Manse Takane

Acacia Animarum - Wood
Hihara Sera - Fire
Hakumoto Akiyo - Metal
Manse Masao - Air
Nuriki Mariko - Water
Tendou Akari - HR

*Scene 1*

Kon kon kon (Thud thud thud)

Takane
"Oi! Masao! It's time to get up! You've got school!"

Masao
"Haiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii..."

Even though she's probably not going to get up, I should probably give her the benefit of doubt for today. I wait a couple minutes before knocking on her door again.

Kon kon kon

Takane
"Masao, you're going to have a bath, and if I have to drag you in while you're sleeping, I will!"

Masao
"I'n awage, really..."

She's definately not awake... I open the door, stepping inside her room. 

Masao
"Munya munya munya munya..."

She's sleeping like a baby, as usual. She's so adorable when she sleeps that I hate to interrupt it, but I don't really have a choice in the matter. She won't wake up if I don't take extreme measures.

I quickly strip her out of her pyjamas and, bringing along her uniform, lead her to the bathroom and into the bathtub. I start the water going, and once it's filled up enough of the bathtub, I splash some water in her face.

Masao
"Mu...nya?"

She mutters, as she starts to wake up. After about a minute, she realizes the situation, and blushes.

Masao
"Ahh!!! Oniichan's a pervert!"

As she shouts this out, she frantically flails around, splashing water all over the place.

Takane
"If you keep splashing around like that, you're going to get your uniform wet."

With that, her blush reddens as she stops splashing around, and quickly covers her chest with her arms.

Masao
"Anyways, wait outside the room."

Takane
"Hai hai."

With that, I step out of the room and close the door. As I wait for her to finish her bath, I silently wish that every day wasn't like this.

Oh, perhaps I should probably explain the situation. I'm Manse Takane. Believe it or not, my family's a very powerful magic family - in fact, we can trace the magic in our family to back before Japan existed.

Of course, that doesn't mean that the occasional freak mutation doesn't happen. Apparently, due to generations of attempts to keep the bloodline "pure", I'm the end result. For all the attempts to keep the bloodline strong in magic, I have no magic whatsoever.

I've been trained ever since I was a baby on how to use magic properly, but in the end, no matter how hard I tried, nothing ever came of it. You could say I'm the black sheep of my family.

Of course, that didn't happen to my little sister, Masao. She's more powerful than everyone around, my parents said. In fact, she's the only reason I'm still allowed to live here - they're too busy to take care of her, so I'm allowed to live here so long as I take 'work' as her legal guardian for them.

Masao
"Oniichan..."

I turn to face her as she steps out of the bathroom, clothed in her uniform.

Takane
"Ah, what do you want for breakfast today, Masao?"

She smiles brightly as she responds.

Masao
"Pancakes! Oniichan makes the best pancakes!"

I laugh slightly as I hear her.

Takane
"You know, you're Japanese, don't you think you should ask for a Japanese breakfast for once?"

Masao
"But Oniichan's Japanese, so Oniichan's Pancakes are a Japanese meal!"

I shake my head slightly as I head downstairs and begin cooking.

*Scene 1 End* *Masao Eyecatch*

*Scene 2*

Now, while my parents have given me enough money to take care of Masao for them, they gave just enough money for Masao - there's not actually enough money for me to live off of.

Thus, I've been working as part-time cook at this restaurant while Masao's at school. It's actually how I managed to learn how to cook for Masao.

Manager
"I'm sorry Manse-kun, but you know we've been having trouble making the budget lately..."

...and there's not enough money to pay for all the staff. Naturally, the part-time employees are the first to go. I nod and bow towards him slightly as I receive my last paycheck.

Takane
"It's no problem, I understand. Thank you for employing me as long as you could."

With that, I step out of the restaurant and head off towards Masao's school. This is going to be a problem though - I was actually working on less than I actually needed every day as is. With the recession and all, there's not really any place for me to work, especially considering that I had to drop out of high-school to help take care of Masao.

By the time I managed to get to the school, most of the classes were out to go to various club activities. Knowing Masao, it'll still be a while before she's ready.

Takane
"Haa..."

I sigh for a moment, contemplating the trouble I'm in. With nothing better to do, I find myself watching a girl about Masao's age trying to complete a flip on the parallel bars, only to fall off, landing on her leg hard. I watch her as she winces and tries it again, only doing worse than before.

I shake my head slightly at her efforts. Doesn't she know that no matter how hard a person tries, there are some things that they just can't do?

Woman
"Are you a pedophile?"

The voice comes from right behind my shoulder. I jump in surprise.

Takane
"Waah!"

I turn around to face the owner of the voice. How did she manage to sneak up behind me like that?

Takane
"What was that for?!"

Woman
"Oh, I think it's important to make sure that pedophiles aren't looking at the innocent maidens in our school looking for marks to abduct. So, are you a pedophile?"

Takane
"You can't actually expect a pedophile to be honest about that, can you?"

Woman
"Hmm... That's true... So, you're a pedophile then?"

Takane
"No, I'm not."

Woman
"Then... you're a pedophile, as a pedophile would lie about it."

Takane
"And someone who isn't would say they aren't either."

Woman
"Oh really? If you're not a pedophile, what are you doing here?"

Takane
"My little sister goes to school here! I'm here to pick her up!"

At this, the woman burst out laughing.

Woman
"Ahahahahaha! Sorry, sorry, Manse-kun, but... Ahahaha!"

Takane
"Wha... What's so funny? And how do you know my name?"

Woman
"Ah, I'm Masao-chan's homeroom teacher, Tendou Akari. Masao-chan's told me a lot about you..."

She pauses a moment before staring at me.

Tendou-sensei
"Jiiiiiiiiiii."

Takane
"What? What is it?"

Tendou-sensei
"Hey, would you like to work as the school counsellor?

Takane
"But... don't you need years of schooling for that? I'm-"

Tendou-sensei
"A high school dropout, right? Even a ronin's better off than you."

Takane
"..."

Tendou-sensei
"But, trust me, you'll do fine. We'll even pay you a full-time salary for it."

She smiles somewhat evilly before continuing.

Tendou-sensei
"But, if you mess up in a major way, we'll have to kick you out, and probably arrest you. That being said, you'll probably do fine. So, are you interested?"

...Well, it's not like I'm any better off without a job.

Takane
"All right... What exactly do I have to do?"

Tendou-sensei
"Oh, just come back here around lunch-time tomorrow, and I'll have everything together for you, ok?"

Takane
"All right..."

Hey wait a minute, if she's Masao's homeroom teacher, then...

Takane
"Hey wait, where's Masao?"

Masao
"Onii-chan's an idiot!"

Takane
"Wha? Masao? How long have you been here?"

Tendou-sensei
"Masao-chan and Mariko-chan were with me when I asked you if you were a pedophile."

Takane
"Ah! Sorry, Mariko-chan, Masao! I'm sorry I didn't notice you two!"

Masao
"..."

Mariko
"Don't worry about it, Taka-tan, it's no big deal."

Mariko pauses a moment, fidgeting slightly and changing the tone of her voice.

Mariko
"Umm... Taka-tan, I'm going to be walking home with you and Masao-chan today... If you don't mind..."

Takane
"Oh, it's no problem at all, Mariko-chan."

With that, our little group begins walking to my family's home.

*End scene two*