E/D: Castle

T/L: Yurika

Ekaterinas POV

Well, thats very kind of you. (Ekaterina)

They came all the way here because they cared. Theyre good kids.

Just then, a voice called out to me. It was a nice, deep voice.

What are you doing here? Theres no way youre in the top ten, is there?

Oh, brother.

Marina spoke, but her tone definitely plunged two notches and it was icy.

What, big brother?

When I looked at the person who called out to me, I saw a tall young man with magnificent red hair and golden eyes, a macho sportsman type, and he stopped to look at me.

Oh my, this is the same guy who showed me where my brothers office was when I visited his class a while back. I seehes the same skin tone as Marina-chan, and they share the same athletic buildhes Marina-chans brother. So were in the same class, sister to sister and brother to brother.

Oh, duke. Youre in first place again, thats great. And your sister, too. Long time no see, I dont know if you remember me, but my name is Nikolai Kruimov. (Nikolai)

Long time no see, of course I remember you. Its been a long time, of course I remember you, thank you very much for your help. (Ekatrina)

3rd POV

Beside the smiling Ekaterina, Alexei looks at Marina and smiles.

So this is your sister. (Alexei)

Oh, thats my monkey. (Nikolai)

Ekaterinas POV

Nikolai laughed and Marina squealed in anger.

What did you just say!? If I were a monkey, Big Brother is a big monkey! You are a gluttonous demon beast with the power to destroy two storage sheds, pretending to be a human! (Marina)

Whos a demon beast? You told me to destroy the storage sheds, so you could rebuild them! (Nikolai)

Ehbut you can tear it down, doesnt that mean youre a demon beast?

You pretending to be a warrior girl is much more painful, how can you even do that?(Nikolai)

Oh-ho-ho, Ive mastered the [Five Cat Strikes] technique handed down from mother, so I have no blind spots! (Marina)

How can you just say Cat Strikes in front of so many people? (Nikolai)

Haaah! (Marina)

Marina stiffens.

Yes, Nikolai-san, what a good point.

So, Marina has five cats? I suddenly imagined her with five cats above her head, like a cat tower. How fluffy, this is so moe isnt it?

As a company employee who suddenly became a lady, I feel a kinship with her.

(E/N: Shes probably referring to having a hidden alter-ego. Marina looks strong/athletic but actually likes fluffy things, Ekaterina seems like a true lady but actually used to be a company employee.)

So, Im going to help and make a joke.

Marina-sama, do you have that many cats? Im sure theyre adorable. (Ekaterina)

Yes, I do! (Marina)

3rd POV

Marina quickly jumped at Ekaterinas attempt to ease the situation.

We run a horse farm, so we have a lot of cats living in the stables. They help us get rid of vermin, and even the roughest horses tend to get along with our cats. (Marina)

A cat and a horse becoming friends? How wonderful. Yes, I saw the Kruimovs magical beast horse the other day. It was beautiful, powerful, and stunning. (Ekaterina)

My, that is very kind of you! Thank you for your kind praise. (Marina)

Marina felt that she had finally managed to escape, and was pleased with Ekaterinas words.

Looking around, everyone except for the dumbfounded Nikolai, are smiling and seem to be willing to pretend that Marina got away with it.

Looking at it, the Kruimov siblings seem to get along so well that they could fight and have banter like this.

Ekaterina looked up at her brother beside her and smiled wickedly.

Big Brother, the two Kruimovs look very close, arent they? Compared to them, I think were not as close as we should be. Why dont you try calling me monkey for once? (Ekaterina)

No. (Alexei)

Alexei simply replied.

Big Brother, you gave up too soon. (Ekaterina)

But I really cant. Ive never actually seen a monkey, but Im guessing its a tree-dwelling creature that lives in groups in the southern forests. (Alexei)