When I Brought The Lost Little Girl To Her House, The One Who Came Out Of The Front Door Was The Most Beautiful Girl In The Grade. - Chapter 26

[TL Note: I’m extremely sorry guys, I have been TLing ‘夏乃’ as “Natsumi”, but it should be “Natsuno”. I’m sorry for this mistake.]

A few minutes after Ayano returned, I also came back. She was a little suspicious, but I managed to get through by insisting that I hadn’t seen her blushing.

Then, Sasaki, the one who caused my nosebleed, came up to me.

“S-Sorry… about earlier, it was my fault.”

Well, logically speaking, that’s true… But unlike earlier, I didn’t feel any anger or disappointment at all. On the contrary, I wanted to express my gratitude to Sasaki.

“No, it’s okay. Thank you, in fact.”

“Huh? Does that mean…?”

In that delicate moment, I worried if I had been found out. I tried to dismiss the thought, but I felt a bit anxious.

“Kuroda, are you a masochist?”

“N-No, that’s not it! I’m not angry, so no need to apologize!”

With that, we pretended nothing had happened. I definitely didn’t want to be labeled as a masochist.

After that, we played a little game where the one who made a shot would be replaced, and the practice session came to an end.

“Phew, I’m so exhausted…”

On my way home, I murmured to myself. It wasn’t much of a complaint, but since I hadn’t been involved in any club activities or sports in high school other than physical education, it was very tough. My body was crying out in protest.

“Kuroda!”

As someone called my name, I felt something hit around my waist.

When I looked, it was Natsumi bumping her head against me.

“What’s up, Natsumi?”

“Kuroda, are you free right now?”

“Well, I finished what I had to do, but…”

“Come over here.”

I followed her, and there were five or six girls, all around Natsumi’s height.

“Um… Natsumi?”

“Kuroda, let’s play oni (tag).”

“Oni?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know tag?”

I knew what tag was, but… Ah, I get it. By making me the oni, they can all run away together. That way, everyone gets to play, and I won’t be the only one left out.

“I’m actually tired, and I want to go home.”

“Kuroda, please…”

If I refuse here, I might feel bad as the older one. But my legs might already be at their limit.

“Hey, hey, if this guy won’t be the ‘Oni,’ then let’s have Natsuno-chan be the ‘Oni.'”

“Wait a minute, hold on a second.”

“Hey, Natsuno, are you trying to say you don’t want to be the ‘Oni’ yourself, so you want me to be it?”

When I asked that, she froze like a statue and didn’t move at all. Then, like a malfunctioning robot, she slowly turned towards me.

“I-I-I wouldn’t do something so mean. Natsuno is a good girl.”

“Then I don’t need to be the ‘Oni,’ right?”

Saying that, I tried to leave, but Natsuno grabbed my arm. When I turned back and looked at her, she had a teary look in her eyes and was gripping my arm tightly.

“Did I go too far with the teasing…? At her age, running away is more fun than being the ‘Oni’ after all…”

I could understand Natsuno’s feelings well, as I used to be like that when I was little.

“Are you sure? If I become the ‘Oni,’ I’ll catch everyone right away, you know?”

Upon hearing that, Natsuno’s expression brightened up instantly.

“It’s okay! Natsuno and the others are really fast at school!”

“Don’t cry even if you lose, okay?”

Saying that with a smile, I ended up becoming the ‘Oni’ in our game of tag.

“Alright, ‘Oni,’ count to thirty, and then come and catch us!”

At that moment, I thought they would be caught immediately. We started the game of tag as I counted to thirty.

***

“Haa, haa, I’m seriously dying here…”

“Kuroda! Come on, chase after us!”

Damn, they’re underestimating me, but I don’t want to run anymore. Even when I try my best to tag them, they use that invincible move, crossing their arms in front of their chest like a barrier.

With that move, not even a track and field athlete would be able to beat these kids at tag.

“I-I give up…”

“What? Kuroda, you haven’t caught anyone yet!”

“That’s so pathetic,” Natsuno said, and it stung my heart, but there’s no way I can catch them if they use that barrier move! I shouted in my mind.

“I’m really pathetic, huh…”

Suddenly, Ayano’s voice came from behind. No, no, there’s no way…

Thinking that, I turned around and saw Ayano grinning at me.

“A-Ayano-san? Why are you here?”

“Because we’re on the way home.”

“Ah, right… Well, then, I’ll be going.”

“What? Even though you haven’t caught anyone yet?”

“But, but they’re using a barrier, so I can’t catch them.”

“Hmm, then I’ll be the ‘Oni’ too.”

“Huh?”

She suddenly said that, and she seemed serious about it.

“Okay! Big sister will be the ‘Oni’ too!”

“Alright! I’ll catch you all!”

Saying that, Ayano rolled up her white shirt sleeves, revealing her beautiful white skin.

“Let’s do our best, okay?”

“Uh, yeah.”

As expected, I couldn’t catch them when they used the barrier move. Then, Ayano approached.

“If you keep using the barrier, you’ll turn into stone, you know? Without removing the barrier, you can’t go back home~.”

“L-Lies!”

“It’s true. Do you not believe what big sister says?”

“U-Uhh…”

“If you’re a good kid, then maybe I’ll remove the barrier for you~.”

With that, she easily removed the barrier. After that, she was petting the kid’s head, saying, “Good kid, good kid,” with a smile.

After all that, it was just Natsuno left.

“Come on, give up already, okay?”

“No way! I haven’t lost yet!”

“Natsuno, you’re already losing.”

“Shut up! You haven’t caught anyone either!”

Those words struck deep into my heart. Upon hearing that, Ayano was laughing beside me.

“Well, nothing I can do now~? You know, my right hand is free now~?”

Saying that, she made a gesture indicating her right hand was free.

“I’m going home now, okay?”

With that, Ayano turned around and started to walk away step by step. However, just as she took one step after another, Natsuno suddenly ran forward and tightly held Ayano’s right hand.

“Ahaha! I caught you!”

“Big sister, you’re too strong!”

After that, Natsuno hugged Ayano tightly.

“Thank you, Yuusei-kun.”

“Yeah, I’m tired, but it was fun.”

“Kuroda, let’s play again sometime.”

“Yeah, but this time, no using that cheat move called the ‘Barrier,’ okay?”

Saying that, the two of them held hands and walked away. Ayano turned back, smiled at me, and waved.

Her black hair swayed in the evening sun. Her large eyes, beautiful skin, and vibrant expressions were all perfect.

That night, I slept soundly.