Chapter 4 – I Don’t Hate Girls Love Between Sisters

Mar 13 2021

“I’m home”
As Alisa opened the door to the apartment and called out, reaching inside, her older sister, Mariya, showed up from the living room. In contrast to the basically expressionless Alisa, Mariya basically had a smile almost all the time.
She smiled, even now, as if she was scattering soft-looking flowers while she delightfully greeted her younger sister.
“Welcome baack~, Alya-chan”
With a whole-faced smile she spread both of her arms and approached her and– right, left, right, she did kiss cheeks in that order and as a conclusion, she hugged Alisa tightly.
If it were to be said, this was an image that girls love fanatics (pigs) of the world would be delighted to see.
“I’m back, Masha”
To separate from her older sister’s passionate hug, Alisa tapped the arm of her older sister. Then, Mariya who had been having a warm smile until now, puffed up her cheeks as she separated from her body.
“Geez, I did tell you to call me ‘onee-chan’ when in Japan didn’t I”
“Don’t want to. Too late for that”
Towards Alisa’s cold response, Mariya’s puffed-up cheeks swelled even more.
From the start, in Russian language, there were no special names for an older brother or older sister such as “onee-chan” or “ni-san” like in the Japanese language.
Whether it’s your older sister or older brother, they would basically be called by their name. Alisa, who was born Russian, also followed suit and called her older sister by her nickname but Mariya seemed to like being called “onee-chan”, and had demanded Alisa to call her like that again and again.
“Uuu…. Alya-chan so cold….”
As soon as she saw that her dissatisfied expression wasn’t working, Mariya instantly had a miserable look and Alisa looked at her with an astounded look. This was not the first time that this had happened but, whenever her older sister gave her this kind of look, she felt like she’d done something bad.
However, no matter what was said, she felt resistant towards the way of calling with “onee-chan”. By nature, they were a younger sister with firm character and an easy-going older sister.
Alisa was taller than her and their ages were only one year apart. Since the olden days, there were lots of times where Alisa had to look after Mariya.
Hence, Alisa’s own awareness towards Mariya as an “older sister” was weak.
(In the first place, the way of calling with “onee-chan” itself sounds like behaving like a spoiled child)
If it was at least “nee-san”, she might’ve still considered it but, since Mariya said “I don’t want that”, it was unavoidable.
Deciding not to worry about it anymore, she took off her shoes and changed into her slippers, and Mariya blinked her eyes and tilted her head.
“….Alya-chan, are you in bad mood?”
“….Not really?”
Alisa immediately showed a dubious look to hide her inner turmoil. However, it seemed that such deceptions didn’t work on this older sister.
“That reaction… as expected, was it that guy? Did something happen with Kuze-kun?”
As soon as Mariya showed eyes sparkling with curiosity, Alisa headed for the bathroom while feeling fed-up.
“There’s nothing happening”
“That’s a lie, you can’t deceive onee-chan. Hey hey, what happened?”
Even after that, Mariya obstinately followed Alisa around like a duckling and kept asking her questions.
Alisa gave up when they finally got into her room. Still in her uniform she sat down on a chair and Mariya, pestering Alisa to talk, flopped down on top of a cushion spread out on the floor. As if it’s troublesome, Alisa opened her mouth.
“Really, it’s no big deal…. We just got into a little fight”
“Hee~~~ a fight!”
Thinking normally, it’s not a word to speak highly of but, Mariya’s eyes sparkled for some reason, seeming joyful.
“….What?”
“I mean… fufuu, to think Arya-chan got into a fight, it’s really unusual isn’t it. And it’s with that guy even”
“I, guess”
“I see~, a guy who can move Alya-chan’s heart finally appeared, huh”
“What are you talking about”
Alisa frowned towards Mariya’s somewhat meaningful way of saying. Then Mariya said with a know-it-all air.
“You like him, don’t you? That Kuze-kun”
“….Haa?”
When Alisa thrusted her unreserved gaze to Mariya’s face as if to say “What’s this flower garden for brains talking about”, Mariya shook her head saying, “Good grief”.

“I don’t know if you’re misunderstanding something but… we aren’t like that. We aren’t, that’s right…”
The scene from yesterday’s lunch break was brought back inside Alisa’s mind. The wondering look, the face of Masachike saying friend was.
“That’s right… We are, friends”
Alisa smiled while reminiscing that memory and declared that somewhat proudly. At Alisa’s face that seemed to say “How’s that”, Mariya’s eyes became gentle.
“Fuuu~n, I see…. But, how did you become friends? Alya-chan, don’t you hate people who are slovenly or not serious?”
“That was…”
Mariya’s words were correct. And Masachika was usually not motivated and slovenly…. That’s exactly the kind of person Alisa hated.
And why she had accepted such Masachika as her friend. Alisa thought back to the memory of the past, which was the starting point of this.
◇
【The excellence award in the group presentation goes to….B team!】
The sound of applause filled the classroom. Among them there’s only one person, a young girl who bit her lips and hung her head down.
Alisa, a fourth grader in elementary school at the time. It was at a certain elementary school in Vladivostok, Russia.
At this time, Alisa had realized that she herself was different from the people around her.
The impetus for that was… a group research presentation done in class.
The students in class were divided into groups of four or five. They would spend two weeks researching about a topic, and put together the contents they researched on a big paper then present it.
The topic Alisa’s group presented was, 『Jobs in the Area』. They interviewed the stores in the neighborhood and family members about their jobs to find out what they did in their jobs. It was a trifling, elementary school-like topic.
However, no matter the content, Alisa didn’t cut any corners.
Alisa’s competitive spirit was already strong these days. For Alisa, who had always aimed to be the best at everything she did, it was just a matter of course to be the best at the presentation–to win the excellence award.
And then, Alisa did her best to win the excellence award.
Everyday after school, she conducted a series of interviews at the stores in the area assigned to her until it was dinner time. What she researched in one week was enough to fill up an entire notebook.
However, she had expected perfectness on the day of the meeting with the group.
Alisa was astonished by the words of the three members in the group.
【Ah. My bad. I haven’t done my research】
【This here is a bakery, and here is a clothing store. Eh? The content of their work? Of course, if it’s a bakery they’re selling bread, and if it’s a clothing store, they’re selling clothes right】
【Sorry, I’m only half-way through my research~. But, there’s still a week left anyway. I’m sure it’s gonna be fine】
Too much…. From Alisa’s view that was too much of a lazy research.
Even if all of the information the other three had researched was combined, it was not even half of the information Alisa had researched.
That’s the reality. But most of all, in spite of all this, to the three of them who showed no sign of hurrying or apologizing, Alisa was taken aback and beyond angry.
It was when the three of them looked at the notebook Alisa had put together that her anger bursted up.
【Whoah, what is this. Just how serious are you about this】
【So detailed. Surely we wouldn’t use all of it, don’t you think】
【Alya… Is it okay to not read, all of this?】
The three of them turned to each other, with eyes seeming surprised. They forced a smile as if to say “Aa~aah, she’s done it”.
(Eh? Is this, my fault?)
Right after such doubt crossed her mind, anger welled up from the bottom of Alisa’s stomach.
No, it’s not my fault. I just… worked seriously to the best of my ability on the task given to me.
I wasn’t wrong . They are the ones who are wrong.
Her anger and revulsion bursted up Instantaneously. Alisa was still too young to suppress them.
【Hey, why aren’t you doing this seriously?】
Her eyes were glaring. The emotional elementary students reacted sensitively to the sharp words that were spoken in a reproachful tone.
From there it didn’t take long for a heated argument to break out.
The teacher immediately intervened because they were in class but, during that short time cracks appeared between Alisa and the other three members, making it impossible for them to work together.
【If you don’t like it so much, go do it yourself!!】
A tit for tat. Words thrown by one of the boys in the group made Alisa stubborn.
Then, for the rest of the time, Alisa tried to bring the contents of her presentation up to the level she was comfortable with as much as possible.
However, there was a limit to what a single person could do and the resulting presentation was no wehere near the level Alisa had aimed for. As a result, the excellence award Alisa was aiming for went to another group.
Alisa couldn’t understand it.
The classmates who didn’t take their given tasks seriously. Them who didn’t feel anything about losing and were laughing foolishly.
(If only everyone took it as seriously as I did, we would’ve never lost. No, if I was on my own from the start, I would’ve won for sure!)
I’m different from everyone else. I’m the only one who is serious, and I’m the only one who took this seriously. I was seriously thinking of winning.
When she realized this, Alisa stopped expecting others to do the same.
No one can keep up with my level anyway. They don’t take it as seriously as I do, with the same amount of seriousness.
Then they can do whatever they want. I will never be defeated by those who lack the effort and motivation. While you guys are playing around, I’m going to be above everyone else.
I don’t need cooperation with others. I’ll do it all myself. On the contrary it’s bothersome dealing with half-hearted resolution or just a sense of duty.
Even as she grew older, and acquired social skills to some extent, that fundamental idea of Alisa’s remained unchanged. No, if anything, it became stronger every year.
The lack of motivation from her classmates, the disappointment in others that was built up everytime she realized how low their level was, before she noticed, turned into an unconscious condescension towards the people around her.
Once she was aware of this, in order to avoid conflict with those around her, Alisa started to draw a line in regards to dealing with others.
Truly aloof. She had the talent and competitive spirit that set her apart from others. Hence her aloofness.
In her third year of junior high school, Alisa returned to Japan because of her father’s work.
Due to her parents’ recommendation, she transferred to Seirei Educational Institute. A prestigious school that was considered to be one of the best in Japan. If it’s here, perhaps there could be someone who could compete shoulder-to-shoulder with her and at the same time, someone who could accompany her in her devotion in her study. Alisa had a faint expectation.
However, Alisa’s faint expectation was cruelly betrayed when she took a proficiency test right after transferring.
First place in her school year. In Japan again after being away for 5 years. A transfer student who didn’t know the test trends. Even with this disadvantage, she was first place in her school year.
(I guess this place’s level is also only to that extent, huh)
Even here, in the end I’m alone, aren’t I.
Just when such resignation was about to fill her heart, Alisa found out about him. Their first encounter was on the first day she transferred. The morning of April 1st.
“Kujou-san, your Japanese is really good, isn’t it. Have you lived in Japan before?”
“Wow, it’s really pretty. It’s my first time seeing silver hair”
“Hey hey, did you really easily pass that super difficult transfer exam test?”
Her classmates flocked to her with open curiosity. Alisa was a little fed up inside but, she tried not to be too rude and just dealt with them accordingly. 
As a person who looked down on those around her, being close to someone was not good for either of them.
It would offend the other party, and even she herself would feel the same if she found herself in that situation.
That’s why she was not going to get close to anyone here either.
“Aah, it’s the bell”
“Huh, already? Can’t be helped. Then see you later, Kujou-san”
“I’d like to hear your story in the next break too, okay”
“Yes”
After seeing off her classmates regrettably returning to their seats, Alisa looked to the seat in the neighboring seat.
“….., …….”
There, despite all the fuss happening, she saw the figure of a male student, plopped down on his desk, not bothered by it in the slightest.
Alisa’s curiosity was more than a little piqued by this overly free spirit. Before she noticed, she found herself shaking his shoulder lightly, and talked to that classmate for the first time.
“Ermm… the bell already rang, you know?”
“Mmm… huh?”
He raised his head at the sound of Alisa’s voice. He was a male student with an ordinary appearance and slovenly face.
“Aaah~~ Are you the transfer student who gave a greeting at the opening ceremony?”
“Yes, Alisa Mikhailovna Kujou. Nice to meet you”
“Yeah… I’m Kuze Masachika. Likewise”
After saying that much, Masachika turned to the front and stretched out one go. And then, with a look of realization on his face, he poked the back of the guy in the seat in front of him.
“Heey~ Hikaru, you’re here too, huh”
“Yeah…. By the way Takeshi is also here too, okay?”
“Oh, you’re right. I was sleeping so I didn’t notice”
After that, Alisa was caught off guard seeing Masachika start chatting pleasantly without minding her.
Alisa was self-aware that she had a better appearance than most people.
Alisa understood that beauty was one of the weapons in interpersonal relationships and of course, she was also trying to improve herself in that regard. She didn’t use make-up because it was against school regulations but still, she was proud of her beauty, which wasn’t at all inferior to any celebrity out there.
She wasn’t interested in attracting the attention of the opposite sex in particular but, she knew that her appearance, especially her silver, would attract people’s attention.
For this reason, Masachika, who was almost the only one who showed no interest in her, made a lasting impression in her.
However, when it reached the point where she started to pay attention to Masachika, Alisa noticed immediately.
It’s not that Masachika was not interested in girls, nor was he not interested in other people. He’s just a guy with no motivation for everything.
Forgetting his textbooks. Falling asleep in class. Hurrying to get his homework done at the last minute in break time. Not standing out and performing in PE class with the least minimum amount of effort. An ounce of motivation couldn’t be felt from his feckless attitude.
(Even in the most prestigious schools, there are students like this everywhere, isn’t it)
With that said, Alisa lost interest in this neighbor. That all changed during the school festival in September.
The last school festival of the junior high school. It was a time period where many junior high school students were busy with exams. Almost all of the students in this school would just go up the escalator to high school and because of that, they were not that desperate to study for exams.
Rather, they had decided to do something big for the last time and at Takeshi’s suggestion who became a member of the school festival executive committee, the class was to carry out a haunted house for their event.
But, it was overflowing with motivation only at the beginning. Despite everyone being in high spirits at the planning meeting stage, once the actual preparation work actually started, its plainness and difficulty made the motivation of the class go down and down.
Sensing the mood, Alisa quickly prepared herself to take on the bulk of the work.
“Ouch!”
After school. Alisa remained alone in class to make costumes. She accidentally stuck her own finger with the needle, then reflexively she pulled her hand away.
She sucked and sterilized the appearing ball of blood with her mouth, applying strong pressure to stop the bleeding. So that the blood didn’t get on the costume she was working on, she put on a band-aid on the injury.
This wasn’t the first time she injured her fingers doing unfamiliar needlework. The band-aids around Alisa’s fingers had already reached the fifth one.
However, she continued her work despite the throbbing pain coming from her fingers.
She couldn’t afford to be discouraged by something just this much. As long as she was participating, there was no way she was going to have a half-hearted event. With that in mind, she once again faced the costume.
“Ah, as expected you’re still here, huh”
Then, that was said at that moment. The door of the classroom was opened with a clatter, and Masachika, who had disappeared somewhere as soon as the homeroom was over, came in.
“Kuze-kun…. What’s wrong?”
“Thanks for your hard work. Well, got a little something to do, see”
While slurring his words, Masachika looked down at the several documents fluttering in his hands. Alisa was drawn by it and looked at it too but she didn’t know what kind of documents it was.
“Well, you should also go home today too, Kujou-san. We can also work on that part again with everyone tomorrow, too”
Alisa became a little irritated at Masachika who said that while shrugging his shoulders.
(You’ll never make it if you take your time… In the first place, isn’t it that I’m doing it because no one was doing it)
She turned her irritation into clear rejection. Strengthening her tone, she pushed him away.
“You don’t have to worry about me. After just a little bit more I’ll go home too. So please don’t bother me”
“…. Aaa~ well, okay”
Masachika’s gaze wandered about as he sat on his seat. He scratched his head and said in an as-matter-of-fact tone.
“For making the costumes, I’ve already talked to the handicraft club about getting them to cooperate, so you can just leave it to them”
“Eh….?“
“Also, here”
Alisa was stunned by his unexpected words, and Masachika held out the documents he had been holding.
“It’s permission to use the boarding house. If it’s a staying over event, It should also motivate those guys who are losing motivation”
“Wah… such a, how…”
“Nnn~ well, it’s the student council. The former vice-president was…. No, I asked the former student council president, you see. Got a little connection with that person”
Alisa looked suspiciously at Masachika who suddenly said that hesitatingly but Masachika continued talking as if he was avoiding her questioning.
“Yeah…. Well, so that is why. The handicraft club agreed to lend a male-helping hand. If you tell them it’s a chance to show the girls in the handicraft club your reliability, some of the guys will be happy to take it, right. Regarding the preparation for the activities… well, I guess it’s Takeshi’s job from here”
“Eh?”
“Anyway, you can go home now. It’s no use if Kujou-san is doing your best alone, right?”
At Masachika’s casual remark, Alisa’s pent-up emotions were unleashed.
“What do you mean… it’s no use?”
She was struggling with the unfamiliar needlework and was stressed out, and the usually unmotivated person she looked down upon in her heart offered her a solution, and then denied her efforts.
That fact pushed down the bulwark in her heart.
Before she realized it, Alisa slammed the costume she was working onto the desk with a bang.
She stood up with the same vigor and severely glared at Masachika.
“I….! As long as I’m participating, I will make sure this event is good! For it to be presented in half-hearted shape on the actual day, I absolutely don’t want that! I absolutely don’t want to make compromises!!”
Alisa herself was aware that more than half-way through she was venting out her anger at him, but the words wouldn’t stop.
“But…. I know, I know that I’m being selfish! Everyone is not as serious as me, I know that! That’s why I’m trying to make up for that! Do you know what am I doing wrong!?”
She let emotions get the better of her, and lashed it out on someone. It was the first time for Alisa since elementary school.
Alisa who usually didn’t show her feelings, good or bad, showed her bare and intense emotions.
In response, Masachika opened his eyes wide and said clearly.
“You’re putting effort in the wrong direction”
“Eh–?”
Alisa was taken aback by the unexpected upfront rebuttal. Looking straight at Alisa, Masachika continued calmly.
“A school festival’s event is not something you create alone. We all have to work together to make it happen, right? If you want to have a good event, instead of giving up that everyone isn’t going to do it anyway, shouldn’t we think about how to motivate everyone to do it instead?”
“….”
Straight to the eyes. An irrefutable sound argument. Alisa wanted to turn her head away.
However, Alisa’s pride would not allow her to do that. She glared back at Masachika as hard as she could, determined to not be defeated in silence. But before Alisa could say anything else, Masachika looked away.
“….But you know, I would also be annoyed if I were talked to like that. It’s my bad. I know that Kujou-san was doing you best, and I’m not going to deny that”
“Ah–”
He bowed his head slightly, and Alisa was not sure what to do.
Her anger that was lashed out on him was returned with an apology. Her raised fist had nowhere to go.
Above all, “ I know that Kujou-san was doing you best”. Those words were so strangely close to her heart that she couldn’t breath.
“….I’m going home”
In the end, that’s all Alisa could squeeze out. She grabbed her bag and went out of the classroom at a quick pace.
(What’s with him…? What’s with him really, geez!)
She walked through the school while desperately trying to calm down the many emotions swirling wildly in her chest. Pretending not to notice it, joy lay behind her dissatisfaction and regret.
◇
–The next day.
“You guys! We have a stay oveeeeeerr!!!!”
The meeting for the school festival started with a yell from a very excited Takeshi.
To the bewildered classmates not understanding what’s happening, in an excited tone, Takeshi explained that Masachika had obtained permission to use the boarding house.
“While continuing the preparation for the school festival, at night, we will play hide-and-seek in the school building and test of courage! We’ve got all kinds of recreational activities here, it’s our very own pre-pre-pre-night festivaaaaaal!! Uuuoooo!!”
Towards the wild Takeshi, the classmates smiled bitterly saying “Far from pre-pre-pre, it’s only a week ahead, you know”, and like “Isn’t playing the main part, not the preparation?”. As if pulled by the tension, they showed willingness to get on board.
But before they knew it, the schedule for that day had been set up. When the meeting was over, everyone was happily discussing the upcoming stay-over.
They were even more excited than when they were planning the school festival’s program.
Then the day for the preparation of the stay over came. In addition to the activities at night, the guys who were lured by the bait of the girls’ home-cooked meals, worked unusually hard and the work progressed at a rapid pace.
The high morale continued even after the stay over, and on the day of the school festival, Alisa’s target was achieved…. No, the haunted was even of a higher quality.
In the end, the sales amount was the highest among all programs and they even received an award for that.
“Ah….”
“Aah, Thanks for your hardwood. Kujou-san”
The closing party after everything was done. While the students were folk-dancing in a circle in the schoolyard, Alisa was walking towards the school building when she came across Masachika sitting on the stairs in front of the entrance.
Masachika was sitting with his knee up resting his chin there while he was looking at the schoolyard with a wry smile.
Alisa followed his gaze. There she found Takeshi, who seemed to be calling out to every girl he could find, and Hikaru who seemed to be invited to dance by girls one after another.
“Haha, those guys really got it tough”
“….You’re not going to join them?”
She asked Masachika, who was laughing as if it’s somebody else’s business. Masachika raised one of his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders.
“Hmm? I don’t even have a partner to dance with… But then, this school is very old fashioned-like in this way. Holding folk dances at the closing party these days… Well, there’s no campfire, though”
“…. Can I… sit next to you?”
“Hmm? Aah, it’s fine but, are you not going to dance? If it’s Kujou-san I’m sure you’d be in great demand, right? Ah, by chance, do you not know how to folk dance?”
“That’s rude. I used to do ballet when I was little, you know? I can dance like that in no time. But well, it’s troublesome so I pretended I can’t dance and declined the invitations”
Alisa sat down next to Masachika while snorting her nose and brushing her hair to her back.
“Thanks for your hard work again…. for that one”
“I’m not really bothered though? I’m used to it so it’s not a big deal”
“Is that so. That’s the Aloof Princess for you”
“What’s with that name?”
Towards Alisa knitting her eyebrows in suspicion, Masachika said in surprise.
“Huh? You don’t know? It’s what the other students recently call Kujou-san, though”
“….Fuu~un”
“You don’t seem… to be happy with it huh?”
“I guess so, I think I’m not too happy with it”
“Why? Is it because they’re teasing you as a loner?”
“Not in that way. Also, can you stop looking at me like I’m an idiot?”
“Sorry”
Masachika lowered his head when she stared at him. “She got angry”, said Masachika, sticking out his bottom lip in jest. Alisa sighed towards such Masachika, then said.
“What I’m not happy about is the ‘Princess” part”
“Why? Isn’t that just a normal complement”
“You think so? To me, it sounds like someone who lives in a dream, not knowing any hardship”
“Aaah~ I see, there’s also a way of seeing it like that?”
“It’s true that I was born with looks and talents more than what most people have. But, I’ve never once sat on my hands. I don’t like it when people talk about my past efforts as if I was just born lucky”
”I see”