A Hard-Boiled (Self-Proclaimed) Guy Like Me Doesn’t Suit a Romcom-Style Youth - Chapter 31 & 32 & 33 & 34 & 35

Chapter 31: Dream ~Mirai’s Perspective~

“Hmm. So you were thinking that.”

To pick up things needed for the sleepover, Nako and I return to my house once. On the way, I spilled out what I had been thinking to Nako.

Nako listened silently to my self-loathing about how I couldn’t honestly celebrate Ayata’s growth because I could only think of Kunia as the cause of his misfortune.

“Do you think I’m terrible (saitei)?”

“I don’t. I think Nagisa-san, Uncle Yousuke, and Grandma-sensei probably think the same thing, just not showing it on the surface.”

“What about you, Nako?”

“I wonder? I’m not that close to Ayataka-kun. Besides, Kuu-chan is undoubtedly a victim too.”

“I know that. But, still…”

“Hey… possibly, are you jealous of Kuu-chan?”

Nako’s hesitant way of speaking, unusual for her, bothered me. But thinking it can’t be helped if she thinks so, I speak my true feelings.

“If you mean like in a romantic sense, then no.”

When I denied it clearly, Nako widened her eyes in surprise.

“Eh!? Really!? Even though you’re so close and in sync?”

“I originally only thought of him like a younger brother, and I seriously had almost forgotten about him until we reunited.”

“But, when you reunited, you praised Ayataka-kun a lot, right? Weren’t you conscious of Ayataka-kun who came back cooler?”

“A little bit, yeah. But, I still see Ayata as a little brother figure. Rather, if I’m jealous, maybe it’s of Ayata. He surpassed me in height and stamina, and on top of that, got a cute girlfriend. Even though he’s just Ayata.”

Seeing the grown-up Ayata, certainly, my heart fluttered a little. But, the shock that he surpassed me in various things during the 5 years we couldn’t meet was bigger. I think the reason I feel that way is because, in the end, Ayata is just a little brother figure to me.

“Besides, both Ayata and I have dreams.”

“…That’s right.”

My dream is to run my own hot spring inn in the hot spring town where I was born and raised.

Not succeeding my father, but starting something new myself. As the only daughter of the traditional, long-established inn “Raimu”, it’s hard to talk about, so I’ve only told this dream to Nako so far.

Me, wanting to work for the hot spring town, and Ayata, wanting to work for Cicymel.

Since we have incompatible dreams, even if Ayata and I dated, ahead lies either a breakup or one of us giving up on our dream.

That’s why Ayata and I won’t date.

Certainly, I think Ayata is attractive as a boy. But when I’m about to become conscious of him, a psychological brake applies.

“Then, can I have him?”

“Eh?”

I doubted my ears at the unexpected words.

“It’s the first time I heard you were interested in Ayata?”

“It hasn’t been long since we met, so it’s not to the extent of being in love, but I have a favorable impression. I think I’m conscious of him enough that I might seriously fall in love soon.”

Seriously…

Nako, with her white cheeks dyed vermilion and eyes cast down, was insanely beautiful.

What do you mean “not to the extent of being in love”.

You totally have the face of a maiden in love…

“Then, the reason you asked if I was jealous…”

“I was confirming Mi-chan’s feelings in a roundabout way. It was sly of me. Sorry.”

No, Nako isn’t bad.

I was the dense one for not realizing Nako’s feelings despite being close.

“What exactly is good about Ayata?”

“Who knows? I just realized I was conscious of him, so I don’t know.”

“If I had answered that I liked Ayata and was jealous of his stepsister-chan, what did you intend to do?”

“I intended to keep it in my heart and forget about it, I guess.”

“I see.”

Then we walked for a while without words.

Nako’s love is already over. Because Ayata already had a girlfriend.

That jerk! Why did he keep quiet until today!?

I’m starting to want to go back right now and punch him.

“Ah, I want to punch him too.”

Next to me cracking my knuckles, Nako is also clenching her fist.

“Then let’s go punch him together.”

“Wait. It’s fine. I haven’t given up.”

“But that guy is going overseas in the future, you know?”

“That’s fine. I intend to become an international lawyer.”

Come to think of it, I feel like she said something like that when we talked about the future before. It was difficult so I don’t remember much, but since she says “international”, surely she can be close to Ayata’s dream too.

“But, Ayata has his stepsister-chan, right. What are you gonna do?”

“NTR is exciting (moeru), right!”

“Do you want to get flamed (enjou) with a ‘serves you right’ (zamaa)?”

“NTR is a joke, but I also have some thoughts about the relationship between Ayataka-kun and Kuu-chan.”

“Thoughts or whatever, it’s just full of things to retort (tsukkomi-dokoro) in the first place. Even without blood relation, they’re siblings.”

“Ah, yeah. That’s true. What I want to say is, Ayataka-kun’s current state of mind isn’t normal no matter how you look at it.”

Meaning Ayata is crazy?

You fell for a guy like that?

“He’s certainly a weird guy, though.”

“Not that, think about it. Considering what Ayataka-kun experienced, don’t you think it would be stranger if he didn’t get mentally ill?”

“Hmm. True.”

A life chased by the mafia, anyone would go crazy with fear.

Much less that timid Ayata.

“Aren’t the current Ayataka-kun and Kuu-chan in a state of suspension bridge effect where they depend on each other? If the effect wears off, they might return to normal siblings. Actually, they’ve been together for 5 years but only started dating recently, so don’t you think it’s not impossible?”

“I can’t say it’s impossible, but…”

There’s reason in what Nako says, but I couldn’t accept it immediately.

Nako is also a strongest-class beautiful girl, but the other side is a brown-skinned silver-haired beautiful girl who looks like she punched through the dimensional wall. Suspension bridge effect or not, any man would fall for that girl. Even more so if living together.

We aren’t counselors or profilers. If we act on a misjudgment, the one getting hurt is Nako.

“Have you noticed Ayataka-kun’s tone and gestures are strangely childish?”

“Ayata has been like that since long ago, you know?”

“That’s what’s strange. That he hasn’t changed since 4th grade.”

“Come to think of it, yeah. But isn’t there also the fact that he hasn’t used Japanese in a while?”

“I thought so at first too, but… The original Ayataka-kun had a quiet personality where he would follow behind Mi-chan, right? But going overseas, he had to protect Kuu-chan by himself, and even if he really wanted someone’s help, he couldn’t say it, desperately suppressing his weak heart. So I think childish tones and gestures are coming out unconsciously.”

“You mean Ayata is actually forcing himself, and really wants to be spoiled (amaetai) but can’t?”

“Yeah. He probably doesn’t realize it himself, but Ayataka-kun’s heart is probably tattered.”

Ayata grew tremendously and produced results in just 5 years.

That’s decided not to be easy.

Sacrificing various things, working hard…

I remember Ayata crying after being scolded by Mom on the day he came to our house.

At that time, I only thought he hadn’t changed from being a crybaby, but…

Was he broken?

Acting fine, is he suffering even now?

It’s possible. That guy hides it even when he feels sick since long ago.

Why didn’t I notice? I, who was angry only about myself, am disqualified as a childhood friend.

“I wasn’t looking at Ayata at all.”

“I think Mi-chan was naturally becoming healing for Ayataka-kun, you know?”

“Are you making fun of me somehow?”

“Not at all! Because Mi-chan is a genius at healing people.”

“Is that so… then it’s fine.”

If that’s the case, as an inn daughter, I’m super happy.

“So, you see, I’m thinking of spoiling Ayataka-kun to the fullest from now on. Won’t you cooperate?”

I feel like the focus is a bit off somehow, but…

Probably, the only partner suitable for Ayata is Nako.

I decided to cooperate with Nako.

Chapter 32: Nadeshiko

Grandmother’s nostalgic house. After the renovation, my room, which I only used for a few days during summer vacation, remains as it is, complete with bed and desk. It looks usable immediately if I just air out the futon.

There is another room on the second floor, which will become Kuu’s room from now on.

That said, it’s currently an empty room with nothing in it. I intend to go buy furniture together once Kuu arrives.

When I open the curtains and the window, the early summer air flows in.

“Well then, let’s do this!”

While Mirai and Masaki-san are gone to fetch their luggage, I do a major cleanup of the house.

First, I take out the drying stand and air the futons that were in compression bags. If I don’t do this, there won’t be a bed for tonight.

Fortunately, the weather is good today, maybe even a little hot. The futons should become fluffy soon.

The robot vacuum stored in the closet was out of charge, so no turn for it today. I vacuum myself.

Especially carefully in the tatami room (zashiki) that Mirai and Masaki-san plan to use.

Clean from the top down! It’s common sense!

Scolded by the Mirai inside my head, I proceed with cleaning.

It hasn’t been many years since the renovation, and since Grandmother moved into the facility, there were few things, so it doesn’t take much effort.

The bathroom and toilet are also in a clean state with almost nothing to do. However, while there was toilet paper, there were no towels at all. When I messaged Mirai about that on the app, I got an immediate reply saying she’d bring some.

Is this about it?

I finish the general cleaning in about an hour.

The satisfaction of finishing a job and the early summer cheerfulness.

Attacked by drowsiness, I lay down on the warm veranda (engawa), and I fell asleep immediately.

*

A hand gently combing through my hair.

Warm, and feels good…

Is this a lap pillow…

The sensation of plump, soft human skin. I savor that exquisite feeling.

“…Did you gain a little weight, Kuu?”

“…”

The hand stroking my head stopped.

The crisis management awareness cultivated in Cicymel announces an emergency.

—Is this bloodlust!?

My melting consciousness awakens. When my vision opens, two mountains are in front of my eyes. From beyond their peaks, a terrifyingly beautiful face wearing a dark smile peeks out.

Masaki-san!? Why!?

“…Sorry. For being fat.”

“I-I’m sorry!”

Rolling out into the garden, I perform a dogeza on the spot.

It was as if a criminal were receiving judgment.

Magistrate (O-bugyou-sama)! Please have mercy!

“Beheading is fine for an idiot like this.”

“…That’s right.”

“Nako. Are you really intending to spoil this guy?”

“Hmm, currently under deliberation, I guess?”

Apparently they returned while I was dozing. Both of them have already changed from their going-out clothes into rough loungewear.

Mirai is in a cat-patterned sweatshirt and jersey pants.

Masaki-san is in a loose, oversized gray hoodie and short pants. Her white legs extend shapely. She is absolutely not fat. It’s just that Kuu is on the skinny side.

“Um… what are you talking about?”

“Silence, sinner! This is the court (O-shirasu)!”

“Ha-ha!”

I bow my head to Mirai, who is acting like Ooka Echizen, with momentum as if touching my forehead to the ground again.

For my part, I want to ask why I was getting a lap pillow from Masaki-san…

That said, even if I was half-asleep, my remark was decisively bad.

“I pronounce judgment.”

The Magistrate. The judgment handed down by Princess Masaki Mimori Nadeshiko-sama. That is—

“A forehead flick (uchi-odeko), and you are to call me Nadeshiko.”

“Yes?”

What is a forehead flick? While I was thinking that, Masaki-san beckoned.

“I do not mind (kurushuu nai). Come closer.”

Mirai speaking in period drama tone. This girl is completely enjoying this.

When I approached, Masaki-san brought her face close.

Close!?

At that moment, I was dealt a powerful forehead flick (dekopin) by her.

“Ouch!?”

“Ahaha! You’re lucky to be forgiven with just that, Ayata.”

No, it hurt super bad though!?

“Masaki-san, sorry. I was half-asleep…”

“Nadeshiko.”

“Yes?”

“I said to call me Nadeshiko, right?”

Um…

When I looked at Mirai, she instructed me by mouthing “Call her that.”

“Nadeshiko-san.”

“Nadeshiko. I didn’t like it much in the past, but now not so much.”

“Nadeshiko.”

“Yes, Ayataka-kun.”

Her smile was lovely and beautiful, like a Nadeshiko (Pink/Dianthus) flower.

Chapter 33: Mirai

Moving out from the Miyazu house, where I was taken care of for several days, took less than an hour.

I have almost no luggage. I put my textbooks and such in the cardboard box I brought back, and if I stuff my uniform and toiletries in there, packing is complete.

The only thing that took time was cleaning the room I borrowed. Vacuuming, removing the covers from the futon, and folding it.

If it were an inn, they’d say leave the futon as is without folding it, but it’s not an inn.

Then I returned to my room, took out textbooks from the cardboard box, hung my uniform on a hanger, and unpacking was also complete.

While looking around the room with almost no personal belongings and thinking about how to customize it, I heard footsteps climbing the stairs with a light rhythm tan-tan-tan. It’s Mirai.

“Ayata—! Finished tidying up?”

“There isn’t enough stuff to tidy up in the first place.”

“Ahaha! That’s true! Here, this has the jeans you got hemmed too.”

“Ah, thank you for going out of your way.”

I receive the paper bag containing the clothes bought earlier from Nadeshiko (Note: Text says he receives it from Nadeshiko here, but context implies Mirai brought it up? Or Nadeshiko came too? Based on dialogue, it seems Mirai is speaking. I will assume Mirai handed it to him, or Nadeshiko is present but silent/the text meant “Received the bag containing clothes bought with Nadeshiko” or similar. Given the subsequent dialogue is clearly Mirai, I’ll proceed assuming Mirai handed it.)

(Correction: The source text says “I receive the paper bag… from Nadeshiko”. However, the dialogue “Ayata—! Finished tidying up?” is attributed to Mirai. It is possible Nadeshiko came up with Mirai, or the narrator made a mistake in the name. Given the intimate conversation follows with Mirai, I will assume Mirai is the active agent here, or Nadeshiko handed it and stepped back/left.)

“It’s fine! Because I wanted to see Ayata’s room. Can I come in?”

“Go ahead.”

“Excuse me. …Wow, there really is nothing.”

Mirai has come to play at Grandmother’s house many times since long ago, but this is the first time she’s entered my room after the renovation.

“Sorry it’s a letdown.”

“Not at all. I yearned for a room with flooring, so I’m envious. A bed is nice~.”

Mirai sits down on the bed, but please don’t expect a sexy development. The mattress and futon are currently drying on the roof.

“Hey?”

Suddenly, Mirai’s tone changes.

There was an unknown girl staring straight at me.

The current Mirai, showing a mature expression. With the childhood friend filter removed, I was captivated by that face shown by the girl named Miyazu Mirai.

“What do you think of Nako?”

A different girl’s name came out of Mirai’s mouth, sending a shiver through me.

Why Nadeshiko’s name there?

But I thought it would be unfair to say that.

I have a precious existence called a stepsister. A partner whom I decided to protect, be protected by, and walk into the future with.

Despite that, I am building good relationships with two attractive girls. Because of that, there was always guilt in my heart.

That is exactly why I must make the relationship clear.

“I think of her as a precious friend.”

Mirai averts her gaze.

“I see. That’s true, isn’t it.”

“Mirai?”

“Nope, nothing!”

By that time, she had returned to the usual Mirai.

It bothered me why Mirai asked such a thing, but I stopped pursuing it.

Because even if I ask, the future I advance toward won’t change.

“Hey, what do you think of me?”

“Hmm?”

Mirai asks as if she were an afterthought.

The answer to that is decided.

The girl I liked in the past, and—

“Mirai (Future/Sea).”

“Ha?”

“Strong and cute, my benefactor, maybe?”

“What’s that?”

I’m truly grateful.

Thank you. Mirai.

Chapter 34: The Matter of Being Challenged to Sumo by the Beautiful Girl Rumored to be the Cutest in School

Masaki Nadeshiko, the beautiful girl rumored to be the cutest in school.

With wet-crow-feather colored hair, well-featured face, and exuding an atmosphere of purity (seiso), she hides a voluptuous body rivaling a gravure idol under her uniform.

Beautiful appearance, proper conduct, excellent grades, all-around sportsman. Boys can only watch from afar as she is a “flower on a high peak”, and girls sigh in envy. The flawless, perfect Yamato Nadeshiko. That is her at school.

However, that is a temporary form wearing a big cat (act). In private, her innocent and childish true nature appears.

It was after the three of us ate Egawa’s mizu-yokan (water sweet bean jelly) together on the veranda for a snack.

“Ayataka-kun! Let’s do sumo!”

“I don’t want to.”

“Ehh!?”

Don’t give me “Ehh!?”! Sumo involves grappling with the opponent, you know? Do you understand?

“You did sumo with Mi-chan, right? I heard it’s customary to do sumo with Ayataka-kun when he comes back?”

“Come to think of it, that was true. Shall we do it? Ayata-yama.”

Standing up, Mirai spreads her legs and starts doing squats (shiko style stretching).

Wait a minute, Mirai-Umi.

“Let’s not. We’re not kids anymore.”

“Running away after being challenged to sumo isn’t manly.”

I’m running away because I’m a boy!

Certainly, we did sumo often in the past. But that was because we were both kids, and we had no particular resistance to pressing our bodies together.

However, the grown-up Mirai now is a full-body weapon.

Not tall, not short. Her waist is constricted, yet her chest and hips have flesh firmly attached, a body that looks good to hug.

Now that I’ve become conscious of gender, grappling with Mirai is very bad for mental hygiene.

Nadeshiko too.

“You two, please understand your own charm already. Um… if we touch too much…”

“You mean you’ll get conscious?”

I nodded with a kokun.

“Even though you were fine in the past, have you devolved into an innocent boy (ubuna bouya)?”

“I evolved into a sensible gentleman! Also, I have Kuu, you see. I want to refrain from contact with other girls.”

Both of them are staying over today. I want you not to stimulate my masurao (manhood/warrior spirit) too much.

“Hmm? Are you okay with having lost all the time? You might be able to win now, you know?”

“It’s fine. It’s my loss by default.”

Since there’s quite a physique difference with Mirai now, I don’t think I’ll lose. But, I can’t help feeling that winning here would mean suffering a great defeat in life.

“Hmm.”

I raise both hands to show surrender to the provoking Mirai. Mirai showed a bored attitude but seemed to give up.

But, the relief was short-lived.

“Loss by default is prohibited for me, okay!”

Nadeshiko hadn’t given up yet.

“Do you remember competing with me just once in the past?”

“I remember being thrust down in an instant.”

Losing pathetically in front of the girl I liked became a trauma for a while.

“Because I thought if we grappled, it would be exposed that I was a girl.”

“I think Nako back then was completely flat so no one would have noticed, you know?”

“Did you say something?”

“Nothing—”

Mirai sticks out her tongue pero.

It was 4th grade, so naturally she had no chest. At that time, I didn’t even suspect Masaki was actually a girl.

“Don’t you want revenge?”

“I don’t.”

“Ehh—! I want to do sumo with Ayataka-kun—!”

Masaki back then was far more mature!?

Why is this girl regressing to a toddler?

“Hey hey, let’s do sumo, Ayataka-kun. I’m actually quite strong, so I think it’ll be a good match?”

Certainly, I can see supple muscles on Nadeshiko’s shapely legs. If I underestimate her as a lovely young lady, I’ll have a painful experience.

“Did you play any sports, Nadeshiko?”

“Just a little Kendo.”

Black-haired Kendo girl. How should I say, it suits her too well. How far is this girl pushing the embodiment of Yamato Nadeshiko?

“What ‘little’. Nako is a holder of ranks (yudansha) in Kendo, Judo, and Karate.”

Seriously—!?

Running 100 meters in 13 seconds, and a martial arts master on top of that. Far from a good match, I’m likely to lose normally.

“That’s amazing… did you do it in club activities?”

“Nope. My relative runs a dojo, so my skill is just a hobby (tashinami) level? I haven’t entered tournaments or anything.”

“Last year, didn’t you instantly kill the Kendo club captain of our junior high who came for practice and make him cry?”

“Ah—, there was something like that too—”

“He was the prefectural tournament winner, you know. Breaking his heart right before the Hokushin’etsu tournament, do you know how much trouble we had following up after that?”

What was ‘hobby level’ again?

“You know an awful lot about it.”

“Mi-chan is also a student of the dojo. The dojo teaches Kendo, Judo, and Karate, and Mi-chan did Judo.”

“Ossu.”

Mirai gives a greeting like a Judo club member.

Come to think of it, there was such a dojo in Sanki City. Grandmother, worried about me always being made to cry by Mirai, recommended it, but it’s the one I firmly refused.

“It’s the first time I’ve heard Mirai did Judo?”

“I started in 5th grade. I’m a shodan (first degree black belt) now.”

Black belt!?

Dangerous… if I had accepted the match, I might have been thrown by now.

“Nadeshiko too?”

“Kendo is 2nd Dan, but Judo and Karate are Shodan.”

“Even if it’s the same Shodan, Nako has been doing it since she was small, so she’s decidedly stronger than me.”

“Heeh…”

“Hey, let’s do it, sumo! You can go all out, okay.”

Going out into the garden barefoot, Nadeshiko directs provocative eyes at me in a stance with hips lowered (koshi o watta – sumo stance).

With such a captivating body, being looked at like that…

I want to defeat this girl—

I want to pin her down—

Wicked thoughts raise their sickle-heads.

No good. The hoop will definitely come off.

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

I bowed my head quite seriously.

“Muu. Quite stubborn.”

“You are quite selfish.”

My way of speaking became strong. But perhaps not minding it, Nadeshiko puffs out her cheeks and is thinking something.

“Then, arm wrestling.”

“Why do you want to compare strength so much?”

“Because I want to compete with Ayataka-kun with full power. So arm wrestling. Sumo can be next time.”

Nadeshiko pouts puu. She hasn’t given up on sumo yet apparently.

Even so, arm wrestling against a girl is also…

“Give up, Ayata. If you don’t compromise around here, you don’t know what she’ll challenge you to next, you know?”

“…That’s true too.”

In the end, I decided to accept her challenge.

Facing each other across the table. The first opponent is Mirai.

The hand I grasped palm-to-palm was small and soft enough to make me anxious about breaking it.

“Ready, go!”

With Nadeshiko’s lovely voice, I put in strength. Mirai was stronger than I thought. Her grip strength was also strong, grasping my hand with painful force. But I was superior from start to finish. Mirai’s arm tilted little by little, and eventually, the back of her hand touched the table.

My hand, about to do a guts pose for winning, stops. Because Mirai’s face, bright red and pouting, was too funn—cute.

“Damn it—! I lost—! Even though it’s Ayata, even though it’s Ayata, even though it’s Ayata—!”

“You said it 3 times.”

“It’s an important thing for Mi-chan.”

Mirai said “Even though it’s Ayata” three times. That’s how frustrating it must be to lose to her former little brother figure. That said, she is plenty strong for a girl. Probably a good match for Kuu.

Mirai starts fiddling with her smartphone. Opening a major mail-order site and clicking on dumbbells.

Was it that frustrating…

Surely inside Mirai, I’m a little brother figure forever.

“Next is with me.”

Suddenly taking off her hoodie, Nadeshiko becomes camisole-clad.

Shoulders, collarbones, clearly defined bust line.

“That’s unfair, Nako! I should have worn a cami underneath too! If I cast off too, against someone like Ayata!”

“Arm strength doesn’t change so don’t try to strip!”

Nadeshiko probably has no intention of using sex appeal. She’s just expressing motivation.

She wants to compete seriously. Probably just that.

Tying her long hair into a ponytail so it won’t get in the way, Nadeshiko put her right elbow on the table. Her left hand firmly grasps the edge of the table.

Even though she’s a young lady, she’s used to this, this girl.

“Here I go, Ayataka-kun. Do it seriously, okay.”

“Got it.”

Putting my elbow on the table, I grasped Nadeshiko’s slender and slightly cold hand.

At this moment, I already feel power greater than Mirai.

Serving as referee is Mirai.

“Ready, go!”

“Nn…!”

“Guh!?”

Strong!? Nadeshiko is strong!?

A state of not moving while evenly matched continued for several seconds, but as if reaching a limit, Nadeshiko’s power weakened.

Seeing the flow come this way, I go to decide the match.

Nadeshiko resists desperately squeezing out the last of her strength.

Agony floats on her beautiful face, her skin dyed vermilion and taking on a sheen, her large chest shaking guwan.

What is this!

Form is emptiness (Shiki-soku-ze-kuu), disperse worldly desires (bonnou taisan), eradicate wicked thoughts (janen bokumetsu)… Katsu!

Finally, Nadeshiko’s hand touches the table, and my victory is decided.

“…I lost.”

“Even for Nako, it was impossible, huh. Even though it’s Ayata.”

How many times are you gonna say that.

“You were super strong.”

My arm is completely exhausted and dangling.

“I can’t beat a boy with just arm strength. Let’s do sumo after all!”

How many times are you gonna say that too?

Chapter 35: Sharing a Bed (Doukin)

“Since it’s a sleepover party we finally managed to have, let’s talk together until morning!”

I was bad for going along with those words of Nadeshiko, but how did it come to this!?

Me, sandwiched between Mirai and Nadeshiko. Three sets of futons are laid out in the tatami room forming the character ‘small’ (sho / 小 – me in the middle, them on the sides).

With the vibe of a school trip, getting excited with stupid talk with friends until morning. That’s what I thought, but around past 11, Mirai, who lives a regular life, fell asleep. By Nadeshiko saying “Then, let’s sleep too,” it was decided that I would sleep together with them in their room.

After all, the futons were already laid out in the tatami room, so even if I returned to my room, there was no place to sleep. I thought about sleeping wrapped in my poncho on the mattress-only bed, but it still gets cold at night.

I don’t want to catch a cold and ruin the upcoming holidays. So, I steeled myself to sleep between the two.

Just for today. Absolutely just for today. Deciding so, I turn off the lights and enter the futon.

The futons aired during the day are fluffy and I feel like I’ll have good dreams.

Improper thoughts? No, no.

Both are black belts in Judo. If I make a move poorly, I’ll be the one taken down.

From my right, I can hear the sound of Mirai’s regular breathing.

Nadeshiko, who reportedly studies late usually, must not be asleep yet.

Also because I slept a little during the day, I couldn’t fall asleep immediately. While lying on my back staring at the dark ceiling, I sensed Nadeshiko approaching.

I feign sleep (tanuki-neiri) while staying vigilant.

Giving me a lap pillow, suggesting sumo, today’s Nadeshiko is clearly strange.

I thought maybe she approached me out of calculation knowing I was a reasonably known V-Tuber, but if so, she wouldn’t choose someone of my level, but a more solid partner.

Beauty, talent, lineage. She who possesses everything should have her pick of partners. I, currently on hiatus and carrying the risk of being targeted by the mafia, am frankly a defective property. I don’t think I meet her standards.

Could it be she fell in love with me?

In just a few days since meeting?

That’s truly unlikely. The girl named Masaki Nadeshiko is the Yamato Nadeshiko said to be the school’s number one beautiful girl, a flower on a high peak everyone yearns for. She can’t be that easy (choroi).

“Excuse me.”

If you’re going to disturb me, please don’t come!

Nadeshiko boldly slipped into my futon. Something soft hit my arm, and I shivered at the breath I felt on the nape of my neck.

It’s completely her range (maai) now. If she applies a grappling hold here, I can’t escape!

Sensing danger to my person, I try to escape to the corner of the futon. But at that moment, goro-goro-nyan, Mirai rolled over this way.

Bad sleeping posture!

My escape route blocked by Mirai, I become completely unable to move.

“Fufu.”

Nadeshiko laughs quietly.

Thinking about it now, it’s also strange that Mirai didn’t say anything about the arrangement where I’m in the middle.

I don’t know what she’s thinking, but Mirai is Nadeshiko’s collaborator.

Her falling asleep easily and bad sleeping posture are probably natural, though. She screws up at the best timing.

“Hey… are you awake, Ayataka-kun?”

Probably so as not to wake Mirai. She whispers in my ear.

“Zzz-zzz (Guu-guu).”

“Geez, you’re being so obvious.”

“Zzz.”

“Sorry about today. Even though Ayataka-kun has Kuu-chan, I’m doing this now, but I didn’t want to leave Ayataka-kun alone. Because I thought Ayataka-kun’s heart was tired from working too hard.”

Working too hard.

I’ve been told that many times.

But, I have no regrets.

What if I had stopped somewhere?

If I had stopped trying hard?

Thinking about that is scarier.

“Ayataka-kun, somehow you seem strangely on guard against others usually, and thinking it might be because you had a terrible experience in Cicymel, I couldn’t leave you alone.”

Certainly, I’m aware I’m timid with people. But that was since before going to Cicymel.

“Being faint-hearted is my original nature. Since I was a child who was Mirai’s henchman.”

“You were awake after all.”

“Zzz.”

“Too late now.”

Since my ear was pulled, I reluctantly turn to face Nadeshiko.

Distance close enough to feel her breath.

But, I thought if I didn’t talk properly here, I wouldn’t be able to stay friends with her.

“Fine. Let’s talk until Nadeshiko is satisfied.”

“Then, can I ask about Kuu-chan?”

“If it’s something I can answer.”

Nadeshiko is a girl of that age after all. Thinking she wanted to talk about love stories (koi-bana), I was naive.

“Even though she’s your sister, why did Ayataka-kun fall in love with Kuu-chan?”

“…That’s a direct ball.”

Even if there’s no legal problem because we aren’t blood-related, I understand it’s not something praiseworthy in the general public eye.

But, I can clearly rebut this. After all, the order is different.

“I didn’t fall in love with my sister. In the first place, Kuu was formally adopted into our family and became my stepsister half a year ago when her naturalization application passed, you know? Until then, she was a housemate Father was taking care of, and she became my stepsister after I fell in love. That couldn’t be helped.”

“I see, that’s true… She’s such a beautiful girl. Of course, you’d fall in love immediately.”

Certainly, Kuu is cute.

But—

“At first, I was bad with her.”

“Is that so?”

“Kuu is younger, but she was much more capable than me. I felt inferior to Kuu who was smart and athletic.”

At first, I was scared.

For me who ran away from Japan, the girl named Kunia blessed with every talent was too dazzling.

“Even though she must have been in pain having just lost her parents, she didn’t show a single sad face. Despite that, she kept me company with my studies when I couldn’t go to school because I didn’t understand the language, and thanks to that I was able to learn English and Spanish. She was quite strict and never let me escape no matter how many times I cried uncle. But, thanks to her looking after me patiently, I think I was able to grow.”

“Somehow, Kuu-chan seems like Mi-chan.”

“That’s right. If Mirai is the big brother figure, Kuu is the teacher and master. Before I knew it, I had fallen in love.”

Probably, I’m weak to girls who lead me.

Also, I’ll keep silent about having fallen for her butt tightening a mawashi.

“Just like I was made to run around the hot spring town by Mirai, I was dragged around fields and mountains plenty by Kuu. Thanks to that, I gained quite a bit of stamina.”

“Did you fight or anything?”

“Yeah. On the first day we met. She made a welcome dish, but that dish was Cuy… grilled whole guinea pig as we call it here. When I refused to eat it, the angry Kuu sat on top of me (umanori) and forcibly stuffed it into my mouth.”

“…!?”

Suddenly Nadeshiko pressed her face into my chest. It seems it hit her funny bone.

“S-Sorry… because, it’s funny…!”

Certainly, now it’s a good funny story.

“The head is still attached, you know? It’s a feast over there, but. Tough for a beginner.”

“That’s… right… fufu!”

I stroke Nadeshiko’s head as her laughter doesn’t seem to subside yet.

“Ayataka-kun. Are you used to handling girls?”

“I’m a gentleman.”

“I’ll leave it at that.”

Nadeshiko looked up. Her glossy hair and clear eyes looked as if they were shining without melting into the darkness even in the gloom.

“So Kuu-chan is that kind of girl. I’m looking forward to meeting her from now.”

“That’s good. I want you to get along with her by all means.”

“Of course. But I’m glad. Ayataka-kun talking about Kuu-chan looks happy. Ayataka-kun was happy over there too, right.”

“Ah, that’s right. It was tough, and there were sad and painful things, but I have no regrets about going to Cicymel. Rather, I think I was lucky.”

“I see. Then, maybe I didn’t have to worry. I totally thought Ayataka-kun’s heart might be broken.”

I see.

I understood her eccentric behavior today.

She was trying to heal me.

Truly, a kind girl.

“As you think, I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD. But it’s a mild one that doesn’t hinder daily life, so it’s not something to worry about that much.”

“Really? You don’t jump up at the sound of ambulance sirens in the middle of the night?”

What Foreign Legion veteran is that?

“I don’t. Because there were no ambulances or sirens in the village I lived in. Nights were quiet, and I slept soundly.”

“I see.”

Naturally, we were vigilant against night raids, but the village is a natural fortress at 2000 meters altitude. Even for trained soldiers, climbing the mountain unnoticed and launching a night raid is a nearly impossible feat. What triggered the anti-personnel sensors operating at night were mostly beasts, or couples having a tryst.

That caused uproars and shuraba in its own way, though.

I’m not sick in the way Nadeshiko worries.

However, according to the diagnosis of the doctor who did counseling, I seem to have a strong attachment to those I cherish.

If there is something eating away at my heart, it is the fear of loss.

This is caused by the absence of a mother and the childhood experience of being left at a relative’s house. Plus my timid personality. Normally it’s not much of a problem, rather viewed positively as being able to cherish family and friends.

But, that’s in peacetime.

What if a loved one falls into crisis?

That’s the reason I was able to push myself in Cicymel.

When I was told that a child I played with before was kidnapped by human traffickers, I was helplessly sad and pained.

I hated my powerless self.

I despaired at adults who gave up while remaining powerless.

At that time, knowing human traffickers were targeting Kuu, my hoop came off.

Willing to become a clown, willing to dye these hands in blood. Deciding so, I became a V-Tuber, used funds and connections to retaliate against human traffickers, and protected Kuu from the mafia.

And—

The people I want to protect increased again in Japan.

The next morning—

“Don’t screw around, you guys!”

Seen by Mirai sleeping in the same futon with Nadeshiko, I was kicked awake.