Re: Date a Singularity

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

Patch Note:

- Revised Chapter (Revised)!

Chapter II - Prelude II

From an early age. Kurumi had always been a kind-hearted young girl with a gentle soul.

Ikari, more than anyone, knew that fact. Even more than their parents.

Both siblings were born into a wealthy family, unrestricted by the typical boundaries others faced. 

Their parents never imposed suffocating rules on them, which left them free to pursue their interests as they liked.

And Ikari knew…

Whenever she stared at the television, listening to reports about people facing hardships….

She'd look sad, as if their problem was hers.

As if their problems were for her to bare.

Naturally most of this—the root of this—stems from the Eurasia disaster caused by that woman.

But… it was thanks to this empathy that wrought deep into her heart, and that's why…

—It was afternoon.

The trio was just returning back home from school.

Since both went to different schools, Ikari to an all-boys and Kurumi to an all-girls, along with Sawa–

Ikari, after getting done with school for the day in a rush, heads over to Kurumi's school, where he'd wait for Kurumi and Sawa.

And like that, the three would go home.

However, today—

[Breaking News]

[Border Conflict Worsens: "It's like hell…"]

["Civil War Displaces 20,000 refugees"]

[Their town destroyed by civil war, 20,000 refugees have fled to camp.]

[In these unsanitary camps, disease runs rampant.]

On their way home. 

Kurumi stopped abruptly in front of a shop window, her gaze locked on the news playing on a showcase TV.

Naturally, both Sawa and Ikari halted as well, seeing as Kurumi took a pause to look at the news.

"..."

Ikari and Sawa both looked at each other for a brief moment before Ikari then looked back at Kurumi.

Turning to Kurumi, Ikari let out a sigh.

"Haah. You really can't help it, huh?"

"Eh?"

Kurumi blinked, turning to face Ikari with a mixture of surprise and guilt.

Her reaction made Ikari sigh again wearily, a small smile tugging at his lips.

It wasn't that he disapproved of her compassion—he admired it, actually. 

He was proud of her for that. But—

"I've always told you—"

Ikari began, however…..

"I know… Brother has always told me that: "it's not possible for even an Omnipotent God to help everybody"—"

She cut him off before he could continue. And yeah.

Kurumi was right. Ikari had always been practical about such matters.

"But weren't you the one who also said: "as long as we have the power to, we should help those in need"?"

Kurumi said as she tightened her lips, her hand on her chest so.

Huh? Did I ever sound that philosophical? Ikari thought.

He supposed he would have. Considering he had a father who also spoke of such views to him.

But to think… This girl, from a young age, has held his words to heart.

How much did she think of him, of his words….

—Well, technically, Ikari learnt that from their father and passed it to her, but eh, it works—

Anyways…. It's because of this, the current Ikari now dreaded the future. 

A certain woman would come to take advantage of her pure sense of justice.

"Haah. I'm happy you hold my words so dearly, little sis."

Ikari said so, stepping forward and placing a hand on her head, pulling her—his sister—closer into a loose embrace.

Her soft hair brushed against his chin as he continued. 

"But don't worry. The government wouldn't ignore their plight so easily."

"Though 20,000 may seem much, there are many ways the current government could help them."

…. Honestly. Ikari wasn't sure.

Heck, deep down, he could go as far as say, there's little hope for them.

Afterall, he strongly doubts the current government would just accept 20,000 freeloaders just like that.

Say he's cruel for having such thoughts, but that was what he had thought of the situation…

And in a way, he was right.

Think about the situation of this world for a moment.

The government, though rarely active, pays attention to the spacequakes happening around.

They already have their hands filled with that disaster all around the state.

Ikari had found it hard to believe DEM in a way wasn't receiving funds from even the government.

If we're being real here, the AST's teams deal with the spacequakes and rebuild the city while people are hidden in bunkers.

As the only company that can handle such a situation, it's hard to believe the government, to some extent, isn't aware of this.

But then again, they were currently in the year where Spirits are more rampant around the world than the future.

And of course, this is all thanks to that woman, as who else other than her could be the cause of all these.

Still, Ikari kept such apprehensions to himself, so as not to worry Kurumi.

"Thank you, Brother."

Kurumi says so as she nestles against him.

Beside them, feeling left out, like a third wheel on a date, Sawa let out an exaggerated sigh, her hands resting on her hips.

"Mou~ You two are always like this, huh? Always leaving me out and getting lost in your own little world!"

Sawa said so in attempts to lighten the mood, but—

Her exaggerated pout was so over-the-top that Ikari stifled a laugh. 

Kurumi pulled back from him, also smiling.

"My, my, Sawa-san, jealous, are we?"

"The fact that you're not denying it, Kurumi-san. Haah, should I say I'm worried or….."

"Eh? Denying what?"

Hearing Kurumi act dumb like Ikari would made her deadpan.

After making that expression. Sawa gave Kurumi a shaky smile before shaking her head with mock resignation.

"Don't worry, Kurumi-san. I won't judge. I always knew you had a brother complex though."

She said it with a playful, suggestive tone, making Ikari avert his eyes.

He had begun to play dumb.

Talks like these had a way of steering into territory he'd rather avoid, especially when it involved them teasing him.

"Ah, look, Ikari-san is pretending not to hear us again."

"Oh my, sometimes, bother can really become a coward, can't he?"

Really, one could go as far as say, Ikari is an open book to these two. 

Or should it be said that, as expected of the closest people to him..?

… Like that. The trio had continued their way with Ikari trailing from behind. 

Taking a glance at them from behind, Ikari's haze softened as he let a smile slip—

"If it would work, then…"

A thought crossed his mind, but soon faded as they heard noises from a playground they were passing by.

"Come down!"

"Meow~!"

They heard such a noise coming from inside the playgrounds.

"That is—"

"Let's go see, Kurumi-san."

Sawa and Kurumi launched off to a young girl standing beneath a tree, pleading with her cat to come down.

But, it seemed like the little thing was too scared of heights. Hence it meowed, denying the plea.

"Aiya. He looks scared, maybe if we give it a hand—"

Sawa had already said that, but Ikari had simply interrupted by handing his bag he slugged over his shoulder to Kurumi.

"Eh? Brother?"

To her surprise, he didn't respond, he simply shrugged off his blazer and passed it to Sawa.

"W-what are you doing Ikari-san!?"

Sawa panicked too as Ikari then looked at both of them who in turn were looking at him oddly.

"Uhh–is it strange I want to help that cat down?"

"Oh… so that's it?"

"What do you mean, 'so that's it?' And Kurumi, why do you look disappointed?"

Both of them averted their gazes, trying to feign innocence. Did they think he was going to….

No, better not to think of such thoughts.

Shaking his head, Ikari turned his attention back to the tree examining it.

While he wasn't good at cooking foods like Kurumi can since.

He, on the other hand, had attended a lot of schools, as per some traditional male-heir to the corporate business stuff.

And by school, that means, fighting schools like Gymnastics, Judo, Aikido, and a lot of other incorporated schools.

TAP! 

TAP! 

TAP!

Ikari had ran back to build momentum, and with a short burst, he ran towards the trunk, planting his feet on the trunk.

Using that as a springboard, he then jumped toward the branch.

It was strong enough to hold him, so he held on to it and managed to hurl himself up.

"Meow~"

"It's okay now, come here."

Getting on the branch where the kitten was. Ikaei coaxed the kitten gently, and after a moment of hesitation, it scurried toward him, its claws gripping onto his shirt.

"Ikari-san…"

"Brother…"

"O-onii-san…."

The girl whose cat had hung on the tree looked surprised, more so, Sawa, who practically had her eyes wide open.

Even Kurumi looked surprised.

Now that he thinks about it, it's been quite some time since he stopped going to training, and that was after entering senior school.

'Looks like my body still has the hang of things.'

"Hold on tight, little one."

Ikari patted the small cat, as he jumped down from the branch, landing perfectly on the ground.

THUD!

"Ouch."

The landing was a little rough, evident by the words he muttered, along with a wince.

But, in the next moment, he stood up and gave the girl her cat who bowed repeatedly.

"Onii-san, thank you very much, thank you."

"Ah, don't worry about it."

Ikari gave the girl a smile who then cuddled her cat.

"And you, no climbing of trees anymore, you'll scare your owner."

He hadn't thought much of it when he said those words, but as if it could understand him:

"Meow~!"

It meowed, which took him by surprise.

"I see the little one understands me. Anyways, it's getting late, you should be heading home."

Ikari said so, pointing at the sky. 

It was a little past 5 afterall, the sky was already orange and all.

"A-ahh, that's right. Thank you once again, onii-san."

As he waved the little girl off, Ikari then finally turned towards the two.

"Nee. Kurumi-san, did you ever know Ikari-san was that cool?"

"N-no, this is the first I've seen him like this."

"Eeh? So you're telling me you didn't know?"

"I knew he always went for lessons, but I didn't know it was those lessons."

The two turned their back at him, cuddling together as they talked about him.

Naturally, both didn't bother to hide their voices, which sometimes, he found surprising.

Well, they've known each other for sometime now.

"You two, you do know I'm here, right?"

With a raised eyebrow, Ikari said such.

Then, both of them turned to him with wide smiles, their innocent expressions anything but convincing.

"Whatever could you be talking about Brother?"

"You know, things don't work like that?"

"By that, what do you mean, Ikari-san…?"

'I see, these little girls…'

Ikari's lips couldn't help but twitch, but his lips soon curled into a smile.

"Hmph. Well, thanks for helping me with my loads then."

Ikari said with a wave, turning, and leaving the park as he heard their slightly panicked voice from the back.

"E–eh?"

"B-brother—!"