A Prince Like That Would End Up Being Disliked~~

“Haah, another day done~. It’s already Thursday. Just one more day and it’s the weekend~”

With the chime signaling the end of school, I slumped over my desk.

You know, Thursdays somehow feel more exhausting than Mondays once school’s over.

“Didn’t you go home with Mishima-kun?”

Katayama asked curiously.

“Takuto said he’s taking extra shifts today for work. Well, there’s still a month and a half until summer vacation, so I guess it’s time to start saving up.”

“Oh, summer vacation! Ah, looking forward to it this year~. Blue seas, white sandy beaches, playing under the blazing sun, having BBQs…”

She seemed so excited, it got me imagining too.

Summer vacation is always the highlight, isn’t it?

“Still a while away, but Shuugo-kun, where are you planning to go for summer vacation?”

“Summer vacation, huh… Well, last year, I stayed over at a friend’s house and stayed up late every night.”

“Sounds like fun. But still tight on money this year too?”

“Iori might pitch in. Well, I’ve got my earnings from work, so I’ll have enough for a few outings. It’d be too sad not to go anywhere during summer.”

Can’t imagine staying cooped up at home for over a month. And I really need to start paying Iori back some of the money I owe him.

“Oh, I see. So maybe one of those outings could be with me—”

“Hey, look! It’s the prince! The prince is here!”

Girls from our class were pointing down the hallway, making a commotion. Katayama’s voice got drowned out.

“What did you say, Katayama?”

“…Seriously, your timing is impeccable, it feels like it was intentional.”

“Katayama?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Let’s make this summer a great one, okay?”

“Sure thing.”

There’s a test before summer break, though. If you fail, you have to come to school for supplementary classes. But I’ll spare Katayama from that reality for now.

Just as the cheers died down and we were about to leave, it happened.

“Wait! She is coming to our class!”

“No way!?”

The excitement erupted once again.

I wonder if Iori’s still here. Amidst the usual overreaction, something unusual happened: Iori entered our classroom.

The remaining classmates buzzed with anticipation.

Iori was alone; there were no girls surrounding her.

“Is Onii-chan here? The brother with a negative 15 favorability.”

That’s the nickname some boys gave me.

It’s me. As the words directed towards me were spoken, the gaze of my classmates turned towards me.

“Of course you are here. Respond properly.”

“Call me by my name, please. I have a respectable name, Shuugo Kusora.”

“Isn’t it a bit late for that?”

“Thanks to you.”

I’m overwhelmingly referred to as “senpai” by underclassmen, and by now, there’s probably no one in this school who doesn’t know my nickname… It’s not something to be proud of.

“What’s the purpose of coming all the way to the classroom? I’m heading home.”

“I don’t have anything else to do after school. I thought I’d pick you up today and walk home together, Onii-chan.”

As I pondered her words, Iori extended her hand, and once again, there were brief cheers. No matter where she goes, the Prince remains popular.

Walking home together, huh…

“I’m sorry, but I’ll pass.”

“Huh?”

Iori’s voice sounded more bewildered than I expected after being turned down.

Today is the release day for a light novel I want to buy, so I want to stop by the bookstore. It’s troublesome if she knows I have money, so I have to go alone.

Besides, even if I walk home with Iori, there’s nothing particular to talk about, and we’ll meet at home anyway.

“See you at home.”

As I tried to pass by Iori, she grabbed the hem of my uniform.

“Onii-chan, you have to listen to what I say.”

“Huh?”

“Onii-chan belongs to me… You’re mine.”

A sudden plea.

This isn’t the usual Iori I see at school, so everyone around us stayed silent.

“Why won’t you listen to me, Onii-chan? You rebelled against me yesterday.”

“Well, I have my own private matters to attend to.”

“It’s a problem if you don’t do as I say, Onii-chan… Otherwise, otherwise…”

For a moment, I felt like my gaze shifted towards Katayama.

“Hey, Iori, calm down. That behavior isn’t appropriate at school…”

Iori usually handles things gracefully and maturely at school. But now, she’s displaying the same slightly selfish attitude as she does at home.

“I’m going home with you.”

“I told you, I want to go home alone.”

“You can’t. Onii-chan, you can’t leave me…”

Her previous statements were starting to sound ominous. The conversation isn’t quite adding up.

Iori is as one-sided and selfish as ever—

“Chuckle”

It felt like someone chuckled lightly.

“Onii-chan? Are you listening?”

“Yeah, uh… sure.”

“Then it’s settled. You’re going home with me, right?”

“No, I’m telling you—”

“Fufu~, A prince like that would end up being disliked~”

Rather than a friendly smile, Katayama’s remark sounded more like a teasing provocation.

It was a sudden intrusion into the conversation, and both Iori and I seemed surprised by it.

“…..Setsu Katayama.”

“Yes, it’s Setsu Katayama♪ The nickname is the third beauty, Setsu-chan~”

Ignoring Iori’s sharp gaze, Katayama confidently continued.

“The school’s Prince and the brother with negative 15 likeability… The relationship between the Kusora siblings is interesting, isn’t it~? But no matter how excellent you are, don’t you think it’s also noble and princely to cherish your older brother and let him stand tall? Right, everyone?”

Katayama posed the question to the remaining classmates. They exchange glances between Iori and Katayama…

“Well, keeping the prince as he is would be fine, of course, but maybe we should be a little kinder to Shuugo-kun too…”

“Shuugo-kun is actually a nice guy, and being in the negative in likeability forever is a bit too much, you know?”

Surprised.

Even though they might have been hedging their comments while gauging reactions, I never expected them to take Katayama’s side. 

I thought they’d naturally side with Iori, who idolizes her….

“I guess I feel the same as everyone else. Wouldn’t it be okay to be a little kinder to Shuugo-kun? I don’t know ‘what the purpose is’ behind being so harsh on him.”

Iori stayed silent for a while. Then, crossing her arms, she scoffed dismissively.

“…I’m leaving.”

“H-Hey, Iori…”

“Easy there, Shuugo-kun.”

Katayama placed a hand on my shoulder.

Eventually, Iori left the classroom.

“Are you just going to take it quietly, Shuugo-kun? Just because you’re her older brother doesn’t mean you have to be kind to her.”

“Don’t have to be kind?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Spreading weird nicknames, taking your allowance every month… Even if you’re siblings, that’s beyond normal. Shuugo-kun might be used to it, but it’s still not right, you know?”

Well, I do feel that way too…

“If we can get her to speak up once, maybe we’ll understand something.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why she turned out this way.”

Indeed, being constantly labeled as ‘negative fifteen in likability’ has been bothering me.

“Hehe, I’m always here to help, you know. Of course, only because it’s Shuugo-kun.”

◆◇

After a silent dinner with Iori, I found myself lying on my bed in my room, lost in thought.

Growing up together as siblings, we had always been close. But as we entered middle school, Iori seemed to enter a rebellious phase, becoming somewhat distant and aloof.

I had always wanted to ask, but I kept putting it off.

“Getting Iori to speak up, huh…”

I mumbled to myself absentmindedly. By then, the date had already changed, and the clock indicated that it was past midnight.