EROMANGA SENSEI VOL. 11 CH. 2
Later that Night, I – Masamune — was in a tight spot.
I was just sitting on the sofa in my living room, working as usual.
「 ♪ 」
Sagiri laid partially on top of me, clinging onto me.
Her hums sounded like she was happy.
“Uhh… Sagiri?”
When I called out for her, she smiled at looked at me.
“Huh? What’s the matter, Nii-san?”
“Oh… No, nothing…”
Nothing was wrong but, what was wrong with this scenario?
This morning, I was kicked out after Sagiri thought she saw me having a not-actual affair.
After that, there were many things that happened from the Bookstore to the Karaoke Lounge—
I came home in a hurry because of Megumi…
And now…?
“Let’s stay together forever.”
Sagiri’s mood improved quite a bit.
Honestly, I have no idea what it means.
“Fufu… I don’t know about that.”
She replies with a smile.
Since then, it has always been Sagiri that engaged me with a lot of skinship.
Clinging to my waist, holding my arm, lying on top of me…
image
For me, I get to do these things with my favorite girl in the world and it’s left me embarrassed, confused, so much so that I can’t get a grip.
I was able to deal with it, all things considered, for a while now.
That is… until recently.
The meal was ready and both I and Sagiri had just finished our baths.
When Aunt Kyoka returns, we’re gonna have dinner, together.
But in the meantime, Sagiri, just having finished taking her bath, is wearing her pajamas.
Contrary to this morning’s “Least Popular Moe Style,” she is now dressed in the strongest gear, equipped with all her gestures being absolutely flawless.
The most beautiful girl in the world with her greatest equipment whispered to me.
“Hey, Hey… Nii-san,”
“O-oh, what is it Sagiri?”
“Me… Do you like me?”
Sagiri asks me with a look of a hint of superiority.
「…………」
The question itself made me forget to breath.
“Yes… I—I love you.”
“Huuu, Me too~ ♡”
Incredible.
Sagiri was lying on the couch, her head on my lap.
As it was, it was such an irresistible situation that my legs began to flutter.
It was like such a child-like indulgence coming from her. But, because with the scent of a freshly bathed Sagiri is wafting through the air, my brain starts to feel fuzzy and numb.
「……Hn……」
It was a dangerous feeling. I desperately resisted the urge to hold her tightly. The other day, I was tempted by Sagiri and almost died.
But now, this has an equal, if not more destructive power.
I know she’s not doing this on purpose, but Sagiri’s “Sweet and Cute” side simply being displayed…
At the same time though, these dark desires.
Wow… This is a bad spot.
I can’t explain it in detail, but…
This is way too much—
I need a moment.
“Sa-Sagiri..? Y-you don’t have to stick too closely to me just because I asked…”
“Yep.”
“Then w-why?! Is something wrong? You’ve been clinging to me for a while now—”
“No.”
“I’m incredibly happy, but p-please explain why!”
“I just feel like clinging to you.”
“That… that’s… not..”
Well—
This is what it’s been like this entire time.
Sagiri may not be aware it, but for me, she seems to be toying with my heartstrings until the very last moment.
“Well.. You know…”
Sagiri, who was lying on my lap, turned herself towards me, still using me as a knee pillow.
Her long hair gently covered a part of her face.
I couldn’t look away from her.
「…………」
As we looked at each other, her lips spun such sweet words.
“I love you too, Nii-san.”
「…………」
I was caught by surprise, completely loss for words.
“Did… did you hear that from Megumin?”
“Mhmm. My brother enjoys collecting koibanas[1]…”
“I’ll tell you that it’s not because it’s a ‘hobby hobby,’ okay?”
After correcting any misunderstandings, I continued,
“…Those aren’t limited to just girls, and I didn’t just start collecting them just today, but… I’m always gathering information…”
She mutters,
“…Because you’re a Romantic Comedy Writer…”
My heart started beating fast.
Sagiri then said in passing,
“Just like Makina-chan.”
Makina Aoi, an anime playwright who is writing the script for the anime adaptation of our Light Novel, “The Cutest Sister in the World.”
“… I don’t collect as greedily as she does…”
Makina lived with us for a while to experience our romance story first-hand. It was the first time I’ve ever seen such a thorough person.
While I’m not impressed by her dropped or late manuscripts, I respect the creator nevertheless.
“Well.. We… May we have a koibana[1]? Is it alright to talk about us?”
“Yeah. I want to hear your love story.”
“Alright… I’ll tell you what it really is. Listen, okay?”
I watch Sagiri, still using my knee as a pillow, as she goes,
“I have someone I really like right now.”
“Yeah..”
“He’s my first love.”
You already know you are mine.
Sagiri giggles softly with a smile. She continues,
“What I like about him is…”
“Yeah..?”
“Just being together makes me happy. It’s such a feeling that I can do anything just to see that person’s smile. He always gives me strength to live. He’s always been there for me: in times of loneliness, times of hardships, in times of sorrow…”
「..…Wow…..」
“I also like hard working people. I study hard and practice homecooked meals. I’m practicing every day in secret to get over my condition.
I try and make more cute illustrations through my efforts.”
“Really? Well, I love them..!”
“Oh, I know, so I love them too.”
I laugh and continue for the both of us.
“Of course I like not only the inside, but also the outside. I think her hair is angelic, her skin like snow fairy, and her eyes are the jewels—the cutest and best of all mankind.”
“…Ooo…W-wow..”
“It’s like my life was meant to meet someone like Sagiri.”
“Ahh Shoop! Shtoop!”
Sagiri closed her eyes and stretched out her hands to try to stop me.
“What is it?”
I was still in the middle of my story.
Sagiri turned red as her eyes closed tightly.
“It’s embarrassing! What would you say that~!”
“It’s not… You said you wanted to have a koibana, right?”
“That’s… That’s..!”
Sagiri starts squeling forcefully, trying to keep my mouth closed.
“Ahh I can’t believe I’m going to fall in love with myself… After taking a bath!”
“What does that have to do with taking a bath?”
“I don’t know! Nii-san’s a pervert!”
“…What?”
I don’t get at all.
However, when Sagiri accuses me of being “perverted” or “strange,” I usually already know I’m being “perverted.”
I didn’t say that to her, of course.
But instead, I said this,
“I’m not sure, but Sagiri may be the perverted one.”
“Huh? Why?”
“You get so clingy after taking a bath, so how can I not talk about my love for you?”
“I don’t understand! What does that have to do with me taking a bath?!”
“I can’t say why! EroManga-Sensei is a pervert!”
I needed to get rid of my girlfriend after she took a bath because just her being here afterwards makes me feel… Erotic!
“I don’t know anyone with that name!”
Along with the usual dialogue, we started glaring at each other.
“Grrrr…”
Sagiri started to squeeze her pillow threateningly.
We were talking about love a moment ago, how did we start fighting?
We didn’t understand it ourselves.
“Hey.. Anyway… My love story isn’t done yet. May I finish what so good about Sagiri? How much Izumi Masamune likes her?”
“…Huuu is it going to end in five minutes?”
“Probably in an hour or two, I think I’ll be in the final chapter.”
“Eh..? I’m so embarrassed that I think I’m gonna die in 10!”
So cute.
“Then do your love story. What does Sagiri like about me? Why don’t you take over?”
“… There’s no way I could.”
Huh? Why?!
“We’re doing a ‘koibana’ right?”
Sagiri squinted and refused.
“You say you can’t… then what do you mean?”
“It’s more… metaphysical.”
I think I’ve struck something interesting.
“… What is a metaphysical koibana?”
“Let’s see… Love is like… Not like—it’s not like Nii-san’t thoughts… My thoughts on love?
I mean, I want to talk about it properly.. Ahh I’m sorry, I can’t explain it well.”
「…………」
Did—did she talk to Megumi about that?
Silently, I urged Sagiri to explain.
I wanted to understand her— I wanted to listen to it seriously.
Sagiri, still using my lap as a pillow, opened her eyes.
“Suzu-chan said, ‘Love is what you to do make yourself happy.’ … she said that right?”
Don’t say that as if you were listening during that time.
Well, I’m actually not sure how much Megumi told her.
“It’s kind of a calculating way to say it, but I thought it was Suzune-chan’s idea, and I thought, maybe…”
“I think there was a place where I said it was intentional.”
The concept of “What you do” is very Suzune.
“Yeah..”
Sagiri nodded a little.
“But I think it’s different… I don’t think romance can be achieved how Suzu-chan sees it. It’s more… It’s more like a disease… it’s sudden… It’s painful… I think that there’s nothing I can do about it.”
“I agree.”
「…?!…」
There was a sudden voice of acknowledgement.
In shock, Sagiri and I began to shutter at the same time.
“K-Kyoka-chan!”
Kyoka-san, our guardian and aunt, stood right beside the sofa where we were.
“I’ve been here since a while ago. It seems like you two could only see each other.”
Both our cheeks flushed. I didn’t expect the family to engage in a full koibana.
It was a very awkward situation.
Kyoka still has a scary expression that doesn’t match with her inner heart.
“Sagiri-san is right. ‘Love is something like a disease. It’s painful. It’s heartbreaking… It can’t be helped,’ – really, it’s really well said.”
She nodded in agreement.
I can’t believe this person is joining on our Koibana.
As expected, Sagiri listened in a bewildered tone.
“Well… Do you want to share your love story too, Kyoka-chan?”
“Yes, allow me to join in on this. Actually, I’ve never done this before.”
“Oh… Kyoka-san… did you happen to drink?”
“It was a wedding celebration for one of my collegues. I’ve had a couple… do you smell it?”
Kyoka-san glanced at me.
She was wearing a cool, sophisticated suit, but she was strangely child-like.
“No… your face is just a little red.”
In the first place, Kyoka-san isn’t able to be honest with what she wants to say.
So it’s reasonable to guess that perhaps she did drink a little—indeed that was the case here.
She’s a bit of a light weight, it seems.
Kyoka-san looked away from me and was holding her hands behind her back.
“It was my dream… well, on the night of my school trip… to hide in my futon and have love talks with my close friends. Because of my personality at the time… I was always on the sidelines of my classmates…
Usually on the side of disturbing everyone…
I never had this kind of opportunity.”
I understand. Kyoka-san was the class representative or disciplinary committee type.
“Okay guys! It’s time to turn off the lights! Let’s end this talk and head to bed early!”
“Oh, Izumi-chan is being too serious.”
I can clearly imagine that kind of interaction when I am in school.
“Well, I really wanted to talk about a lot of things. I wanted to brag and complain to my classmates how cool and wonderful the person I like is, how annoying they are…”
“I… I understand Kyoka-san’s feelings.”
Sagiri nodded in agreement.
In a good mood, Kyoka asked,
“You understand?
Hatano-san, student in the class next door, was dating Endo-san in the student council, and I saw the student president asking Kaga-san, our secretary, for a movie date, and I had a lot of confidential love information that only I know in my school years!
I wanted to share it with people! But…
I didn’t have any friends to have a koibana with.”
Kyoka-san scrunched her lips in bitterness.
It was a heartbreaking backstory.
She’s too honest with alcohol, isn’t she? Should the three of us have a koibana like this with Kyoka-san? I want to make this family moment come true, but it’s super embarrassing!
While I was completing that thought, Sagiri clapped her hands.
“Kyoka-chan! I have an idea!”
“…Is it a good idea?”
“Yes! I want to have a koibana like that school trip night…
Let’s invite some pretty girls here and have a girl’s night out!”
Sagiri’s eyes started to sparkle as if she discovered an erotic book.
“A sleepover… Sagiri, are you alright?”
She said that with multiple meanings.
If you have an overnight party hosted by Sagiri, there will be several problems that can’t be ignored. What does Sagiri think about them?
“Of couse, I’m thinking about it. My room is too small for us, so I’ll put my futon here in the living room. Also, the girls I can call are the only ones I can stay with.”
“Hmm…”
Sagiri can’t spend time in the same space unless she can get along with them. If she were to leave her room, go downstairs, and sleep in the same room…
Only a few people would be able to be in that night party.
“Specifically, who would you call? Now, with Kyoka-san and Elf—”
“I’m in a fight with Elf, so I’m not calling her.”
“Oh, o-okay.”
You two didn’t make up this morning?
Still, the fact that Elf is Sagiri’s best friend who opened her heart remains the same. I wasn’t worried about them having a complete falling out.
“I’ll call… Megumi-chan, Muramasa-chan, Onee-chan…”
“Onee-chan?”
I wondered for a bit who it was and I immediately knew.
“Army?”
“Yep!”
Armeria Amelia. The boyish, red-headed, universal illustrator. The genius who goes by “Army.”
She was the woman behind EroManga-Sensei G, the disciple of the original EroManga-sensei, and the spiritual older sister of Sagiri.
It’s true that she is really like an “Onee-chan” to Sagiri— in every sense of the word.
She would be the best selection among the members of the sleepover.
Kyoka-san had to ask Sagiri,
“Kamino-san and Muramasa-san are the ones you had the ‘School Day’ play for?”
“Yeah… I’m close to them so… I can stay with them… I’ll be fine.”
“Then you’ll be able to relax. Hm… Okay then, I’ll look forward to it now… Thank you Sagiri-san.”
Kyoka-san said thank you happily.
She really looked like she was back in her school days and had a child-like smile.
I just had to ask,
“Is Kyoka-san alright? I find it hard to grasp that’ you’ll be staying with Sagiri’s friends.”
It was a dream of mine to have a sleepover as well, but it was a rather difficult situation.
Hearing that, Kyoka responded as if she was sober,
“It wasn’t like I was hoping to join a junior high school student’s sleepover.”
“That… You’d be the only adult.”
“I was a junior high school a couple of years ago, so it’s almost like I’m also a junior high school girl as well.”
That line read was all over the place.
“By that logic, Kyoka-san is younger than I am.”
“Actually, Masamune-san is my older nephew.”
You told me about the backstory of my birth.
This is too contradictory, Kyoka-san.
Still, reading the room, I had no choice but to give just a questionable smile of approval.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen Kyoka-san go crazy like this. Sagiri… Sake is a dangerous drink, isn’t it?”
“Fufufu… Nii-san, alcohol is a wonderful drink. I want them to wear their school uniforms now.”
“That is a terrifying idea.”
We’re going to die when she sobers up, please don’t do that to me Sagiri.
I’ve made up my mind. I am never drinking with Sagiri.
Sagiri then quickly whipped out her smartphone.
“I’m gonna invite them right away. Please get ready.”
“Okay, let me know the number of people to prepare a meal for. What else do you need?”
“Well… Board games played by six people—oh and sweets!”
“Sagiri-san, if you make a list, I’ll buy them for you.”
“Okay! I’ll write one up for you.”
I wanted to be a bit cheeky. The board game that she needs which 6 people can play when only 5 people are coming if she isn’t calling Elf?
But it didn’t matter.
“… What’s wrong, Nii-san?”
“Nothing…”
Sagiri’s eyes beamed with excitement,
“Not only will I have a ‘nighttime school trip with my friends koibana’ but I’ll also be able to observe cute girls in this fresh situation.”
This may actually be the real, ulterior motive of EroManga-Sensei.
But, even so… I can’t believe how assertive Sagiri has become. Compared to when she was really secluded, she made some serious progress—I was really impressed.
“Is there anything else you need?”
“Well…..”
Sagiri glanced at the intoxicated Kyoka-san and have a smirk.
“Let’s get some alchohol for Kyoka-chan.”
“…I can’t buy it for high school students.”
And like that—the Izumi Family Sleepover was decided.
Later though… I realized that Sagiri’s Koibana would stop halfway for me…
I wasn’t allowed to listen all the way to the end.
The next morning, before I went to school, I stopped by Elf’s house.
“I’m in a fight with Elf, so I’m not calling her.”
Sagiri and Elf are not talking to each other at the moment.
Like I said, I don’t think the relationship between the two will get worse…
“Sagiri is really angry.”
It might not be possible to fix their friendship in a few days.
But then, Elf will not participate in another night party if it’s hosted by Sagiri.
That didn’t sit well with me.
If you’re still fighting with your friend, you can’t fully enjoy the event.
「… I have to do something about this.」
As soon as I pressed the intercom, Elf answered in a haughty voice.
“State thy Password”
“… The Silent Light.”
“…Enter, the Sanctuary has been opened.”
The door to the building opens slightly, as if a strange force willed it to.
Of course, it’s not magic, but by the power of a human being—Elf herself.
Well… There shouldn’t be anything to worry about.
I approached the building and raised my hand to Elf behind the door.
“Good Morning.”
“I thought you would come.”
“Oh yes, I’m sure you were expecting it, but I’m here for a reason. I came to ask what happened between you and Sagiri yesterday.”
“Yeah, I figured. Will you stay for a bit?”
“No, I need to go to school.”
“Okay, then I’ll keep this short.”
Whenever I talk with Elf, it always goes at blinding speeds.
Maybe it’s because she already thinks carefully about what she’ll say.
“It wasn’t that big of a fight, was it?”
“It was. Sagiri was really angry.
Look, Masamune. Think from the opposite standpoint.
Your best friend—lets call him… Male Elf, what would you do if you witnessed him sneaking into Sagiri’s be—”
“I would kill you.”
“… That’s what Sagiri was like,”
“You’re still alive.”
While I did give her an immediate answer… It was not a joke.
I replayed the scenario multiple times in that fraction of a second, but every time, when he enters Sagiri’s bed, that man dies.
Every. Time.
We could be best friends for years, decades. That man dies.
I couldn’t help but wonder how Elf escaped Sagiri’s sword.
“It would be helpful if you didn’t ask me too much about it… I just said, ‘I was seriously just having fun for concepts,’
But it ended with me seeing a side of Sagiri I didn’t know existed in any reality.”
Elf’s face turned pale, as if she was reliving that moment with Sagiri.
「…………」
What happened since then… Somehow though, I can imagine it.
“So… Well… Sagiri said you were still fighting…”
“I’ve made a lot of compromises, but… we haven’t made up completely yet… But I hope I can make it up to her properly at the sleepover party.”
“What?”
Did she say something strange just now?
“…? What’s wrong, Masamune?”
“Oh, uh… were you going to come?”
“Yeah, I just got in contact with Sagiri.”
“Sagiri herself?”
“Huhuhu, that reaction… Well, I wondered if she said something like,
‘I’m in a fight with Sagiri, so I’m not calling her,’”
How did she know?! That’s exactly right!
To my amazement, Elf gave me a smile.
“Curious?”
“It’s just strange. I guess Sagiri wanted to call you last night…”
Based on the role reversal example earlier, Sagiri wouldn’t be able to forgive Elf that easily.
What in the world…?
Holding her head up high, Elf politely answers,
“Oh Masamune.
Even when you haven’t seen me, Sagiri and I still meet and talk.”
That double meaning she gave me was quite obvious.
“You may know a side of Sagiri I don’t know. But I know all the Sagiri you don’t.”
I say that quite proudly. She responds,
“I’m sure I like her more than you think and… she likes me more than you think. So, inspite of your feelings and concerns, it’s like this.”
「…………」
I was forced to ponder for a while.
I’m surprised that I was taken aback even though I’m supposed to have the upper hand.
It reminded me of the culture festival.
Having a glimpse of Muramasa-senpai’s school life and watch her warmly interact with her classmates.
It made me realize how unreliable my preconceptions were.
“Ah… I see.”
Sagiri and Elf must be the same way.
Admittedly, I was both lonely and happy from the thought of it.
“Sagiri is my gaming partner… and a school-refusal companion above all—”
Elf started to say something important when—
Achoo
“A cold?”
“Ah… Maybe… Maybe I was naked for too long…”
This time, Elf’s chance of participating in another night party was now jeopardy for a different reason.
A Few Days Later
The night of the Izume Family Sleepover has come.
The participants of this evening were Sagiri, Senpai, Megumi, and Army. Kyoka-san even joined again.
Elf seemed to have caught a cold and informed her that she couldn’t come over today.
“My fever came down a bit, but I don’t want to infect everyone.”
When I told Sagiri, she tried to have a strong front but was still visibly saddened.
And so… That morning I called Elf and it seems that they have been talking a lot. I don’t know exactly what they were talking about right now though.
“Do you not have your passport yet?”
“Huh? No, not yet.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Huh?”
“Elf wanted me to ask.”
Although she couldn’t participate in tonight’s sleepover, it seems like Elf and Sagiri are planning a new “fun thing” together.
They were able to make up – or rather, I didn’t have to worry about it from the beginning.
Now then, let’s return back to the Sleepover Party.
In addition to the five people, I’m just sitting on the sofa in the living room.
Once I’ve gotten the full ‘School Excursion Night Time Situation,’ I’m going to leave the room.
“Masamune-kun… It’s rather late now, but would you like me to participate in this sleepover?”
Kyoka-san said this shyly.
“— It’s really late.
— Well… I was a bit drunk last time…
— But now that’s we’re here, it’s so awkward.”
— It’s not just that… I’m an adult, should I be going to a junior high sleepover?”
When I tried to calm Kyoka-san down, Sagiri followed.
Even though her cheeks were red, her face still held a scary look.
That didn’t stop Sagiri from being relentless though.
“A couple of years ago, you were a junior high schooler, right?”
“Ah! Don’t repeat my lines!”
“Even though you’re a member of society, you’re still an aunt younger than Nii-san, right?”
“I didn’t say that!”
“I heard it.”
“I didn’t!”
“I definitely heard that.”
“Well… I never said it—I don’t remember that at all!”
That’s exactly when Amelia-san tapped Kyoka-san on her shoulder, who was currently arguing with Sagiri as if they were the same age.
“Hey Oba-san, Oba-san!”
“…Don’t call me that!”
“No, no, I didn’t mean in it in anything else but being Sagiri’s Auntie… Okay then, Onee-san~”
Amelia-san, who was in the immediate line of sight by a death glare, seemed to be in laughing tears.
“Hey, I get it! I’m a bit older but I still attend a gathering of junior high school girls as well.”
Kyoka-san looks up,
“… Come to think of it, Amelia-san… you don’t look like a junior high schooler, but you don’t look like an adult…”
That’s right. I don’t remember you age. I heard it before, but it wasn’t clear. My best guess what that you might be around the same age as Kyoka-san.
“Oh hoh! You’re not supposed to ask girls their age even if you’re the same sex, right?”
Amelia-san evaded answering the question again and handed Kyoka-san a beer can.
“Hey, before this sleepover really begins, how about a drink to cheer you up?”
“Itadakimasuuu~”
Surprisingly, Kyoka-san received it and drank it down without any reservations.
“Oof.”
She paused, and her complexion changed a bit.
If you looked closely, her cheeks may be slightly more red… but…
“Now then, It’s time to start the Sleepover Koibana!”
As soon as she drinks a can, Kyoka-san immediately began the girl talk event. I wonder if this 152 yen plus tax alcoholic beverage will also bring her youthful, junior high spirit back. Looking back on it, whenever Kyoka-san came home from work, she would always tried to entertain us.
And even then…
Amelia-san, who recommended the alcohol, probably didn’t expect it to have this much of an effect. She seemed taken aback a bit.
“Ha-ha, alright dear.”
She laughed as if to recover in the moment.
Everyone, including me, moved the table out of the room and laid out the futons neatly. Pillows placed inside, and now the evening styled, school trip night was ready to go.
By the way, the futons were all from this household—but thankfully, there were so many visiting that it saved me the trouble of having to move them all.
And so, Sagiri suggested we hurry along.
“Okay! I want to hear everyone’s love stories soon. Everyone, go take turns in the bath.”
“Oh, Sagiri-chan, when will you join us?”
Megumi is comfortable inviting her in to join her, but Sagiri shook her head.
“…Not yet.”
“I see. Be back soon!”
Megumi doesn’t seem to care and takes her refusal in stride.
“Once we get out of the baths, let’s all play a Pajama Match as an appetizer for the koibana.”
“Sagiri… What’s a Pajama Match? That seems suspicious.”
Muramasa-senpai interrupted as soon as heard the suggestion. Sagiri smiled and responded,
“It’s a fun activity where I score everyone in their pajamas”
Sagiri… You’re the Judge?
“I’ve seen Muramasa-chan and Kyoka-chan’s already, so I’m looking forward to Megumi-chan and Amelia-chan wearing pajamas.”
She’s air drawing a picture with one hand…
Perhaps… Sagiri’s motivation for holding a sleepover was partly because she wanted to collect ‘beautiful girls in pajamas’ as material.
She was true to herself as ever.
“I though Sagiri would definitely say so, so I bought something super cute!”
“Me too~♪! Let’s show each other~♪!”
Amelia and Megumi seemed to have anticipated Sagiri’s intentions.
While on the other hand, Muramasa and Kyoka did not expect it at all. Both of them were acting sheepishly.
“Why didn’t you say that before… I’ve brought my usual fish pajamas…”
“I— I failed too. Honestly, I wanted to enjoy Muramasa’s Serious-Mode Pajamas…”
Kyoka-san turned to Sagiri,
“Sagiri-san… If that’s the case… Should I go grab my winning pajamas I bought a few years ago and never wore and put it on?”
“Yes!”
I wonder what Kyoka-san’s face would be when she wakes up and realizes she’s wearing pajamas…
Shouldn’t we stop this?
It’s getting close to the hour, and the excitement of girl talk is getting harder and harder for me to stay.
It’s about time I head to my bedroom and give them space.
“Well, I’m gonna head off for the night… Everyone, enjoy the pajama party. You can call me if you need me.”
“Wait a sec, Masamune-kun.”
It was Muramasa-senpai who stopped me.
– That was surprising.
This was due to the fact it was the first time meeting her after the cultural festival.
“Well… You know…”
Muramasa-senpai looked down, scratching her head with her fingers. Then in a loud voice, looked up and said,
“Thank you for your continued support”
「……. Thank You… Muramasa-senpai…」
I left the living room feeling as though a weight was lifted off my shoulders.
Tuning them out, I returned to my room.
After Masamune left the living room, the girls, including me, Izumi Sagari, rushed to Muramasa-chan all at once. Of course, I was the first one to say something.
“Muramasa-chan! Hey, what was that?!”
Muramasa-chan starts to look at me from above.
“What do you mean?”
“Wow! That was a meaningful conversation with Onii-chan♡”
Following Megumi’s pursuit, Kyoka-chan and Onee-chan – which may be hard to understand so let’s call her Amelia-chan as before— followed her lead.
“That exchange sounded like you dated Masamune, but… that’s not it, is it? I mean, I don’t know your recent love affairs at all but, can you share with us? If you’re going to fall in love with him now, we’ll need to know about it.”
“I’d love to know the details too. Depending on how you answer, I will have to talk to Masamune-san. Not as a guardian, but as an older sister.”
“Hey, Onee-san, people who aren’t used to drinking become the same age as kindergarteners when they drink, you know.”
“What are you talking about~?”
“… Let’s hear the story.”
Amelia-chan end her conversation with Kyoka-chan there and starts again with Muramasa-chan.
“And what happened between you and Masamune, Muramasa-san?”
“If that’s what you want to know, I’ll tell you Illustrator-san.”
The two first met when we started work on the manga adaptation of the “The Cutest Sister in the World.” I did wonder what Muramasa-chan did for the meeting of her favorite writer. She did argue with Amelia-chan, who was in charge of turning it into a Manga.
Eventually though, they were both very satisfied with the greatness of the manga and recognized each other. People with great talents may have something in common.
“The other day, I had a cultural festival at my alma mater. I invited Masamune there.”
“Well, Muramasa-chan, don’t go saying that like, ‘ We had a cultural festival date alone.’ We were all invited together~”
Megumi said, being angry jokingly. Muramasa-chan apologized honestly saying,
“I’m sorry.”
“Oh, that’s fine.”
“Ah! I couldn’t go because I was too busy”
“Oh yeah, I sent a picture of the school to Amelia.”
I said for a while that the memories of the cultural festival were exciting.
“Oh… I had lots of fun at that time. Let’s all play together again. Next time, those who couldn’t come because of whatever should come through!”
“… Did his opinion change afterwards, Muramasa-san?”
“Perhaps? Huu, My love must have made me grown up a bit.”
Muramasa-chan was completely enamored as she joined her hands in front of her chest.
Amelia-chan smiled bitterly.
“You’re a genius novelist, but when it comes to love, your choice of words are cheap. You said your romanced progressed?”
“Oh, I confessed to Masamune at the night festival.”
“Ah.”
Amelia-chan’s eyes rolled heavily. Her cheeks were slightly flushed. She talked like a bad boy in Japanese, but she’s surprisingly naïve about romance. Neither Megumi nor I were surprised because we already knew about Muramasa’s confession.
And so, no matter how close Muramasa-chan seems to be with Masamune, there’s no problem whatsoever.
“…Well…”
……. I didn’t get upset. Nope.
Kyoka-chan is interested in Muramasa-chan’s confession story, yelling “Kyaaa~” with a messy feeling.
As Amelia-chan said earlier, it’s cute reaction, like a little girl who longs for love.
Kyoka-chan asked with glimmering eyes,
“What was the reply, Masamune-kun?”
“He told me that he liked me.”
“Ehh?!”
Everyone, including me, cried out.
“But I was rejected, saying, ‘There’s someone I like better.’”
“Don’t confuse us!”
Amelia-chan. Holding her hand to her chest, gasped.
Oh my god…. I believe in Masamune!
I’m not surprised at all, but… Oh… Geez!
Muramasa-chan continued,
“That’s how my love affair took the next step.”
“How?”
Amelia-chan started to tune out. Muramasa-chan looked proud.
“Masamune-kun… he said he liked me, right? I didn’t call it progress back then. I was in shock that day… But when I think about it carefully, I didn’t have to be depressed. He definitely did like me more than before.”
“I respect you for getting that far, sheesh!”
It’s absurd to me, but Amelia-chan is groaning in a paradoxically impressed way.
“No, really. I’d like to learn that kind of positivity from you.”
She let out a wistful sigh. Megumi-chan’s eyes glint as she looks at such a maiden-like figure. The girls fell in love with the delicious seeds of koibana, licking their lips in excitement.
Afterwards—
We took turns taking baths and returned to the living room.
… And unfortunately, my noble dream of ‘taking a bath together’ never came true.
Girls who take baths are very, very sexy.
…I hope we could all go to a big hot spring someday.
“Kyoka-neesan, you’re pajamas are fabulous!”
“Fufu~ It’s lingerie I bought these on a recommendation from a colleague a few years ago. All this time, I’ve never worn them, but tonight was a good chance to unveil it.”
Amelia-chan and Megumi-chan discuss Kyoka-chan’s currently winning pajamas.
I don’t dare describe the details, but let’s just say it turned out to be some great drawing material!
“I think Amelia-sama and Jinno-sama are both have cute and wonderful pajamas.”
“That’s right~”
“Thank you very much ♪ “
“To be honest, I was embarrassed to say that it was childish pajamas, but all my worries blew away when I saw yours.”
All of us spent a lovely time drying each other’s hair, showing off her pajamas, and so on. Then we all slept together and completed the
“School Night Excursion” part of the sleepover.
This means that we will be able to enjoy a girl-only koibana until we all fall asleep.
Lying face-to-face, I’m in the between two others.
On my right is Kyoka-chan, and my left was Muramasa-chan.
Amelia-chan was further down on Kyoka-chan side.
Megumi-chan was placed on the opposite side next to Muramasa-chan.
Kyoka-chan is gradually becoming quiet, perhaps from being a little drunk.
Maybe it’s about time I came to my senses and go change into my winning pajamas. That’s all I have to do to prevent that… plus it’s cute… And Muramasa-chan is, as usual, absorbed in writing novels.
“Before the bath, Muramasa-chan dropped a bomb on us… but now it’s time to recollect ourselves.”
I proudly said.
“Now it’s time for Koibana!”
“Well then… who should we talk about first?”
As Kyoka-chan looked around, Megumi-chan raised her hand lightly.
“Yes ♪ I was really curious about this before I took a bath.”
“Who does Amelia-chan like?”
She started off the koibana, full of confidence.
Amelia-chan was incredibly upset with Megumi.
“Ahh? I’m batting first?!”
“Of course~ ♪ The sigh you gave was a girl in love and my curiosity is killing me!”
Maybe she was expressing herself, but Megumi-chan started to push herself on top of the futon.
“Who do you like… Or do you not know?”
Amelia-chan shrugs her shoulders as her face is smothered onto her pillow.
“I could say it but isn’t better to guess and figure it out— Who this person is? Why do I like them?”
“Heh~ Give us some hints then! I mean, you really like someone in a romantic way, right?”
“Right? You must have someone you love so much that you want to marry.”
“Hmm… It’s… Someone we know.”
“You need to give us a good hint. Otherwise, it’s too hard to guess!”
“Oh Oh! I know, Amelia-chan. I’ll guess right now.
Tada~ it’s Masamune Onii-chan! How about that?”
“Hmm, why do you think so?”
“Why? Well it’s because I don’t have many options to choose from. Amelia-chan and I have that in common, right?”
Huh? Did Megumi just say something rude?
Amelia-chan is thinking in amusement,
“Hmm… Masamune-kun..”
“You like Masumune Onii-chan? He’s a good guy, great personality, writes light novels that I like, has lots of common interests, he’s great husband-material—even if he’s absorbed in his work.
Hm! If you really want to get married, he’s the best option.”
Um… Amelia-chan you know what’s good about Masamune, right?
But, that’s the answer, isn’t it?
Just being around Masamune is wonderful.
Wait, is that all I can think of?
Contrary to my beliefs, however, Amelia-chan didn’t say any lines of praise or compliments towards Masamune.
“Hm…? Is that all you can think of?”
While watching the conversation, Megumi said that unexpectedly.
“Ah? Amelia-chan and Onii-chan have great compatibility! Was it Right? Maybe I’m spot on?”
“But you’re wrong.”
“Yep, sure ♪ ”
“Megumi-chan, what’s with that ‘I know’ attitude? Explain my fiancé to me.”
“Uuu—Sagiri-chan is really angry.
No, it’s… Onii-chan is a really nice person, and I would honestly go out with him, but he has an iron wall called Sagiri-chan, so even if I grow to love him, his love will never grow to that… I like Sagiri-chan more than Onii-chan.”
“Ehh…eeeh… I-I like Megumi-chan, too—you heard that, Muramasa-chan? What do you think about it?”
“Don’t you know? I prefer Masamune-kun to Sagiri-san.”
“Uuuu! Muramasa-chan will always be the enemy in love! I don’t like it!”
“I wish I could say the same. I consider you to be a good friend.”
After saying such shameless lines in seriousness, Muramasa-chan returns to writing.
“Bleeeh!”
I said, sticking my tongue out with affection and frustration.
Muramasa-chan has been like this after the cultural festival.
I started to talk about myself, not just about my brother.
It’s been a long time since I talked about my real feelings, but I think I’ve become more childish, or maybe less reserved.
I can’t explain it well, but—I think I’ve become soft and attractive.
It’s.. It’s kind of frustrating as a girl.
“Oh yeah! Let’s not forget! We’re in the middle of Amelia-chan’s important koibana!”
“…. Couldn’t you have just let it go?”
“I’m not gonna let this slide! So let’s hear it, give us an answer!”
“Yeah, who do you like?”
“It’s Emily”
Amelia-chan’s said that clearly.
– With a face of a girl quite visibly in love.
image
That was obvious to me, but apparently not to Megumi-chan. Even after witnessing Amelia-chan’s confession about Elf, she may have thought it was a joke.
Megumi blinks blankly at Amelia’s response
“E-Emily as in Elf… Right?”
“Yeah”
“Elf, the girl, right? Amelia-chan is also a girl, right?”
“Yes, if you don’t think so, would you like to confirm?”
Amelia-chan laughed michieviously. Megumi was completely stunned.
“—What, really? For Amelia-chan, Elf is… someone you really like in a romantic sense?”
“For me, Amelia Armeria, Emily is someone I really like in a romantic way. She’s a lovely woman that I want to get along with her and marry her.”
“Ah—I’m sorry, I misunderstood.”
“It’s okay, is that good enough?”
“Yep! I’m satisfied.”
“Yeah, good enough for me.”
“But! Ah—Do you like girls then, Amelia-chan?”
“I like Emily beyond just her gender. For me, that’s unimportant. Even if she were a man, I still would have liked her—she’s amazing.
This is the first time I’ve been able to come out about this.”
I totally understand. Megumi-chan was still wrapping her head around it. I stepped in without hesitation—actually, for some reason; I was open to the idea of it.
I think it’s quite interesting.
“Onee-chan, so you mean that you like boys and girls or is she the only exception?”
“I’m particularly fond of Emily, but I am okay with either men or women—”
“Oh-hooh? Well then, who among us do you like the best?”
Amelia-chan smiles gingerly at Megumi-chan, leaning forward to dig further in.
“Wait… Am I the one?”
Amelia-chan pointed to Megumi-chan.
“You?”
“Yeah, d-do you?”
“Yeah, I like you, but not as much as Emily.”
“Fuuu~ I see.”
Megumi-chan was heavily blushing.
“That… th-thank you…”
I just realized this now, but Megumi-chan is adorable. I’m sure she has been confessed by many guys by now. But it might have been the first time that a girl said to her, “I like you.” The surprise confession seemed to be super effective—
A critical hit, even.
“S-So S-Sa-Sagiri-chan! I think I’ve become strange! I’m getting excited over a girl, eep!”
“Does Megumi-chan like girls too?”
“I don’t know, I never thought about it! Oh geez! I’m so confused—Amelia-sama… Well, w-what do you like about me?”
The way she started to address Amelia even made me nervous.
Amelia-chan thought for a moment,
“Hm…
I think it’s because you’re very loud. And yet, it’s fun to be with you. Even though you look dumb at first glance, you have your own thoughts and are cleverer than you seem—which sometimes surprises me.”
“Isn’t that somewhat like Elf?”
“Yep.”
“Ahh how sneaky of you! Isn’t that rude to a maiden like me—to connect a confession of love with giving another a feeling of ecstasy?”
“Fufu, Are you jealous?”
“N-No! I’m not jealous.”
Megumi’s deep red cheeks were swelling like a squirrel.
Huh—I wonder what kind of conversation this is. Is it just a prank? Was it a joke—or was it also mixed with a bit of sincerity?
This conversation was so difficult to grasp. It makes me exciting just listening to it. This is… This is the real pleasure of a Koibana!
I have got to tell Nii-san later!
“Okay, I’m going to ask you this because it’s very important.”
Megumi-chan travels further into Amelia-chan’s world.
“Amelia-sama. If Elf-chan has someone she like… What will you do?”
“Hm… What will I do? Well… It can’t be helped, right? I’ll be jealous, frustrated, angry, and I’ll probably cry.I’ll make fun, intimidate, and be mean to that person. I will never support them.”
I wonder if that’s normal.
“And? Like—for example…
Let’s say this person is a genuinely nice person and he will definitely make Elf-chan happy. What will you do then?”
“I won’t know until it happens but… at the end of the day—
I suppose I will celebrate with her. Of course, I should make myself happy, but the important thing is… If you find someone that best suits you, then that’s that.
I’ll just quietly watch as her best friend.”
“I see… That’s so heartbreaking.”
“Well, what do you think? Am I being pessimistic?”
“Eh? That’s.. Maybe it’s because you both are girls?”
“I can’t say for sure… Perhaps that may be the case. You see, if Emily finds a partner that’s a good person, how can I reject him?”
“Huh?! Wha—What are you talking about!?”
Megumi-chan already red face somehow exploded to an even redder red.
When Amelia-chan saw it, she chuckled.
Muramasa-chan and I lean forward and are holding each other.
Kyoka-chan cleared her throat and shifted the story to a new topic.
“As for Yamada Elf… she couldn’t come today? Sagiri-san, did you call her even though you said you were in a fight?”
Oof. I’m being seen right through.
When I looked away, Amelia replied instead,
“Emily’s in bed, recovering from a cold. So she’s taking a rest day today to get over it.”
“Ah… It is getting cold, I wonder if that’s the reason she caught the cold.”
Megumi said that.
That’s right. That’s why I got what I wanted… I’m not lonely because Elf couldn’t come…
“I’m sorry that she had to be left out of the group right now.”
Amelia-chan made a sly smile,
“Hey everyone, take out your smartphones! Let’s take a group photo and sent it to Emily! ‘We’re having fun with our Koibana~♡’.”
“Amelia-chan is the kind of person who teases the person she cares for!”
“Emily has the absolutely most cutest “crying” and “grumpy” face!”
“Ahh—It’s hard to get along with you.”
Megumi was about to laugh and start talking when Amelia-chan took over,
“—by the way, Megumi-chan, if you really wanted to, would you go out with me?”
“Eeeeeh! Ah, I—I… That…”
“Megumi-chan, you’re wobbling quite a bit.”
“Th-that’s n-not true, s-S-Sagiri-chan!”
Megumi denies it by waving both her hands in front of her violently.
Is she going to be okay?
Maybe Amelia-chan was trying to tease Megumi and have fun with it.
As I was contemplating this, Amelia-chan, of course, followed up with,
“What a shame… Well? Megumi-chan, who do you like?”
“Heeeeeh.”
“You’ve heard other’s Koibanas, do you have your own love story?”
“Fuu…..”
Okay, some more juicy stories.
Megumi-chan was always the one to give advice to others.
I think it would be okay for her to take the opportunity to talk about herself.
And that chance… Well that’ll be interesting.
I watched as Amelia-chan pressed Megumi-chan with aggressive silence.
And—
“Alright! Guys—listen to my koibana!”
Megumi’s previous agitation has already subsided and returned to her normal, playful attitude. She’s a shrewd woman. She must have already thought what to say in advance. But the content will probably be so safe that I don’t think it’s going to be interesting.
This is because this is Megumi-chan.
For some reason, I want to be rattled to the core again. So, I want to hear Megumi-chan’s serious love story.
Good luck, Amelia-chan.
“Ta-da~ Jinno Megumi’s ‘I Want to Love You Like This!’”
“What?”
Megumi-chan begins to list off her qualifications.
On second thought, I don’t think I’m going to say, “Who I like” at all.
“I love older, gentler men.”
“That’s a surprise.”
Muramasa-chan said, glancing up from her notebook.
I would have to agree. Megumi-chan seems to be more of a flashy delinquent. Like…
For example— I thought it would have been someone like Kusanagi Ryuuki-sensei.
“You like gentler boys?”
“Yes!”
“Like a gentle style? Or a gentle person?”
“…Well… When it comes to dating… I’m actually quite scared.”
Wow, she’s being honest with us! Telling us what she’s actually thinking! This is so surprisingly for someone like Megumi-chan.
“Like… I don’t think I should be too tall… I don’t even dye my hair… I’m not athletic… I just want to have a gentle relationship with a mature and kind person.”
Megumi-chan describes her “ideal man” as if he’s here right now.
“I like to tease older men who aren’t immune to girls.
That’s I want to have this frustrating relationship between friends and less than lovers. I want to have that type of anxiousness.”
“In other words… You want to be a good tease?”
“That’s…!”
Megumi-chan thrusts her finger into my face.
“I really like that manga boy! I think he’s super cute! I want to tease him a little better as well! I’d rather have him be older than my classmates, if possible! Like a teacher!”
That’s a lot to demand.
Kyoka-chan says soothingly.
“I understand how you feel, but in reality, it’s a difficult situation to be in.”
You’re going to get caught if you’re with a teacher…
“Hey Megumi-chan, you’re not escaping with just saying a manga story writer. Name the one you like among actual, real-life men.”
Amelia-chan said that well. Don’t give Megumi-chan a chance to escape.
“Eh? … It’s really embarrassing—do I have to say it?”
“Yes.”
Everyone said that in unison. Even Kyoka-chan was among them.
“Hnn… Fine… I get it.”
Megumi squeaked,
“…It’s a boy that everyone knows…”
While looking away from everyone, with a tiny voice.
“Is it Kunimitsu-san?”
“No…”
Oh-hoh! We can work with that!
We were getting excited as the night went on.
“It’s true that they may be close to the type Megumi-chan prefers, but let’s ask some more. What do you like about this person?”
When I asked her, Megumi looked strangely embarrassed.
“He’s gentle, mature, and older—but the thing that makes my heart flutter the most is that he doesn’t see me as a romantic partner. In that sense, this onii-chan is quite my type.”
“What do you mean?”
Do you like not being seen as a romantic option?
Megumi pointed to her face and said,
“You know, I’m cute, aren’t I?”
“Well, yeah.”
I don’t want to admit it myself, but… I also think so.
“That’s why I’ve been scolded by many guys. I have a lot of male friends, and some of them are quite older.”
“Have you ever been confessed by an older person?”
“Of course. But I’ve never dated one yet.”
“Hmmm… You’ve never had a boyfriend, Megumi-chan?”
“Ah! It’s because I had a boyfriend at the time! I used to have one! I just don’t have one right now!”
A girl who has no previous experience would say they don’t have one “right now.” Before, Megumi-chan did send me a picture of her “College Boyfriend,” but it still seemed like it was made up.
“Aah Geez,
I’m just a little popular! That’s why I know how to deal with, ‘a boy who falls in love with me’ situations. Create a sense of distance that exudes I don’t like you or a method that makes confessing impossible.”
That was flattering.
“So when it comes to Kunimitsu-san, he’s a guy that doesn’t fall in love with me, whose quiet, who’s gentle, and who’s older—
The type that hardly ever surrounds me.”
Megumi has the great confidence of a girl.
“I don’t know how to maintain a relationship like that, a type that is in between unattacked and unexplored. It’s exciting… It makes me nervous~ ♡”
She says this with both hands on her cheeks.
“Oh, by any chance… Megumi…”
“What is it, Sagiri-chan?”
“At the cultural festival, you didn’t talk to Shido-sensei at all, right? Isn’t that the person you supposedly care about?“
“A-a-a-a—a—”
Megumi suddenly turned into a broken robot.
“A-ah that’s n-not to say… It’s not, I mean, What?”
Now I understand. This is what happens when you’re not confident.
Amelia-chan urged Megumi-chan forward.
“Kunimitsu Shido, the creator of the Lolita Light Novels, a story about a young girl and sweets, is Megumi-chan’s love interest?”
“Ah…Wait—er”
Megumi-chan hissed like a cat.
“The reason Megumi-chan is not in love with him is not because she is not interested in younger people, but rather because she just isn’t interested in that person.”
“Well, I don’t think it’s good to say that all authors who draw write about lolicons are lolicons themselves.”
“Ah—Er Wait…”
“Everyone, that’s their job! To entertain Junior and High school students! To faithfully perform their duties! I think some people dare to use young girls as heroines! It’s just business!
The Business of Lolicon!”
“Wow, you’re just having a lot of fun writing, aren’t you?”
“Well, the content was interesting! It’s not as naughty as they pushed it through advertisements, it’s all platonic…”
“It… It sounds like you’re reading it.”
No…
Megumi-chan may be the kind of person who will do her best if she goes out with him unexpectedly.
“Well, if I let Megumi-chan go and defend Kunimitsu-san, I don’t think he wants to go out with a little girl in real life.”
“Yeah, I’ve read the light novel where he was spoiled by young girls.”
“It seems that there is a lot of Japanese Otakus who have similar… tastes as Kunimistu-san’s, it sells just from word-of-mouth alone. His future is secure, isn’t it?”
“I’m not following him! …. And he’s just an acquaintance, okay?
I don’t like Kunimitsu-kun— Not that much anyway… I wish I could have this boy be a tutor and take me to private lessons in a private room…
Take advantage of the opportunity…
Tease him a bit… That sounds lovely… Ahh, that’s all!”
That’s too much information!
Megumi finally gave up, red ear-to-ear.
I would sketch such a precious image in my brain.
“Wow—my face is hot… I feel dizzy.”
Megumi’s embarrassing love story is over and was exhausted.
Hmm… That was actually wonderful! I’m getting my creative juices flowing. Wow!
That means we’ve done Muramasa-chan, Amelia-chan, and Megumi-chan’s love story.
Next, of course, is her turn.
“We’re waiting, Kyoka-chan~”
“Huh?”
“Kyoka’s koibana!”
“What- Me? … No, I-I’m completely satisfied with everyone’s story..”
“It was a dream right? To have all of use have a koibana like this… May you please?”
She grinned and laughed, but with good intentions.
「……………………………………………」
Kyoka-chan’s scary face twitched a little.
Right away, Amelia-chan goes,
“Hey, how about another drink?”
“Itadakimasu~!”
Kyoka-chan crawls out of the futon and drinks another can down.
You… You really never refuse a drink, huh?
If I drink and am no longer become my usual self… I think that would be a very scary thing. So, it was a strange concept.
When I saw Kyoka-chan’s “I’m in trouble because I’m sober” look, I should have realized that drinking alcohol is not so good.
And almost as if to reinforce my conclusion,
“My favorite person in the whole, wide world, loved alcohol.”
Kyoka-chan began talking at that very moment.
“He’s many years older than I am, and he’s more mature than anyone since I met him, but he’s also childish.”
Her faraway eyes seem sad, yet beautiful.
“…When he was drinking at home, he accidentally spilled some on me and said, ‘Please forgive me.’
‘When you grow up some day, we’ll drink together.’
—that’s the dream I wanted to fulfill.
Now that I’m old enough to drink… I don’t really like the taste—
But I can’t say no if someone gives it to me.”
Kyoka-chan sits on her needs and looks at the can in her hands.
Then I looked around the living room slowly. I’m sure this is the place where Kyoka-chan made that promise with that someone she loved long ago, but never came true.
“Don’t push yourself.” I told her.
Then, Kyoka-chan shyly smiles,
“I got it.
One day, when Sagiri-san and Masamune-kun grow up, let’s drink together.”
Actually, that seems like a nice dream.
“Yeah, that’s a promise.”
I swore to make that dream come true.
“Well that’s it. Do you have a koibana?”
“It’s not a good story.”
Everyone squeals,
“Tell us!”
“Damn… Well. But I don’t know what else to talk about.”
“Well, I’d like to hear your views on love and advice as an adult woman. I’ve just heard the love story, so explain a bit further.”
Amelia-chan was the one who started it. Even though she’s a girl, she likes Elf so much that she wants to marry her. To Amelia-chan, who has such a special type of love, Kyoka-chan refused, saying,
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for someone like me to say to what I think,”
She continued,
“Human beings are social creatures. People with homosexual relationships must have suffered much more hardships and troubles than any other human beings, because society is not good enough for people who live ‘unusual’ lives, regardless of the person they want to be with.”
“That’s true. It’s kind of a problem where the demerits spread not only for me, but also to the person I care about and the people around both of us. How can anyone give a complete answer to the question of ‘What should I do?’
Besides, that was my love story. All you have to think about is yourself, make up your own mind, do something about it, and stick with your gut.
But I want to ask, ‘What do you think?’”
“I was never been able to start my taboo relationship. So I can’t say much…”
…! Now that’s unique. I think I heard something behind the way she said that.
Kyoka continued,
“I think it’s better to go in the direction towards happiness. You don’t have to listen to other people’s opinions. You can ignore my story if you wish, but I don’t ever deny any forms of love. That’s what I already decided long ago.
I’ll cheer for your love story.”
“I’m happy to be cheered on with all my heart. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I envy you for being able to really fall in love and worry about it.”
“Don’t say as if you can’t fall in love anymore. You never know.”
“I can’t imagine myself falling in love with anyone anymore. I think I’m not filial enough towards my parents, so I’ll leave Masamune-kun to keep the Izumi Family’s bloodline going.”
“As for Masamune-chan—wouldn’t Masamune-chan be with you if Sagiri-chan wasn’t here?”
“CKkhuu, Ckhhuu.”
Kyoka-chan choked on her drink.
“Wh-what? You idiot!”
“Oh? I think it’s relatively likely, you know? He’s the kind of guy who has a special way of dating— He’s the one who’s closest to you as a family, he’s more affectionate than anyone else, and he loves his beautiful parents as much as he can.”
“Er… I never thought about what to do with Masamune-kun!I’m quite old and… We’re blood—”
“You said earlier that you wouldn’t deny any form of love.”
「………any form of love……」
It seemed like that last sentence bounced around Kyoka-chan’s head like an oversized boomerang.
“Yes, I said that! I—But… It’s impossible, And yet…! Wouldn’t I be the worst woman ever if I took care of him and then fall in love with my first love’s child!?”
“Wait your first love was Masamune’s father, your On—?”
“No, Shut up! I hate you! Don’t say weird things! You Idiot!”
Kyoka-chan grips her can with both hands.
Tears forming.
Amelia-chan began to comfort her with a hug.
“Don’t you know you’re making these feelings worse…?”
「………」
“If it weren’t for me,”
I began to mutter, and Amelia-chan turned her head and said,
“Hey now, that’s not right, okay?”
“No, here… I’ve thought about it for a while. If it wasn’t for me, my mom and dad wouldn’t have gotten married and my brother wouldn’t have met Elf.”
“Perhaps in that case, he wouldn’t be a Light Novelist then. Sagiri was the catalyst for him to continue writing novels.”
“… But in that world where I wasn’t there, Muramasa-chan would have been the first person to comment on Nii-san’s work, right?”
“I think so.”
“If there was a parallel world without me, Muramasa-chan and Kyoka-chan might be competing for hi—”
“That’s not important! Are—are you alright, Sagiri-san?”
“Huh?”
What Muramasa-chan meant was, “Was I alright to talk about my lover going out with another person.”
Or something like that…
“Yea…”
I laugh a little and said,
“What I like about him is that he has lived with me for a long time.”
“I agree,”
Muramasa-chan nodded,
“I think in a world without Sagiri-san, Masamune-kun would be a completely different person from the one I love now.
In anycase, that’s beyond delusional so let’s leave it at that.”
Kyoka-chan warmly says,
“Yeah, I agree.
Oof.. I am tipsy and almost passed out.”
“Then let’s take a break and play a game~♪!”
The Koibanas never end.
Even after dark, the girl’s night continued.
At some point, I, Masamune, took a break from work.
I had just finished using the bathroom and was walking through the hallway, I raised my hands over my head and stretched my stiff muscles.
“Ooof… Right, let’s do my best again.”
I was about to enter my room when I heard voices coming from the living room.
“—Fufufu, what are you hiding? My role’s a hunter! Don’t worry!
—Whoever’s the big, bad werewolf hiding among us, I’ll definitely hunt you down! I’m gonna protect everyone! So—
—Hey don’t hang me! We can definitely win!
—Wait, no one had more evidence than me!
—Sorry, but this is not a game like that, Muramasa-san
—W-what…? That’s stupid! … Then—I’m…?”
—Perhaps she should die tonight, and the villagers can win.
—Listen everybody, she’s bluffing!
—Come on! Don’t listen to this fool!”
There was a loud buzz coming from the living room and I couldn’t help but wonder what game they were playing.
“Sagiri seems to be having a good time.”
I turned from the living room, with a small smile of satisfaction.
Then, I heard I heard the door open behind me. And casually, a voice calls out to me.
“Masamune-san.”
When I turn around, there stood a lady, but—
“Hey…”
For a moment, I froze in place.
I didn’t know who exactly she was and was still surprised. Putting a finger on her lips, she goes,
“Speak softly…”
Then she gently closed the door behind her back.
“Hey Masamune, Hm… Wait, what the heck?”
Amelia-san probably figured out why I was acting so strangely.
Embarrassed, she crossed her arms as if to cover herself.
“What are you looking at? Pervert.”
When I came to my senses, I was looking at a red-haired girl with a… “Different” appearance.
“No it’s— You’re wearing cute pajamas suddenly…”
So.
Amelia-chan always has a tomboyish style, from her clothes to her hair.
But tonight, this friend was completely different.
Her curly hair that was usually tied together was laid out and softened which gave her a noble impression. Geared with white pajamas with a fluttering laces made her look like a princess.
She was almost like a different person entirely.
“… Well, sorry for looking childish. It doesn’t look good on me, huh?”
Amelia-san sharpened her lips in disgust, but I shook my head.
“I think it looks really good on you—you’re cute.”
“Is that so?”
“I didn’t notice before because you always put on a different air but… when Amelia-san puts her hair down, you look like a fair lady. Haha… And it goes super well with those lady-like pajamas.
This is good material to work with.”
“Oh, here’s the Light Novelist.
If I had known about you would give me a thorough analysis and praise, I would have came sooner.”
She chuckled.
“That’s why I can’t have a rom-com with you.”
“I didn’t even think about it if I’m honest.”
“Really? If this world became a game, you wouldn’t take the Amelia-chan route, written by the original author, in order to marry me?”
“Nope, not your route.”
“I don’t know~ You were awfully fascinated by Amelia-chan’s princess pajamas.”
We laughed and chatted.
I felt comfortable with this kind of friendship.
“So then, how can I help you? If you need sweets, they’re all in the kitchen cupboard.”
“Well, listen to this—I have an interesting proposal for you.”
“…? Proposal?”
“Yes, here listen. So—
Are you interested in Sagiri’s Koibana?”
“… Tell me in detail.”
It was only natural for me to take the bait.
Ten Minutes Later—
“Yep, at Megumin’s suggestion♪— thanks to the great success of Muramasa-sensei, the game has ended with the complete destruction of the villagers. Is it about time for the Main Event?”
“Hey Megumi-chan… please stop calling me a villain. Everyone was the cause of the village’s loss.
Amelia-san took the majority vote.
“I think the villain is Muramasa!”
“Agreed!”
“Why don’t we ask about the Main Event, Megumi-chan, since the game has ended?”
“I’ll take a ride on this blatant distraction from the topic! Of course, the Main Event of this pretty girl’s pajama party—
It’s decided that it’ll be Sagiri-chan’s love story~♪!”
“… Me?”
Sagiri pointed to her face with embarrassment.
“Yes, you’re the only one who hasn’t given their koibana yet.”
“Ara ara—♪”
Megumi poked Sagiri’s noise.
“Well, I have been in love, too. Uh— I’ve losing my mind, what should I do?”
Sagiri clapped her cheeks.
Megumi then prepares the area for an embarrassed Sagiri to talk more easily.
“Usually, a koibana involves talks about love, complaints, and other things…”
“But… that seems bothersome…”
“It’s not bothersome! Because this is a place to fall in love, isn’t it?”
“That’s right, Sagiri-chan. I also want to hear a lot of stories about Masamune-kun through the eyes of his girlfriend— so come share with us.”
“What is Muramasa-san like when she’s nervous?”
“I was just dumped, what do you think?
In my private life, Sagiri should support me like how I support Masamune-san’s writing.”
“I still don’t get it”
“Here, to put it simply, it doesn’t really matter that he’s dating Sagiri right now, because he’ll eventually be mine.”
“Eh… fuu.. If you say that much Muramasa-chan, she’ll say, ‘no more koibana’s!’”
“Alright then, Sagiri-chan is here! It’s time to present to us your love story!”
“Wait a sec… I’m thinking about it now…”
The girls crawl up to the center were Sagiri was sitting.
The aroma of the room grew more and more intense.
—By the way, let me tell you the current situation.
I am now infiltrating the girls-only gathering that was held in the living room. This idea was thought up from Amelia-chan, so let me explain briefly.
Until recently, they were playing a simple game of ‘Werewolves’ using an app. I won’t get into too much detail about the rules of the game, but during the course of the game, only the person who was labeled the ‘Werewolf’ would be able to act, while others had to close their eyes and ears.
Amelia-chan took advantage of that time gap and invited me to the girl’s only sleepover party.
—Huh? You’re saying that’s not a thing, huh?
—You mean, you want to know where I’m tuning in?
Let me answer that.
I’m inside the futon Amelia-chan’s using. To be more precise, I am able to lay under covers where Amelia-chan would be sleeping so I could peep and eavesdrop on the girl talk.
—Okay look, I know this seems sketch, alright? But think about it.
I most definitely want to hear Sagiri’s Koibana!
I’m really curious about what she’ll tell everyone – and whether or not she’ll talk about me.
But—
I’ve never been in a precarious situation as dangerous as this.
I’m crossing over enemy lines, having mixed feelings of guilt and anxiety that if I’m caught, I’ll be dead!
I glared at the mastermind who tempted me to this—but I could only see Amelia-chan’s chest from this angle.
The princess’s white pajamas gave off an alluring scent.
This position also demands us to be close to each other for it to work.
I am uncomfortable.
I don’t have feelings nor motives towards Amelia-chan, one way or another.
While she is gorgeous, perhaps of her tomboyish nature she wasn’t nervous about this at all. The shock of having this puffed out chest in front of me was too risqué for me. I want to believe that this restless feeling is not an affair.
“Well… Everyone… I think I have my thoughts together.”
The voice of my beloved Sagiri, I suddenly came to my senses about my futon situation.
“I’ve been waiting for you!” Amelia cried out.
“Oh, do you really want to hear my love story?”
I definitely want to hear it!
I had a hard time restraining myself from saying anything.
While Sagiri hesitates in embarrassment, I’m just curled up in Amelia’s futon.
I tried to secretly listen, but then I saw her…
“…Wa!”
I was on a sneaking mission, but I couldn’t stop myself from being excited.
“Amelia-chan, did you make a strange noise just now?”
“Huh? Oh no, it’s nothing ha ha.”
「Masamune, what are you doing you imbecile! Don’t make a sound! You’ll get caught!」
Amelia-chan doesn’t say that, but she’s conveying it by pressing on my head and pinching me on the arms.
I’m Sorry…! But it can’t be helped right? It was such a glorious sight!
Right there, right in front of me and Amelia-chan!
It was an incredibly well dressed Nee-san lying face down.
Or rather, it was Kyoka-san.
She was wearing adult pajamas? What?
I honestly don’t know what the actual names of women’s clothes are, so I don’t know if it’s actually called adult pajamas.
That being said… those were her battle pajamas!
I suffered massive surprise mental damage.
I shifted down a bit and looked away as to not look at her as much as possible.
And then—
“…Well then, I’ll tell you about someone I like.”
We were just about to start the main event.
Sagiri’s cheeks blushed further,
“My favorite person is Masamune… Izumi Masamune.”
That line. While everyone’s response was an unsurprising, “We know,” but it hits me everytime.
My favorite girl in the whole world says she likes me.
—Me! I couldn’t be happier
No matter how many times I hear it, no many how much I know it, that feeling never fades. Putting my hands to my throbbing chest, Sagiri continues her story.
“Masamune… has been my brother… since two years ago… but before that… he has been an important companion—as a partner…
And even before that, he was the person who gave me a reason to live.”
This time, everyone didn’t say, “We know.”
Actually, they were silent, waiting, listening.
“When my mom and dad got married… it was the first time I met Masamune… I thought he was a dull child.”
Well… that was because…
I fell in love with her at first sight, and was instantly fascinated with her.
Then Sagiri seemed to smile softly,
“I thought, ‘is that really him? The names are the same, so maybe they are…’
I didn’t have the courage to ask then…”
Sagiri and I have known each other long before that meeting. On an online novel site—we talked and interacted, talking about our dreams.
We became siblings.
It may not have just been a fluke though…
Our parents met each other through work.
Okay, it might be a bit of a fluke…
Still…
“I thought it was a miracle.
I believed it was fate.
I’ve always like him.
I like Masamune even before I met him,”
“…I see.”
Megumi clasped her hands gently.
“It was a while ago that I learned that Masamune was really that Masamune, but… ah.. I-I was happy…”
Sagiri spoke enchantedly.
“I remember it like it were yesterday.”
「—Hey! I’m Izumi Masamune, the author of, ‘The Silver Werewolf’!” 」
“But… it didn’t go the way I thought it would. Masamune says that I am his younger sister… he looked so lonely because he just wanted a family…
So I… so I had to pretend to be his younger sister.”
Amelia-chan slapped the back of my head.
This Woman…! Sagiri!
Sagiri! Don’t tell them too much about my dark past in front of everyone!
“Someday, I want to be Masamune’s girlfriend…
I want you to see me as a girl, not like a younger sister…”
The memory of a falling Sagiri pierces my heart.
“But… he suddenly proposed to me… It really didn’t make any sense.”
“It must be nice to be Masamune-kun, where you can run away with the momentum of life.”
“I don’t know what you mean, but I agree.”
“Me too!”
It was agreed with many times…
It’s… it’s because I’m greedy!— I want my family, but I also want to be with her too… I want to get married to her. I, well—
When I think about it, I regret that I didn’t take her feelings into consideration at all.
“Well… that’s what he said. I didn’t want a proposal because he just skipped so many steps!”
“Such a waste! I would have immediately accepted!”
“Calm down Muramasa-chan!”
Megumi seems to me trying to sit a now half-standing, aggressive Muramasa.
“Sorry Sagiri-chan. Go on,”
Sagiri nodded,
“Instead I confessed that we should go out.”
“Aww~ ♡!”
Megumi squeaked in a sweet voice.
I’m panicking as well. I’m desperately trying not to scream!
I know this story, I’ve lived it— but I get nervous whenever Sagiri talks about the details again.
Kyoka is also turning red. Her face was poisonous to my eyes because of how she is dressed.
It’s more exciting to me to see that than a sexy adult woman.
“I… love Masamune… so much.”
image
Here’s the real Sagiri.
“I’ve always liked him before I met him… now I like him even more than that. I like being a hardworker.
I like being in a place where I just being with him makes me happy.
I like it because they’ve been there through the tough, painful, lonely times.
He gives me a place that gives me purpose—gives me a reason to live.”
Ah… Wow… Just wow.
… I finally understood why Sagiri was angry with me.
My chest, it hurts.
“There are so many, too many things I like… I can’t talk about them all.”
It’s more than just a critical hit, this scene where my beloved is laying it all out like this.
Sagiri, if you don’t stop… I’m going to die. I’m dying from embarrassment and shame.
I curled more into a feeble position, closing my eyes tightly.
But I could still hear her voice permeating like a tempting drug. I can’t help but fawn at her faintly.
“For a long time… I shut myself up in my room.
I’ve been selfish to Masamune.
Even my own father—my blood related father was so bad that he abandoned me…
I’ve said a lot of terrible things… Masamune knows all my faults, all my dislikes, all the bad parts of me, all the things about me that’s terrible…
But despite that… Masamune still loves me—Happy to be with me—to laugh, to smile, to tell me from the bottom of his heart that he loves me…”
Sagiri gave the best smile of the night.
“It’s… painful. I love it.
I want to make Masamune smile.
I want to buy whatever I like… I want to do anything that makes me happy.
Make rice—earn money—do housework…
I want to feed him by my side for the rest of my life.
I want Masamune to like me more and more.
I want to like Masamune more and more.
I want to be able to say proudly that my love for Masamune is bigger than his love for me.”
I couldn’t escape, even if I wanted to. So I had no choice but to keep listening to Sagiri’s love story.
I have been mortally wounded, again, and again, and again.
Even Amelia-chan, who was not even involved in our story arc, was churning as if she had eaten too much sweets.
It was then that Sagiri said with an unmatched confidence.
“I love Masamune the most;
I won’t give him to anyone.
I’ll be the one that makes him happy.”
That was the last thing I remembered.
Translator’s Notes:
1) Koibana - An old term for “Girl Talk,” it refers to gossip, stories, or advice typically (but not exclusively) from females.
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