Ugly Sister, Beautiful Brother

Minami sluggishly got ready for school. She tugged at her uniform, feeling irritated as always at how it fit—tight in the wrong places, making her hourglass figure more noticeable.

Meanwhile, Kazuya stood in front of the mirror, effortlessly fixing his collar. He had just finished showering, his damp hair falling naturally into place, his sharp features making him look more like a celebrity than a normal college student.

Minami side-eyed him. Tch. How is that even fair?

"You ready yet?" Kazuya asked, turning toward her.

Minami huffed, straightening her collar. "Obviously."

He smirked, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. "You look really beautiful today."

Minami froze.

Her entire face turned red as she whipped around to glare at him. "D-Don't say weird things so early in the morning!!"

Kazuya laughed. "What? I'm just telling the truth."

"Tch!" She stomped past him, grabbing her bag. "You're so annoying."

Kazuya followed behind her with a lazy grin. "I guess I should say it every morning, then."

"NO, YOU SHOULDN'T!!"

He chuckled as she kept fuming, throwing on his own bag as they made their way out of the house.

As they reached the door, Kazuya glanced at her and tilted his head. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

Minami blinked. "Huh?"

He smirked. "Aren't you going to say something back?"

Minami narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

He leaned down slightly, his golden eyes glinting with mischief. "I just called you beautiful, didn't I? Don't I deserve a compliment too?"

Minami stiffened. T-This bastard…

Her lips pressed into a thin line. She knew if she didn't say anything, he would not let it go.

After a long sigh, she muttered under her breath, "…You look handsome."

Kazuya grinned. "Louder."

Minami turned red. "NO!"

He laughed, ruffling her hair before stepping out the door. "Fine, fine. I heard you."

Minami huffed, following him out as they started their walk to school.

---

The streets were bustling with students heading in the same direction. As always, Kazuya's presence turned heads.

Girls whispered to each other, giggling as they glanced at him.

"Look, it's him again…"

"He's so gorgeous…"

"I heard he's a model—"

Minami was used to this. Kazuya drew attention everywhere he went.

But then came the other kind of whispers. The ones that made her stomach tighten.

"Is that his sister?"

"No way. She's…"

"They don't look related at all…"

"She's so ugly compared to him…"

Minami gritted her teeth, keeping her head down. She had always heard it. She had always ignored it.

She told herself it didn't matter.

And yet…

Kazuya, walking beside her, suddenly stopped.

Minami blinked, looking up at him. "Huh?"

He wasn't looking at her.

He was staring directly at the group of students whispering behind them.

The girls flinched under his sharp gaze.

Without a word, he took a step toward them.

They immediately backed away, nervously laughing as they scurried off.

Kazuya sighed, running a hand through his hair. "So annoying…"

Minami forced a smirk. "Tch. What, you mad they weren't fawning over you this time?"

He glanced down at her, his golden eyes unreadable.

Then, without warning, he reached out—

And flicked her forehead.

"*Ow—!**" Minami held her forehead, glaring at him. "What was that for?!"

Kazuya smiled softly, a warmth in his gaze that caught her off guard.

"You're my sister," he said, voice firm. "I don't care what anyone else says."

Minami's breath hitched.

She looked away quickly, gripping her bag strap. "Tch. As if I care what a dumb Onii-chan thinks."

Kazuya chuckled. "Liar."

Minami scowled. "Shut up and walk already."

With a grin, he ruffled her hair again before continuing forward.

Minami followed, her face still warm.

Maybe… just maybe…

Her dumb Onii-chan's words mattered more than she wanted to admit.

---

Minami was still flustered from Kazuya's words when, suddenly—

Strong arms wrapped around her.

Her breath caught as she felt herself pulled firmly against his chest.

"K-Kazuya—?!" she stammered, her entire body stiffening.

The whispers around them instantly died.

Kazuya's tall frame towered over her, his presence dominating as he tightened his hold around her shoulders. His golden eyes, sharp as daggers, swept over the surrounding students.

His voice was calm but firm, ringing with absolute authority.

"You got a problem with my little sister?"

The students froze. Some looked away awkwardly, others shifted uncomfortably. No one dared to meet his gaze.

Minami felt her face burning.

W-What the hell is he doing?!

She squirmed slightly in his grip. "O-Onii-chan! W-What are you—?!"

He smirked, leaning down slightly, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "What? You don't like it?"

Minami twitched.

"T-That's not the point!!" she snapped, pushing against his chest. "Let go! You're embarrassing me!"

Kazuya chuckled but didn't budge.

"*Good.**" He smirked, pulling her even closer, resting his chin lightly on her head. "Maybe now they'll finally get it through their heads."

Minami struggled harder, her face practically glowing red. "Y-You idiot! This is so embarrassing!"

"Hmmm?" He tilted his head. "Why are you so red? Could it be… you're actually happy?"

Minami froze.

Her mind went blank for a second before she exploded.

"W-WHAT?! Who the hell would be happy about this?!"

Kazuya laughed. "Oh? But you're not pushing me away as much anymore…"

Minami's whole body stiffened again, her fists clenched as steam practically came out of her ears.

"Y-YOU STUPID BAKA ONII-CHAN!!!"

Kazuya chuckled and, finally, released her.

Minami instantly stepped away, gripping her bag tightly, her face still burning.

The crowd around them had completely backed off, their previous mocking whispers now replaced with stunned silence.

Satisfied, Kazuya rolled his shoulders, giving one final glance at the students before turning back to Minami.

"See?" He smirked. "Now they won't dare badmouth you again."

Minami gritted her teeth, still too embarrassed to meet his gaze. "Tch. There were a million other ways to do that, you know!"

He grinned. "Yeah, but this way was more fun."

"FOR WHO?!"

"For me, obviously."

Minami growled. "I hate you."

Kazuya chuckled, placing a hand on her head and ruffling her hair. "Yeah, yeah. Love you too, little sis."

Minami swatted his hand away, still red.

As much as she hated to admit it…

Walking beside him like this, knowing he had her back no matter what—

It did make her happy.

She just wasn't going to say it out loud.

Not in a million years.

---

Minami stood at the school gate, shifting awkwardly as Kazuya smirked down at her.

"Have fun, Minami." His voice was light, teasing as always. Before she could react, he leaned down and—

Peck.

A quick kiss on her forehead.

Minami's entire body froze.

Her face exploded in red.

"W-Wha—?!"

Kazuya chuckled, stepping back. "What? You didn't like it?"

"T-That's not—!!" she sputtered, hands gripping the straps of her bag. "O-Onii-chan, you're so embarrassing!!"

"Heh." He ruffled her hair, making her scowl even more. "Go on, before you're late."*

Still fuming, Minami huffed, turned around, and marched into the school.

As she walked down the hallway toward her classroom, her mind kept circling back to Kazuya.

He's always like this…

Teasing me, embarrassing me… acting like I'm the most precious thing in the world…

She bit her lip, gripping her bag tighter.

It was stupid.

She knew it was stupid.

But sometimes, when he acted like that, she could almost forget.

Forget how everyone else saw her.

Forget how—

"Oi, ugly."

Minami stopped.

Her stomach dropped.

Slowly, she turned.

Three girls stood there, all of them undeniably beautiful. Long, silky hair, perfect skin, designer accessories. The kind of girls who never had to question their worth.

And they were all smirking at her.

"Come with us for a sec," one of them said sweetly.

Minami's throat felt tight. She knew that tone. That fake kindness.

Her heart hammered, but her feet moved.

Like always.

---

The moment the bathroom door shut behind her, the atmosphere changed.

Minami barely had time to react before—

SLAP!

A sharp sting spread across her cheek.

She gasped, stumbling back, gripping the sink for support.

"You really think you can just walk around like that?" The girl who slapped her sneered, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "*Looking like…that?"

The second girl crossed her arms. "It's disgusting. Like, does your brother even know how embarrassing you are?"

"Yeah," the third girl chimed in, stepping forward, her eyes full of contempt. "You seriously don't deserve to be related to Kazuya-San. It makes me sick just thinking about it."

Minami shrank, her heart pounding painfully.

"I—I don't…" she tried to say, but—

SMACK.

Another slap. This time harder.

"Don't talk back."

Minami winced, her face burning.

The first girl grabbed her chin, forcing her to look up. "God, your face is so pathetic. Your body isn't even that bad, but it's wasted on someone as ugly as you."

Minami clenched her fists.

"Seriously," another girl sighed dramatically. "What do you think it's like for Kazuya-San? Having to tell people you're his sister?"

The words stabbed into her.

She bit her lip, fighting back the wetness threatening to gather in her eyes.

She wouldn't cry.

She wouldn't.

"Aww, is the ugly little sister about to cry?"

A cruel giggle.

Then—

GRAB.

Before Minami could react, she was shoved.

Her back hit the cold bathroom stall.

Pain shot up her spine, but she barely had time to register it before—

RIP.

Her blazer was yanked, buttons popping off, the fabric tearing slightly.

Minami's breath hitched.

"L-Let go—!"

"Shut up."

Hands pushed her down, pinning her in place.

"Maybe if we mess you up even more, Kazuya-San will finally get rid of you," one of them mused, fingers curling into her hair and yanking.

A sharp, burning pain spread through her scalp.

"P-Please stop…"

The words came out small.

Pathetic.

And yet, they only laughed.

"Please stop," one of them mocked, exaggerating her voice. "God, you're so weak. It's hilarious."

Minami's breathing came in short gasps.

It hurts.

Her eyes squeezed shut.

I want to disappear.

The hands kept gripping, pushing, pulling. Their laughter echoed in the small space.

The same thing.

Again.

And again.

And again.

END OF CHAPTER : 3 : PRESSURE AND BULLYING!