"OK, so what did you call me here for?"

Kyousuke Kousaka scowled at the tsundere in front of him. They were in the middle of Akihabara square, and she had her arms crossed, as if he owed her for going out there in the middle of his weekend.

"Simple. You'll be going along with me to buy manga. And you'll be carrying all the goods."

Kyousuke gave a thin smile.

"I would have expected that from Kirino. If you're trying to copy her, that's pretty low, isn't it...Kuroneko?"

Kuroneko purred, her bright red eyes glowing playfully. "I'm not trying to imitate Kirino. I just need a lackey to carry my merchandise."

"Eh, whatever."

Kuroneko waved her hand indifferently. "I'll pay you if you want."

"No, that won't be necessary."

"Good, then. Let's go…Nii-san."

Kyousuke smiled. It was their inside joke, and Kuroneko used it whenever she wanted to mess with Kirino. The shops Kuroneko frequented were very different from the ones Kirino went to. Mostly dark and dimly lit, with the gloomy, moody characters from Maschera on the covers of the books and DVDs and posters and eroge and erotic doujinshi, all of which she bought and piled into Kyousuke's hands.

"Kuroneko…why do you buy so much Maschera eroge? Aren't the main characters both boys or something?"

"Yes, what's your point?"

"What's your purpose in buying these?"

"I play the games and I read the hentai and I masturbate," said Kuroneko.

Kyousuke nearly dropped everything he was holding.

"What? You expect me to lie? That's how it is. But at least I admit it, unlike your sister."

Kyousuke shuddered because he knew Kuroneko was right, and they stopped at the McDonald's that always served as the resting point whenever the whole tight-knit group (Saori, Kirino, Kuroneko, and Kyousuke) met.

Kyousuke stopped Kuroneko as she took out her wallet. "No, my treat."

"You don't ever sound this glad to pay when Kirino makes you do it."

Kyousuke smiled. They ate their lunch and spent much of the afternoon simply strolling around.

"Nii-san?" said Kyousuke.

"Mm-hmm?"

"Are there any manga or anime series you've started liking? On your own, I mean. I know Kirino makes you play those child porn games she calls eroge, but have you tried anything on your own?"

"Some of the bigger names, but I haven't found one to obsess over like you do with Maschera or Kirino does with Meruru."

"Well, you should really start. It's more fun that way."

"I don't have magic pockets full of gold like you two do."

"I look for good sales. Kirino just spends because she's got the modeling money."

"It's getting late, isn't it? Perhaps we should get back home…By the way, I really enjoyed today, Kuroneko."

"Nii-san?"

"Yes?"

"Could you use my real name, please?"

"Of course…Goko-san."

"Could you use my first name, please?"

"Of course…Ruri-san."

Kuroneko smiled and shook her head as she walked away. "Oh, well. You'll figure it out soon enough…onii-chan!"

On the train ride home, Kyousuke realized for the first time that that had been their first date.