Nyanko da! (ft Natsume): A Brothers Conflict Fanfic

Chapter 61: Not Bad

Following a harmonious attempt to clear the dining room the Asahinas, Shin, and me calmly make our way into the living room. I can't fully express the peace that comes with being back at Sunrise Residence.

As Wataru bugs Masaomi to help him set up, it comes to our attention that this tournament needs rules.

"We should do a battle royale." Tsubaki laces his arm through Azusa's. "Me and Acchan against everyone else."

"That'd be a team battle," Natsume says. "Are you sure you'd want to team with Tsubaki?" He tries to grab a seat at the far end of the couch, but his brothers aren't having it. The poor guy ends up squished next to them in the centre. 

Ah. There's that frown. I've been wondering when it would show up.

Sometimes I'm not sure if it's Natsume's resting face or his response to anything that annoys him.

"If we're doing teams, I wanna be with Onee-chan." Wataru's hand shoots up.

"W-Wait a sec! If we're doing teams then I want in." Yusuke doesn't need to spell out his feelings for anyone to guess his true intentions. I wonder if I should help him out, but before I can do anything the Asahinas move to action.

"If we're doing teams we should do three people instead of two! Azusa and me will team up with Imouto-chan."

"I agree with that arrangement."

"Come off it, Azusa-nii! If you're with her then the skill levels won't be balanced."

"Good point. Yusuke will hold back any team without a player at Imouto-chan's skill level."

"What did you just say?!"

Once again, Ema finds herself in the middle of the chaos. She sends me a pleading gaze, but what can I do about this?

For once, even Shin is lost for words as well. Sure, we've had our spats, but in the end there's only two of us. Hardly enough for a team battle.

I wonder how he'd react to all thirteen Asahinas in one room?

Even I haven't had that pleasure yet, but I have a strong feeling that this preview is pretty representative of it.

As it isn't my place to interfere, I scoot to the side, awkwardly ending up between Shin and Natsume. The two also have little place in the argument at hand—Shin for aforementioned reasons, but Natsume because he is Natsume. Moving out must have given him an objective view on the chaos.

After much deliberating the teams end up as follows: me, Shin, and Ema; Yusuke and Natsume; Tsubaki and Azusa; Wataru and Masaomi. Ukyo has decided not to participate. 

"I have some work I need to finish," he says as he turns up the stairs. "Let me know how it goes." He says it so cheekily since he's not involved. His brothers spare him a look before preparing themselves for battle.

Shin and I are relocated to sit with Ema, though the brothers insist that I sit next to her instead of Shin.

Weird.

We only got put together because they figure it would be more fair. To whom, I wonder? Haven't we established that Ema and I are on par with each other's skills?

Oh well. It's your guys' funeral.

Shin snorts disbelievingly as I ready my controller. He still doesn't think I can do it. The joke's on him, though. We're on the same team, so even if I were an easy target it's not like he could turn on me and pick me off. Like it or not, we are teammates. Even if he doesn't see any value in the supposed reward.