Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai:10 Year Reunion
The 10 Year Reunion[edit]
-------This story goes 10 years back.
10 years ago, meaning......When I had just met Kirino-san.
On a morning of a certain holiday, I being taken by Hinata onee-san, was on my way to the Kousaka residence.
I was wearing my favorite 'Comet-kun T-shirt', and plodding happily, holding hands with my beloved 'onee-chan' when nee-san noticed something and went “oh!”, and vigorously raised her hand.
“Oji-sa~~n! Good mor~~ning”
Hinata nee-san waves her arms with a beaming smile. She's a cheerful 5th grade elementary student whose trademark is her pigtails.
I also looked to where nee-san was looking. And over there stood an adult man. When he noticed nee-san calling to him he..
“--Yes, good morning”
He answered back with an austere voice. Because of his sturdy build and scary voice, I ended up hiding behind my sister but, since his voice also sounded very gentle, I was able to relax a little.
“Good morning”
When I greeted him, Oji-san shifts his sight to me and then:
“Fu.......Good”
…........His smile is scary. I ended up flinching a little.
I leave my sister's shadow, and enthusiastically bow down my head.
“Nice to meet you. I'm Gokou Tamaki”
“Nice to meet you too. I am Kousaka Daisuke”
“He's Kousaka-kun and Kiri-nee's father, Tama-chan”
“Fuwaa”
I didn't think there was a lot of resemblance at all.
Nee-san without flinching the slightest speaks to him:
“Hey~ hey~, oji-san, are you on your way back home now?”
“No. -- I left something at home and was just on my way back to get it. It is a good thing I realized it before I reached the station”
“Heh~. You know something, the two of us were also on our way to visit Oji-san's house actually~”
“Yes, I heard it from Kirino. Shall we go together then?”
“Okay!”
I always thought about how amazing Hinata onee-san was for being able to make friends with just about anyone.
And so, we taken by Oji-san, once again start heading for the Kousaka residence. But with us walking like this, we really looked like father and daughters.
-- Just kidding. If Otou-san heard about this recollection, he would get mad huh.
Despite everyone slowing down to my walking pace, it didn't take too long to reach our destination.
“Shall we enter then?”
“Excuse me~~” “Excuse~ me”
I used to have a pretty garbled way of speaking back then, and just didn't seem to outgrow it very well huh.
By the way, I can't say I have outgrown it now either.....
Well then. Led by Oji-san, I opened the door and went in but,
Just in front of us, a fearful event was taking place.
Dan dan dan dan dan! The one going down the stairs vigorously was---
“Uhhyo~~i! Tama-chan, Hina-chan welcome!”
A somewhat flashy mahou shoujo.
Wearing a pink outfit with her bellybutton showing, her figure with a staff in hands was the very image of Meruru. However, her pigtailed hair was a brown color.
She who looked like, but was by no means Meruru, without even confirming who was at the entrance, was making her poses with great excitement.
“Stardust☆ Witch Meruru! Begins now~~~~♪! Look, look Tamachan, check out what I'm wearing! Isn't it amazing!? Isn't it way over amazing!? Cospa[1] has finally done it! Up until now, they only made these small kid size you see~~!! Hey, only Kanako can fit into that, you hear!”
Uhihihi♪ with a blissful smile and brandishing her staff,
“Ultimate atta~ck! Meteo~~~~~~~~~! Impa......uge!”
Looks like she finally noticed that everyone standing there was making this face (°Д°)
“...........Kirino, what..... are you doing”
“......We, well.....A welcoming ceremony..... you see”
“You look like you're enjoying yourself huh”
“.......We, Well, I guess so”
This might have been the first time in my life I had seen someone cornered down this badly. She was sweating beads.
“A, actually, Otou-san! Wha, whawhawha, what are you doing here!? Weren't you going to work this holiday......!?”
“I forgot to bring my bento, and came to get it back --- and don't you change the subject”
“Kuu!.....Why now of all times......”
“.......Kirino, how old are you now?”
“......Fif, fifteen”
“I see. Fifteen huh”
Oji-san glanced at her bellybutton. His melancholic look directed at her spoke more than any word ever could.
Kirino-san blushes, hid her bellybutton using her hands and looked away from her father.
“..............”
An unbearable atmosphere, was filling the entrance.
“......Haa......if you were about 7, I would be able to praise you frankly but”
“N, no no, Oji-san! Kiri-nee you see, probably only did something this embarrassing to please Tama-chan, you know?”
Nee-san tries to help with an awkward follow-up, but Oji-san cast a dubious look against Kirino-san.
“That's what you say but, she sure looked like she was enjoying herself, wouldn't you say?”
“Ah, no......I was just wondering if I looked cute as a mahou shoujo, you see”
Kirino-san squeezing her sides with her head hanging low, then looks up to Oji-san and..
“Ehe?”
“.................”
She was met with, overpowering silence. Even Hinata-san who was just watching from the sidelines went “uwaa......” with a somewhat turned off expression, and couldn't help but become silent.
Oji-san with a really troubled face, rubs his hand to his forehead:
“........Enough. …..Just do it in moderation, you hear”
Leaving those words, he trudged sadly towards the living room.
After the agitation at the entrance settled down somewhat, Kirino-san brought us to the living room.
This was the 2nd time we were coming here, but every time I saw this big television, my heart beat loudly.
I held on with great cherish to the staff I was borrowing and
“Kirino onee-chan, thank you very much for inviting us today”
“Seriously. Thanks, Kiri-nee”
After watching over his melancholic back, Kirino-san sighed and spoke
“.... Do you think my cute pose worked?”
“I don't think so, Kiri-nee”
Hinata nee-san retorts with a serious face.
“Please let me hold that too”
And as for me, I was deeply interested in the staff Kirino-san was holding
“You're welcome, Tama-chan, Hina-chan. Actually, no need to thank me. This is good for both of us, you know”
“Does Kirino onee-chan feel lonely with Onii-chan going outside too?”
“No, not really........ it's not...... like that, you know”
Kirino-san pouted.
Explaining the situation; Today, both Ruri nee-san and Kyousuke onii-chan are outside of the house. And Hinata onee-san who had nothing to do, called Kirino-san not too long ago and,
“Hey~ Tama-chan, Kiri-nee is asking me ‘want to come play at my house?’ you know! You want to come too?”
And that's what happened.
Kirino-san let me see Meruru on her big television before, so the me back then, after being at loss for a while thought; ‘That person sure is creepy, huh’, I ended up cheerfully responding “okay!”
Which leads up to now.
“Hyahho~,itadakima~su!
Hinata onee-san went straight to grabbing the food. Voraciously swallowing cookie after cookie, she was the very image of a hungry beast.
“Go ahead, eat as much as you please♪”
“Itadakima~su”
Surrounding the table, the 3 of us merrily ate the snacks.
Eventually, Hinata nee-san who finished eating before everyone then said.
“Kiri-nee, what are we playing today?”
“How about we take a bath together!?”
She dove in with incredible gusto. Somewhat turned off, Nee-san asked.
“Eh~? Why~ do we have to start taking baths in the middle of the morning huh?”
“.........”
Kirino-san starts thinking about with a serious expression and,
“......In that case, let's go play outside to sweat some. And then, let's take a bath!”
“N, no, I hate sweating, you know. And since Tama-chan came to visit too, she wants to play inside, right?”
“Yes!”
I cheerfully replied.
My interest, ever since I entered the living room, was completely nailed to the big television.
After being declined by both us sisters, Kirino-san pouted her lips in vexation.
“Ts~k, Geez.....Youngsters nowadays sure have grown soft huh~. You can't stay healthy if you don't play outside, you know?”
“No no, ‘youngsters’? That's not something for a junior high school student to say anyways!
Actually, back when I met you for the first time, I thought it was kind of weird but, just why is Kiri-nee so obsessed with us all taking baths?
Is that how you go Beast Mode?
“Hm, if I had to say it, it's kind of a hobby of mine I guess”
She said it very proudly.
“You could also say it's the secret to my beauty”
“Oh, I see~”
Nee-san's gives a generic response as if to say “I'm so not interested”, while gulping down her juice. 10 years later, she now struggles daily against the fat in her legs but, I guess that's a story for another day huh.
“Fuhihi, yep, that's right~. Imouto essence is great for your skin you see~”
Thinking back about everything now, this person's statements were always very dangerous.
Are you Elizabeth Báthory [2] who used to bathe in the blood of virgin women by any chance?
You are more of a witch than I am, really.
“I don't really understand what you're saying anyways. Well, what should we play then?”
“Pant pant! Ho, how about we play doctor or something!?”
Ignoring Kirino-san who just won't quit, Nee-san asked me instead.
“What do you wanna play, Tama-chan? By the way~ I sure would like to play on the PS3~”
I'm sure Nee-san came to this place so she could play on the game console she didn't have at home.
But of course, I back then, with no way of knowing. Without reading the mood the slightest, said this.
“Meruru!”
Well then, how did my beloved 'Onee-chan' reacted to my unwanted proposal, you ask?
“Ah~ that's what I thought you would say huh~. --All right, let's go watch Meruru then~?”
Fufu......She's a wonderful onee-chan isn't she? I'm not giving her to anyone, you hear?
“I'm sorry Kiri-nee~~, is that okay with you?”
“Of course! There's no way I wouldn't grant the request of an imouto, right?!”
Kirino-san completely into it, showed off her smile.
“Actually, that was my intention all along, you know”
“Isn't that completely different from what you said just now!?”
“As I was saying, I was actually planning on us taking a bath, playing doctor, and after that, watch my Meruru recordings as well as BD's all along!”
After adding that unsettling footnote..
“After all, today is the last episode of Meruru isn't it!”
For the me back then, she had just said something very important.
After that, we had a lot of fun at the Kousaka living room watching Meruru recordings as well as BD's, and playing games.
It was when we were watching Meruru recordings for season 3 in order to prepare for the last episode that it happened.
Kyousuke onii-chan came back home.
I believe it was around at 4 PM.
When Onii-chan entered the living room, he raised one hand and greeted:
“Oh! You all came, huh”
“Welcome back, Kousaka-kun!”
“Onii-chan!”
With trotting steps, I hurried off to the front door, and clung to onii-chan's leg.
“Whoa! ….. haha, welcome, Tamaki-chan”
“What about me, what about me!?”
“Ah, welcome, Hinata-chan. --Ouch!”
For some reason, Kirino-san kicked Onii-chan in the butt.
“What are you doing!”
“Hmph! Never mind about that!”
There's no way it could be the case but, even without being Onii-chan, there was no way one could tell this was an expression of love.
And while Onii-chan rubs his butt while going “ouch”,
"Oh, you were watching Meruru huh. Oh yeah, today was the last episode, wasn't it?”
“That's right, that's right. So I thought we could all watch it together, you know” Says Kirino-san.
“It's going to be dark by the time we're done watching isn't it. ---Hinata-chan, did you let your Okaa-san know about that?”
“Yes, I did!”
“Okay. I guess I'll be the one taking you two back home then”
“I'm already planning on Otou-san taking them back home by car, so there's not going be any place for you to show off”
“Ah, is that so”
“And gross. Why are you trying to increase the affection levels of the imouto huh?”
“I'm not doing that!”
The two of them sure get along well.
“Stardust ☆ Witch Meruru last episode! Begins now~~♪”
Me~ru meru meru merume~ Me~rumerumerumerume~
The 'Stardust ☆ Witch Meruru last episode special!' was rescheduled to run on Sunday, and as of Sunday 4:30 PM, it finally begun.
And today inside the living room at the Kousaka residence, we were all glued to the television.
“Ooh~~”
“As I thought, here comes the first season opening~~~~!! As expected of the last episode! The direction really knows what they're doing~! And also, and also! As expected, here comes the full all-star heroine cast~~~! Uhyooooooooooo!”
“Geez! Stop being so loud Kirino! You can't even hear the TV like this!”
The most passionate person in this place was without a doubt, Kirino-san.
The theme of 'Stardust ☆ Witch Meruru 3rd season' was Meruru who became the ultimate dark witch, and her old allies having to fight against her, which was something a bit too stimulating for young children.
But even so, despite feeling scared every week, I continued to watch it.
“.........Kiri-nee, looks like you're having a lot of fun huh”
“That's obvious isn't it! Last week, Meruru split into two, and after that, I was super excited wondering what was going to happen after that you know~! You feel the same way right, Tama-chan?”
“Yes!!”
Thanks to the efforts of the stardust witches, starting with Alpha, Meruru finally regained sanity.
However, when that happened, her stomach started to shine a black light, and in the end, Dark Witch Meruru popped out of her.
Justice and evil, the last battle between the two Merurus had begun.
“Hm~.......Actually, Tama-chan, do you understand the story?”
“No!”
As expected, I didn't understand the story.
However, the exciting moments still reached out to me-- and after so long, being able to see Meruru not being a baddie, made me feel really happy, as I recall.
“Haha, even if you don't understand the complicated theme, what is fun, is still fun, huh”
Onii-chan who was sitting beside me, patted my head casually and said
“Ehehe”
That too, was also a happy memory for me.
One hour later----
"Until next time, everyone~~!"
Meruru waves her hands and goes off flying, followed by the first season opening 'Meteor Impact' playing.....
And sitting beside me was...
“uuuu......!”
Kirino-san cried a stream of tears.
As an older sister, I would say there was something wrong about the idea of her acting like this, but exactly thanks to that, I was able to think of her as a friend and equal.
A comrade who likes the same thing as me.
“It sure was fun, wasn't it?”
“Yeah! It was so much fun......!”
“....Hey, blow your nose here”
Onii-chan with a somewhat turned off expression handed her a box of tissues.
A pleasant sni~ff echoes, and with that, Kirino-san finally calms down.
“Ah~ it was good! Seriously, it was good! So much fu~n~~!”
Dark Witch Meruru is defeated; however a new enemy comes along as well.
From here on, we'll continue to protect the peace of earth---.
Despite the cliché ending, Kirino-san seemed deeply satisfied with it.
I too, felt the same way.
And because of that, these words naturally came out of my mouth.
“----Kirino Onee-chan, when is the new Meruru starting?”
““----------””
Everyone went silent.
“......u.....m.....”
Nee-san awkwardly peeks at Kirino-san's expression.
“Ah, I get it. Both the first and second season of Meruru also ended letting you think there would be a sequel after all huh. …...This is your first actual last episode isn't it, Tama-chan”
The ED finishes, and when the commercial begins, the television is turned off.
Kirino-san used the remote.
And the room turns silent.
“?”
I tilt my neck in curiosity.
Kirino-san then spoke. She hunched down to my height to see me eye to eye, speaking with a very gentle voice.
“There's no next time. With this, it's over”
“.......Eh?”
“I can't really say for absolute sure but, I don't think there will be a next Meruru”
“.....Meruru, won't, have, new, stories, anymore?”
Kirino-san mercilessly nods.
Steadily....tears start swelling up in my eyes.
Onii-chan with a troubled voice said:
“Hey, Kirino. Couldn't you have found a better way of telling her?”
“Hm~~”
Kirino-san sharply closes her eyes trying to find words,
“You know, Tamaki-chan. ….. There's no need for you to cry, you see. There may not be new Meruru episodes anymore, but you can see Meruru any time you want, right?”
Bleep, the television is turned on. She points at it. And then.
“Whether it's manga, novels, or anime.....This goes for anything really. For me, the characters of an ended series, would be kind of like having friends who move far away, I guess. Even if you can't see them every week anymore, it's not like the fun memories will disappear with them. As long as you don't forget about them, you can see them whenever you want, you know”
“.....Whenever I want?”
“Yeah. If you close your eyes you can see them, if you watch back the anime you can see them, when I talk about the series, I'm always with them. ….. haha, I don't know if I'm really bringing the point home or not but.......That's why, there's nothing to feel sad about”
Kirino-san's words were a bit too complicated for a child like me back then, so I couldn't understand even half of what she said.
However, her feelings had no trouble reaching out to me.
“So it's not, goodbye?”
“Of course it isn't! Meruru said so herself, didn't she?”
“She said ‘Until next time, everyone’ you know”
“So, never forget these feelings, your love for Meruru, okay?”
Even now, those words dwell in my heart.
“......Yes!”
I made a resolution to never forget about my beloved friend.
That was my first last episode.
------That was a story about 10 years ago.
And it will be a story about the present from now on.
The stage remains unchanged; it is the living room at the Kousaka residence just as before. We were the only ones bearing the mark of time. The present me has now become a high school student.
Despite that, my face and hairstyle almost haven't changed, so even if we were meeting for the first time in 10 years, it should take all but one look to recognize me.
I was ushered to the living room. And there, I express my gratitude to Kirino-san.
“Kirino-san. Thank you very much for inviting me today”
“You're welcome. Actually, just call me “Onee-chan” ok? Just like old times, you know”
“I would like to pass on that. It has already been a long time since I've reached an understanding in regards to your wicked desires about 'Imouto', you see.”
When I said that with a cheerful smile on my face, it may have hit some sort of sweet spot for Kirino-san who suddenly blushed and.
“Fuhihi, good girl”
Slurp!
…...I had the feeling I just heard a terrible sound. I still smiling, then said this.
“May I go back home now?”
“Don't you think you're being kind of cold to me lately, Tama-chan? Actually, don't you think you look more and more like her?”
“Fufu, we're sisters after all”
“You didn't have to change even your hobbies to match hers though. Actually, since you still have your schoolbag, that means you went straight here after school, right? Why are you wearing a kimono?”
“Oh, you didn't know? It's the norm for schools nowadays to let you wear private clothes, you know?”
“…..ugh, I kind of felt like an old woman just now”
Kirino-san sharply frowns her face.
If Kirino-san is an old woman, then one would be forced to call every woman in her twenties the same way.
Of course, her actual age is still plenty young; however, I just can't seem to picture her beauty fading the slightest even should she turn 30 or 40.
I would say she is the very image of a modern Elizabeth Báthory. She indeed is the true witch.
“Well then. It's going to begin now, so sit on the couch”
“Okay”
That's right---.
Today is the day the 'Stardust ☆ Witch Meruru' remake airs its first episode.
A new work in the Meruru series after 10 years.
When I heard Meruru would revive after 10 years---- and of course the person who told me about was Kirino-san ----I had the most curious feeling.
It was as if, I had just received a letter from an old best friend from the past.
“......Well, I already graduated from things like mahou shoujo a long time ago, however”
I mutterred it with a melancholic voice.
“Oh? Didn't you tell me you became a mahou shoujo or something, Tama-chan?”
“......Fu.....Please don't lump my 'witchcraft' with mahou shoujo together”
“Oh, I actually received life counseling from your onee-chan about that you know..... Well, I guess we don't need to worry about it right now though, huh. ---Ah, look!”
With those words, I too shifted my sight to the screen.
And then---
“Stardust ☆ Witch Meruru! Begins now~~~♪”
“.....It begins huh”
“Yes, it begun, hasn't it”
Just like when we were children, our hearts were racing as we watched the television.
The seasons turn, many years pass, and even with me graduating from mahou shoujo.
Inside my heart, the feelings, the love I had for Meruru back then, must still beat strong inside me, even now.
As I hear this anime's song, all sorts of feelings I had back then revive inside my heart and,
“.......I kind of feel like I just went through a time slip back to when I was 6 years old”
“Me too. I feel like I slipped back to when I was a junior high student. Just now, I started remembering about, all sorts of ‘‘‘things’’’, you know”
Without anyone beginning first, we both snicker, letting out a natural laugh.
And Meruru, just like back then, with a familiar voice and smile----
“It's been so long! Everyone!”
“It sure has been a while”
I bowed down my head to my friend, who I had been reunited with after 10 years.
References[edit]
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