Tsuki Tsuki Vol 10 Chapter 3

Chapter 03: Sad Promise

Someway my body was enveloped by a soft warmth. Furthermore, someone was apparently petting my head, which felt really good.
But, I doubtfully opened my eyes to escape the slumber.
“…M- Machina?”
Subtly a surprised voice leaked from my own mouth.
In front of my eyes and nose were Machina finely chiselled features and she clung to me in the bed while gently petting my head with her slender fingers.
“Wh- What’re you doing?”
“…J- Just some physical contact.”
Replying bashful to my question,
“Morning— s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama.”
Machina flushed her cheeks and smiled.
…Speaking of, yesterday it turned into me sleeping together with Machina.
While remembering that, I hastily got out of the bed at once, but… apparently the hypnosis from yesterday was still in effect. After eating breakfast, Machina sat down next to me on the sofa in living room and talked to me with a smile.
“Hey s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama, do you have any plans today?”
“I’m tired from your and Luna’s kisses yesterday. My plan is to go back to sleep now.”
When I cracked such a playboy joke,
“Th- Then I will wait, so play with me when you wake up again.”
Machina softly rested her hand onto my thigh with a slightly regretful expression.
Even while the warm sensation of her palm made me somewhat agitated, I suddenly felt something amiss.
She addressed me different from yesterday. Yesterday it had been “Dear Brother”, but now it was “s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama”. And she did a bit of physical contact, but didn’t kiss me like yesterday. She was somewhat reserved.
When I doubtfully tilted my head, Elni showed up in the living room, then called out to me with a smile once she noticed me.
“Hey s.h.i.+n.o.bu, I have a favour to ask. Can I?”
“…Your beloved s.h.i.+nbou is dead. Why!”
“Because he was a spoiled brat.”
Responding to my gag, Elni made a wry smile with “But s.h.i.+n.o.bu,”.
“Listen to me without joking around. We were talking just now and decided that we all will go to the department store now. Will you come along, s.h.i.+n.o.bu?”
“Yeah, on that occasion I can buy a novel at the bookstore.”
When I replied with a small nod, Machina, having heard our conversation, faced her somewhat worry filled eyes towards Elni.
“…Can I come along too?”
“Machina, I said we all, right?”
Slowly approaching Machina, Elni gentle petted her head and continued.
“Of course that includes you too, Machina. If you have no other plans, please come along. Luna and the others are getting ready right now. s.h.i.+n.o.bu, Machina— you too get ready in 40 seconds!”
When Elni added a joke at the end of her sentence, Machina giggled, nodded with a smile and headed for the door of the living room. She probably was going back to her room to get changed. When I watched her happily leaving with swift steps, Elni softly rested her hand on my shoulder.
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu, Machina must be a bit tired from the student council election and all. It’s for a breather, so please keep her company today.”
“Sure, I don’t mind, but isn’t it bad to leave her like that? She’s still under hypnosis, right? When will it be lifted?”
“…If you take a proper look at her right now, you’ll notice right away too.”
Just replying so isolated, Elni left the living room like Machina.
On the other hand, I seriously pondered about Elni’s word for some time while I started to get ready too, following the two of them…

Then riding the car driven by my mother, our whole family headed for the big department store. I had been there with Luna and Nazuna before. At that time I had bought Luna her requested choker, but that aside now.
The big department store had general, electronic and book stores. It even had a game center and cinema. Thanks to today being Sunday, the stores were crowded with people.
Amidst that, Machina took my arm and was in a good mood.
Corresponding, her voluminous b.r.e.a.s.t.s pressed onto my arm, which made me a bit restless, whereupon Luna, Nazuna and my mother showed bright smiles together for some reason. As a reprehensive of everyone, Elni gave Machina a warm-hearted look.
“Machina, we’ll leave now, since we have something to do, but we’ll call on s.h.i.+n.o.bu’s cell phone when we’re done. Until then have fun with s.h.i.+n.o.bu.”
“…I can stay with s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama?”
“Yeah. You can fawn on him all you want today again. Of course the same goes for us too. Once we’re done, let’s play together.”
Gently smiling like the others, Elni stretched herself a bit and petted Machina’s head. Seeing her like that made me smile and I softly called out to Elni.
“You really are like her older sister.”
“I’m glad to hear that, but… someone like me can’t become her older sister.”
Filling her expression a tiny bit with sadness, Elni got away from me and Machina, then slowly walked away with the smiling others.
…Just what were they going to do?
I was a bit curious, but for now I decided to go around the department store together with Machina.
During that, together with her, I feasted my eyes on cute accessories, stimulated my heart by listening to music samples and got attracted to by-pa.s.sing s.e.xy older girl… Aw, ouch.
When I looked at the scantily clad older girl, even though it was cold, Machina lightly pulled on my ear.
It wasn’t like I was fascinated by her, I was just wondering if she wasn’t cold…
When I s.h.i.+fted my gaze with a wry smile, Machina adorably puffed up her cheeks while still clinging to my arm.
“…You have me, yet you ogled at another girl.”
“She was rather s.e.xy.”
For now I responded with a joke, whereupon Machina wasn’t really angry and just asked worried.
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama, you like s.e.xy girls like her?”
“Well, if I have to answer, then yes. An erotic and cool one isn’t bad either.”
“Erotic and cool? You like that type? Then the your favourite from all our girls is… Kaoru?”
“Well, she sort of falls into that category, but how should I say, everyone has it’s own charm. To be honest, it’s hard to say who is my favourite.”
“Th- Then, what about me? Do you… like my type?”
“…Listen, it’s embarra.s.sing, so I’ll only say it once.”
I should tell her on this occasion. In order to answer her question, I looked into her eyes.
“I really like you. I consider you my family. Types and such don’t matter. If anything happens, I’ll properly protect you.”
At the same time I declared so, my cheeks got hot and I tried to avert my gaze right away, but… Machina smiled so charming that I was unable to do so and was inadvertently captivated.
Dying her white cheeks with a rose-colour and happily narrowing her amber eyes,
“Thanks. I really love you too, s.h.i.+n.o.bu.”
The words spilling out from her pink lips sounded somewhat lovely.
…She might have temporarily forgotten it from all the joy.
She herself didn’t seem to notice and after a while she called me s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama again, restarting the act while still holding my arm.
—If you take a proper look at her right now, you’ll notice right away too.
Elni’s earlier words. Now I finally understood the meaning behind her words and her heartfelt feelings.
…Elni must have wanted to let Machina act spoiled. And likewise, Machina must have wanted to act spoiled with us. Guessing from the feeling I had this morning, Machina’s hypnosis from yesterday was already lifted without a doubt.
However, she pretended to be under hypnosis even now and didn’t remove her soft body from my arm, but I refrained from pointing that out and kept her company for looking around the department store again. Then, after I looked at some novels for a while at a bookstore we stopped by, I left the store empty-handed, whereupon Machina asked puzzled.
“Were you not going to buy a novel?”
“Well, I had planned to, but…”
“Do you have not enough money? Then should I buy it for you?”
“No, but I appreciate the offer. I just wasn’t really interested in any. As for money, I still have some to spare. Should I buy you something on this occasion?”
“I, I would feel bad. You already bought me the cat-ear hat the other day. Only getting presents is—”
“Don’t hold back. I’m getting a lot of things from you. For example, your tricked&retort combo.”
Or a cute smile and heartfelt words. I was really getting a lot of things from her.
I couldn’t tell her that directly, since it was embarra.s.sing. But it didn’t change my sentiment of wanting to do something for her when she acted spoiled. After I had cut into Machina’s words, I filled my voice with my feelings.
“I just want to repay you for all the things you always give me. I’ll give you something even better than the cat-ear hat. By the way, is there anything you want? Nothing all too expensive, but I’ll see what I can do.”
“…Are you sure?”
Machina asked timidly. When I replied with a firm nod, she smiled with “Thanks”, then she pulled me on my arm with her eyes sparkling, as there was something she wanted. As we reached our destination, Machina pickedthat up and the moment she declared “I want this”, I was kind at a loss for words from the surprise.
…What Machina had picked up was a punk chocker with a blue tartan pattern and a metallic lock. It was a differently coloured design from the one I gave Luna as a present.
E- Even if they were sisters, to think Machina would make the same request as Luna…
Even while I was completely agitated, I bought the chocker for now, whereupon Machina glanced at me embarra.s.sed while flus.h.i.+ng her cheeks.
“s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama, that choker, put it on…”
“As you command, Queen Machina.”
Like told, I tried to put the purchased choker around my own neck, but
“H- Hey! Why are you trying to put it on yourself! Wasn’t it a present for me? Besides, I’m not a Queen!”
It was embarra.s.sing, so I had replied with a joke, whereas Machina lightly puffed up her cheeks and even dampened her eyes a bit.
“Don’t be a meanie and properly put it onto me…”
“O- Okay, got it. Sorry.”
Even while I was agitated again by her reaction, I approached Machina and timidly reached out my hands to put the choker around her small white neck.
The faint fragrance of flowers hung in the air from her beautiful red hair and every time I lightly touched her neck with my fingertips, Machina leaked a sweet “Mm…” moan, so by the time I finished putting the choker on her, my earlier agitation had only grown stronger.
On the other hand, Machina happily touched the choker around her neck and showed me a sparkling smile.
“Thank you, s.h.i.+n.o.bu-oniisama. I want to do something to thank you. Saying anything you want me to do.”
“Guess I’ll ask one thing of you…”
Taking her offer, I softly told her my request after a short pause.
“Return to being your usual self already. You can fawn on us. All you want. But I still prefer your usual self. Return to your usual self, then fawn on me again. The hypnosis is already lifted, right?”
“….When did you notice?”
“To my shame, only just now. Elni probably noticed since this morning. And my mother has a good intuition, so she might have noticed too.”
Machina flickered her big eyes. Like I thought, the hypnosis was already lifted. Hearing my answer, she faintly dropped her voice with “I see…”.
“Actually, last night already, when I saw your scar before taking a bath together, I felt something amiss. That feeling became stronger in my fight with Sister later and at that time I didn’t notice it, but when I woke up in the morning… the hypnosis was gone already.”
Making a small sigh, Machina continued with her dropped voice.
“Yesterday was really embarra.s.sing, but I was so happy that I even wanted to thank Elni, so I wanted to keep it up a bit longer… I’m really sorry. I think my weird spoiled act troubled you guys.”
“…We never considered it troubles. So you don’t need to fool us with hypnosis, just honestly act spoiled if you want to.”
“That’s impossible… I’m not as kind as my sister. And not as cute as Elni and Nazuna, right? If something like me keeps acting spoiled, you’ll come to hate me one day. Even in my childhood… it was like that. Because I was weak and acted spoiled, everyone left me. It’s also my fault that my mother…”
Not saying anything more, Machina trembled her shoulders, cast her eyes down and shut her mouth.
While watching her expression, my chest started to hurt, but I suppressed it.
“Your family won’t come to hate you.”
I filled my tone with my feelings.
“You have your own charm. You too have your kind, cute and even strong sides. Even if you were to be weak, not honest or different from the others, all of that makes you you.”
Slowly reaching out my hand for Machina,
“I like you like that. So do the others. I told you, you’re my family. From now on, I’ll never come to hate you.”
I petted Machina’s head to convey my feelings.
Upon that, Machina tightly hugged onto me.
“…I think of you as my family too…”
Trembling both her voice and body,
“Thanks, s.h.i.+n.o.bu…”
Machina spilled quiet tears in my arms at the same time she said these warm-hearted words. I would have never guessed that she would cry and thus I was surprised, but I kept holding her for some time while petting her head…

As the shame got to her, Machina’s cheek were quite red, but my own were rather hot too and my face surely looked similar to hers.
Since we embraced each other in the middle of the department store earlier, the pa.s.sing by people gave us odd glances and amongst them, some even gave us mocking words like “Hot! So hot, even though it’s winter!”, so Machina and I hastily left the place when we returned to our senses.
Then we strolled through the department store, which randomly led us to a cell phone shop. There were the other girls on their separated business.
When I tried to call out to them upon noticing them, they noticed me before that and Luna, Nazuna and Elni started to panic for some reason. Unlike my mother, who showed a bitter smile, the three of them came rus.h.i.+ng over to me.
“Wh- What a coincidence to run into you two here. As a consequence, do you want to look at western clothes or so together? If possible, right away, Machina!”
“I, I’ll go with Luna-oneechan. You come too, Brother, Machina-oneechan. Especially you, Machina-oneechan, have to come with us as fast as possible!”
“I would like to check out the food samples— wait, no! A- Anyway, come with us, s.h.i.+n.o.bu, Machina! Only Machina works too, just make it quick!”
While leaking somehow agitated voices, they tried to keep Machina away from here.
…They said they had something to do, but just what was it?
While I doubtfully exchanged looks with Machina, my mother followed after the girls with hiding something behind her back and called out to Luna and the others with a wry smile.
“I know what you’re doing, but you don’t need to fool her that desperately. It’s all ready already.”
Along with her words, my mother held out what she had hid behind her back to Machina.
My mother was holding on… a slim cell phone.
“You don’t have one yet, right? This is a present for you, Machina-chan.”
“…For me?”
“Surprised, aren’t you? We kept quiet about it because we wanted to surprise you.”
My mother smiled happily and lightly rested her hand on the head of the nearby Elni.
“By the way, Elni had the idea. You two really are close. When we discussed the cell phone, Elni was serious for a change. She said that she wanted to give you a cell phone to make you happy.”
On these words, Elni smiled somewhat gentle and Machina flickered her eyes. Meanwhile my mother continued with her smile.
“You father is living overseas, right Machina-chan? You can make calls overseas with that phone, so from now on you can call and mail your father a lot, though it might get expensive.”
…My mother must have believed me and thought the Old Man Bram was living overseas. She didn’t know that he actually lived in the demon realm, nor that Luna and Machina were devils.
But, even if she were to notice it, my mother surely would accept them.
My mother’s voice and expression was so warm-hearted that it made me think so.
“I’m sure you father told you to come back if you aren’t elected, because he’s worried about you in various ways. Nevertheless, even though this might just be my selfishness, I’ll tell you on this occasion.”
After lightly scratching her cheek a bit bashful, my mother filled her tone with warmth.
“As long as you want to, you can stay here, Machina-chan. I really want you to stay too. So if there’s anything I can help with in the election, just tell me, okay?”
Still smiling, my mother conveyed her feelings and Nazuna and Luna each embraced Machina with “I want to be with Machina-oneechan too” and “I will help with the election as well”, whereupon Machina spilled big tears, even though she just had stopped crying earlier.
“…I too… want to… stay with you…”
Halting her speech so it was hard to understand, she continued to cry with sobs for some time while being embraced by the two of them.
During that, Elni and my mother embraced her as well at some point, which got us odd glances from pa.s.sers-by, but looking at my family kept warming my chest endless, so that ignored these glances.
Still, even while Elni blending in with the others, just her expression looked somewhat sad, which bothered me a bit…

The heartfelt holiday was over and while we were busy again with the election campaign, our cla.s.smates still gave Machina their full support.
The reason Asada came to school before anyone else was to secure the spot in front of the school gate for our greetings every morning. And whenever they got acquainted, he sometimes gathered information about our rivals together with Kaorun and apparently was working on something behind the scenes with the boys from cla.s.s.
Also, even the girls of our cla.s.s started to come to school earlier than Machina and me. At the morning, lunch break and after school they cross-dress me with the lead from Minami and accompanied Machina and me on our greeting sessions in turns.
On the other hand, Hijiri seemed kind of down.
The greatest rival to Machina was the current Vice-President, Himuro Kana-san.
Hijiri troubled the student council members by withdrawing her candidature not long ago and was originally in a position, where she had to help out Himuro-san to make up for it.
From what I heard from Kaorun during the campaign, Hijiri once lowered her head to Himuro-san and apologized that she couldn’t help her, since she was supporting Machina.
However, we couldn’t let Hijiri come out in the open and she herself understood why she had to work behind the scenes, but she once had made a regretful and bitter sigh with “Why did I announce my candidature back then? Even though it was an important time for Machina”, as she really wanted to accompany us on the greetings.
However, her sentiment to support Machina must have been really strong.
Together with Kaorun and Asada, she worked hard at the information hunt which she was unfamiliar with and lately seriously pondered about a speech, so that she at least could come out in the open for the support speech.
And the members of our family undaunted supported Machina too.
I believed Luna was trying to ease Machina’s exhaustion as least a bit. Day by day, the lunchbox made by her became more extravagant and lately I often even saw Luna giving Machina a ma.s.sage.
Meanwhile, Nazuna researched about the election together with her friend Mii-chan, whereas my mother wrecked her brains over campaign pledges and speeches. Both of them gave Machina all kind of advices.
Also, Elni always stayed with Machina and watched over her while she was at home. She relaxed the atmosphere with her usual jokes, earnestly listened to Machina and seemingly even sometimes slept together with her, as they shared a room anyway.
Lastly, there was a slightly surprising thing as well.
So far she had rarely done so, but now Elni often petted Machina’s head and Machina accepted that somewhat happy. When I saw them like that, they appeared like sisters.
Still, even while Machina put her strength into the election campaign, she appeared somewhat weird.
Sometimes she showed a very sad expression and likewise, she didn’t get as angry as before. The other day, she even clouded her expression when she was lovely caressing the choker I gave her. While I felt something amiss in the busy days, we continued our election campaign today as well and now it was after school.
After cla.s.ses ended, I exerted myself until now by making the rounds to each club at school in my usual cross-dress together with Machina, Minami and Asada.
By the way, while we conducting our election campaign like this, our rival Himuro-san apparently did the same things as us and we pa.s.sed each other numerous times in the hallway. Each time, she gave Asada and me a pa.s.sionate glance, but… enough of that.
Finis.h.i.+ng our rounds, Machina and Minami went off to the toilet, whereas I headed to the changing room together with Asada and quickly took off my cross-dress and make-up.
Afterwards it was planned to have a discussion about the election in the cla.s.sroom with everyone from cla.s.s.
That said, partic.i.p.ation was voluntary and after school.
Those without club activities surely had gone home already and a lot probably couldn’t attend due to club activities… So we might end up with a small number of members.
While I thought like that, the nearby Asada called out to me with a wry smile when I had removed my make-up and cross-dress.
“Somehow, you have really gotten used to it lately.”
“Well, I’m cross-dressing nearly every day nowadays. Of course doing the make-up is out of the question, but I’ll learn at least this much, even if I don’t want to. I feel bad for troubling the girls over it too.”
“…I see. Recently you complained how much of a pain it is to change clothes and just kept the cross-dress on for the day, but you actually wanted the girls to save time, huh.”
“Because we’re doing our campaign during lunch break and after school. It’s a lot of troubles for the girls to make me cross-dress every time. Besides, their s.e.xual hara.s.sment while they do so is a bit annoying.”
“Isn’t it more annoying to be mistaken for a female pervert when you enter the boy’s toilet still in cross-dress?”
“…Don’t bring that up.”
But I had to endure it until the election was over. I wanted to do something for Machina too. Asada probably had the same feeling as me. While he kept talking with me, Asada suddenly softened his tone.
“Still, you were so against the cross-dress, yet you accepted to easily when it was for Orangelo-san’s sake. Seeing you so serious without complaining made me think that I should give my best too.”
“That’s what I should be saying. You’re being serious for a change. Thanks to your and Kaorun’s info, it was easier to make plans. And you’re working behind the scenes with the guys from cla.s.s, right? Just what’re you doing?”
“I secretly made a fan club for Orangelo-san. Gogyou-san’s older sister, Kaoru-san helped too, you know? The members for the fan club increase by the day, so it should get us some votes for the election.”
“Machina’s going to be embarra.s.sed about it if she finds out.”
“Well, guess so, but a fan club was only a matter of time. Even without our doing, a club would have been created in time. Because Orangelo-san is charming. That’s why our cla.s.s works so hard, isn’t it?”
Still with a soft tone, Asada continued somewhat happily.
“Gogyou-san is getting us votes by speaking with the people from the Kendo club. And it looks like Minami and our cla.s.s rep Katagiri are supporting Machina by respectively speaking with friends and other cla.s.s reps. But well, lately… I’m a bit worried.”
Dropping his voice a bit, Asada knitted his eyebrows.
“Somehow, isn’t Orangelo-san a bit weird recently? Like she’s strangely kind, lacks spirit, thanks the girls by taking their hands or does other things she usually doesn’t do. I can’t expression it well, but it’s like…”
Like she was grieving over a coming farewell, might have Asada been trying to say.
Sure, Machina had hold my hand or hugged Nazuna without letting go before the election began and gently embraced Kaorun in front of the school gate on the first day of the election period.
These actions were ones that Machina would rarely do normally.
However, they were happening a lot lately. Asada had a surprisingly sharp intuition. He might have felt something amiss and considered a few things. But without presenting any more of his thoughts, Asada changed his clouded expression into a smile.
“I don’t know what Orangelo-san is troubled over, but for now we need to concentrate on the election. I want her to get elected at all costs.”
“…You’re really unusually serious.”
“’Cause it’s Orangelo-san. Of course I’ll be serious. The girls in our cla.s.s hate me as a pervert. But Orangelo-san is the same as Minami or Gogyou-san. She treats me as a friend. I’ll do anything for my friends. That’s my own way of the pervert.”
Asada added a little joke at the end of the sentence. After I had removed my make-up, I left the changing room together with that nice pervert.
There we ran into Machina and Minami, as they must have just returned.
As soon as Minami spotted us, she smiled and Machina came over with a smile. Today again the choker I gave her was around her neck and Machina took my hand still smiling.
“Cross-dressing is fine, but your usual attire is still the best, s.h.i.+n.o.bu.”
“I’m overflowing with wild charm, right?”
While I cracked such a joke, I dropped my gaze down on Machina’s small hand that squeezed mine.
Even after the hypnosis from the other day was gone, Machina had started to make more physical contact with us family members than before, albeit a bit reserved like this.
I was sure that she was opening her heart to me, but like Asada, the unrest in my chest gradually grew stronger.
But I hid it and while walking down the hallway together with Machina, Minami and Asada, my thoughts wrapped around the later meeting with our cla.s.smates and I brought up a matter with a casual tone.
“It’s all fine that we discussing with everyone, but I wonder how many will show up…”
“Yeah, it is after school. I think they’re busy with club activities and such. For now we should give our best with the members we get.”
Saying so, Machina put a bit of strength in her squeezed hand, whereupon Asada and Minami showed me a bittersweet smile together for some reason.
“Looks like you two don’t know yet.”
“Indeed. Your charm is quite something, Orangelo-san.”
Along with their words, Asada and Minami each changed their bittersweet smile into a normal one.
On the other hand, Machina tilted her head puzzled for a while, as she didn’t understand the meaning behind their words, but slowly she started to realize it.
When we slowly approached the cla.s.sroom on the quiet hallway after school, we could faintly hear the voices of our cla.s.smates. And when we reached the door of the cla.s.sroom, everyone’s voices sounded dearly in Machina and my ears.
“…You see, with nothing to lose, I asked her to teach me. And even while looking annoyed with ‘You’re so hopeless’, she taught me really detailed. Orangelo-san is really kind.”
“Yeah. I thinks so too. I’m bad at sport, so I hated pairing up at P.E., because it always troubles my partner. But I never hated it with Orangelo-san. No matter what kind of mistakes I made, she neither got angry or fed up with me and gently gave me various advices. So I really like her.”
Maybe the guys without clubs waited for us the whole time.
“You know, I was once picked on by the seniors in my club and felt like crying, but at that time Orangelo-san pa.s.sed through by chance and helped me just because we’re cla.s.smates. She seriously scolded the seniors and then went away like it was the nothing special. I couldn’t thank her for it… So I want to pay her back now.”
The guys with clubs must have come rus.h.i.+ng over after abandoning their club activities.
While our cla.s.smates animated or bleared their voices, the stories about Machina I didn’t know of continued and apparently even Kaoruna nd Hijiri were in the cla.s.sroom.
“…All of you know sides from Machina that I do not. I am a bit jealous.”
“Fufu, you really like Machina, Kaoru-san.”
While these voices of Kaorun, Hijiri and our cla.s.smates reached our ears, Machina’s hand, squeezing mine, was trembling lightly and she faintly blurred her amber eyes.
While I felt my chest get hot too, I softly called out to Machina.
“Seems like everyone is waiting.”
“…It’s… too good… to be true…”
Machina halted in her speech. Softly pulling her on her hand, I opened the door and looked through the cla.s.sroom, whereupon there were all of our cla.s.smates present, without a single one missing.
…They all must considered Machina as important. Everyone came rus.h.i.+ng over upon noticing her.
“Listen, Orangelo-san, I spoke to a lot of my seniors at the club. I think they’ll vote for you. So praise me!” “Ah, not fair! I did the same! Orangelo-san! Instead of praising, step on me!” “Scold me!” “I want you to chastise me!”
Each in their own way, they showed Machina their affection.
“Hey, calm down, everyone. We’re having a meeting here.” “Right. I know how you feel, but let’s start the meeting quickly. Let’s work hard for Orangelo-san, okay? No playing around.”
All our cla.s.smates were smiling gently together and surrounded by them, showered with their warm-hearted words… Machina surely tried to hold it back.
She bit down on her well-formed lips, strongly squeezed my hand and kept enduring for a while by trembling her body, but then she raised small sobs.
“…Everyone… thank… you…”
The drops overflowing from her amber eyes spilled down from her cheeks and at last Machina cried.
Upon that, everyone panicked.
“Wh- What’s wrong, Orangelo-san?” “Are you okay? Are you in pain?” “We can hold the meeting tomorrow too. Let’s go to the infirmary when you don’t feel well.”
Each of them started calling out to her and Machina shook her head and replied while crying.
“…No… I’m just… happy…”
Spinning her words with a grazed voice
“I didn’t think… you would do all this… for me…”
and endlessly spilling tears from her eyes,
“…that I couldn’t be… like my mother…”
Machina quietly sobbed while trembling both her voice and body greatly.
Our cla.s.smates surely only understood half of her words.
Machina had admired her mother since her childhood. And our cla.s.smate gave her the feeling that she might have become like her admiration.
Even while showing surprise and confusion, these warm-hearted cla.s.smates stayed with Machina like me until she stopped crying…

Afterwards our cla.s.smates wrecked their brains during the meeting, as they wanted to do something for Machina, and discussed about the election. Since we were so many, it was somewhat noisy, but time went by relaxed.
Also, after Machina stopped crying, she smiled gently by looking at each cla.s.smate’s face and kept that smile the whole time. After the meeting, we were on our way home.
Under the twilight sky, she walked besides me still smiling and remained silence for a while, but suddenly she stopped and said isolated.
“Hey s.h.i.+n.o.bu, everyone was… so kind.”
“Because it was for you. Everyone likes you.”
When I replied so smiling, Machina brightened her smile.
“It might sound conceited, but I think so too. I surely made them feel that way. They returned the kindness to me. Not just s.h.i.+n.o.bu and the girls, but all of our cla.s.smate came to like me too.”
Contrary to the happiness in her voice, Machina smiled a little bit sad.
“When I see that, I feel like I have come a step closer to my mother, which makes me really happy. But, that’s enough for me. It’s more than enough, so, s.h.i.+n.o.bu…”
Her voice trembled faintly.

“It’s about time… I return to the demon realm…”

Forcing a smile, Machina spilled tears from her eyes.
“Of course I plan to stay for the election. I want to win for everyone. But you know, when the election is over, I’ll ask my father to… to alter… to make everyone forget about me. That’s for… the best…”
“…No way it is.”
Machina’s voice trembled greatly. Mine trembled like hers too.
“Why are you saying that? There’s no need to go back, right? You can just stay here.”
“…No. I love… everyone too much…”
“Even more reason not to go then. If you love them, why would you—”

“—My mother pa.s.sed away due to me.”

Softly cutting into my words,
“Our warm house, our family, everything was shattered because of me.”
she put on a smile like she had given up.
“In my childhood, I lived in the countryside with my mother and father. Back then we behaved like humans, so I had friends. But I always acted spoiled with them, so one by one they left me.”
Like recalling the past, Machina looked up a the twilight sky.
“I was sad about it and thought I was hated by everyone. I asked my mother for advice. She told me to treat everyone kindly, to become so strong that I could protect everyone and then they would return the kindness.”
…She really loved her mother.
When she spoke about her mother, Machina’s voice sounded really gentle.
“Like my mother told me, I tried to stop acting spoiled and treat everyone kindly. I tried to give my best… But it was no good.”
Along with a small sigh, Machina trembled her voice again.
“The place we lived in really was in the middle of nowhere, so when I played with the other kids, a wolf appeared. There were no adults nearby and my friends in danger, so I used my devil powers for the first time in front of them, even though my father had warned me not to.”
Most likely her friends didn’t live up to Machina’s expectations.
Machina cast down her eyes and clenched her fists a bit.
“I… didn’t want to hurt them. I wanted to protect them. And even though I managed to protect them… They didn’t return the kindness. Because it was exposed that I was a devil, the parents of my friends marched onto our house while my father was away…”
Just by imagining that, my chest wouldn’t stop hurting gravely.
“My mother protected my by hiding me in the closet right away. But I was too scared to do anything. I considered using my powers numerous times. But then the parents of my friends would notice it and if they were to get hurt, my friends would be sad, so while I was hesitant, my mother was…”
With her voice still grazed, Machina squeezed out the words.
“I could only s.h.i.+ver in fear, couldn’t protect my most precious person. Because of me, everything shattered. I don’t want that again. Therefore I’ll return to the demon realm. I never again want to see a precious person get hurt because of me.”
“…We won’t get hurt because of you.”
“The scar on your chest is because of me, isn’t it?”
Denying my words, Machina shook her head a bit to the side.
“Hijiri’s exorcist friend said it before. The exorcist organisation won’t tolerate devils like my sister or me. They’re still alarmed and it’s more than possible that some kind of occasion will make them act.”
Hijiri’s exorcist friend must have meant Tachibana-san.
Previously, when Hijiri took her distance from me, Tachibana-san told us that the exorcist organisation was still wary of Luna and Machina.
But back then, I had my hands full with my own stuff, so I wasn’t able to notice why Machina, next to me, had been biting onto her lips, why she had been looking down or what kind of feelings she was having.
Even while I bit down on my lips in regret, I still called out to Machina.
“Hijiri is trying her hardest to make them tolerate you at the moment. One day I’ll be an exorcist. I’ll protect you two together with Hijiri. Therefore—”
“I’m a hybrid devil, you know?”
Softly cutting into my words, Machina forced a smile again.
“Unlike my sister, I’m the kind the exorcist hate the most. My powers aren’t restricted in the human world and because I’m half human, the exorcist’s skills are only half effective. Making them tolerate my sister would be one thing, but it’s impossible for Hijiri right now to make them tolerate me.”
Filling her expression with sadness, Machina still declared softly.
“Should the exorcist organisation act while they still haven’t acknowledged me, I’m sure you and the other would protect me like my mother did. But if you guys were to get hurt because of me, if Nazuna or Tomoe-san were to get hurt in the commotion… what should I do then?”
Machina showed an expression like smiling while crying. I couldn’t say anything to her.
“I love everyone, but no matter how hard I try, I just can’t live in the human world. I’m a hybrid devil… So before anyone gets hurt before me, I have to return to the demon realm. I’m sure that’s for the best.”
I could only silently look at Machina, who filled her eyes with tears.
Even while she wished to be with everyone, she could only drown that wish just because she was a hybrid devil and fearing that her precious people would get hurt, Machina tried to return to the demon realm.
Unable to find anything I could do for her, I didn’t know what to do.
“…Sorry.”
Again, I bit down on my lips and clenched my fists.
I couldn’t forgive my weak self. It was pathetic. Why was I so weak?
If I had an absolute strength like my grandfather or father, if I had a strength to somehow protect everyone, Machina might be able to live in the human world with a peace of mind. If I only had the strength and confidence to protect everyone…
“Sorry, Machina. If I were as strong as my gramps or dad, if I were strong enough to protect not just you but everyone, you could have a peace of mind…”
“You’re fine as you are, s.h.i.+n.o.bu.”
Machina responded with a soft smile to me, who was at a loss for words.
“You’re admiring your grandfather and father like I admire my mother, right? You might lack a bit of self-confidence and think you’re weak, but you’re wonderful as you are.”
With a smile filled with tears,
“Always joking around, but sometimes being gentle and petting my head, you protected me. That’s why I love you. Really love you…”
even while spinning her words gently,
“But you can forget about me… Always protect… my sister and the others… my family…”
Machina trembled her voice again. Her words were really gentle and really sad. My own extended hand only looked powerless and unable to hold it back, I shouted with a hoa.r.s.e voice.
“I can’t bear… you leaving….”
“You have my sister, right? Even without me, you still have my sister, so it’ll be fine. I’m sure she’ll stand by you.”
“Still… I…”
“It’s okay. I have the cell phone from Tomoe-san. My father said that calls are possible close to the barrier between our worlds, remember? I can call and mail you, so there’s no reason to be… sad… We’re family. Even apart… we’ll be family, right?”
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Machina brought her trembling voice under control.
“And it’s not like we’ll be separated forever. You’ll become an exorcist, right? I’m sure you’ll pull it off. One day, you’ll be at the top of the exorcist organisation and make them acknowledge me. At that time… call me back here.”
Hugging onto me, Machina laid her feelings bare.
“I’ll always wait for your call, s.h.i.+n.o.bu. Even if you become an adult or an old man, I’ll always wait. I’ll always wear the choker you gave me too. So, when I come back here…”
Looking straight at me,
“Stay with… me again… It’s a promise, okay?”
Machina showed a warm smile, even with tears flowing down. To her, my precious family,
“….Yeah, it’s a promise.”
I could only reply so, I could only pet her head. That was so frustrating and pathetic that I strongly clenched my teeth and simply kept holding back the tears that shaped in my eyes…