Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai:Volume 7
Chapter 1
Wearing new clothes, I looked at the sky.
There were no clouds. The sun shone so bright. It made me feel so comfortable.
I was currently at a station not very far from home, a few day after summer vacation started.
Everywhere I looked, there were monorails.
Many people rushed past me. Some looked at their clock or phone. I glared at mine too.
--- A little past 9:30
“…You are early”
Suddenly, I heard the voice I had been waiting for.
“…Sorry to make you wait…”
I looked up at the girl who was smiling in embarrassment…my girlfriend.
My lover – also my girlfriend – Kousaka Kirino.
Light brown hair, twin earrings, long and slender legs with a perfect body.
Although she looked a bit too young, but I must admit she was beautiful.
Right when Kirino appeared, people around me started to whisper. They probably didn’t think that someone like me could have a beautiful girlfriend like Kirino.
“What do you think?”
I would be lying if I said I don’t have a superiority feeling.
“Let’s go”
“Um”
Kirino happily nodded and took my hand.
Her hand was so soft. I couldn’t help but swallow hard.
“You look nice in those clothes”
“Really? Thank you”
Kirino smiled softly.
“You look nice today too”
“All thanks to you helping me pick my clothes.”
“It was your fault for not having anything decent to begin with”
“Alright alright”
We started walking while talking away from the station. Soon, we reached a square.
“Ah…About”
“Hm?”
“Today…I will call you ‘Kyousuke’”.
“…Why ?”
“Because… because I feel like I’m your lover this way.”
She looked very embarrassed. Her ear was all red.
Even I felt my face heat up.
“Sure, go ahead.”
I forced my head to look in another direction.
From an outsider point of view, we were really a couple.
“Hey, Kyou…Kyousuke”
“What?”
“Where..are we going today?”
Everyone, please be patient. I will explain how our very bad sibling relationship could improve this much.
When we say goodbye to Ria…I received a very straightforward request from Kirino.
----- Please be my boyfriend.
At that time, I doubted my own ear, unable to make any response. My whole body frozen in place.
“…That…”
Blushed, I was unable to answer.
With frightful eyes, Kirino looked at me:
“…Is that…impossible?”
“No…”
I hesitated.
“I didn’t say it is impossible…but I don’t understand what you mean!”
My first reaction was trying to get away from my sister.
It was similar to the time when I had a theory – a worst case scenario - about ‘Why does Kirino like little sister based eroge’.
“I..I’m… your brother. What exactly do you mean? Do you…you love me?”
Just now was something that could only be said in an eroge.
I never thought that I had to use that line in real life.
“!”
Just when those words left my mouth, Kirino’s eyes widen. Her body frozen rigid. Then her face blushed before turning pale – finally, she grids her teeth, shouting in anger.
“No way! That is not it! How could you…how could I love someone like you! Do you know what you just said?”
Still afraid for my life, I slowly replied:
“Isn’t it because of your ‘please be my boyfriend’”?
“At least hear me out! I got a reason!”
“Reason?”
“Yes! I wanted you to ‘pretend to be my boyfriend’!”
“Pretend to be your boyfriend? Why didn’t you say so from the beginning! ‘Please be my boyfriend’….was too vague”
Whack!
“It hurt!”
She slapped me! What the hell? Wasn’t she asking for a favor?
“Hmpf! Because you’re a siscon having weird fantasies again!”
Weird fantasies….anyone would respond the same if you asked them that.
“Idiot! You idiot! You are the one who shouted ‘I’m a siscon’ – and you did it when everyone was looking!”
“Ugh….”
Please don’t remind me of that! Do you want me to commit suicide?
“Er…this wasn’t related to the current situation. Please don’t mention it anymore!”
“Whatever – hmph! Anyway, you have to pretend to be my boyfriend and go meet someone with me! Got it!?”
Return to the current time.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Fujima Misaki”
She introduced herself with a smile.
Her business card showed that she is “Eternal Blue joint stock company – chairwoman”
“Please to meet you. I’m Akagi Kyousuke”
We agreed for me to use a fake name.
The first day of summer break, in a café shop nearby. I met Fujima-sensei (or Misaka-chan) together with Kirino.
“So – I think you basically understand right?”
“Yes. Um..you wanted Kirino to be your exclusive model?”
“Yes. If possible, we intended to take Kirino to our headquarters in Europe. As long as she wishes it, we will take care of everything else.”
She casually talked about something incredible. Clearly someone who’s used to giving others orders.
She reminded me of Fate-chan. Of course, she was much more calm and mature.
“So what?”
“Kyousuke-san, please break up with Kirino.”
“What?”
“Just name your price. We will give you as much as you want”
“No no no wait wait wait! This is not the problem here!”
What the heck was she talking about!
Misaki-san blinked, puzzled:
“Hm? Aren’t we meeting today because of that?”
“Please wait a moment. No matter how I look, you process too fast.” “I don’t think so, but that’s fine”
With gentle eyes, Misaki-san looked at Kirino.
“Kirino, looks like your boyfriend had trouble understanding, so allow me to make it clear”
“Uh..Um”
Kirino’s hands clenched into a fist.
“There is no need to worry”
Misaki-san smiled again.
“Actually, when I asked Kirino to be our model, she said that because she had a boyfriend she didn’t want to go aboard.”
Right. Kirino’s request was for me to become her boyfriend so she could deny Misaki’s offer.
Somehow, I got the feeling that Kirino really wanted to accept this offer. For a girl to become an exclusive model of a big company, this should be a good thing.
But..Kirino herself said she didn’t want it…
Of course. As Ria said, this is where Kirino belongs.
To be honest, reject was not hard at all. Even if Kirino hoped for it, making it into reality was not easy. After all – well, this girl just returned from America too.
‘I wanted to become a professional model, so I plan to go aboard again’ – there is no way my Dad would accept that reason. He will not let his proud treasure slip away again.
So she must have asked for my help in order to solve it once and for all. Misaki-san was someone with a tough personality, she wouldn’t give up without a fight. Worse case, she might involve Dad, and Kirino might not even continue her modeling job.
So, backed into a corner, Kirino got an idea -
‘I had a boyfriend. I wanted to treasure our time together. So I don’t want to go aboard!”
That is what she said.
As usual, when faced with unexpected hardship, my little sister would do something stupid. But since I didn’t hear everything myself, so I wasn’t sure about the exact words.
‘Pretend to be my boyfriend and convince this woman for me!’
That was probably it.
At first, somehow I didn’t want to do it.
But I’m probably the only male that she could ask.
I won’t reject her. Well, I’m a siscon anyway. I don’t want my little sister to go aboard, I don’t want her to be unable to do something she likes.
That’s why I accepted her request.
“ – And for that, please break up with Kirino”
“I refuse”
Fearlessly, I replied.
“How about for 500,000 yen?”
“Really?”
My body moved on instinct.
With that much money….I could buy a love doll ---
“Ugh…”
From a corner which Misaki-san couldn’t see, an elbow hit my abdomen. Kirino was giving me a death glare, like she wanted to say ‘are you having a change of heart’.
No no of course not. I’m just a little surprised.
I looked at Misaki-san again, firmly said:
“Unfortunately, this is not a money problem – because I love Kirino!”
Ugh! Someone suddenly stepped on my foot.
“!”
I endured and looked at Kirino, only to see her ears redden.
After pulling my sleeve, Kirino whispered:
“Hey, it’s so embarrassing.”
“Idiot. How could I not say that out clearly?”
“But…you don’t have to go that far.”
Due to embarrassment, Kirino’s eyes turned moist.
Seeing our small conversation, Misaki-san smiled:
“What a wonderful couple”
“Ah…”
Kirino immediately looked away.
I gave her my brightest smile:
“Our relationship is very good, isn’t it!”
Ah..I wanted to vomit! But I need to deceive her, so this can’t be helped.
I held out my arms, took Kirino’s shoulder and pulled her closer.
“Wah”
Due to shock, Kirino’s body became stiff.
“Gross! What do you want to do?”
“I’m hurt! How could you say your boyfriends gross!”
Enduring her elbow again, I whispered back:
“(Whisper) Keep acting! Look, Misaki-san has started to doubt us!”
“(Whisper) I know. But you pulled me too hard!”
“(Whisper) This is just your imagination, endure it!”
During our small conversation, Misaki-san seemed interested in looking at us.
“So?”
“Nothing!”
Both of us responded at once.
Misaki-san stayed silence for a while then said:
“I understand”
“Huh?”
“In other words – I understand that Kirino has a boyfriend”
“So…”
Kirino seemed relaxed. But Misaki-san continued:
“Yes..But this doesn’t mean I’ll give up. Maybe you guys will break up in the future?”
“No! This will not happen! Never!”
Kirino strongly objected.
This was the crucial part, so of course she got worked up.
However, Kirino’s momentum was stopped by Misaki-san’s flexible response.
“Let’s talk about something else. Kirino, are you free tomorrow?”
“Ah? Is something wrong?”
“Tomorrow, I will have a fashion show. If you don’t mind, how about you come take a look. If there is any clothes you like, you may take it as a present – how about it?”
Misaki-san’s eyes started flashing.
Suspicious. Could it be that she plans to take Kirino outside then somehow force her to accept? Maybe I’m thinking too much, but I couldn’t shake off this feeling.
Probably is…because I recognized her eyes…that was Fate-san’s hunter eyes
“Sorry, she isn’t free tomorrow.”
Before Kirino gave her answer, I immediately rejected the offer.
“Why are you giving the answer?”
Ack!..Need a reason…fast…Ah…got it!
“We got a date tomorrow !”
“Ack!”
Kirino’s eyes widen in shock.
Idiot! Play along!
I pulled her closer, blinked at her in very close range.
“Isn’t that right, MY HONEY”
“…Ah…ahhha..”
Ahahaha….
Even I didn’t think that I could become so gross.
That was the end of our meeting – ah, of course, there was something else.
“Agh…be gentle will you”
My house. Living room. I was listening to my sister’s lecture. Of course we said goodbye to Misaki-san beforehand.
I was ordered to sit on the floor, while Kirino stepped on one of my knees.
*Whack whack whack whack*.
“It hurts damn it!”
I strongly expressed my anger
“Shut up! Just now, what did you do? What do you mean by that?”
“What do you mean by that? Of course I was acting like you ordered”
“What’s the meaning of your so-called best action? Holding your cute little sister by her shoulder. Rubbing her body in public. Forcing her to play along! You meant that?”
“Stop! Don’t use those evil words to describe it”
You made it like we were in an eroge.
“Anyway, I pretended to be your boyfriend. This was your request, damn it!”
“I didn’t request you to act like that! Agh! Enough! I still feel your hand touching my body…”
Kirino tried to wipe her body again, especially where we just touch earlier.
Damn…At least save my face a little….
Noticing her foot still stepping on my knee, I said:
“I think you are overthinking it. We are brother and sister, there is no problem with a little physical contact, right?”
“Of course there is a problem!”
She returned to her angry mood again. What an impatient girl. I have no interest in my little sister’s body or anything. You’re just overthinking it.
“Don’t tell me….In the time I was away you had become a pervert?”
“Of course not.”
I firmly replied.
Everyone must agree with me right – because I don’t remember turning into a pervert.
I just happened to gain some new pervert friends.
“Really?”
“Yes. The best proof would be that Ayase no longer blocks me from calling her.”
“This is the first time I heard that Ayase blocked you…recently Ayase is somewhat strange…could you be affecting her”
“Wrong. I don’t know why, but this definitely is not my fault this time”
Last time we meet, Ayase came to me and asked for a life counseling (although it ended in a disaster )
Suddenly, Kirino’s phone rang.
Beep beep beep beep beep beep beep.
“Hello?”
Kirino hastily answered her phone.
….This couldn’t be Ayase, right?
Ayase wouldn’t bug Kirino’s phone and call me because she heard I badmouthed her, right?
Nah, impossible.
To have such an imagination so quickly, this clearly showed how much Aragaki Ayase scared me.
She is so scary!
“Uhm..uhm…I see..Thank you for letting me know..um…bye..”
Beep beep. Kirino turned off her phone, her face paled.
“Is something wrong?”
“…This is all your fault.”
“Ack!?”
“Just now, a friend of mine called me ---“
Breathed out, Kirino looked away.
“Looks like Misaki-san plans to follow us tomorrow.”
“What?”
I couldn’t hide my surprise.
“Follow us? Like a stalker? She is going to have a fashion show tomorrow, right? How could she abandon it to stalk us?”
“About that…looks like she leaving it to her underling…”
“To stalk us? No matter how you look at this, this is abnormal. We shouldn’t be that high on her priority list.”
“…..”
Blinked, Kirino looked away.
“I don’t understand too! I just heard myself! How could I know what she’s thinking!”
“Um…um…okay…”
Couldn’t be helped then. I tiredly nodded.
Kirino returned to the topic:
“Anyway, this means one thing : Misaki-san wants to confirm if we really are lovers, and how much of our relationship is true”
“…In this case…maybe it is a chance too”
“Why?”
“Because we know that Misaki-san is going to stalk us, but Misaki-san doesn’t know that we know. If we let her see us in a good relationship….”
“I see. She will give up on her own. It’s not like we could just quit now, let’s make it to the end”
“….”
“Something wrong?”
“It’s not like I have interest in … love or anything…it is gross”
So – we got another date together.
“Ah..Kyou…Kyousuke…Where are you going?”
“Ah…”
Because both I and Kirino had no idea where Misaki-san could be hiding now, we ended up walking hand in hand.
We were on the main street leading to Chiba’s central station. Because it was not ten o’clock, not many stores were open.
“What nice weather. How about we go visit a botanical garden?”
“No way! Have you given it any thought at all!”
Actually, I did think carefully about it.
“Some of my friends said that place isn’t too bad.”
“Rejected”
No mercy.
“So, where do you want to go?”
“…Wherever Kyousuke wants is fine”
That was what I was afraid of. If this was Manami, then she meant exactly it. But for Kirino, this didn’t mean ‘go to somewhere you like’ but ‘guess somewhere I would like to go to’.
Answering wrong was not an option. So I had to think carefully about it…
“Let’s…”
If this was a game….I started channeling the main character…
“Let’s go to the cinema first (smile).”
*Crunch! *
Kirino stepped on my foot, pulled me closer and whispered:
“You based that line on an eroge, didn’t you!”
“Impossible…how could you know…”
“That was a game that I lent you! Do not use eroge’s knowledge in a real date!”
“Wait wait wait Kirino – That game box claimed to be a simulation eroge. Now you say I’m not allowed to use that at all?”
“Yes! Although that simulation game is amazing, but it couldn’t hold a candle to true love!”
“Ah…”
In other words, a date with Kirino was going to be very difficult.
I couldn’t use eroges for reference.
If someone came closer and listened, they would realize that our conversation was very weird.
But of course from an outsider point of view, we were just a happy couple who leant closer to have a sweet conversation.
Then Manami passed next to us.
Still in plain clothes, with her usual glasses. Tamura Manami – my childhood friend passed right next to us ---
“Wah!!”
She turned around
“Kuh!”
I was shocked too. Only Kirino remained calm.
“……….”
Her eyes widened, Manami stared right at us.
For Manami, who constantly listens to my complaints about my sister, this must be a very strange scene.
She probably went to buy something, and then she witnessed a pair of brother and sister who happen to have a bad relationship walking hand in hand – this must be very hard to understand for her.
What now….
I probably should explain to Manami, but we were still under surveillance so a careless move could ruin everything….
“……………..Kyou-chan? Kirino?”
“Ah --- this is…”
I tried my best to think of some explanations.
Suddenly, Kirino pulled my arm.
“ --- Let’s go, Kyousuke”
“Ack! Hey…hey…”
“Come on. Let’s go”
(Pull) (Pull)
She was so strong. I could only watch as I was pulled away from Manami.
Manami just watched us leave, her body frozen.
“Ah…just now…is a misunderstanding”
“Can’t be helped. It’s not like I want to walk hand in hand with you or anything”
Still looking away from me, Kirino kept walking.
Ah…such misfortune…
It is terrible – at that time, I had no idea it was just the beginning.
We walked toward Chiba central station – to the cinema’s direction. Even Kirino protested, but looked like she agrees to go watch a movie.
”Just now…Ha ha…her expression was unbelievable”
“…Don’t badmouth my childhood friend”
“Say, what do you think she thinks about us?”
Kirino laughed ‘ehehehe’.
She didn’t listen to me at all. You hated Manami this much?
“What did she think about us…”
Manami knew that I’m Kirino’s brother, but watching us walk hand in hand….
“Who cares”
I couldn’t imagine it. I only felt a headache right now.
“Hm? Give me an answer. Now!”
“Silence. Look, what movie would you like to see?”
We arrived at the cinema. There were a lot of movie posters around.
“Hmmm…”
Kirino thought about it for a while, then…
“This one.”
A romance movie.
“Romance…movie?”
“Yup! This is common for a date right? Do you have any objections?”
“No, but I got another suggestion”
I pointed at the next poster.
“What about this anime? First, take a look at this”
The film’s title : LITTLE SISTER.
“But this is an anime for kids”
“Isn’t this exactly what you like?”
“I like it very much…but it doesn’t suit a date…beside, it isn’t my style.”
“Hm----“
I brought Kirino with me to the ticket station.
“ One middle school student ticket, one high school student ticket for LITTLE SISTER, please”
“Hey wait a second!”
“What? I want to see that movie”
“….Whatever…”
Kirino pouted. Of course, choosing an anime while being stalked wasn’t the best idea. But I had to choose it.
--- How could I go see a love romance with my sister! I had to avoid it at any cost!
Two hours later.
“Ah ~~ Wonderful! I feel so ~~ good!!!”
We left the cinema together. Thanks to the anime, Kirino was able to relieve her stress. Like a little child, Kirino waved her hands and told me in an exaggerated manner:
“ --- Did you see it! All of those lolis were so cute! I never had that feeling before. Is that moe? I thought a moe anime for kids probably doesn’t exist, but I was wrong! Such a wonderful anime! Now that I think about it, the female protagonist’s voice actress is the same one who did Meruru’s first friend at school! Aha, to notice such a small thing, I’m so amazed of myself!”
“……Gross”
I replied with her catch-phrase. At the same time, I pulled myself closer.
This girl…she completely forgot about the world and escaped into the imagination.
“Hey! Did you listen to me at all?”
“Of course. Now be quiet, will you?”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t you remember that we were being stalked?”
Now she remembered.
“….Yeah.”
Rubbing the back of my head, I said:
“…Well, the truth is I haven’t seen Misaki-san anywhere. How about you?”
“I noticed someone earlier, but there is no way to make sure”
So there is someone? Damn!
“I know that you are happy, but try to keep it in check for now. Can you?”
“I know…but it was such a good anime”
“Really?”
I sighed.
This wasn’t in my expectation, but ---
“…Look like choosing it was the right choice”
Looking at how happy Kirino is, I felt happy myself too.
“I’m kind of hungry, let’s grab something to eat.”
“No fast food or family restaurants, remember!”
“…Yeah yeah”
I remembered the same thing happened before at Christmas.
What an expensive girl.
“So you should come and pick yourself”
“What? Isn’t it normal for the male to choose and the female to follow?”
What a troublesome girl. I massaged my temple, and said:
“Someone is stalking us now. My choice in the cinema was already not very suitable, so you have to make a choice this time.”
“….Yep…you are right. I will choose this time. But you’d better pay attention and take this as a lesson for the next time.”
Next time?
“ ---Okay, let’s go this way”
“…Cake shop? Oh well, not bad…”
Kirino chose a very quiet cake shop. They played classical music inside, so it was quite comfortable. We took a small table near the window. Because of that, our bodies were very close to each other.
“Not bad isn’t it? Sometimes I go here with Ayase”
“Yeah…not bad at all”
I took a look around. As expected of a good shop, everywhere was the smell of tea and cake. Almost all of the customers were female, only one couple. But he was acting the same as me, looking around nervously before giving me a wry smile.
--- This is hard to say here, man.
I returned with an awkward smile.
In front of me, Kirino said:
“Don’t look around. There is someone right behind you looking straight at us”
“Really?”
“Yes...I think …”
Looks like we were still under surveillance. So they planned to follow us till the end?
“So – is there anything good here?”
In order to let Kirino see, I opened the menu wide. In the first page was a couple cake, next to it was a couple drink.
“….Let’s forget about this one, shall we?”
“Of course”
Kirino was trembling.
I was saved. Just when I thought that, Kirino showed a troubled expression.
“Just…Misaki-san probably sees it too…”
“Wait wait! There is no need to go that far! Even if I really go to this place with my girlfriend, I will not do anything to embarrass them.”
“Yeah…you are right…”
Kirino looked down in embarrassment.
She’s always like that. If she decides to do something, she will give it everything she’s got. Even if it was ‘pretend’.
To hide her embarrassment, Kirino moved to the second page.
“What…should I choose..”
Suddenly ---
“Ah, if it isn’t Kirino?”
It was said in a cocky loli voice.
Both I and Kirino turned aside, our eyes widen:
“Ka..Kanako!”
“Yup!”
Kurusu Kanako – Kirino’s classmate (even in this year) was there, a grin on her face.
Damn!
We were too focused on finding an unknown stalker that we completely failed to notice an acquaintance.
Damn it! This girl once saw me at my home.
If this continued, I will be exposed as Kirino’s brother.
“What is that? A date? Ah…So you got a boyfriend, Kirino?”
This idiot didn’t remember me! You almost gave me a heart attack! Well, now that I think about it, she didn’t notice me when I took on that manager role. She clearly could remember the script after reading it once…so that means she never intended to remember me at all.
“..Ah…yeah …kind of…ah…but please keep it a secret from everyone”
Kirino showed a nervous smile. Couldn’t be helped, whatever we said probably wouldn’t be any much use.
This was your carelessness Kirino. Since you sometimes went here with your friends, to meet one of them here is entirely possible. Thank god that wasn’t Ayase.
If this was Ayase, it would be a disaster.
“Say, why are you here Kanako? You said that you wanted to go buy something before ---“
“Yeah….”
Kanako lazily answered:
“So? How is your shopping going?”
With sloopy eyes, Kanako pointed to a direction
It seemed that Kanako originally came to this table to get some napkins.
“Kanakana-chan ~~~”
“I told you not to call me Kanakana-chan anymore”
“Ah --- but…who is this?”
“Classmate. Come and say hi”
“Ah, right”
Due to Kanako’s request, this girl nervously placed her hand on her chest (flat, I must add)
That’s right. She was ---
“Ah! Evan – oh, no, Bridget-chan”
This was one of our acquaintances too.
Evan Bridget. This blond girl in pure white clothes followed Kanako – they didn’t look like they were friends at all.
As a fan of Bridget, Kirino was excited:
“Please to meet you…”
“Please to meet you! Oh, oh, wow!!! I can’t believe I could meet you here!”
Kirino’s voice was getting louder and louder. She was completely in excitement mode.
“About it…how could you know me?”
“Ack! Ah…ah…”
Of course you couldn’t say ‘I saw you at the Meruru’s cosplay contest and become a fan of you’.
Kirino made up an excuse:
“Ah..I …I saw your picture at Ayase’s place. Bridget-chan is Ayase’s friend right? Since that time, I already think that you are so cute…”
“Ah …I see”
Bridget probably accepted this reason.
I was worried about Kanako’s reaction, but turns out she was focusing on eating her cake, and didn’t pay any attention to our conversation.
Besides…even Bridget didn’t notice me. What a naïve girl, she didn’t realize the manager from that time.
“I’m Kousaka Kirino”
“Ah…I’m Bridget Evans”
After a brief introduction, Kirino asked her twin tailed friend:
“Kanako, how did you meet Bridget-chan? Where did you meet her! Tell me!”
“I met her at the bus station just now. She decided to tag along despite my protest.”
“….”
It was probably true. A few days ago, after some events, Bridget was clinging to Kanako as much as possible.
“Whatever. Let’s eat, Kirino~”
Without waiting for our reply, Kanako brought her table and chair to our table.
Then she talked to me in a fake sweet tone:
“Kirino’s boyfriend-san, please take care of the bill for us.”
Kanako tossed me her bill as if the most natural thing in the world.
“Ah…wait…Kanakana-chan…that wasn’t nice…”
“Whatever. Come her, let’s eat a lot”
“Ah…ah…”
After unsuccessfully convincing Kanako, Bridget sat down in front of her.
You two….
Because we were pretending to have a date it was fine, but if it was real then you two were in the way. Right Kirino?
“…Sit here together….”
What a stiff smile.
True, Kanako was unlikeable, but what kind of expression was that?
And the result – Kanako and Bridget joined in. They sat together while we were on the opposite side.
With happy expressions (thanks to the cake I paid) Bridget told Kanako:
“Kanakana-chan, how about we go to Animate studio later?”
“Huh? Why must Kanako go to that place with you?”
Kanako clearly didn’t want to go. But Bridget didn’t give up.
“But…but there is a Meruru-related job here. So…I wanted to demonstrate to Kanakana-chan”
“So what? All I need to do is follow the script right – I don’t need a kid to look after me”
“Ah..ah…how could you…”
Bridget started to weep
“You are so hopeless…”
“Kanako! How could you make Bridget-chan cry!”
“Wah!”
“Wait a second, what are you doing Kirino”
Kirino suddenly shouted. Both Bridget and Kanako nervously retreated back.
“Ki…Kirino…this is your first time meeting her right?”
“Yes. It’s true”
“So…why are you that angry?”
“Ah….because…”
Kirino couldn’t answer.
Because I saw Bridget-chan at the Meruru cosplay contest. By the way, your Meruru cosplay costume gave me a nosebleed. Ah, I also bought the DVD record of this contest!
Of course you couldn’t say it out loud.
“Anyway, I’m a fan of Bridget, so don’t bully her”
“Yeah yeah I know”
Blocking her ear, Kanako replied.
“Kanako, do you want me to tell Ayase ?”
“Ah no…I won’t do it again…”
Kanako paled immediately.
Although Kirino was angry, but to be honest Kanako wasn’t really bullying Bridget. I was better aware of their relationship than my sister.
Then in a sweet voice, Kirino said to Bridget (who she thought was bullied by Kanako):
“Bridget-chan, do you want to go to Animate studio with onee-chan?”
“I got Kanakana-chan to go with me, thank you”
So hopeless.
“…I see…maybe next time…”
Poor Kirino was already on the verge of crying.
This was the first time I’ve seen her defeated so easily.
To Bridget, going with Kanako was much better than going with ‘the strange onee-chan who doesn’t seem to know Meruru very well’.
“Kirino, don’t you always say those things are gross? Don’t force yourself”
“A..right…Ahahaha”
While Kirino was forcing herself to laugh…
“Meruru is not gross!”
Bridget countered. Faced with her blazing eyes, Kirino could only respond with “Yes, I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
Ah….poor girl…
You wanted to say “I also love Meruru too” didn’t you?
After they finished eating, Bridget shyly asked me and Kirino:
“You two….are lovers...right?”
--------------
Both of us immediately pulled ourselves together.
“Yes, that’s right. We are lovers”
I replied while trying to pay attention to ‘the one behind me’.
Damn….So embarrassing.
“In..in that case…there is something I want to ask…”
Bridget looked up, blushing.
“Wh...what is that?”
With a stiff expression, Kirino replied.
“So…you two love each other, right?”
“Ah..what?”
“Ah….”
What a brat! What kind of question was that?
“Why do you ask?”
“Ah…a lover…I long for one ….”
“I see…but Bridget-chan was welcomed by many males too, right?”
In response to Kirino’s comment, Bridget smiled in embarrassment.
“Although I have received a few confessions, but…I don’t quite understand …”
Bridget looked down again, blushing madly
“…Damn, this girl is so cute….”
Kirino started drooling in excitement. Looking at Kirino, Bridget asked:
“So…I wanted to ask onee-chan …something about love…can I?”
“Go ahead!”
Next to her, Kanako mumbled “Couldn’t you ask Kanako about them instead?”
“But Kanakana-chan only taught me about how to act if I was approached…”
“Yeah yeah. By the way, Kanako was interested too….”
Kanako looked at me as if I was just a piece of dirt.
“I think that Kirino’s boyfriend is too plain. He doesn’t seem like he suits you Kirino. What do you see in him Kirino?”
Since when was it was your problem! Mind your own business!
Damn….in response to that question…Kirino might go berserk and start badmouthing me, forget about our stalker.
I was thinking that, but…
“…He is very gentle.”
Kirino calmly replied. She secretly looked at me, whispering:
“And…he is very trustworthy…”
I looked at her in surprise. Our eyes locked onto each other…
“…What…”
What…the? She really thinks so?
But as usual, Kirino gave me an elbow, and added:
“Don’t get full of youself. It was just an act.”
“…I know”
You didn’t have to hit me every time. You just scattered my happy pace too.
Kirino let out an “Hmm” in disappointment.
“And….he seems to like my appearance…”
What an outstanding acting skill.
“ --- About that…I like it”
“Wow ~~~”
Because Kirino looked at me with her ocean-blue eyes, as if she was awaiting my response.
“What about you?”
“Ack!?”
“What do you like about your girlfriend?”
“I was forced to answer too?”
“Of course you are! Do you intend to let me do all the talking?”
Blushing, Kirino looked straight at me. Looked like she didn’t want to be embarrassed alone and wanted me to share my part.
What did I like about Kirino…not an easy question. Of course there was the siscon reason, but I hate her…Ah right, I just have to name her good points – yes, it could work.
I peaked at Kirino…
“….Her face?”
“………Huh?”
Kirino scowled. I understood her feelings, saying that much was nowhere enough.
“There are some super awesome traits! Cute! Thoughtful! --- ”
Where was your ‘cute’ and ‘thoughtful’? I had never seen them anywhere in my life.
In other words, you wanted me to praise your inner side?
“Okay. Then ---“
What was this feeling?
“I like you because how passionate you are. Whatever you were trying to do, you always gave it your all. As long as you like it, as long as you want to do it, you will like it, do it with all of your heart. I like this side of you.”
“Wh…”
Kirino trembled. I placed my hand on her head.
“ --- Although sometimes you meet failure, but I think it is something to be proud of”
“What…are you saying…don’t look down on me…”
“---- I’m very grateful. Because of you ----“
“My life is more lively this way”
This was my true feelings.
I got new friends thanks to Kirino. I changed so much thanks to Kirino.
And our current relationship.
All of this was thanks to Kirino.
“..I see.”
Kirino said in a small voice.
“I got it…get your hand off…”
She kept her head low…probably she was thinking ‘Disgusting…But I couldn’t show anger now’.
Oh well, of course I would never repeat those embarrassing words again.
I was just taking advantage of this rare chance.
On the other hand, Bridget looked at us with passionate eyes:
“Wow…Amazing…I’m so jealous…”
About Kanako…her gaze was ice cold…
“…But…somehow…I don’t feel like you two are lovers….”
After that, Kanako and Bridget said goodbye, and we continued our way.
Although….
“….Hey”
“……”
(quick and hasty footsteps)
“……Hey wait Kirino”
“……”
(quick and hasty footsteps)
Right after we separated from Kanako, Kirino suddenly lost all interest and hastily got away from me. Although I called for her, she didn’t respond.
What a troublesome girl…at least give me a reason.
In some way, it was truly a ‘If my girlfriend is Kirino’ scenario as I imagined. As I though, became her boyfriend brought me nothing but troubles.
“Shut up! What are you yelling for?!”
Kirino suddenly stopped and turned around, her face full of anger.
“Why you asked? Did you forget we are being stalked?”
“Tch….”
Kirino looked aside, whispered “…Next”
“Hum?”
“Next…to where?”
Her voice was so scary.
….Still the same, I couldn’t understand girls’s feelings at all. Anyway, I need to keep up with this acting for Kirino’s sake.
“A, a…next…”
In a date, first is go to the cinema, follow by a meal, then next should be shopping ---
Go to the shopping center now would take too much time, not to mention the unimaginable bill. And I had no interest in that place either.
But we couldn’t follow eroge and ended up in a love hotel.
So, I made a suggestion.
“How about going to the game center then?”
I had no idea if a game center counted as a suitable place for a date. But in my opinion, it wasn’t a bad choice.
We weren’t actors or anything, so it was impossible from the beginning to act like a couple.
So, my plan was trying to limit the flaws as much as possible.
Many couples spend their time together in game centers, right guys?
“Game center huh?”
“Yes.”
So we went to the game center. In the way, Kirino didn’t say anything nor latche onto my hand.
The same as usual – there was a distance between us siblings.
“Hey, you don’t need to walk hand in hand with me anymore?”
Right after I asked, Kirino shot me a cold glare before quickly going ahead. I could only sigh.
“….Ah….What a troublesome relationship”
We were at our destination. After we passed the automatic door, many noises started to assault our ears.
This place contained three floors and one basement. First floor was full of crane games.
“Have you come here before?”
“….Sometimes with Saori – sometimes with my classmates.”
“Hmm”
Okay good. Looked like girls like crane games too.
“Let’s play a game”
“Why do I have to play that child’s game with you?”
“Isn’t it what lovers do?”
“…You are right…”
No matter how I look, you don’t seem to be interested in pretending to be my lover anymore.
This was not a good sight, but Kirino – you need to endure it. If they discovered about us, then things would get really bad. And I didn’t want you to go aboard again.
“Try to endure it, okay?”
“I know…”
Kirino reluctantly agreed.
“Okay…wait a second!”
“Wha!”
She raised her collar.
“What now?”
“I saw one of my classmates! Let’s go somewhere else…”
“Ah ---“
How could Kousaka Kirino got a boyfriend? I could handle it, but if it was someone who couldn’t hold her mouth like Kanako then it was over.
“No choice then. Let’s go to other floors”
We moved to the second floor. This floor contained mostly fighting games. The nearest arcades were PvP based games (mahjong, card games, puzzle). Next was fighting games, finally was driving games.
“…Is our stalker still following us?”
While we were on the move, I whispered.
“…Probably”
“Where? I had to take a look around, but I didn’t notice anyone”
“This …this meant you didn’t look hard enough. Anyway, don’t look around anymore, or else we will be noticed.”
“…Sorry. So we can only passively be stalked?”
“Yes”
Kirino slightly nodded. If it was normal, she was already fighting in a SISCALY arcade, but now we had no choice but to act ‘we are a lovely couple’ and ‘we are enjoying each other’.
With tired eyes, we looked at this thing in front of us. Namely, a photo sticker booth.
“……..photo sticker booth…want to take a shoot?”
“….Yeah”
We moved inside.
I let out a tired sign.
This was my first time inside a photo sticker booth. I could never imagine that I went in there with Kirino…
“So…how to make this thing work?”
“Put some money in there”
Kirino sounded angry. I quickly followed her order.
“Next, select frame”
“Let’s choose…”
Beep beep. Before I could voice my choice….
“Why did you choose a heart-shaped frame?”
I went into a photo sticker booth with my little sister? If this gets out, I would never return to my normal life again.
“Tch….I have come this far…I must see it till the end…”
“Ki…Kirino?”
Your…your eyes…was it wandering? Did you doubt yourselves?
Kirino wrote our names down and tried to cheer up:
“Come! Let’s do it!”
“Hey”
Then Kirino latched onto my arm.
(Flash!)
“……”
We looked at the end picture…Our expression was clearly showing trouble.
I went into a photo sticker booth with my little sister.
And to use a heart-shape frame for a couple.
There was no way I could forget this memory. We split the picture, each of us kept one copy.
“….Let’s go”
“….Yeah”
Moving as if our life force was completely drained, we left this area.
Then we met Kuroneko.
“……Wah?”
Kuroneko saw us go out of the photo sticker booth for couples.
This girl in Gothic clothes is Kuroneko. She is a friend of mine and Kirino’s.
Why was she here…Ah well, games were her specialty after all.
Damn! I’ve had enough. How come I’ve met so many acquaintances today?
And all of them meet me at a specific worst possible time.
Still, back to the current situation.
*Clank ! Clank ! Clank ! Clank ! Clank ! Clank ! Clank !*
Because of Kuroneko’s tremble, her coins slipped out of her hand.
“Hey your coins! You dropped your coins!”
“?????????”
Although Kirino reminded her, I could almost see the question mark pop out of Kuroneko’s head. She rubbed her eyes, then looked at us again.
“Couple….lover photo sticker booth…? You two….What are you two doing…”
Picked up your coins first. Looked like she got quite a shock.
“Hey Kirino”
“Ah, right”
We helped Kuroneko pick up her coins”
“Here”
When we handed them back to Kuroneko.
“…A..Ah…”
She just stood here, her mouth hung open, her eyes widen.
Then her eyes darted from me to Kirino to Kousaka siblings picture…
“…You …you two…since when you two….started….”
“Wait …wait a second! What is on your mind right now is a very big misunderstanding!”
I was trying to clarify, but…
*Thud*! Kirino’s elbow hit my stomach again.
“What are you doing! We are being monitored.”
“But, but!”
“We can always explain it to her later!”
“No, I mean…”
While I was having a quick (and secret) conversation with Kirino, Kuroneko seemed to get into a bigger misunderstanding.
Her face immediately blushed madly.
“…In any case…in such a public place….to show off….is not right…”
Wah! – Wait wait Kuroneko!
Think about it Kuroneko! Between me and Kirino – how could we have such a relationship!
I wanted to catch Kuroneko’s shoulders and explain everything, but the current situation prevented me from doing that.
“Oh ~~”
With I-wanted-to-cry eyes, I tried to convince her…Ah damn! What should we do now Kirino! I turned back to my sister ---
“Hahaha”
Was that a cold smile? Was she so embarrassed that she refused to show anymore weakness in front of Kuroneko? – yeah, probably that.
“…What exactly happened…?”
“Oh my! Are you asking me what happened?”
Deliberately using this tone, Kirino looked at me and smiled.
“Tell her Kyousuke. What is our relationship now? Tell her.”
Could you please restrain yourselves from hinting about this forbidden relationship? What do you want me to say now? Of course there is no way I could explain!
Was that your payback from when Kuroneko teased you?
“Ah, ah, let’s talk about it later, okay?”
That was the best I could pull off.
Kirino “Tch” then continued talking to Kuroneko in that disgusting tone:
“Ah, that’s because we are still dating! So see you later, okay? Bye!”
“…Ah…what? Ack!”
Kuroneko remained frozen in place. Her body still slightly trembled.
Kirino nodded in satisfaction and took my arm, and said:
“Let’s go, Kyousuke ♡ “
“Ah….”
Ah….so uncomfortable.
Sorry Kirino. Your reaction yesterday was right.
It felt so gross for siblings to speak lover’s words.
*Crunch!!*
“Ugh!”
This girl pinched my arm.
What now? Was that normal treatment for your boyfriend?”
“See you later….”
I pulled Kirino downstairs.
Today was just ‘girlfriend’ – it was …troublesome.
We stopped and took a rest. Kirino just looked down, deep in thought. I had no idea what she was thinking.
But it didn’t matter.
“……….”
Wasn’t it…our normal everyday life?
“…Kyou, Kyousuke, what are you laughing at?”
Puzzled, Kirino asked. I was smiling because I remembered a line.
“Nothing…Just feels like between you being my ‘little sister’ and my ‘girlfriend’ – actually, there is not much of a difference”
“ ----Huh?”
Ack!?
…What…did I just say?
*Crunch!* Kirino’s hand pinched my arm hard -
“You --- Did you play too many imouto eroge?”
Kirino sent me a glare as if I was dirt and walked out of the game center.
The automatic doors closed in front of me.
“……”
Just now, Kirino’s eyes and tone reverted back to one year ago and made me feel angry.
Evening. We went home and ate dinner before resting in the living room.
Kirino sat down in the sofa in front of me.
“…Yes…yes…that’s right”
Probably a talk with Misaki-san.
Kirino hung up.
“I don’t need to go to Europe anymore. Misaki-san said she gave up – for now, at least.”
She didn’t even look at me. She was quite happy when she had her payback at Kuroneko, but because of my careless comment, she was angry again.
“So…it was over?”
“Yeah…Misaki-san said…”
Kirino secretly glanced at me.
“You should cherish your lovely girlfriend more.”
“Hm --- I felt like this was over too easy”
My previous experience with Kirino told me that some serious problems should happen sooner or later, maybe even right now. I didn’t have any confidence in my acting skills, plus our quarrel in the game center – all of this should blow our cover. And I didn’t even see our stalker once…that’s why I got a bad feeling, as if we had completely failed.
“Disappointed? So you want me to go aboard again?”
Kirino seriously looked at me. I looked straight back, and replied:
“I never said that. I was happy that things went smoothly”
“…I see. Good”
She looked away again.
Then Kirino muttered --
“Although, about our date today, I want to voice my opinions”
Kirino suddenly pulled herself up into the sofa.
“…Say it”
“Although we passed – but what was that? Totally unacceptable.”
“Ah?”
I showed my disagreement.
“What do you want to say? Your brother accepted your request, and you’re still not satisfied?”
“You still don’t get it? Remember what you did today. First you took advantage of the situation and sexually harassed me, then when I voiced my complaints you used a line from eroge to respond – completely unacceptable.”
So her boyfriend had to endure it every time they went on a date.
I had enough! I started to feel angry too!
“Can you make more effort to make your girlfriend happier?”
“No, you’re already happy enough”
Like after we went to the cinema, you were full of energy.
“Don’t be mistaken. This was because of the movie, not because of the date. LITTLE SISTER was very good, but it wasn’t because you”
“I’m the one who choose it”
“Even in that case, your response after that was bad. After I saw something so amazing, of course I wanted to discuss it. But you didn’t even let me have a chance to say it, instead cut me off with ‘be quiet, will you’! I was hurt!”
You still think that?
“We were monitored, and yet you almost went out of control talking about it. Did you even think what would’ve happened if I didn’t stop you in time?”
“Can you say it in a gentler manner!”
“I’m not your slave! Don’t say it to your brother, say it to your boyfriend instead! You understand?”
“That….”
My angry voice made Kirino slightly trembled.
“Today…weren’t you my boyfriend today?”
“Yes. ‘Pretend to be my boyfriend’, remember? Really, I agreed to help you, but all you did was complain.”
I looked aside, letting out my troubled heart and spoke:
“Don’t tell me to do that again”
Bang! Kirino threw something at my face.
“It hurt! What the hell”
“You idiot!”
Kirino stood up and stepped out.
“I really shouldn’t ask for your help…”
Still in anger, she turned the knot, and told me in a calm tone:
“I have had enough! Next time, I will ask my real boyfriend to help”
She left.
“………….Real boyfriend?”
In my hand was the picture we took together at the sticker booth.
| Forward to Illustrations | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 2 |
Chapter 2
You guys should feel surprised, but now I am in Ayase’s home.
Aragaki Ayase. My sister’s classmate, also her best friend in modeling. A beautiful girl with long black hair.
She always saw me as ‘perverted brother who pushed down his little sister’, and yet today she came to me to talk about Kirino.
This was completely unexpected.
A few days after summer break, Ayase called me:
“Are you free today?”
Although at that time, I was focusing on my final exam….
“Of course I’m free. I got a lot of free times!”
That was my answer. Even if I failed my test, I wouldn’t regret it. Well, the truth was even if I refused her, I probably wouldn’t be able to focus on studying anyway.
Don’t look down on me. I did try to do my best in studying like Kirino and Kuroneko too.
Of course you guys had seen me playing eroge, buying sex toys in Akihabara, but this didn’t change the fact that I got my good side too.
“….I see…You don’t have to yell…”
Ayase’s voice sounds like music to my ears.
“…I…I have something very important to tell onii-chan. Can you please come to my home now?”
“To your home? Me?”
How…is that a dream? Ayase asked me to go to her home.
No no wait wait. Calm down. This…must be a trap. Ayase must have prepared a trap for me.
My first thought was ‘what should I wear’, but then my reasoning side took over! Careful. Need to be very careful here. But Ayase’s words poured directly into my heart!
“Yes…Could you? Is there a problem?”
“Er….Of course not! Totally not!”
I knew it was a trap….But….Is there any guy in the world who could resist that angel’s request? Even if she is a dangerous girl who sometimes overthinks, still….
“Got it! I will be there right away!”
“Really? Thank you onii-chan!”
What a cunning girl!
“No problem. I got a small question to ask too.”
Besides….Maybe…just maybe…
So, by Ayase’s guide, I went to the Aragaki home.
From Kousaka’s home, Ayase’s home is on the opposite side of the bus station. I heard that Ayase often went home together with Kirino, but after I knew her address, I got the feeling that she purposely chooses the longer route.
Maybe she wanted to spend as much time with Kirino as possible?
Aragaki’s house was a beautiful building. Although it wasn’t as good as Saori’s, but it was definetely good.
“Ohh…”
I swallowed hard, started to feel afraid.
This was a normal house, but when I think about the fact that this was Ayase’s house, I felt like…. As if a demon was hiding inside…
With trembling fingers, I rang the doorbell.
“Ah onii-chan. Thank you for coming! I’m waiting for you!”
Then Ayase came and greeted me,it made me wonder if this was like ‘come visit my girlfriend’s house’ event. Today she was wearing a mature dress. Just like my sister, everything she wears fit her perfectly.
“Ah…Do you want to come into my room?”
“Ah, please excuse me”
She even welcomed me? What is going on? Did my effort in clearing Ayase’s event finally get a result? Wow? Really?
‘Something very important’ – did she mean that?
Wow Oh ~~~~~! I was so excited right now!
Even in that state, I immediately noticed a high heel that couldn’t belong to Ayase in the doorstep.
“…Ayase…Is your family home?”
“Yes. My mom is at home”
“I see…Mom…”
I heard that Ayase’s mom was the head of the PTA.[Parent Teacher Association ]
Hey, did that mean your family is equally scary?
In that case, what about Ayase?
Probably at Demon King class.
“Should I say hello to her?”
“She is working in her room…Do you want to?”
“Ah! No! There is no need to interrupt her work!”
“I see. This way please”
Like a thieving cat, I tried my best to move as quietly as possible.
After I went up the stairs, Ayase stopped in front of a door.
“This is my room. Please come in”
“Okay”
I followed Ayase into her room.
….Wow…This is Ayase’s room. Unlike someone’s room which was full of cosmetics, this room smells so nice.
This room was kept very clean. Everything was in their proper place. The main color was a refreshing blue. There were some bear dolls in her bed.
There were some pictures nearby too. One was probably Ayase’s family or friend (Ayase’s mom was also a very beautiful woman). One of them showed Ayase and Kirino, both of them smiling.
“…Please..please don’t look around…I’m embarrassed.”
“Ah, sorry!”
I swallowed again. Today Ayase was strange. Very strange.
“So…er…what do you need me for?”
“Yes”
Ayase nodded and said in a small voice:
“Onii-chan…can you please raise both of your hands forward?”
“?...Like that?”
*Crank*
“Wah!”
I was handcuffted.
“Ack!?”
I shouted. My eyes darted between the metal handcuffs and Ayase.
“What is that?”
“A handcuff”
No! I already knew that!
Seeing my panicked expression, Ayase seemed….embarrassed. She was blushing.
“Because I was alone with onii-chan in a room – isn’t it gross?”
“The words you say and your face don’t match.”
“Anyway, I simply couldn’t bear to be in the same room with you.”
“Oh…”
What the heck just happened?
What the heck was that? She said ‘something very important’, so I thought….
Damnnnnnnnnnn it. It was a trap!!!!!
“Ayase you! How dare you….to play with my maiden heart!”
“What…”
Ayase’s eyes widen, her face reddened.
“No way…You…what did you just say?”
“I was so excited because I thought you were about to confess to me, and this is how you treat me?”
“Of course not! I will never do that!”
“You called me in such a sweet tone! Everyone would think the same!”
“I just wanted to have a normal conversation!”
You get angry after you handcuff someone else? What was going on?
With very unpleasant eyes, I looked at Ayase.
“What is with your rebellious eyes? Do you want me to call my Mom?”
“This should be a huge danger to me, but how would you plan to deal with that situation?”
I raised my handcuffed hands.
Ayase looked at my waist, said:
“I will say that a big pervert broke into my room and said ‘please handcuff me’.”
“What kind of pervert do you think I am?”
If I truly was the pervert as she imagined ….. no no no, must not think about it.
I tiredly shoke my head.
“Fine. I will listen to your request. Hurry up and tell me what happened.”
Then unhandcuff me, please.
“….Fine”
With ice-cold eyes, Ayase went straight to the point:
“…Onii-chan, what is that?”
“Ack!!!!”
I was absolutely shocked when I saw it.
This was the picture I took together with Kirino a few days ago.
“How could you have that!?”
“This doesn’t matter. Now, this is the problem”
No. How could you get that was already a big problem.
Kirino would never, ever showed that picture to someone else, especially Ayase! Beside, there were only two copy of this, and I had one. And Kirino got the others.
My picture was carefully hidden in a book, even my Mom wasn’t able to find it.
So why? How could Ayase get her hands on this?
Scary! So scary! But now wasn’t the time to think about it.
I slowly raised my head to face Ayase’s empty eyes.
“…Why did onii-chan and Kirino take a picture in a heart-shaped frame? You two even latched onto each other….Didn’t I tell you before, if you lay your hand on Kirino….”
“….Ah…This…Ah…”
Damn…Not good. Definitely not good.
This girl had abnormal attraction toward Kirino. She did even warn me ‘I will kill you if you do anything to Kirino’.
“…Ah….Ah…”
With trembling eyes, I looked at this picture again.
At a glance, Kirino and I looked like any lovely couple. I almost could see the word ‘Die’ in Ayase’s eyes.
And I was handcuffed to boot – I couldn’t even defend myself.
“…Wait…don’t kill me…”
I backed off slowly and tried to talk to her.
I never imagined that I would say that line in real life.
And I was so happy at first. I thought she was going to confess to me.
I will never have any hope toward Ayase again!
With the best pitiful eyes that I could call off, I looked back at Ayase…
“….To see you are so frightened of me…so cruel…”
Her expression was somewhat sniff.
“I just asked you in a very completely normal manner about this picture….Do you think you are overeacting?”
Ayase’s lip curved, she looked unhappy.
I almost lowered my guard again, but thankfully I avoided it.
If she really meant it then the handcuff wasn’t necessary.
Still, I need to carefully answer. Because my safety depended on it.
“Fine. I will explain. Ayase, this has ~ an abnormal explanation”
“…I feel like onii-chan had said something similar before.”
Really? But I did have the habit of using ridiculous reasons to see Ayase.
So, I explained everything for Ayase. Misaki-san wanted to recruit Kirino as an exclusive model, so in order to give her a reason to back off, I pretended to be Kirino’s boyfriend.
Since we knew that Misaki-san will follow us, we went on a date. After hearing that, Ayase nodded.
“You said Fujima-sensei stalked your date that day?”
“Yes”
“…I understand…but…”
She put a finger on her lip, Ayase said:
“Something is not right”
“I didn’t lie”
“No, I don’t mean that. I knew about Fujima-sensei’s plan to recruit Kirino too”
“I see”
“Of course. I could only protect Kirino if she is here. I don’t plan to be separated from her again. I had my own plan to deal with that.”
…I understood. Maybe that’s why Misaki-san backed off so easily. Because Ayase’s plan had some effect.
Of course, I was too frightened to ask about her plan.
Anyway, I had no interest in figureing out what is not right ---
“ – You understand right? I told you, this picture was just an act. It wasn’t like what you imagined.”
I tried to hide my cold sweat and smiled. Grumbling, Ayase nodded.
“Right…”
“Thank goodness. Now…can you please unhand cuff me? I couldn’t have a normal conversation with you in this state.”
“…You promise you won’t do anything?”
“Yes, I promise”
I was taken by surprise, but not for long. Although Kuroneko’s carelessness towards me made me feel a headache, but this girl crazy prepared also hurt. But didn’t that mean she treated me like a man? Just thinking about it made my heart race.
“Why do you grin when I touch your hands to unlock them? So disgusting!”
“How could that be? I smiled because you were so embarrassed when alone together with me.”
“Whatever your reason, it is still gross. And I’m not embarrassed…”
“Really? Didn’t you handcuff me because you are too embarrassed?”
“Mom!!!! There is a pervert in my room!”
“Ohhhhhh stop stop stop!”
*Crank*
I was about to find somewhere to hide, but Ayase laughed:
“ --- I was just joking. How about it? I’m not that evil! Please don’t hide in my bed after I unhandcuff you! I will kill you if you do that!”
“It hurt! It hurt! Your handcuff! Don’t use your handcuff to hit me!”
“Wasn’t it because you act like a criminal?”
“Look at yourself. With such an angelic face, you hit me like a top criminal! Don’t you see you are getting better at hitting me?”
Ayase took a deep breath then extended her hand, like she was saying ‘Let’s shake hands and make peace’.
“Okay onii-chan, please raise your hand”
“Right right”
I raised my right hand again.
*Crank* Once again, I was handcuffed.
“Why did you do that for!”
Ayase locked the other side on her bed then told me, still smiling:
“Oh, I just want to bring some drinks for onii-chan”
“Sorry, I don’t understand what you are saying”
“…Because if l left you alone during that time, onii-chan would be free to explore my room – like checking my closet, or ….take my underwear and wear it on your head?”
“I…I…What have I done to deserve this?”
“A lot. You showed me an incest story. You embraced your little sister and cried ‘I love my little sister’. You told me to participate in a cosplay event with an erotic outfit...etc…”
“Ah, I’m so thirsty. Could you please get me something to drink?”
After Ayase returned, she unhand cuffed me once more.
This was the first time I felt so relieve after entering this house.
I took a sip then said:
“Anyway, I have something to ask you too Ayase. It’s not anything major, so could you tell me?”
Ayase’s eyebrow knitted, she returned to her fully prepared state.
“…You just plan to ask something like sexual harassment don’t you?”
“Of course not! Really…Did I ever sexually harass you?”
“You do it every time we meet!”
“For real?”
“You don’t even realize? The last time we met…you asked me….’please marry me’…didn’t you?”
Ayase looked straight into me.
“Ah….”
With equally righteous eyes, I looked directly into Ayase’s eyes:
“That…wasn’t sexual harassment. That was a proposal.”
“Sorry.I couldn’t accept that in a biological meaning.”
What!?
“To be refused in such a horrible manner! What will you do if I kill myself because of that!?”
“Onii-chan, what do you want to ask me?”
“Don’t change the subject!”
Comfort me! Just one line was enough, comfort me!
Maybe she realized that she’d gone too far, Ayase said:
“The first time we met…I thought…you were not too bad”
“Really? Oh really?”
This was the first time I heard that!
“Your face! Your face! Too close!”
Ayase pushed my face away.
“But now I hate you so much. Although the first time, I thought you were so gentle, so kind…I planned to become your friend…No, now I hate you so much!”
“I see….”
Although I felt a little comfort, but this wasn’t what I wanted to hear.
“I..I…I…I was such a fool! If last year I didn’t come to the Summer Comicket, Ayase could be my girlfriend now!”
“I never said anything like that! Stop your weird imagination at once! Any why did you say that out loud what are you thinking!?”
“Ah…..I wanna die already…..”
“You really are depressed….”
With her eyes full of doubts, Ayase sighed:
“By the way, I will tell Manami-onee-chan everything that happened today.”
“I see…..”
Not like I care. This was far from enough to stop me.
“Also, onee-chan is the one who told me about onii-chan and Kirino’s date.”
“What a carefree girl!”
I need to find some excuse to scold her.
Just…If I didn’t careful, after Ayase heard what happened from Manami I would be in serious danger.
“Anyway – this means that I will never become onii-chans girlfriend.”
“Yeahhhhh…..”
I signed. Although I felt unhappy about it – but Ayase truly couldn’t become my girlfriend. No matter how I look at it we weren’t suitable for a couple.
“So, what do you want to ask?”
“…Fine. Did Kirino get a boyfriend?”
“What?”
In contrast to my very plain question, Ayase made an exaggerated reaction.
“What what what what is going on!? This is impossible right!?”
“Wah wah!?”
She pulled me up by my collar.
“Impossible! Boyfriend – Kirino couldn’t have a boyfriend! What do you intend to do, making a joke like that!?”
“Wait wait…”
I pushed down on Ayase’s shoulders.
“Kuh! Kuh!”
I clutched my throat and coughed while I gave her a hand signal ‘calm down please’.
Then, an emotionless voice rang next to me.
“…Tell me what happened”
“No wait wait! Listen to me ---“
I told Ayase about my quarrel with Kirino after the date -
“Fine. Next time I will introduce my real boyfriend”
“…What do you think?”
“Maybe she just wants a little payback and said something without thinking?”
Ayase replied confidently. I said:
“Really?”
“Of course! At least I have never heard Kirino say anything about a boyfriend…”
“Thank goodness. If her best friend said so, I could rest assured.”
“Boyfriend…Just Kirino’s nonsense talking.”
This girl. Why did she have to go that far?
Im finally able to lay down the stone in my chest.
But then Ayase whispered:
“Just…”
“Hmm?”
“At school, many boys like Kirino…some of them even confess to her…”
“Really?”
“Yes. A lot, in fact.”
Yeah…Now that I think about it, this was normal. She looked so cute and so good at acting in school.
I felt a little uncomfortable.
Until now, I still felt jealous and angry when someone praised my little sister.
I should have no reason to feel uncomfortable.
“But Kirino likes boys who are three years older than her, doesn’t she? She said younger boya are like children or something.”
Last Christmas, she said it herself.
“Three years older…”
“What?”
“No, nothing.”
Ayase shot me a meaningful glare.
“Still, there are lots of boys who like Kirino. Some of them look pretty good too.”
“Yeah yeah~”
“Now, as long as Kirino wants she could get a boyfriend at anytime. Of course…I have never seen something like that”
So for now, this was the conclusion. Based on what Ayase-sensei said, Kirino didn’t have a boyfriend.
How could she know that based on what she saw only?
I – Kyousuke am a coward, so there was no way I could ask that question. I could only accept her result.
“Just…. Among Kirino’s relationships, there are some that I couldn’t monitor…”
She said in a hesitant voice.
Yeah…Ayase is Kirino’s good friend, but my little sister got another side of her.
“Onii-chan…about Kirino’s boyfriend…just to make sure, can you please double check it?”
“…Got it”
I could only nod.
Yeah, I had no choice. I didn’t care if Kirino got a boyfriend or not – but since this is Ayase’s request, I couldn’t refuse it.
I need to prove that Kirino in fact didn’t have a boyfriend.
The next day, it was still summer vacation, yet I dashed to school in the morning.
My target was the Game Research Club. Although school was having a break, the club didn’t.
This was my first time to run to school during vacation.
“…I feel so refreshed today”
The weather was nice. A new day had just begun.
In a good mood, I opened the club door.
*Crank*
“Morning”
Ughh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“What the….what smell is that!?”
I quickly backed off. I carefully looked at the door and realized that even the air had a strange color.
“What the heck!”
My happy mood disappeared in a heartbeat.
Covering my nose, I took a step closer …
“Ah, isn’t it Kousaka!”
Someone was calling for me from inside. I mentally prepared myself and stepped in.
“What the heck? What smell is that? It stinks! As if someone vomited in here.”
“…Kousaka…to actually say it out…I’m hurt…”
The owner of this voice was sitting in chair, his shoulders dropped.
Tall, thin, glasses otaku boys – Miura Gennousuke. The president of our club.
“But it really stinks! What happened?”
“Just like Makabe said…did he tell you already?”
“No, I didn’t hear anything”
Makebe was the voice of reason in our club, so he had quite an influence.
“Ah…recently this was so hot. Look what I have become just after three days without bathing.
I had no idea why he sounds like he was having fun when admitting he hadn’t bathed for three days.
“Please stay away from me”
This place sure was hot. And he still left his computers running…well, it wasn’t my problem if they broke down.
I tried to ignore the smell and looked around for somewhere to sit down. And then I realized that no one was here.
“Where is everyone else?”
“Those girls still havn’t come. Those boys went to buy some deodorants”
“Deodorant? To use that on you?”
“On the room! Even Makabe didn’t say it out!”
He looked like he wanted to say ‘you are getting better at bad mouthing me’.
He stood up and picked up some nearby clothes:
“No choice then. I’m going to find a faucet to clean my body. “
“Yeah, you should”
Was he really a student? I thought he was a beggar instead.
Now that I think about it, the first time we met he was on the street and playing eroge.
After he went outside, the girls arrived.
They were Akagi Sena and Gokou Ruri. Both of them were in their first year.
“Good morning”
That must be Sena.
She was my classmate Akagi Kouhei’s little sister. Although she was wearing glasses like any honest girl, in fact she was a huge fujoshi.
While Gokou was my sister’s friend – she was also known as Kuroneko.
She got a long and black hair, with pure white skin. On the first look she appeared to be emotionless, but the truth is she had a warm and caring heart – such a cute girl.
And before the summer vacation begun, she kissed me ---
“Morning”
“…Good morning, senpai”
Since that time, I …had paid more attention to her.
Besides, I hadn’t explained to her about the date with my little sister a few days before (which she witnessed).
“Sena was the first one to notice….”
“Wah…”
Her face twisted and she looked at me like I was a piece of dirt.
“Kousaka-senpai, what smell is that? Like someone vomited in here.”
“This isn’t mine!”
“Agrh! It stinks! I can’t stand it anymore”
Stinks? My junior said I smell?
Oh...what horrible timing…the culprit just left here!
“Listen to me Akagi! This is the smell from our President who hasn’t taken a bath for a long time!”
“Huh? Why is the president’s smell coming from Kousaka-senpai --- Ah!”
“That is not it!”
“I…haven’t said anything yet”
“I already knew what you were are about to say! Stop your imagination at once! This is the president’s smell on the room!”
I tried to explain to Sena.
“….”
When I turned around, Kuroneko was already right next to me.
After she smelled my clothes, her expression changed.
“…It really smells like someone else.”
“Yes! That’s right.”
“So he left before we arrived?”
<nowki>*</nowiki>Achoo*. Kuroneko sneezed, then opened the window.
30 minutes later ---
“Phew….Finally we have gotten rid of that smell”
In the middle of the room, Sena removed her veil and announced. Behind her, the Makabe group was cleaning the room. Since we let Sena take the charge, everything went unexpectedly well.
“Nice job Sena-san. It was embarrassed to admit, but I could never do that.”
The president came back and said so, his hair still wet.
“President…you still stink…please bath at least once everyday”
Sena blocked her nose and sprayed the deodorant toward the president.
One young man interrupted:
“If he does that, his body will probably melt”
He is Makabe, one important member of this club. He was also a good programmer.
Taken back, the president said:
“Oh…ah, hey Sena, could you please say something in my defense to Makabe?”
“Makabe-senpai, how about we call president ‘Garbage’ from now on?”
“Not bad. In this case, we should throw him into a garbage can.”
You two went a bit too far. I thought that treating him like garbage is too much --- but at that time the president came at me like a zombie.
“Kousaka. Those juniors teamed up to look down on me”
“Don’t come this way, please”
Go go, I pushed him away.
“….Ah…”
Kuroneko let out a tired sigh.
“Can we focus on the main reason now? We are here to discuss the Summer Comicket, remember?”
That’s right. This summer – like a year before, I’m going to join Summer Comicket.
And I’m not going to join as an individual – this time, I’m going to join with my club!
“Right!”
The president immediately recovered his happy mood.
“Last year, our club ghad some pretty good games. I plan for our club to join in the ‘second day’!”
Let me explain. Every year, Comicket happen in three days.
Second day is the time for every club to gather. Of course, our small club couldn’t get any good spots.
“By the way, what are we going to sell?”
Sena raised a question.
“I plan to sell some game DVDs.”
“You mean…the game that we made earlier?”
Faced with that question, the president boasted:
“Of course. Isn’t it the first game that you two cooperated with each other? Of course we are going to sell it.”
“But…what if it turned into a black spot in gaming history…”
Sena seems afraid. Sometime ago, our game (RPG with BL element) received a lot of comments, both positive and negative. Some comments from 2chan even hinted at criticism. Understable, this still haunted Sena till this day.
And that’s why she hesitated to bring it to Summer Comicket.
“Hm…”
Even the president seems to be deep in thought.
After a while, Kuroneko finally said in a small voice:
“…Didn’t we have a plan to improve that game already? How about we add some of them into our game before sell it at the Summer Comicket?”
Wow really? We even had such a plan?
Sena still remained unconvinced.
“True, if we do that then maybe it will be better received…But I fear the idea of using other people’s suggestion in our game. Even if they played it, there is no telling if their suggestion could be correct. Worst case, those people would say that we ‘still didn’t learn our lesson’.”
“Yeah, probably”
“In that case, to avoid our game becoming a black spot in gaming history, how about we just try to make a completely new game…”
This was an idea too. No one wanted to see their product become the target of everyone’s mocking. To take another option, abandon one with too much risk – this was a sound idea.
From the beginning, Kuroneko listened to Sena in silence, but now she looked directly into Sena’s eyes and responded:
“But…that was our result…even if it wasn’t as good as we hoped…But I couldn’t act like that game didn’t exist. I want to continue that game till the end”
“You are so troublesome Gokou-san. Are you an M [1]?”
“…Because…there is someone…I couldn’t admit that game was a mistake…even if it will end in failure, I still want to face it with dignity. This is my responsibility”
“And you are so stubborn too.”
Sena signed and dropped her shoulders. She was a logical girl, so she couldn’t understand Kuroneko’s reason.
Although – I already knew what she was about to say.
“No choice then. Let’s do it”
Kuroneko nodded.
“Let’s do it”
The president smiled. He looked at me, Kuroneko and Sena, said:
“That game is like the child of you three. Take good care of it”
“…Of course. But I couldn’t do anything”
“Yeah…..”
Sena added.
While Kuroneko ----
“……………..”
She didn’t say anything, and just looked at me.
We debated what needed to be done until it was late – then we were dismissed.
The sky still quite bright looked like it will take a while before it turned dark.
Sena seemed busy, she disappeared right after our club ended. So I went home together with Kuroneko.
"... ... ... ... ..."
"... ... ... ... ..."
We went in complete silence. It wasn’t a troublesome silence but the ‘I got something I wanted to say’ kind of silence. I never felt this way when with Manami or Kirino.
“…Ah..”
I decided to take the initiative. Kuroneko didn’t even look at me, and said:
“…What? You siscon pervert who makes his own little sister call him ‘Kyousuke’ and goes around flirting with her?
"... ... ..."
She really held a grudge….And Kirino was smiling….She must be very very upset.
“That’s not it! That’s because Kirino ---“
When I thought about it, I could feel my face redden. Noticeing that, even Kuroneko turned nervous.
“You, why are you blushing? You are that happy over a date with your sister?”
“Idiot … No! Not that!”
The conversation just now…felt like one between a boyfriend who was trying to explain to his girlfriend…but our relationship wasn’t at that level yet. As if I could say it out!
“Cough! Cough! Kirino, she….”
I coughed and explained to Kuroneko like I did with Ayase.
“….And that’s what happened”
“Hm…. A fake date…hm…”
Kuroneko looked at me from top to bottom. Her gaze made me felt a little uncomfortable.
“So?”
“No…nothing…I just think that it looked like an imouto-eroge that you love to play…”
“Don’t say that! I only played them because Kirino forced me to.”
“Oh really? I thought that was your excuse since you really like them.”
Putting a finger on her lips, Kuroneko smiled. Damn…She was so good at mocking me.
Our conversation suddenly stopped.
I looked at the darken sky. I felt like even if this continued for an eternity it isn’t too bad.
“By the way, can I ask you something?”
“…What?”
What a fragment conversation.
Unlike with Kirino or Manami. This was how we communicate.
I wanted to ask Kuroneko about ‘what Ayase asked me’.
“Do you think --- Kirino got a boyfriend?”
I must say it again that I totally didn’t care about that. Lie! Siscon! Kuroneko’s eyes nearly bucked out of their socket.
“Aside from you?”
“Stop joking – I’m serious”
“…No, because…she…she looked like she may have a boyfriend..so I was thinking…”
“..Phew…Ha ha”
Kuroneko broke into small laughter.
“ – You really are a siscon”
“Whatever…so what do you think?”
“Who knows?”
Kuroneko smiled and looked at me.
“…….”
I couldn’t face her gaze, so I turned away. Then Kuroneko gently touch my wrist…stood on her toe, she whispered directly into my ear.
“…I think that she doesn’t have one”
“Right. Right”
She sounded so confident. I felt that compared to Ayase, Kuroneko even more sure of her conclusion ‘Kirino doesn’t have a boyfriend’.
Phew…Anyway, I got the confirmation I needed from Kirino’s friends.
Good..at least I got something to report to Ayase.
I unknowingly smiled. And suddenly…
“…..Hey”
Her mouth still near my ear, Kuroneko said:
“If your little sister really had a boyfriend – what would you do?”
“……….I don’t know”
After I said that, I turned the question around:
“What about you? What if Kirino got a boyfriend?”
“If that girl really has a lover --- hm, that’s actually an interesting theory.”
She kept her head down, deep in thought, Kuroneko mumbled:
“If this girl has a lover – she would probably be very enthusiastic – like usual”
“Yeah…”
This is how she is. Like track and field, study, model work or otaku’s activities – she will give it everything shes got, totally devoted in love.
Everything is important to me – everything is a part of me – she probably will say that.
“Maybe we will have less time to spend together…Saori probably will feel lonely”
I think you are the one who will feel lonely. Look at yourself! “But…”
Lowering her voice, Kuroneko said:
“But…I will allow it…I will feel very happy”
I said goodbye to Kuroneko, I returned to my house. Opened the door, I noticed that Kirino’s shoe was nowhere to be found.
“…Did she go outside?”
Ah – what now? I wanted to ask her a few things.
I returned to my room and pulled my cellphone out, and checked the phone list.
I stopped at ‘Kirino’.
When she was in America, I couldn’t call her.
But now, all I had to do was press this button and I could talk with my sister.
Should I?
Let’s call Saori first.
Suddenly I didn’t feel like calling my sister. She would be back home in no time, I could tell her directly later.
I threw my bag in my bed and sat down, called Saori.
Ring ring ring ring….
“ --- Saori speaking. What’s up, Kyousuke-shi?”
“…Can you stop talking in that tone?”
This is Saori Bajeena. She has a huge body, with big round glasses, always purposely dressed like an otaku….one of my friends. Like Kuroneko, shes got another persona named Makishima Saori, but ----
“Thank you! I’m looking forward to your suggestion, Kyousuke-shi!”
She didn’t act like Makishima Saori, I prefer her to spend time with us as Saori Bajeena. Of course, I also liked the high class lady Saori too….
“Yes! That’s the Saori I knew.”
Anyway, a conversation with Makishima Saori could wait.
Alright, back to the main topic.
“Ah – I called you because of the coming Summer Comicket”
“Yes?”
“Third day – how about we go have fun together?”
“……”
“…How about it?”
“ Ah ah – of course I’m OK. Ok…but I didn’t think that Kyousuke-shi will invite me”
“Ha ha, surprised?”
“Yes! Ha ha, Kyousuke-shi is getting better at this”
“Nah, I just had a little talk with Kuroneko. Our club planned to participate in the second day, but Kuroneko said she herself wanted to take part in the third day too.”
“I see”
“So do you want to go together with Kuroneko? I, Kuroneko, you and Kirino – making and selling doujin together? How about it?”
Let’s go to the Summer Comicket with everyone.
That was my promise to Kirino when I brought her back home.
That’s why I didn’t want to depend on Saori this time. No matter what, to be able to enjoy this ‘holiday’, I hoped I could to do everything I wanted. Let me tell you a secret, one of the reason I tried learning so hard recently is because I could take some free time for this.
“That’s a great idea!”
She completely agreed with me.
“Hey, Makishima-san~ your true self appeared?”
“Oh….I’m so sorry….ah…seems like I couldn’t hide myself in front of Kyousuke-shi”
“So you lower your guard in front of me that much? Because I’m your friend?”
“..Yes. And you are someone who has seen my true self.”
Ha ha…This girl probably the only one who trusted me that much.
“Let’s wait for everyone to discuss this carefully. In the meantime, let me take care of the booth.”
“Understood. Thank you”
“It was nothing”
We chatted for a while before hanging up.
What a trustworthy girl. And to think she was two years younger than me.
That meant she was a first year student in high school too. Since I became aware of her true self, I started to see her in different light.
Okay...now I had taken care of our plan for the second and third day of Summer Comicket.
Right after I hung up ---
- Beep beep beep.*
My phone rang. I just hung up for a few seconds.
Did Saori forget something – I was about to check, but I realized I didn’t receive a call but a message.
“Akagi….”
The sender was Akagi Kouhei, the older brother of Akagi Sena, my junior in game club.
He was a member of the football club, also he doted his sister so much.
Totally unlike me.
I went out of my room and came down the stairs.
“Strange. For him to send a message…Normally if he wanted something he would just give me a call.”
Very strange indeed.
The message’s header was 『Kousaka, where do you think I am now? ….Like hell I would know you idiot.
I opened the message.
『I’m hiding in my little sister’s closet 』
“What the hell are you doing!?”
I immediately wanted to scold him.
I couldn’t imagine how he could get into that kind of situation. And to think he still sent me a message.
He told me ‘I’m hiding in my little sister’s closet’. What was his intention? A confession of his shameful action? Or was he boasting?
Anyway, I didn’t want any connection with him right now.
I sat down in the middle of the stairs and replied.
『What the hell are you doing? 』
A few seconds later, Akagi’s reply came.
『I thought I was about to die when the phone rang (^-^;)』
“So your little sister is in her room!?”
What was going on in the other side? Anyway, at least turn off your ring tone!
Another message.
『Wow…I almost was found out. But I turned off the ring tone 』
『Is there something wrong with your head? I ask again, how could that happen? 』
『My little sister might have a boyfriend . 』
“!”
Somehow, I couldn’t take my eyes off Akagi’s message.
『What did you say? 』
『Since Sena found out about the sex doll that looks like her, she refused to talk with me 』
You deserved it.
『And yesterday, she told me that she got a boyfriend. 』
“…….”
『Then like something possessed me, I sneaked into her room to find some trace about her boyfriend. Suddenly she returned, so I had to hide in her closet. She is playing eroge ← right now. 』
“You said ‘right now’ !?”
It was a serious trouble. If I were him, I would probably panic too. I could easily imagine myself in that state.
Of course the little sister role was Kirino.
….Sneaking into Kirino’s room, then hiding in her closet when she suddenly returned…She started playing eroge…
….Oh my god!...This is the end!
『 I don’t know what to do now. Help me! 』
“Even if you ask me…..”
『 If I’m found out, she will kill me! 』
Well, you could always walk out of her closet instead of waiting to be found out.
Of course, I doubted that she will speak with you ever again for the rest of your life.
Or maybe…. Beep beep beep beep…
『 Not good Kousaka! 』
『 …What happended? 』
Did Sena find out?
『 There is a leather suit in Sena’s closet. How could she get that…』
『 Aren’t you the one who bought it for her? 』
『 Right! I forgot! 』
『 How about you just let her discover you!? 』
I felt I was getting more and more stupid for chatting with him.
『Now that you mention it, when can I watch the DVD box with the actress that look like Tamura?』
『 What? Doesn’t that thing belong to me only? 』
『Don‘t be ridiculous! ——! \(`д '#) ノ, sure, you paid for most of it, but I paid 980 yen too!』
『 Do you want me to call your little sister and tell her to check her closet? 』
『 You …you! Bastard! 』
『 Think about it. You could escape from that situation with just 980 yen. Isn’t it a small price to pay? 』
『 What do you have in mind? 』
『 I will call your sister and lead her outside/ 』
『 Damn right! You are so smart! 』
You are an idiot.
I thought that’s the reason you messaged me in the first place
『 Fine! Do it! 』
『 OK 』
Now, Sena’s number was….
Let me explain. I got her number solely because we were in the same club. But when I just input 090, Akagi sent another message.
『 Wait a second! Sena has started moving! 』
Wait? Wasn’t Sena playing eroge?
『 Sorry, but I don’t think I could help you to peek at your sister. 』
『 No, no. Sena just took out a picture』
『 Her boyfriend’s picture? 』
She really did have a boyfriend? I couldn’t believe it….
『 Damn I don’t have a clear vision! Say, Kousaka, do you have any lead on Sena’s boyfriend? 』
I couldn’t say that I have none.
Like Makabe. He seems like he had special attention toward Sena. I once heard him say ‘What a cute girl’. He even told me ‘Do you want to be her supervisor’, like he wanted to warn me to stay away from Sena…
Just…after Sena’s reveal, he got scared shitless. I don’t know what he thinks about Sena now.
『 I coundn’t say that I have none, but it isn’t enough to draw a conclusion 』
That was my answer.
….Now that I think about it, there is only one person aware about this girl’s situation.
Even if I asked her good friend, I didn’t get a clear answer.
So…although both Ayase and Kuroneko said ‘no’, there wasn’t enough evidence to conclude that Kirino doesn’t have a boyfriend.
I sat down on the stairs and took another look at the front door.
“Kirino…still hasn’t come home yet.”
…But even if my sister got a boyfriend, I didn’t have any special feeling about it.
It was past 5:00. I rarely wanted to meet her, but she chose this time to stay outside.
From the deepths of my heart, I thought that Akagi was an idiot pervert – just ‘Then like something possessed me, I sneaked into her room to find some trace about her boyfriend’ – I could understand his feeling here.
I coughed to clear my thoughts, then messaged him:
『 Say, what will you do if your sister got a boyfriend? 』
『 Kill him!』
He said that.
Kill him!? Ha ha, good choice!
Even if Makabe liked Sena, all awaited him is death.
He had to accept that his girlfriend is a fujoshi, her brother is a siscon.
What a poor guy.
I felt a little better, and continued:
『 Yeah, but Akagi, what about your sister? 』
Right after I sent it away, I immediately regreted that I said something so vague.
But if Akagi is an older brother like me, he probably should be able to understand.
No matter what, little sister is little sister. Someday she will have a boyfriend, then get married and leave her brother’s side. She will no longer need her brother to protect her.
Although it wasn’t because of her boyfriend, but my little sister did once almost reach that state – but I didn’t like that, so I ran to America and brought her back home.
But….
For Kirino, it was too soon for her to stay independent now.
It was just a matter of time.
Someday, I would turn around and find out that she has disappeared.
Do you understand Akagi?
『 I understand. But I will still beat her boyfriend up. I will definitely do it if she got a boyfriend! 』
What kind of brother are you? I was surprised.
『 You damn siscon! You’ll beat her boyfriend up because of your jealously? 』
『 Mind your own business. 』
『 Kousaka, I never said I ‘only want Sena to be happy’ – I couldn’t say something cool like that. To see my little sister be taken away by someone else, I couldn’t bear watching it. I do understand what you meant, but I couldn’t accept it.』
“…Really”
You couldn’t accept it huh?
I gave up. Really – I couldn’t believe someone like you existed. To be able to say your honest feelings so easily.
I looked up. In front of me was my home which I had lived in for 18 years.
Above this stair case was my room and my sister’s room.
Nothing could remain unchanged forever, but I had accepted that.
I once thought that my life could ‘remain unchanged forever’, and that was the best.
But just in one year, that dream completely changed.
My little sister changed me. I had never thought that I would be willing to go to Summer Comicket.
But, like one year before, I still hope that my life could continue like that forever.
Like…I had started to love this current life style.
Strange – I couldn’t believe Kousaka Kyousuke could think that.
Okay, back to the topic. What would Akagi do? Even he could be a world-class siscon, but he surely couldn’t think about ‘love my little sister’.
Because he should feel ‘now is fine’.
What about Sena? What did she think about her brother? What did she think about their relationship?
And what about ---
Kirino?
“Ah, stop stop”
I felt so uncomfortable.
Beep beep beep beep…
“Right right”
Must be Akagi. Sorry, I forgot about you.
You wanted me to call Sena and lured her away from her room, right?
Good – leave it to me.
I opened the message.
『 My little sister has found me (^0^)\』
Looks like it was too late.
“Akagi…I won’t forget you”
It was half past six when Kirino got home.
I still sat at the stairs deep in thought.
So I was the first one to know.
“I’m home”
Kirino came home in new clothes, which even I had never seen before. Her foot and shoulders was left bare. Where did she go in clothes like that? She was carrying her bag – she went shopping with someone?
“Welcome home”
With a tired voice, I replied.
Noticing me, Kirino’s eyes widened.
“What are you doing sitting there?”
I planned to tell you that everyone has agree to go to the Summer Comicket together – but I held my tongue.
“What? You waited for me just to say that? Ha ha ha, gross. Do you think of yourself like some kind of loyal dog?”
I could imagine her response.
“This is none of your concern”
“…Isn’t it pretty dark there?”
Since I didn’t turn on the light, the stairs were kind of dark. But I replied “No, I’m fine”
“Whatever you are trying to do, get out of my way. You are blocking the stairs”
“…Fine fine”
I took some steps down and casually asked:
“…Where have you been?”
“…It’s not your problem”
What an answer. Ah…That showed how bad my relationship with my sister was.
Aside from the Summer Comicket, I wanted to ask her a lot of questions. But since I didn’t know why Kirino was angry, I couldn’t help it. A careless move will lead to another storm.
“………”
A few seconds passed in silence.
“…Gross”
Kirino moved past me.
Trembling….
In an instant, an unknown chill crawled up my spine. Unconsciously, I turned around and catched my sister’s wrist. Surprised, Kirino turned around.
“…It hurts. What are you doing?”
“No…”
Why…am I holding my sister’s wrist?
I didn’t know what to say. Because I didn’t even know why I cought her hand in the first place.
“Let me go!”
Kirino started to struggle.
I had no reason to hold your hand – yes, I knew that. But in contrast to my mind, my arm held firm, even applied more strength. Because Kirino pulled her elbow back, our distance shortened. Her face was right in front of me.
“Wait…It it really hurts…You..What are you…what are you doing?”
Kirino’s voice was trembling.
“You….”
Maybe her anger suppressed her fear, Kirino’s cheek reddened, she told me in a fierce voice:
“What..what..”
“You…really got a boyfriend?”
I said, my voice weak and broken.
“….Oh?”
Her struggling getting weaker and weaker. Maybe my question caught her off guard.
After I said it – somehow, my arm loosened.
“It hurts …”
Holding her redden wrist, Kirino looked at me with teary eyes.
“…It hurts so much…”
“I’m sorry”
There wasn’t anything I could do except apologize. Why was I acting this way, why did I say that – even now, I didn’t know. In short, all I could do was bow.
“…I wanted to make up with you…No, you should get angry. This is all my fault.”
To think that I used violence against my little sister…I really suck.
“……..”
Kirino didn’t say anything.
I looked away. I was too embarrassed to face my little sister’s eyes.
Will she verbaly abuse me again? Will she hit me? I expected all that. But --
“…Pfffff”
I couldn’t believe my ears. She laughed.
“Haha …So that’s it? You are jealous because your little sister got a boyfriend? Ahahahaha! Gross! To think you could ask me with such a serious face ‘You really got a boyfriend’!”
Kirino’s eyes brightened, she happily mocked me.
Why are you so happy? Didn’t you just angry a few seconds ago? And I treated you …that way. I couldn’t understand you.
I asked in desperation:
“…So…do you have one? Or not?”
“Who knows ~”
“Tch…”
You don’t right? Both Kuroneko and Ayase said so.
“…I…totally can’t understand you”
“I also can’t understand you”
Kirino turned her back to me.
“….Do you want me to introduce you? To my boyfriend.”
Leaving behind such provoking words, she went into her room.
Translator's Notes
- ↑ masochist
| Forward to Chapter 1 | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 3 |
Chapter 3
“ – Let’s go to the Summer Comicket together with everyone”
“…Okay”
That was my conversation with Kuroneko two days ago.
We need to hurry up and gather people for our circle, so this morning both Saori and Kuroneko met up at Kousaka’s house.
When the doorbell rang, Kirino was the one who opened it. Her eyes widened when she saw them.
“…What? Why are you two here? Do we have a plan?”
“Ah, you don’t know Kiririn-shi?”
Still in an otaku’s clothes, Saori replied:
“..Hm”
Kuroneko kept silent and gave me a cold glare.
“…Sigh…what a hopeless senpai. Although I could guess what happened…well, this is all within my expectations.”
She saw through me. Because I did tell her about that.
“? What do you mean?”
Behind me, my sister gave me a puzzle expression.
I’m very sorry.
After they went inside, I came to Kirino’s room and explained everything on the way.
“…That’s why I called them here today”
“What? Summer Comicket? What do you mean? Why don’t I know anything?”
Because I didn’t tell you.
Behind me, Kirino gave me a scold.
“Why didn’t you at least tell me yesterday? True, I’m free today, but I don’t like to deal with a sudden plan.”
“…I’m sorry”
Because about your boyfriend and stuff, well, I found it difficult to talk with you.
I tried to convince myself that this was the only reason.
“….Do you want me to introduce you? To my boyfriend.”
She sounded like her boyfriend is real….
This wasn’t something I should feel concerned about.
And yet…damn, why am I so unhappy because of a rumor about my little sister’s love life?
Even I couldn’t understand myself.
Past the stairs, Kirino placed her hand on her room’s door.
Even if it might be too late, I still tried to ask her again.
“Summer Comicket – can you come?”
“I never said I won’t. I will come”
Kirino immediately replied.
“I see. That’s good”
Behind me, Kuroneko and Saori let out a sigh of relieve.
Kirino would never refuse, she will definitely agree to go. I knew that, but somehow hearing her say it made me feel relieved too.
Why?
I thought about it and came up with a conclusion.
I must be thinking, if she said ‘I have plans with my boyfriend’, then my plan will be ruined – yes, that must be the reason I was so restless.
That must be it. Without a doubt.
That’s right. That’s why I felt so strange recently.
Thankfully there is no problem regarding my sister or her boyfriend.
“Please come in”
“’Kay”
“Sorry for the intrusion”
We followed Kirino. Me, Saori, and Kuroneko entered her room.
This room was once swept clean, but now everything was returned, with even something new. If I had to guess, then her secret storage would be the same.
“…Haha, it has been a long time since I entered this room”
Saori said, her voice full of emotions.
Before Kirino went to America, it seemed that those three sometimes gathered in this room while I wasn’t home. But after Kirino left, they never entered here again. The last time they met at my room, Saori just stood outside.
“…You are exaggerating. It’s just a room.”
Kuroneko whispered.
Everyone, me included, showed a mild expression.
Kirino closed the door and gave us an awkward smile in embarrassment.
“You could come here whenever you like”
“Ahahaha…”
Saori laughed it off. In an instant, I saw her as the ‘beautiful high class lady’ again.
“Please sit down”
We sat down around the table.
Kuroneko sat down next to me, then her hand moved toward her mouth ….she yawned.
“Did you get enough sleep?”
I asked in worry. Kuroneko was going to participate in Summer Comicket for two straight day after all.
“I know that you like games, but don’t push yourselves okay? If you became ill because of that, everything is ruined.”
“…I know”
Kuroneko turned toward me.
….Hm…although today she still in her gothic loli outfit, she didn’t have her red contact on.
Her voice was more gentle, not as hard as usual.
“Are you fully awake yet?”
“?Did something happen this morning?”
Kirino continued with my question. Kuroneko rubbed her eyes and answered:
“….Because now its summer break… I just woke up early today, since I took my little sister to a gymnastics radio program”
“Pffff!”
Saori bursted into laughter.
“Kuroneko-shi? Participate in the gymnastics?”
“Wh..What? Is it that strange for me to do it?”
Kuroneko’s upper lips curved. Really, unlike at school, she was livelier when she was with her friend. So cute.
“No no, I just imagined about it….”
“Pfff!!” Saori tried to suppress her laughter. Well, to imagine Kuroneko standing next to an elementary student and receive candy….yeah, that’s hilarious.
Even Kirino was smiling.
“Hey, do you participate in that gothic loli outfit?”
“Of course not”
She seemed uninterested and turned around.
“By the way, I have never seen you wear anything aside from that gothic loli outfit.”
“….”
Kuroneko still looked aside, but she gave me a quick glance.
“….Do you want to see?”
She whispered.
“….Ah…If you let me…”
“In that case, let me think about it.”
She then fell into silence. What was she thinking now?
When I turned back to Kirino and Saori, they were also whispering with each other.
“What are you two doing?”
“Ah? Since when is it your business?”
Kirino glared at me. Shes always like that, so happy at one moment and angry at the next. Saori’s mouth turned into ω shape again, she poked at Kirino’s face.
“Ah, Kirino’s just angry because Kyousuke-shi only pays attention to Ruri-chan”
“I’m not!”
Kirino bared her fang, but then she asked puzzled:
“Who is Ruri-chan? You meant that black one?”
Who else do you think we were talking about?
I turned to Kuroneko and gave her a look that meant ‘Can I tell her?’.
She nodded, so I answered in her place.
“Kuroneko’s real name is Gokou Ruri”
“…Not real name. My human form’s name”
Fine. Human form’s name.
Hearing that, Kirino seemed to have a troubled expression.
“Why…why do all of you know that? Why am I the only one who doesn’t know?”
“No, we didn’t……”
Faced with Kirino’s sarcastic comment, Kuroneko started to panic. Saori quickly played match keeper:
“Of course not Kiririn-shi! We didn’t mean to do it”
“Because she went to the same school with me, that’s why I knew her real name.”
I added my reason. This girl liked Kuroneko so much that she was jealous with her own brother.
“I see! Hm, so after school, you two came home together, you went to your room then lied down on the bed next to each other?”
“It was for testing a game!”
“Still, it’s like you two are dating! Ah, disgusting!”
Ah! You really are getting on my nerves. Why are you questioning my relationship with Kuroneko? Are you that worried because I stole your friend?
I was just about to say something, but ---
- clap clap clap*
“Stop please! We need to begin preparations – now is not the time to quarrel”
“....”
Both I and Kirino became silent.
Saori showed us a bright smile.
“Let’s treat Kuroneko-shi like everyone’s little sister, shall we?”
“…..Why have I become your pet”
Kuroneko had a trouble expression. Well, I almost had a quarrel with Kirino because of her anyway.
Kirino let out a tired breath then said:
“…About…that…well, it is not like you two are dating anyway”
“…..”
Both I and Kuroneko turned to each other before we averted our eyes.
----- There was a curse ---
Not good. With too many things on my mind, I couldn’t just say ‘No’ to Kirino’s comment.
Thankfully, Kirino didn’t seem to notice that, she returned to her cheerful state.
“ ---Ruri. Nice name. It suits you.”
She looked at Kuroneko and smiled.
After a while, we managed to talk about the main topic regarding the Summer Comicket.
“Anyway! What do you guys want to do?”
Using her hand as support, Kirino leaned over, her eyes shone brilliance. She had completely recovered her good mood. Every time she became like that, I was barely able to keep up.
“Kuroneko-shi. In the third day, how about everyone draw some illustrations for our circle?
“…This is a good idea…But this time I planned to make something focused on Maschera. By the way, I have prepared a manga.”
Kuroneko looked up and said that to Kirino.
“Hm? What? Does that mean I have to make something about Maschera too?”
“Yes.”
“The front cover is a Maschera’s illustration that you drew?”
“Yes.”
“So you named our circle ’The sacred Kuroneko knight’?”
“Yes. Oh, by the way, there are some metaphors in this circle name. It contained my name and you guys.”
“Really? Thanks to you our plan needs to change again. Agh, it conflicts with some of my ideas.”
At least listen to your friend’s explanation.
Couldn’t you see that Kuroneko’s temple is trembling?
“Okay okay Kiririn-shi. We have an old saying ‘genius can do anything’. And I believe in your skill. Coupled with your knowledge about Maschera, you surely would be able to make something interesting.”
“For real? Well, I did have some idea to write a novel.”
What an idiot. You are so easy to please
Anyway, Kirino had decided to write a novel.
What about Saori?
“Let me draw some illustrations for Maschera too.
“You could draw?”
“…A bit. Just…don’t laugh if it turns out to be too bad.”
Saori smiled and wringed her fingers in embarrassment. I didn’t notice it before, but she knew how to look cute.
“Of course, we won’t laugh at you.”
No matter Kuroneko, Sena or Saori, looked like all female otakus I knew were capable of drawing. I couldn’t wait too see her result.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Yes. I will do my best”
Saori flashed a victory pose.
Maybe since I had seen her true face once, I had started to treat her like ‘a girl younger than me’. Just a very big little sister.
Just then, my own little sister asked me:
“Say, what can you do?”
“Me?”
“Yep. You couldn’t draw manga, illustration or write novel, right? So what can you do for our circle?”
That’s right. I couldn’t do anything. The same thing happened when making the game, I could only debug. But…
“Hahahaha. That’s right. But Kirino, it is all within my calculation”
“Gross”
Kirino looked away in responded to my smile. To avoid her, I also took a drink.
Saori readjusted her glasses and said:
“Kyousuke-shi, do you have plan?”
“Of course I do”
I gave Saori a brave smile. What a wonderful friend, still trusting me at this time.
Mean while, unlike Saori, Kuroneko also seems to break into cold sweat.
“…I have a feeling that you are thinking about something perverted again.”
“What a rude junior. How could you say that?”
“….In a similar manner, you once said ‘Let’s make an eroge’. I still remember that scene.”
“But that’s a good idea, isn’t it?”
“….I said ‘I have no confidence to write about a male in H-scenes before’ and then you added ‘I will give you some references’….”
“I never said that! Don’t make up my words!”
What the hell you are trying to pull here?
“….You…you two…what have you two been doing in that club?”
“Kuroneko! It is all your fault! My sister is looking at me with such cold eyes! You need to help me resolve this misunderstanding!”
Kuroneko snorted and smiled with Kirino, and whispered:
“At school, your brother has a nickname called ‘sexual harassment senpai’.”
“You make it even worse than before!”
“It is the truth”
“…It is the truth, but…”
Ah~~~ we didn’t make any progress.
Kirino didn’t even look at me, she just kept drinking juice.
Thanks to Saori, she realized that I was at my limit and once more played the peach keeper.
“So, what do you intend to do Kyousuke-shi?”
“Here!”
I gave them my brightest smile and pointed at my face.
“I planned to borrow Saori’s Maschera outfit and make a cosplay album!”
“Pfffff?!”
Kirino spit her juice out.
And she blew it right at my face.
“Ugh….What are you doing?”
My eyes were full of lemon juice! It hurts damn it!
“*Cough, cough*…! You, you…What’s with your proud expression?”
Hm? What? Strange…I think this is such a good plan.
Because considering how handsome I am, I should be able to cosplay, right?
Kuroneko stroked Kirino’s back, who was still choking.
“Didn’t I tell you before?....When your brother makes such face, he couldn’t think of anything remotely decent.”
“*Cough*…Although…anyway, you surely shouldn’t ‘make your own cosplay album’. Everyone will vomit when they see you”
“It will be total chaos”
Hey Saori, even you betrayed me?
My carefully prepared planed had been denied, I asked in a weak voice:
“…No good?”
“Rejected”
“Rejected”
“Rejected”
All of them said that in unison….I couldn’t believe it….
Suddenly…
“….Wait…”
Kuroneko suddenly said something, her face blushed a little.
“…Maybe…we could salvage this idea…”
“Hey…really? You are not pitying me are you?”
“…About that…It also makes me happy to see one of my companions participate in cosplay. If we do that together…I think we can…”
Excellent! You are worthy of a cosplayer! You understand me!
Saori showed an awkward smile:
“Since our leader of ‘The sacred Kuroneko knight’ Kuroneko-sama said so, I won’t object. Kyousuke-shi, do your best, okay.”
“Leave it to me”
I nodded. Kirino looked like she wanted to say something, but decided against it. She looked at Kuroneko and said in a small voice.
“I understand…do whatever you guys want.”
“…Just now..I…this was your brother’s idea…so I have no choice…”
“Kuroneko! Let’s make the best cosplay album together!”
“Why are you the only one so enthusiastic about it?”
The hot summer quickly passed. For my first time, I participated together with my club and tried to complete my study as fast as possible. Studying together with Manami, borrowed a studio room from Saori, learned how to use Photoshop from Makabe…I even withdrew money from my bank account to go buy a digital camera together with Kuroneko in Akihabara.
Although my life was hard, but it was an interesting life.
Then….
Summer Comicket, the third day had arrived.
“It was so hot ~~~~~~”
Right after we came out of the International Exhibition Center Station, I and Kirino were forced to endure the hottest summer ever.
My eyes started to feel heavy. The heat turned the asphalt road into a frying pan. I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I pulled out a towel to wipe my face, but Kirino kicked me.
“Don’t be so undisciplined before it begins!”
Folding her arms, my little sister stared at me. She was wearing summer clothes. Although it looked quite easy to breath, but it didn’t leave anywhere for me to put my eyes on. I looked around trying to find Kuroneko.
“…Sorry, I’ve been here since yesterday”
“How are you feeling? Have you recovered yet?”
“You don’t need to worry about me.”
Yes. Yesterday, our club also formed a circle to join.
Still, back to the topic at hand.
If I got a chance to sort out things during this summer, I will tell you about it.
“Say, Kirino. I just noticed it now.”
“What?”
Kirino said in a fierce voice. Even her own brother had a hard time keeping up a conversation with her.
“Your clothes today…”
“Ack!?”
“Isn’t it the same one from the Summer Comicket last year?”
I didn’t think about it when I said that, but Kirino’s response caught me by surprise.
Her eyes widened a little.
“Wow! It is unusual for you to be so keen…”
“No, because your shoulders and collar bone are wide open. I have seen it before”
“Wah!?”
Kirino’s hand shot upward and covered her shoulders. And she looked quite angry.
“Where are you looking at? Pervert!”
“Don’t shout that word in a crowd! You sounded like I have done something to a girl!”
“You did! You just did!”
Still using one hand to cover her shoulder, Kirino pointed at me.
“I didn’t even touch you in the slightest. Not one finger!”
“That’s not the problem! The problem is you look at my bare skin with perverted eyes!”
“….How nostalgic, it’s been already a year since we came here for the last time”
“Hey! Why are you changing the subject?”
Although Kirino still looked like she wanted to hit me, but changing her mind, she stopped.
“Hm…Forget it. You said nostalgic…yeah I could understand.”
“Right? …Is that why you chose the same clothes?”
“No, that is just a coincidence.”
“Um, right”
You could easily read the current fashion, and yet by coincidence, you still wear the same one from a year ago to the same event?
I don’t think it is the case here.
Kirino didn’t seem like she wanted to continue talking about it though.
“Let’s hurry inside. Saori said she is already waiting at our circle booth”
“Okay okay. Wait Kirino, Kuroneko sent a message and said she is somewhere nearby ---“
“---- I have been standing next to you from the beginning”
“Ack?”
I turned around. In front of me was a girl who was wearing a straw hat, a beautiful white one-piece dress.
“…Can you please stop looking at me…”
“Ah….”
My jaw dropped. My eyes nearly pop out of their socket. I could feel that behind me, Kirino was having the same reaction.
Not black gothic loli clothes, not school uniform. This was her casual clothes.
Like a dream, she turned from a delicate and charming girl into a beautiful one ---
“Kuro…neko?”
“Who else do you think I am?”
“No…you…that dress ---“
“….Wh..what?”
Kuroneko’s upper lips curved, and whispered.
I kept looking at her without blinking
“ ---What cosplay is that?”
“This, this is not a cosplay…This is my casual clothes”
Not good. I felt like I just stepped on a landmine. Kuroneko was getting angry.
I hastily apologized:
“Sorry. I’m very sorry”
“Really…don’t you…you want to keep staring at me?”
“…Ah…ah, right…”
Whenever it was the offline meeting or the opening ceremony, she always managed to surprise me. Just…she was…
So cute. I almost fainted.
Compared to the usual Kuroneko, this one had a hidden charm.
“It looks really good on you.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It suits your very much. You could easily take part in a spring movie.”
Ah…I was so nervous…I couldn’t express my feelings at all.
….Her skin was pure white….her dress was also white…
She only changed her dress, but I felt like it was a completely different person.
“You are no longer Kuroneko. You are Shironeko[1]?”
“….Is that supposed to be a compliment?”
I was stunned.
Even though all I said was just a small compliment, but Kuroneko blushed.
And then, next to me, Kirino finally regained control over her body.
She pointed at Kuroneko, and said:
“Isn’t that the dress I lent you last week?”
“…It is… Thank you”
After she changed into the white dress even her personality changed into pure white too? To think that Kuroneko said thanks to Kirino.
Kirino seemed shocked, she looked like a pigeon faced down the barrel of a gun.
“Ah? Ah…no, no need to thank me.”
I couldn’t understand how she became so cute just from changing clothes.
“Because of the dress that Kirino chose? You really are something”
“Hm? Really?”
“Yes. I really think so.”
I was really impressed with my sister’s taste. Because Kuroneko was so cute today!
Kirino scratched her cheek, she seemed embarrassed.
“Anyway…look, this dress really suits her. Her hair is so beautiful. I can already think of one type of outfit that will suit her perfectly”
“What type is that?”
“The casual clothes in eroge!”
Ah….
You were right. A one piece dress with a hat.
I had seen this CG many times in eroge before.
“You …you….you made me wear something for an eroge character?”
“Yes”
Hey you!
“Anyway, I think you are cute. This is the truth”
“…Although I thank you…but please don’t tell me the source”
“Just…this dress…for today…”
Kirino’s face showed a complex expression, her hand put on her hips, her eyes knitted, deep in thought.
What are you thinking? Why are you so troubled because Kuroneko wears something you choose? Normally you should say something like ‘Hey hey! Isn’t that the dress I chose! Wow! You really wore it today!’ in excitement.
“Let’s go, Saori is waiting”
“…Okay”
“I’m coming”
Both Kirino and Kuroneko agreed.
I picked up Kirino’s bag and started walking.
“Kuroneko, give me your shopping cart.”
“Ah? There is no need to...”
“Don’t worry, just let me do it”
I raised my hand and took the trolley from Kuroneko’s hand.
“Alright”
After a while, the crowd finally split in two.
“Circle members please go this way ---“
We followed the guide and moved in a different direction compared to others. Unlike a year before, we could go inside without have to stand in line.
Next to me, Kirino said in a loud voice:
“Wow~ so many people! Haha, to think that I could go inside without having to endure this heat!”
“Don’t raise your voice”
Kuroneko scolded Kirino like an older sister.
Seeing that, I said in nostalgic.
“I feel a little strange to say it now, but compared to one year before, you two have changed”
“Really?
“Where?”
Both of them showed me a puzzled expression, as if saying ‘there is no such thing’.
“Don’t you remember? Last year, we took a spot in line. You two were playing PSP while quarreling with each other”
“Ah ~ when someone teased me by choosing that outfit, my anger helped me remember.”
“Hm….Is that so?”
Kuroneko and Kirino looked at each other in nostalgia. Yes, this happened not long after we met. Every time they meet, Kirino always quarreled with Kuroneko.
“How could I put it. Although you two always quarreled every time you met, but you went shopping together, made doujin together. Didn’t your relationship get better?”
“Hm, there is no such thing”
“Ack, it didn’t happen”
They rubbed their head together then both turned away.
But not just them, my relationship with Kuroneko also has changed.
Last year, she was ‘my little sister’s friend’.
But now ---
"..."
What is our current relationship? I don’t know.
Since I was deep in thought, I just kept looking at Kuroneko’s cheek.
“What’s wrong? Let’s hurry, Saori is waiting”
“Yeah”
…Not bad Kirino.
This girl is so cute
“Hi ~ everyone ~ please come in ~”
Right after we went in, we were greeted by Saori in full otaku-like clothes.
There were several tables inside, with many people going around to set up their booth.
The countless footsteps sounded noisy and paniced, but I felt vibrant.
“So, are we ready? We could start right away.”
“That’s the best. But how about we go greet our neighbors? Around 9:30, it will be so crowded that we won’t able to move.”
“Ah, I see”
I checked my cellphone and noticed it was 8:45.
If we wanted to greet everyone, then we should go now.
Saori told me that this is a custom for circles to greet each other during this time.
“Still, I don’t recognize any of those circles. How about you go with Kirino then?”
She should know many of them.
“Then I’m going….Let’s go, Kiririn-shi”
“Um ~ what should I do. Should we wait for everyone to go together?”
“But after a while, there is no telling if we could be able to meet them”
After everyone went in, this place was hell. Circle members (like me) would be very busy.
“Why don’t we just go? It is a good chance to meet some famous artist”
“…You see…there is no problem. I could take care of everything here with senpai.”
Kuroneko added her opinion. But Kirino objected.
“Tch…Noisy…This is my choice”
Why are you unhappy?
“Okay okay. I understand Kiririn-shi’s feelings. Then I will take a look around then. Please take care of things here.”
“No problem”
Saori said bye then walked away.
“ ----Ah, Kyousuke-kun. And Kirino and…Kuroneko, right?”
Someone called us from behind. We turned around and saw ---
“Fate-san?”
“It has been a long time. I couldn’t believe we would meet again here.”
In front of us was Iori Fate Setsuna. We…somehow knew her.
Kirino just said ‘pleased to meet you’ before turning away. Kuroneko didn’t say anything, her eyes fixed on Fate-san.
I asked as a representative.
“That is my line. Why are you here? Don’t you have work as an editor?”
“Are you here because some bizarre reason?”
Kirino voiced her opinion.
“Well….that’s a long story.”
Fate-san continued:
“Although Kumagai-san introduces me to a MAW contest, but…I didn’t expect that even the interview was that hard…”
“So you failed?”
Don’t ask Kirino!
As expected, Fate’s shoulders dropped.
“Oh…oh…During the interview, they asked me ‘What did you do after you were fired’, I answered ‘in order to contribute to your club’s new members budget, I wrote a novel’…Then….it suddenly was so cold…I thought I was about to die…”
“How could you give such a foolish answer?”
I could almost see a knife pierce Fate-san’s chest.
Of course, Kirino didn’t mean anything bad.
“This was just a minor mistake. I was surprised because of an unexpected question….”
Look, Fate-san’s mood was already rock bottom. Say something Kirino.
“Oh, so your still unemployed”
Hey! Do you intend to kill her?
“My debt is already more than 100.000 Yen. I’m almost completely out of money”
Ignoring Fate-san’s I-am-gonna-die voice, Kirino continued:
“So what happened to the money you borrowed?”
“Hehe, I spent them all on food”
I had never heard such miserable dialogue.
There were so many things wrong that I didn’t know where to start.
Maybe she noticed our ice-cold gaze, but Fate-san tried to laugh it off.
“You, you see, long ago, Greeks had so many reasons that made the exchange rate 1 Australian dollar equal to 70 Japanese yen. Then it raised the exchange rate to 88 Japanese yen before it exploded! It eliminated my chance to become rich! Damn! What’s with those forecasters? They said that yen will continue to rise until 1 AUD were to equal 100 Japanese yen! All of them said so! Ahahaha….then everything went to hell….”
She used too much specialized vocabulary, so all I figured out is Fate-san is a failure of a human.
Thanks to that hikikimori[2], the atmosphere became worse and worse. I need to change the topic…
“By the way, Fate-sans also a part of a circle?”
“Ack? Ah, uh…”
Fate-san quickly stepped back and pointed to the side.
“My circle is over there, but I don’t have anything to contribute this time. This is the first time my SNS circle joined in this event.”
“First time participant…outside circle?”
Kuroneko gave Fate-san an astonished stare.
Let me explain. ‘Outside circle’ meant that this circle has a place in an outer ring, so it is much easier for people to notice them. That’s why some people called it ‘First class seat’.
Normally, only famous circle could have such a spot. For a circle with first time participants to have such a spot, it was very unusual.
“Haha, what do you think? Here are some of our products, please take it if you like.”
Fate-san recovered and showed us some thick lithography printing.
“…Wonderful”
“…Wow…”
“…This is…”
Our eyes widened.
Even an amateur like me could see it. Although they were sold in a booth, they were very good.
Compared to me, Kirino was more shocked.
“There are a lot of famous artist…I couldn’t believe you could gather an all-star team.”
“ehehe”
Fate-san smiled like a child, her eyes turned into a crescent shape.
“Although I didn’t write or draw anything, I did the rest. Gather members, make plans – I feel like a manager already.”
Fate-san was laughing and puffing her super flat chest.
“….You seem to be very proud of it…”
Kirino showed a stiff smile. This girl also started writing because of Fate-san’s persuasion.
On the other hand Kuroneko also showed an awkward smile.
“…Using inside man power and composition to make such a picture…I’m surprised…”
“Everything has gone smoothly, so just wait for the result!...Although I couldn’t become a novelist, but now my dream is to became this circle’s manager…Just you wait, I will pay you back in full in one year”
She talked about her dream with sparkly eyes.
Still, dreams are just dreams. I wanted to tell her to keep trying.
“…Do you know, sensei? It seems that your co-worker called you ‘the evil worker’.”
Still emotionless, Kuroneko said. Kirino nodded.
“Although I’m not very sure about the details, but if everything goes smoothly then please return the money that I lent you.”
She said that with a warm smile.
While we were talking with Fate-san, Saori finally came back.
“Kuroneko-shi, has the staff arrived?”
“Alright, let’s get started with our booth.”
As our representatives, Kuroneko wrote down the necessary work.
Kuroneko told Kirino, who was looking at the doujin package in excitement.
“Please open this package and take them out.”
“I have been waiting for this!”
Wow! Kirino quickly torn the package apart.
I and Saori waited for Kirino to finish.
The Maschera cover that Kuroneko drew gradually appeared in the middle of the package.
Next to it was our circle name, ‘The sacred Kuroneko knight’.
“Wow~ wow~! Doujin! It’s really a doujin! Wow!”
Kirino happily raised our doujin above.
Although I felt the same, I couldn’t help but blush in embarrassment.
“Calm down will you. This is not the first time you’ve see your own book.”
“This is completely different! Because ---“
Still jumping in joy, Kirino looked around and said, slightly embarrassed:
“Anyway, this is not the same! It’s a sample doujin!”
She gave me a vague answer.
“The truth is, this is also my first time making something for Summer Comicket…Ahahaha…To think that so many people could see my drawing…It isn’t bad”
Saori was chatting with a nearby booth, her mouth in ω shape again.
“Even if I have seen the PDF version before, but to actually hold them in my hand it feels so different”
Although Saori and Kirino looked fine, but with the opening time drew near, so did my tension.
“…It’s about to start”
Next to me, Kuroneko swallowed. In contrast, I gave her an assuring smile.
“Hey Kuroneko…are you nervous? Calm down.”
“…You are the one who needs to calm down”
No good. No good. I knew that I couldn’t calm down.
“Kyousuke-shi, do you want a drink?”
“Ah…thank you”
I received the bottle from Saori and took a slip.
“Wow…phew”
Thanks to the cold water, I felt so refreshed.
“Alright! All done”
Kirino placed the last pack of doujins on the table.
And then ---
- Ding dong.*
“It is time. Summer Comicket will officially start now”
The broadcast spread, then the sound of people cheering and applauding rang.
Then the Summer Comicket that I and my sister had been waiting for began.
We moved inside our booth, ready to start selling.
“I still think that bringing cosplay clothes would be a good idea.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
Kirino’s brow knitted, she stared at me.
I pointed to my neighbor’s booth.
“You see over here. Isn’t that the same cosplay album I planed to make with Kuroneko? I think that if we also did that, our sales could be greatly increased.”
“Idiot! This is impossible. Anyway, where is that confidence coming from? Have you taken a look in a mirror?”
Kirino’s voice was very calm, like she was just stated a matter of fact.
“You, didn’t you say that I looked good?”
“Well ~ but this is because there was a cosplay suitable for you. However it couldn’t turn you into a handsome man”
“Do you have to say it that way?”
“Although you could have a delusion ‘I’m so handsome’ while cosplaying, but this isn’t real – you can’t change the physical world with delusions.”
I wanted to hit her! My sister, you really made me mad this time.
“…You spoke too much”
My savior was none other than Kuroneko.
“…I think…senpai…would look good in pitch black cosplay….”
“Kuroneko! Only you understand me!”
Today Kuroneko really was Shironeko!
“Please don’t touch me”
The moment I was about to hold Kuroneko’s shoulder, she gently pushed me away.
You were so cold. But in fact, Kuroneko probably spoke for me so she could cosplay Maschera again.
“….Please put this on.”
Kuroneko handed me a Maschera’s mask. Seemed like it was made of nylon though.
“What is that?”
“From the booth next to us.”
“Ah, thank you”
It was from another Maschera’s fanclub.
I carefully put the mask on.
“….It really…is suitable”
Kuroneko whispered.
Maybe because of the tension, but suddenly I need to go to the toilet. After endured another one of Kirino’s scoldings, I was allowed to go. Thankfully I only had to line up for about 10 minutes. But even that, there was already a crowd when I got back. I had to fight against the people pushing, and the heat in the way back. It reminded me of one year before.
Right…at that time, I didn’t even want to come back here a second time.
When I got back, Saori was the one who greeted me.
“Welcome back, Kyousuke-shi.”
“I’m back…just...what is with that cat ear?”
“I think it is cute, so I put it on. I just bought it from a booth over there”
“Wow, this is really good”
Not just Saori, both Kirino and Kuroneko had their cat ears on. They had all taken off their shoes and standing inside of the booth.
Noticing me, Kuroneko smiled:
“Ara, ara. Welcome back”
“I’m back”
Then I stood next to Kuroneko. I didn’t know if Kirino noticed me or not, but she was staring in front of her, her face murderous.
“What’s wrong Kirino? You look horrible.”
“Tch!”
Kirino clicked her tongue and turned around, clearly upset:
“We couldn’t sell a single one! What’s going on!”
“So that’s why you are in a bad mood”
What a short tempered girl. This was actually quite normal for a circle to end up without being able to sell anything.
“Isn’t it because of your murderous face?”
“Ughhh….”
Kirino seemed to realize that raising her voice would backfire on us, so she unwillingly kept silence.
Kuroneko gently said.
“Calm down. It happens every time”
“But…”
“Didn’t I tell you before? There is no need to print so much.”
Yes, when we discussed about that earlier, Kirino asked:
“How many copy’s did we print? Ten thousand?”
No way. We couldn’t sell that many in a single day.
Based on Kuroneko’s calculation, we should print about 50 copys. But at that time, Kirino said ‘Are you an idiot? Who do you think I am? We could sell all of them in a blink of eye’.
But in reality…we couldn’t even sell a single one.
There were a lot of circles today, after all.
Although everyone came to Summer Comicket there were more likely to open their wallet, but even in the middle of this outrageous hot crowd, most people still able to keep their cool. Especially those hardcore fans.
Saori also said:
“Kiririn-shi. Like fishing, we should patiently enjoy it.”
“Yeah~”
Kirino still looked unhappy. She was clearly not suited for something like fishing.
Actually, I also felt nervous too.
This was the first time we opened a booth and sold our product for an unknown reader. Everyone probably felt the same.
“Ah”
I heard Kirino’s voice and came back to my senses. Someone finally noticed our booth.
“Sorry, can I take a look at this?”
“Yes, please”
Kuroneko gave him a doujin.
“Wow”
“….”
“Oh”
I swallowed.
*Rustle rustle*
He flipped several pages of our doujin.
I was so nervous….So…what would he do next? Would he buy it or not?
*Rustle rustle*
“Pffffff?!”
Suddenly he spitted, then his eyes widened and stared at me.
What? What’s that mean?
While I was puzzled, he placed the book down, said ‘thanks’ then left without buying….Damn….
“?....What’s wrong?”
“Hey ~~~ He probably ran away because he saw your cosplay”
Kirino said.
“Wow wow? Because of me?”
“Definitely. No doubt about it”
“How could that be”
I pulled a doujin out and turned to the page about my black cosplay outfit.
“See how good I am? Since you guys complained so much, I used Photoshop to modify my face to be more handsome.”
“Your Photoshop sucks, it totally backfired! Too much light here! And what is that here? There were two of you in the same picture?”
“Hm, don’t you know Kirino? In Maschera season 2, the main character and the villian wears the same clothes. That picture was meant to demonstrate that.”
“…Ack…I couldn’t believe you…”
So rude.
“What about your novel? It couldn’t sell too, right?”
“Ack…!”
While we were quarreling, Saori came and pulled us out.
“You two…look look”
“Wow!”
Both I and Kirino turned back ---
“…Thank you for buying”
Kuroneko took the money and handed over a doujin.
The first one – our production finally sold one.
“……Ah”
“…….Haha”
Both I and Kirino laughed. Saori also firmly gave us a hug.
“We did it!”
“Yeah..yeah”
“…What are you saying? We were only able to sell one copy. Don’t you know that Maisora[3] had sold more than ten thousand copies…”
Then Kuroneko turned back and gave Kirino 500 Yen.
“Take it”
“Eh? Why?”
"It does not have any special meaning. Please wait and put them into the sale box later”
Kuroneko placed the coin inside Kirino’s hand before turning around again like nothing happened.
While Kirino lovingly looked at the 500 Yen coin in her palm --
“ehehe”
She showed a fulfilled smile.
We kept selling for a while. Until lunch break, we had sold about one third of our doujins.
But it was so hot.
“…Isn’t it hotter than last year?”
Hearing my sarcasm, Kuroneko gave me a cold water bottle.
“….Hey, senpai”
“Ah….Thank you”
The water was so cold. I drank it all in one gulp and felt strength returned to my limbs.
Seeing that, Kuroneko bursted into laughter.
“….Idiot”
“It’s time. Want to go grab something to eat?”
Saori called for us. Yeah, I felt kind of hungry too.
“Okay”
Kirino nodded.
“I will go buy something. What do you guys want?”
I was about to go, but then I heard a familiar voice calling to me ‘Kousaka-senpai’. From the crowd, it was…
“Ah, Sena-chan”
Akagi Sena. She was wearing her normal glasses, with a form-fitting T-shirt and jeans and a stylish cap.
And because her breast were so big and her clothes were wet due to her sweating, even her bra didn’t seem to have any effect. It took all of my will power just to keep my eyes from looking.
“Good day! Today is so hot! So many people too!”
“It must be hard for you. You prefer things clean and comfortable so much.”
This was her habit, she really hated dirty things.
To participate in this, she had to endure the heat and the smell of sweat.
“Uh….Although it was hard….but I fantasized that every male here are lovers…”
“Ha ha ha, you seem very excited”
“ehehe”
It wasn’t a compliment, though. Maybe the heat affected Sena too, she seemed strange. Or that’s because she was surrounded by otakus too, so she didn’t have to hide her true self.
Next to me, Kuroneko greeted her classmate.
“…You have come”
“Yep. I heard that Gokou-san will participate today in another circle, so I came to greet. By the way, where are the other members of my circle”
Sena pointed to the side.
“Please to meet you, Kousaka-senpai, Gokou-san”
“Good. Keep up the good work”
Makabe and the president came, each of them carrying two big bags with bright illustrations. From the way that Sena wasn’t carrying anything, she probably asked them to do it in her place.
“Hi, president. You bought a lot.”
“Ha ha, it was barely enough for my taste.”
The president proudly raised a bag with an illustration of a female character from an eroge.
You…plan to bring that with you into the subway?
Well, at least she wasn’t fully naked.
“President, how about the others?”
“Hm, as my proxy, they probably should still be fighting!”
“Ah!”
Last year, Saori told me that in order to maximum their buying capacity, some circle form proxy just focused on buying. I slowly was able to understand otaku metaphors.
While I was talking with the president, Saori came to us.
“Kyousuke-shi, who are they?”
“Ah, let me introduce them. They are members of my club in school –“
“I’m Miura”
“Please to meet you, I’m Makabe”
“Hello, I’m Akagi”
Saori smiled back:
“Thank you, I’m Saori Bajeena”
“Sa..Saori?”
“Bajeena?”
Both Makabe and the president were surprised. I understood your feeling. The first time I heard that, I spit too.
“What a strange name…Saori?”
Sena asked. Saori puffed her chest and said:
“Ha ha, I’m now Saori Bejeena the Captain.”
Since when did you have that rank?
“Ah..I see”
Sena didn’t seem to know how to respond to that, she looked troubled.
“Hey Makabe, the way she talks is completed unexpected.”
“Hey, it’s impolite to say that.”
Even when Makabe rebuked him, the president didn’t give him any attention.
“Makebe-shi, Akagi-shi and Miura-shi…can I call you that way?”
“Yes, no problem”
Makabe replied.
“You can call me Sena”
Sena said.
The president finished:
“Good! Call me whatever you want, Saori-imouto.”
Yeah, he was old enough to call every girl here “little sister”.
“Then I will happily oblige. I have heard a lot of things about you from Kyousuke-shi and Kuroneko-shi.”
“I also have heard a few. Like Kousaka and Gokou joined our club thanks to your suggestion. Thank you very much”
“Ah, there is no need to thank me. I also wanted to meet Kuroneko and Kyousuke’s club members too”
“Haha, the way you talk is really strange”
“Haha, everyone says so”
Saori and the president were laughing.
They seemed to suit each other. Both of them were circle leaders after all.
Phew…This was the first time the ‘Game research club’ met with ‘Otaku girls united’.
For the first time, my two otaku circles met each other.
This was all thanks to Comicket – the biggest ceremony for otaku.
Makabe raised a plastic bag:
“I brought a lot, everyone, come and enjoy”
“Oh, thank you”
“Hey hey, listen to me, Kousaka-senpai”
Full of excitement, Sena began to tell me.
“What’s up?”
“Just now in the square there is a really big cosplay!”
“Really big?”
“Yes! It was wearing a Tales of Destiny anime cosplay!”
Tales of Destiny anime?
Makabe asked:
“You mean the Judas cosplay – isn’t the cosplayer a girl?”
“Naïve! You are too naïve Makabe-senpai. At first glance that character is a girl, but they couldn’t fool my eyes! Without a doubt, I’m sure that’s a guy”
Sena’s glasses sparkled.
By the way, this girl has the nickname ‘Weilder of the Mystic Eyes’.
Still, I had no interest in that.
“I see.”
“Yes, Kousaka-senpai. You should go take a look!”
No thanks!
“No, forget it”
“Don’t say that. Just give it a chance. That character has a pretty good body. If you multiplied Makabe-senpai’s handsome by about 1.8, deleted the gross thing and lengthened the leg, you would get the idea.”
“It will be completely different from me now!”
This girl was hopeless.
Makabe has every right to be angry.
“Ah, I’m sorry Makabe-senpai.”
“Ah…Really..forget it”
As soon as a cute girl apologized to him, Makabe would forgive her.
What a cute junior.
The truth is – they didn’t seem to have that kind of relationship.
I was sure that the countdown till the H-scene was still running, and Sena’s flag was about to be cleared.
I was joking though. I only paid more attention after Akagi told me about ‘Sena might have a boyfriend’.
“Say, Gokou-san, you look really cute today.”
Suddenly, Makabe changed the subject.
Next to me, Kuroneko ‘?’ and tilted her head.
“…You mean that dress?”
“Of course that dress is nice, but compared to usual you look much better.”
“Ah~ Makabe-senpai is hitting on Gokou-san!”
“No, I’m not!”
Faced with Sena’s comment, Makabe hastily denied it.
“How could you do that! You already have the president!”
“This is the reason you are angry!?”
Sena didn’t have the slightest idea about boy’s feelings, she continued.
“Just, today Gokou-san really seemed happy. Is that because of Comicket?”
“….I’m still the same as usual”
Kuroneko hesitated before denying.
Both Makabe and Sena seemed to gradually be able to understand this girl.
I should feel happy for her, but at the same time I felt lonely.
Yes, just like the Shironeko before ---
Kuroneko suddenly pulled my sleeve
“Ack?”
“…”
I looked at Kuroneko. She didn’t say anything, and just looked at me.
She was so happy a few seconds ago – now why did she look so troubled?
Kuroneko’s eyes moved from me to another’s direction. Following her eyes, I noticed Kirino.
“….”
Kirino didn’t join in the conversation.
To cover up, she was playing with her iPhone.
This was the same as when she attended her first offline meeting.
The only difference was now her ‘only’ friend Kuroneko was talking with some stranger. From Kirino’s point of view, shes probably very upset.
Really…normally she was so good at talking and conversation, so why was she embarrassed around otaku?
“Kirino”
I walked to her and slightly knocked her head.
“Ouch..What are you doing!?”
“You looked so unhappy. Come, I will introduce you with everyone.”
“…No thanks”
She refused.
“Why?”
“Because…School…that’s your friend at school isn’t it? It isn’t of my concern.”
Upset, Kirino turned her eyes toward Sena and Kuroneko.
Because it doesn’t concern you, you don’t want to join in?
Yes, Kuroneko looked like she was having fun – so you don’t want to butt in. I understood this feeling.
However, Kirino.
What about you?
Because you wanted Kuroneko to have fun…is that your real reason?
I looked back at the Sena/Kuroneko conversation.
“Ah right, Gokou-san”
Sena handed over a doujin.
“This is what you asked me to buy before. Although there was a bit of trouble, but I managed to get it.”
“…Thanks”
The doujin Kuroneko just received wasn’t about Maschera, but Meruru.
“To tell the truth, I thought Gokou-san hated that kind of anime”
“….No…this…this is not for me”
Hesitating, Kuroneko looked this way and said:
“ --- I wanted to give it to a friend, that’s why I asked you to buy it.”
Hearing that, both Kirino’s and Sena’s eyes widened.
“Aside from me, Go..Gokou-san has a friend?”
That’s why you are so surprised? Although it is understandable, at least don’t say it out loud!
“Yes I do. Is there any problem with that?”
Kuroneko proudly replied, before walking to Kirino
“…This is yours.”
When did I hear this before?
….Ah…right…This was a year ago. That time, after Kuroneko managed to get the Sisaclypse for Kirino, she also said that.
This was the same as now, she did this for my little sister.
“Hey – I’m talking to you”
“….”
Kirino hesitated and walked over to Kuroneko.
They looked at each other in silence for a few seconds.
“…What? Didn’t you say that you are so busy that you couldn’t take time to buy it. That’s why I asked my classmate to get it…Hey say something. Or do you fail to understand human language?”
“…Thank you”
Kirino whispered and took the Meruru doujin.
She looked at that doujin and smiled.
There are some similarities to a year before, but also something seems different. Where is that feeling coming from?
“I’m Kousaka Kirino, 15. Pleased to meet you”
Kirino bowed to my club’s member.
“….Ack! Wow! Kousaka-senpai’s little sister!”
“You are lying! You two don’t look any alike! So cute!”
See? They are so rude! However, I’m used to that.
Sena smiled with Kirino.
“Can I call you Kirino-shi?”
“Of course. Can I call you Sena-shi too?”
“Sure. Please to meet you, Kirino-shi”
“Please to meet you, Sena-shi”
Both of them were very social.
That’s why they had a very good first meeting.
While I was thinking that, Sena looked at the doujin Kirino was holding and asked:
“Do you like Meruru?”
“Of course! That’s a godly anime!”
Kirino shouted in excitement. Sena you idiot! You released her switch.
Ah….Now no one could stop my little sister anymore.
“Wah! Kousaka-senpai, why are you moving away?”
“…Ah…do your best”
To avoid getting involved, I made my distance with Sena and Kirino.
By the way, Saori and Kuroneko were still selling.
During lunch break, you could sell your doujin to other circles. If this continued, we could sell everything before Comicket ended.
I joined in with my school club:
“Ahaha, sorry about that, my little sister can be noisy sometimes.”
“Ahahaha…What a cute little sister. And she loves anime so much”
Makabe gave me a wry smile. The president watched Sena’s crisis in silence.
“To think that so many members in my club have siblings”
“Ah~ By the way, Makabe got an older sister right?”
“Ack…yes”
For some reason, Makabe seemed down when talking about his older sister.
“What’s wrong? You got into an argument with her?”
“Yeah, kind of”
From Kousaka’s sibling, Akagi’s sibling to Makabe’s sibling….seemed like everyone has their own share of troubles.
“So…tell us what happened. At least you will feel better”
He helped me a lot before, so it is only fair to help him now.
“Just…can I?”
“Go ahead. I got plenty of experience with sibling quarrels. Maybe I could give you a hint or two.”
“Yes, tell us Makabe”
After the president added, Makabe finally said:
“The truth is….she saw one of the games I borrowed from the president…this was ‘Let’s Fuck, Onee-chan[4] ♡’, an R18 eroge…and she misunderstood.”
This is not a joking matter!
“For real?”
“It was”
Makabe confirmed.
What the heck! The older sister discovered the younger brother playing older sister based R18 eroge ---
It was the reserve of our situation!
“So…then what?”
“Thankfully my sister didn’t say anything to anyone, so I avoided a family meeting…but after that, whenever she saw me she blushed and looked away”
Makabe was on the verge of crying. This wasn’t good.
The president said:
“Doesn’t that mean you raised a flag with her?”
“Don’t treat my older sister like a female character from eroge!”
This is the truth.
I explained to the president:
“President. Allow me to explain”
“What, Kousaka?”
“When blood related siblings blush whenever they see each other, I think it’s not a ‘raised flag’, just simply ‘gross’. Don’t misunderstand 2D and 3D, please – right Makabe?”
“…It’s true, but Kousaka-senpai’s words hurt me even more.”
Sorry about that.
“Hey Kousaka, at least give Makabe some useful advice”
“Advice…huh?”
Luckily, Makabe’s situation is completely reverse of my case with Kirino….
To fix a damaged brother-sister relationship…..
“Good, then let me give you some very useful advice”
“Wow! What is it, Kousaka-senpai!”
“Okay, first – at midnight, sneak into your older sister’s room, slap her awake then tell her ‘I have something to tell you’.”
“What!?”
“Then bring her to your room, then show her your older sister related eroge collection, then tell her ‘I like them all…is it that strange?’. Then everything will be alright”
“If I do that my life will come to an end!”
Makabe protested. Even the president seemed to disagree with me.
“….Ah…Kousaka, even for a joke, it was too much.”
“But I based that on my real experience…”
Strange, that’s how my relationship with Kirino improved.
So it won’t work when you reverse male/female role? The world is so unfair.
The president sighed and said:
“No choice then”
“Say, there is no need to be that worried. You haven’t seen the worst.”
“…No need to worry?”
“Yes”
He nodded before continuing:
“I have a little sister myself. She always treats me like an idiot. Not only that, she is a hikikomori, she doesn’t do any housework, she waste money.”
I and Makabe didn’t say anything.
“However…”, the president stopped.
“However, no matter what we never hate each other. So there is no need to worry, Makabe. Go apologize to your older sister, she will surely forgive you. Because you two are family.”
“President…thank you, I will do this right away”
Makabe firmly nodded.
Nice words president, but --- isn’t that your eroge in the first place?
I shrugged and decided to let it slide.
Then I overheard the girls’s conversation.
“Oh, so you have a brother too”
“Ahahah, although we quarrel a lot”
Seemed like they didn’t talk about anime anymore, but focused on a similar topic with our previous conversation. I tried to listen to them.
“I can’t say why, but he did something really disgusting. My idiot siscon brother – sometimes it was unavoidable, but I still couldn’t forgive him.”
“Oh! I understand perfectly. I got a very pervert brother too, he bothers me so much. The other day, when we were walking earlier, he even asked me – ‘Do you want to hold hands’. Can you believe it?”
“Really! Ahaha, it’s so hard for us Kirino- shi”
“Yes, I agree. Sometimes I feel like I should treat him like an outsider”
What happened here? You guys already have such a good relationship?
And you were saying bad things about your own brothers!
“But my idiot brother seemed to reflect on his faults. I understand his reason without needing to look at his cellphone’s message.”
Ack! You meant those messages between me and Akagi?
I hoped I didn’t type something wrong.
“What happened? Can you tell me?”
“No problem – well, actually I’m not very sure, but probably I lied to him ‘I got a boyfriend’ while we were quarreling.”
“-----“
I heard that.
Sena got a boyfriend – this was a lie.
“Then my idiot brother acted like something possessed him and panicked.”
“Ack! I see! By the way…why did you say that?”
“Because I was so angry ---“
Sena probably recalled that time (when she found out that her brother had a sex doll that looked like her) and became angry again.
“ ----So I told him I got a boyfriend to see my idiot brother’s reaction.”
What a prank.
Hearing that, Kirino agreed.
“I know! I know this feeling!”
“Really?”
“Yes! Perfectly! Because of your anger, you said something you don’t mean.”
“Yes! That’s it! Amazing Kirino-shi, how could you understand my feelings so easily?”
“Of course, that’s because both of us are ‘imoutos’.”
“Yes yes – you are completely right! Next time I will send you some more doujins and games!”
“Not bad!”
Both of them were congenial.
However, Sena. Do not turn my little sister into fujoshi.
“So, how do you plan to continue?”
“Hm….My idiot brother made that mistake because he likes me so much, so I’m not that angry….in fact, I felt a bit happy”
“ehehe”
Sena laughed in embarrassment. She was definitely a brocon.
Because normally, if you discovered your brother in your closet, you would want to kill him. You won’t just forgive him like that.
“So, I gave him a request…Then I plan to forgive him.”
So you asked him to buy your BL doujin today?
A present for his fujoshi little sister….what would Akagi’s expression be.
Anyway, I think I get it.
Sena had a quarrel with her brother, so she lied to him saying she got a boyfriend.
To get the elder brother’s attention, the little sister said that ----
I see I see…
That’s good.
We finished selling our doujins at about two o’clock.
“Ah~ I’m so happy! We sold them all.”
“…Ahhhh…so it is finally over.”
Compared to the happy-looking Saori, Kirino looked a bit disappointed.
Next to me, Kuroneko smiled.
“…We sold them all…I didn’t expect that.”
Hearing that, Kirino interrupted:
“You didn’t sell them all last time?”
“Yes…Although I alone tried to sell them, but more than 90% remained before the Winter Comicket ended. I had to use a cart to bring them back home. They were still being kept inside my house.”
“…I see….”
Even Kirino couldn’t say anything.
To think this girl would participate in this event all alone, and yet she couldn’t sell most of her doujins, her lonely figure stood in a booth….it was so sad.
And it was the last Winter Comicket…Kuroneko probably wanted Kirino to come with her that time.
If she dared to mock Kuroneko because of that, then I would hit her even if she is my little sister.
“Ha ha…to be able to sell them all…I’m so happy. Thank you everyone.”
Kuroneko looked at the empty booth, satisfied.
“…I…”
Seeing Kuroneko’s happy expression, Saori took her handkerchief out to wipe her eyes.
Kuroneko was so moved that her shoulders were trembling. I told her:
“…Next time, let’s do it together again”
“…Yes”
She agreed, just like when I asked her to come with me to the Summer Comicket.
There was still sometime until the closing ceremony, so we took a look around.
We visited some circle that Saori knew and chatted around for a bit. Somehow, I kind of liked it.
To be more specific, that’s because I met some artists who worked in an eroge I played.
Suddenly, I let out a surprised “Ah”.
Totally coincidence, I met someone I knew.
Last year, this was that girl in the maid outfit who offered me my first 18+ doujin.
She seemed to recognize me as well, because she greeted us.
“Hey handsome onii-san! Haha, long time no see”
She was the type of character that I simply don’t know how to respond to, so naturally, a dread feeling swept over me.
“Ah ~ pleased to meet you. So you remember me”
“Of course~ ! Thanks to your siblings, my circle could finally become famous~. Ah, here is my SM doujin, if you like….”
“Sorry sorry! We are a bit out of time! Sorry!”
How could I take something so dangerous!
I hastily made an excuse to get away, but my idiot little sister was attracted by this maid’s marketing method.
“ehehe! I heard the word siscon! The girl on the cover is so cute. She even look like me too.”
She showed her true self whenever someone calls her ‘cute’.
Damn this perverted maid!
Although I was aware of a rumor, but she did use us as a reference to make an 18+ doujin!
Thankfully, we said goodbye and left without any accidents.
We passed the cosplay square and on our way to the corporate booth. Of course, like the previous Summer Comiket, we took out time, looked around at the cosplay square, but I did not see anything ‘very big, very eye-catching’ like Sena said.”
Kirino and Kuroneko both enjoy watching cosplay. However, because the event at the corporate booth was drawing near, so we didn’t have much time.
Still, I was very happy.
We finally arrived at the corporate booth. This was the heart of the Comicket, everywhere were previews and PR for new authors, games and animes.
There was no distinction between different circles and company here. All of them gathered on a grand stage.
“Stardust Witch Meruru, Start now ~~~~~~~~~♪”
The large screen was showing Meruru season three.
“We made it in time! Phew! Perfect!”
Kirino happily shouted at the screen.
“So that’s what you wanted to see.”
“….Hahaha, isn’t it nice.”
Both I and Saori looked at Kirino’s sparkling eyes and gave her a wry smile.
“…It really is”
Kuroneko whispered.
All of us looked at the stage together.
Last year …Saori said that Comicket is the festival for otakus, where they can enjoy themselves together.
Everyone makes stuff together, participates together, has fun together.
Here, that everyone didn’t mean just me, Kirino, Kuroneko or Saori.
They were all the staff members that worked here.
The second time I came here, I finally understood.
My first time, I only felt troubled. But now I felt at ease. Maybe that’s because I have become a part of it.
“…Doing this kind of thing once in a while is not so bad”
My sister responded:
“What are you saying, all of a sudden?
Translator's Notes
| Forward to Chapter 2 | Return to Main Page | Forward to Chapter 4 |
Chapter 4
After the Meruru’s stage ended, I was about to ask what should we do next…
“I feel like I have seen this circle somewhere before”
Suddenly Kirino said that.
I turned around and asked:
“Which one?”
“This one”
Kirino pointed toward a circle named ‘EBS’. Actually, their name looked like a combination of lots of artist signature in fancy design, so I couldn’t read it all.
But at least I could read the E, B, S characters.
“I don’t remember seeing them….”
“Yes – but, I got a strange feeling, like I have seen them somewhere else…”
Kirino pouted. I understand that feeling when you wanted to check out something that got you interested. This was quite normal anyway.
“Hey, you. Do you know this circle?”
Kirino asked Kuroneko, however….
“…I have never seen them before”
Kuroneko shook her head.
“Really….how could I put it…I feel like I’m about to remember…”
“Ah, it looked quite like Enterna’s logo”
Saori suddenly interrupted.
“Ah! That!”
“You are right! They look so alike!”
“What is Enterna?”
Hearing my question, Kirino gave me a useless answer “Huh? Enterna is Enterna, that Enterna.”
Saori raised a finger and told me:
“Kyousuke-shi, Enterna is a foreign cosmetic manufacturer”
“Ah – where have I heard of it before….”
I titled my head and continued:
“So, why did a high class foreign cosmetic manufacturer participate in Comicket?”
“Ah….maybe it’s just a coincidence? I just think that this EBS circle’s logo looks really like Enterna.”
“I never thought that a circle would sell silver accessories. Want to go take a look?”
And so, we departed to that circle.
The weather was still hot, so my shirt ended up all wet with sweat.
Oh…I wanna hurry and go home to take a bath.
It was already 3o’clock. I started to feel tired.
“Wah! Look look”
…But all of them still full of spirit.
Like a child, Kirino happily darted from booth to booth, like she had forgotten her original purpose.
At that time, Saori went ‘Ah” in surprise.
“Could it be…the cosplayer that Sena was talking about…is over there?”
“What?”
I looked at where Saori was pointing. There was a cosplayer over there.
“…Hm…the main character of Tales of Destiny …not bad...”
Kuroneko always interested in cosplay. If she said that, this cosplayer must have something worth seeing.
“Want to go take a look?”
“Fine…”
We moved through the crown at a gentle pace, like we were visiting a temple.
On the other hand, Kirino was busy visiting other circles, she paid no attention to us. Well, she would soon do that.
Looking at the Comicket’s map, Saori said:
“It looks like the EBS circle is this one too.”
“Really?”
Because they sold silver accessories, so there were a lot of girls nearby. I took a look at that map and confirmed that, yes, this is EBS circle.
This world was full of coincidences.
“Let’s go”
We were already nearby anyway.
Wah, what a cute girl – just when I thought that, my threat radar screamed to me.
“Yes. A very nice Tales of Destiny cosplayer.”
“They couldn’t fool my eyes. This is definitely a boy”
Because of what Sena said?
Could it be….
I wept my cold sweat and took a look at the cosplayer’s throat. Yes. There was an adam’s apple there.
So dangerous – I almost treated him like a girl!
“Is something wrong?”
He titled his head in confusion.
“No, there is nothing…You…er…did you cosplay near the square at noon?”
“Yes. Did we meet there? I’m sorry, I don’t remember seeing you.”
“Ah, no that’s not it. Someone I knew told me about you “
“I see”
He calmly answered my question. What an idol-like guy!
He’sdefinitely a good looking guy. Just like Sena’s description.
“Just now, I asked one of my friends to hold this place so I could run to the square and show off my cosplay!”
“You seem to like cosplay very much!”
“Of course! I love it!”
His eyes were sparkling. He smiled with me.
“We could be friends”
“Uh…Ah…”
We were just participants who take part in a same contest.
And yet …what a talkative guy. He made me feel comfortable in our first meeting. Was that because we were both otakus?
Around me, many girls asked him:
“This one – this one please”
“Thank you very much! 500 Yen please!”
Quick and effective trading.
The girl who just bought a small silver statue brought it closer.
“Wow. So beautiful. Did you make that yourself?”
“Yes”
“It looks so expensive…Really, just 500 Yen?”
“Of course”
“…I will cherish it”
She left, satisfied.
Thank you very much for buying – he seemed to say that to the girl.
Hm…
Although I got a good impression with this circle, Saori’s reaction was strange.
“…500 Yen?”
Adjusting her glasses, Saori seemed to be deep in thought.
“Something wrong?”
“No…nothing…let me think about it for a while”
Then Saori returned to silence again.
Next to me, Kuroneko leaned in, she looked interested in them.
My lips curved up.
“So, do you like them too?”
“Oh?”
Surprised by my words, Kuroneko raised her head,and blinked.
“Ah…I…I don’t hate them…”
From the look of it, Kuroneko liked a reserve cross necklace.
As expected of Kuroneko, she liked that kind of accessory.
Slightly panic, Kuroneko took out her wallet.
“…Ah”
But she had no spare charge, only a 1.000 Yen.
So I took out my own 500 Yen coin and told the cosplayer.
“Please give me this one.”
“……”
Kuroneko stared at me. I gave her the cross necklace”
“This is for you”
“…What do you mean?”
“Ah, I have too much spare charges, so I figured that I should spend some while I had a chance”
“….Really?”
I didn’t know if she accepted this reason or not, but she took the necklace from me.
Seeing that, the cosplayer added:
“Ahaha, since it’s a rare chance, how about you help her wear it?”
Idiot. Wouldn’t that look like a scene between lovers?
“There is no need for that. Right?”
“…..”
I hastily rebuked. But maybe Kuroneko was unhappy with that decision, she looked at me with meaningful eyes.
“….Is there something on my face?”
“No. I was just thinking…”
Kuroneko looked down. Ah…did she get mad?
“Kyousuke-shi, where is Kiririn-shi?”
Suddenly, Saori’s voice called to me.
“Huh?”
You meant she wasn’t here? Where did this girl go?
I looked around and quickly located Kirino. She was nearby, her face tense.
Hm?
“Hey – Kirino! What are you doing?”
“!”
Kirino’s body suddenly trembled. A chilling feeling crawled up my snipe.
I…have seen this scene before…
One year ago ----
In that instant, Kirino’s reaction from before and now overlapped.
“Kirino?”
Behind me, the EBS Cosplayer ‘Ah?’, and then….
“Isn’t that Kirino?”
The whole world felt silent to me. I didn’t hear the Comicket’s noise anymore.
“…….”
Hugging herself, Kirino showed a stiff smile.
It was the same reaction one year ago, when she met Ayase.
This was unreal. Everything repeated itself?
Did that mean, awaiting us at the end is the tight spot like last year?
Feeling my cold sweat, I turned around and tried to get as much information as possible.
“You, you know Kirino?”
“Yes”
He answered with a smile.
“I’m Kirino-san’s….hm…how could I put it….”
He paused for a second before continued:
“Oh right. I’m a coworker with Kirino.”
“Coworker? What do you mean?”
When I was about to press my question…
“Wait…wait a second”
Kirino rushed to us and stopped me. With a complex expression, she turned to the cosplayer.
“…Why are you here?”
“Hm? Of course I’m here to participate in the Summer Comicket”
“You …you”
Kirino didn’t know what to say, but she tried to force a question out.
“--- You participated here?”
“Yup”
He scratched the back of his head, but Kirino pulled him by his collar.
“Yup my ass! Tell me everything!”
“I’m telling the truth! I swear!”
Hearing that, Kirino let him go.
With a troubled expression, he complained.
“What’s that for?”
“Shut up. I’m thinking.”
“…Sigh.”
I didn’t get it. Not just me, but Saori and Kuroneko looked puzzled too.
What’s with that situation? It wasn’t like that with Ayase one year before.
Too troublesome. I’d better ask him now.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know….I really don’t know. I planned to introduce myself, but someone told me to shut up…What to do now…”
He looked Kirino with pleading eyes. Still angry, Kirino nodded.
“Go ahead”
“Got it”
He placed one hand above his chest, smiled:
“My name is Mikagami Kouki, 18. I’m a high school student and a designer. I’m Kirino-san’s…”
“Stop”
“---- Ack”
Interrupted, Mikagami seemed troubled.
Wait a second. Did I just listen to words that cannot be ignored? Did he just say he was the same age as me, a designer and something?
“Let me take it from here. He – Mikagami-san is the designer that Misaki-san hired to take care of Enterna’s design. He was quite talented, with some prizes and stuff”
“Ack?”
Is he for real? He is like a main character from a shoujo manga.
Although I didn’t trust my sister’s words for a second.
But I trusted Saori, and here was what she said:
“What Kiririn-shi said is true.”
“Really?”
“Yes it is”
Covering her mouth, Saori came closer.
“All of those silver accessories are very well made. Although they only use normal silver, but their maker spends a lot of time on them”
In other words, their maker is very talented
Saori muttered:
“Each of them has a special smell of Enterna”
Even if she told me all of this, I could only “ah right” in respond.
If I remembered correctly, Enterna’s logo is a mermaid. So just now the silver statue was mermaid huh?
“Beside…I was wondering where have I seen him before. Now I remember, he was on a celebrity’s foreign magazine. According to Mikagami’s profile, EBS is his nickname ‘Enternal Blue Sister’.”
What a strange name.
……Anyway…
With extremely vigilant eyes, I look at the smiling young man.
“In other words….you are a new celebrity, you are the main designer of Enterna, and you are a high school student like me?”
“That’s right”
“Sorry, can I hit you?”
“Wh..Why?”
Because you are annoying.
And you dared to reply ‘that’s right’.
You…what the hell? Are you Kirino-male version?
And yet, after talking with him I knew that he is a nice guy.
How could I hate someone like him?
As if he purposely showed me how small, how insignificant I was. Damn, I was so angry….
“…Senpai, you sounded like a bully. Please behave yourself.”
“…I’m sorry”
Kuroneko mocked me…So I could only try to calm down.
Closing my eyes, I forced myself to calm down. Kuroneko took this chance and whispered directly into my ear.
“…..If we are talking about appearance, senpai isn’t too bad.”
“…Thanks”
Just now, do you plan to comfort me?
“….”
Kuroneko didn’t say anything else. Although I wanted to, but Kirino already interrupted again.
“Now is our turn – they are my elder brother and my friends.”
Kuroneko nodded without saying a word.
While Saori just answered ‘My name is Saori’ before went silence, unlike before.
Last was me. I just introduced my name ‘Kousaka Kyousuke’.
Mikagami didn’t seem to remember my previous threat, he said “pleased to meet you”
“So, what is the relationship between you two?”
Saori asked Mikagami.
“Misaki-san introduced me to Kirino-san. You know that Kirino-san works as a model right? She use the jewelry that I designed – that’s how we know each other”
“Right right”
Kirino agreed.
“After that, we met again alone a few times…”
Huh?
“But I never imagined that we could meet again at Summer Comicket”
“Me too. About that…forgive me if I’m wrong, but if you are here…that means Kirino-san also participated?”
“Yes”
Kirino smiled and nodded.
This was the first time Kirino acknowledged that to another male aside from me.
Pointed at Mikagami, Kirino ordered:
“You. Never, ever tell what happened today to anyone, got it?”
“Fine by me. I kept my hobby a secret anyway.”
That again? You need to protect your image too?
A talented boy with an otaku hobby.
He has many things in common with my sister.
“Still, why are you selling jewelry at Summer Comicket?”
I wanted to ask that too. If he is that talented, then he could sell his jewelry anywhere. There is no need for him to come here.
“Because I wanted to be here.”
Mikagami replied.
“When I was small, I once saw an anime called ‘Little Witch’. Do you know it?”
“Not only know, I got its DVD BOX”
“Huh? But wasn’t it just released not long ago?”
“That’s right. I got in while collecting masterpiece anime…”
“Then it would be easier for me to say, but because of that anime I wanted to become a designer.”
“Ack? I don’t get it.”
“Well, you see, there was an item called ‘Pendants Ward’. As soon as the female protagonist poured her magic power into it, it will turn into a ward. My first design was based on this one. To be honest, after my father got me to practice, I never wanted to be a designer. I just wanted to be able to recreate an anime item. It’s so fun. I like it very much”
“Uh huh”
“So – in some way, anime changed my life. If it wasn’t because of that anime, I would be completely different from now. Maybe I would have a different job.”
“…Yes, I understand that.”
Kirino was nodding nonstop.
Wasn’t it the same for you. If it wasn’t because of ‘Stardust Witch Meruru’ and ‘Let’s love your little sister’, you probably wouldn’t ask me for life counseling, you wouldn’t have met Saori and Kuroneko too.
In some way, just like Mikagami said, anime and eroge changed Kirino’s life.
And mine, too. If my sister wasn’t here, then I would definitely not be.
“I’m so happy…I thought that I alone had this kind of hobby”
“Ah…I understand your feelings.”
Kirino agreed.
Why wouldn’t she? A year ago, she was mostly the same as he is right now.
“…Then I think, maybe if I join a group things would change. Because I’m quite good in design and making clothes.”
For real? So you participated in Comicket to get some friends?
“But aren’t you alone right now?”
“…I asked my elder brother for help today. Well, he isn’t here right now, but quite frankly, sometimes he gets a little carried away.”
“Ah, I understand, I understand! Sometimes you are so happy that you wanted to thank him, but his reaction sometimes is troublesome.”
Hey Kirino, are you talking about the me from a year ago?
“Yes! That’s right – We are very close!”
…Looked like Mikagami understood.
I felt…troubled, uneasy anintimacy …or something… about him.
He was like another Kirino. Even his situation was alike.
Of course, that’s why they could become friends.
But there was one thing different about them --
“By the way, since we are talking about games and anime, I know only a bit, Kirino-san?”
“Um – like Meruru”
“Ah, this is quite good. I like Meruru too. When I was working, I once watched through three seasons of Dark Witch Meruru.”
“I did that too! Awesome – we could become good friends!”
Kirino happily waved her hands.
“And I like little sister eroges too!”
“E..Eroge?”
--- This was their difference.
My little sister suddenly jumped to another topic. Even if he was an otaku, I doubted he could keep up with this change.
Kirino coldly looked at Mikagami.
“…What? You got a problem with that?”
“Er… I was just a little surprised. Of course I like eroge too – I like them very much!”
“…Ack, why are you shouting?”
“A…Ah….~~~~~~?”
Idiot.
You shouted ‘I like eroge very much’ in front of a middle school girl. What an idiot.
Although…I wasn’t in a position to lecture him. I once screamed to my Dad that ‘EROGE IS MY SOUL!’.[1]
“Ah, about that, there is something that gave me half of my current experience! My first eroge was a new one from last winter, ‘Sis X Sis’.”
“Ah…’Sis X Sis’?”
These words clearly drew Kirino’s interest.
Before Kirino went aboard – ‘Think of it as me, and take real good care of it!’ [2] - she gave me this as a present.
“Yes. Sis X Sis!”
Clenching his hand, Mikagami said:
“This game…was…simply awesome! I was so moved that I cried! I want to someday be able to have such a wonderful love…”
He started crying.
What the heck?
This guy…he could play such very uncomfortable eroge…
“When I came to 2chan and read ‘True love in Sis X Sis’….I agreed with them wholeheartedly!”
“Wasn’t that the famous blank! You should just accept all of it!”
“Blank? What does that mean?”
“….Oh you idiot.”
See? Even your Kirino-san is about to give up on you.
“Should I call you normal or ignorant…Whatever, this is your life. Take care of it yourselves.”
“I still don’t get it”
“You idiot!”
“Er?”
“Although…”
Scratching her cheek, my sister smiled:
“The reason you love Sis X Sis so much…I understand it perfectly. Yes…your comments did have some merits.”
Really? From the look of it, Kirino seems to get along with him quite easy.
“I..I’m not that good.”
Hey Mikagami, why are you embarrassed?
Do you really understand what she was talking about?
“I want to show everyone how wonderful Sis X Sis is. So that we could talk about our favorite eroges without the need to hide them. Don’t you agree?”
“What? Are you that much of an idiot? Society’s treatment toward otakus will not change overnight. If you like something, then you could just keep it inside your heart. Don’t force your favorites on to others. Besides, almost all eroges have some 18+ only scenes. There is no need to draw unwanted attention to yourself.”
I actually understand Kirino’s reason.
I feared that Mikagami thought by being here, he could create another different person.
If that was the case, then no wonder Kirino scolded him.
You could do whatever you wanted, but do not force it on to others.
“I see. Kirino-san really has carefully thought about it”
“And you clearly didn’t think about it enough! I couldn’t believe that your still able to maintain your public image.”
I completely agree.
I was afraid that someday, he will answer ‘eroge’ during an interview.
Just like Kirino – no, he was much worse. Mikagami Kouki only had a nice looking face.
Or maybe that’s why he could become friends with my little sister.
And then….
Those two happily chatted together about eroges.
Phew….when I saw Kirino freeze, I was afraid of another Ayase’s accident would happen again. Thankfully she got another friend instead.
No, for my sister, maybe he could be my replacement.
If that was the case…I should feel relieved.
Yes, I should feel relieved, and yet why am I a little angry ?
After we said goodbye to Mikagami, we returned to our booth. We took care of the finishing jobs and placed all of those doujins we bought into a card box before moving them to Kousaka’s house. To think that Kuroneko did all of this alone in Winter Comicket, she was amazing.
Then we caught a train and went to a karaoke room.
Of course – to celebrate and count our profit.
After subtracting the booth fee and printing costs, we still had a bit of money.
Although, I was sure that all of them it was going to disappear in this meal.
Besides, if I counted additional fees…
“…No matter how I look, we only get a deficit.”
---- In other words, we didn’t earn much money at all.
This was my first thought during the first time I participated in a circle. Although I was sure some circles earned a lot….like Fate-san’s circle.
But…what about us?
If that was because we couldn’t sell all of our doujins, not only was it a waste, but it also had a heavy blow to our morale.
“………”
Was that what Kuroneko felt during last Winter Comicket?
She must have felt very depressed.
She drew her own manga, her own illustration, her own novel. With her own money, she printed them out. Alone in Winter Comicket, she tried to sell them.
And yet…she couldn’t sell many. So…she had to bring a big doujin bag back home…alll alone on the train…
Besides…
Kuroneko probably wasn’t the only case. There should be a lot more like her.
In order to enjoy themselves in a small time, they had to spend a long time to prepare.
Is it worth it?
I wish we could change them into profit. Bigger profit.
Of course, it wasn’t something me alone could do.
Just…how should I put it….
“Something wrong?Kyousuke-shi?”
“It’s nothing --- I’m just thinking about our profit.”
“It was profitable. That’s why most circles don’t quit halfway”
I wasn’t sure how much she understood me, but Saori gave me a firm answer.
“Was this your first time participating too?”
“Yes! That’s right.”
“What are you trying to say?”
I couldn’t understand her at all.
“Anyway – thanks for your hard work today, Kyosuke-shi
“Ah, thank you too.”
Together with Saori, we were charged with checking our funds.
While at the same time, Kirino and Kuroneko took the EBS’s jewelry out to take a look.
“Was that a necklace from Mikagami? Wow! Awesome!”
“…Truly…his talent is fearsome…”
Kuroneko rubbed her inverse cross necklace, she looked quite happy.
For some unknown reason, I felt very unhappy.
I clicked my tongue and poured cold water on them:
“Hm. In my opinion, he was just a boring guy.”
“…..”
Shocked, Kuroneko’s eyes widened.
And Kirino turned back and rebuked:
“…Bad mouthing someone behind their back – gross. Mikagami-san is a trillion times better than you. Besides, tell me how it is that you are better than him?”
Ah….! You …Did you have to say it? Although it was the truth…
“How about you? You always bad mouth Manami behind her back!”
This girl -----
“Tch!”
“Hm!”
Both I and Kirino turned around in the same manner.
The next day.
The crazy Comicket had ended – together with otaku’s summer.
Many people, even if they didn’t enjoy their summer break, they probably had the same feeling.
Saying farewell to my summer memories, I enjoyed my last high school summer break. In August, 16th, I returned to school.
Now, it was around 3 o’clock, but the sun was still hot.
“You looked melancholy.”
This voice came from the girl in uniform walking next to me, Kuroneko. We were on our way home.
“I’m not”
I coldly replied.
Although Kuroneko didn’t seem to accept my answer, she continued in a confident voice.
“…Let me guess what you are thinking.”
We walked side by side while slowly chatting.
Kuroneko was also on her way to my home. That’s because today was the meeting day for the ‘Otaku girl union’. So Saori and Kirino would join in too.
Faced with Kuroneko’s proposal, I replied while pretending like I wasn’t interest.
“…Fine, give me your thoughts”
“’If this guy I met at Comicket was Kirino’s boyfriend, then I’m no longer needed’.”
“….”
“…How about that? Am I right?”
….This girl.
We stopped in front of Kousaka’s house. Because of the heat, my forehead was wet from sweat.
“…Hm, is that thanks to your ‘dark power’?”
Because she saw right through me, I felt a little angry and raised my voice.
“No, it wasn’t.”
Kuroneko said.
“I could tell even without using it.”
“What do you mean?”
Kuroneko looked directly into my eyes.
At first, her face was expressionless, but then it changed into a puzzled one.
“….Because I’m always looking at you.”
“….”
I could feel my face heat up. In that instant, I felt like someone grabbed a hold of my heart. Although it lasted for only a second, but I tried to scratch my cheek to hide my embarrassment. Than pretended like I was okay, I replied:
“…If you say something like that, it might cause a misunderstanding.”
“…That’s fine”
She whispered…Kuroneko…still waiting for my answer.
She…what does she mean….
My heart was beating faster and faster. My breathing became ragged. I didn’t know how to respond.
“Do you like me?”
I had asked her this question once before. However, at that time, I was half joking. Unlike now….
I waited for her answered for a few seconds, but I felt like it was an eternity.
“I like you”
Kuroneko’s answer was the same – no, it wasn’t the same.
“I like you…no matter how much your little sister likes you, I won’t lose to her.”
There was some difference from her previous answer.
“…Ah…”
My head was boiling. I felt intoxicated.
Sadly, I didn’t know what to say. Swallowed, I said again:
“…At that time…you…that kiss…”
“…Ah…this…”
I couldn’t hear her answer.
“-------- What are you two doing?”
The door flung opened, with Kirino behind.
Kirino stared at us, while we were frozen in place.
“---------“
I (and probably Kuroneko too) were so shocked that our hearts almost stopped. But – now that I think about it, there is no need for overthinking.
No matter what I told Kuroneko, no matter what she heard, it wasn’t related to this girl. Why was I frozen here?
Kirino was the first one to recover, she threw us a glare.
“…What are you standing there for? Come in, quickly.”
With her usual tone, Kirino slammed the door shut.
…What’s with her…
I stared at the closed door, my mood long gone.
“…Let’s go in. Saori is probably already inside.”
I tried to change the topic.
But Kuroneko didn’t go to the door, she pulled my sleeve.
It was like – I still haven’t finished talking.
“….Senpai”
“…Yes?”
“I, from that time, I have been thinking.”
“…Thinking?”
Kureneko’s head dropped, so I couldn’t see her face.
“Yes. I don’t know what to do. No matter what I choose, I felt like I would regret it. This is the first time I felt so hesitated.”
What are you saying? I don’t understand you.
So I didn’t know what I should say to my junior.
“Then….here, I made my decision. I will be honest with my heart. I decided I will become greedy…because that girl definitely will not just give up.”
“…Sorry, what are you saying… I don’t think I get it…”
“…That’s fine. Just listen”
Still trembling, Kuroneko looked like she made up her mind.
“I – am no longer afraid. In order to get what I wanted, in order to get my perfect result, I will do my very best.”
---- Is that your best choice?
She spoke too many complicated words, so I couldn’t fully understand her.
But, I understood her feelings.
When we were inside, everyone treated like what occurred outside didn’t happen.
When we just passed through the door, Kirino had prepared our living room for ‘The Summer Comicket celebration’. Since Saori had already arrived before, we started the party immediately.
Just….
“…………”
“…………”
“…………”
Everyone surrounded the table. However, I, Kirino and Kuroneko – we all kept silent without eating anything.
The heavy atmosphere filled the room.
“????? Everyone?”
Only Saori had no idea what was going on, she looked trouble.
Still, as expected of Saori, she realized that ‘something happened’ and whispered to me.
“Kyousuke-shi….what is going on?”
“….To be honest, I’m not sure myself.”
“Did something happen between Kiririn-shi and Kuroneko-shi?”
“….Maybe …or not….”
If Kirino heard my conversation between me and Kuroneko ….
I had trouble saying it out…
“….I can’t find the right words…”
“…Ah…Kyousuke-shi. Sometimes you are so useless.”
I’m very sorry.
“…What are you two whispering about?”
Sitting on the sofa, Kirino shot us a cold glare.
‘There is no such thing. I just think that you guys may be depressed for some reason, so I’m trying to figure it out.”
“….Hm, you are overthinking again.”
Kirino turned around. Saori drew closer, still having ω her smile.
“You mean like that?”
Suddenly, Saori hugged Kirino’s head to her chest.
‘Hey, what are you doing?”
“I’m sharing my happiness with you. No matter what, I’m Kiririn-shi’s friend forever.”
“S..Stop it. Don’t say something unreasonable.”
Kirino struggled to break free from Saori. Next, Saori bursted into laughter.
“How do you feel now?”
“What is that for?”
Yup, she seemed to recover.
Thank god…even she didn’t know what happened, Saori still able to help…Thanks to her, this awkward atmosphere was gone.
I used my eyes to signal Kuroneko. She blushed slightly and nodded.
“…Then let’s begin our celebration.”
“Before that, I have something to announce.”
Kirino once again interrupted us.
“…huh?”
“What’s that Kirino?”
Both I and Kuroneko turned to Kirino. She avoided our eyes and said:
“ --- I’m going out with Mikagami-san”
This was too much of a surprise. Everyone, me included can only responded with ‘Ack!?’.
And then Kirino continued with more shocking news:
I felt like she was looking directly at me when she said:
“…We even kissed. Lips to lips.”
“Ack!?”
My eyes widened in shock – while Kirino quietly turned away.
“You…”
Kuroneko muttered. Kirino shot her a provoking glare.
“…What? You look like you have something to tell me? Don’t you?”
“…….”
“You don’t? So let’s start our celebration.”
Kirino cheerful loudly announced.
However – our celebration didn’t happen.
“----------“
Hearing what Kirino just said, Kuroneko stood up.
Her hand clenched, she was trembling without saying a word.
“Hey…Kuroneko…”
I looked at her, but Kuroneko turned back and walked toward the door. Opened it, she turned and stared back at Kirino.
“…I don’t have time to deal with a immature brat. Do whatever you want”
Her voice was deep and frightening. She didn’t wait for anyone to say anything, Kuroneko walked past the door and disappeared.
This was the first time I saw Kuroneko show that much hate toward Kirino.
Even if they quarreled a lot, this never happened before.
“What is with that girl?”
Kirino waved her arms in annoyance.
What is with that attitude?
Damn, should I follow Kuroneko?
I hesitated, but decided to stop. Now – my first priorities were Kirino.
“…Just now…what do you mean?”
“Hm?”
“I asked what is your relationship with him now!”
Actually, I didn’t mean to ask this question, but somehow my mouth moved without thinking. With contempt eyes, Kirino stared at me without saying anything.
“Since when?”
With a strangely calm voice, Saori asked.
“After I returned home, Misaki-san started trying to recruit me. At that time, I still haven’t decided if I should take her offer, so I declined. The second time Misaki-san asked me, she brought him with her.”
“Hm…”
‘I still haven’t decided if I wanted to become your excusive model’ – yes, I heard she said that over her phone once.
“So, why are you waiting until now to announce it?”
“Hm”
Kirino clicked her tongue.
“…What do you think?”
“What? This is your relationship. Why are you asking me?”
Hearing my reply, Kirino shot me another cold glare.
“Ah, yes. I see.”
She said without even looking at me.
“What do you mean…”
Don’t treat me like a fool.
“Anyway, since when my relationship is your concern? Isn’t it what you said?”
“I did say that. But…have you seriously thought about it?”
“…Huh?
Kirino kept talking in her mocking voice.
“Think? Why should I think about it? Where could I get someone as good as him? He is handsome, rich, talented.”
Rage.Rage.Rage.Rage.Rage.Rage.Rage.Rage.Rage.Rage.Rage.Rage.Rage.Rage.Rage.Rage.
The surrounding atmosphere quickly deteriorated.
Still looking at me like a piece of dirt, Kirino listed Mikagami’s advantages.
“Were also good friends, we have the same hobby…and he swore …that after we got in a relationship….he will definitely not chase after another girl.”
Her voice suddenly weakened a bit, then…
“He also listened to me, respected me! Unlike someone!”
*Pffff*
In an unusual expression which didn’t irritate others, she spat her tongue out.
I felt like one of my blood vessels in my head just exploded.
I forcefully suppressed my hand that wanted to smack at her.
*Bang*. I hit the table instead and stood up.
“Ah…in that case!Since you put it that way ---.”
Do whatever you want! The last part of this sentence stopped dead in my throat, and slowly returned inside me without go away.
Still sitting in her sofa, Kirino looked at me, just a year ago when she looked at her useless brother.
“…What? Continue?”
“….Like I care”
“Ah, I see. I’m going back to my room now. I leave the rest to you!”
*Clank*
Kirino left the living room and ran back to her room.
I was left alone with Saori.
Today – it was supposed to be our celebration.
…How did it turn out like this…
How did I always meet up with this kind of mess up! How could I lose control of my own emotions! Ah…Damn! I wanted to get angry, but my mind was empty. I gritted my teeth, swallowing this nasty feeling inside.
“No choice then. Let’s clean up.”
Saori gently said.
Her words – made me feel extremely guilty.
“Ah -----------------“
Damn…Damn! What am I doing!
I’m so sorry, Saori. She was so afraid of loneliness that she made this small group. To make friends with the same hobby, to enjoy their time together, to make sure that she would never be alone again.
How could I let this damn quarrel ruin her effort.
“Sorry.”
I unconsciously let out an apology.
“I’m very sorry…Saori.”
I was so afraid that I didn’t dare to look at Saori. I thought that she would be very angry because her celebration party was ruined.
“ Why are you apologizing for, Kyousuke-shi”
But Saori comforted me with a gentle voice.
“In human-human relationship, frictions are unavoidable. We can always make another celebration party again.”
“But…but…”
Why…
You…still comfort me…even now
I felt like something inside me just died.
“I have nothing to worry about. You are the one who said that, Kyousuke-shi”
With a confident voice, Saori said:
“I trust you, Kyousuke-shi”
Those words were more than any orders.
“…Is it.”
“Yes. It seems like this time I couldn’t do anything. Can I leave it to you, Kyousuke-shi?”
You idiot.
This kind of thing ---
“Of course. Although I have no idea what I should do next, but I will think of someway.”
“Alright”
“If I fail, please don’t blame me”
In fact, I have nothing to back up my confidence.
Hearing that, Saori slowly dropped her glasses.
“Huh?”
To let others see her true self – for her, this was very embarrassing.
After her glasses were taken down, Saori immediately blushed. But she still kept her eyes strained on me.
“…Until now, Kyosuke-shi still showed signs of weakness. You should gain some confidence in yourself.”
Saori smiled.
--------
If I have to describe, her smile looked like it could take my soul away.
She was still blushing, but her radiant smile gave me confidence.
Cunning. How could I give up after seeing that smile.
“…Really. Although I had thought about it many times, but don’t you give me too much credit? I’m just a normal useless guy.”
“…Hm hm…In that case, my method probably works even better. If it fails and this group is disbanded…”
Still in her usual gentle voice, Saori predicted the horrible future.
“In that case, you have to take responsibility. Have you prepared yourself? I will look down on you as ‘The male that broke up my group’ forever.”
“It is….terrifying.”
In order to make sure that future isn’t going to happen, I need to do something.
---- And so, I pulled myself together thanks to Saori. However, I wasn’t prepared for what would happen the next day -
My little sister – she always wants to make troubles for others.
Until now, I was the only one who got stuck on it.
But this may be the last time.
August, 17th.
Kirino brought her boyfriend home.
It was so sudden. I didn’t have any time to prepare. After dinner, when I entered the living room....
“Ah, so Mikagami-san is a designer.”
“Yes. This is my present.”
“Ah, you really put some effort into it---“
Mikagami was chatting with my Mom.
Ack!? What the heck ----!
Was that an illusion? My eyes widened in shock.
“Ah, Kyousuke.”
Mom introduced me. Then Mikagami gave me a smile.
Still the innocent smile from a few days ago.
In this room, only Kirino didn’t show any reaction. She just sat next to Migagami.
Since yesterday, after Saori went home, Kirino kept acting that way. She holed up in her room, totally avoiding me even during meals.
Mom urged:
“Come on, say something. This is Kirino’s boyfriend ---“
“ ---- This is my seat”
I casually walked over and said in a menacing voice.Mikagami hurriedly stood up.
“I’m sorry”
“Kyousuke!What’s with your attitude?!”
“……”
So noisy. I already felt annoyed.
“Apologize to Mikagami-san!”
That’s normal for my Mom to angry.
But I didn’t care. Because this guy made me very uncomfortable.
I was aware that I’m acting like a brat. But since this guy appeared, our relationship turned into an unsolvable mess.
I sat down, used my finger to dig in my ear and paid them no attention. Even I didn’t know why I acted this way.
“You really are – your Dad will be very angry”
“?...So where is Dad? He should be at home today.”
“..In his room”
“Why didn’t he come down?”
“I don’t know….He’s holed up inside his room…What’s with the man of the house! What is he trying to do!”
Hey Dad! Your daughter brought a boy home, you couldn’t just close the door and act like nothing happened
Tch…In an annoyed tone, I said to Mikagami.
“Hey… Mikagami”
“Yes, Kyousuke-san”
“Ah, you two knew each other?”
Ignoring my Mom’s question, I continued:
“Why are you here?”
“Ah – Kirino-san asked me to….”
“Stop. Answer my question straight to the point. Are you a man or not?”
Even I understood that I was trying to make an excuse to bad mouth him.
“Kyousuke, stop now –“
Right when Mom stood up, I heard something next to me. Turned around, I saw Kirino look at me with blank eyes
*Slap*
“….!”
She slapped me hard in my face.
“You, you…what are you doing!”
I felt the blood in my mouth. However, Kirino just dropped one line:
“You are an eyesore.”
She pointed at the door.
“Get out! Now!”
Her voice was full of hate. Even Mom was speechless.
“…Tch. Fine fine”
Leaving those words behind, I stood up and left.
Looking back at the door, I can faintly heard that Mom, Mikagami and Kirino were talking about something.
Probably about me – that idiot son/brother.
Damn…! Damn…! Damn…! What am I doing…!
I didn’t even know why I felt so irritated.
Unknown reasons, with unknown feelings pressed down on my chest,made me do something so stupid.
My heart was filled with regret, I just wanted to lie down and sleep.
But I couldn’t just go into my room and hide.
---- “I trusted you”.
That’s right. I need to take care of things here, then make another celebration party with everyone.
With just one thought in mind, I kept walking.
That’s why right now, I was standing outside of my parent’s room.
Dad holed up in his room and refused to go out.
--- An elder brother whose little sister just got a boyfriend. --- A father whose daughter just got a boyfriend
Our situation was nearly the same. Dad is always serious, so I guessed he will listen to me now. Hopefully after were done talking, he could clear my doubt.
It was almost laughable since I still had to depend on others, but now I didn’t have time for that.
I knocked on the door.
“Dad – are you inside?”
A few moments later….
“……Come in”
A very heavy answer. I greeted him before entering. His room was big, enough to hold a double side bed with plenty of space.
When this house was built, Dad said he wanted a Japanese style room, but Mom wanted a Western style room.
My Dad looked very terrifying, but he actually was very gentle with Mom. Well, you could say that Mom trained him well.
He was sitting at the table, drinking alone.
“Sit down here”
“…Ah”
I sat down in the opposite side of the table.
“…Do you need something?”
So…so heavy. The atmosphere was so heavy. He looked like he was a decade older. In a normal situation, I might have thought that he had a serious sickness.
“…Ah, I was just chased away from the living room”
“….What have you done...”
He sighed. Sorry Dad, but you weren’t in a position to lecture me.
“What about you? Your daughter brings her boyfriend home, and your holed up in here? This isn’t like you.”
“You are doing the same thing, idiot.”
“But…! If you stayed in the living room, things could be very different…”
Don’t look away
“Dad”
Under my pressure, Dad finally confessed.
“How could I go down. I can’t stand being there.”
“Me too.”
I completely agreed.
Mikagami was one of the reasons, but the main one was the two females.
Both of them were on Mikagamis side.
True, he is handsome, but so what?
“Yes. Both your Mom and Kirino are blind. What’s so good about him!”
“Yes, that’s right”
Kousaka’s household male side, which was chased away from the living room now gathered and badmouthed Mikagami.
This is so tragic.
“However, Dad, what do you want Kirino’s boyfriend to be like?”
“Hm…let me think…He needs to be good at kendo [3]and Judo. He has to be gentle, but also severe when necessary. He must be able to stand up for justice before evildoers. He also has to fit in a kimono and be a brave man….”
I don’t think there is anyone like that that exist in this world.
Besides, are you talking about yourself?
“Kyousuke, you…how much do you know about this guy?”
Completely unknown origin.
“Including today, this is my second time meeting him.”
“What kind of person is he?”
Looked like even Dad didn’t know much about Mikagami. Still, this is the boy his daughter brought back home...paying attention is normal.
I wasn’t in any position to lecture you about it though.
“….I think he is a very hardworking guy. At least, he is not a bad guy. Seems like he and Kirino have a good relationship.”
I told him all I know about Mikagami. There wasn’t any reason to lie anyway.
…Although, it looked like I was praising him.
“….Hm…”
Dad’s face darkens.
“….Kirino still a middle school girl….This is too soon…”
“To be honest, for a middle school girl, that kind of thing is pretty normal now.”
Damn, why am I protecting Mikagami?
Damn it, when he was introducing himself, I badmouth him on instinct, and yet now I was praising him?
Of course, I was afraid if Dad’s mood got worse, but I didn’t have any choice.
Since this was my opinion without mixing with my feelings.
Still in his heavy tone, Dad said.
“Kirino is still a little child.”
“But, she tried harder than anyone else.”
“….”
“True, she is just a middle school girl, a spoiled child…but she should be allowed to choose her own relationship. If that’s something she decided, she will follow it until the end and say that’s her responsibility.”
“…I know that without you telling me”
He took another sip, his eyes focused on me.
“So, Kyousuke. Do you approve?”
“………”
For me, this is the root of the problem.
Toward Kirino’s boyfriend – in the end, do I approve or not.
That’s why I quarreled with Kirino.
“……..”
I should approve. I don’t have any reason not to. True, I don’t like him, but I couldn’t say that half-ass reason.
“This is Kirino’s choice.”
“I disapprove.”
Dad said.
“Wait, Dad…you are not making any sense. You should let her decide.”
“I don’t want to!”
Dad! How old are you already?
This unexpected development scared me. Dad bit down on his lower lip, and said:
“Kirino’s lover? Just thinking about it made me feel angry!”
Me too. Me too.
But you shouldn’t decide thing based on your feelings alone!
“Kyousuke…go tell them to break up”
“Hey heyheyhey!”
What are you saying
“This..this is too unreasonable…”
“I don’t care. Everything has an exception. Damn, I will go beat him up.”
“You will be fired!”
“No problem”
“It is a problem!”
I finally understood! Dad holed himself in his room because he feared that he wouldn’t able to keep himself from beating up this guy.
“Anyway, I disapprove! Disapprove! Disapprove! Disapprove!”
He kept saying that over and over. Are you a kid ?
I couldn’t stand it…Dad….
“…Sigh….”
Really….You idiot…just how much do you spoil your daughter…
Ah…..I felt powerless.
I took a deep breath, I gave him a forced smile,and said:
“I got it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I will do it in your stead. I will go beat Mikagami up.”
“You think that will quell my anger?”
“Ah….”
I understand, father.
“I think I have the same idea as you.”
I returned to the living room. Mom had gone somewhere, just Kirino and Mikagami were talking.
“…Again.”
Seeing me, Kirino eyes’s narrowed, she said in disappointment.
The living room instantly filled with awkward atmosphere. Normally, I would have run away.
“Hi…”
The only reason I could still stand was thanks to Saori’s blessing.
Mikagami looked at me, he seemed a little shocked.
Kirino stood up and shot me a contempt glare.
“…I told you…”
“Sorry for everything just now ---------!”
I kneeled down in front of my sister. After my recent behavior, I felt like I should show that much sincerity.
Faced with my sudden bizarre behavior, Kirino and Imperial mirror couldn’t help but tremble.
“Hey you….What do you intend to do?”
“I was wrong. Because of my anger, I treated your boyfriend badly. I’m very sorry!”
I bowed deep down, my forehead touched the ground and apologized.
A few seconds later ----- My sister said:
“That…that’s enough! Beside…you made us even more uncomfortable. Get out!”
She didn’t sound angry. Hearing that, I felt like my chest tighten.
I looked up with determination.
“Before that – I have something to say!”
“Huh? I don’t have anything to talk with you!”
“Sorry, but I do!”
I need to make myself clear. Now, I felt like I could stand against my father if needed.
Compared to him, my sister’s anger was not worth mentioning. Even if she was uncomfortable, I didn’t care.
I looked directly into Kirino’s cold eyes.
“A long time ago, you asked me ‘What should I do’….”
“-------------“
She stopped. I continued:
“At that time, I told you ‘Do whatever you wanted’. However ----“
“What…are you saying”
“Anyway, I hope you….I hope you don’t get too close to boys.”
The truth is, I didn’t have the position to say that. Even as her elder brother, saying that right in front of my little sister and her boyfriend was too stupid. But even that, my mouth moved without thinking.
“…Why”
Her voice was so low that I almost missed it. So I kept talking my heart out.
“Why? I’m not sure myself.”
Just ---
“Maybe it’s that I can’t stand it. Some random guy jumps out of nowhere and steals my little sister away.”
That was my decision alone, unlike my stupid father.
Until now, she is my little sister – and she isn’t cute at all. In fact, I have been ignoreing her for quite a long time. But when she got herself a boyfriend, I felt angry and restless.
“But, Kirino. As your elder brother, I couldn’t say something like ‘I don’t like it when you got a boyfriend’. If we switched roles, I would probably think ‘Why should I care for her feelings’. If you disapproved when I got a girlfriend, I would think ‘This is my concern alone’…That’s why all I can say is -----“
Kirino didn’t say anything, she just listened to me. I had no idea what she was feeling.
“Although I don’t want to be involved, and you should decide things by yourself…As your elder brother, I couldn’t laugh it off. Yesterday, I still don’t know why you were angry. That’s why I don’t know how to apologize. Saying I apologize is simple, but I couldn’t just say something so empty. So, at least hear me out.”
At the very least, that was my true feelings.
“…..It was too late”
“Huh?”
“It was…too late….”
The room became silent again. What do you mean, ‘it was too late’? No one said anything, the atmospheres almost unbearable.
Because Kirino still kept silent, so I looked at Mikagami.
I should have talked with him sooner.
“Mikagami…do you like Kirino?”
“Yes. I love her very much”
Even in this situation, Mikagami still kept his usual smile.
“I see….”
This guy is good.
Under normal circumstance, ‘I’m surprised’ is already considered good reaction, but, at least outside, he didn’t show any surprise or anger towards me. I think I could forgive him for that.
If I were him, I would have beat up my girlfriend’s elder brother.
Mikagami Kouki – although I still don’t like him, but he had the same hobby with my sister, he was also very talented. Is that why he could share Kirino’s trouble?
Handsome, rich, talent, coworker.
With such a boyfriend, Kirino could proudly show off in front of her classmates.
As an elder brother, I should give them my blessing.
Clapping my hand, I gave them a blessing smile ---
“I will not hand over Kirino to you”
--- Go eat shit. Like hell I care.
I stood up and told Mikagami my true feeling.
It sounded like I was just trying to find an excuse, but I didn’t find it to be anything special. I meant, any elder brother in my position would probably say the same things, right?
The only difference is how much emotion we elder brothers would show….
In my case ---
“You bastard, you wanted to take Kirino as your girlfriend? Then show me! Show me that you care for Kirino more than I do!”
---- My jealousy is too big! It doesn’t allow me to give up!
Among those times when I let my emotion run wild, this was the worst.
This was too ridiculous.
Again and again, what am I saying to my sister’s boyfriend?
What am I thinking?
I pointed at ‘my sister’s boyfriend’ and raised my voice.
“Sorry! But Kirino is more important to me than she is to you! Definitely more than you! That’s why I will not hand her over to you.”
“…“So you wouldn’t give your sister to any boy you don’t approve of?”
“That’s right! I don’t care how good you are…I only care for my little sister! I’m very very worried! So much that I couldn’t stand it!”
Again, the living room fell into silence.
I said – ah, I said….it was so embarrassing.
But, after saying that, I knew.
That was my true feelings.
No matter what I pretend to be, I still dote my little sister so much that I couldn’t bear watching her being taken away by some random guy. I felt angry, lonely ….
And more than anything else I was worried.
Even if he was a good guy. Even if Kirino herself was okay with it, even if I understood that both of them would be fine, I still worried. Worried, worried, worried over and over again. Yes, now, I still hate Kirino. But at the same time, toward her feeling, there was something else.
Silence.
“…You…you…”
She tried to say something, but found herself unable to.
Sorry, Kirino.
From your point of view, I was such a useless bastard. I Ignored your happy mood and crashed your relationship. If my action led to a rift between Kirino and Mikagami – I fear that she will remember my stupid action for the rest of her life.
I was fully aware of it. But still, I could only – no!
This was something I decided to do on my own.
Silence regained in the living room.
One second. Three seconds. Five seconds. Kirino was the first one to break the silence.
“…You”
My sister’s head dropped down. Her shoulders were trembling. Gritted her teeth, she shouted:
“Look at yourself! You always...always flirt with the glasses girl…and that black one!”
*Whack* Kirino slapped me.
“Of course…of course I will be troubled! Of course I will be angry!”
Kirino picked up Mikagami’s cake and threw it at my face. I felt it slip down from my face, then something hit my shin – Kirino was kicking it.
“You idiot!Idiot!”
The living room turned into chaos, but I – didn’t want to stop her.
“And that time you had such a disgusting face! So why now! Why are you saying that now!”
I could feel her emotion.
But…hearing what she said, I didn’t understand.
“What are you saying! Besides…Manami and Kuroneko…how is this related to them?”
“Yes. It does!”
Kirino totally lost control of her emotion.
Her face filled with tears, she was such a mess.
“It was a lie! My relationship was a lie! The kiss was also a lie! Everything was a lie!”
After saying that – Kirino breathed heavily, she drew closer to me.
Maybe she just used up all of her strength, Kirino looked very tired.
She caught my collar. Her gaze told me that…she wouldn’t let go no matter what.
But…
“Did you realize it yet!?”
I just experienced everything, but I didn’t understand what is going on.
Even trying to understand what my little sister said in her outburst took me a few seconds.
I felt like – we were talking at cross purposes.
“Isn’t it good, Kirino-san?”
A calm voice. I turned around and faced Mikagami.
He looked like – among everyone here, he is the only one who knew what was going on.
I turned back at my sister, but she looked down.
“What…is going on?”
I struggled to askthat question, but Mikagami actedlikehedidn’thear me. He handed out a handkerchief.
“My mission is over – right?”
“Yes….”
Wait a second, what are you two saying?
To answer my puzzled state, Mikagami said:
“Let me say it again. Anyway, my relationship with Kirino-san was a lie.”
“Lie?”
I finally get it.
“Yes. We haven’t even held hands, much less kiss. Kirino-san just asked me to ‘pretend to be my boyfriend’.”
….Pretend to be my boyfriend….it was the same as me….
Er? Er? Does that mean…I ate their hook and ?
That …that…..A AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
“Why?”
Aside from that, I didn’t know what to say. Why did they do that?
Why did Kirino have to do that? She even had a fierce quarrel with me – that lead to our party’s destruction.
Maybe because he couldn’t stand watching Kirino looking down and depressed, Mikagami carefully said:
“---- Because…Kirino-san wants her brother to acknowledge her?”
“No, I don’t!”
Kirino immediately interrupted. I couldn’t help but ask:
“So why?”
“Because…because!....”
With a painful expression, Kirino looked at me.
“Because…you…”
Ah – damn it all.
I gave up. I didn’t care anymore.
No matter what ‘Kirino’s boyfriend’ was a trap or a tantrum, I’m still a doting elder brother. I couldn’t bear watching her like that.
“Forget it.”
“Ah?”
“Don’t force yourself to say it”
I raised my hand and patted my little sister’s head.
“What…are you …doing”
“Just my obligation as your elder brother.”
Maybe she wouldn’t like it. Maybe she would be angry. But its still much better than her painful expression she was having right now.
“…Wa…Wa..”
“Don’t cry. Don’t cry”
I was so useless. My little sister was crying, but I couldn’t do anything.
And this story continued in a very anticlimactic way….
Why I was trying to figure out what to do with my crying little sister…
“Kyousuke!?”
My Mom came back from shopping. Of course, all she saw was the ruined living room, her daughter’s boyfriend with his puzzled expression, Kirino who was crying and me (who should have been banished) stood next to her.
From her point of view, it probably looked like I threw a tantrum in here and made Kirino cry.
“Er!? Wait Mom! This is a misunderstanding!”
Even I felt that my explanation was weak.
“Misunderstanding!? What misunderstanding? Do you know that there is somethings you can do while there are other things that you mustn’t?”
Suddenly, her expression changed, like she just realized something very horrible.
“Could it ..could it be you ---“
“You finally lay your hand on your little sister!?”
“Er --?”
Mom! How did it turn into this?
“Don’t play dumb! One of the neighbors told me you two were holding hands in the bus station!”
This world is so small! My neighbors saw that!?
“Could it be a triangle relationship between brother and sister…! No! As your mother I will not allow it!”
“No! It is not like that!”
“So why is Kirino crying? Because of you isn’t it!”
“Yes, because of me, but it isn’t like what you imagine!”
Ah….so damn troublesome.,,,
I couldn’t……
In the end, I couldn’t fully explain anything. My dignity was completely destroyed, all I could do was brace myself.
“--- Are you listening, Kyousuke?”
“Yeah yeahyeah”
Allow me to explain.
Around ten minutes later -----
“It hurt Mom…you really hit me….”
“Ahahaha….”
After we explained to my mother, me, Kirino and Mikagami walked to the front door.
While on one hand, we were sending Mikagami back, but on the others, we wanted to have a secret conversation.
“So”
Without waiting for me to finish, Mikagami looked up.
“--- Since the beginning, Misaki-san asked me to convince Kirino-san”
To change Kirino’s mind, Misaki-san prepared a better boyfriend for Kirino. Although both of Kirino and Mikagami didn’t think that it would be so simple like Misaki-san thought.
“Although Kirino-san is really awesome, but she is too much for me to handle. We could be friends, but I don’t have what it takes to be her lover.”
You understood it too?
“That’s why Kyousuke-kun’s concern is dead on. To protect your little sister, you made the right decision. Although others may thing that its stupid, but you can proudly raise your chest”
“Hm”
“Besides”
Mikagami placed one of his hands on his chest, and seemed satisfied.
“I have a lover already”
“I see. I already knew who this is, so there is no need to tell me”
“Awesome. Is that your special power?”
Your lover …is that …right? Female lead from eroge?
I should have seen it coming. This guy was an otaku too, how could he love a 3D girl.
“Haha, actually Misaki-san already knew that you two are brother and sister.”
“Huh? For real?”
“Yes. You couldn’t fool anyone. Your acting was so bad”
Stop. Just stop please.
“Still….this is the same. I will tell Misaki-san that there is no hope for her to separate you two. Next time we meet, I will be your friend again, Kyousuke-kun.”
Saying that, Mikagami left.
The only thing remained was to patch up Kirino and Kuroneko. I didn’t have to do anything, it solved itself.
That night, Dad was happily drinking, while Kirino was talking with Kuroneko by phone. They chatted for a long time – of course, I didn’t know what they talked about.
But after she hung up, my sister said, her expression refreshing.
“ --- The day after tomorrow, we will hold a celebration party.”
I finally prevented the destruction of our group, protected Saori’s future. And finished Ayase’s request.
“Ayase. Kirino doesn’t have a boyfriend”
“I see. Thank you. That’s good”
From my cellphone, I could hear Ayase’s relieved sigh.
“Still, I have to ask where did you get that picture. I hid mine carefully, and Kirino threw her away after quarreling with me.”
“…Onii-chan, have you confirmed that Kirino threw it away?”
“Huh? Of course not”
“Then that’s fine. Please don’t mind it.”
“…..”
I shrugged.
And then -----
Now, Kuroneko called me to meet her behind the school.
It was dusk. The sky was deep red.
Kuroneko was sitting in the bench in front of me.
“…………”
When I arrived, she stood up and spoke in a small voice.
“…I have been waiting.”
“Ah”
Kuroneko was wearing the same white one piece dress from Summer Comicket.
This dress didn’t suit our school much, so I felt a little strange.
“Are you done talking with Kirino?”
“…Yes, since yesterday…seems like Saori and you are worried…”
“That’s fine. It is great that you two made up. Tomorrow is celebration day, Saori probably is looking forward to it. We have to make it a success this time.
“Uhm…Yes”
Kuroneko nodded.
I felt like she was acting a bit strange toward me.
“Still, you two chatted a lot last night. What were you talking about?”
“That’s a secret”
“I see.”
I actually wanted to hear more, but if she said that then there wasn’t a choice.
Kuroneko took a deep breath and changed the subject.
“So…you understand why I am asking you here right?”
She placed one hand on her chest and looked at me.
“Sorry…’I will be waiting for you at the promised land’ – I couldn’t understand anything from such message.”
I was already amazed of myself to be able to figure it out where this place was.
“I see. Then forget it.”
Kuroneko flipped her long black hair. She looked like she was forcing herself. Maybe I was affected, my heart beat faster and faster.
“I called you here…to remove your curse..”
“….Curse?”
“Yes. A curse.Righthere.A curse.”
“Ah”
I understood and blushed. Kuroneko’s face also reddened.
We were thinking about the same thing after all.
“You said to remove a curse…so…how do you plan to do it?”
“! Are you an idiot. What did you just say?”
She saw right through me. I couldn’t help but say the truth.
“Ah, because…I think that we are about to…ah…”
“I …I knew that’s what you are thinking….Really…really…what a shameless male.”
“I’m sorry”
But any normal guy would think the same.
Biting her lower lip, Kuroneko looked at me.
“A curse – cannot be removed.”
“Ack?”
“Once cast, a curse…can not be removed. Forever.”
Hey?
“But it wasn’t what you said. You said as soon as I ‘fulfilled your wish’, my curse would be lifted.”
“That’s right. Yes, if you could ‘fulfill my wish’ your curse would be lifted. But it doesn’t mean it hasdisappeared.”
I had no idea what she was saying. Kuroneko was fully in her ‘dark witch’ mode – but she seemed to saying ‘shut up and listen’, so I couldn’t interrupt.
“So…what do you mean when you say ‘remove a curse’?”
“By using a stronger curse on the previous one.”
Then, Kuroneko told me the most powerful curse, oldest curse in the world.
“Please go out with me”
A few days later ---
I and Kuroneko became lovers.
Translator's Notes
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