeply irritated that his quality alone-time with Nirei had been interrupted.

Togame sat down, placing his towering pile of Valentine’s chocolate bags right beside him. "Nirei-chan, look at all of this. Your brother received so much chocolate today. Do you want some?"

Suo merely offered a polite smile, casting a sidelong glance at his own handmade chocolate box, which Nirei had now placed on his lap. "Togame-senpai truly is  popular. However, chocolates from admirers tend to taste rather generic. It's quite different from a handmade batch tailored specifically to someone's personal tastes."

Suo's words were a blatant, subtle jab that struck directly at Togame's core. The target of the sharp comment merely snorted with irritation. He immediately leaned his body forward, reaching out to grab Nirei's cheeks and squeezing them playfully right in front of Suo to re-establish his territory. "Even so, Nirei-chan still loves his brother's cooking best, right? Nirei-chan doesn't need anyone else's chocolates!"

"What do you mean, Togame-nii san? Chocolates are chocolates, food is food," Nirei protested, his voice completely muffled from having his cheeks pulled around.

Seeing that Nirei was starting to feel uncomfortable, Suo immediately took action. With a smooth motion, Suo reached out, gripping Togame's wrist with enough pressure until the upperclassman released his hold on Nirei's cheeks.

Suo then locked eyes with Togame, maintaining a friendly smile that does not feel friendly at all. "Togame-senpai, Nirei is already a high schooler. He's bound to feel embarrassed if you keep treating him like a baby in front of his friends. I am fully capable of treating Nirei exactly according to his actual age."

Suo's thinly veiled declaration of war left Togame in a state of absolute shock. The school prince instantly pulled a highly dramatic, heartbroken expression, tugging at the side of Nirei's uniform.

"Nireeei! You aren't tired of your brother, are you?! You won't forget about me and abandon me for this sly fox, right?! I won't allow it!!" Togame whined, completely discarding his cool public image just to defend his title as the favorite brother.

Having reached the absolute limit of his patience with his brother's absurd antics and Suo's incredibly bizarre behavior, Nirei bolted to his feet, his face burning a furious shade of red like a boiled crab.

THWACK!

Nirei brought his empty lunchbox down squarely on top of Togame's head, then spun around to head back toward the school building.

“See, I'm tired of both of you. If you're not going to get along then don't talk to me at all.” Nirei scoffed furiously, storming away from the rooftop while heavily stomping his feet. 

Nirei was entirely serious. To him, watching his close friend and his own  brother engage in such passive-aggressive bickering was utterly exhausting. The departure of their beloved boy made both Togame and Suo feel as though their worlds had completely collapsed. 

The atmosphere on the rooftop turned heavy and tense without Nirei standing between them. There was Togame leaning against the safety railing, and Suo standing a few paces ahead of him with his arms folded.

"This is entirely your fault," Togame accused directly at Suo with an irritated expression he rarely showed to anyone else. "If you hadn't actively provoked trouble, Nirei wouldn't have stormed off like that!"

Suo let out a short sigh, his friendly smile completely vanishing, replaced by a flat, cold stare. "Senpai, take a look in the mirror. If you hadn't treated Nirei like a toddler. Pulling his cheeks until they were red, I wouldn't have forced your hand off him. You are the one who started this drama."

"I am his older brother! It's perfectly natural for me to find him adorable!" Togame countered, refusing to back down.

"And I am someone who respects his comfort," Suo shot back, his tone calm yet cutting. "Your selfish actions only make Nirei feel entirely overwhelmed."

"What did you just say?!"

They threw sharp glares back and forth, sparks of hostility practically flying through the air for a tense moment. However, their stubborn egos suddenly deflated the moment the memory of Nirei's cold, angry face leaving them behind flashed through their respective minds. Being ignored by Nirei was a form of absolute torture that neither of them wanted to endure a second longer.

Suo pinched the bridge of his nose, attempting to think rationally. "Senpai... if we keep pointing fingers at each other like this, Nirei is never going to speak to us again."

Togame paused. His shoulders slowly slumped in defeat. Whining or throwing a fit wasn't going to bring back his little brother's sweet smile. "I don't want Nirei giving me the silent treatment at home."

"And I don't want Nirei giving me the silent treatment in class either." Suo glanced toward Togame, then extended his hand forward. "We need an alliance. For the time being, let's call a ceasefire and pretend to be on good terms in front of him. For Nirei's happiness."

Togame stared at the freshman's hand with immense hesitation. It felt incredibly bitter to cooperate with the very guy who intended to steal his little brother away. However, to win back Nirei's smile, Togame had threw his pride completely out the window.

Togame shook Suo's hand firmly, even squeezing it a little too hard. "Only until Nirei agrees to talk to us again. After that, I am still going to be watching you, Suo Hayato. Don't you dare try anything with Nirei."

"Of course, Togame-senpai. Just you wait until you become my brother-in-law," Suo replied, his formal smile slipping back into place flawlessly. Togame felt a sudden shiver run through his body at Suo's absolute confidence. It seemed their war would simply have to be postponed for now.

9.

That night, the silence in Nirei’s room was terrifying. Beneath his blanket, the blonde teenager’s body was tensed. His breath caught in his throat. Nirei was trapped once again in a labyrinth of nightmares about his past. The lonely days in that massive, unfamiliar house. The agonizing pain of loss when his mother left this world forever.

In his dream, Nirei’s chest felt heavy, as if crushed by a massive boulder. He wanted to wake up, but his entire body was paralyzed. He wanted to run as fast as he could away from the darkness surrounding him. Anywhere, any place at all, as long as someone was there to accompany him and hold his hand.

"Ugh—AHH!"

Nirei jolted awake, gasping for breath. His heart pounded furiously inside his chest. A cold shiver ran through his entire body from fear, and without being able to stop them, warm tears poured down his pale cheeks. 

Nirei hugged his knees in the middle of his pitch-black room. He was trembling, knowing full well that he wouldn't be able to close his eyes on that bed again tonight.

Walking in unsteady steps and tears still streaming down his face, Nirei walked out of his room. He made his way down the third-floor corridor toward the only bedroom door closest to his own which, unfortunately, belonged to Endo.

Nirei knocked on the wooden door with the last of his strength. Inside the room, Endo, who was comfortably lounging while marathon-reading Wind Breaker manga, instantly looked up. Yawning, he got out of bed and opened the door, already armed with a bunch of playful, teasing remarks to mock his little brother for visiting in the middle of the night.

"Heh~ What's this, Nirei-chan? Missing me in the dead of night—" Endo’s words cut off mid-air. His mischievous smirk vanished instantly.

The figure standing on his doorstep wasn't the hateful Nirei who loved throwing things at him. What appeared before him was a fragile, helpless little brother freshly out from terror. 

Tears streamed down his cheeks, reflecting the light from the bedroom. In Endo’s eyes tonight, Nirei looked incredibly fragile, yet  beautiful in his innocence.

Not saying a single word, Nirei stepped forward and threw himself against Endo’s massive frame, wrapping his arms tightly around his older brother's waist. He buried his tear-stained face into his brother's broad chest.

"Endo-nii chan... I wanna sleep with you tonight" Nirei whispered, his voice soft and trembling.

A shiver ran through Endo. For the first time in a very long time, he was hearing Nirei call him big brother. It was a pure, raw plea from a little brother desperately needing protection.

Endo’s evil intention completely evaporated. His strong, tattooed arms moved with gentleness, winding around Nirei's petite body and pulling him back into a protective embrace.

"Yeah, yeah, of course you can... Nirei-chan had a nightmare?" Endo asked, his tone unusually soft and caring as he rubbed his brother's still-trembling back.

Nirei nodded weakly against Endo’s chest. He was terrified of going back to his room, worried that if he slept in the same bed, the nightmare would return. Thankfully, even without it being said aloud, Endo understood that Nirei wouldn't be able to sleep alone for the rest of the night.

The annoying, teasing side of Endo disappeared entirely that night. With swift yet careful movements, he scooped Nirei up into his arms, carrying him flush against his chest like Nirei was a little koala. Endo brought him inside his black-and-gray themed bedroom, gently laying Nirei down on his plush king-size bed.

He pulled a thick blanket over his little brother to keep him warm, then grabbed a large, white Baymax plushie from the corner of the room, propping it next to Nirei as a cushion. Endo then lay down on the other side of the bed, pulling Nirei into a tight embrace that locked his petite brother away from the cold night air. Nirei returned the embrace just as fiercely, clutching Endo's t-shirt as if terrified his brother might slip away.

Forget the reading marathon. For Endo, having his little brother tucked safely in his arms was far more important than anything else in the world. "Go to sleep, Nirei-chan. Your brother will protect you from scary nightmares," Endo murmured softly, planting a gentle kiss on the crown of Nirei's head.

Hearing his older brother's familiar, low voice, feeling Endo's massive frame acting as a warm shield, and being held in such a profoundly safe embrace, Nirei's fear gradually melted away. His exhausted eyes finally closed, and that night, Nirei slept peacefully, undisturbed until morning arrived.

The next morning, bright sunlight filtered through the gaps of Endo’s bedroom curtains. A loud alarm blared from a smartphone, but Nirei didn't move an inch from his position, still sound asleep and completely curled up inside the fluffy blanket.

Endo, who had been awake for a while, was sitting up against the headboard, propping his chin on his hand as he watched his brother's sleeping face. He chuckled softly, amused to see Nirei still dead to the world despite the alarm ringing repeatedly. Nirei looked incredibly cute while sleeping, his lips parted just a tiny bit.

Finding the sight entirely too adorable to resist, Endo crawled closer. He began showering Nirei's face with a relentless barrage of kisses.

"Baby, wake up~~ Good morning~" Endo teased, continuously kissing Nirei's squishy cheek. "I'm going to eat all the toast if you don't get up right now~"

Nirei just let out a soft groan, turning his body away from Endo and hugging the Baymax plushie even tighter. Seeing how  exhausted his little brother still was, Endo let out an understanding sigh. A sympathy washed over him, remembering how much Nirei had suffered from a lack of sleep the night before.

Endo offered a genuine smile, deciding in his heart that it was perfectly fine if his brother skipped school for a day to give his body and mind a proper rest. Endo climbed out of bed, leaving Nirei to continue sleeping while he prepared to head to school alone. However, Endo had clearly underestimated Nirei Akihiko's sense of responsibility.

Exactly thirty minutes before the school morning bell was set to ring, Nirei’s eyes snapped wide open as he caught sight of the wall clock in Endo's room. His consciousness returned one hundred percent in a single flash.

"EIGHT O'CLOCK?!"

Nirei practically threw himself out of bed like possessed. Moving like lightning itself, he ran to the bathroom, splashed water on his face, and threw his school uniform on in a frantic rush, leaving his tie slightly askew. Slinging his school bag over his shoulder, he let out a loud, furious shriek, his face twisted in a massive, panicked scowl.

"ENDO YOU CRUEL!!! WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP?!!!"

Nirei's high-pitched scream heared through every corner of the three-story house, signaling that the little angel had officially returned to his usual, energetic self.

Togame let out a heavy sigh after taking a sip of his coffee. "What is with that younger brother of yours? It's like he completely forgot we have a personal driver who can get him to school in ten minutes flat by car."

Endo just laughed as he straightened his own uniform. "He's your younger brother too, you know. Honestly, he's probably way more furious about missing out on your toast than he is about actually being late for school."

10.

At Furin High School, almost every female student shared the exact same dream: to become Togame's girlfriend. How could they not? The boy from Class 2-2 was the absolute definition of a perfect ideal type. 

He was toweringly tall, breathtakingly handsome, and his words were always soft and gentle. He was so incredibly popular that his loyal admirers had even gone so far as to form an official fan club association. 

The most beautiful girls in the school would always gather there, drawing up various strategies just to get closer to Togame, who, as far as anyone knew to this very second, did not have a girlfriend.

Unfortunately for them, the school prince had suddenly been extremely busy lately. His focus was entirely consumed by someone. That person was none other than the blonde first-year freshman: Nirei Akihiko. 

Sometimes during recess, Nirei could be seen stopping by the front of Class 2-2 just to drop off Togame’s sport uniform that had been left behind at home. In reality, though, Togame frequently and intentionally forgot to bring his things just so his little brother would come visit him.

Every time he received his uniform, Togame would flash a bright smile. He wouldn't hesitate to fondly pat Nirei on the head, even taking a brief moment to plant a quick kiss on the crown of his brother's lemon-scented blonde hair. 

The sight successfully caused the fan club girls watching from a distance to stare at Nirei with absolute jealousy. Every single one of them screamed internally, wishing they could swap places just to be the center of Togame's attention.

Togame’s popularity skyrocketed even further when home economics class took place this week. Considering that day's schedule was a cooking lesson, all the students immediately scrambled and fought, hoping they could be in the same group as Togame. 

When one of his groupmates asked him about the reason why he was so incredibly good at cooking, Togame answered while stirring his soup with a gentle smile.

"I practice and learn how to cook because I want my little brother to always eat delicious and healthy food," Togame answered sincerely.

Hearing that response, Togame’s tutle as a future husband candidate instantly surged up, causing the female students in the room to suddenly melt and swoon. Unfortunately for them, Togame strictly liked cooking only for Nirei. 

In fact, he didn't even touch a single bite of the food he made in class today. Togame packed it up neatly inside a lunchbox, intending to give it to Nirei during the upcoming recess.

At lunchtime, Class 1-1 had just finished a rather exhausting running test. Misfortune struck Nirei when his footing slipped, causing him to sprain his ankle at the edge of the field. Nirei sat with his legs stretched out while holding his ankle, trying to convince Suo and Sakura that he was fine and just needed a little bit of time to rest.

Togame, who had just come out of the home economics room carrying the lunchbox, happened to spot the crowd of first-years from the upper corridor. The moment he discovered his brother was injured, the school prince immediately vaulted down the stairs and pushed through the field's crowd.

Without any warning, Togame instantly lifted Nirei’s petite body, carrying him in a very steady, secure bridal style.

"Togame-nii san?! You don't have to! Put me down, ugh!" Nirei cried out, his face  flushing a crimson out of pure panic. He felt dead-embarrassed to be carried like a princess right in the middle of the field and watched by so many people.

"It's only natural for your brother to worry. Here, I'll carry you all the way to class."

Unable to break free, Nirei could only bury his burning red face into the crook of Togame's neck, refusing to look at his surroundings. At the edge of the field, the girls who witnessed the dramatic scene instantly clutched their chests, feeling  moved and falling even harder in love seeing such a romantic, swift, and attentive side of Togame.

Later that evening, the school dismissal bell rang right along with a drizzle that began to dampen the earth. Just as the weather forecast predicted today, the rain soon started pouring quite heavily. Fortunately, Nirei was the diligent type of kid who was always prepared and kept a folding umbrella inside his bag.

Near the lockers, Suo took a moment to offer Nirei a walk home together under his umbrella, but Nirei politely declined since he felt he could manage on his own. Suo could only offer a resigned smile with anheartbreak look in his eye.

Nirei then walked toward the exit of the shoe locker hallway. There, he saw his older brother standing and staring out at the rain in the distance with a bewildered look on his face. Sure enough, the clumsy school prince had forgotten to bring an umbrella.

"Togame-nii san, let's walk together," Nirei invited while opening his folding umbrella.

In the end, they decided to walk home together. Because of the significant height difference between them, Togame took over to hold the umbrella handle. The size of Nirei's folding umbrella was actually a bit too small for the two of them. Recognizing this, Togame intentionally tilted the umbrella completely toward Nirei.

Togame didn't mind at all even though the other half of his body had to be completely drenched by the pouring rain, as long as his brother’s body remained dry. Not only that, midway through their wet trek home, Togame took off his own jacket and draped it over Nirei’s shoulders with a warm smile.

"Wear this, Nirei-chan. Don't let yourself catch a chill," Togame whispered softly.

Across the street, several members of Togame's fan club who happened to pass by under their own umbrellas could only wince with envy, yet find the sight completely adorable. They also wanted to experience the romantic sensation of sharing an umbrella for two with Togame, being cared for to the point of him being willing to get soaked, and having a warm jacket draped over them like that.

However, on that rainy evening, one major thing was ultimately and absolutely realized by all members of Togame's fan club. Togame was indeed the most ideal dream boyfriend in the entirety of Furin. However, they had to gracefully accept the reality that there was only one person in this world who could enjoy all of those privileges and outpourings of affection.

That person was Nirei Akihiko alone. The beloved little brother from Class 1-1 who held absolute, complete control over the school prince's heart.

11.

For Nirei Akihiko, watching Disney classic films was one of the best things in the world. But for Endo Yamato, watching Nirei completely engrossed in Disney classic films was an entertainment far more enjoyable than anything else.

That afternoon, the living room of their house was enveloped in a calm atmosphere. The large television screen was displaying a colorful Disney adventure, and Nirei was already sitting neatly on the long sofa. 

If Nirei usually always protested and went into defensive mode whenever Endo tried to get close, once a Disney movie was playing, all of those defenses crumbled completely. Nirei would focus on the screen, becoming incredibly docile and not getting annoyed at all even if Endo cuddled him.

Seeing this golden opportunity, Endo climbed onto the sofa as well. With his large frame, he rested his head on Nirei's small shoulder, breathing in his little brother's comforting scent. Nirei did not reject him; instead, he let Endo wrap his strong arms around him, hugging his petite body tightly from behind.

Comfortable in that position, Nirei slowly shifted his body backward, settling himself to lean against Endo's broad chest, which was plush and large. For Nirei, his older brother's body was the best backrest, beating out any sofa cushion in the house.

A day off around two in the afternoon like right now was usually a sacred time for Endo to take a nap. And for the older brother, the most comfortable and warm place to fall asleep in the entire world was on Nirei's lap.

Endo slowly shifted his position, laying his long body down across the sofa and resting his head on top of Nirei's thighs. While his eyes remained glued to the television, Nirei's hands, which naturally couldn't stay still, reflexively started to move. His slender fingers began to weave through the strands of Endo's thick, curly hair, playing with it gently and giving small massages that made Endo close his eyes in comfort.

While enjoying the stroking on his head, Endo tightened his embrace around Nirei's stomach. His face moved, intentionally nuzzling and burying his nose, rubbing affectionately and teasingly against his little brother's stomach.

"Endo! Stay still for a second, I can't see the screen!" Nirei burst into ticklish laughter, his body squirming slightly as he tried to evade the onslaught of Endo's nose.

For Endo, Nirei's laughter and his tickled facial expression were the absolute cutest and most precious things ever. Chuckling softly, Endo stopped his nuzzling but kept Nirei's stomach locked in a possessive embrace, gradually beginning to drift off to dreamland due to the consistent stroking of his hair.

An hour passed, and the ending credits song of the Disney film finally came out, signaling that the adventure on the screen had come to an end. Silence once again took over the living room, leaving only the steady rise and fall of breath from Endo, who had been fast asleep on his little brother's lap for a while now.

Nirei looked down, staring at his older brother's sleeping face, which looked so peaceful without the scary smirk he usually displayed at school. A contagious drowsiness suddenly hit Nirei. The gentle afternoon breeze blowing in from the window made his eyes gradually feel heavier and heavier.

Reluctant to wake Endo, who looked so sound asleep, Nirei decided to surrender to his drowsiness. He let his head drop limply downward, resting his forehead on top of Endo's shoulder and chest right there on his lap.

With his hand still faithfully resting on his older brother's curly hair, Nirei finally closed his eyes too, joining Endo in dreamland. On the warm living room sofa, the two brothers spent the rest of their day off napping together in a safe and comfortable embrace.

12.

That night, the study desk in Nirei’s room was piled high with sheets of scratch paper and textbooks as thick as dictionaries. The clock hands already pointed to ten in the evening, yet there was no sign that the room's occupant was going to sleep.

"Togame-nii san… I can't take it anymore."

"You can do it, brother will help you slowly."

"I don't want tooooo! My brain is boiling!"

"Calm down, Nirei-chan, this isn't the end of the world."

"Why is math so hard? Why does math even exist? The absolute monstrous thing! Even worse than Endo!"

Nirei burst into convulsive sobs. His tears dripped down, wetting the squared numbers in his notebook. His head already felt like steam was coming out of it because tomorrow was the day of the math quiz. Math was the subject he considered his greatest enemy in the world.

Seeing his little brother crying in frustration, Togame, who was sitting beside him, immediately slid his chair closer. He gently pulled Nirei’s notebook toward himself, then slowly wiped the tears from his brother's cheeks with his thumb.

"Hey, it's okay, Nirei-chan. Please, don't cry?" Togame said in a soft tone, looking at Nirei with full of affection. It pained Togame to see his little brother frustrated. "Math is indeed a bit complicated, but your brother is here. Let's study it again from the beginning. Look at this..."

Togame began writing down new scribbles. He explained every step with patience, breaking down the complicated formulas into the simplest explanations so that Nirei's already exhausted brain could digest them.

"Now, if this one is moved to the right side, the sign changes to a minus. Try continuing to the next step now, Nirei-chan," Togame requested while handing back the pencil.

Nirei sniffled, then with a trembling hand tried to calculate the final number according to his brother's guidance. "...Twenty-four?"

"Amazing! That's my clever little brother!" Togame cheered, proudly patting Nirei on the head until his blonde hair became a mess. "Look, you can solve it yourself."

Being praised like that made Nirei flush slightly, his frustration lessening a bit. "But Togame-nii san, this is only the first question, ..."

"It's okay, the process takes time," Togame replied as he stood up from his chair. "Wait a moment, your brother will fetch you some new ammunition first."

Every time the snacks on Nirei's plate started running out, Togame was constantly walking back and forth to the kitchen to refill the portions of fresh fruit, chocolate biscuits, and a glass of warm milk so his little brother wouldn't run out of energy.

The study session continued late into the night. As it entered one in the morning, the sound of Nirei's pencil scratches gradually began to slow down. His head bobbed a few times before finally, Nirei's face collapsed onto his still-open math book. He fell fast asleep from exhaustion.

Togame let out a long sigh. He leaned down, observing his little brother's face from up close. Nirei's eye bags looked quite thick and dark from a lack of sleep. Togame's chest feels hurt just seeing Nirei loosing sleep like this just for a monthly math quiz.

"You've fought well, Nirei-chan," Togame whispered softly. Moving carefully so as not to wake his little brother, Togame slipped his arms under Nirei's knees and back, lifting the petite body gently. He carried Nirei to the bed, tucked him, and then returned to the study desk to tidy up all of Nirei's books, pencils, and leftover snacks.

The next morning come inevitably. In front of the school gate, Nirei stood with a stiff body. His small hands tightly gripped the edge of the school uniform of Togame, who stood in front of him.

"Togame-nii san... What if everything I studied suddenly vanish from my head on the question sheet later?" Nirei thinking in terror, his eyes moving frantically as he looked at his older brother with worry.

Togame chuckled at his brother's helplessness. He held both of Nirei's shoulders, forcing his little brother to look at him directly. "Nirei-chan. You've studied until three in the morning. All the formulas are already inside here," Togame said while gently tapping Nirei's forehead.

Before Nirei could protest, Togame suddenly lowered his head and kissed Nirei's cheek with an audible smack sound.

"Good luck on your exam!" Togame said with his handsomest prince smile, then casually waved his hand as he turned around to walk toward his own classroom on the upper floor. "I'm going first. Do well in your exam~"

Nirei froze in his tracks. His face flushed red like a ripe tomato out of embarrassment from being kissed in front of the school gate. Reflexively, he wiped his cheek, which felt wet and warm from the kiss.

"Y-yes... Thank you, Togame nii-san..." Nirei murmured softly.

Before Nirei even had the chance to enter the classroom, the hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stood completely on end. He felt the surrounding atmosphere abruptly heat up to an extreme degree. It felt as though an invisible blaze was burning his back from behind. 

Nirei quickly turned back with caution. The corridor behind him looked normal. Nirei blinked his eyes a few times, confused because there were no signs of a fire there.

"Ah... maybe it's just my imagination because I'm too stressed thinking about the exam," Nirei murmured while shaking his head vigorously, trying to dispel the shivering sensation. 

Nirei would never know about a few female students who were members of Togame's fan club standing gathered near him. The eyes of those girls were glowing a fiery red, staring at Nirei with a look of absolute jealousy because they were deathly envious seeing that good luck kiss scene just now. They crumpled their respective handkerchiefs, screaming internally because they wanted to be in Nirei's position.

13.

That afternoon, in the outdoor basketball court. Sakura Haruka sat leaning his back against the wire fence with his head down. His breath was still ragged, and his entire body was drenched in sweat after hours of intensive practice.

Lately, Sakura had been feeling extremely down. The inter-school basketball tournament was just around the corner, and as bad luck would have it, Furin’s basketball team had to face a private high school right in the first round. It was a private school notoriously famous for having a team mostly composed of foreign exchange students who were toweringly tall and incredibly skilled at basketball. 

Nirei, who had been faithfully keeping Sakura company since he happened to be free that afternoon, noticed the shift in his best friend's aura. Bearing a gentle smile, Nirei wrapped both of his arms around Sakura's shoulders. Nirei hugged Sakura tightly, trying to inflict warmth and reassurance.

"Eh?! N-nirei?!" Sakura jolted, his face blushing red all the way to his ears from the sudden physical contact. He tensed up for a moment out of embarrassment, but the scent of baby powder and the warmth of Nirei's embrace that fit just right, gradually caused his defenses to crumble.

"Nirei, I'm covered in sweat."

"Hm? But Sakura looks sad. I thought you wanted a hug, that's why..."

"~///~"

"Should I stop?"

"NO," Sakura said, hugging Nirei even tighter. His exhaustion and anxiety evaporated just like that. Comforted by Nirei's embrace, Sakura finally returned Nirei's hug, burying his face in his best friend's small shoulder.

"Nirei... I'm so exhausted... I'm so scared the tournament is going to be a total mess," Sakura confessed in a low voice that he rarely ever showed to anyone else.

Nirei patted Sakura's back gently. "It's okay, Sakura. You've practiced hard, you guys can definitely do it"

Endo Yamato stood at the edge of the court, his eyes wide open in a perfectly flat glare. The veins on his forehead throbbed as he held back an exploding wave of emotion. His possessive heart towards Nirei burned with jealousy as he witnessed the scene in front of him.

How dare he! How dare his absolute cutest little brother. His little brother who at home usually is still scared to sleep alone if there's a storm and loves to cuddle up right under his big brother's armpit whenever they watch TV shows. How dare he hug another guy at school right now?!*

During recess, Endo went straight up to Sakura, who was walking across the school grounds. Endo intentionally slammed his shoulder into Sakura's, hard enough that Sakura nearly fell over.

Sakura, who had a notoriously short fuse, instantly glared in anger: "You– Are you crazy? Looking for a fight?!"

Endo smirked terrifyingly, leaning down so his face was level with Sakura's. "You, evil cat. Yesterday you bruised up my face, and today you want to steal my sweet little brother and make him your wife? Just how many lives do you have, huh?"

"Who the hell ever said that? This guy is out of his mind!"

"Get your filthy hands off my little brother, you evil cat!" Endo roared in a fury,  charging right into the center of the court.

Sakura, whose emotions were already hard to control to begin with, stood his ground and assumed a fighting stance. "What's your problem, you madman?! Coming out of nowhere looking for trouble!"

"My problem is that you have a death wish for daring to hug my angel!"

The verbal dispute transformed in a split second into a highly brutal fistfight. The basketball court suddenly became an illegal boxing ring. Punch after punch flew without mercy. The commotion grew so incredibly loud and chaotic that several teachers eventually had to intervene, dragging both short-fused students by force to the teachers' lounge.

Meanwhile, Nirei had absolutely no idea about the uproar that had taken place on the court. For the past half hour, he had been in the school library, deeply focused on reading a book with a furrowed brow. His peace was disturbed when Kiryu called Nirei from the window. 

"Nirei! It's an emergency! Your brother and Sakura got into a massive fight on the court and were called to the teachers' room!"

"They What?!" Nirei stood up instantly, dropping his pen.

Not wasting a second, Nirei ran headlong down the school corridors toward the teachers' room. His breath hitched and his heart pounded in panic, thinking about what might have happened to his best friend and his older brother. 

However, upon arriving at the teachers' lounge, the room was empty. A teacher informed him that the two students who had been fighting had already been moved to the infirmary.

Nirei took off running again, this time aiming directly for the infirmary. Nirei shoved the infirmary door open roughly. His gaze locked onto two bruised students. 

There, Sakura and Endo were sitting in a truly pathetic state. Their faces were bruised up everywhere, the corners of their lips torn, and their cheeks turning blue. But strangely, even though they were injured that badly, the two of them were still throwing death glares at each other as if they wanted to proceed with a second round.

Seeing that sight, Nirei's panic instantly grew into a towering rage that skyrocketed to the heavens. "Can you two not fight for even one day?!” Nirei screamed in a high-pitched voice, causing both Sakura and Endo to flinch in shock together.

Nirei walked over with heavy, stomping steps, grabbing the first-aid kit off the desk roughly. With a scowling face and breathing heavily out of irritation, he approached their beds. 

"How dare you two get into a fight at school, making such a scene and getting scolded by the teachers?! Are you guys kindergarteners?" Nirei scolded relentlessly while beginning to treat their wounds.

While treating Sakura, Nirei's hands were quite gentle, but because he was actively nagging, he intentionally pressed the alcohol swab a little harder onto the cut on Sakura's cheek. "Why are you humoring a madman like him, Sakura? I thought I already told you he's not worth the fight?"

"Awh! That hurts, Rei!" Sakura winced while turning his face away, which had flushed red from a mix of sting and embarrassment from being scolded.

During his care for Endo, Nirei offered absolutely no mercy whatsoever. He slapped a bandage onto Endo's forehead with such a hard pressure that it made a loud sound. "You too Endo! Beefing with a freshman, you're not ashamed of yourself?”

"Ouch, ouch! Nirei-chan, it hurts~ You’re so rough on your big brother" Endo whined in a coddling tone that didn't match up with his massive, heavily tattooed body, causing Sakura on the next bed to make a face like he wanted to throw up.

After wrapping all of their wounds in a complete mess of bandages, Nirei stood with his hands on his hips right in the middle of their beds, staring down both with an intimidating gaze.

"Listen. From now, don't you ever fight again. See what will happen if I see you guys throwing punches at school ever again!" Nirei threatened firmly.

Endo and Sakura locked eyes for a single second out of the corners of their swollen eyes. Then, with a strange display of teamwork, both of them turned back to Nirei and answered in unison:

"Can't do that."

"No way. I'm still going to beat him up again later." Sakura said simply.

"Besides, if I get hurt again, it feels nice getting taken care of by Nirei-chan," Endo nodded.

Nirei stared open-mouthed. He looked at the two stubborn idiots in front of him, who seemed to have made an absolute pact to remain eternal enemies and keep fighting in the future.

Seeing their completely incurable stubbornness, Nirei ultimately could only massage his temples, which had suddenly begun to throb with pain. He felt as though his body's energy had been entirely drained, making this far more exhausting than studying for a daily math quiz.

"Just- Whatever! Don't do it in front of me or ‘cause me any trouble anymore!" Nirei grumbled in frustration.

14.

For young Nirei Akihiko, home was a quiet and cold place. The time when his mother began to ignore his existence was the most confusing chapter of his life. However, in the midst of that loneliness, Togame was always there. Togame refused to let his little brother struggle alone.

That afternoon, the sound of suitcase wheels frictioning against the floor was the only sound down the house's hallway. Their mother was once again preparing to leave, this time for a long-term business trip to Switzerland.

Nirei stood frozen near the door, his small hand tightly gripping a sheet of exam paper. He hoped his mother would look back, or at least ask about how his day went at school. However, the front door closed and his mother didn't even glance at him once.

After his mother left, Nirei sat down limply in front of the closed door, lowering his head. Nirei thought that if he became a smart and obedient child, his mother would definitely care and notice him. But the reality was, no matter how hard he tried, his mother would no longer care about him.

A tall shadow approached Nirei's head. When the little one looked up, it turned out to be his second older brother, Togame, who suddenly knelt down and squatted next to Nirei. Togame glanced at his little brother curiously.

"Why are you looking down in front of the door like this, little brother?" Nirei didn't answer and only gripped the paper in his hand even tighter. Teardrops began to gather in his clear eyes.

Togame's eyes widened slightly once he realized what that paper was. On top of the paper, a large red 100 was written, accompanied by a perfect drawing of a sunflower. The maximum score for an elementary school level kanji exam.

"Is this Nirei's exam result? That's so cool!" Togame gaped in surprise, breaking the silence in the house that was far too spacious for two elementary school children. Nirei was also surprised by the exclamation from Togame, who all this time had never been quite that expressive.

Togame smiled. He reached out, proudly patting Nirei on the head with affection and stroking his blonde hair. "Your score is perfect! Your brother is proud to have a little sibling as smart as Nirei!"

Nirei who felt his world collapsing due to his mother's departure, hearing the word 'proud' spoken by Togame with such a genuinely sparkling gaze, the tightness in his chest gradually melted away. His tears of sadness turned into tears of touched.

Nirei stared into his brother's warm eyes. At least, in this vast world, there was still one person who noticed him. There was still Togame, who appreciated his effort.

From that day on, Togame became another reason for Nirei to remain happy, even though his mother failed to provide him with happiness for the remainder of her life. Just as Nirei would keep smiling for the sake of Endo-nii chan, who always tried to make him happy, Nirei would keep doing his best to make Togame-nii san proud.

On another occasion during a weekend, Nirei was lying on his stomach on the living room floor, completely engrossed in scribbling in his sketchbook with colorful crayons. Togame, who had just finished cleaning the house, felt curious. He lay down beside his little brother, propping up his chin with an interested face.

"What is Nirei-chan drawing? Can your brother take a look?" Togame asked enthusiastically.

Nirei blushed slightly in embarrassment, but he still flipped his sketchbook over and showed it to Togame. It was a drawing of two male figures, one large and one small, holding hands beneath a brightly smiling sun. Written below it in messy hiragana was: Togame-nii san and Nirei.

"Wow, it's so good! What is this? A cockroach?" Togame pointed to a black blob next to the other drawing of Nirei. Nirei looked carefully at what Togame was asking about.

"This is Endo-nii chan," Nirei answered flatly. “Pfffttt–” Togame couldn't hold back his laughter. His eyes suddenly grew watery with an overwhelming admiration. "This is... so beautiful, Nirei-chan! Your brother loves it so much!" Togame expressed with his genuine smile.

Nirei smiled proudly, "This is for drawing class homework at school!"

"Hm, you'll definitely get a good grade from the teacher later. Can your brother ask you to draw something else? A drawing of the three of us just like this too."

Young Nirei nodded eagerly. And that colorful drawing made by Nirei that day was neatly framed by Togame and hung on his bedroom wall, remaining perched there safely even though they had grown into high school teenagers now.

There was also a day when Togame went out of his way to pick up his little brother because their driver was going to be late. The moment he saw Togame's figure, young Nirei immediately ran toward him. 

He tightly held Togame's large hand, and then with a bashfully blushing face, he gently tugged his brother's sleeve toward the inner school corridor, right in front of the main bulletin board.

Nirei pointed with his tiny index finger to a piece of paper displayed there. Written on it was the name Nirei Akihiko as the first-place winner of the elementary school level sakubun writing competition. Togame immediately knelt down to bring himself to Nirei's height, and then hugged his little brother tightly while laughing happily. 

"Amazing! My little brother truly is the best in the whole world! Your brother is always proud of you, Nirei-chan!"

Young Nirei laughed loudly, hugging Togame's neck with bright happiness. Having an older brother who always celebrated every single one of his small achievements meant that Nirei never felt a lack of affection ever again.

Thud!

Togame, who was focused on stirring the broth over the stove, flinched slightly when a small impact landed on his back. Nirei had just jogged in from the front and immediately wrapped his arms tightly around Togame's waist from behind.

"Togame-nii san! Look at this!" Nirei exclaimed with a wide blooming smile on his sweet face. He proffered a sheet of paper from beside Togame's body. "Today's math exam... I got a 95!"

Togame turned off the stove, then spun around and immediately gathered Nirei into his arms. Just like when they were kids, Togame's expression filled with pride.

"Nirei-chan! Your brother knew you could definitely do it!" Togame praised, repeatedly kissing the crown of his little brother's head. "As a reward for your hard work, what does Nirei-chan want to eat for dinner?"

Nirei looked up with eyes sparkling with a coddled, affectionate gleam. "I want your homemade curry, Kak!"

"Understood! Your brother will make a special, most delicious curry specifically for my smart little brother," Togame answered with his warm prince smile.

Nirei tightened his embrace around Togame's stomach, resting his head comfortably against his older brother's chest. Feeling grateful and happy. Nirei knew his mother might have ignored him, but he didn't care anymore. 

As long as Togame always stood as his loyal protector and supporter, Nirei's world would always feel whole and full of love. Nirei truly loved his older brother very, very much.

15.

The day of the Furin High School Cultural Festival arrived, and the freshman corridor had completely transformed into a sea of people. In front of Class 1-1, a large chalkboard decorated with pink ribbons proudly read Furin Maid Cafe.

Their class concept this year was incredibly out of mind. Through a rigged voting process, the cafe rules were flipped as the female students wore dashing butler suits, while all the male students were required to wear full maid dresses, complete with lace headbands and white stockings. They were opening a crossdressing cafe!

"Ukh... this is so embarrassing... Why does the skirt have to be this short?" Nirei squeaked, his face burning a bright crimson. He kept tugging at the hem of his black maid dress that fluttered above his knees, trying to hide himself behind a wooden serving tray.

In another corner, Sakura was scowling heavily with his arms crossed over his chest. "Damn it! Why do I have to wear something like this?! Let me out of this already, will ya?!" he roared crossly, glaring at any customer who dared to look his way.

Meanwhile, Suo Hayato stood near the cash register, sporting a formal smile that felt exceptionally cold. The glint in his eyes made it crystal clear that he wasn't enjoying these lace garments one bit.

However, whenever his fatigue and annoyance peaked from serving customers, Suo only needed to look over in Nirei's direction. Seeing his beautiful boy looking so cute, innocent, and adorable in a maid outfit instantly restored Suo's mood. The only benefit of this ridiculous festival is getting to see Nirei so pretty like this. A healing smile playing on his lips.

Unsurprisingly, Class 1-1's crossdressing maid cafe became the most popular booth in the entire freshman wing. The secret didn't lie in the taste of their food, but rather in their genius business strategy: the dishes were priced cheap, but they raked in massive profits from the fanservice menu!

Just by purchasing a 1000 yen food set, customers could choose to take a photo together with a maid of their choice, get a bit of skinship with their favorite maid, or request a specific interaction between one maid and another.

Furthermore, each maid had an assigned character trope they were required to roleplay. Sakura was condemned to be the tsundere maid which, bizarrely, the masochistic customers absolutely loved, Kiryu became the flirty maid who was highly popular among the visiting high school girls, and Nirei was given the role of a clumsy, shy-shy-lovely maid.

Against all expectations, Nirei ended up being the most popular maid and generated the highest revenue! The female customers cooed over him like a cute little brother they wanted to pocket and take home, while the male students visiting from other schools found their hearts racing at Nirei's innocence, especially when he repeatedly tripped over his own small heels while delivering orders.

Amidst the bustling of the cafe, the classroom door suddenly swung wide open. Two towering figures stepped inside, immediately stealing the attention of the entire room. Togame Jo and Endo Yamato had arrived together. The two whipped older brothers had intentionally cleared their schedules just to see their beloved little brother dressed up as a maid.

The moment Nirei’s blonde hair caught the silhouette of his brothers, his internal danger radar blared instantly. "Oh no, the monsters are here!" Nirei gasped under his breath. He spun around right away, intending to flee to the breakroom at the back of the class.

"Where do you think you're running off to, Nirei-chan~?" With lightning-fast movements, Endo managed to snag the back collar of Nirei's dress, lifting his little brother until his feet slightly hovered off the ground. Endo's eyes sparkled with absolute adoration. "Ah! My little brother is just too cute!"

Togame closed in as well, propping his chin up with a prince-like smile that Nirei now found thoroughly exasperating. "Look over here, Nirei-chan. Brother wants to take a picture of his little baby."

The two older brothers quickly became the loudest and most manipulative customers in the room. They continuously ordered fanservice without stopping. Togame ordered a full package of Nirei’s polaroid photos. Endo pulled out a 10,000-yen bill just so Nirei would sit on his lap for the rest of the day. Togame refused to lose, ordering at the exact same time so that Nirei would hand-feed him the menu items he had selected.

Surrounded by the two giants, Nirei could only hold his throbbing head. His face was flushed entirely red, but he couldn't turn them down either; the more money his brothers splurged on fanservice, the higher their class revenue climbed. Just you wait, we’ll see who sleeps on the sofa and takes a cold shower tonight, Nirei grumbled in his head.

Seeing Nirei starting to look cornered and uncomfortable, his personal team of bodyguards immediately stepped forward to shield him. Suo walked over to their table, standing tall beside Togame with a sharp gaze hidden behind his pleasant smile.

"Togame-senpai, please respect the cafe regulations. You are making our maid feel uncomfortable. Besides, the queue behind you is quite long, so please do not monopolize him."

Togame glanced up at Suo, his smile shifting into a challenging line. "Oh, Suo-kun? We are paying according to the rates, so we have our rights, don't we? As his brother, I have the right to receive the best service from my own little sibling."

On the other side, Sakura also stepped up, blocking Endo with a fierce expression. "Hey, madman! Take your hands off Nirei! Don't think just because you have a lot of money you can act however you want in our classroom!"

Endo smirked terrifyingly, lowering his head to bring his eyes level with Sakura's. "Hoo, want to interfere? This is our family matter. You have absolutely nothing to do with my sweet little brother."

It seemed like world war three would start in this class so Nirei was busy trying to break them apart with a thoroughly frustrated face. The only one being happy in this room was the Class 1-1 treasurer. Sitting at the cash register, grinning from ear to ear, counting the ever-growing stack of cash coming from Endo and Togame's table.

Ultimately, this year's Cultural Festival wrapped up as a massive success for Class 1-1. They won the award for the freshman booth with the most high sales revenue in the entire school.

Even though Nirei ended up completely drained of energy and his legs felt weak from catering to his overbearing brothers, seeing his classmates cheering wildly to celebrate their victory brought a sweet, a smile could be seen to the face of everyone's favorite blonde maid.