Omae o Otaku ni Shiteyaru kara, Ore o Riajuu ni Shitekure!:Volume 7 Chapter 5

After we finished eating lunch, it was time that I had to go back to the classroom to prepare for the play, so I broke up with Murasaki.

"Please do your best ♪ Because I'm supporting you from the audience seats"

"Yes, thank you!"

I went to the classroom to prepare and change into costume.

After noticing me, Koigasaki with a cosmetic pouch, came to me.

Is she going to make me into the ugly Snow White Again?

"Hey, I'll do your make-up so please sit down."

I silently seated in a chair, I closed my eyes and waited for Koigasaki. The feel of the makeup brush is ticklish. It seems that she is doing it carefully today.

"You ... ..."

I had a lot of things I wanted to ask Koigasaki. Are you doing well with Suzuki? Why did not you tell me about anything yesterday? When are you going to confess?

"What?"

But now that I am in front of Koigasaki ... ... I was scared and could not ask anything.

Even now I'm getting nervous because of the big job I have to do after the play. She may not have heard of my plans. Finish the play, clear the problems of Hasegawa and Yamamoto safely – I think as I try to calm my mind.

"No, no ... nothing."

"Ha?"

Koigasaki, finished my makeup then stands up while she bringing the cosmetic tools.

"............ Then do your best, right?"

"Ah ... ok!"

I answered powerfully to words of encouragement from Koigasaki.

Koigasaki soon went back to the work with the props.

"Oh ... ... Kashiwada?"

"Wow! You look like a different person!"

A girl classmate who sat near Kiritani was calling me out while looking at my face.

"eh……?"

What is this ... my classmates’ reaction was different from the reactions yesterday. Yesterday, they were laughing the moment they saw my face ... ....

"What kind of face do I have?"

A girl classmate nearby lent me a mirror.

"Oh ... ...!"

I was astonished to see my face in the mirror. My face was made totally different from the make-up I had on yesterday.

"Kashiwada, it suits you surprisingly! From afar, you look like a normal woman!"

Sasagawa is surprised to see my face.

Yes, today I look like a woman ... I was thoroughly surprised. Koigasaki did an incredible normal make-up to make me pretty and not funny. No matter how many times I look at the mirror, I can’t believe that this is my face.

I do not know why Koigasaki did the makeup this way today. Is it just a whim or ... ?

"... Oh, Kashiwada-kun ......"

While moving from the classroom to the gymnasium, I was able to speak to Hasegawa.

Because we broke up a little awkwardly yesterday, I was relieved that I can still talk to Hasegawa.

She is surprised to see my face. Probably because my make-up has changed a lot since yesterday.

By the way, yesterday, Hasegawa laughed at my make-up. Today's decent makeup ... ... what will Hasegawa say? Should I have repeated the funny make-up to make her laugh?

"It's amazing ... you changed so much after you put on make-up ...."

Hasegawa looks at my face with a feeling of admiration.

"Oh, today I got a nice girl makeup girl ... ... Was yesterday’s make-up better?"

I ask Hasegawa.

"... Well, yesterday's makeup was also very good, but ... I think today’s make-up is OK as well."

As Hasegawa said after a close look at my face. I was feeling a little while being scrutinized by Hasegawa, but I was relieved to know that Hasegawa has approved it.

Eventually the play began.

My turn will come soon.

When I looked at the audience, I was able to see Murasaki and Mr. Yamamoto, as well as Sonoda.

As I did yesterday, I had a bad performance, but I did not make any mistake and the play went on smoothly.

Like today, everyone thought that it would be possible to finish the play safely without any hitch.

At final scene of the play, it was the entrance of Hasegawa acting as the prince.

"What a beautiful lady …"

My eyes are closed as I am dead, and I hear the lines of Hasegawa exactly like yesterday.

"Prince, she is not breathing anymore"

Next, I hear the dialogue of the student who plays a dwarf.

The next line will be the Prince saying, “Oh what a shame…".

"........................"

Is something wrong?

I cannot hear the next line of Hasegawa …

Is she taking time to act? I thought so, but the time passed is already too long anyhow. Perhaps she forgot her lines ...? I don’t think Hasegawa will forget her lines as she practiced and all. She was fine yesterday, I wonder what happened ....?

I became worried and half-opened my eyes to take a look at the situation.

".................."

Hasegawa in her Prince costume was rigid while looking at the someone in the audience near her.

The students playing the dwarfs around her are obviously upset by the situation.

Why is Hasegawa silent and standing still? When I look closely at her face ...... she is staring at one place while strengthening her expression.

............!

Oh no, maybe Hasegawa ......

Found Mr. Yamamoto, her older brother, who is sitting in the audience!

It was totally unexpected that Hasegawa would be upset and it would interfere with her acting. I was the one who told Mr. Yamamoto to come to see the play. It is my responsibility that Hasegawa is now in this state. Oh, what shall I do ......

"Hasegawa-san ...?"

A girls student, one of the dwarfs who is near Hasegawa, calls Hasegawa with a little voice that was not heard by the audiencebut Hasegawa does not respond at all and remains rigid. It seems that the voice has not reached the ears of Hasegawa.

Since the play has stalled, the audience starts to fidget. Damn it ... what should I do ...?

...... Even if I changed a little bit of the play, it would be better than staying at this state ...?

I started to get up from my lying position.

"Gohoggehogeh ... ...."

I coughed out a piece of apple that I had put in my mouth beforehand.

Since I decided that Hasegawa is not in a state where she can act, though I have decided not to wait for the kiss from the prince, but wake up with my own accord.

Hasegawa and the other actors were also surprised to see the situation.

Yeah, I have to do something ...... Although I thought that I should cough out the apple on impulse, Ididn’t think what to do next .... Well, these lines might be appropriate for this scene ....

"... .... A nice prince has arrived so I was revived ... ...."

When listening to my lines, the other actors were stunned for a moment but soon,

"............ Oh! Snow White has come alive!"

Sasagawa, also as a dwarf, added to my ad lib.

"...... Snow White is alive! The curse of poisoned apple has been lifted!"

Subsequently, the other student dwarfs also joins in the new plot twist.

Looking at the situation, Hasegawa was startled and woken up from her stiffness. She adds,

"...... Snow White, I am the Prince from the neighboring country, will you marry me?"

She said the dialogue, we are back to the script.

It was good ... ... Hasegawa finally returned to her senses and seems to have returned to the state where she can continue her performance.

After Hasegawa returned, the play somehow managed to progress smoothly. I thought what would happen then ... It was really good we managed somehow. Although the kissing scene between Snow White and the Prince, the best scene, was gone ... ....

Hasegawa was more upset by his older brother than I thought.

Because I called Mr. Yamamoto, I thought that Hasegawa would not be so upset ....

Eventually the play ended without further incident.

After the last bow, Hasegawaa and I, together with the other actors, went backstage.

"I'm sorry"

As soon as I entered the stage sleeve waiting room, Hasegawa lowered her head towards the actors.

"Hasegawa-san ... what happened to you earlier?"

A girls student who acted as a dwarf seemed to be worried but doesn’t look angry, asked Hasegawa. As I see it, my heart is getting hurting.

"............ That ... ... I forgot my line ...."

Hasegawa said the easy excuse which is probably not the truth.

"Hasegawa decided to be a substitute just on the previous day, so it can’t be helped!"

I immediately added. I noticed that I was supporting Hasegawa with that follow-up.

"Well, that's right. Even if that was me, having substituted on the previous day and remembered perfectly for the first day, it doesn’t mean that I will be fine on the next day. Although I'm sorry that the kissing scene is gone."

It was Sasagawa who was in sync with my words. Inside I am very grateful to her.

"That's right!"

"Yeah, Hasegawa, we don’t mind ~"

The other girls also start encouraging Hasegawa. All my classmates were nice people .... Hasegawa slumped when she heard their words. Hasegawa is a perfectionist and her sense of responsibility is strong. I guess she is blaming herself more ....

Hasegawa spoke to me after we left the theater backstage.

"Kashiwada-kun ... thank you for the followup ... thanks to your support in the middle of the play, even up to the end ..."

Hasegawa thanked me while looking a bit awkward.

"Oh no ... ... Yesterday I followed you ... ...."

I did not want to say such a thing. I am the one who called Yamamoto-san today, I am sorry .... First of all I have to say so. Then somehow, I have to bring Mr. Yamamoto and Hasegawa together... .... No way, I saw that Hasegawa was upset just by looking at his brother. In this state, how will Hasegawa respond to the discussion? Should I have done these extra things?

"... .... Kashiwada-kun ... ... I heard that you wanted to talk to me after the play ... maybe ...."

Hasegawa spoke then ... someone came close to us.

"Ah…………"

When I saw it, there was Mr. Yamamoto.

"... congratulations to the both of you, cheers for the play."

Mr. Yamamoto speaks to us with a smile like a little troubled.

Next moment ... ....

"Eh!?"

Hasegawa did not say anything ... ... she ran away from the spot.

Before talking about anything, after seeing Mr. Yamamoto's appearance, she ran away ... It is obvious that Hasegawa doesn’t want to talk with Yamamoto-san.

If they talk, it may somehow ... ... I thought like that, maybe I am naive. This is exactly what happened the same as yesterday. They can’t even talk ... ....

After all, can’t I do anything ...?

No ... I can’t leave it just as it is. It will not solve anything.

I decided ... I have to do something!

"Hasegawa!"

I called out her name and ran towards her.

Hasegawa ran quickly.

By the way, her running skills are outstanding.

My Snow White costume is difficult to run in because the skirt is long. It is likely that I will lose sight of Hasegawa if I fall down after stepping on the hem of the dress.

Still, I chased her desperately ... ... After leaving the gymnasium, running through the hallway ... ... When I entered the schoolhouse from the crossroads, I managed to catch up with her. I hold the arm of Hasegawa firmly.

"Haaaaaaa, haaa, haaaa ... ...."

We who are running around in full power while in our Snow White and Prince costumes are conspicuous. Everyone who is walking around looks to us.

"I'm sorry ......for selfishly ... calling Yamamoto-san ... ...."

First of all I apologized to Hasegawa. She does not try to look at my face with her face down.

"Kashiwada, that was you ... ...."

Hasegawa's voice was dark. She may be angry with me who called Yamamoto-san without permission.

"Yeah ... .... I did something extra though I do not know the circumstances well, but ... I guess you and he should talk properly ... I think ..."

I noticed that I kept holding on to her arms so I released them in a hurry. After she ran away, I was afraid that she might go away again. I don’t know what to do if she tried to escape. But Hasegawa leaned a little away from me and leaned against the wall as she slipped. Apparently she doesn’t intend to escape, so I feel a little relieved.

"Speak properly ...?"

She sat down and repeated my words with a low voice.

"I do not want that, to that person."

Hasegawa talked with a strong tone without hesitation. She won’t even look at me. Looking at her attitude, Hasegawa was thoroughly upset. Hasegawa may now be angry with me now.

But, I can’t stop here.

"Hasegawa ... your older brother wants to talk to you, why not try just this once ..."

"It does not concern you, Kashiwada!"

Hasegawa looked straight at my face and said it with a strong tone.

I was scared by that line. I did not expect Hasegawa to say it. She is completely angry with me now. She is annoyed.

Even though I have been able to get along with her little by little ....

Hasegawa was a little surprised at what she said. However, she did not excuse herself and took her eyes away from me again.

"Anyway ... can you leave me alone?"

Hasegawa talked coldly without looking at my face.

I did not think that being rejected by my crush would be painful like this.

Even though Hasegawa hated her brother, I thought she still wants to get along with him. I did not expect that she felt like this ... actually witnessing her refusal is much more painful than I imagined. After all, it is hurtful if you are hated. Me, I do not want to be hated by Hasegawa. I can never endure being rejected by Hasegawa.

... ... If I apologize here, I may still be forgiven.

If I apologize, I may be forgiven. I’m sorry for doing something unnecessary. I was stupid as I was troubled by your family affair and I stuck my nose in but it backfired on me. I do not want to do this anymore, so I want you to forgive me.

But ... really is it okay?

Then I don’t have to solve the relationship between these two. It will remain as it is. That’s what I heard from Hasegawa.

I look at the face of Hasegawa who is avoiding my eyes.

I was wondering what kind of face she has now.

"............!"

I was surprised to see her expression.

Right now Hasegawa had a face that seemed about to cry.

I thought that she would be angry, disgusted and full of hatred, but such feelings did not come up in her expression at all.

In the eyes of Hasegawa, there is mere sadness in her mind.

She said that he is an unrelated person anymore. But is it really her true feeling? Then, what is this expression she has now?

I decided to test my resolution once again.

I guess I decided that yesterday. I managed to get along with him. With good results.

Besides, Hasegawa said "It does not concern Kashiwada-kun." I can’t that. If I accept it, I might as well be a stranger to Hasegawa.

"It ... matters to me!"

In a trembling voice, I denied.

Hasegawa is surprised at my words and is watching me.

"Because ... Hasegawa is my friend, Hasegawa herself said so, didn’t you?"

Friend ...... I was very happy when Hasegawa told me so. I remember vividly that time.

"Kashiwada Kun ..."

Hasegawa looked at me with a surprised face.

"............ っ!?"

At the next moment, I took courage and held the hands of Hasegawa.

"What ...!?"

Hasegawa made a big fuss and raised her voice, but I pulled the hand of Hasegawa and started walking.

Strangely, I did not get excited while holding the hands of my crush.

I have to take Hasegawa to Mr. Yamamoto.

By all means, they must talk to each other. I strongly thought so.

"Wait a minute... Kashiwada-kun!?"

Hasegawa resisted while being dragged by me.

"It can’t be this way! Hasegawa seems to have something to say to his brother ... .... Even if you complain or blame your brother, you had better say it properly! Running away and not talking about anything .... it will not solve anything! "

".................."

Hasegawa did not say anything to my words.

But she did not resist my hand.

When we got out of the school building and entered the hall, Mr. Yamamoto was there.

Perhaps he might have come to the gym to search for us.

"Er ... ...! The two of you ......"

Mr. Yamamoto was very surprised at the way we came back.

".................."

Hasegawa did not try to escape.

While talking, I look at Mr. Yamamoto.

"Sorry ... I'm sorry ... I may be interfering here ... but both of you seem to have words to say to each other ... It is better to say what you want to say ... because you are brother and sister ...... "

"Kashiwada Kun ..."

Mr. Yamamoto looks surprised at my words.

He went silent for a while then ... ....

"Sis ... I'm sorry!"

He lowered his head toward Hasegawa.

"I think that even if I apologize now, I won’t be forgiven ... but I absolutely wanted to apologize."

Hasegawa looks surprised at Mr. Yamamoto's words and is watching his eyes.

"I hurt you deeply, I was wrong and I don’t think I could not compensate you enough even if I apologize. I deeply regret what I have done to you."

".................."

Hasegawa does not say anything to his brother's words of apology.

Mr. Yamamoto apologized seriously. I think that it may not be okay to understand the feeling a little.

"Well ... At that time ... ..."

Hasegawa said in a terribly calm tone.

"Even now ... I do not remember you well, I do not think of you."

It should have been a word to forgive my brother ... ... It was a cold taste that did not have any feelings at all.

"Midori ...."

Mr. Yamamoto sadly distorted his expression on the words of Hasegawa. He did seem to realize that we was not forgiven.

"So ... ... forget me already ... You are just painful for my existence, since it was mother who took care of me ...."

Hasegawa keeps on talking. Did she really think this way ... ....

"It is impossible for me to blame mother .... I won’t do so! Even though I live apart, I have never forgotten about you even for a moment! I am not qualified to say this ... ... I wanted to talk to you like we used to ... long time ago. "

Mr. Yamamoto strongly denied the words of Hasegawa.

Hasegawa was surprised at his words, but she immediately looked down.

"... ... each other, those who do not concern about themselves ..."

She muttered in a small voice. Hasegawa is rejecting Mr. Yamamoto so far ... ....

Mr. Yamamoto stared at Hasegawa with a sad expression.

"...... You, you want to forget my existence .... I deeply hurt by you, my family also got scattered, I gave you a hard time, it's natural ..."

"... ... ..."

At that time ... ... It was a really small voice, but Hasegawa uttered something. Neither I nor Mr. Yamamoto heard it and did not miss it.

"Huh?"

When Yamamoto asked back, Hasegawa slowly raised his face and opened his mouth.

"Different ... ... It was my not my brother's fault that my family had fallen apart!"

Me and Mr. Yamamoto were surprised at the same time. We both looked at Hasegawa.

"Huh……"

"Midori ......?"

Hasegawa raised her face ... ... she was crying.

She opened his eyes and we were surprised ... ... there were tears in her eyes.

"What .... What's wrong? Midori ......"

"... ... My older brother ... ...."

Hasegawa started to talk while her tears are running.

"My brother ... ... left the university and went out of the house, my parents divorced ... and first of all ... ... I broke up with my brother ..."

Hasegawa keeps wiping away tears.

"......... I know why my older brother did so, even why our parents divorced ... It is not my brother 's fault. All of it ... ...was my fault ... "

To Hasegawa's words, I was shocked.

All are Hasegawa's fault ...? Hasegawa is now saying that ... ....?

"What ... are you saying ...?"

Yamamoto also seems to be shocked by the words of Hasegawa.

"I heard my father and mother fighting ... My father said that my brother got this way was because of net games ... He didn’t play net games during high school ... But why did he suddenly begin to do such things? My mother was not raising him properly? He is blaming mother ... .... "

"Ah, he is obviously saying what happened because I became addicted to net games and became a Hikikomori ... ....

"My brother got addicted to net games .... because of me ... It was I who began playing games earlier and my older brother was only doing it at the beginning because he is concerned about me... ... My older brother who was superior to me before became addicted to Otaku hobbies such as net games and anime.He was a serious person who put in all his efforts in everything ... .... "

Hasegawa is a face I feel bad about.

"... ... It was me who destroyed your life. I ... ... I am qualified to be called your sister .... You better forget about me ......"

Hasegawa seemed to be unable to stop her tears, but even so she talked up to the end.

I became shocked because of her words.

Yamamoto became lost because of Hasegawa ... ...? She is not qualified to be his sister ... ....?

Did she always thought of it that way ...?

"No, you’re wrong!"

Mr. Yamamoto strongly denied the words of Hasegawa.

"Midori ... ... Is that what you thought?"

Mr. Yamamoto shook the shoulders of Hasegawa as he was severely surprised.

"Midori ...... Listen carefully, I was an adult at that time, I became addicted to net games with my own free will and responsibility. All the fault is mine alone, not you. Absolutely not! "

Hasegawa has tears in her eyes but she doesn’t look away from Mr. Yamamoto ... ... She was watching his eyes.

"From now on, never blame yourself in such a way!"

"............"

Hasegawa kept tearing up, silently hearing the words of Mr. Yamamoto. Hasegawa ... ... Up to now, she did not forgive herself because of what happened to her older brother ... ... she could not meet her older brother from the guilty feeling that she broke her brother's life.

Certainly, it was said that Mr. Yamamoto became an otaku is the influence of Hasegawa. It seems that Hasegawa thought that his brother became an otaku and started playing a net game because of her. She thought that her brother dropping out of college was her responsibility.

That's why she told Mr. Yamamoto, "I do not care about you anymore"

"No way, you felt responsible in that way ... ... Midori ... ... Maybe you have stopped all your otaku hobbies such as anime and games because of that ...?"

In the words of Ms. Yamamoto, Hasegawa burst out crying.

Hasegawa disliking the otaku culture and Otakus ... I certainly understood why.

"If you felt that you were like that because you were like that ... ... It is about you who have a strong sense of responsibility.I felt responsible because of my Otaku hobbies, I thought ... ....”

Hasegawa is silent in the words of Ms. Yamamoto. Looking at that situation, Mr. Yamamoto seems to have got something. "............ After all, is that so ...?"

Hasegawa silently nodded.

"My brother.... because I taught my older brother Otaku culture such as net games ... If I do not know such things, my brother would have never strayed from his path ...... I wish I had not taught my older brother ... No, from the beginning, I should have not gotten myself into such things .... I still regret that strongly ...."

"Midori ... ... that is also wrong."

Mr. Yamamoto once again denied the words of Hasegawa.

"I may have strayed from my path but I have not regretted anything. Even that I have become an Otaku due to the influence of Midori, I have enjoyed anime and net games by with you. I do not know ... At least I knew I had a lot of fun in those days.I did not think that being an Otaku itself is bad.Net games aren’t bad but because I was weak ...... Anime, manga, net games, doujinshi ... ... Otaku culture itself is not bad, they are a wonderful culture.I'm not in a position to say such a thing ... but I just want you to know that. "

Mr. Yamamoto told Hasegawa strongly. It seemed to me that it was his heartfelt words.

"............"

Hasegawa did not say anything;she was just staring at her older brother.

She, like me, seemed to be moved by Yamamoto's words.

Hasegawa was silent for a while, but then slowly opened her lips.

"... Yes ... Onii-san ... Even now, I love otaku culture ...."

Hasegawa had a gentle smile as if she now sees everything.

"eh……?"

In that meaningful remark by Hasegawa, Mr. Yamamoto acted strangely.

"My older brother's blog was ... ..."Invasion! Mars-chan ... ... "?

"Why does Midori ... ...!?"

Mr. Yamamoto is very surprised by Hasegawa's remarks. I also can’t understand Hasegawa's remarks well, I was confused. "Invasion! Mars – chan” ...... It is a late-night anime about a beautiful Martian's girl named Mars who is set to invade the earth. It was airing until a while ago.

On the day of fireworks display ...... Mars's picture was in the cover of the box of pizza we ordered and I recall that Hasegawa's say the character’s name of "Mars chan" the moment she saw the pizza box. I was surprised that, "Why does Hasegawa know this late-night anime!?" At the same time, I thought that "Hasegawa is a hidden otaku ..."!

After all, why does Hasegawa, who is not an otaku, know about Mars is still a mystery ... ....

"On his blog, he puts in his comments about the anime every week."

"eh……!?"

blog……? Mr. Yamamoto was writing a blog? I did not know it at all ....

In other words, when I collected my thoughts ... Yamamoto wrote comments about “Invasion Mars” in his blog. Because Hasegawa was also watching the show, she knew about the character Mars and has recognized her picture on the pizza box ... and so on. Is Hasegawa checking on Mr. Yamamoto's blog ...?

"Midori ... ... Are you following my blog!?"

Mr. Yamamoto himself was also surprised as I did, asking Hasegawa.

"Since I was in elementary school ... ... my brother's blog's address has not changed,"

In contrast to Mr. Yamamoto who is upset, Hasegawa answered the question with a calm situation.

"Well, that's right ...... That blog, you still follow it ... ...."

Mr. Yamamoto seems to be surprised by the words of Hasegawa.

Hasegawa and her brother’s relationship has cracked. Before, they have a good relationship but now they live separately and their relationship has suffered. However, Hasegawa is still watching over Yamamoto through his blog: After all, she still cares about her brother who she misunderstood then.

Just as I though, they were hoping to reach each other's feelings.

The guilty feeling when they hurt each other ... it may have been deepened after a long time.

But, as they were able to speak to each other today, they seemed to reconcile.

Then, the school broadcast informed us that it is the end of the 2nd day of cultural festival.

The curtains of the Culture Festival have come to a close ....

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