Chapter 18: Looking Ahead

“It'll probably take about a month until everything's ready over there. After that, we’ll take care of the transfer paperwork on this side, so I think some of you will start attending school from the second semester.”

It’s June now, so that gives us about two months of breathing room. What should I do? Besides watching anime or reading manga, maybe I could go on a short trip somewhere... If possible, I’d love to get revenge on that school trip that didn’t work out.

“There’s a lot you need to take care of. First of all, you’ve got to prepare for the transfer exam.”

My excitement vanished in an instant.

“...Transfer... exam...?”

“Of course. You can’t get into high school without passing an entrance exam.”

I hadn’t even imagined this. I had just gotten through high school entrance exams last year and finally felt the weight lift off my shoulders—and now I have to do it again...?

“Also, you'll need to study the material covered during the first semester of high school. Even if you get accepted, there’s no point if you can’t keep up with the classes.”

...That already sounds pretty rough.

“Plus, you’ve got to fix your speech and behavior. You can’t keep acting like a boy forever. It’s unbecoming.”

Said Mom.

“...Do I really have to...? I mean, there are tomboyish girls, right?”

“There’s a difference between being a masculine woman and having crude manners. I’m not saying you have to be the perfect woman, but now that you’ll be out in society, I won’t allow you to act in ways that are disgraceful as a girl.”

“Hehehe, good luck, Onii-chan!”

“This isn’t someone else’s problem, Yuna. You’re a young lady too, but your behavior is often far too careless. Since we’re on the topic, you’ll be correcting yourself alongside her.”

“Ugh... I stepped on a landmine...”

Yuna got dragged in and scolded too.

...Hmph, serves her right for laughing at my misfortune.

“But still... when you say ‘act more like a girl,’ what exactly am I supposed to do...?”

“Well, for starters, stop referring to yourself as ‘ore’ and start using ‘watashi.’ Also, drop the rough language. Even just those two changes will make a big difference. After that, watch how Yuna speaks and gradually pick it up.”

“Ugh... does that mean even at home?”

“Of course. You barely talk to anyone outside as it is, so you’ll have to get used to it with your family.”

“...Okay, I’ll try.”

“Also, from now on, we’ll all call you Alice without exception. You should get used to hearing it too. Everyone okay with that?”

And so, just like that, I had to say a sudden farewell to the name Ikuto I’d used for sixteen years.

“...Let’s do our best, Alice!”

Everything’s going to be an uphill battle. We finally have a clear direction for how things are going to be—but before that, the mountain of tasks ahead made me let out a sigh without thinking.

...What? I’m not using watashi as my pronoun? ...Come on, at least let me keep that much in my thoughts.

After that, I worked with Yuna on preparing for the transfer exam until dinner.

According to what we found on the school's homepage, the transfer exam will be held on July 29. The subjects are Japanese, English, Math, and there’ll also be an interview.

When I asked Dad about eligibility for the transfer, he said there was nothing to worry about. Since I’m officially a quarter Japanese and had been attending a local Japanese school overseas, it’s recognized that I completed the equivalent of the first semester of Japanese high school there.

The exam content is pretty much the same as the high school entrance exams—so basically, it covers what I studied in junior high.

Having been away from studying for a year, a lot of it had already slipped from my mind. So having Yuna, who had just finished her own exams recently, help me was honestly a relief. ...My little sister is sneakily smart.

“...Yuna, if you're this good at studying, why did you decide to go to Hirakou?”

With her grades, she could’ve aimed for a higher-tier school.

“It’s close to home, and it’s the school you went to, Onii-chan. Also... I just wasn’t in the right headspace to focus on entrance exams back then.”

Yuna turned her face away, like it was hard to say.

That’s when I realized... it was because of me.

"I'm sorry... it's my fault, isn't it? I disappeared during the most important part of your exam season..."

As I looked down in guilt, I felt something soft on my head—Yuna’s hand had come to rest gently on top of it.

When I looked up, Yuna was smiling at me warmly.

"Really, don’t worry about it. I chose to go to Hirayama High—Hirakou. The uniforms are cute, and most of the people in class are really nice, so I don’t regret it at all!"

...I see. If she's enjoying school, then that’s all that matters.

"And besides, because I went to Hirakou, I get to help you like this, Alice, and we can go to school together. That makes me really happy, honestly."

Saying that, Yuna gently stroked my head.

I felt a flush rising in my cheeks as my emotions swelled... If she weren’t my little sister, I think I might have fallen for her right then.

"...Thanks, Yuna."