Tsuki Tsuki Vol 9 Chapter 1

Chapter 01: Missing Answer

Getting deeper into fall with the end of the sports festival, it was at last a chilly morning.
In my slumber I suddenly felt a pleasant weight on my body along with a soft warmth and a faint fragrance of flowers. A somewhat bashful voice came from above my head.
“Sh- s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun, it’s morning. About time you get up.”
…Mh? s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun?
Different from the usual beautiful and clear voice, it was a gentle and mild tone.
When I opened my heavy eyelids doubtful, my vision was filled with the morning sun and also a cool beauty. Clear eyes with long eyelashes and a smooth bridge of the nose, this girl was without doubt Hijiri… but why was she in my room?
Daring enough, she sat straddling on my waist while her plump bottom pressed onto my body. But I had no time to enjoy the sensation of these round hips and was perplexed, whereas Hijiri showed a bright grin.
“Morning, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun. Let’s go to school together today.”
“…Ah, a dream?”
“Ehm, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun? This isn’t a dream, you know?”
“Mh, taking this isn’t a dream, what are you doing here then? It kind of looks like you’re attacking me in my sleep.”
“Ehh!? Really? I was just told by Kaoru-san that boys like to be waked up like this, so I asked Luna-san and came here, but— hey, don’t fall asleep in the middle of my explanation, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun!”
Somehow Hijiri’s troubled voice reached my ears, but not hearing most of it, I rested my cheek on the pillow.
Hijiri was popular at school with even a rumoured fan club. She could be called a school idol and was always dignified, so it was really unbelievable that she would wake me up in the morning in such a vulnerable astraddle position. Besides, it was Luna, who came into my room every morning.
…This must be a dream.
My half-asleep brain came to this conclusion and I wanted to return to my slumber again, but
“Ah, your sleeping face is so cute… No, wait. s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun, if you don’t get up, you won’t have any time to eat breakfast.”
I heard such a gentle voice, then my body was shaken lightly while at the same time I felt a squishy springiness around my waist, stronger than before.
I- It must be Hijiri’s bottom.
Every time she moved her body, her plump and elastic hips bounced on my waist, stimulating my body with the soft flesh.
“C’mon, get up, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun. If you don’t, I’ll use force.”
Along with her words, my body was shaken greater and Hijiri’s bottom bounced on my waist even more. When I faintly opened my eyes, Hijiri was shaking my shoulders with still straddling me and her voluminous b.r.e.a.s.t.s bewitchingly moved up and down. She herself might not be aware of it, but from my standpoint, I could also feel how she shook her hips on top of me, which was quite erotic.
“Uhm, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun, if you don’t wake up… I, I’ll kiss you.”
“Bring it on. Do what you want.”
“R- Really? Then I won’t hold back.”
“I don’t mind. It’s a dream anyway.”
I replied composed and closed my eyes once more, but… wasn’t somewhat weird?
The warmth of Hijiri’s hand on my shoulders. Her soft and pleasant bottom on my waist. Her voice coming from above my head. For a dream, it was pretty realistic.
“Mhm~ are you still half-asleep, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun? Or are you joking around like usual? I don’t really know, but if you don’t get up… I’ll really kiss you.”
“I’m always serious. And at inconvenient times, I crack a… wait, stop!”
A kiss was definitely going too far. Returning to my senses from a half-asleep state, I pushed aside my sleepiness and jumped up, whereupon a small “Kyaa” scream raised and following my vision was filled fascinating black panties.
…A- Apparently I did something outrageous in my half-asleep state.
Because I had straightened up my upper body with att.i.tude, Hijiri had lost her balance and with both her hands to the back, she had gotten in a posture, where she spread her legs like the letter M.
Widely spreading her beautiful legs clad in stockings, her bewitching thighs and even her crotch were exposed before my eyes, giving a good view on her black underwear.
Truly a lascivious pose.
When I thoughtlessly stared, Hijiri seemingly noticed her own posture as well. Turning bright red in no time, she quickly averted her eyes from me, whereas I lowered my head with att.i.tude.
“Sorry, Hijiri. I was still half-asleep.”
“Y- Yeah, I know you didn’t do it on purpose, so it’s okay. And you don’t need to apologize. If you want to look… go ahead and look some more.”
“…Eh?”
When I raised my words on the unexpected words, Hijiri flushed her cheeks even more still spreading her legs like a M and continued with a small voice.
“If it pleases you, I’m happy. If there’s anything else you want me to do, just so say without reservation…”
Contrary to her soft tone, Hijiri tightly closed both her eyes and turned bright red due to shame.
At this rate she might listen to all my demands. Yes, for example… wait, not good. It was rude to have weird fantasy.
To get my slowly awakening brain into gears, I lightly slapped my cheeks and repeated to take deep breathes… then the door of my room opened with the worst timing ever.
“Hijiri-san, is s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san awake yet?”
Along with a gentle voice, a girl of dazzling beauty came into the room.
Long, blonde hair that emitted a graceful brilliance. Clear, emerald-green eyes. A slender waist and an overwhelming bust, which prided itself with a top cla.s.s size even amongst my acquaintances.
The girl with the charming figure and full-bodied fruits, was our reliable older sister, who surprisingly loved physical contact: Luna. Unfitting to her neat and clean aura, she was a devil, but I myself wasn’t bothered by it.
But well, that aside. The problem was the current situation.
Hijiri was spreading both her legs on the bed while flus.h.i.+ng her cheeks. And I stared at that.
For a bystander, it might look like I was doing something indecent to Hijiri.

Then Luna seemed to jump to conclusions, as tears filled her eyes and she trembled her voice.
“…Could it be, I am interrupting?”
“N- No, Luna-san! Don’t get the wrong idea!”
To clear up the misunderstanding, Hijiri fixed her seating position and hastily shook her hands.
“But s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san is doing something perverted to—”
“That’s not it! s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun hasn’t done anything! To begin with, I think it was my fault for telling the half-asleep s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun that I would kiss him if he doesn’t get up.”
“Uhm, I do not quite follow, but you got into that position on your own…?”
“No, no, that’s not it either, Luna-san.”
It seemed Hijiri was quite agitated. So I made a follow-up.
“I caused Hijiri to spread her legs like a M. It’s my fault.”
“Y- You are at fault, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san? Then, does it mean, you asked Hijiri-san to take a perverted pose for you?”
“…Rather than a ask, it was more by force.”
“By force!?”
“Yeah, I really wronged Hijiri.”
But it was an accident— Before I could explain so, Luna lightly puffed up her cheeks and protested with teary eyes.
“You are so mean, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san! I am the one who always wakes you up! Why do you only do something like that when it is Hijiri-san!”
Temporarily stopping her words, Luna raised her voice with still teary eyes.
“It is not fair to leave me alone out of the loop!”
…So- Somehow, the point she got angry about was slightly off?
When I had that impression, Luna flushed her cheeks and continued.
“I understand that you become unable to hold back on various things, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san, seeing as you are a boy. But at that time, please come to me! It is not fair that it is just Hijiri-san! If you would just ask me, even I, well, will try my best to take a perverted pose!”
“—Then immediately take off your clothes, raise up your beautiful huge b.r.e.a.s.t.s, take them into your own mouth and show off how you lewdly suck on them.”
“Ehh!? I get the feelings that is more demanding than what Hijiri-san did, but if that is what you wish for, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san… wait, now that I think about, that was not s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san’s voice!”
Yeah, exactly. It wasn’t said by me.
It was the voice of a third party, who had suddenly b.u.t.ted in with an imitation of me. When I swiftly s.h.i.+fted away my gaze from Luna, who had put her hands onto her clothes, I saw a girl wearing maid clothes coming into the room.
Smooth white skin. Amber eyes and a perfectly proportioned figure on a slender body.
Still the eye-catching beauty as ever, she was the Gogyou Household’s maid and Hijiri’s older sister— Kaorun aka Gogyou Kaoru.
She must have imitated me… but why was even Kaorun here besides Hijiri? Inadvertently I forgot to retort and tilted my head, whereupon Kaorun was perplexed for some reason.
“Ehm, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama? Were is your usual sharp, yet lovely retort? More importantly, what is the ruckus so early in the morning about? Did something—”
“Please listen to it, Kaoru-san!”
Cutting into Kaorun’s words, Luan grabbed the sleeve of her clothes tightly.
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san would just not get up! So I came to check upon him! And then Hijiri-san was taking a perverted pose in front of him!”
“…Incidentally, what kind of pose was it?”
“She spread her legs like a M!”
When Luna answered so instantly, Kaorun sparkled her eyes, then softly rested her hands on Luna’s shoulders and made her tone a bit gentler.
“It seems you are tired, Luna-san. You must have seen an illusion. Certainly I recommended Hijiri-chan to wake up s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama in an astraddle position. But please think about it. Do you believe the usually composed Hijiri-chan would wake up s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama by spreading her legs like a M?”
“No, that is not it, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san forcefully…”
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama did? I cannot believe that. s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama is a wussy—No, I mean, he has resistant rationality, irritatingly so. I did not see the actual happening, so I cannot say it with confidence, but was it not just an accident?”
When Kaorun replied without s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around on a rare occasion, Hijiri nodded firmly in confirmation.
“Just as Kaoru-san says. It’s not like s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun tried to do anything funny…”
There Hijiri got off the bed and told Luna the circ.u.mstances. Meanwhile I whispered into the ear of Kaorun, who had approached me.
“Thanks. You really saved my a.s.s there, since Luna seemed to have the wrong idea.”
“I know, right? I really had to hold myself back there from fooling around. Please praise me more.”
“Well, that aside, did you call me a ‘wussy’ earlier?”
“Yes, I did. However, even as a wussy, you are adorable, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama. More importantly, please praise me already. I hope you will pet my head.”
“I’m afraid, that request is rejected.”
“…Is that so. Still, you are fantastic again today, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama. So cool.”
“It’s too late to flatter me now— wait, don’t be so downhearted. Just how bad did you want a pet on the head?”
Actually, didn’t she show even more expressions lately?
Involuntarily considering it cute, I softly reached out my hand for Kaorun’s head, but midway I suddenly felt something amiss and stared into her face.
Upon that, Kaorun reddened her cheeks for some reason.
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama, even if you do not look at me with such perverted eyes, I will return your love unconditionally, unlimited and free of charge.”
“Well, I would love to retort that you need your eyes checked, but… didn’t you stop with the ‘s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama’ stuff?”
Realizing what I felt amiss, I looked into Kaorun’s eyes.
Despite her appearance, Kaorun was a hybrid devil. Ever since she could remember, she was treated as a tool at the exorcist organisation and had hard a hard time acting spoiled towards someone.
But she must haven opened up a lot.
Right now she was walking besides Hijiri, who tried to change the exorcist organisation, and she should have already refrained from adding -sama to the names of people at least close to her. In reality, she was calling Luna with -san.
“…Hey Kaorun, I told you before, you don’t need to add ‘sama’ to my name.”
Softening my tone a bit, I gently petted Kaorun’s head, but she lightly shook her head and replied.
“I appreciate the thought, but in the future you could become my Master. The honorific seems appropriate for me, so please let me call you like that.”
“…Wait a sec. What you mean future Master? I have no plans to become your Master. I always want to stay on equal terms with you, since I don’t like to appoint superior and inferior in human relations.”
“Then I do not mind it if you are my Master in name only. Please consider it that kind of play and enjoy it.”
I had been quite serious, yet Kaorun took it with in a casual mood.
“Also, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama, if you insist that you do not want to be called with sama, then I will call you ‘Darling’ from today on. Are you fine with that?”
“I don’t really mind. Sounds fun.”
“An unexpected interest!?”
When I replied this time by s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g around, Kaorun widened her eyes, then flushed her cheeks faintly.
“Uhm, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama, I know I brought it up myself, but ‘Darling’ is too embarra.s.sing after all. If possible, could you choose between ‘Master’ and ‘Dear Brother’?”
“Hey, don’t strike the crucial ‘s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama’ off from the choices. Besides I was only joking. Don’t take me serious. Just keep calling me how you always have…”
Replying so with a light shrug of my shoulders, I casually looked at the other girls, whereu Luna squeezed herself sorrily with “I am sorry. I misunderstood”.
Hijiri must have cleared up the misunderstanding. I made a sigh of relief and returned my gaze to Kaorun, changing the topic as I suddenly noticed something.
“That aside, why are you both here today in the morning?”
When I asked doubtful at this late point, Kaorun replied with a small smile.
“Actually I wanted to surprise you, so on my suggestion, I came over together with Hijiri-chan. It is a plan to make your heart skip a beat by waking you up like a childhood friend.”
“…I see.”
To be honest, it didn’t really felt like a childhood friend, but it must have been Hijiri’s own way of approach. And stuff like this morning might continue from now on. Giving Kaorun an agreeable response and crossing my arms, I looked up to the ceiling… deeply thinking back upon.
The confession from Hijiri the other day. How I didn’t have an answer yet. And my relations.h.i.+p with Hijiri.
Even while I knew that it couldn’t continue like this, our current relations.h.i.+p was just too comfortable to me, so I kept putting off theanswer I should already know… and still hadn’t come to a solution yet.
At that time, to drag my thoughts back to reality, Kaorun peered into my face and showed me a roguish smile.
“What do you say, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama? You were indeed surprised from having Hijiri-chan waking you up, right?”
“…Yeah, I was. I thought my legs would give in.”
When I cracked a joke to hide my emotions at once, Kaorun frowned a bit for some reason.
“That sounds a bit perverted.”
“Just what about it does!? Isn’t it your brain what’s erotic?”
“Muh, that is not the case. If you are doubtful, shall we have Luna-san say the same remark as a test? There you have it, Luna-san. Please say it with a deep sigh. Laying face-down on the bed would be even better.”
When Kaorun brought up the matter to Luna while turning around, Luna, who had watched over us with Hijiri, made a wry smile in confusion.
“Uhm, why are you asking me? If possible, I would like to decline…”
“Luna-san, if you listen to my request, I will present you with a picture of s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama’s sleeping face. Besides, I believe it will please s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama.”
When Kaorun replied so somewhat joking, surprisingly not Luna, but Hijiri blushed and raised her hand reserved.
“Ehm, Luna-san seems hesitant, so I could do it in her stead…”
“Aww! Not fair, Hijiri-san! Please do not get on the bed! I also want s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san’s pictures!”
Luna extended her foot towards the bed in opposition to Hijiri. On the other hand Kaorun put our her palm, as to stop them.
“Please wait, you two. Quarrelling is not good. How about I respond to s.h.i.+n.o.bu-sama’s expectations as a compromise between you two?”
“…Hey, how did it come to that? Besides, I aren’t expecting anything. Actually, don’t fool around so much in the morning.”
Retorting half-wearily, I thought in the corner of my heart.
That the wish of having these fun and lively times continue on forever unchanged was surely just my egoism…

After that I finished dressing up and eating breakfast, then I walked through the residential area on my way to school while being sent off by Luna and Kaorun. Next to me was Hijiri, but also two other girls.
One of them was Machina Liebelei Orangelo, who was in charge of getting tricked and then retorting. She was Luna’s little stepsister and a hybrid devil despite her appearance.
Long, elegant and glamorous red hair. Amber almond eyes that showed her willpower. Her two voluminous b.r.e.a.s.t.s and long, beautiful legs that even overshadowed a gravure idol were a feast for the eyes.
And the other girl was my little sister, Nanjou Nazuna.
With features that reminded you of an adorable kitten, Nazuna was a 8th grader and became the captain of the karate club the other day… but was she properly keeping her club members in check?
Making a nonchalant smile, Nazuna hummed a strange tune. Watching my sister, whose image was far away from being a captain, with a side-glance, I asked partly fooling around.
“I gotta say, you’re so energetic again today. Technically you’re in a sensitive age. Don’t you have a worry or two?”
“A worry? Mmh~ That it gotten colder lately, I guess…?”
“Yeah, you can’t stand the cold after all.”
Reminded me, every year in winter, Nazuna often rolled up with our cat at home under the heated table. When I put my retort on hold and was reminiscent about that time, Machina, who had listened in to us, interjected slightly worried.
“Hey Nazuna, you really don’t have any worries? You said the proficiency test is soon, right? Is your studying coming along well?”
“…Somehow, I suddenly got the tension from a Monday morning.”
As she had completely forgotten about the test until now, Nazuna dropped her shoulders dejected.
Well, you reap what you sow. I leaked a wry smile and lightly rebuked Nazuna.
“Aren’t you tense because you only keep playing around? How about you properly review and prepare for cla.s.s from now on like I do? I think that will make things easier.”
“But Brother, facing troubles in your youth helps you grow.”
“That’s strangely fitting…”
However, next year Nazuna would prepare for entrance exams, so I should help her with her studies next time.
Such thoughts crossed my mind, whereas Hijiri, who had quietly observed so far, showed a soft smile and softly rested a hand on Nazuna’s shoulder.
“Nazuna-chan, if you like, I can help you with your studies.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. Let’s have Kaoru-san help you as well on this occasion, not just me. Kaoru-san is good at teaching, so let’s study with three of us next time.”
“Yeah! Thanks, Hijiri-oneechan! And after studying, let’s play together!”
“Uhm, Nazuna-chan, let’s leave the playing for after the test, okay?”
Making a faint wry smile, Hijiri petted Nazuna’s head. Nazuna tightly clung to her. And for some reason, Machina grabbed the sleeve of my clothes with a bitter expression.
“…s.h.i.+n.o.bu, Hijiri said all that what I wanted to say.”
“What you wanted to say? You mean ‘playing after the test’?”
“Yep, yep, Nazuna often plays with Elni, but not so often with me— wait, no! I mean about helping her study!”
She might have brought up the proficiency test, because she wanted to suggest that.
Surely Machina wanted to play the older sister in front of Nazuna. Staring at Hijiri and Nazuna, she once more made a bitter expression.
“Somehow, Nazuna is quite attached to Hijiri. She calls me ‘Machina-chan’, but Hijiri with ‘Hijiri-oneechan’…”
“Jealous? Then why don’t you ask Nazuna to call you with ‘oneechan’ as well? I’m sure Nazuna will agree. If you’re too embarra.s.sed to ask her yourself, I instead will— call you ‘neechan’.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. Let’s have Kaorun join in as well on this occasion, not just me. We two will call you ‘Neechan’.”
“Yeah! Thanks, s.h.i.+n.o.bu— is certainly not what I’ll say! How did it turn into that!? Go ask Nazuna in my stead! Besides, I don’t want you to be the little brother, Kaoru the little sister and I the older sister! You’re always so useless, s.h.i.+n.o.bu!”
“Not always. But doesn’t my level of uselessness tickle your motherly instincts… Machina-neechan?”
“Well, it’s a bit cute— wait, you casually changed your way of calling me! It’s embarra.s.sing, so stop it!”
“…Would you have preferred Big Sis?”
“Even worse!”
Mhm, apparently she didn’t like it. I crossed my arm and pondered for a few seconds, then I clapped my hands and cracked a joke.
“Okay, then I’ll become your older brother now.”
“I, I don’t get at all how it turns into that…”
“Well, you know, if you become my little sister, you naturally will become Nazuna’s older sister. Then Nazuna might call you with ‘oneechan’ as well. Want to try it? If it makes Nazuna consider you as an older sister, it’ll be perfect.”
“…You have a point. Okay, I’ll try it.”
No, no, not the slightest bit of it was convincing.
While I retorted so in my heart, Machina seemed motivated and cleared her throat with a single cough. Faintly blus.h.i.+ng, she looked at me with upturned eyes.
“Ehm, come shopping with me next time, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama.”
N- Not good. It was more effective than I had imagined. If Machina were my little sister, I might coddle her like a cat.
“Mh? What’s the matter, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama? Your face is kind of red… could it be, you’re embarra.s.sed?”
“…Lil Sis, even if it’s your beloved brother, don’t go reading other people’s hearts.”
“Eh? You really are embarra.s.sed? Th- Then I wouldn’t mind calling you ‘s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama’ all day today.”
Machina was in a good mood. In regards to that, Nazuna, who watched over us, got worried with “…Machina-chan might have become my rival” and Hijiri got a weird misunderstanding with “So s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun has a thing for that…”.
While watching the two of them at the corner of my vision, I decided to stop with the jokes already.
“Hey Machina, let’s put an end to this play now, okay? I’m scared that Elni or Kaorun might fool around by imitating you.”
“Right… wait, you just said ‘play’! You tricked me again! Stupid s.h.i.+n.o.bu!”
“…I’m not stupid. But doesn’t my stupidity tickle your motherly instincts— Aw, ouch! I apologize, so stop pulling on my ear.”
While talking like that, we then parted with Nazuna at the usual place and when I headed for school side by side with Machina and Hijiri, suddenly a cold wind blew and I s.h.i.+vered my body a bit.
…Just like Nazuna had said, it really had become cold.
Getting up in the morning would get harder from now on. When I s.h.i.+vered my body once more, Hijiri reserved took my arm for no apparent reason and instantly a squishy elasticity touched my elbow.
It were Hijiri’s soft and full voluminous b.r.e.a.s.t.s.
They pressed onto my body with a particular touch, which wasn’t too close, neither too shallow. Moreover Hijiri tightly clung to me after a short hesitation and my arm was pinched between her two plump swellings. This sensation was irresistible.
While my heartbeat accelerated, Hijiri flushed her cheeks and looked at me sneaking.
“Uhm, I think you won’t be cold like this. What do you say… s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisan?”
Influenced by Machina earlier, Hijiri bashful changed her way of calling me.
“…Hijiri, enough of that. I’m bored of the little sister play.”
“You’re already bored of it!? Even though you looked like you enjoyed it…”
“Sorry, I’m at an age where I easily get pa.s.sionate and easily get bored.”
Even while I cracked such a joke, my cheeks were actually quite hot. When I quickly averted my eyes from her, Machina grabbed my arm with att.i.tude for some reason in opposition to Hijiri.
Instantly, now plenty voluminous b.r.e.a.s.t.s pressed squishy onto my body.
Machina’s round, warm and soft b.r.e.a.s.t.s full of elasticity. They pressed onto my arm stronger than Hijiri’s and while my cheeks got even hotter, Machina frowned and faced Hijiri.
“…You’re so obstinate, Hijiri. Again with the known seduction?”
The seduction Machina was speaking of most likely meant the yin-yang technique.
The bedchamber skill that increased one’s power by combining the yin energy of a woman with the yang energy of a man.
That skill required to do perverted things and Hijiri previously used all opportunities to seduce me, so that she could increase her power with the skill.
But now that I thought about it, all these seduction might have just been done to get closer to me. On Machina’s question, Hijiri replied with a clear negation and still red cheeks.
“Machina-san, this isn’t seduction. It’s not related to the yin-yang technique. I love s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun, so I’m doing this.”
“You love s.h.i.+n.o.bu? That’s not really anything new… wait, Ehh!? What the! You already confessed!?”
After widened her eyes, Machina went all dewy-eyed for some reason and clung to me even stronger.
“H- Hijiri, shouldn’t you reconsider? Falling for s.h.i.+n.o.bu surely brings hards.h.i.+ps. You know, how should I say, he’s a playboy and has an evil look.”
“Still, he’s the right one. He certainly has an evil look, but on a closer look you can tell that he has a kind face. At times he even makes a really cute face.”
“Th- That’s true, but he’s always telling strange jokes, isn’t he?”
“Yeah, Kaoru-san also complained that he immediately distracts with a joke to hide his embarra.s.sment. But I don’t think that’s all. Because he looks slightly scary, I think he’s working hard to soften the atmosphere with jokes, so that people aren’t afraid of him.”
“Is that so? I didn’t know…”
…Neither did I.
I wanted to crack that as a joke, but I just wasn’t capable to.
Hijiri and Machina’s sweet fragrance and soft warmth agitated me. I was also concerned about the cold glares by-pa.s.sers gave me for a while now. I should give them a piece of advice at this point, but it just wasn’t the right atmosphere to interject.
But well, after a while they surely would calm down.

I was optimistic as such, but while the number of students naturally increased as we approached the school gate, Hijiri and Machina were still clinging to me and continued their quarrel.
All gazes around us were focussed on us.
All these looks, alike to jealousy and killing intent, directed at me hurt a bit. That said, it might only be natural, since both Hijiri and Machina were popular at school with boys and girls alike.
But, I wished they stopped already. As they didn’t notice the looks around us, they faintly raised the volumes of their voice while still clinging to each my arms.
“You’re right, Hijiri, s.h.i.+n.o.bu has good parts. But he often does s.e.xual hara.s.sment, you know? He touched my b.r.e.a.s.t.s or bottom numerous times. Are you fine with being s.e.xual hara.s.sed, Hijiri?”
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun isn’t someone that would do s.e.xual hara.s.sment on purpose. Besides, if it’s him, I would forgive anything. If that’s what he wants, then well, I’m happy as well…”
“F- Forgive anything… Why are you so daring! You really are a sullen pervert!”
“I, I’m not a sullen pervert! It’s only for s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun! I won’t say that to someone else!”
In spite of being at the school gate, Machina and Hijiri were in a heated debate. While they were doing so, finally girls, who seemed to be juniors, approached us.
A fan of Hijiri? All of them fiercely glared at me and for starters, I called out reserved.
“Ehm, need something?”
“Hii! I, I’m not scared or anything!”
“Y- Yeah! We won’t yield to threats!”
“We’ll protect Gogyou-senpai!”
Contrary to their words, the girls trembled her legs in a frightened state. Somehow I couldn’t stand watching that. I felt bad for scaring them, so I made an awkward smile, but
“Y- Yakuza! Murderer! Devil!”
“It’s impossible for us after all!”
“…S- Sorry! We got carried away!”
Showing tears in their eyes, the girls quickly ran away without time to stop them.
That reaction was quite hurtful. I dropped my shoulders a bit and while Hijiri and Machina finally ended their quarrel, now a familiar girl approached me.
She was my cla.s.smate and childhood friend, Minami Ouka.
Adorable, big eyes. Light crimsons lips that reminded you of petals. Huge b.r.e.a.s.t.s that were rumoured to be F-cup and greatly bounced on her every step to emphasise their existence. When I unintentionally was about to follow these movements with my eyes,
“Morning, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-chan~”
Along with her greeting, Minami made a small jump. And like that, she clung to me.
Upon that, her plentiful voluminous b.r.e.a.s.t.s came into contact with my face and I felt an indescribable softness on both my cheeks… but I couldn’t breathe like this. While I struggled for oxygen, Minami clung to me even stronger and Machina gave her a warning right away.
“H- Hey, why are even you clinging to s.h.i.+n.o.bu. Hurry up and get away from him.”
“Eh, if you’re clinging to him, let me in too. It’s physical contact between friends. Besides, you know, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-chan likes it. For a while now, he’s wildly rubbing his face onto my b.r.e.a.s.t.s… It feels kind of nice…”
“Uhm, Minami-san? Take a closer look. s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun looks somewhat in pain…”
I heard Hijiri’s rebuking voice, then the ruckus around us grew ever louder, as even Minami was clinging to me now.
“Nanjou-kun surely is doing something incredible in front of the school gate.” “Nothing less from Nanjou. He calmly does what we can’t do.” “Fascinating, I’m in awe” “So envious. I also want to hug onto Nanjou-kun when he cross-dresses!”
Such carefree voices from people I believed to be my cla.s.smates reached my ears, but it was only for a few seconds. The larger part of the students
“Not only does he have Gogyou-senpai and Orangelo-senpai cling to him, he’s even making out with that big-breasted senior…!” “Unforgivable.” “I’ll curse him! 24/7!” “No, just cursing him is too half-hearted. Let’s tear him to pieces right here.”
were in a rampant state like that. When I somehow pushed off Minami… I could recognize a couple of girls, from the Kendo club?, slowly approaching me with bamboo blades in their hands in my vision. They all showed an ominous smile.
…How should I explain this?
I didn’t like to resolve things with strength, neither against boys or girls. While I pondered with my arms crossed, Hijiri took a step forward and calmly opened her mouth.
“Wait, girls. Please calm down a bit. Put away your bamboo blades.”
“B- But, Gogyou-senpai, that delinquent—”
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun isn’t a delinquent.”
Cutting into the girl’s voice, Hijiri said with a strong tone.
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun is precious to me. I’m happy that you’re worried about me, but don’t talk bad about him. I don’t want him to be hurt.”
On a rare occasion, Hijiri had an angry way of speaking. The nearby girls replied with silence. Was this the so called silence before the storm?
While I broke out in a mental cold sweat, Hijiri gently took my hand with “Let’s go, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun” and started to walk. A short time later,
“Wh- What does she mean with precious!?” “D- Don’t tell me, Gogyou-senpai is in love with this villain-faced guy!?” “Calm down, girls! I’m sure Gogyou-senpai was tamed by that guy in body and heart.” “Wh- What are you saying! You’re the one who has to calm down!”
The voices of the students making a ruckus like that echoed around…

Cla.s.s went on like always, getting into lunch break like that. After taking care of my affairs, I returned to the cla.s.sroom and sat down on my chair, whereupon Machina next to me called out to me a bit worried.
“Welcome back, s.h.i.+n.o.bu. What did the junior girls say?”
“Who knows. It only sounded like screams to me.”
Replying so while taking out my lunch box from my bag, I made a small sigh in my heart.
Truth be told, due to the incident this morning, I was called out every break with “We have to talk about Gogyou-san” by either letter or messenger and went to meet unfamiliar students, but everyone of them ran away in a frightened sate upon seeing my face.
How rude could they get?
However, I was used to such reactions, so it didn’t bother me too much and I opened the lid of my lunch box while humming, whereupon Machina said with a slightly astonished tone.
“Hey s.h.i.+n.o.bu, Hijiri is popular at school, so you better don’t provoke her fans too much. You said they screamed… Just what did you do?”
“I didn’t really do anything. Nor do I intent to provoke them. I just tried to smile. And then they ran away. Well when you’re so rocking like me, your existence alone is enough of a provocation… wait, why are you suddenly petting my head?”
I was fooling around, so I wanted her to retort, but Machina was probably comforting me. So I didn’t resist in particular and while I was petted, I saw Hijiri softly getting away from the circle of cla.s.smates surrounding her and approaching me.
Hijiri’s hand held a lunch box and she called out with a smile.
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun, Machina-san, if you like, would you like to eat together?”
“Mh? How rare. You’re not going to eat with the others?”
“Ehm, I’m a bit troubled by all their questions from the ruckus this morning.”
…I see. So she escaped, huh. Speaking of questions, I saw Hijiri getting called out during break and talking with someone in the hallway too.
“Well then, let’s eat together today.”
“Okay. Thanks, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun…”
While saying her thanks, Hijiri borrowed an empty chair and stared at Machina for some reason. More precisely, her gaze was fixated on Machina’s hand, which was petting my head.
“What, you jealous?”
“Eh? Uhm… Yeah. I want to pet your—”
“Then I’ll pet your head in exchange, Hijiri.”
“Ehm, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun? I don’t want you to pet my head, rather I want to pet yours…”
“Don’t be shy.”
“S- Somehow, you’re a bit forceful, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun.”
“Don’t fret it.”
No way I would stand the embarra.s.sment of having both Machina and Hijiri pet my head.
A bit hurried, I reached out my hand for Hijiri’s head. Upon that, her glamorous, black hair tickled my fingertips and showing no particular signs of resistance, Hijiri narrowed her eyes pleased.
“Mm… This is…. kind of amazing… My voice is going to leak…”
Apparently she liked it.
When I softly tried to comb my fingers into her hair, her silky hair pa.s.sed through my fingers and I felt a confined heat under it. Then Hijiri started to smile pleased, so I continued to pet her head for a while, but
“Yah…”
The moment my little finger incidentally touched her ear, she raised a strangely bewitching voice.
“Sh- s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun, my ears are a bit, well, too much…”
“Why? You don’t like it?”
“I don’t hate it, but…. Uhn… It tickles…”
“Mhm, it tickles, huh…”
Someway my prankish nature awakened.
In no way able to suppress that, I slowly traced her ear with a feather touch, which was barely a touch at all, whereupon Hijiri trembled her body with a s.h.i.+ver and started to leak a sweet voice.
“Ahn… s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun, you meanie… Mm… Stop…”
“Fufu, for saying stop, you’re making a rather pleased face.”
“Please don’t… Ahn… say that…”
Colouring her cheeks red, Hijiri cast down her eyes embarra.s.sed.
…This wasn’t good. I had meant it as a mere prank, but at this rate it seemed like I would be unable to stop. For now I repeated deep breathes in my heart to calm down, whereupon now Machina lightly pulled on the sleeve of my clothes.
…I got the premonition that I would get scolded.
I timidly turned around with that in mind, but Machina didn’t say anything in particular and pointed to the door of the cla.s.sroom awkwardly for some reason.
What was up? When I doubtful followed her direction with my eyes… I confirmed multiple female students in the gap of the opened door or at the hallway windows. They must have been fans of Hijiri as well? Everyone looked at me with a fierce gaze and severally said with a low voice.
“Th- The rumour is true after all.” “Gogyou-senpai is threatened by a Yakuza to keep his company…!” “That Yakuza touched Gogyou-senpai’s hair with animalistic eyes.” “Poor Gogyou-senpai…”
If my look were just a bit better, a weird rumour might have not spread. But well, people’s rumour only lasted for 75 days.
Not really bothered, I replied with a small wave of my hand, whereupon the girls went pale with “D- Did he hear us?” and Hijiri stood up with att.i.tude.
“What’s up? Toilet?”
“N- No. I’ll go clear up the misunderstanding quickly. You guys can eat already.”
Before even finis.h.i.+ng her sentence, Hijiri rushed over to the girls. In regards, Machina, who had stayed quiet so far, rested her chin on her hand on the table and made a small sigh.
“…Popularity sure is though.”
Well, you are adored too by a lot of students who call you “Queen” behind your back.
I thought of interjecting so, but I stopped, since it would shock her…

Afterwards my cla.s.smates called out to me with mild voices saying “You’ll face a lot of troubles, but hang in there, Nanjou” “I’m on your side” “But I’m envious of Gogyou-san” “…That’s all you ever say, Katou” while on the other hand unfamiliar students continued to give my jealous glances, then it was after school.
When I watched over Machina, who happily chatted with cla.s.smates, with a side-glance, Hijiri, who usually headed for club activities right away, approached me with her bamboo blade pouch over her shoulder and lowered her head a bit.
“Sorry, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun. You had a lot of troubles because of me today. I didn’t think it would turn out like this…”
“Well, no sweat. You don’t really need to apologies. I enjoyed the tension, so it’s fine.”
As a matter of fact, that much was rather cute. Moreover my cla.s.smates took my side.
…In middle school I was feared even more than now and barely had anyone to talk to, so I was really grateful about my cla.s.smates’ reaction. So I showed a smile, but Hijiri slightly worried rested her hand on my shoulder.
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun, please tell me right away if anything happens. I’ll properly protect you.”
“Mhm~ I don’t think there’s a reason to be that worried. Most of your fans are girls, right? If it’s a girl… I can win her over with sweet talk.”
“…Somehow I got even more worried now. You look like you would really do it.”
“Hey, you sure have become rude.”
Actually, don’t take my joke serious.
I inadvertently showed a wry smile, but Hijiri said with a serious expression.
“Just like Kaoru-san, you aren’t aware of your own charm, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun. I’m sure if you get serious, the junior girls will fall for you. That might be a good thing, but increasing the rivals even more is, well, troubling for me.”
“B- But people are able to strive further specially because they got a rival, no?”
“…Please don’t obscure it.”
Staring into my eyes, Hijiri faintly flushed her cheeks.
“You’re a boy, so I can understand that you’re attracted to various girls. But if you should choose me, I’ll give it my utmost best. I’ll do anything possible. I’ll make sure to satisfy you…”
S- Satisfy? Me?
Hearing this bold words, I suddenly remembered Hijiri spreading her legs like a M from this morning. Moreover while my eyes were drawn to her ripe b.r.e.a.s.t.s or slender waist and even to her perfect, beautiful legs, Hijiri flushed her cheeks even more and continued with “Therefore”.
“Please look at me properly too, just a little longer.”
While saying so, Hijiri cast down her eyes and started to say something about “… Not just Luna-san, but me as well…”, but her voice was just so small that I couldn’t hear it well.
When I tilted my head,
“That’s all I wanted to tell you.”
Hijiri finished so and left the cla.s.sroom with a wave of her hand. On the other hand I, left behind, dropped my shoulders a bit and put my cheek onto my table like that.
…Please look at me properly too, huh.
In the end, I couldn’t say anything back to her.
What was I doing? I knew it couldn’t continue like this, yet I didn’t do anything. My chest was full of regret.
When I unintentionally felt low with my cheek still on the table, I suddenly made eye contact with an easygoing guy, as he still hadn’t went home. He was our cla.s.s’ pervert and my friend, Asada Kouta.
“…What’s up, Nanjou? Why the depressed look?”
Approaching me wondering, Asada faintly frowned.
“Could it be, you’re worrying about what to do when you’re attacked by the fan club girls on the street at night, since you’re getting along so well with Gogyou-san?”
“Hey, Hey, if a harmless guy like me gets attacked, then a pervert like you must have been stabbed seven times already.”
“Hahaha… Touché.”
“You’re not denying it!? It’s scary, since your eyes are shallow!”
On the one hand I retorted with att.i.tude while Asada corrected his tone a bit with “Well jokes aside”.
“I don’t think you have to worry about the fan club. I looked a bit into it and the club presidents seems to be someone from your old middle school. The president seems to know a few rumours about you, so I doubt you’ll really get attacked.”
“Wait a sec. Rumours about me? Like what?”
“Stuff like you’re the young master of a Yakuza group or a killer.”
“…Okay. Don’t say anything more. At any rate I have a villain face.”
“Don’t get so depressed, Nanjou. I’ll do something about the fan club. So you just have to act like always.”
“…”
I was honestly happy about Asada’s concern. I was a bit worried about the fan club. But was it really okay if I acted like always?
Even though I would keep running away from Hijiri’s feelings then…
Before I noticed it, I had clenched my fist. Softly loosening them, I thanked Asada and then left the cla.s.sroom behind me.
By the way, Machina apparently was invited by the girls from cla.s.s to hang out and left, so I walked down the hallway alone, whereupon my vision captured Hijiri, whatever happened to her club activities.
Like before, Hijiri was surrounded by a couple of students and had a pretty appearance.
But, as soon as Hijiri met my eyes, she showed a smile and separated from the nearby students, rus.h.i.+ng over me with sparkling eyes.
…It was a somewhat innocent and adorable smile. It was slightly different from the one she showed to cla.s.smates or juniors and hadn’t the usual dignity, but I selfishly thought that I would like to monopolize this smile a bit longer.
Amidst that, Hijiri was faintly out of breath while still smiling at me.
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun, if you’re going home now, want to go together halfway?”
“Yeah, sure, but are your club activities already over?”
It was still too early. I felt a bit doubtful, whereupon Hijiri quietly whispered into my ear.
“…I got a job call during club activities.”
“I see. So you’re leaving early.”
While I also replied with a quiet voice, I gave the students, who were with Hijiri just now, a side-glance.
Most likely, Hijiri whispered into my ear in consideration of them. She was hiding the fact that she was an exorcist. However, her warm breath touched my ear and her glamorous, black hair brushed my shoulder while even a nice fragrance hung in the air, so I certainly was a bit restless.
Moreover the students were somewhat glaring at me.
“…Hey Hijiri, I’m fine with going home together, but what about them?”
“No worries. I’m happy that they talked to me, but it’s about time I go. Let’s go together.”
Along with her words, Hijiri showed her innocent smile again.
A smile that gave the impression that she rather stayed with me than with the others.
Nodding in response to that smile, I left the school side by side with Hijiri. And while I then was smitten by her dignified side profile, I opened my mouth casually.
“Still, continuing with your club activities when you have that job… Sounds hard.”
“Mhm~ Might be, but I still want to keep doing it. Kendo is a good recreation.”
“Recreation?”
“Yeah. It’s fun playing sports and sweating with others. I just can’t do that with my exorcist training or job…”
“I see. So that’s the reason you keep at it.”
Just like Hijiri said, the exorcist training certainly didn’t feel refres.h.i.+ng. And by confronting devils on her job, there was the danger of losing her life. Unlike the Kendo techniques that are meant to protect, the exorcist techniques mostly aimed at defeating the opponent.
I kind of understood that, since I was getting exorcist training at the Dojo in Hijiri’s house for a while now.
I pondered about these things while giving an agreeable response, whereupon Hijiri showed me a wry smile.
“I guess, the exorcist training is a bit harsh for you too?”
“A bit. But more so it’s fun.”
If I continued the training like that, I could surely get stronger than now. When I faintly smiled with that premonition, Hijiri widened her eyes a little.
“You’re amazing, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun. There is hardly anyone who says that training is fun. Reminds me, my father praised you how surprisingly fast you learned. But…”
Midway faintly filling her words worry, Hijiri asked reserved.
“Are you sure about your grandfather’s dojo? Lately you’re often coming over to get exorcist training, but do you really have no intention to take over your grandfather’s dojo?”
“Yeah, I think I already told you before, but I have no such intention.”
It was before the sports festival, if I remembered correctly. I had the memory of being asked something similar, when I went to get exorcist training. While remembering about it, I continued my words.
“Actually I was quite weak as a kid and I hated that my weak self couldn’t protect anyone, so I attended my gramps’ dojo. Not to take over the dojo, but to get stronger.”

“…You were trying to get stronger for someone, right…”

A small mumbling that had an isolated tone like a monologue.
Hearing it, the figure of a single girl scurried in the back of my brain. While I was at a loss for words, Hijiri looked at me fixated and changed the topic without previous notice.
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun, would you be happy if you can stay with Luna-san and the other from now on?”
“Well, yeah… They are like family to me.”
Unable to grasp the meaning behind the question, I nodded a bit perplexed.
“I see. Then I’ll try even harder at my job.”
“…Mh? How’s that related?”
“Fufu, secret.”
Hijiri smiled roguish, but also a bit proud.
Now unable to understand the meaning of her words, I softly called out while tilting my head.
“Trying hard is all fine, but don’t overdo it, okay?”
“Yeah. Thanks, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun.”
Hijiri brightened her smile and after walking for some time,
“I’m going this way. See you, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-kun. I think I’ll be coming over next time to help Nazuna-chan study, so let’s play once I’m done.”
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”
When I replied with a small wave of my hand, Hijiri left still smiling. Most likely she was heading for her job destination now.
…If I just could help her with the job.
When I thought about Hijiri getting injured at her job, my chest was full of turmoil. I quickly wanted to get enough exorcist training and help Hijiri at the actual scene.
While concerned about such thoughts, I walked towards in front of the station, as I wanted to drop by the bookstore, whereupon I heard Luna’s voice saying “s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san” amidst the hustle and bustle.
Stopping a bit surprised, I faced the voice, where Luna stood with a happy smile. Wearing a shopping bag from the supermarket in her hand, she rushed over to me with a smile, but
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-s–Kyaa!”
Luna perfectly tripped midway. I hastily drew closer to her.
“E- Everything alright?”
“Yes! The eggs are fine!”
Confirming the contents of the shopping bag, Luna replied with a great nod.
“Okay, but be a bit more worried about your own body.”
You could get new eggs as much as you please.
When I gently took her hand, Luna tilted her head puzzled with “Why did I even trip?” and stood up, directing a smile at me.
“Are you on your way home?”
“Well, I wanted to stop by the bookstore, but you’re shopping?”
“Yes, my part-time job is over, so I am shopping for dinner.”
…Part-time job, huh.
As a matter of fact, Luna recently started to work part-time at a nearby family restaurant on the referral of Asada’s older sister for the reason of learning about society and saving up money for university. Right now she was in the training period.
She surely wasn’t used to the job yet and I felt bad about disturbing her, so not even once I went to the restaurant so far, but once her training was over, I should drop by.
While such thoughts crossed my mind, I softly opened my mouth.
“Hey Luna, as we already met, want to go home together?”
“Ehm, I would love to, but I am still in the middle of shopping…”
Apparently Luna only bought bargain goods and was heading for a different supermarket now.
So I decided to drop by the bookstore some other time and accompanying Luna, we two went to a nearby supermarket and set foot into it.
There I took a shopping basket and Luna started to pick a menu for dinner.
Amidst that, I stopped in front of the Sas.h.i.+mi corner.
…I would like to try fat tuna.
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san, what do you want to eat tonight?”
“Mhm.”
It was expensive after all, so she likely would get angry if I asked her to buy it?
“If you want, I can make your favourite mapo doufu?”
“Guess so…”
But I believed that Nazuna and Elni would love to have Sas.h.i.+mi as well.
“Uhm, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san, are you listening to me?”
“What to do— eh, Uwah!”
Before I noticed it, I had felt the sensation of soft lips on my ear. a sweet breathe and Luna’s play-biting. When I inadvertently returned to my senses, Luna smiled roguish.
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san, please listen properly. What do you want for dinner?”
“Ah, yes, sorry. I want to eat fat tuna.”
“Eh? That is a bit expensive, so Tomoe-san will get angry…”
“Please. Man up!”
“Ehm, I am not a man, you know?”
“Hm, then I’ll give you a kiss, so please.”
Instantly, Luna stared blankly, as she took my joke seriously, and then put the fat tuna into the shopping basket without hesitation, walking on in a good mood.
“N- No, wait, Luna! It was just a joke! You gotta retort! You don’t need to buy it for real!”
While I hastily stopped Luna, our dinner then was set to mapo doufu in the end and finis.h.i.+ng our shopping, we left the supermarket behind us. And when we two headed for the house, Luna suddenly s.h.i.+fted her gaze to the nearby park.
This park, Park Midorikawa, was a famous dating spot around here.
“Oh, you want to stop by there?”
“No, I have to prepare today’s dinner, so maybe next time.”
Replying with somewhat regretful words, Luna walked on. While matching my pace to hers beside her and fixing my grip on the shopping bag, I asked with a casual tone.
“Reminds me, how’s your job going? Everything’s fine?”
“Yes. Everyone at the restaurant is nice. It is really fun.”
“…Have you tripped so far?”
“I, I tripped twice…”
Luna blushed embarra.s.sed and I gently reached out my hand with a smile.
“If you feel like grumbling, I’ll listen to you anytime. I’m sure it’s a lot of work, but hang in there.”
When I petted her head along with my words, Luna smiled with “Thank you”, then happily sparkled her eyes.
“When I keep working hard, save up money and can attend university together with you, then I might get to go home with you like today.”
“Yeah, might be.”
The reason Luna started to work part-time.
The started aiming for university and learning about society, so she could fit into the human world despite being a devil and stay together with everyone forever.
—Because I always want to stay with s.h.i.+n.o.bu-san and the others from now on.
Luna told me these words once.
Suddenly remembering them, my chest slowly became warmer. And then, still smiling, Luna softly conveyed her feelings carefully.
“I hope I can attend university together with Machina, Hijiri-san and Kaoru-san. Going to university together and going home together with sometimes hanging out somewhere on the way. Spending time like this sounds really fun.”
Like talking about a dream, Luna smiled joyful.
The future she picture was my wish and casually and calmly walking home with her felt just so lovely for some reason…

An early afternoon on a holiday. Amidst the delicious sound of chewing snacks, there was a single girl holding a bag of rice crackers in my field of vision.
Calling herself a G.o.ddess and in charge of foolery, she was Elni.
Ordered features that reminded you of a delicate doll. Her big eyes red like a Rubin and her silver hair tied up in twin tails sparkled glamorous today as well. Also, I didn’t grow tired of watching her joyful behaviour of eating snacks, but
“…You know, Elni, lately I’m a bit worried.”
I softly s.h.i.+fted my gaze away from Elni, looked at the window frame of my room and quietly started to talk.
“It’s about school. Everyone is calling me ‘Ogre’ or ‘Devil’. Well, that’s nothing new, but lately I even got the nickname ‘Harem King’…”
I thought that the reason for that was probably that Machina was always by my side, Hijiri’s action and Minami’s physical contact.
“Of course my cla.s.smate don’t call me like that and I can brush off bag gossip like that. It’s no use to always worry about other’s opinions.”
Before I noticed it, the rice cracker chewing sound was gone. Elni surely was listening to me seriously. I continued with my talk while still facing the window.
“But it seems Hijiri is concerned about it. Machina is a bit worried too. And it looks like Asada is working in the shadows as well. So I thought it’s better for me to not do anything, but what do you think?”
When I s.h.i.+fted gaze back expectant,
“…*snore, snore*”
Of all things, Elni carefully hugged the rice cracker bag and was sleeping with an innocent face.
That sleeping face was highly adorable.
But, I faintly frowned and lightly slapped Elni’s cheeks right and left.
“Hey, wake up. I was being serious here. Don’t fall asleep at a time like this.”
“Mmh? Ah, sorry. I unknowingly fell asleep. I’ll give you some crackers, so forgive me.”
“…I don’t want any crackers.”
Even though she fell asleep on my story, she made an indifferent face.
I should reject her on a trial. By doing so, Elni might reflect on her actions a bit.
“I don’t know you anymore. Get out of my room already. And you can laze around in your own room all you want.”
“…Eh? Wh- Why are you so angry? The usual s.h.i.+n.o.bu would forgive me with a pinch on the cheek. C’mon, pinch them as much as you want.”
Elni looked somewhat worried, but I turned my back to her half-prankish.
“Hm, if you aren’t going to leave, then I’ll.”
“U- Uwaaah! Wait, s.h.i.+n.o.bu! I won’ ever doze off again! I’ll even give you all the crackers! I’ll listen to whatever you say! Please, just forgive me!”
“No, no, you don’t need to feel that guilty. I overdid it too. Sorry.”
Lowering my head and taking one rice cracker from Elni, who was half in tears, I sat down on the bed and made a sigh.
“But I wonder why I scare people. Even though I’m so pretty, such a mystery…”
“M- Mhm~”
“Hey Elni, what’s with the face that says ‘What nonsense are you saying when you have a face that gets you reported to 110 by walking on the street. Even the kids on the street would foam at the mouth upon seeing you’.”
“I, I’m not making such a face! I don’t want to make you angry again!”
“…I see. My bad. I was just paranoid.”
When I lowered my head again, Elni crossed her arms with a serious expression on a rare occasion.
“I think it’s true that you have an evil look. But personally I think instead of your look, your aura is the problem.”
“My aura?”
“Yeah. For example, Luna gives of a gentle one. Machina is like a Queen and Nazucat a kitten, while Tomoe-san is kind of a leopardess.”
“And me?”
“A wild tiger.”
…Obviously anyone would be scared if someone like that stood in front of him.
“You see, you’re doing martial arts, so how should I say, you don’t give off the vibes of an ordinary guy. And I heard that real masters can suppress their aura. So you should hurry up and become a master too, s.h.i.+n.o.bu.”
“Well, my gramps and dad are like that, but I wo