Chapter 04: Merged Dreams
—I could see a small girl standing in front of the gate of a big mansion.
She must be the daughter of Sougo-sama, who brought me here from the exorcist organisation. That she was waiting all the way out here in front of the house for his return, might mean that she had to speak with Sougo-sama. That was what I thought and wanted to keep my greeting for later, but
“Welcome home, Dad.”
The girl said shortly to Sougo-sama, then drew closer to me right away and let her childish voice sound energetically.
“Hello. My name is Gogyou Hijiri. Dad told me about it. You’re going to live with us from today on, right? Will you tell me your name?”
Perplexed by the girl’s action, I told her my name, whereupon the girl smiled happily and softly took my hand.
“I’ll show you around the house. Let’s go—Kaoru-san.”
Even if she was small, the girl was an exorcist. I was a hybrid devil and the girl should know that I was nothing but a tool for the exorcists, yet
“So, you know, Kaoru-san…”
while walking down the hallways, she flushed her cheeks faintly
“Actually, I always wanted an older sister.”
and forgetting the still unfamiliar respectful speech,
“So, Kaoru-san, if possible, would you become my older sister?”
she said the words that shook my heart.
The girl’s smiling face was really gentle, her squeezed hand was just so warm and that she treated me like a human, such a trivial matter… made me unbelievable happy.
But I was just a tool. It would surely cause the girl troubles, so I ensnared her with a joke and tried hard to keep my distance.
Nevertheless the girl sought my attention. She invited me to play together. She always tried to stay by my side… Before I noticed it, I had really grown to like the girl, Hijiri-chan.
Therefore, when her friends came to know about her family and she was depressed, I wanted to cheer her up and invited her to play together for the first time.
Still, in the end, I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t really know how to play together, so it was no good at all. Despite that, Hijiri-chan smiled a “Thanks” at me.
That was the reason I often failed to keep my distance.
The always monochromic world, which I saw ever since my mother abandoned me, changed into a colourful one by staying together with Hijiri-chan. I felt nothing for the spring’s cheery blossoms, the summer’s fireworks, the fall’s evening sun and the winter’s first snow…but now I honestly considered them pretty.
To get liked by Hijiri-chan even a bit, I searched for good points within me. But I couldn’t find anything and thought that if I were to show a weakness, she were to know about my actual weak self, I would get abandoned again… In the end, I only thought about myself.
Actually, I should have noticed at that time.
“—Sorry. I’m sorry, Kaoru-san. I will get to the top and make them acknowledge you as my family…”
When Hijiri-chan promised me so while crying, when she changed her lifestyle, I, unable to give her anything in return, shouldn’t have taken her hand. If I had noticed that sooner…
* * *
After school on the day before the sports festival. Machina seemed to make a detour with the girls from class on their invitation, so I walked back home alone.
Ever since, I wanted to talk with Hijri, but she had always been absent from school. When I once visited the Gogyou Mansion, her little brother that looked a lot like her told me “My sister won’t be home for a while”.
Of course I could call her on her cell phone.
But I felt that it wasn’t a matter to be spoken of over the phone. According to her little brother, Hijiri would attend the sports festival, so I decided to wait until then, but
“…Please take care of Kaoru-san, huh.”
While walking down the residential area, I suddenly remembered the worried expression that Hijiri’s little brother showed when we parted. He must have been thinking of Kaorun as well.
I was a bit happy about that, so I decided to return with a gift for Kaorun, heading towards in front of the station.
But, midway an unreported rain shower came and I started running with a click of my tongue. Then I wanted to take shelter from the rain in front of a second hand bookstore that I spotted, but… there was already someone standing there.
Rained on, the girl, Hijiri had her glamorous, black hair wet and when she noticed me, she smiled softly.
“Taking shelter too, Shinobu-kun?”
“Yeah, I am… I see you’re back. Where have you been up till now?”
“At the exorcist organisation.”
…That meant, she might have been taking jobs.
When such thoughts crossed my mind, Hijiri asked a bit worried.
“So, ehm, how’s Kaoru-san? Is she getting along with the other girls?”
“Yeah, without problems. Well, once she caught a cold though…”
“She kept… quiet about it, right?”
When I replied with a nod to the question, Hijiri sadly lowered her eyebrows.
“Kaoru-san is changing little by little, but that part of her hasn’t changed from the past. She’s puts on airs so that no one notices and even when she’s in pain, she behaves normally. She doesn’t show her weaknesses.”
“…Isn’t that because she’s scared?”
Quietly, I said.
“After all, there are people that leave you, when you show a weakness.”
It was the same for me as a kid. When I started to attend my grandfather’s dojo, they had great expectations of me as the son of my father, but when they realized that I didn’t have a shred of talent and was weak… everyone separated from me.
Of course there where people, who stayed. But when you thought about them leaving as well, you couldn’t help but be scared.
That was why Kaorun must have been trying to act though, even if as a bluff.
Softly relaxing my clenched fist, I changed the topic with a serious voice.
“Hey, I want to ask, what made you want to go to university? Do you plan to quit as an exorcist already?”
“I’m not.”
Without any hesitation, Hijiri declared.
“Then why university?”
“…Sorry. I can’t tell you the reason yet. I want Kaoru-san to hear it as the first. Actually I should have told her about the reason when she found about me aiming for an university, but she ran away and I didn’t get to tell her in the end.”
Lightly dropping her shoulders, Hijiri continued with a strong tone.
“And I didn’t know if it will go well, so I couldn’t bring it up, as I didn’t want to disappoint her. But I got permission from my father, so I’ll properly tell Kaoru-san now.”
“…I see.”
The desire to tell Kaorun first. No idea if it would go well. Permission from Sougo-san. And Hijiri had no plans of quitting the exorcists.
Judging from these things, I believed that Hijiri was acting for Kaorun’s sake.
However, the Kaorun in question…
Suddenly I remembered my mother’s previous words and asked in a casual tone.
“Hijiri, theoretically speaking, if Kaorun were to separate herself from you and go to the exorcist organisation—”
“I won’t let her.”
“Eh? No, I mean theoretically—”
“I definitely won’t let her go.”
Still smiling, Hijiri cut into my words with a tone that left no room for argumentation.
Getting such a reaction from her, I inadvertently made a wry smile.
“You sure love Kaorun.”
“Yeah, of course.”
Hijiri nodded firmly in an instant.
“Because Kaoru-san was there for me, I could like myself.”
“Mh? You once hated yourself?”
“As a kid… I once thought so.”
Leaking unexpected words, Hijiri shifted her gaze to the rainy sky.
“I told you once about it, but in elementary school, a friend found out about my family. But it was only obvious. After all I showed off my exorcist powers in front of my friend…”
“…Why would you do that?”
“It might have been some kind of desire to boast. And I wanted to be praised. I loved my friend, so I wanted her to love me back. And above all, I wanted to help her.”
Amidst the soft raining sounds, Hijiri continued calmly.
“A devil possessed my friend’s cat. You saw it at the seaside school, Shinobu-kun. It was the same type as that devil that possessed the dog. That said, it was a lot weaker, so even I as a kid could drive it away. The younger me considered herself some kind of hero from an anime and thought her friend would be happy as well…”
Midway in her sentence, Hijiri smiled troubled.
“My friend called me a monster. At first I didn’t thought she meant me, didn’t want to think so, so I reached out my hand… then she raised a small scream.”
Instead of the desired smile, Hijiri most likely was shown the crying face of her friend, stiff from fear.
“Then everyone left me and I believed that I did something wrong. And while I was alone, I was about to come to hate my family and even my friends, which really frightened me and I cried non-stop. Then Kaoru-san invited me to play together.”
Still looking up to the rainy sky, Hijiri suddenly smiled gently.
“Back then, Kaoru-san cried for the first time.”
“…Kaorun did?”
“Yeah. She never accepted any invitations to play together from me, so she suck at all games and must have thought that she was unable to cheer me up. Even though that wasn’t true… She cried while apologizing for inability…”
As the remembered about that time, Hijiri chose her words preciously.
“So far she had been inexpressiveness without smiles and didn’t show any expression, yet Kaoru-san thought of me… and cried. In that moment, I could believe that I hadn’t done anything wrong.”
Kaorun’s tears must have been like a salvation for Hijiri.
“My father and mother didn’t say anything, but when people found out that I used my power in front of my friend, most of them ridiculed me in the shadows. They also criticized me for not treating Kaoru-san as a tool. That’s why I thought that I was completely in the wrong.”
Unnoticed the rain stopped,
“But, I wasn’t in the wrong after all. I do admit that I didn’t perform it well, but I helped my friend. And Kaoru-san isn’t a tool. She’s my older sister. A precious… family member.”
the sunlight shone in between the gaps of the rainy sky and dignified illuminated Hijiri.
“Even if others hate me for it, I’ll no longer regret my actions. When everyone left me, Kaoru-san stayed by my side. She played with me. She kept liking me. Because of that, I could stay true to myself.”
Shifting her gaze along with her words, Hijiri showed a pretty smile.
…Hearing her story just now, made me once again understand how Hijiri felt about Kaorun.
Still, I had one more thing that I wanted to ask Hijiri.
“Hijiri, have you ever longed for a normal life?”
“Mh? Of course I have, but there’s something I want even more. I don’t think my happiness lies in a normal life… So I won’t falter.”
“…Thanks.”
I strangely leaked words of thanks from my mouth and Hijiri titled her head, but— I had my answer already.
I wanted to have Kaorun talk with Hijiri before she made her resolve.
While thinking of Kaorun, I softly opened my mouth.
“I’m thinking of inviting Kaorun to the sports festival tomorrow. I’ll ask her to cheer for us. Could you then tell her your reason for attending university after school or so? I’ll seize her, so that you can have a proper talk.”
“…I see. That would help. Thanks, Shinobu-kun.”
On my suggestion, Hijiri showed me a smile.
…I hoped that everything would go well tomorrow.
Facing the sun that showed through the gaps of the rain clouds, I thought so.
* * *
The day of the sports festival, which the guys in class and Machina had looked forward to. After asking Kaorun to come to cheer on us, I left the house together with Machina and Nazuna like always.
For the costume borrowing relay, I would cross-dress, but I wouldn’t run around it all day like I did at the culture festival.
It was just for the race, so I would bear with it.
Was what I thought, but when I arrived at school, the girls of my class took my arm and forcefully dragged me to the changing room as soon as they saw me. With the perfect make-up like at the culture festival, the nihilistic cool guy… beautifully transformed into a soothing maid and left the changing room.
Then I trotted down the hallway alone, whereupon I encountered a tall beautiful person with wastefully finely chiselled features and wearing an out-of-place Chinese dress. That person faced me and gave me a wink.
“Kyaruru~n♪“
Making a strangely unusual voice, the person took a quite adorable pose.
“…Somehow, I think I got that reference, but who are you?”
“I’m Asada. Did you forget me already?”
“Yeah, I wished it would have stayed that way, but I remembered now. Still, I gotta say, you became quite pretty.”
Reminded me, Asada was going to cross-dress for the race as well. The girls must have put him into the cross-dress even before me.
But, to be honest, I didn’t recognize him at first. As he already was the type that looked good as long as he stayed quiet, the cross-dressing really made him look like a normal beauty.
While I was a bit surprised, Asada proudly puffed up his fake chest.
“I am just as pretty as you, Nanjou♪ Earlier I got hit on by male students. I am so popular that it‘s troubling. I‘ll get to the boys one after another.“
“You have your beloved sister, don’t you? If you’re going to cheat, make it a doctor or lawyer.”
When I gave him some suited advice, Asada opened his mouth with “Speaking of my sister,”.
“Nanjou, the blonde girl that stays at your place, Luna-san was it? My sister found a good part-time job for her.”
“Oh, great. What kind of job?”
“A waitress in a family restaurant. The female shop owner is a pervert, the manager is a pervert as well, most of the staff are perverts as well, but they are all nice people. I believe it’s a good workplace.”
“…Even though it’s a workplace full of perverts?”
“Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. No problems. My sister works there as well, so if anything comes up, she’ll properly help her.”
“But your sister is a bit aloof and even has a frizz on her head. Isn’t she the one that needs help?”
“Exactly. You know it. Therefore— Please help me! If you leave my sister alone, who knows what kind of mistakes she’ll make! Tell Luna-san to look after her in my stead!”
…Huh? Did I ask the wrong person? Now it might have been better if I asked my mother to look for a job. I made a big sigh in my heart…
After the opening speech and warm-ups finished, the sports festival finally started. While loud cheering raised all over the place and the sweat of the students glittered over the grounds, I cried a bit at our class cheering spot.
…For a while now, I was receiving sexual harassment from the girls in my class.
While cheering on the classmates, they repeatedly touched my body and when they came back from a game, for some reason they clung to me with “I won, Maid!” or cried in my arms with “I lost, Maid!”. Some of them even touched my bottom. For some reason,
“Unlike his appearance, Nanjou-kun isn’t scary at all”, “He’s actually kind of cute”, “…I touched Nanjou-kun’s hand.”, “H- Huh? I get the feeling a boy mixed in again, but that was Katou-kun, right! It was you, Katou-kun!”
they made a happy ruckus like that.
However, I endured it all and it was finally time for my turn— the three-legged race.
As I was going to participate with Machina in it, I pushed aside Minami, who was stuffing snacks into my mouth for a while now, whereupon she tilted her head puzzled.
“Mhh? Shinobu-chan, you didn’t like the snacks? Want something else?”
“Ehm, that’s not it…”
“Ah, I know. You’re thirsty, right? Want something to drink?”
“—Whiskey. On the rocks, please. Drink together with me.”
When I cracked a joke without a moment’s delay, Minami flushed her cheeks for some reason.
“Geez, Shinobu-chan. What are you going to do after getting me drunk?”
“Nah, I won’t do anything. Actually, aren’t you the one who’s going to do something by pretending to be drunk?”
“Th- That’s all I ever considered— wait, no! I only considered it a bit!”
“…Okay, keep your real intention a bit more hidden. Also, it’s my turn next, so I’m going now.”
Machina was waiting with a weary expression. There I quickly got away from Minami and headed to the grounds with Machina, tying our legs together with a headband. Then we stood at the starting line and waited for the signal while giving our rivals a side-glance.
“—P- Please give it your all! Shinobu-san! Machina!”
I could hear a cheering a bit louder than the others from the visitor stands.
When I faced the familiar voice, I saw Luna, Kaorun and my mother.
They must have come together to cheer. Strangely enough Elni wasn’t with them, but for some reason Luna was cosplaying as a cheerleader girl and was greatly waving the pompoms in her hands, albeit embarrassed.
On that occasion, as to emphasized their existence, Luna’s voluminous breasts shook proudly, bumped into each other and bounced off in the opposite direction, only to fiercely shake up and down then.
When I was about to be charmed by these movements, Machina increased the strength in her hand around my shoulder a bit and changed her expression in a rather serious one.
“We’re going to show my sister and the others what we’re capable of, Shinobu.”
“—Call me the Knight of sonic speed.”
“Y- You’re unusually motivated.”
While Machina widened her eyes a bit, the slow voice of our homeroom teacher Hiiragi sounded over the grounds through the microphone from the staff tent.
“Okay, everyone, are you ready? We’ll start the three-legged race. I’m taking over the commentary from the girl of the broadcast club. The other commentary is—”
“Hello, Goddess here.”
“…Eh? Who are you?”
“The Goddess! I’m actually quite capable at commenting! Shinobu! Machina! Good luck!”
Hearing a familiar voice now through the microphone, Machina and I looked at each other, then timidly turned around.
There was Elni, like expected. With the microphone in one hand, she passionate started the commentary while giving the perplexed Hiiragi-sensei a side-glance.
“The long-awaited three-legged race will start now! Their spirit passes through their arms around their shoulders! For the glory— On your marks, start!”
To be honest, I was quite concerned about Elni.
But Machina and I focussed our feelings and after the pistol start signal, we instantly crossed the white line. Following, we were at the top in no time, as to show off the result of our special training.
But, Machina’s voluminous breasts with plentiful elasticity hit on my body for a while now and her sweet fragrance melted my brain. Moreover Machina’s rough breathing was quite erotic.
…I, I had to reach the goal before my concentration gave in.
If we tripped now, everything would be for naught. I suppressed my carnal desire and while my reasoning crumbled amidst the cheering, I crossed the goal tape with Machina, still in the lead. Upon that,
“GOOOOOAAAAAL! With a huge lead on the runner-up, the Shinobu & Machina pair are on the goal line first! The Shinobu & Machina pair wins! Congratulations, Shinobu! Machina!”
At the same time of the cheering, Elni’s commentary echoed loud over the grounds.
Amidst that, Elni suddenly said remembering.
“Ah, right, Shinobu, Machina. We all, Luna, Tomoe-san, Koarun and I are at the visitor stands, so drop by when you have time. Let’s eat lunch together.”
“…What’s she using the school’s microphone for.”
“S- Somehow, this is more embarrassing for us. Actually, I saw Elni shaking the principal’s hand, but I’m surprised she doesn’t get scolded, seeing as she’s not a student.”
“Too right!”
As always, she could get along with anyone right away.
While watching over Elni, Machina and I returned to our class’ cheering spot together. Machina still had to participate in the relay and cavalry battle, so she stayed there, but I was free until the end of the lunch break. There I was going to head to Luna and the others.
“Oh.”
On my way to the visitor stands, I ran into my mother and Kaorun walking side-by-side.
My mother aside, Kaorun wore a gym uniform, whenever she changed into it, and a single-lens reflex camera hung around her neck. She took a picture of me with that camera.
“…Shinobu-sama in maid clothes. Seems like it will sell dear to Luna-sama and the others.”
“Hey, stop the fishy business. My office says NG to cross-dressing pictures. Don’t you dare to circulate them. Actually, what’s up with your outfit?”
“Does it infatuate you?”
Along with her words, she crossed her arms behind her back and took an erotic pose.
“…Kaorun, let me tell you one thing.”
“What is it?”
“It’s cute.”
“Th- That is a well-known fact.”
While replying with her chest puffed up, Kaorun still turned a bit red. Seeing that, my mother smiled faintly and shifted her gaze to me, still smiling.
“Seems Kaoru-chan went all out, so that you would praise her. She also took pictures of everyone as a keepsake.”
“I am amazing, right? Cuteness is not my only trait. Please pet my head afterwards.”
“…Mince your words, really.”
When I retorted lightly, my mother called out to Kaorun.
“Kaoru-chan, do you want a picture together with Shinobu on this occasion? I’ll take it for you.”
“…I once again fell for you, Tomoe-sama.”
Blushing and commenting so, Kaorun quickly handed my mother her own camera. Following, she stood next to me, then put one arm around my shoulder and made a small V-sign. There my mother took a couple of picture, then showed a wry smile and called out to Kaorun.
“Hey Kaoru-chan, can’t you smile better?”
“…Ufufu?”
“No, that’s not a smile at all. Even the remark is monotone.”
When I pointed that out, Kaorun somewhat lowered her eyebrows.
“I am not adept at smiling. However, I will try my best for this keepsake picture. Shinobu-sama, please say something cool and make me smile.”
“—You don’t need a picture of me, do you? If you look under handsome in the lexicon, you’ll see one.”
“Uhm, I was not asking for such a conceited remark, but more for a short one that makes a woman cry in joy. Please.”
“Makes a woman cry in joy?”
After pondering with my head tilted, I smiled and declared.
“—Leave the chores to me!”
“Yeah, Shinobu-sama, I was waiting for these words— or not! Now I unintentionally made a tricked and retorting combination like Machina! I was hoping for some words like a proposal! As long as it makes my heart skip a beat, say anything. Just quickly please!”
…Even though I tried to be funny to get you to laugh.
Now was the time to praise me for my effort, no? Why was she angry? It was kind of heartrending. Actually, I was a bit doubtful about the plan of smiling through a cool remark from me. Now it was time to show what I was capable of.
Softly stroking under Kaorun’s chin, I repeated the remark that I read in a book before.
“—Shall I compare you to a summer’s day? You are more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, and summer’s lease has all too short a date—”
“*blush*…”
H- Huh? It might be weird for me to say it, but why was she blushing? This was a Shakespeare rip-off.
I was perplexed by the unexpected reaction, whereupon Kaorun brought her well-formed lips closer with her cheeks still flushed and lightly kissed my cheek.
Instantly, the shutter sound of the camera sounded and my mother said isolated.
“…I captured a crucial moment. Later I’ll get a copy and sent it to my husband.”
There Kaorun got away from me in a hurry. Then she got the camera back from my mother and said while having her back to me.
“Well then, I will return to taking peeping shots of high school girls. Farewell.”
Could it be, she wore the gym uniform, so that she wouldn’t be suspicious and could enjoy taking peeping shots as an insider? While I somewhat got astonished like that,
“Kaorun was bright red up to her ears…”
I immersed in the afterglow of her soft lips.
Upon that, my mother walked away with her cell phone in one hand and saying “I’ll make a short call”, as she had something to do about her work, so I decided to head to Luna and co. alone.
…As expected of a high school sports festival, there were relatively few visitors.
Amidst them, a stunning blonde beauty in a cheerleader outfit and a silver-haired girl with adorable features stood out, so I could find Luna and Elni right away.
The two were sitting on a blue sheet lain out on the ground and for some reason Elni was begging Luna with a spoiled voice.
“Hey, Hey, Luna. I overexerted myself on the commentary earlier, so I’m hungry. We have a lot for lunch, right? Can’t I get a single sandwich? Please, Luna.”
“…But just one.”
“Yay!”
Elni joyfully held out both her hands to Luna, who replied with a wry smile. In view of that, I hurried over to them and pulled on Elni’s sleeve spoiled.
“Hey, Hey, Elni. I overexerted myself on the three-legged race earlier, so I’m tired. And I’m sick of cross-dressing. Can you participate in the games after lunch break in my stead? Please, Elni.”
“…Grow up, Shinobu.”
A bit of seriousness resonated in my words, but I had considered it a mere imitation.
But, Elni answered me with a serious face.
“Somehow, I don’t want to be told that by you.”
After shrugging my shoulders, I sat down on the blue sheet.
Then I observed the sports festival together with Luna and Elni. After lunch, I got to lay on Luna’s lap and Elni rested her chin on my stomach like a cat, faintly smiling.
Amidst that, I wanted to look satisfied up to the sky, but… I could only see Luna’s big breast.
Truly a superb view.
“Fufu, I’m full, so I guess I should go home.”
“Eh? Shinobu-san? What about the sports festival?”
“Sports festival? Just leave that to the others. Hiding in a card box and taking peeping shots of us, Kaorun thinks so as well, right?”
“…Yes. You are right, Shinobu-sama. The bouncing breasts of high school girls. Shaking bottoms. And me, taking peeping shots. That is enough for me.”
Without any previous notice and even no presence, she popped up out of nowhere, but it seems she didn’t expect me to notice her. While somewhat widening her eyes, she cracked one of her usual jokes and took a picture of us with her proud single-lens reflex camera. After that, she nodded satisfied and went away.
There Machina showed up, as if passing Kaorun, and she called out to me slightly wearily.
“Hey, Shinobu, it’s your turn soon. You have been here ever since you finished lunch. Come back already.”
“…Don’t want. If I go back, I’ll get sexual harassed again. I’ll make this place my second home.”
Moving Elni’s head that rested on my stomach, I face-down buried my face in Luna’s lap.
This might sound pathetic, but it felt so pleasant here that I didn’t want to leave. When I drowned in the sensation of her warm thighs, Luna gently petted my head, as she had not intention to reprimand me.
But, in no time Machina grabbed me by the collar and dragged me after her. While humming DonaDona to myself, I returned to my classmates…
When I returned to our class’ cheering spot with Machina, Hijiri was someway surrounded by the girls.
For some reason she wore a butler uniform, which encouraged her usual dignity. And some junior girls raised shrill voices of “Gogyou-senpai, please take a picture together with me”, enjoying a photo shot with Hijiri in turns.
…But, why was Hijiri dressed like that?
Feeling doubtful, I shifted my gaze to Machina.
“Hey Machina, what’s up with Hijiri?”
“Just a small happening. Katou, who was supposed to be in the costume relay, tripped and got a sprain, so Hijiri pitched in. Apparently a girl from the drama club brought the costume.”
“Hee…”
When I made an agreeable response, Hijiri seemed to have noticed me. Getting away from the girls and rushing over to me, she called out with a smile.
“Shinobu-kun, turns out I’m also participating in the costume relay. Let’s work hard together.”
“Yeah, I heard from Machina. But I gotta say, that costume suits you well, it’s cute.”
“C- Cute?”
Instantly Hijiri flushed her cheeks, looked down and mumbled happily.
“…Thanks. You’re the only one, who said that…”
“Really? Strange, seeing as it’s so cute. Right, Machina?”
When I casually brought up the matter to her, Machina showed a questionable expression for some reason.
“She certainly is cute, but until just now she was cool. Guess you made her cute, Shinobu?”
“Fufu, I guess any leopardess turns into a kitten in front of me. Machina, how about you stop being a Queen and become a kitten as well?”
“Meow! I love Broth— wait, no! I’m not a Queen like my sister! Nor am I a kitten like Nazuna! Besides, what’s up with that lady-killer remark!? Keep your playboy attitude in check!”
…It was just a little joke, yet Machina pinched my cheek.
While I gave a wry smile, Hijiri reserved pulled on the sleeve of my maid clothes.
“Shinobu-kun, I saw Kaoru-san at the visitor stands earlier. Thanks for inviting her. I’ll try talking to her at a good time.”
“…I see. Good luck. If you can’t make time for it, try after school. I’ll tell Luna and the others later to not let Kaorun get away.”
When I replied so, Machina tilted her head puzzled.
“What are you talking about? Tell me.”
I softly replied to Machina, who had a somewhat spoiled way of speaking.
“Hijiri has something important to tell to Kaorun. Will you help us to keep Kaorun from escaping?”
“…They’re going to make up? Sure.”
Machina accepted my request with a smile.
Then we sat down at our class’ cheering spot and waited for our own turn…
* * *
The costume borrowing relay finally started. Besides me, various other students in cosplays gathered on the grounds and I saw boys and girls clad in kimonos, sailor uniforms or maid clothes.
This fun game was popular with the students, so before it even started, cheers and shouts of joy came from the cheering spots. And these voices got even louder once the game started.
By the way, I was the third runner and Hijiri was the fourth runner, the anchor. A bit nervous, I followed the second runner’s— the Chinese dress wearing Asada’s movements with my eyes.
“No! I’m not a sex fiend! I’m a Gentleman with the name Pervert!”
The pervert was being seized by on older girl from the visitor stands. Moreover Asada was handcuffed by the girl, but somehow seemed to persuade her. Still handcuffed, he rushed over to me as the last.
On the way, he was judged for the borrowing task by the teacher in charge of the game and as he got the OK, Asada separated from the girl and hastily ran towards me.
There I looked at Asada’s handcuffs and called out wearily.
“Quite the fancy bracelet you have there.”
“Aww! It’s hard to run like this, but I had no choice! The task said “older”, so I called out to her! But it turns out she was a policewoman! I was nearly arrested, damnit! Damn policewoman! Next time I see her, I’ll lick her all over!”
“No, no, forget that and hand me the baton already. Then you can watch my gallant figure from under the earth.”
“…From under the earth? Doesn’t that mean death?”
“I’m telling you to die in a roundabout way.”
Asada would forgive it, so I cracked a hard joke and snatched away the baton.
Following, I heard Asada’s “Nanjou, I’m done for. I’m tired. When I die, delete the data on my computer without checking it” words befitting for a pervert from behind while I ran. Chasing after the other runners, I picked up a memo slip, which were set up midway on the course.
Now then, what was the borrowing task? With Asada’s earlier incident, I became a bit worried and opened the slip, whereupon there was written a harassing task with pudgy letters, “Someone perverted <3”.
…I thought so from the beginning, but this was no longer a game about borrowing things, but borrowing people.
Well, that way it was more fun, but… what should I do about this?
The ones I thought of were Kaorun, Luna, Minami and Hijiri.
First, Hijiri was out, since she was also in the game. Kaorun was out as well, as I didn’t know if she would get near Hijiri at the moment. So either Luna or Minami, but… Mhm, from my position the visitor stands were closer than our class’ cheering spot.
---Okay, the natural erotic big sister was it.
Carrying the baton and memo slip in one hand, I moved to the visitor stands at once.
Upon that, Luna was in a confused state, as many students asked her “Please come with me”. Nearby by, Kaorun was nonchalant sipping some tea and Elni was eating some snacks with a smile… while my mother filmed me with a video camera.
Amidst that, I softly pushed aside the students and approached Luna. Then I took her hand and pulled her closer.
Instantly, a girl, who had reached out for Luna, frowned dissatisfied.
“Hey, you’re rude. You’re being too pushy.”
“Sorry. Sometimes a man has to be pushy. If you’re only gentle, you aren’t a man.”
“…Eh? You’re a boy?”
“Can’t you see? How rude. Now my cool remark is totally ruined.”
The girl widened her eyes and looked at me in maid clothes, but… oh well. I just shrugged my shoulders and shifted my gaze to Luna.
“Luna, come with me.”
“Y- Yes. Somehow, I am a bit excited right now…”
For some reason Luna blushed. I took her along to the teacher in charge of the game and handed over the memo slip in my hand. Following, I waited for the task to be judged, but the teacher in charge, Hiiragi-sensei alternating looked at Luna and the memo slip and doubtfully tilted her head, as she didn’t agree with it.
There Luna softly whispered into my ear.
“Shinobu-san, what is the task about?”
“…Eh? Ah, r- right. Ehm… A pretty girl?”
If she were to find out that the task was “someone perverted”, it might get out of hand. I replied to Luna’s question with a small voice, deceiving her.
Amidst that, Hiiragi-sensei asked timidly.
“Uhm, Nanjou-kun, is she really per---”
“H- Heeeey! D- Doubting is rude! No matter how you look at it, she fit’s the task! Please get some glasses!”
When I hastily cut into Hiiragi-sensei’s words, Luna must have believed that the task was “A pretty girl”. She happily flushed her cheeks with “Shinobu-san praised me”.
…M- My chest was about to be crushed from the guilt.
I naturally broke out in a cold sweat, whereas Hiiragi-sensei opened her mouth even more doubtful.
“On a related note let me ask, what part of her is per---”
“Please stop inquiring anymore! I’ll proof it to you now!”
Along with my words, I softly whispered into Luna’s ear this time.
“Hey Luna, despite her baby-face, this teacher is actually quite strict. Try to seduce her to bring her down.”
“S- Seduce? Ehm, she is a woman and it is embarrassing…”
“Well, yeah. Okay. My bad. Then let’s give up.”
Somehow I felt bad for Luna. I should tell her the truth and apologize.
Or so I thought, but Luna tightly clenched her fist.
“---At this rate you would end up last, so I’ll give my best.”
Before she finished her sentence, Luna got closer to Hiiragi-sensei in no time. Then she pressed her plenty voluminous breasts against Hiiragi-sensei while smiling bewitching, and declared charming.
“Fufu, you are so cute. If you give the OK, I will give you plenty of service.”
Instantly, Hiiragi-sensei turned bright red, dropped the memo slip and lowered her head.
“S- So perverted! Just like you said, Nanjou-kun! Sorry for doubting you!”
“…Perverted?”
Tilting her head a bit, Luna picked up the memo slip off the ground… and confirmed the contents. She faced me with teary eyes.
“Uhh… Shinobu-san, what is this?”
“That, well, I kind of thought that the natural erotic big sister would pull it off… I guess you’re angry?”
“Rather than angry, I am sad!”
Glaring at me with still teary eyes, Luna weakly pulled on my cheek.
“You are so mean, Shinobu-san! You thought that I am perverted! Stupid Shinobu-san! I hate you!”
“H- H- Ha- Ha- Hate!? Eh? No way!? Hate!? Really!?”
“Ah, no, I do not really hate you. So if you make a crying face like that, it troubles me, b- but right now, I hate you a bit! I will not forgive you, unless you go shopping with me next time!”
“Okay! I’ll go with you as often as you want! So forgive me!”
I never thought that getting told by Luna that she hates me would be such a shock for me.
…I was somewhat close to tears, so I was surprised myself. But it seemed she would forgive me, so I was glad. When I made a sigh of relief, Luna opened her mouth reserved.
“Uhm, Shinobu-san, I am no longer angry, so I believe you better go back already. The game is still ongoing, right?”
“Oh, right. I totally forgot…”
Before I noticed it, I had become dead last due to the ruckus with Luna.
There I hastily separated myself from Luna and headed for the butler uniform clad Hijiri, our anchor.
“Sorry, Hijiri! I made a blunder!”
“Well, I saw all of it, but I believe the problem lies with the task. You were just a bit unlucky. Don’t worry about it.”
A gentle follow-up. Hijiri took the baton from me and started running, whereupon she quickly passed the other runners.
However, when she opened the task memo slip, Hijiri stopped moving. She seemed to worry about something, but as soon as she shifted her gaze to the visitor stands, she straight headed for… Kaorun without hesitation.
Instantly, Kaorun started running in an attempt to flee without time for the nearby Elni or my mother to stop her. On the other hand, Hijiri didn’t gave up and chased after her. Unable to leave them alone, I followed after the two into the school building with a bit of delay.
But, midway I lost sight of them. While leaking a sigh, I went around in search of them, casually heading to the rooftop, whereupon I saw Kaorun standing still near the fence, as she shook off Hijiri. When she noticed me, she widened her eyes and said isolated.
“…I wonder why I am so weak…”
Tightly clenching her teeth, Kaorun trembled her shoulders.
“When I see Hijiri-chan’s face, my resolve falters. Even though I should not stay by her side…”
“That’s not true.”
Back then I couldn’t say anything. But now I could say it with determination.
Without hesitation, I stepped up to Kaorun.
“…The other day, you told me that you can’t give Hijiri anything in return, right?”
She surely said these words, because she lacked confidence in herself, just like me.
“But, I think you’re wrong. You can give Hijiri various things. You kept doing so far. So it’s not true that you can’t give her anything in return.”
Taking one more step closer, I continued with “Besides”.
“Hijiri isn’t staying with you, because she wants something in return. Same for you, right? Hijiri is capable of thinking of her own happiness and acting towards it with her own strength. No matter what happens in the future, if it’s a path you have chosen yourself, you won’t regret it.”
Saying my words with a strong belief, I looked into Kaorun’s eyes.
“---As long as you don’t leave her, she won’t regret it.”
Closing the distance even further, I held out my hand to Kaorun.
“Let’s go together. Talk to Hijiri. I don’t want you to leave either.”
There the door of the rooftop suddenly opened.
I shifted my gaze away from Kaorun, whereupon Hijiri, out of breath from the searching up till now and holding the borrowing race memo slip in one hand, recognized us and then made a sigh of relief. Then she slowly walked over to Kaorun and called out softly.
“Somehow, it feels like it has been forever since we met face-to-face, Kaoru-san.”
Kaorun didn’t respond. As she was still hesitant, she averted her eyes from Hijiri and just looked down.
However, Hijiri didn’t seem offended and dropped her gaze down on the memo slip in her hands, then she calmly started talking.
“…You know, I want to attend university together with you, Kaoru-san.”
On these words, Kaorun raised her head a bit in surprise, whereupon Hijiri continued with a smile.
“You’re way smarter than me and love books and studying… By living together for so long, I can tell. Actually you admired school, right?”
“That…”
Stopping in mid-sentence, Kaorun closed her mouth. She must have unable to deny that wish, yet also couldn’t voice it out. Hijiri softly declared to her.
“You don’t need to hold back anymore. I properly got permission. You can go to university as well.”
“…What, are you saying?”
Making a confused expression, Kaorun timidly opened her mouth.
“I am a tool, you know? Even if you permit it, the exorcist organisation will---”
“I promised you to change it, right? This is the first step towards it.”
Softly cutting into Kaorun’s words, Hijiri made a wry smile and continued with “That said”.
“I’m still powerless and there was never such a precedent before, so it was hard to get my opinion across, but my father helped this time. He convinced everyone.”
“The Master did? Why would he do something so reckless? His position as an exorcist…”
“---What’s wrong with sending my daughter to school. That’s what my father said. My father kept his distance from you due to the guilt about your father, but he lived together with you for so long. You should already know what he thinks of you, right?”
On this gentle question, Kaorun averted her eyes and Hijiri continued further.
“It was also my father’s idea to hire a new maid. My father thought you could concentrate on the entrance exam like that and have free time when you make it into university…”
“To that length, the Master…”
Blurring her flickering eyes, Kaorun was at a loss for words, whereas Hijiri told her clearly.
“Going to university is my own selfishness. I want to attend university together with you, Kaoru-san. That’s the only reason. But I’ll keep my promise. It still might take some time, but will you wait?”
“…Are you sure?”
Tears were about to flow out of her eyes. To stop them, Kaorun tightly clenched her fists.
“You do not need to tie yourself to that promise. You have no reason to face any more dangers. Forget about me, live a normal life, become---”
“How can I forget you!”
This voiced echoed loudly over the rooftop.
“I don’t need a normal life! I don’t want it to be normal when you’re not there! There lies no happiness in it for me!”
Hijiri might have been holding back the whole time as well.
Her shout sounded just like a crying voice.
“Why are you saying things like that! Why are you running away! Why don’t you depend on me more! When you left the house, I didn’t know what to do if you didn’t come back. I was so full of worry! I was scared! Don’t leave me ever again…”
Letting tears flow of her eyes, Hijiri hugged onto Kaorun clinging.
“The first time you cried and smile, I made my decision. With you by my side, I can become strong. I can keep liking myself. I want to live together with you. So, I don’t want you to disappear. Stay by my side.”
When Hijiri pleaded so with a tearful voice, tears finally spilled out of Kaorun’s eyes and dropped down. Then she entwined her arms around Hijiri’s back and calmly opened her mouth with “…Do you remember?”.
“The cheery-blossom we went to watch for the first time were really pretty.”
“…But you said ‘Young Master, corpses are buried beneath the cherry tree’ and scared Shuu-kun.”
“Indeed. Even at our first snowball fight, I was mean to the young Master.”
“Yeah. You throw so many snowballs at him that he started to cry. You were in such a panic then. But I think it was his own fault for peeking under your skirt.”
“Fufu, you are right. However, I like the young Master as well. He gave me a birthday together with you.”
“At that time, you said ‘Young Master, it is a S&M play.’ and threatening approached Shuu-kun with a candle, but we knew you were just hiding your embarrassment. Even when we went to the amusement park together, you ran away when it got exposed, because you thought it would put my father in a bad position, right? I noticed a long time ago, yet I couldn’t do anything for you… Sorry.”
“No. It was really fun being with you two.”
While crying, they talked about old memories together and Kaorun raised her voice with a “Therefore,”.
“Please let me stay at your side from now on as well. I might have nothing to give in return, but I… love you, Hijiri-chan. I always want to be with you.”
“….You said it, for the first time… Thanks. I’ll definitely make them acknowledge…. you as my family…”
“Yes… Please do…”
The two of them didn’t say anything more and quietly continued to cry while embracing each other.
And I certainly felt that their dreams had merged into one.
---I want to see the moment when their promise is fulfilled.
When I had these thoughts, a sudden gust of wind blew. It swept away the memo slip in Hijiri’s hand and blew it towards me. I casually caught the memo slip.
The task to borrowing something. There was--- the word “Older Sister” written…..
* * *
Sitting on a bench in the park, I watched the moon floating in the night sky together with Nazuna. I suddenly brought her all the way here, yet she asked in a good mood.
“So, Brother, what’s up?”
“Yeah. I’ll get right to the point, why won’t you return to gramps’ dojo?”
“Eh? That, ehm, dad forbid me to…”
On my question, Nazuna answered while greatly averting her eyes.
Nazuna was bad at lying after all. I showed a wry smile and softly rested my hand on my sister’s head.
“Hey Nazuna, no secrets. I’ll tell you my secret, so you tell me yours.”
Temporarily stopping my words, I then changed my tone into a serious one.
“It’s about gramps’ dojo. I believe I need to tell you properly. I no longer have any intentions to take over the dojo…”
“…Eh?”
My words might have been just too surprising for Nazuna. She flickered her eyes in confusion and tightly grabbed the sleeve of my clothes.
“Why? You always worked so hard to take it over, right?”
“…Yeah, in the past I did. That’s why, to be honest, I was always… envious of you. Everyone said how you resembled dad and I felt pathetic as your brother, seeing as you were stronger than me.”
“You’re not pathetic. Compared to me, you didn’t give in to the cruel treatment of everyone at the dojo. You went back to the dojo. You’re really strong.”
“…I’m afraid, I’m weak.”
As a kid, I came to know about reality and escaped from my grandfather’s dojo. I also hurt my precious childhood friend. And even now, I was causing my little sister pain.
“I have no confidence in myself, so I can’t convey my true feelings, which made you get the wrong idea. I heard everything from mom. You quit the dojo on your own, right? In the end, I took your beloved dojo away from you.”
“…Don’t say took away. I don’t think like that.”
“Because you’re kind.”
Therefore I wanted to tell her properly.
“Nazuna, the reason I went back to gramps’ dojo was because I got a person that I wanted to protect.”
“….Could that be Luna-oneechan?”
“Yeah, right. Seven years ago, you had a traffic accident because of me. At that time I wanted to save you, so I summoned a single devil…”
Slowly, I talked about the past.
About how the devil I summoned seven years ago, Luna, saved Nazuna, then went away with just a smile, without taking my soul. How I wanted to see her again, summoned her, but got the spell wrong and saw her memories. How about I wanted to protect her…. as she was giving me a smile, even though she was more hurt than anyone.
I told Nazuna everything.
Everything I wanted had slipped through my hands, so this time for sure I didn’t want to let go off it, my most precious someone.
That yearning impulse.
The miraculous meeting.
That miracle brought more encounters, increasing my precious people. My dream became broader. Therefore, I thought stronger than before.
That I wanted to get even stronger.
“…Luna is a devil. To become strong enough to protect her, I continued to attend the dojo. But it’s still not enough. I need to go somewhere else.”
“Somewhere else?”
On Nazuna’s question, I looked up to the moon and answered.
“I mean exorcists. There’s the thing with Luna, but sadly I got another dream… even though I’m so weak. So, I’m desperately struggling.”
Bringing the story to an end like that, I asked while scratching my cheek.
“…Nazuna, do you think it’s strange for me to say that, seeing as I’m weak?”
“No.”
Shaking her head, Nazuna sparkled her eyes and responded reassuring.
“You’re the Brother I’m so proud of.”
“…….Thanks. I’m proud of you as well.”
I believed that Nazuna’s words would become a support in my heart.
But well, somehow dust must have gotten into my eyes. Once more looking up to the night sky, I blurrily saw the moon…
Chapter 04: Merged Dreams
—I could see a small girl standing in front of the gate of a big mansion.
She must be the daughter of Sougo-sama, who brought me here from the exorcist organisation. That she was waiting all the way out here in front of the house for his return, might mean that she had to speak with Sougo-sama. That was what I thought and wanted to keep my greeting for later, but
“Welcome home, Dad.”
The girl said shortly to Sougo-sama, then drew closer to me right away and let her childish voice sound energetically.
“Hello. My name is Gogyou Hijiri. Dad told me about it. You’re going to live with us from today on, right? Will you tell me your name?”
Perplexed by the girl’s action, I told her my name, whereupon the girl smiled happily and softly took my hand.
“I’ll show you around the house. Let’s go—Kaoru-san.”
Even if she was small, the girl was an exorcist. I was a hybrid devil and the girl should know that I was nothing but a tool for the exorcists, yet
“So, you know, Kaoru-san…”
while walking down the hallways, she flushed her cheeks faintly
“Actually, I always wanted an older sister.”
and forgetting the still unfamiliar respectful speech,
“So, Kaoru-san, if possible, would you become my older sister?”
she said the words that shook my heart.
The girl’s smiling face was really gentle, her squeezed hand was just so warm and that she treated me like a human, such a trivial matter… made me unbelievable happy.
But I was just a tool. It would surely cause the girl troubles, so I ensnared her with a joke and tried hard to keep my distance.
Nevertheless the girl sought my attention. She invited me to play together. She always tried to stay by my side… Before I noticed it, I had really grown to like the girl, Hijiri-chan.
Therefore, when her friends came to know about her family and she was depressed, I wanted to cheer her up and invited her to play together for the first time.
Still, in the end, I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t really know how to play together, so it was no good at all. Despite that, Hijiri-chan smiled a “Thanks” at me.
That was the reason I often failed to keep my distance.
The always monochromic world, which I saw ever since my mother abandoned me, changed into a colourful one by staying together with Hijiri-chan. I felt nothing for the spring’s cheery blossoms, the summer’s fireworks, the fall’s evening sun and the winter’s first snow…but now I honestly considered them pretty.
To get liked by Hijiri-chan even a bit, I searched for good points within me. But I couldn’t find anything and thought that if I were to show a weakness, she were to know about my actual weak self, I would get abandoned again… In the end, I only thought about myself.
Actually, I should have noticed at that time.
“—Sorry. I’m sorry, Kaoru-san. I will get to the top and make them acknowledge you as my family…”
When Hijiri-chan promised me so while crying, when she changed her lifestyle, I, unable to give her anything in return, shouldn’t have taken her hand. If I had noticed that sooner…
* * *
After school on the day before the sports festival. Machina seemed to make a detour with the girls from class on their invitation, so I walked back home alone.
Ever since, I wanted to talk with Hijri, but she had always been absent from school. When I once visited the Gogyou Mansion, her little brother that looked a lot like her told me “My sister won’t be home for a while”.
Of course I could call her on her cell phone.
But I felt that it wasn’t a matter to be spoken of over the phone. According to her little brother, Hijiri would attend the sports festival, so I decided to wait until then, but
“…Please take care of Kaoru-san, huh.”
While walking down the residential area, I suddenly remembered the worried expression that Hijiri’s little brother showed when we parted. He must have been thinking of Kaorun as well.
I was a bit happy about that, so I decided to return with a gift for Kaorun, heading towards in front of the station.
But, midway an unreported rain shower came and I started running with a click of my tongue. Then I wanted to take shelter from the rain in front of a second hand bookstore that I spotted, but… there was already someone standing there.
Rained on, the girl, Hijiri had her glamorous, black hair wet and when she noticed me, she smiled softly.
“Taking shelter too, Shinobu-kun?”
“Yeah, I am… I see you’re back. Where have you been up till now?”
“At the exorcist organisation.”
…That meant, she might have been taking jobs.
When such thoughts crossed my mind, Hijiri asked a bit worried.
“So, ehm, how’s Kaoru-san? Is she getting along with the other girls?”
“Yeah, without problems. Well, once she caught a cold though…”
“She kept… quiet about it, right?”
When I replied with a nod to the question, Hijiri sadly lowered her eyebrows.
“Kaoru-san is changing little by little, but that part of her hasn’t changed from the past. She’s puts on airs so that no one notices and even when she’s in pain, she behaves normally. She doesn’t show her weaknesses.”
“…Isn’t that because she’s scared?”
Quietly, I said.
“After all, there are people that leave you, when you show a weakness.”
It was the same for me as a kid. When I started to attend my grandfather’s dojo, they had great expectations of me as the son of my father, but when they realized that I didn’t have a shred of talent and was weak… everyone separated from me.
Of course there where people, who stayed. But when you thought about them leaving as well, you couldn’t help but be scared.
That was why Kaorun must have been trying to act though, even if as a bluff.
Softly relaxing my clenched fist, I changed the topic with a serious voice.
“Hey, I want to ask, what made you want to go to university? Do you plan to quit as an exorcist already?”
“I’m not.”
Without any hesitation, Hijiri declared.
“Then why university?”
“…Sorry. I can’t tell you the reason yet. I want Kaoru-san to hear it as the first. Actually I should have told her about the reason when she found about me aiming for an university, but she ran away and I didn’t get to tell her in the end.”
Lightly dropping her shoulders, Hijiri continued with a strong tone.
“And I didn’t know if it will go well, so I couldn’t bring it up, as I didn’t want to disappoint her. But I got permission from my father, so I’ll properly tell Kaoru-san now.”
“…I see.”
The desire to tell Kaorun first. No idea if it would go well. Permission from Sougo-san. And Hijiri had no plans of quitting the exorcists.
Judging from these things, I believed that Hijiri was acting for Kaorun’s sake.
However, the Kaorun in question…
Suddenly I remembered my mother’s previous words and asked in a casual tone.
“Hijiri, theoretically speaking, if Kaorun were to separate herself from you and go to the exorcist organisation—”
“I won’t let her.”
“Eh? No, I mean theoretically—”
“I definitely won’t let her go.”
Still smiling, Hijiri cut into my words with a tone that left no room for argumentation.
Getting such a reaction from her, I inadvertently made a wry smile.
“You sure love Kaorun.”
“Yeah, of course.”
Hijiri nodded firmly in an instant.
“Because Kaoru-san was there for me, I could like myself.”
“Mh? You once hated yourself?”
“As a kid… I once thought so.”
Leaking unexpected words, Hijiri shifted her gaze to the rainy sky.
“I told you once about it, but in elementary school, a friend found out about my family. But it was only obvious. After all I showed off my exorcist powers in front of my friend…”
“…Why would you do that?”
“It might have been some kind of desire to boast. And I wanted to be praised. I loved my friend, so I wanted her to love me back. And above all, I wanted to help her.”
Amidst the soft raining sounds, Hijiri continued calmly.
“A devil possessed my friend’s cat. You saw it at the seaside school, Shinobu-kun. It was the same type as that devil that possessed the dog. That said, it was a lot weaker, so even I as a kid could drive it away. The younger me considered herself some kind of hero from an anime and thought her friend would be happy as well…”
Midway in her sentence, Hijiri smiled troubled.
“My friend called me a monster. At first I didn’t thought she meant me, didn’t want to think so, so I reached out my hand… then she raised a small scream.”
Instead of the desired smile, Hijiri most likely was shown the crying face of her friend, stiff from fear.
“Then everyone left me and I believed that I did something wrong. And while I was alone, I was about to come to hate my family and even my friends, which really frightened me and I cried non-stop. Then Kaoru-san invited me to play together.”
Still looking up to the rainy sky, Hijiri suddenly smiled gently.
“Back then, Kaoru-san cried for the first time.”
“…Kaorun did?”
“Yeah. She never accepted any invitations to play together from me, so she suck at all games and must have thought that she was unable to cheer me up. Even though that wasn’t true… She cried while apologizing for inability…”
As the remembered about that time, Hijiri chose her words preciously.
“So far she had been inexpressiveness without smiles and didn’t show any expression, yet Kaoru-san thought of me… and cried. In that moment, I could believe that I hadn’t done anything wrong.”
Kaorun’s tears must have been like a salvation for Hijiri.
“My father and mother didn’t say anything, but when people found out that I used my power in front of my friend, most of them ridiculed me in the shadows. They also criticized me for not treating Kaoru-san as a tool. That’s why I thought that I was completely in the wrong.”
Unnoticed the rain stopped,
“But, I wasn’t in the wrong after all. I do admit that I didn’t perform it well, but I helped my friend. And Kaoru-san isn’t a tool. She’s my older sister. A precious… family member.”
the sunlight shone in between the gaps of the rainy sky and dignified illuminated Hijiri.
“Even if others hate me for it, I’ll no longer regret my actions. When everyone left me, Kaoru-san stayed by my side. She played with me. She kept liking me. Because of that, I could stay true to myself.”
Shifting her gaze along with her words, Hijiri showed a pretty smile.
…Hearing her story just now, made me once again understand how Hijiri felt about Kaorun.
Still, I had one more thing that I wanted to ask Hijiri.
“Hijiri, have you ever longed for a normal life?”
“Mh? Of course I have, but there’s something I want even more. I don’t think my happiness lies in a normal life… So I won’t falter.”
“…Thanks.”
I strangely leaked words of thanks from my mouth and Hijiri titled her head, but— I had my answer already.
I wanted to have Kaorun talk with Hijiri before she made her resolve.
While thinking of Kaorun, I softly opened my mouth.
“I’m thinking of inviting Kaorun to the sports festival tomorrow. I’ll ask her to cheer for us. Could you then tell her your reason for attending university after school or so? I’ll seize her, so that you can have a proper talk.”
“…I see. That would help. Thanks, Shinobu-kun.”
On my suggestion, Hijiri showed me a smile.
…I hoped that everything would go well tomorrow.
Facing the sun that showed through the gaps of the rain clouds, I thought so.
* * *
The day of the sports festival, which the guys in class and Machina had looked forward to. After asking Kaorun to come to cheer on us, I left the house together with Machina and Nazuna like always.
For the costume borrowing relay, I would cross-dress, but I wouldn’t run around it all day like I did at the culture festival.
It was just for the race, so I would bear with it.
Was what I thought, but when I arrived at school, the girls of my class took my arm and forcefully dragged me to the changing room as soon as they saw me. With the perfect make-up like at the culture festival, the nihilistic cool guy… beautifully transformed into a soothing maid and left the changing room.
Then I trotted down the hallway alone, whereupon I encountered a tall beautiful person with wastefully finely chiselled features and wearing an out-of-place Chinese dress. That person faced me and gave me a wink.
“Kyaruru~n♪“
Making a strangely unusual voice, the person took a quite adorable pose.
“…Somehow, I think I got that reference, but who are you?”
“I’m Asada. Did you forget me already?”
“Yeah, I wished it would have stayed that way, but I remembered now. Still, I gotta say, you became quite pretty.”
Reminded me, Asada was going to cross-dress for the race as well. The girls must have put him into the cross-dress even before me.
But, to be honest, I didn’t recognize him at first. As he already was the type that looked good as long as he stayed quiet, the cross-dressing really made him look like a normal beauty.
While I was a bit surprised, Asada proudly puffed up his fake chest.
“I am just as pretty as you, Nanjou♪ Earlier I got hit on by male students. I am so popular that it‘s troubling. I‘ll get to the boys one after another.“
“You have your beloved sister, don’t you? If you’re going to cheat, make it a doctor or lawyer.”
When I gave him some suited advice, Asada opened his mouth with “Speaking of my sister,”.
“Nanjou, the blonde girl that stays at your place, Luna-san was it? My sister found a good part-time job for her.”
“Oh, great. What kind of job?”
“A waitress in a family restaurant. The female shop owner is a pervert, the manager is a pervert as well, most of the staff are perverts as well, but they are all nice people. I believe it’s a good workplace.”
“…Even though it’s a workplace full of perverts?”
“Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. No problems. My sister works there as well, so if anything comes up, she’ll properly help her.”
“But your sister is a bit aloof and even has a frizz on her head. Isn’t she the one that needs help?”
“Exactly. You know it. Therefore— Please help me! If you leave my sister alone, who knows what kind of mistakes she’ll make! Tell Luna-san to look after her in my stead!”
…Huh? Did I ask the wrong person? Now it might have been better if I asked my mother to look for a job. I made a big sigh in my heart…
After the opening speech and warm-ups finished, the sports festival finally started. While loud cheering raised all over the place and the sweat of the students glittered over the grounds, I cried a bit at our class cheering spot.
…For a while now, I was receiving sexual harassment from the girls in my class.
While cheering on the classmates, they repeatedly touched my body and when they came back from a game, for some reason they clung to me with “I won, Maid!” or cried in my arms with “I lost, Maid!”. Some of them even touched my bottom. For some reason,
“Unlike his appearance, Nanjou-kun isn’t scary at all”, “He’s actually kind of cute”, “…I touched Nanjou-kun’s hand.”, “H- Huh? I get the feeling a boy mixed in again, but that was Katou-kun, right! It was you, Katou-kun!”
they made a happy ruckus like that.
However, I endured it all and it was finally time for my turn— the three-legged race.
As I was going to participate with Machina in it, I pushed aside Minami, who was stuffing snacks into my mouth for a while now, whereupon she tilted her head puzzled.
“Mhh? Shinobu-chan, you didn’t like the snacks? Want something else?”
“Ehm, that’s not it…”
“Ah, I know. You’re thirsty, right? Want something to drink?”
“—Whiskey. On the rocks, please. Drink together with me.”
When I cracked a joke without a moment’s delay, Minami flushed her cheeks for some reason.
“Geez, Shinobu-chan. What are you going to do after getting me drunk?”
“Nah, I won’t do anything. Actually, aren’t you the one who’s going to do something by pretending to be drunk?”
“Th- That’s all I ever considered— wait, no! I only considered it a bit!”
“…Okay, keep your real intention a bit more hidden. Also, it’s my turn next, so I’m going now.”
Machina was waiting with a weary expression. There I quickly got away from Minami and headed to the grounds with Machina, tying our legs together with a headband. Then we stood at the starting line and waited for the signal while giving our rivals a side-glance.
“—P- Please give it your all! Shinobu-san! Machina!”
I could hear a cheering a bit louder than the others from the visitor stands.
When I faced the familiar voice, I saw Luna, Kaorun and my mother.
They must have come together to cheer. Strangely enough Elni wasn’t with them, but for some reason Luna was cosplaying as a cheerleader girl and was greatly waving the pompoms in her hands, albeit embarrassed.
On that occasion, as to emphasized their existence, Luna’s voluminous breasts shook proudly, bumped into each other and bounced off in the opposite direction, only to fiercely shake up and down then.
When I was about to be charmed by these movements, Machina increased the strength in her hand around my shoulder a bit and changed her expression in a rather serious one.
“We’re going to show my sister and the others what we’re capable of, Shinobu.”
“—Call me the Knight of sonic speed.”
“Y- You’re unusually motivated.”
While Machina widened her eyes a bit, the slow voice of our homeroom teacher Hiiragi sounded over the grounds through the microphone from the staff tent.
“Okay, everyone, are you ready? We’ll start the three-legged race. I’m taking over the commentary from the girl of the broadcast club. The other commentary is—”
“Hello, Goddess here.”
“…Eh? Who are you?”
“The Goddess! I’m actually quite capable at commenting! Shinobu! Machina! Good luck!”
Hearing a familiar voice now through the microphone, Machina and I looked at each other, then timidly turned around.
There was Elni, like expected. With the microphone in one hand, she passionate started the commentary while giving the perplexed Hiiragi-sensei a side-glance.
“The long-awaited three-legged race will start now! Their spirit passes through their arms around their shoulders! For the glory— On your marks, start!”
To be honest, I was quite concerned about Elni.
But Machina and I focussed our feelings and after the pistol start signal, we instantly crossed the white line. Following, we were at the top in no time, as to show off the result of our special training.
But, Machina’s voluminous breasts with plentiful elasticity hit on my body for a while now and her sweet fragrance melted my brain. Moreover Machina’s rough breathing was quite erotic.
…I, I had to reach the goal before my concentration gave in.
If we tripped now, everything would be for naught. I suppressed my carnal desire and while my reasoning crumbled amidst the cheering, I crossed the goal tape with Machina, still in the lead. Upon that,
“GOOOOOAAAAAL! With a huge lead on the runner-up, the Shinobu & Machina pair are on the goal line first! The Shinobu & Machina pair wins! Congratulations, Shinobu! Machina!”
At the same time of the cheering, Elni’s commentary echoed loud over the grounds.
Amidst that, Elni suddenly said remembering.
“Ah, right, Shinobu, Machina. We all, Luna, Tomoe-san, Koarun and I are at the visitor stands, so drop by when you have time. Let’s eat lunch together.”
“…What’s she using the school’s microphone for.”
“S- Somehow, this is more embarrassing for us. Actually, I saw Elni shaking the principal’s hand, but I’m surprised she doesn’t get scolded, seeing as she’s not a student.”
“Too right!”
As always, she could get along with anyone right away.
While watching over Elni, Machina and I returned to our class’ cheering spot together. Machina still had to participate in the relay and cavalry battle, so she stayed there, but I was free until the end of the lunch break. There I was going to head to Luna and the others.
“Oh.”
On my way to the visitor stands, I ran into my mother and Kaorun walking side-by-side.
My mother aside, Kaorun wore a gym uniform, whenever she changed into it, and a single-lens reflex camera hung around her neck. She took a picture of me with that camera.
“…Shinobu-sama in maid clothes. Seems like it will sell dear to Luna-sama and the others.”
“Hey, stop the fishy business. My office says NG to cross-dressing pictures. Don’t you dare to circulate them. Actually, what’s up with your outfit?”
“Does it infatuate you?”
Along with her words, she crossed her arms behind her back and took an erotic pose.
“…Kaorun, let me tell you one thing.”
“What is it?”
“It’s cute.”
“Th- That is a well-known fact.”
While replying with her chest puffed up, Kaorun still turned a bit red. Seeing that, my mother smiled faintly and shifted her gaze to me, still smiling.
“Seems Kaoru-chan went all out, so that you would praise her. She also took pictures of everyone as a keepsake.”
“I am amazing, right? Cuteness is not my only trait. Please pet my head afterwards.”
“…Mince your words, really.”
When I retorted lightly, my mother called out to Kaorun.
“Kaoru-chan, do you want a picture together with Shinobu on this occasion? I’ll take it for you.”
“…I once again fell for you, Tomoe-sama.”
Blushing and commenting so, Kaorun quickly handed my mother her own camera. Following, she stood next to me, then put one arm around my shoulder and made a small V-sign. There my mother took a couple of picture, then showed a wry smile and called out to Kaorun.
“Hey Kaoru-chan, can’t you smile better?”
“…Ufufu?”
“No, that’s not a smile at all. Even the remark is monotone.”
When I pointed that out, Kaorun somewhat lowered her eyebrows.
“I am not adept at smiling. However, I will try my best for this keepsake picture. Shinobu-sama, please say something cool and make me smile.”
“—You don’t need a picture of me, do you? If you look under handsome in the lexicon, you’ll see one.”
“Uhm, I was not asking for such a conceited remark, but more for a short one that makes a woman cry in joy. Please.”
“Makes a woman cry in joy?”
After pondering with my head tilted, I smiled and declared.
“—Leave the chores to me!”
“Yeah, Shinobu-sama, I was waiting for these words— or not! Now I unintentionally made a tricked and retorting combination like Machina! I was hoping for some words like a proposal! As long as it makes my heart skip a beat, say anything. Just quickly please!”
…Even though I tried to be funny to get you to laugh.
Now was the time to praise me for my effort, no? Why was she angry? It was kind of heartrending. Actually, I was a bit doubtful about the plan of smiling through a cool remark from me. Now it was time to show what I was capable of.
Softly stroking under Kaorun’s chin, I repeated the remark that I read in a book before.
“—Shall I compare you to a summer’s day? You are more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, and summer’s lease has all too short a date—”
“*blush*…”
H- Huh? It might be weird for me to say it, but why was she blushing? This was a Shakespeare rip-off.
I was perplexed by the unexpected reaction, whereupon Kaorun brought her well-formed lips closer with her cheeks still flushed and lightly kissed my cheek.
Instantly, the shutter sound of the camera sounded and my mother said isolated.
“…I captured a crucial moment. Later I’ll get a copy and sent it to my husband.”
There Kaorun got away from me in a hurry. Then she got the camera back from my mother and said while having her back to me.
“Well then, I will return to taking peeping shots of high school girls. Farewell.”
Could it be, she wore the gym uniform, so that she wouldn’t be suspicious and could enjoy taking peeping shots as an insider? While I somewhat got astonished like that,
“Kaorun was bright red up to her ears…”
I immersed in the afterglow of her soft lips.
Upon that, my mother walked away with her cell phone in one hand and saying “I’ll make a short call”, as she had something to do about her work, so I decided to head to Luna and co. alone.
…As expected of a high school sports festival, there were relatively few visitors.
Amidst them, a stunning blonde beauty in a cheerleader outfit and a silver-haired girl with adorable features stood out, so I could find Luna and Elni right away.
The two were sitting on a blue sheet lain out on the ground and for some reason Elni was begging Luna with a spoiled voice.
“Hey, Hey, Luna. I overexerted myself on the commentary earlier, so I’m hungry. We have a lot for lunch, right? Can’t I get a single sandwich? Please, Luna.”
“…But just one.”
“Yay!”
Elni joyfully held out both her hands to Luna, who replied with a wry smile. In view of that, I hurried over to them and pulled on Elni’s sleeve spoiled.
“Hey, Hey, Elni. I overexerted myself on the three-legged race earlier, so I’m tired. And I’m sick of cross-dressing. Can you participate in the games after lunch break in my stead? Please, Elni.”
“…Grow up, Shinobu.”
A bit of seriousness resonated in my words, but I had considered it a mere imitation.
But, Elni answered me with a serious face.
“Somehow, I don’t want to be told that by you.”
After shrugging my shoulders, I sat down on the blue sheet.
Then I observed the sports festival together with Luna and Elni. After lunch, I got to lay on Luna’s lap and Elni rested her chin on my stomach like a cat, faintly smiling.
Amidst that, I wanted to look satisfied up to the sky, but… I could only see Luna’s big breast.
Truly a superb view.
“Fufu, I’m full, so I guess I should go home.”
“Eh? Shinobu-san? What about the sports festival?”
“Sports festival? Just leave that to the others. Hiding in a card box and taking peeping shots of us, Kaorun thinks so as well, right?”
“…Yes. You are right, Shinobu-sama. The bouncing breasts of high school girls. Shaking bottoms. And me, taking peeping shots. That is enough for me.”
Without any previous notice and even no presence, she popped up out of nowhere, but it seems she didn’t expect me to notice her. While somewhat widening her eyes, she cracked one of her usual jokes and took a picture of us with her proud single-lens reflex camera. After that, she nodded satisfied and went away.
There Machina showed up, as if passing Kaorun, and she called out to me slightly wearily.
“Hey, Shinobu, it’s your turn soon. You have been here ever since you finished lunch. Come back already.”
“…Don’t want. If I go back, I’ll get sexual harassed again. I’ll make this place my second home.”
Moving Elni’s head that rested on my stomach, I face-down buried my face in Luna’s lap.
This might sound pathetic, but it felt so pleasant here that I didn’t want to leave. When I drowned in the sensation of her warm thighs, Luna gently petted my head, as she had not intention to reprimand me.
But, in no time Machina grabbed me by the collar and dragged me after her. While humming DonaDona to myself, I returned to my classmates…
When I returned to our class’ cheering spot with Machina, Hijiri was someway surrounded by the girls.
For some reason she wore a butler uniform, which encouraged her usual dignity. And some junior girls raised shrill voices of “Gogyou-senpai, please take a picture together with me”, enjoying a photo shot with Hijiri in turns.
…But, why was Hijiri dressed like that?
Feeling doubtful, I shifted my gaze to Machina.
“Hey Machina, what’s up with Hijiri?”
“Just a small happening. Katou, who was supposed to be in the costume relay, tripped and got a sprain, so Hijiri pitched in. Apparently a girl from the drama club brought the costume.”
“Hee…”
When I made an agreeable response, Hijiri seemed to have noticed me. Getting away from the girls and rushing over to me, she called out with a smile.
“Shinobu-kun, turns out I’m also participating in the costume relay. Let’s work hard together.”
“Yeah, I heard from Machina. But I gotta say, that costume suits you well, it’s cute.”
“C- Cute?”
Instantly Hijiri flushed her cheeks, looked down and mumbled happily.
“…Thanks. You’re the only one, who said that…”
“Really? Strange, seeing as it’s so cute. Right, Machina?”
When I casually brought up the matter to her, Machina showed a questionable expression for some reason.
“She certainly is cute, but until just now she was cool. Guess you made her cute, Shinobu?”
“Fufu, I guess any leopardess turns into a kitten in front of me. Machina, how about you stop being a Queen and become a kitten as well?”
“Meow! I love Broth— wait, no! I’m not a Queen like my sister! Nor am I a kitten like Nazuna! Besides, what’s up with that lady-killer remark!? Keep your playboy attitude in check!”
…It was just a little joke, yet Machina pinched my cheek.
While I gave a wry smile, Hijiri reserved pulled on the sleeve of my maid clothes.
“Shinobu-kun, I saw Kaoru-san at the visitor stands earlier. Thanks for inviting her. I’ll try talking to her at a good time.”
“…I see. Good luck. If you can’t make time for it, try after school. I’ll tell Luna and the others later to not let Kaorun get away.”
When I replied so, Machina tilted her head puzzled.
“What are you talking about? Tell me.”
I softly replied to Machina, who had a somewhat spoiled way of speaking.
“Hijiri has something important to tell to Kaorun. Will you help us to keep Kaorun from escaping?”
“…They’re going to make up? Sure.”
Machina accepted my request with a smile.
Then we sat down at our class’ cheering spot and waited for our own turn…
* * *
The costume borrowing relay finally started. Besides me, various other students in cosplays gathered on the grounds and I saw boys and girls clad in kimonos, sailor uniforms or maid clothes.
This fun game was popular with the students, so before it even started, cheers and shouts of joy came from the cheering spots. And these voices got even louder once the game started.
By the way, I was the third runner and Hijiri was the fourth runner, the anchor. A bit nervous, I followed the second runner’s— the Chinese dress wearing Asada’s movements with my eyes.
“No! I’m not a sex fiend! I’m a Gentleman with the name Pervert!”
The pervert was being seized by on older girl from the visitor stands. Moreover Asada was handcuffed by the girl, but somehow seemed to persuade her. Still handcuffed, he rushed over to me as the last.
On the way, he was judged for the borrowing task by the teacher in charge of the game and as he got the OK, Asada separated from the girl and hastily ran towards me.
There I looked at Asada’s handcuffs and called out wearily.
“Quite the fancy bracelet you have there.”
“Aww! It’s hard to run like this, but I had no choice! The task said “older”, so I called out to her! But it turns out she was a policewoman! I was nearly arrested, damnit! Damn policewoman! Next time I see her, I’ll lick her all over!”
“No, no, forget that and hand me the baton already. Then you can watch my gallant figure from under the earth.”
“…From under the earth? Doesn’t that mean death?”
“I’m telling you to die in a roundabout way.”
Asada would forgive it, so I cracked a hard joke and snatched away the baton.
Following, I heard Asada’s “Nanjou, I’m done for. I’m tired. When I die, delete the data on my computer without checking it” words befitting for a pervert from behind while I ran. Chasing after the other runners, I picked up a memo slip, which were set up midway on the course.
Now then, what was the borrowing task? With Asada’s earlier incident, I became a bit worried and opened the slip, whereupon there was written a harassing task with pudgy letters, “Someone perverted <3”.
…I thought so from the beginning, but this was no longer a game about borrowing things, but borrowing people.
Well, that way it was more fun, but… what should I do about this?
The ones I thought of were Kaorun, Luna, Minami and Hijiri.
First, Hijiri was out, since she was also in the game. Kaorun was out as well, as I didn’t know if she would get near Hijiri at the moment. So either Luna or Minami, but… Mhm, from my position the visitor stands were closer than our class’ cheering spot.
---Okay, the natural erotic big sister was it.
Carrying the baton and memo slip in one hand, I moved to the visitor stands at once.
Upon that, Luna was in a confused state, as many students asked her “Please come with me”. Nearby by, Kaorun was nonchalant sipping some tea and Elni was eating some snacks with a smile… while my mother filmed me with a video camera.
Amidst that, I softly pushed aside the students and approached Luna. Then I took her hand and pulled her closer.
Instantly, a girl, who had reached out for Luna, frowned dissatisfied.
“Hey, you’re rude. You’re being too pushy.”
“Sorry. Sometimes a man has to be pushy. If you’re only gentle, you aren’t a man.”
“…Eh? You’re a boy?”
“Can’t you see? How rude. Now my cool remark is totally ruined.”
The girl widened her eyes and looked at me in maid clothes, but… oh well. I just shrugged my shoulders and shifted my gaze to Luna.
“Luna, come with me.”
“Y- Yes. Somehow, I am a bit excited right now…”
For some reason Luna blushed. I took her along to the teacher in charge of the game and handed over the memo slip in my hand. Following, I waited for the task to be judged, but the teacher in charge, Hiiragi-sensei alternating looked at Luna and the memo slip and doubtfully tilted her head, as she didn’t agree with it.
There Luna softly whispered into my ear.
“Shinobu-san, what is the task about?”
“…Eh? Ah, r- right. Ehm… A pretty girl?”
If she were to find out that the task was “someone perverted”, it might get out of hand. I replied to Luna’s question with a small voice, deceiving her.
Amidst that, Hiiragi-sensei asked timidly.
“Uhm, Nanjou-kun, is she really per---”
“H- Heeeey! D- Doubting is rude! No matter how you look at it, she fit’s the task! Please get some glasses!”
When I hastily cut into Hiiragi-sensei’s words, Luna must have believed that the task was “A pretty girl”. She happily flushed her cheeks with “Shinobu-san praised me”.
…M- My chest was about to be crushed from the guilt.
I naturally broke out in a cold sweat, whereas Hiiragi-sensei opened her mouth even more doubtful.
“On a related note let me ask, what part of her is per---”
“Please stop inquiring anymore! I’ll proof it to you now!”
Along with my words, I softly whispered into Luna’s ear this time.
“Hey Luna, despite her baby-face, this teacher is actually quite strict. Try to seduce her to bring her down.”
“S- Seduce? Ehm, she is a woman and it is embarrassing…”
“Well, yeah. Okay. My bad. Then let’s give up.”
Somehow I felt bad for Luna. I should tell her the truth and apologize.
Or so I thought, but Luna tightly clenched her fist.
“---At this rate you would end up last, so I’ll give my best.”
Before she finished her sentence, Luna got closer to Hiiragi-sensei in no time. Then she pressed her plenty voluminous breasts against Hiiragi-sensei while smiling bewitching, and declared charming.
“Fufu, you are so cute. If you give the OK, I will give you plenty of service.”
Instantly, Hiiragi-sensei turned bright red, dropped the memo slip and lowered her head.
“S- So perverted! Just like you said, Nanjou-kun! Sorry for doubting you!”
“…Perverted?”
Tilting her head a bit, Luna picked up the memo slip off the ground… and confirmed the contents. She faced me with teary eyes.
“Uhh… Shinobu-san, what is this?”
“That, well, I kind of thought that the natural erotic big sister would pull it off… I guess you’re angry?”
“Rather than angry, I am sad!”
Glaring at me with still teary eyes, Luna weakly pulled on my cheek.
“You are so mean, Shinobu-san! You thought that I am perverted! Stupid Shinobu-san! I hate you!”
“H- H- Ha- Ha- Hate!? Eh? No way!? Hate!? Really!?”
“Ah, no, I do not really hate you. So if you make a crying face like that, it troubles me, b- but right now, I hate you a bit! I will not forgive you, unless you go shopping with me next time!”
“Okay! I’ll go with you as often as you want! So forgive me!”
I never thought that getting told by Luna that she hates me would be such a shock for me.
…I was somewhat close to tears, so I was surprised myself. But it seemed she would forgive me, so I was glad. When I made a sigh of relief, Luna opened her mouth reserved.
“Uhm, Shinobu-san, I am no longer angry, so I believe you better go back already. The game is still ongoing, right?”
“Oh, right. I totally forgot…”
Before I noticed it, I had become dead last due to the ruckus with Luna.
There I hastily separated myself from Luna and headed for the butler uniform clad Hijiri, our anchor.
“Sorry, Hijiri! I made a blunder!”
“Well, I saw all of it, but I believe the problem lies with the task. You were just a bit unlucky. Don’t worry about it.”
A gentle follow-up. Hijiri took the baton from me and started running, whereupon she quickly passed the other runners.
However, when she opened the task memo slip, Hijiri stopped moving. She seemed to worry about something, but as soon as she shifted her gaze to the visitor stands, she straight headed for… Kaorun without hesitation.
Instantly, Kaorun started running in an attempt to flee without time for the nearby Elni or my mother to stop her. On the other hand, Hijiri didn’t gave up and chased after her. Unable to leave them alone, I followed after the two into the school building with a bit of delay.
But, midway I lost sight of them. While leaking a sigh, I went around in search of them, casually heading to the rooftop, whereupon I saw Kaorun standing still near the fence, as she shook off Hijiri. When she noticed me, she widened her eyes and said isolated.
“…I wonder why I am so weak…”
Tightly clenching her teeth, Kaorun trembled her shoulders.
“When I see Hijiri-chan’s face, my resolve falters. Even though I should not stay by her side…”
“That’s not true.”
Back then I couldn’t say anything. But now I could say it with determination.
Without hesitation, I stepped up to Kaorun.
“…The other day, you told me that you can’t give Hijiri anything in return, right?”
She surely said these words, because she lacked confidence in herself, just like me.
“But, I think you’re wrong. You can give Hijiri various things. You kept doing so far. So it’s not true that you can’t give her anything in return.”
Taking one more step closer, I continued with “Besides”.
“Hijiri isn’t staying with you, because she wants something in return. Same for you, right? Hijiri is capable of thinking of her own happiness and acting towards it with her own strength. No matter what happens in the future, if it’s a path you have chosen yourself, you won’t regret it.”
Saying my words with a strong belief, I looked into Kaorun’s eyes.
“---As long as you don’t leave her, she won’t regret it.”
Closing the distance even further, I held out my hand to Kaorun.
“Let’s go together. Talk to Hijiri. I don’t want you to leave either.”
There the door of the rooftop suddenly opened.
I shifted my gaze away from Kaorun, whereupon Hijiri, out of breath from the searching up till now and holding the borrowing race memo slip in one hand, recognized us and then made a sigh of relief. Then she slowly walked over to Kaorun and called out softly.
“Somehow, it feels like it has been forever since we met face-to-face, Kaoru-san.”
Kaorun didn’t respond. As she was still hesitant, she averted her eyes from Hijiri and just looked down.
However, Hijiri didn’t seem offended and dropped her gaze down on the memo slip in her hands, then she calmly started talking.
“…You know, I want to attend university together with you, Kaoru-san.”
On these words, Kaorun raised her head a bit in surprise, whereupon Hijiri continued with a smile.
“You’re way smarter than me and love books and studying… By living together for so long, I can tell. Actually you admired school, right?”
“That…”
Stopping in mid-sentence, Kaorun closed her mouth. She must have unable to deny that wish, yet also couldn’t voice it out. Hijiri softly declared to her.
“You don’t need to hold back anymore. I properly got permission. You can go to university as well.”
“…What, are you saying?”
Making a confused expression, Kaorun timidly opened her mouth.
“I am a tool, you know? Even if you permit it, the exorcist organisation will---”
“I promised you to change it, right? This is the first step towards it.”
Softly cutting into Kaorun’s words, Hijiri made a wry smile and continued with “That said”.
“I’m still powerless and there was never such a precedent before, so it was hard to get my opinion across, but my father helped this time. He convinced everyone.”
“The Master did? Why would he do something so reckless? His position as an exorcist…”
“---What’s wrong with sending my daughter to school. That’s what my father said. My father kept his distance from you due to the guilt about your father, but he lived together with you for so long. You should already know what he thinks of you, right?”
On this gentle question, Kaorun averted her eyes and Hijiri continued further.
“It was also my father’s idea to hire a new maid. My father thought you could concentrate on the entrance exam like that and have free time when you make it into university…”
“To that length, the Master…”
Blurring her flickering eyes, Kaorun was at a loss for words, whereas Hijiri told her clearly.
“Going to university is my own selfishness. I want to attend university together with you, Kaoru-san. That’s the only reason. But I’ll keep my promise. It still might take some time, but will you wait?”
“…Are you sure?”
Tears were about to flow out of her eyes. To stop them, Kaorun tightly clenched her fists.
“You do not need to tie yourself to that promise. You have no reason to face any more dangers. Forget about me, live a normal life, become---”
“How can I forget you!”
This voiced echoed loudly over the rooftop.
“I don’t need a normal life! I don’t want it to be normal when you’re not there! There lies no happiness in it for me!”
Hijiri might have been holding back the whole time as well.
Her shout sounded just like a crying voice.
“Why are you saying things like that! Why are you running away! Why don’t you depend on me more! When you left the house, I didn’t know what to do if you didn’t come back. I was so full of worry! I was scared! Don’t leave me ever again…”
Letting tears flow of her eyes, Hijiri hugged onto Kaorun clinging.
“The first time you cried and smile, I made my decision. With you by my side, I can become strong. I can keep liking myself. I want to live together with you. So, I don’t want you to disappear. Stay by my side.”
When Hijiri pleaded so with a tearful voice, tears finally spilled out of Kaorun’s eyes and dropped down. Then she entwined her arms around Hijiri’s back and calmly opened her mouth with “…Do you remember?”.
“The cheery-blossom we went to watch for the first time were really pretty.”
“…But you said ‘Young Master, corpses are buried beneath the cherry tree’ and scared Shuu-kun.”
“Indeed. Even at our first snowball fight, I was mean to the young Master.”
“Yeah. You throw so many snowballs at him that he started to cry. You were in such a panic then. But I think it was his own fault for peeking under your skirt.”
“Fufu, you are right. However, I like the young Master as well. He gave me a birthday together with you.”
“At that time, you said ‘Young Master, it is a S&M play.’ and threatening approached Shuu-kun with a candle, but we knew you were just hiding your embarrassment. Even when we went to the amusement park together, you ran away when it got exposed, because you thought it would put my father in a bad position, right? I noticed a long time ago, yet I couldn’t do anything for you… Sorry.”
“No. It was really fun being with you two.”
While crying, they talked about old memories together and Kaorun raised her voice with a “Therefore,”.
“Please let me stay at your side from now on as well. I might have nothing to give in return, but I… love you, Hijiri-chan. I always want to be with you.”
“….You said it, for the first time… Thanks. I’ll definitely make them acknowledge…. you as my family…”
“Yes… Please do…”
The two of them didn’t say anything more and quietly continued to cry while embracing each other.
And I certainly felt that their dreams had merged into one.
---I want to see the moment when their promise is fulfilled.
When I had these thoughts, a sudden gust of wind blew. It swept away the memo slip in Hijiri’s hand and blew it towards me. I casually caught the memo slip.
The task to borrowing something. There was--- the word “Older Sister” written…..
* * *
Sitting on a bench in the park, I watched the moon floating in the night sky together with Nazuna. I suddenly brought her all the way here, yet she asked in a good mood.
“So, Brother, what’s up?”
“Yeah. I’ll get right to the point, why won’t you return to gramps’ dojo?”
“Eh? That, ehm, dad forbid me to…”
On my question, Nazuna answered while greatly averting her eyes.
Nazuna was bad at lying after all. I showed a wry smile and softly rested my hand on my sister’s head.
“Hey Nazuna, no secrets. I’ll tell you my secret, so you tell me yours.”
Temporarily stopping my words, I then changed my tone into a serious one.
“It’s about gramps’ dojo. I believe I need to tell you properly. I no longer have any intentions to take over the dojo…”
“…Eh?”
My words might have been just too surprising for Nazuna. She flickered her eyes in confusion and tightly grabbed the sleeve of my clothes.
“Why? You always worked so hard to take it over, right?”
“…Yeah, in the past I did. That’s why, to be honest, I was always… envious of you. Everyone said how you resembled dad and I felt pathetic as your brother, seeing as you were stronger than me.”
“You’re not pathetic. Compared to me, you didn’t give in to the cruel treatment of everyone at the dojo. You went back to the dojo. You’re really strong.”
“…I’m afraid, I’m weak.”
As a kid, I came to know about reality and escaped from my grandfather’s dojo. I also hurt my precious childhood friend. And even now, I was causing my little sister pain.
“I have no confidence in myself, so I can’t convey my true feelings, which made you get the wrong idea. I heard everything from mom. You quit the dojo on your own, right? In the end, I took your beloved dojo away from you.”
“…Don’t say took away. I don’t think like that.”
“Because you’re kind.”
Therefore I wanted to tell her properly.
“Nazuna, the reason I went back to gramps’ dojo was because I got a person that I wanted to protect.”
“….Could that be Luna-oneechan?”
“Yeah, right. Seven years ago, you had a traffic accident because of me. At that time I wanted to save you, so I summoned a single devil…”
Slowly, I talked about the past.
About how the devil I summoned seven years ago, Luna, saved Nazuna, then went away with just a smile, without taking my soul. How I wanted to see her again, summoned her, but got the spell wrong and saw her memories. How about I wanted to protect her…. as she was giving me a smile, even though she was more hurt than anyone.
I told Nazuna everything.
Everything I wanted had slipped through my hands, so this time for sure I didn’t want to let go off it, my most precious someone.
That yearning impulse.
The miraculous meeting.
That miracle brought more encounters, increasing my precious people. My dream became broader. Therefore, I thought stronger than before.
That I wanted to get even stronger.
“…Luna is a devil. To become strong enough to protect her, I continued to attend the dojo. But it’s still not enough. I need to go somewhere else.”
“Somewhere else?”
On Nazuna’s question, I looked up to the moon and answered.
“I mean exorcists. There’s the thing with Luna, but sadly I got another dream… even though I’m so weak. So, I’m desperately struggling.”
Bringing the story to an end like that, I asked while scratching my cheek.
“…Nazuna, do you think it’s strange for me to say that, seeing as I’m weak?”
“No.”
Shaking her head, Nazuna sparkled her eyes and responded reassuring.
“You’re the Brother I’m so proud of.”
“…….Thanks. I’m proud of you as well.”
I believed that Nazuna’s words would become a support in my heart.
But well, somehow dust must have gotten into my eyes. Once more looking up to the night sky, I blurrily saw the moon…
