The Two Brothers

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Saeki Itoshi sat in the dean’s office of the Guide Academy, facing the dean who kept apologizing profusely. If it weren’t for his assistant casually opening the academy’s website and spotting your name on the list of volunteers assigned for guidance, Saeki Itoshi would have assumed you were dutifully attending classes at the academy.

“I thought matters like this didn’t require explanation.”

Leaning sideways on the sofa with one arm, Saeki Itoshi wore his white training uniform, still unchanged. His usual arrogant gaze, marked by the distinctive upturned lower eyelids, fixed coldly on the dean as if ready to interrogate him.

The rarity and formidable strength of S-rank Sentinels granted them considerable influence wherever they went. The dean smiled apologetically but cursed inwardly. With so many students being sent out weekly for voluntary guidance, how could he possibly verify each one personally?

After bowing in apology, he looked up to see the young man rapidly typing on his phone, seemingly indifferent to the current situation.

Probably communicating with that guide, he breathed a sigh of relief—only to be caught off guard by Saeki Itoshi’s piercing green eyes flashing with icy disdain.

“At least replace those amateurs, right?”

Perhaps due to a delayed reply from the person on the other end, Itoshi’s displeasure grew. After saying this, he dialed a call, giving the dean a moment to think.

The call was answered. A familiar gentle voice reached his ears, and Itoshi’s stern expression softened slightly.

“I’ll come to get you.”

Moments later, his expression darkened abruptly as if hearing something unsettling.

“...Rin?”

The single syllable echoed through the office, and no one dared interrupt.

The voice burst out through clenched teeth, heavy with gloom and anger. Near his guide, his younger brother’s voice was unmistakable.

This brother, who selfishly made defeating Itoshi his sole objective in life and showed no progress, had never been truly confronted for the inexplicable, intense hatred that had grown between them. Yet now, Rin seemed intent on coveting his guide as well...

Rin’s deliberate vocal challenge was clearly a provocation.

When the girl asked in confusion, “Who is Rin?” Itoshi replied briefly, “My brother,” before hanging up and tossing the phone to his assistant.

“Go to the Blue Prison.”

*

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“Ah, it hung up.”

You stared at the phone screen, feeling somewhat lost.

You had intended to ignore the message and finish the psychological guidance first; however, right after your session ended, that call had come through.

Though the texts looked angry, the tone on the call wasn’t too bad—at least until the young man suddenly asked, “Is he your Sentinel?”

Only then did you realize the familiarity wasn’t without reason. The boy before you was none other than Saeki Rin, Itoshi’s younger brother.

But it seemed the two siblings did not get along well...

You touched your cheek, concerned about having summoned Saeki Itoshi, and delayed answering his question.

“Well, not exactly... it’s just that he and I have a high compatibility.”

Your thoughts drifted back to earlier moments. No matter—if Itoshi came to confront you over this, you’d lay your cards on the table and make a run for it, saying you needed some peace and quiet alone. The textbooks said Sentinels must never harm their guides.

Though you still had no idea what Itoshi was angry about.

Saeki Rin seemed intrigued. He leaned forward slightly; the redness on his earlobe from the guidance session had faded considerably.

“What’s the compatibility score?”

His cyan eyes, similar to Itoshi’s, showed a faint but subtle nervousness.

This information had been publicized long ago. It was precisely because the data was out that you were almost bound to him...

However, the Blue Prison was a closed environment with no internet access—it was understandable that Rin was unaware.

“86,” you answered, lowering your lashes.

“...”

Saeki Rin’s breath caught slightly, revealing the thoughts beneath his indifferent exterior.

Eighty-six... how could it be so high?

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Did that mean he had no chance at all...?

Yet he keenly sensed that despite such a score far surpassing the chosen standard of seventy-five, you didn’t seem like Itoshi’s exclusive counterpart. At least, you appeared indifferent toward Rin, even somewhat cold...

Otherwise, you wouldn’t have pretended not to see the messages and continued guiding him.

Moreover, when Rin first saw you, he had a strange, intense feeling, accompanied by an indescribable pleasure during the guidance session—though he had never experienced it before, Sentinels are naturally able to sense the powerful hormonal reaction when encountering their own guide. It is an instinctual attraction no Sentinel can escape.

His dim green eyes brightened once again.

He subconsciously ignored the fact that you showed no reaction upon seeing him.

*

Shinpachi Ekokoro was eating instant noodles while monitoring the surveillance feeds. The unusual changes in several players’ stats caught his attention.

He zoomed in on the footage.

These Sentinels had finished their weekly psychological guidance first. Some displayed a clear boundary between relaxed and excited muscles, with improved dribbling and shooting accuracy, their movements fluid and graceful—almost a perfect example.

As a Sentinel himself and the person in charge, he observed everything in great detail.

It was clear these Sentinels were in excellent mental condition—definitely not the state expected during chaotic channeling.

This psychological guidance was extraordinarily effective.

After some thought, Shinpachi sent the names of the few players to Anri Teijin.

“Who did their guidance?”

A swift reply arrived. The name was one recently seen in the newspapers.

Wasn’t that Saeki Itoshi’s guide? What was she doing here?

He pulled up the lobby surveillance footage and zoomed in. The dark green-haired boy who finished the guidance was talking intently with a young woman, seemingly reluctant to leave.

Even Saeki Rin, who stood nearly at the top of the Blue Prison, seemed drawn to this guide...

The extraordinary compatibility with an S-rank Sentinel, the strong attraction to higher-level Sentinels, the mental boost after guidance...

His exceptional observational skills had already deduced the conclusion but his mind momentarily refused to accept it.

Those so-called Sentinel-Guide elites believed one matching session was enough, dismissing the near-zero probability of exceptions. But this guide was merely too young. Once she mastered the art of outwitting Sentinels, she would become increasingly uncontrollable.

When a dark guide with free will is born, they will taste regret—

A power capable of driving Sentinels into frenzy, a miracle in the Sentinel-Guide world.

“Unbelievable... such a thing.”

A twisted, dark smile spread across Shinpachi Ekokoro’s lips, his expression both gloomy and manic.

“The world’s number one guide, matched with the world’s top striker.”

*

News from the teacher came quickly: your guidance tasks were terminated.

Following Anri to the lounge, she gave you a hug before leaving.

“Although I’m just an ordinary person, I’ve dealt with many Sentinels.”

“If you have any troubles, feel free to tell me. Maybe I can help.” She winked and pinched your cheek.

The mature, thoughtful older sister type was always hard to refuse, and you softly responded with a “Hmm.”

You waited alone for Saeki Itoshi to pick you up and intended to clarify everything with him—but it was Saeki Rin who arrived first.

“Waiting for Saeki Itoshi?”

He sat beside you, his longer side bangs partly covering his right eye.

You glanced at him. “Yes.”

“...Will you come again after this?”

With no internet inside the Blue Prison, it was difficult to learn what happened outside. He feared that before he could replace the Japanese U20 national team spot, you might form bonds with other Sentinels.

“...I don’t know.”

You gave a vague reply, your mind racing to figure out how to explain things to Itoshi later.

You’d known Saeki Itoshi for over half a month. Though not very close, you sensed it wouldn’t be easy to confront him and leave.

Actually, Saeki Rin seemed off too—obviously not fitting in with other Sentinels, yet inexplicably interested in you, much like Itoshi. Could it be because the brothers shared similar mental channels?

“What do you think of my brother?”

He noticed your distraction and asked another question.

“Hmm... huh?” You snapped back to attention, eyes wide. “Well... that is...”

“Enough small talk.”

Saeki Itoshi entered, his expression grim. His grip on your wrist tightened.

He saw his long-unseen brother but looked down on him with a cold glare. Their similar green eyes locked in mutual hostility.

“Don’t do anything unnecessary.”

He practically dragged you along, your wrist aching. You struggled and snapped at him:

“Itoshi! You’re hurting me!”

He walked ahead without turning, slightly loosening his grip.

The two got into a car, heading back to the Guide Academy.

You sat in the familiar seat, but neither you nor Itoshi spoke.

He didn’t look at you, his usual expressionless face tinged with anger.

You were angry too.

You rolled your aching wrist, determined to clarify everything today.

The Sentinel’s one-sided reaction was not normal for a highly compatible Sentinel-guide pair. That meant you could have had no involvement with him—

The car smoothly stopped at the academy’s entrance.

You took a deep breath.

“Itoshi, I don’t think we’re the best match.”

“So let’s part ways for now. I know you’re not very happy with me either...”

Itoshi finally turned to stare at you, his gaze dark.

“Who told you that? Rin?”

He didn’t answer directly but questioned you instead.

“No... it’s my own thought.”

Facing the pressure from the Sentinel, your heart raced. You steadied your gaze and met his eyes head-on, those eyes almost devouring you.

Itoshi’s face was shadowed, with a hint of ferocity hidden in the darkness.

The danger and madness of a Sentinel revealed at this moment. Your heart skipped a beat—you realized this wasn’t the best time.

You quickly reached for the door handle, wanting to leave. Just as you opened it slightly, a hand closed the door behind you.

Itoshi’s hand completely covered yours, the opposing force pulling you back into his chest.

The Sentinel’s emotions were clearly unstable. You felt the rise and fall of his chest and the warm breath near your ear.

“Are you trying to leave without hearing me out?”

...This is bad.