Chapter 3. Avril

When I awoke, I found two girls sleeping by my side and a pair of broken spectacles on my face. I took off the glasses and wondered why they didn't have the sensibility to remove them for me as I inspected the crack on the right lens.

“Eh, I don’t really need glasses.” I quietly whispered while placing the pair in my pants pocket. The glasses were more for convenience sake. Rather than treating people for bad vision, my pair was meant to assist vision for long term exposure to LED computer screens and what not. They were meant to prevent the eyes from drying up too much.

Although in my case, I recklessly bought them on a whim without checking the specifics. When they first came, I was filled with excitement, but that was quickly deflated as I soon discovered it was a [magic item]. Magic items are just as they sound, items that run off magic, or more accurately mana. Mana, by this era’s dictionary definition was defined as raw magical energy. Mana was the fuel for magic, and by extension it was the fuel for magic items. It’s accurate to say that magic items are basically preloaded spells, items designed to do one specific task in exchange for mana consumption.

Of course in order to use a magic item, the owner himself needs to have some semblance of magic or else the given effect won’t activate. Magic items work either by reacting to a person’s innate mana (for type B magicians and ability users) or through force feeding mana from the environment into the item (for type A magicians). Without magic manipulation, an item won’t work. This is convenient for preventing accidents when someone leaves a rather dangerous item unattended (although there are some items than can be preset to continuously absorb mana from the environment, although those are extremely expensive).

In this era, mainly due to popularity and convenience, most modern home appliances and basically just about any human innovation can be loosely classified as a magic item. Electric appliances, which were once popular, are now few in number. This is mostly due to the decline in power source. Fossil fuels have long since been abandoned and other alternate resources aren’t as cost effective and as easily acquired as magic. Nowadays, in order to use the more “old-school” products that don’t run off magic, you needed something like a personal electric generator. But since purely electric technology has stagnated ever since the discovery of magic, not only are they rare and expensive, they are also extremely inefficient.

This only serves to make my life harder as someone who can’t use, manipulate, or produce magic. I’m more like a rock (the one WITHOUT magic imbued in them) or a monster, when it comes to magic, thus not only am I not able to use it, magic items are beyond my reach as well, and there’s no way in hell I can afford the pre-setted, self-feeding variations. Obviously the glasses didn’t work, and to me, they were just another pair of lenses. But I couldn't muster the will to throw away something I bought (for 3 payments of $19.99 no less!), and got into the habit of wearing them (mostly because there were no refunds).

But now I can’t do that, or else I’d look rather silly walking around the new campus with a pair of broken spectacles on my face.

Sighing once more, I turned my attention to the girls on my bedside. One of them was my little sister, Nanami. I chuckled to myself as I saw the faintest trace of drool slide down her small, rosy toned cheek. It pooled together on her elbow, which was sure to cause her discomfort upon waking up.

The other was Avril Stelato, a big breasted and healthy figured girl with blonde hair. She had beautiful, pale skin and a neatly styled free flowing blonde hair complemented by ringlets hanging over her shoulder.

As I observed the sleeping Ms. Stelato, I simply doubted she was the same Avril I met over a year ago. The image of the toothy grinned girl and the current prim and proper Avril were two different people. Although her figure stayed relatively the same, albeit with a little growth around her chest area, her hairstyle was the most notable change. Previously, the younger Avril donned on a more wild and unkempt look, with short hair, reminiscent of Nanami’s current hairstyle, now she was a so...so… so organized.

In the past, I had met Avril in the middle of the Ucrete Forest, A quasi-labyrinth with nasty strong magical beings and monsters roaming around. As to why I was there in the first place, I was working a summer job at the government sponsored national park to supervise the tourist sector of the forest (the half that wasn’t classified as a labyrinth and just as an extremely spooky looking forest). Since my resume qualified me as magic null, or basically someone with shitty magic capability (when in actuality I had none) I was stuck picking up trash, and maintaining the hot springs. (which, in the three months I spent working there, the hot springs were probably the only thing attracting guests, but I guess that can be attributed to the magical effect the springs had, something about eternal youth or was it getting rid of blemishes? Well, something along those lines)

But anyway, as for Avril, well back then she was a reckless rich princess who fancied herself to be quite strong. She was rather arrogant back then and thought she could handle the forest lovingly nicknamed, “The Grim Reaper’s Garden.” Of course this label was for the labyrinth section. The national park had a cheery nickname, “The Garden of Primroses”, called for due to the Park’s absurd amount of the particular flower. (And yes, the tourists were all informed before hand that yes, the primroses were in fact, poisonous)

So while she vacationed at the Ucrete National Park with her family (along with an entourage of battle butlers and combat maids) she ran off into the forest, looking for some Class B monsters to exchange blows with. Normally just running off into the forest wouldn’t get you to the labyrinth, due to a vigorous exploration fee, adventurer examination and a giant wall of thorns separating the two regions, but the sneaky bastard managed to get through by posing as a late party member to a group of sponsored magicians who had gotten in earlier.

Well long story short, rather than the monsters, the crazy fool had almost died from starvation and dehydration. I found her along one of the trails within the tourist section of the forest. (Although had she ventured deeper, starvation would have been the least of her problems. Rather, she’d be dead, so she’d have no problems at all) Apparently, after realizing she had royally screwed up, she somehow managed to reach the safer regions of the labyrinth, and whether through pure chance or luck on her part, I happened to be their, feeding a wild three-horned boar I managed to tame after 3 weeks of vigourous coercing.

When I met her, at first I thought she was one of the monsters, or magical beings. A goblin variant with a distinctly more humanoid appearance, and unrealistic bust size. That conclusion was mainly due to her appearance at the time. Even now, I can still remember her horrid appearance.

Her eye’s were spinning, the clothes on her back were tattered, her, at the time, short hair, was sticking out in all places, and there were two distinct twigs sticking out of her head. The twigs looked like horns from a far, which further enforced my goblin theory.

When I realized she was the lost Ojou-sama that everyone at the hotel (yes the park had a hotel) was frantically looking for, I fed her some of the boar chow I had on me (in retrospect, giving that to a person, may not have been the smartest thing to do) let her drink some of my water, and took her back to the hotel.

She was half delusional then, and could hardly stand up, so regrettably I had to leave a week’s supply of Boar chow with Timmy (my nickname for the three-horned boar) and had to princess carry the girl back to the hotel. Her surprisingly strong grip on around my neck as I carried her back further strengthened my resolve and my realization. I knew I had lost not only the chow, but also Timmy, since everybody knows that over indulging a monster mid way through its taming will cause problems in the future.

Ever since that day, I never met Timmy ever again. He ran off not only with my bag of Boar chow, but also with my heart.

When we got back to the hotel and after she had recovered, she had developed quite an attachment to me. This was probably since I was left with the duty of nursing her back to health, since neither the staff or Avril’s entourage of attack servants held more practical health knowledge than me, and we were lacking health potions at the time.

In the end, Avril stayed at Ucrete national park for the rest of the summer. She constantly bugged me while I was in the middle of the my job, and would occasionally sneak out to the labyrinth side when nobody was looking. But I guess all in all, I did enjoy hanging out with that crazy egg head.

Although her current appearance is quite a contrast to the Avril I once knew.

“Still, despite the way she looks, she still acts the same as ever.”

I smiled inwardly to myself. Headbutting me as a greeting was a habit she developed a year ago. I was actually more than prepared for it, but the knee to the nether regions was an unwanted surprise.

“Strange… She had the proper form down, maybe her breasts brought her stance closer to the ground?”

As I contemplated the effects of gravity and its connection with the throbbing in my inguinal region, Avril rustled in her sleep. This course of actions cause a subsequent response from Nanami, who made a little cooing noise, while she mumbled “funya, funya~”.

I moved to pat Nanami’s head while I looked around the room. I was in a white walled, and white tiled rectangular room. Going by the medicine cabinet to the side and the rows of beds on the other, I guessed we were in this school’s version of an infirmary. There was a window to the right, and the setting sun outside informed me of how late we had stayed here.

“Geez, I kinda did want to explore the city, or at the very least visit some of the cake shops I saw passing by. *grumbling stomach*....It has been a while since I ate anything besides cup ramen..”

I grumbled to myself and god, hoping he’d do me a favor for once in my life and drop down a slice of chocolate cheese cake from heaven.

“Well, it can’t be helped….”

I sighed once more, and opted to wake the girls up so we can get moving. I did so using a loud clap, followed by bellowing, “WAKE UP! NANAMI, EGG HEAD!”

“Don’t call me that!”

Avril sluggishly responded immediately to my self imposed nickname of her. I had the habit of teasing Avril with egg related nicknames after a certain misfortunate incident. She had insisted on making me food, and her attempt at cooking an omelet left my taste buds out of commission for days. It seems that rebuking any of my nicknames has become second nature for her, to the point of waking up from slumber just to retort back at me.

Avril got up and opened her eyes with a half glazed expression. She stared blankly at the bed, then swiveled her head to and fro, inspecting the room. Her gaze eventually fell onto Nanami. She reached down and weakly shook my sister while quietly groaning,

“Little sister, little sister….”

Nanami, groaned and slowly woke up in the same fashion as Avril except with much less vigor. (if that was at all possible) She stared blankly at me for a second.

I stared back with a fake solemn expression.

“,,,”

“...”

“*sniff*..”

“...?”

As our silent exchange continued (with Avril in the background looking confused, and with what I imagined as a giant question mark floating above her head) Nanami slowly started trembling. Her eyes began to water as her lips started a small quiver.

“O-o-o-onii….*sniff*”

“U-um, Nanami? Are you alright?”

I spoke deliberately slowly, and raised my hands up to face Nanami. My sister was an eccentric person, so my train of logic was to act like she was a T-rex, not make any sudden movements or else things could escalate from worry to chaos.

“Mmmm!”

Nanami bit her lip, and feverishly shook her head. Her teary eyed expression and frantic face worried, causing me to break out in a cold sweat.

“Oi, Nanami? What’s wrong! Don’t tell me… *gasp*... D-did Omelet over there do something to you..?”

“Hey! I didn’t do anything, and quite calling me that!”

I could hear Hard-boiled retorting in the background, but more pressing concerns were present.

Nanami continued to tear up as she shakingly directed her gaze towards my nether regions.

“O-onii-chan almost became invalid….if something had happened to your..*Nanami makes a gesture with her eyes towards my nether regions*...”

“O-oi! Quite looking down there!”

I desperately covered myself up like a Manga heroine who just had her panties exposed.

“B-b-but, what if Onii-chan can’t make babies anymore *sniff*”

“ A little sister shouldn’t be worrying about that!”

Nanami continued making worried expressions, but luckily this time refrained from any saying anything about my privates.

“That’s right!”

Great, Avril’s joining into the fray.

“My Kelp here is waaaaaay tougher than that!”

My Kelp, you say??? I silently retorted to Avril.

“Oi! Stay out of this Soft-Boiled, you’re the one who hurt me in the first place.”

In response to my words, Avril made an almost regrettable expression, before she steeled herself with a defiant glare and began Ohohohohoing to herself.

“My fault you say? Isn’t it you who decided to sexually assault my knee during our fateful reunion?”

“Sexually assault my ass!”

As our glares met, sparks flew, before I opted to not get into such a confrontation with Avril here. I took a deep breath and sighed, something I’ve been doing a lot of recently.

“Isn’t there suppose to be a nurse, or doctor around here?”

I glanced around the room looking for a person that was clearly not pleasant.

“ She was left a while ago, after checking that you were okay.”

Avril stated, with a hint of relief in her voice.

“Ah, I see… that’s good then, I can expect a setting with type of character...”

I began to mumble to myself as I remembered the famous archetype of Anime’s past. In my mind I pictured a mature, adult woman, preferably with glasses, dressed up in a white lab coat with black stockings straddling her healthy looking thighs whilst she had a thermostat straddled around her cleavage, laughing hauntingly.

“What was that Kelp?”

“Ah, no, nothing, nevermind. *cough* So, tell me, what happened after I passed out?”

Nanami stepped up to explain.

“W-when Oniichan passed out, Avril and I carried you to the infirmary. We caused quite a bit of ruckus. Who knew Oniichan new Avril-san! To know such an amazing person, everyone around was quite suprised, well, more shocked would be a better word. I was also taken aback…”

I made a snorting sound.

“Amazing? Who, this brat? She can’t even prepare a decent breakfast. There’s nothing amazing about this drill haired princess!”

Avril made a weird expression as she cradled the ringlets besides her shoulder.

“muuu….”

She made a weird sound as she puckered her lips together. I prepared myself for the oncoming protest, leaning back into the bed frame behind me.

Contrary to my expectations, Avril’s expression suddenly loosened as her cheeks blushed a shade of pink and she made a gesture as if trying to hide behind the locks of her hair.

“P-p-p-princess you say...ehehehe~”

I stared blankly at her.

You can’t just ignore all the negatives and focus on the single positive! That’s not how this is suppose to work!

I sighed once more.

I couldn’t keep up with this person. Not back then, not now.

Although I wanted to pry. Purely out of curiosity, I wanted to ask why she had changed, but I had a feeling that asking wasn’t the best of moves right now. So I opted not to, plus I just didn’t feel like asking.

Well, not like it mattered. Although the appearance might be different, the person was the same.

Amidst my inner monologue and Avril’s cheeky grins, Nanami pouted. She must have felt left out. Although I envy her for not being involved.

Before Nanami could start a ruckus or even worse, inflame the already heated Avril, I groggily got up from the bed and looked out the window.

“It’s pretty late now…”

My sudden declaration sucked in all the attention from the surrounding girls.

They followed my gaze and nodded in unison.

Nanami wiped the drool on her elbow using the bed sheets and got up to collect her things, a new yellow backpack and her old electronic smart phone.

“Let’s go Oniichan, the main building’s already arranged our new accommodations.”

“Oh really? Where is it at?”

I followed Nanami’s actions and grabbed my backpack as I asked her, piqued by slight curiosity.

“Nishishishi! You'll just have to wait and see Onii-chan!”

Nanami smirked and acted like it was the biggest secret in the world. What a cheeky brat she’s become.

“You’re little sister doesn’t even know where it is yet, Kelp.”

Avril cooly retorted as she also moved to pick up her things.

I gave a sideways glance to Nanami, which she avoided with an awkward smile, before focusing her attention on Avril.

“Ah! Shhhh! Avril, geez, you meanie!”

“Ahahaha, it’s not nice keeping secrets little sister. Don’t worry though Kelp, I talked about it with Nanami while you were out cold, turns out we live in the same complex! Same address and all, I can show you the way.”

Avril broadly grinned with a toothy expression, one I was quite familiar with back in Ucrete Forest.

“Ah, thanks scramble. Can you tell me one thing though...is there wifi?”

“ Don’t call me that, and yeah, there is, why do you ask?”

Avril commented. These days, the internet was probably the only purely electronic innovation that still claimed the same popularity it had as in the previous era. Wifi by now was basically universal, that’s why such a question was quite odd, but you know, you can never be too sure.

“It’s not like it matters right Oniichan, it’s not like you’ll be able to use it or anything!”

Nanami laid down the harsh truth onto me as she left the room, leaving behind a trail of annoying laughter in her wake.

I sighed. The girl was right, but in the end she was also wrong. I would find a way to get past that stupid curse! This I swear!

As I steeled my resolve and prepared to walk out of the infirmary, I was abruptly stopped by a tugging on my shirt from behind.

I turned and saw Avril, eye’s cast down with her hand still on the hem of my shirt.

“Benedict? What’s up?”

Avril returned my question with more fidgeting, as she struggled to find the words to express her thoughts. After a few more seconds of this, Avril looked up at me. I hadn’t noticed then, but there was a good 4 inches separating our heights. Her upturned glance made a surprisingly cute expression and the impact was pretty obvious on my pubescent heart.

“U-um, I ju-j-just wanted to say…”

Avril continued struggling with her words. Although I kinda had an inkling on what she intended to say…

“S-s-s-s-s-s-orr-”

Before she could finish I cut her off, by stroking her head. This set of actions served well in calming down Nanami, maybe it would work the same with Avril. After all, despite the difference in physical development, the two were the same age.

“???”

At first, Avril was bewildered by this turn of events, and not knowing what to do, she opted to remain quite. Although she did keep her upturned glance directed at me. With the growing red in her complexion, the expression was quite adorable.

“It’s okay Avril. I know you’re not good with these types of things.”

Avril probably wanted to apologize. Although she wouldn’t show it, she was the type to dwell and get wrapped up in worry. She probably worried endlessly about me, although I’d never say that out loud, since it sounds a tad bit too overconfident.

Not to mention the fact that with Avril’s usual haughty attitude, apologizing gets a bit awkward. But it’s the feeling that counts right? Going by that logic, she’s apologized enough.

I continued to stroke her head, going so far as to ruffle her silky gold hair around abit. Luckily, she herself didn’t seem to mind. Rather, I think she liked it?

“Come on Egg Head, it’s not like you to act so glum.” I stated whilst gently stroking her golden helm.

“Be positive, be spontaneous. It’s more fun when you act like you’re usual self.” I continued.

“B-but….you..you got hurt..”

“Haaa? Hurt you say? Didn’t you say it before, it’s gonna take a hell of a lot more to hurt someone like me!”

I broadly grinned while thumbing my chest.

My overenthusiastic act brought a slight smile to her, which caused me to widen my own. While it looked like she didn’t believe my false bravado, well, it didn’t really matter. As long as she stopped worrying, it was all good. Different reaction, same result.

Avril suddenly slapped both her cheeks together. The action startled me, but it seemed to cause a fire to light up within Avril’s eyes.

“That’s right! Why am I, the great Avril, Avril the Ability User, Avril the one who control-”

“Get on with it already.” I interrupted her monologue before it got anymore annoying.

“Ah, Um, What I was trying to say was, I won’t worry about it anymore!”

“That’s great then. It’s depressing when you act so depressing.”

“Yup!”

Avril bolted past me and out the door, presumably to follow my sister. A moment later, she stuck her head back in, and with a face dyed with a slight flush, she said,

“Thanks Kelp.”

Afterwards she ran back out after my sister.

I smiled inwardly to myself, exited the infirmary and followed the two girls to my new home.

*Author's note: I wrote this while high and woozy from Turkey stuffing so I hope you guys like it. I'm open to all forms of criticisms, advice, and maybe ideas to include within the story.

Chapter 2

Chapter 4