A Bro's Life (AGG-ish Anime Bro Quest)

You let out a small sneeze.

Under normal circumstances, you don't think doing that would cause much of a ruckus.

But, apparently, in the mostly silent auditorium, sneezing was tantamount to laughing out loud during someone's emotional plea for acceptance. Or some shit like that.

Because the second you were done, almost every student sitting around you gave you the stink eye. You could tell most of them weren't a part of the Martial Arts Club. Cause a couple of those guys sat behind you, and they didn't seem to give a shit. You just ignore the glares and turn to your right where Yamato is sitting. You tap your brother on the shoulder, leaning over to whisper to him, "Have these students always been this uptight?"

"Yes. But it seems to be amplified considering the current circumstances," he says while adjusting his uniform's collar. He was wearing the typical Raijin uniform, while you were in your sports clothes. Which meant a black sleeveless shirt and blue jeans. You were allowed to wear that mainly cause you'd be going to the Tournament today. Which you finally learned the full name of: The 5th Annual Tournament Of The Divines. Called such because almost all the participating schools were named after a Kami of some type. You don't have a full list of name's yet, but you're certain someone will tell you before the Tournament actually starts.

You raise an eyebrow, "So this incoming 'senior' is that important to these people?"

"I would think so," Yamato answers with a non-committal tone of voice. The two of you were in the auditorium alongside every other student in the school. Both those on scholarship and the more "elites" in the school. The students had been called here for two major reasons. The first was obvious to you, the Tournament. It was the first day and every student was expected to be there for the competition. Even the ones who didn't want anything to do with it. But, thanks to how prideful Raijin is about its reputation (according to your brother) even the ones who would rather be at their dorms have to come see the matches.

The second was what you were all here for. Apparently, a new student would be joining your school pretty soon. However, you didn't know more than that. Thus you tilt your head at Yamato, the universal sign that you want your brother to explain what he means. But he doesn't respond. Instead, Yameko does...from her spot sitting in your brother's lap.

The disguised fox woman leans back against your brother's chest, eyes focusing on you as she speaks, "According to the student rumor mill, a rather influential second year student is finally coming back to the school after an extended absence. Her family name is particularly prestigious. Primarily for their medical advancements in the field of pharmaceuticals, and being rather effective security contractors."

"Are you aware of how long she's been gone for? Or why?" Yamato asks, not seeming to mind the fact that the girl is sitting in his lap. Unlike a certain blonde chess player who you can see sitting five seats away from you. You swear you can feel the glare she's shooting at Yameko from here, though the fox doesn't seem to notice it. Or maybe that's because it's lost amongst the numerous other glares she's getting from other girls who can see what's happening...along with some guys but those are directed at your brother.

Neither seem to notice nor care.

Yameko shrugs in response to your brother's words, "I know she's been gone for at least a few years. But that's about it. As for why, the only rumor is that something tragic happened to both her and her brother, who was the Heir Apparent to their family's company. Other than that...no one really knows."

"Hmm, must've been pretty bad if she's only returning to school now," you say with a frown. Your mind is already trying to come up with possible events that could've made her leave for so long. A extended trip to another country? A long lost uncle suddenly sending her a message from her death bed? Some kind of shadowy fuckery done by one of these other rich assholes?

...Or maybe she just wanted to take a vacation from High School.

You wouldn't be surprised if that was a thing here.

But onto the other important event currently happening here...

"Besides that, mind explaining why you're sitting on my brother's lap, Yameko?" you wave a hand at the girl's position.

Yameko frowns before shifting until her back is pressed against Yamato's chest, "When Yamato-sama returned from his trip with you, I noticed that he carried the hint of a strange woman on his person. A feline of some sort. One that seems to be under the impression that she can simply lay claim to someone else's Partner. I am merely ensuring that the next time she appears, she can be aware of who is truly Yamato-sama's Partner."

"Yameko, as I have already explained, Kazama Yuki is merely an acquaintance," Yamto explains in his typical monotone, "And while befriending her is one of my future goals, neither her nor I have spoken at length about possibly Bonding with each other. What you smelled was likely the fur from her pet cats."

Yameko doesn't look convinced. She crosses her arms and pouts, "Forgive me if I don't believe you until I meet his 'Kazama Yuki', Yamato-sama."

Yamato doesn't respond. Instead he rubs the woman's head which makes some of the tension in her body melt. You hear a stifled sound come from her throat as she leans closer to your brother's chest. He turns back to you, "That aside, how are you feeling, brother? Are you nervous about the Tournament?"

"Pfft, nah," you wave your brother off while shaking your head. Then he stares at you with his neutral expression that, nonetheless, gets across the fact that he doesn't believe you. This makes you flinch and shrug, "Well...kind of. But only in the typical sense. Like...whenever you're about to do something, and you're really excited for it. But you also know that it's gonna be dangerous and risky. But you also know you're gonna be doing something that you really enjoy doing. It's a mixture of excitement and nervousness that can't really be put into words."

You try your best to explain how you're feeling to Yamato. It's surprisingly difficult because even you're not sure. On the one hand, you're already imagining what it'll be like. Being on a stage in front of a bunch of people, standing right across from someone else in a Gi, both of you bowing then moving in to fight. The fists start flying and you both try your hardest to take the victory. But, on the other hand, you're effectively representing the entire school on your own. While you did choose to do that, you only started to feel the weight of it now. Especially when you entered the auditorium and a bunch of your fellow Martial Artists stopped to give you claps on the back. Along with various versions of "Good Luck" and "Make us proud". Got to the point that a part of you was glad that you had to sit through this first. Gave you some time to settle down.

Yamato nods, "As anticipated. Do not fear, I have prepared numerous contingencies in case you ever feel you may be in over your head."

"Thanks br...," you pause as you focus on what he just said. You hold up a finger, "Wait...what contingencies?"

Before you can get your answer, the entire auditorium goes quiet. As it does, you hear the sound of the door to the room opening behind you. You turn in your seat to see the Guest of Honor and...



...and while you're not sure what you were expecting, it certainly wasn't a woman in a wheelchair being pushed by another woman.



[Yato Supernatural Fundamentals: 40 VS DC 50: Failure!]

Your eyes are locked onto the two of them as they approach, same as everyone else in the room. It's almost impossible not to. Especially as the two move down the aisles, letting everyone see exactly what kept the one in the wheelchair (you're assuming she's the student based on how she wears the Raijin Uniform) away from the school.

[Medicine: Surgery 3 VS DC 60: Failure!]

You might not know anything about medicine or surgery. But you know a little something about injuries. You had to get pretty well acquainted with them when you and Yamato were younger.

And, truth be told, you're surprised the girl is still alive.

Her legs are completely gone, the flesh having healed over into useless stumps. Her right arm was fine, but the other had been replaced by a prosthetic with a split hook at for a hand. It seemed well made and the owner didn't seem to have trouble moving it up to push her hair back. Which gave you a good look at the single black eyepatch that covered her left eye. Her expression was one of confident elegance that permeated the air around her.

The woman pushing the wheelchair was almost the complete opposite to the one in the chair. She seemed mostly healthy, head held high with a bright smile on her face. Her expression was more casual and she proved it by waving to some of the students. She catches you staring and time seems to freeze for a moment as you stare at each other.

[??? Check Passed By ???]

Then a cocky grin comes over her face. She gives you a quick wink before passing by your row of chairs.

...The heck was that?

The two make their way to the stage at the end of the auditorium. As they're helped up the ramp by some of the staff, the Principal of the school steps up to the podium. He's a balding man with a business suit on that he's clearly uncomfortable in. His slightly pudgy face seems to shake as he speaks into the microphone, "As I'm sure you are all aware, one of our more prestigious students was forced to take an extended leave of absence. This was due to a tragic accident that took her brother away, and nearly took her life as well. Not only that, but her parents and direct relatives ended up losing their lives only a few short years later. She has spent many years recovering from the events of that day. Now, she has finally returned to us, just in time to oversee our coming victory at the 5th Annual Tournament of the Divines. It is with great joy that I reintroduce you to our own second year: Estella Baudelaire, Owner of Baudelaire Safety and Medicine!"

A round of applause goes through the room as the Principal steps away from the podium. He moves to help Estella to a second one set up for her, but she waves him off. Instead, she says something to the woman pushing her wheelchair. The woman seems to hesitate for a moment, but then places her hands underneath Estella's arms. She lifts the woman up and carries her to the podium that the Principal used. This causes an expected commotion among the students, but the faculty makes no moves to stop the two.

Once the women have gotten a comfortable position, the blonde moves the microphone over to Estella. After a quick check to make sure it's receiving her, the woman's confident, melodic tone echoes through the auditorium, "Thank you, Principal Itoshi. And while I do appreciate the accommodations made due to my condition, I assure you all that I have no need of such things."

She lets the commotion her words cause die down before continuing, "Yes, I am aware of how that sounds. Both of that...and of the things that I have lost. My brother, taken away long before his time. My arm, blown off and replaced with this metallic device. My legs, cut off with only stumps remaining. My left eye, blinded by a shard of glass that only barely avoided hitting my brain. Even my own family was taken from me by a series of cruel events all happening in quick succession. The pain that I felt from those events took a long time to heal. Within that time, I had plenty of chances to think. On my life. On the lives of those around me. On existence itself. And during that time, I became aware of simple fact of life: That bad things happen. Without rhyme or reason. To anyone and everyone. Good or evil, kind or cruel, they happen."

She lets her rather morbid answer hang in the air for a few minutes. You can almost feel the tension in the air. If there's one thing this girl is good at, it's keeping a crowd's attention. Even Yamato's stopped petting Yameko, both of their eyes firmly locked on the second year at the podium.

"However," her voice rises in tone as she continues, "what matters is that we continue on. My arm may be gone, but I can still write and sign off on medical practices that will change the future. My legs are gone, but I can still get out of bed every morning to face the challenges of the new day. I may be blind in one eye, but my remaining one can see a bright future ahead of me. All I must do is keep moving. Keep driving myself forward. For we are not defined by the circumstances and events that happen to us, but how we move passed them. How we continue living every day in spite of the cruelty we are exposed to. That is what it means to live. That is what it means to be human. That is why I have returned to Raijin Academy. To show that, no matter how low you are brought, you can always rise from the ashes stronger than ever before!"

She raises her prosthetic into the air in triumph.

[??? Check Passed by Estella]

The gesture alone is enough to send the entire room into a frenzy. All around you students stand up and begin clapping like their lives depend on it. The less prim and proper ones even whistle up at Estella. Even you're infected by the energy, standing up and clapping as loudly as you can. The only one who doesn't is Yamato. All he's doing is nodding while Yameko sits in his lap with a smile on her face.

"Quite an Orator, isn't she?" the kitsune says to the both of you.

"Indeed. Though, I do question whether her speech was genuine or practiced. Most likely somewhere in between," is Yamato's response.

Eventually, the clapping dies down and everyone starts to sit. You begin to as well, until Estella starts talking again, "That being said, this gathering is not merely to announce my return. As Principal Itoshi said, we are also here to celebrate the eventual start of the 5th Annual Tournament Of The Divines. Truth be told, that fact did influence my return quite a bit. I would be completely besides myself if I missed such a wonderful event."

The false worry in her tone is obvious to everyone. She gets a few chuckles from it before she continues, "And when I began prepping my plans to return, imagine my surprise when I learned we had a Prodigy amongst our Martial Artists. A Sole Participant. A title held only by myself from a previous year, I believe. Thus, if the Principal wouldn't mind-"

She pauses to turn to look at the balding man. He shakes his head while waving for her to continue. She smiles then turns back to the crowd, "I would be honored to meet the one who will be representing our entire school at the Tournament. One, Hayato Nagai. I believe he was one of the ones standing up to...ah, there you are! Please, come up to the stage."

Estella waves for you do so. Suddenly everyone's eyes are on you again. This time you feel an equal amount of pride filled stares, and hate filled glares. You look around at everyone in the room...then shrug and...

[]...Head on up there. She asked for you. So you're heading up there alone. (???)

[]...Grab Yamato and bring him with you. You wouldn't have gotten this far without him to push you forward. He can even bring Yameko if he wants. If anyone has a problem with that, they fuck off. (???)

[]...Grab Yamato and Yameko, then call out for Hose, Seteke, and Sakura to join you. Sensei's already up on the stage, so no need to call him. All these people helped you get this far. You're gonna make sure they get some spotlight too. (???)

[]...Sit right back down. You don't feel like going up there. (???)

---

Thank you muse for helping me get this done.

For more information on the Estella and Irina, please check this Omake: The Princess and The Knight by @Icipall.

I hope I wrote Estella how you pictured her Ici.