The next day, as I took my seat in class…
「To-Tohyama-kun. About yesterday…」
Before lessons began, Moe started talking to me.
「Yesterday?」
「Uhm… at the bicycle parking… uhm」
Oh, she’s talking about when I was beaten up. At Butei High, it was pretty much a daily occurrence (especially from Aria) and I learned to live with it, so I had already forgotten.
But it’s not something that happens in a normal school.
「…」
Her large eyes brimming with tears, Moe looked at me with an expression of profound gratitude.
W-what should I say at a time like this?
I can’t say 『It was fun!』–that would be too weird. Unable to find the right words, Moe and I continued in nervous silence.
And then class began… Ultimately, It looked like I had ignored Moe.
I have since accustomed myself to the noises of everyday life, but as for my studies… I can’t seem to find my bearings. They don’t match the speed of the slowest student, so the lessons I don’t understand just keep moving on. So when they are talking about something I don’t understand… I get sleepy.
In practicality, this happens several times, and Moe wakes me with the back of her mechanical pencil. It was cute the way she would look out for me, each time giving me a smile and a silent 『Hey!』, doing something that cute… for some reason I didn’t understand.
At last, at lunch that day I had no appetite because of the stress of a lesson I didn’t understand… I couldn’t fight the drowsiness any longer and slumped completely over my desk.
In the end, I’m really becoming like the elementary school Aria.
*************************************************************
After school, since Reki had Art Club, I went home alone.
That girl is good at sketching. I wonder if she can paint too?
Since the atmosphere of school is oppressive, in order to restore my mental balance… I headed to the East Ikebukuro Central Park to sit on a bench and kill some time.
This little park’s slice of the urban landscape barely had any visitors, and it was a great out-of-the-way place to be alone.
I could watch the falling leaves dance in the air, with only nature for a companion. As I thought these old, retired man thoughts…
「Bianca, don’t do that.」
I heard a soft, but troubled voice.
Ugh…
It was Moe’s voice.
What is she doing here?
Turning around I saw her walking a beautifully silky Collie, or rather… it was walking her.
The unhappy Moe was wearing a coat and a long skirt, and we had meet by chance like one of those stupid setups from a drama. Immediately I thought about running away.
「T-Tohyama-kun!?」
Her double-lidded eyes opening wide, Moe turned around in surprise. Her face said: 『It’s a miracle!』. Certainly in a large metropolitan area, the chances of meeting someone you know are rather slim, so it might seem like a miracle.
Certainly it was one I did not wish to happen.
Bringing her large dog with her, Moe walked over.
「…You live near here?」
It was a natural question, and one I couldn’t help but ask.
「Yup.」
「Well, I guess it’s not really such a miracle after all.」
I said.
「So you thought so too. But it’s still a little bit like a miracle, don’t you think?」
Moe said with a smile that would charm the world.
「Oh, so To-Tohyama-kun, wait here one moment. Bianca, sit! Sit! S-I-T!」
And not waiting for a response, Moe left Bianca in front of my bench as she dashed off toward Sunshine City with the *Ta* *Ta* *Ta* of her footsteps and the little woolen balls on the edge of her scarf trailing behind her.
「…」
I thought that this would be a good opportunity to escape… but there are a lot of cars in the area. I have to watch Bianca and make sure she doesn’t run away, so I can only wait.
*Ta* *Ta* *Ta*
Running in a way that belied a lack of fine motor skills, Moe returned carrying two McDonald’s bags.
「Here, this is for you.」
「…?」
「…」
「You didn’t eat anything for lunch today. I’ll eat with you.」
Moe said as she handed me the warm paper bag.
I surely didn’t eat anything today. She noticed that… Well, she does sit next to me. And true to that description, *plop* she sat beside me on the bench.
Sitting in a park, eating McDonald’s…
Come to think of it, when I met Aria, we ate together like this, but this time the circumstances are totally different.
Back then she made me treat her then punched me, the savage.
This time I am the one being treated, and heaven and earth would crumble if this angelic girl could punch anyone.
The smell of the food in the bag was intended to awaken human appetite, and my hunger swiftly returned.
「I’ll gladly accept it. Thank-you.」
I opened my bag and then Moe opened hers.
So she will not eat before me? This is a girl who has been raised with noble manners.
That real aristocrat Aria would just open it and begin to eat as soon as she got it.
I guess birth and manners aren’t necessarily connected.
We ate a little, then looking across at me with an apologetic face, Moe spoke.
「About yesterday… I’m sorry for leaving. Afterwards, I started worrying about you so I went back to school, but Yada-san was standing by the gate holding a bat and scowling, so I went back home.」
Yada-san? Oh, She means Reki. I forgot her last name, even though I had given it to her, but no matter what, Reki will be Reki. Why would Reki scowl at this person who couldn’t hurt a fly?
「I… to think there are those who will punch, kick, or be violent… I can’t believe there are such people.」
Moe puffed out her soft cheeks.
Thinking about it, I lost the fight yesterday (or so it seemed). I think this is her way of saying she was worried about me.
「Yeah, what’s it good for anyway?」
Although I, a Butei, am the living embodiment of violence–I matched her opinon… I had already finished eating, so I wiped the grease off my hands with a napkin.
If my hand slipped on the trigger and I missed a shot… No, I shouldn’t be worrying about things like this. I don’t carry a gun.
「You eat quickly. You must have been hungry.」
Moe said giggling with a smile… That gets me. That warm smile of hers is really too cute. That smile was 100% sure to make anyone happy.
「While eating–」
『–The risk of attack is high, and your hands are occupied so you should eat quickly』 I almost said, but I choked it back.
So. Eating quickly is yet another Butei habit, I’ll have to stop.
After that, a short time passed in silence.
「Erhm, Tohyama-kun. Last night… I was worried after I went home… Because I didn’t thank you properly… So, if there’s anything I can do… please let me show my gratitude.」
Wow! What a proper thing to say! Reki thanked me one minute, and the next shot me a death glare.
But 『thanks』…
Watson forced her own kind of 『thanks』 on me, and for Butei, fighting in a battle like yesterday (If it could be called that.) incurred a certain obligation that was repaid in money or goods used to complete other jobs. But I don’t what kinds of thing a normal person should ask for.
「Well then, how about this food from McDonald’s?」
That could count as 『money or goods』. It cost several hundred yen. That seems like a fair price for that charade.
「Well…」
Moe’s expression looked disappointed.
What is this…? When she said that she wanted to thank me, did she mean something else? This probably isn’t a trap… so…
As I pondered this silently, Moe glanced over at me and caught my eye.
「Uhm… Sorry for asking, but… To-Tohyama-kun… are you and Yada-san together?」
Huh? How did you come to that conclusion?
「Not at all.」
I replied, and Moe abruptly turned her face away… and making a triumphant face… squeezing her teriyaki burger and making a victory pose.
I didn’t understand the meaning of this series of actions, but on thing is for sure… This girl lives in a world that is the complete opposite of the Butei world.
She even thinks that talking to and warning punks enough times will get them to change their ways. Although she isn’t quite the absolute pacifist that I am, I get the feeling that she is an angel from Heaven sent into this world.
The way she acts is full of opportunities to be taken advantage of… but she is a good girl. And cute too.
I was thinking this and…
*Ponk!*
An acorn fell from somewhere and hit my head. But there are no trees nearby.
「…?」
I thought it was some brat from the park, but looking around there was no one in range.
Who could have done it? To sneak up and snipe a Butei without a giving sign of their presence.
Having finished her hamburger, Moe sipped her small iced coffee as she said…
「I don’t have a boyfriend… A-although I do dream about having one…」
Moe stole another glance at me.
What’s this? Why does this girl always talk about things that I’m not good at talking about.
「You shouldn’t have a problem with that.」
I said what I honestly thought, but for some reason, Moe looked disappointed. Well… Maybe I should encourage her a bit more.
「…I hope you find someone soon.」
I said, and Moe lowered her soft bob cut head in embarrassment.
「You too…」
Alright… That’s settled.
「To-Tohyama-kun, do you have someone like that?」
「I’m alright for now.」
–because I have this incurable disease, Hysteria Mode.
「Your defence is strong…」
Moe broke her gaze and turned back to the coffee in her hand.
Did she see through me when I was attacked yesterday…?
As I was taken a little aback, Moe’s face lit up.
「How are you studies? Are the lessons very different from your previous school?」
Extremely different.
「Hard. To be honest, I can’t really keep up.」
To be honest, my grades are a real problem.
Hearing the truth, Moe made an 『I did it!』 expression.
「Well… I go to a cram school, and on the recent national New School Exams I placed 89th.」
What a coincidence! Recently, I asked Watson about the national S.D.A. rankings–commonly known as the superhuman ranking–and when I stopped being human, I was given the rank of 89th in Asia.
But 89th in the National Exams is amazing. Moe must be smart.
「Then would you like me to teach you one of these days? My best subject is Modern Japanese.」
As Moe said that…
…!
…What’s that?
I feel someone watching me. Who is it?
It’s not someone in any honest line of work. Maybe a Butei.
「S-so?」
I heard Moe’s answer and..
「Yeah.」
I gave a vague answer as I scanned the surroundings. My sixth sense had been triggered, but apparently the other person had noticed and erased all trace of their presence.
They’re good…
This guy is a first-class professional.
「A-alright then. Please give me your mail address!」
Across from me, Moe took out her mobile that was decorated with a strap made of clear beads.
If I move unnaturally, that will be more dangerous. I have to act natural. So I exchanged contact info with Moe with the infrared…
Overly happy, Moe left with Bianca, and I watched her go… The one who was watching me seems to have gone, so I left as well.
Since someone was following me, I decided to go home by a different route, making a detour. Just to be safe, I boarded a metro bus to try and lose my tail.
「…」
But as soon as I got on, I came face-to-face with my pursuer.
He was sitting in a two person seat, and I greeted him with a broad grin. He tapped his fingers on the empty seat beside him, but even if he didn’t I would have sat down.
「What are you wearing, Shiranui?」
I grumbled to Shiranui who was sitting on the seat next to me and wearing an East Ikebukuro High uniform.
His skills must have gotten better. That display just now was amazing. If he had a sniper rifle, I would have been shot.
「Is this a good place to talk? You make the call.」
That male beauty smiled at me. That is the captivating look that always makes me angry.
「Not really. There are other passengers.」
And depending on how things go, it might come to fists.
*********************************************************
We got off in front of the Municipal Art Museum and–still smiling, Shiranui suggested we talk inside. I wasn’t really interested in seeing the Venetian Exhibit, but we went in together…
Inside, there were many pieces of stained glass on display at the front… In a corner, there were pink shell cameos to rival the ones in Aria’s guns, and Shiranui stopped. There’s no one around.
「You sure took the long way around. If you have something to say, just say it.」
Pretending to look at the cameos, I broke the ice sullenly.
「You must really be bored at that school. I’ve been here since last week. I’ve infiltrated for an investigation. And you didn’t even notice!」
Shiranui said as he lightly poked my blazer. I only half turned, but he still has that smile on his face. As always, no matter what he does, he always looks cool.
「–What investigation?」
「How about an info swap? What are you doing, Tohyama?」
「…… 」
「Kidding~! Trade secret: It’s best to keep you client’s info confidential.」
Shiranui flashed another smile.
I could strangle him.
「There’s always been a part of you that’s arrogant. You’re really cut out to be a Butei.」
「You flatter me!」
「How is it going for you at that school? It must be hard for you to get along?」
When there is a person who doesn’t want to talk about themselves, you should get the chatting. Then they might let something slip.
It’s a technique I learned at INQUESTA, but I don’t know if it will work on him.
「Alright. I manage. But the girls… are a little troublesome. They keep wanting to talk with me, but I’m not that good with girls.」
「I always thought it was strange how similar we were, but even in that we’re equally bad.」
「Tohyama-kun, I never thought that you’d say such a thing!」
「I won’t beat you because I don’t feel like it.」
「Haha! I’m saved. But, Tohyama, this might be your last chance with a normal girl.」
「…What do you mean?」
「Just that, Tohyama-kun!」
He’s smiling for some reason.
Dammit, Shiranui has always liked to talk.
He’s a mysterious sort of guy.
「Just that it might be nice if you got in touch with Kanzaki-san once in a while. She seems to be taking it out on the Kouhai1. I feel bad.」
As is to be expected of a good man. He cares about his juniors.
Rather, this is because Aria can’t vent her frustrations on me anymore.
「That’s all I wanted to say.」
「That’s it!?」
「That’s right. Oh, and about later… Tohyama, I don’t want to get in the way of your job, so if you see me at school, I want you to talk to me casually.」
「You too.」
Well, I guess the world is a small place after all. Such things happen from time to time.
As people I know from Butei High move from place to place for jobs, there is a chance they might meet while working the same job.
Fortunately this isn’t a real job–so I probably won’t have to fight Shiranui. I wouldn’t want to fight my friend anyway, because he’s one of the best in ASSAULT, unlike me the drop-out.
Ever since I transferred out of ASSAULT, I’ve felt that Shiranui and I have become steadily more different.
At Butei High, there are a lot of people who bulk up on extra muscle, and I can tell he’s done the same by the way he moves.
If I had to fight without Hysteria Mode, there’s a 70% chance I would be subdued.
But I don’t have to worry about those calculations anymore. I’ve quit Butei High.
「Even though it might be a breach of contract, I’ll tell you. I probably won’t have to fight you.」
「I’m relieved to hear it. I want to remain friends as well. 」
That was a little bit of a lie, since what I said made it sound like I had a job at East Ikebukuro–
As for Shiranui… He left before me, going out the back of the Museum and waving his hand goodbye.
So flashy… I can’t ever get a read on him. He hasn’t changed. The world makes allowances for good looking guys.
Life is so unfair.
*********************************************
Although I wanted to do a bit of studying that night…. Kaname roped me into playing Shogi with her. Endlessly…
Gran had taught her the rules, but for someone who just learned, she’s ridiculously good. She’s already made me resign 9 times.
「Onii-chan, that move was illogical. I’ll fork your Rook and put your King in check, then I’ll take your Rook with my Bishop2.」
「Ugh…」
What could I, a high school drop-out, do to fight back against a Genion who had already finished university?
What’s more, she’s sitting seiza3 in her usual sailor suit uniform and short skirt. Her exposed thighs are right in front of me and for some reason, there’s a gap between her knees.4
「What’s that matter? are you sweating, Onii-chan?」
Since it’s embarrassing to notice, when Kaname moves and I catch sight of a strange bit of cloth, I get nervous and then she strikes. It has to be some kind of off-board tactic.
But I’d have to hyster-ise in order to win, and if I did that with my little sister,–if Arcanum Duo was activated—it would bring about the collapse of my family.
If my grandfather ever found out what had triggered my Hysteria Mode, he’d certainly disown me.
I’d have to forsake civilisation and elope with Kaname.
My life would be over.
「…I give up, you win.」
「Heh heh heh! That’s 10 games in a row! Oh! You have a call coming in, Onii-chan.」
Kaname pointed to my mobile on the cushion beside me.
Yes! I can use this as an excuse to quit Shogi.
Or so I thought, but it was only a text message… I’ll pretend it’s a phone call.
「Rght then, go take a bath and get to bed. It’s late.」
「Alri~ght…」
Kaname raised a hand and began clearing up. I left Kaname’s room and went back to my own.
I changed into my pyjamas and turned out the lights, intending to go to sleep…
Then I remembered my mobile… Well, I could at least call. Shiranui asked me to.
So I dialed Aria.
「Kinji?」
Her voice was overly happy.
「Aria, you shouldn’t bully your juniors, you know.」
「Wha-? Who told you that?」
「My source’s life isn’t that cheap.」
「Their life isn’t in danger, so tell me. I mean… things haven’t been fun since you left… Ah…! It’s n-not like that means anything! I-I-I don’t like you or anything… Th-that’s n-not wh-what I m-meant! No~o…!!! I’ll open a wind hole! In your ugly face!」
Wha! It seems I’m an expert in making Aria lose her cool. Now she’s yelling. She was in a good mood when she answered the phone.
Ugly…? I know my face is gloomy, but still…
「Hey, why are you making calls in the middle of a job anyway? What if if was intercepted? Japanese communications are pretty secure, but the room or mobile might be bugged. Did you think of that? Your pretty stupid for a Butei. In the first place… *Blah* *Blah* *Nag* *Nag*」
That’s Aria for you… I sighed.
For some reason I felt relieved even though I was being scolded, but at least I was able to make sure she was safe.
At least it seems I don’t have to worry about her.
Even so, that crack about my face riled me, so after she had gone on ranting for about 30 minutes…
「Okay then. The latest weather forecast calls for snow. Snow clouds can show up anytime with lightning. The people who lives in Japanese thunderclouds will steal your belly button, so make sure you cover it!5」
「Huh? Hold on! Really?」
Right. She heard about lightning and panicked. Retrieving the mobile she had dropped, her voice was louder again.
Now for my counter-strike.
「You’ve heard about them, right? Everybody knows. By the way, if they steals your belly button, you’ll turn into a reptile.」
「But I wear my sailor suit– Do you think my belly button will be uncovered!? Wait! What should I do if a thunderstorm suddenly appears? Tell me a good way to protect…」
*Click*
I ended the call.
Heh heh heh! Now have a dream where you turn into a lizard. Then when Mamiya or someone chases you, cut off the tail that sticks out from your skirt and run away.
Huh…
I have an unread message. I got it after the game of Shogi.
Checking–it was from Moe.
『I’m glad we talked today. Have a good night!』
She wrote.
If I damage the relationship between me and the girl who sits next to me in school, life will only become more difficult, so…
『Good night.』
I replied. Less than a minute later, there was a response.
『Would it be alright to message you tomorrow?』
Came the question.
『That’s fine』
I answered.
It’d be a pain if she was a message fiend like Shirayuki, but that’s silly. Moe is a good girl.
Now that I’m thinking about it, the day I gave Shirayuki my mail address, I was shocked to suddenly receive 100 messages.
On top of that, if they were put into a book, they would have taken up more than two whole pages. The next day I scolded her, but still the experience makes me shiver.
Now that I think about it… it’s sort of embarrassing.
We aren’t working a job or fighting together, but I have this girl’s mail address in my mobile. And I’m letting us talk about trivial things back and forth like we’re close friends. Even though there’s no reason for us to be talking.
***************************************************
Although I thought that, Moe didn’t seem to think so. After school the next day, Moe sent another text.
I had just given her a casual OK at the park yesterday, but it looks like Moe really is willing to help me with my homework–
I’ve been invited to her house on Saturday.
The biggest problem I currently faced was that I couldn’t keep up with the lessons.
Although transfer students keep the credits they have already earned , the normal lessons I had taken in Butei High were not really very similar. If things went on like this, it would be hard for me to transfer schools, and I might have to drop out again.
Although having a girl for a teacher is not a good thing… I can’t be picky. I’ll ask her to her teach me.
So, on the chilly Saturday morning–
As I left my house…
*Ponk!*
I was hit again on the head by an acorn again.
I looked up and saw a tree in the courtyard, but acorns don’t fall from persimmon trees.
「…?」
This is a like a petty paranormal event.
But, I’ve already seen enough things like this from the people of IU that I don’t want to see anymore. This small a thing can’t scare me.
Alright, let’s go study. So I headed to the address Moe sent me.
That has to be it.
We agreed to meet at 10.00… 5 minutes before that, I saw it–a house that could not be called anything but normal. But with a modern flair.
Although it was small, I got the feeling it was expensive.
「…Ah! Tohyama-kun!」
Standing out in the cold, breathing into her numb hands to warm them… Moe was waiting. Seeing me, her face lit up brightly.
「Sorry to keep you waiting.」
「No, no it’s fine, I just got here myself.」
Moe waved her hands rapidly in denial…
But she must have been waiting at least 15 or more minutes because her nose is already red with cold. Why did she lie?
Besides that, there is something strange about Moe’s behaviour.
On top, she wore a knit yarn cardigan that covered everything except her cold fingertips. Underneath it she wore a thin pink and white blouse with a short skirt that seemed too thin for winter. She wore a long skirt when we met in the park, and her hair seems a little different. Her bangs are a little larger.
「Even if it’s only for a little while, a girl shouldn’t be out in the cold. You’ll catch a cold.」
At that, Moe blushed, and I got the impression she was nervous.
「This is the first time I’ve invited a boy to my house… but I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me. I’ve never missed a day since Kindergarten for a cold.」
She tried like a child to keep up the pretense, but she couldn’t hide the fact she had been waiting for a while.
I had always thought of her like she was from distant planet, but thanks to this, I feel a little closer to her.
*****************************************************
Adjusting her nylons along the way, Moe led me into the house.
Inside, everything was normal… and not a whiff of gunpowder. There were no food or sweet wrappers that Riko had let fall strewn across the floor–unlike my old apartment, it was very neat and clean.
Since it was quite mild inside, Moe took off her cardigan. Underneath, her blouse was short sleeved so her soft skinned arms could be seen.
「Tohyama-kun, we have sandwiches, so if you’re hungry just say so, alright? We have cake too.」
After she said that, I looked over to the dining room table and there was a plate full of wrapped home-made sandwiches.
As expected from someone in the Housekeeping Club. She’s very good.
「Say, I didn’t know about it but… My mother and father went out on a trip today… They took our pet Bianca with them when they left, so there’s no one else here. B-but that’s fine. 」
…? That’s a little weird… Usually you know in advance if your family is taking a trip.
She knew quite well that her parents wouldn’t be here… She’s only pretending she didn’t know.
I can tell because she is a very honest person. But since we are only going to be studying, it will be alright. No problem.
Hmm… from what you said, I’m guessing you don’t know? So I’ll tell you.
「Well… there is someone here. Inside that closet, Saki-san… your little sister.」
Thanks to my old INQUESTA habits, I noticed her as soon as I entered the room. I thought it looked like she was playing a game of hide-and-seek.
「Ehh~!」
Moe raised her voice in surprise.
「–Busted! But how did you even know my name, huh?」
Saying that the closet opened… Moe’s small black twin-tailed little sister came out.
How did I know your name…? It’s written on your nameplate. Your parent’s names, 『Moe』, and 『Saki』.
I was in INQUESTA so long that I developed this habit of making this check upon entering a house.
Unlike her sister Moe, Saki had an impish sort of look to go along with her cute face… She seemed to be a first-year in middle school, and she rushed over to me.
「Hmmm. A little gloomy, but he’s good-looking. Now I get it, so this is the type of guy you like!」
Saying that with a wide smirk, she looked up at me.
「Saki, why you..!」
Wha-? That was unexpected. Moe is angry.
Although compared to Aria it’s a ratio of 2000:1, she hit Saki.
「Saki, you dummy! Dummy, Dummy! I told you to go out and play today. 」
*Whomp* *Whomp* *Whish!* *Whish!*
Moe chased Saki around, pummeling her with both hands repeatedly, sometimes missing and catching nothing but air.
「You were so obviously trying to get everyone out of the house. ou couldn’t fool my great detective skills. I don’t think Mama and Papa caught on, though. I don’t know what kind of love advice you got, but how could I not notice when you took out your favourite make-up and wore a short skirt even though it’s cold outside?」
Saki has very good reflexes. As she continued to tease Moe, she jumped over the sofa, but running after her Moe thudded into it and fell over.
「♪Big sister has a boyfriend!♪ ♪Big sister has a boyfriend!♪ ♪Big sister has a boyfriend!♪」
I finally understood that Saki was under a similar misunderstanding as Reki as she sang this made-up song. Retreating to a safe-zone behind me, Saki giggled and peeked out at Moe.
Frozen in embarrassment, Moe’s eyes met mine…
「Dummy! Saki you dummy! Don’t say such strange things in front of Tohyama-kun…! Please…!」
O-Oh…
Turning red, Moe began to cry and tried to hide her face with both hands.
She gone too far. Despite the fact that this is her house, I shot a look over my shoulder at Saki.
「S-Sorry… I’ll be going out.」
It looks like Saki is a good girl after all, and she pulled a trench coat out of the closet…
Walking over to her older sister, she began stroking her hair and whispered in her ear. Responding to something I couldn’t catch, Moe nodded.
「Since you don’t want me to say anything to Papa or Mama, give me 500 yen.」
Moe paid the bribe. Now that she had paid, she wants everyone out of the house, and Moe began pushing Saki bodily toward the hall. Then Moe made some kind of scratching motion with her hand at the back of her blouse.
What was that? It wasn’t any kind of signal…
「O~oh! Since you’re wearing your best clothes, you had to fix your bra! It’s not the kind you normally wear. You must really like this guy! It’s the expensive, cute one…」
Saki whispered impishly, (Not that I heard, but I read her lips), but that was a mistake.
Moe delivered another hammer punch that sent Saki’s whole body sprawling.
Saki pulled on her sneakers. For some reason, she peeked under Moe’s skirt.
「This matches what you have on top. Big Sis you’re really fired up!」
Whispering inaudibly again, this time Moe responded with a kick…
Totally exhausted, Moe’s kick managed to hit at just the right angle, and she finally forced Saki outside.
********************************************************
Moe’s room was on the second floor, so she led me upstairs…
「I-I’m sorry. My little sister is a mystery novel-geek, so sometimes she likes to ‘investigate’ me, even though I’ve told her not to.」
She said, but I wish you’d stop wearing mini-skirts. It puts me in all kinds of trouble when I have to climb the stairs behind you.
Having survived the ordeal of climbing the stairs, we came to a door that had a plaque with 『Moe』 written on it in a fairy-tale script. Opening the door… We entered Moe’s room.
Alright, finally. A place where I can study to my heart’s content. And it even comes with a teacher.
Inside there was an almost murderous level of feminine sweetness and smells, but I’ll deal with it.
So this is a girl’s room…
On the bookshelves were volumes like 『A Christmas Carol』, 『Wuthering Heights』, and other girlish literature. There were also cooking, knitting, and over there, gardening books. By the bay window there was a music box and a stuffed teddy bear.
I’ve never seen this kind of room… except in a drama.
So they actually exist in this world. Place like this, overflowing with feminine kindness and charm.
There was a neatly organised desk, but apparently we won’t be using it. In the centre of the small room there was a small round table. Around it…there were two 『し』-shaped handmade cushions that only intensified the feminine atmosphere.
「Then we’ll get started right away…」
I sat on one of the cushions and pulled out my notebook from my full bag…
For some reason, Moe’s hands were shaking. Down on all fours, she silently rummaged for something on the lower shelf of her bookcase and pulled out a huge photo album.
「..?」
「Uh-Uhm… Before we study… Can we look at this for a bit?」
She said coming up beside me. Moe came up close and sat seiza on her cushion next to me.
Wha-What is this? Y-you’re so close…
Her bust was spreading her blouse open and h-her breasts… were huge! They’re almost on the same level as Shirayuki…! So white and perfectly round…
The resemblance is uncanny…
If drew an analogy with warships, Watson and Reki are light cruisers, Kaname and Jeanne are heavy cruisers, and Riko is a battleship. Someone in Shirayuki’s size class would be a dreadnought. By the way, Aria is a rubber life raft.
No matter how you look at it, this body has no discipline and is truly weak. Just like a soft tank6!
Thinking that and unable to decide between the warship or tank analogy, inside my body…
*Ka-thump*
This is bad.
Hysteria Mode’s blood flow began! Flustered, I looked down… but now I saw the thin skirt Moe was wearing even though it was winter. Sitting seiza next to me, I could almost see to the top of her white th-thighs!
「…Ugh…」
This is really bad.
My gaze darted up and down, taking in her entire figure, and Moe became embarrassed. But in spite of that, Moe did not fix her opening blouse or the short shirt that was moving upward.
If you’re so embarrassed… Then don’t sit next to me while dressed like that!
Getting a little angry, fortunately my blood flow stabilised. But then…
「W-w-well this is me in elementary school…」
Saying that, Moe flipped through the album and every time she turned a page our arms brushed each other sending a nervous shock through my body.
At a Sports Day rolling giant balls, singing a song at an Arts Festival, scenes from her elementary school life– Moe sparkled with nostalgia, but because I was so worried about going into Hysteria Mode, I couldn’t focus on the pictures.
If it happened, come on, Kinji, if you went Hysteria Mode here… With this girl that her parents obviously love so much to take such pictures, this person who sits next to me and volunteered to help teach a bad student, this angelic Moe… I would never be able to face her ever again.
If that happened my guilty conscience would force me to pick up a gun again–in order to shoot myself in the head.
Elementary School… Elementary School…
My older brother beating combat techniques into my head, my father making me smuggle guns, remembering my pitiful childhood… surviving such things, I could definitely overcome this.
But after she was done with the album…
「…」
Moe was still quietly sitting next to me.
I had come to study, but this looks like something else. Can it be that in a normal school an invitation to 『Come over to my house and study』… has some other meaning?
[]PICTURE HERE[]
Are you thinking about what you should do next to accomplish the next part of your plan?
After what seemed to be an enormous struggle…
「T-Tohyama-kun, should we play Othello? I’m not very good at the game, and my younger sister always beats me.」
She said suddenly stuttering again.
Only pretending to leave, and having crept back into the house and almost noiselessly hiding in the hall, Saki was peeking through a the narrowly cracked door to the room. Turning, I could read her lips in the mirror that was in the room saying: 『Hurry up already!』
I agreed. I wanted to hurry up and get to studying.
*****************************************************************
A little later, snow began falling outside the window.
Of course, there was no thunder.
「T-Tohyama-kun, what kind of girl do you like…?」
Moe brought up something I wasn’t good at talking about so I danced around it, and we moved on to talk about films since we seemed to share the same tastes… Eating sandwiches, we fell into deep conversation and talked on and on.
Eventually her younger sister who had the makings of a Butei investigator, grew disgusted and silently withdrew…
In the end it was no good as a study session, as it grew dark outside. As soon as I realised I told Moe but…
「Uh… Tohyama-kun? Would you like some dinner? Saki might have come back…but Mother and Father won’t be back until t-tommorow night.」
For some reason, she boldly tried to get me to stay.
No no, this won’t do.
Moe angrily told Saki to leave. With the intention that she would not come back anytime soon. That would leave the two of us alone for the night… Is this an invitation to stay the night? That would be out of the question.
Before long, it will be that time of day when society frowns upon a man staying at a girl’s house.
How did we get side-tracked from studying, and what does she want from me…?
I stayed until it got dark, but unfortunately I never understood it.
「N-No. It looks like the snow is stopping… I should go.」
「…I would rather it didn’t stop…」
Moe drooped her head and mumbled to herself. For some reason she said this loud enough for me to hear.
「Today was fun. We should…」
I broke off without saying 『we should do this again』. She probably won’t help me study next time either.
「Yeah… See you later. You should come over again.」
As if she blamed herself, Moe started crying for some reason. Her lips forming the words 『I’m not attractive enough』.
No, Moe, you are attractive. I don’t understand why you are asking yourself that. There must be some kind of misunderstanding.
I must have given her that idea. It’s because I lack common knowledge about how girls think. And because of that, I’ve hurt Moe.
It was an accident. But now I feel that even if she invites me again, I shouldn’t come back here.
「Let me give you some cookies. I baked them this morning.」
「Oh. Thank-you.」
We talked as we went downstairs and she wrapped the cookies in a paper bag and gave them to me as a present–
Opening the outside door…
「Oh, wait! Let me take you to Meiji Doori Street so that you don’t get lost.」
Saying that which revealed her boundless kindness, Moe pulled on her cardigan.
And then
*Squeeze*
Wearing a happy face as if we had agreed to do so, Moe clutched my hand. Our fingers interlacing in the so-called 『lover’s hold』7.
–Then.
「Kinji-san knows the way home. He doesn’t need to be shown the way.」
Hearing that, Moe and I were startled and turned to face the voice.
「Reki…!」
Reki was standing in front of the door.
The snow that had just fallen had melted and completely soaked her.
「He knows the way, doesn’t he?」
Reki turned to me for validation. Then walking up to meet us, with her shiveringly cold hand… grasped both mine and Moe’s wrists and began to separate our hands.
Surprisingly, Moe glaring at Reki, held on to my hand more tightly so that we would not be separated… but I let go.
I then grasped both of Reki’s shoulders with my hands and, as I had suspected, she was thoroughly chilled.
「What… are you doing? You’ve been here the whole time?」
「Do not worry. My homeland is beset by the wasting frost8. I am accustomed to the cold.」
「That’s not the problem! We’re going home!」
If we don’t get you into a bath and warm you up, forget a cold, you’ll have pneumonia.
Going on a little further, I noticed a passing taxi cab and ran out to flag it down…
The taxi-driver made all sorts of excuses, so I turned back toward Moe’s house and heard…
「I’ll give you a warning. Please do not pursue a relationship with Kinji-san.」
「Yada-san, don’t butt in. Everyone says that you’re Tohyama-kun’s girlfriend, but… I know you’re not. I know what you really are…a stalker… Tohyama-kun’s stalker!」
「Please do as I ask. I’m saying it for your own personal safety.」
「What!? What are you saying? Could you possibly be threatening me?」
「It is not that at all. You are mistaken. You… don’t have the skills required to stand by Kinji-san’s side. I only came to say this: What you are doing is suicide.」
「You’re crazy, Yada-san!」
Reki with her bleak expression and Moe with her puffed out cheeks were arguing in front of the doorway.
What is happening to you Reki…? and you too Moe…?
*****************************************************************
Although the distance between here and home was within the single-rate9 I couldn’t have Reki walk in this cold. Worried about her, I spread my jacket out and had Reki sit on it inside the taxi.
「Is that what she gave you?」
Reki asked in a calm, unwavering voice.
「…That’s it. But I don’t have any reason to think it’s a wire, tap, or ‘P’.10」
Because the taxi driver was there, we used a code we learned at Butei High, and I opened the paper bag and took out a cookie…
I unwrapped the pink ribbon from the bag and opened it. Upon opening it, tucked inside were chocolate chip cookies wrapped in cellophane and… and an envelope with the character design sold at Sanrio Shops.11
「『From Moe Mochizuki』… What’s this…?」
Inside the small envelope was a letter written with some kind of pink ball-point pen.
The characters were a bit round, but still even so they were steady and well organised.
『To Tohyama-kun: I apologise that I sent this letter so secretly.』…?
With her ridiculously acute eyesight, I could tell that across from me, Reki was reading the letter as well…
『Since the first time I saw you, every time we meet I get the feeling that you are becoming important to me. 』
Reading that cryptic opening…
*Whipsh*
Reki snatched away the letter.
「I am confiscating this.」
「Oi Reki! You can’t just snatch other people’s letters! What made you so mad?」
「I am not angry.」
「Yes you are!」
「…」
This is like our conversation in Kyoto.
Well, it looks like Reki is being stubborn, and the letter has nothing to do with studying.
It came in a funny envelope, so I don’t think the contents are anything to worry about. If it were important she would have said it with her mouth. All we did was talk anyway.
Oh well, it can’t be helped. I think I should give up on getting it back.
***********************************************************************
As soon as we got home, Reki got into the bath.
My grandfather is meeting with his old war buddies and grandmother went with him. G-Third went out to the hardware store for some unknown reason, so the house is empty. Even Kaname is gone.
She recently joined a Shogi Club and was given the nickname 『The Prodigy of Sugamo』 because of her increasing record of undefeated victories. It seem that she is becoming quite the accomplished professional player.
Because of that, I am reading a magazine in my room while sipping tea.
「I must speak with you.」
Reki slid open the bathroom screen and I spit out my tea.
「Wai..!! *cough* *cough* *cough* Why are you dressed like that!?」
Coughing, I whirled and took an Ukemi12 fall, retreating to a corner of the room
Reki was…
Only wearing one of my shirts for some reason.
No, actually not just a shirt. Because the top two buttons were unfastened, I could glimpse underneath. It looks like… she is wearing one of her usual, plain cotton sets of underwear.
Sitting seiza inside my room, the sleeves of the shirt reached down to her fingers as she slid the screen door shut.
「I concluded that coming in just underwear would be inappropriate, so I borrowed this. I don’t have any normal clothes, and our bulletproof uniform might give away our cover as transfer students. My gym clothes are left at school and my pyjamas are in the laundry and have to dry.」
It’s a reasonable explanation… but why did you show up like that?
I have this condition Hysteria Mode that follows no kind of logic.
The shirt covered her upper half, but it only reached down to a centimetre below her crotch and her round legs were bare down to her toes.
Reki’s fawn-like legs were moderately toned like Mint-chan’s beautifully long legs.13
Unfortunately, this brain of mine is losing the power of logical reason. I’d better leave.
As I thought that…
*Ponk!*
An acorn hit me between the eyebrows.
「Ouch!」
「Kinji-san, I will also warn you.」
In Reki’s hand was a Y-shaped slingshot. Even the Russian Spetsnatz Special Forces use them, a military grade slingshot.
So it looks like she’s the one who’s been pelting me with acorns recently.
Sitting seiza on her small rump next to me, from a small cloth bag…
She took her next missile and placing it into the leather pouch, Reki said…
「Please do not pursue a relationship with Moe Mochizuki.」
*Stretch* *Whoosh!* *Ponk!*
She hit me with an acorn in the exact same spot between my eyebrows.
「Oi, cut it out! That slingshot isn’t a toy! What if you hit me in the eye!?」
「I am aiming between your eyebrows. At this distance, I will not miss. It’s fine. You should not mingle with Moe-san. Doing so may accidental result in her death.」
*Ponk!*
She is hitting me in the same spot!
「『M-mingle』, you say… What does that mean?」
「The Ulus have a saying: 『A wolf cannot become a dog.』」
*Ponk!*
「Even though you have a wolf for a Butei dog.」
「 And 『A dog can never become a wolf.』」
*Ponk!*
Before I finished speaking, I’ve been hit by an acorn bullet…!
「Wolves and dogs can 『cross』. They can even have offspring. But–」
『C-cross』…so that’s what she was talking about? What nonsense…!14
「A wolf is always a wolf, but a dog can never go back to being a dog. If it follows a wolf away from the safety of human habitation–and migrates to the cruel forest, the dog, carrying its innate weaknesses, will exhaust its life.」
*Ponk!*
Then, having learned the technique from my grandfather, I flipped over the tea table improvising a shield. Then, preparing for ricochets, I retreated to a corner of the room and watched the acorn sniper in the reflection of the window.
Putting down her slingshot, Reki said…
「So a wolf should only spend time with another wolf.」
*Step* *Step*
Exposing her legs up to her crotch with each step. Reki put down her slingshot, then like she was opening a door, gripped the tea table.
*Grip*
Sitting down in a huff, Reki matched the height of her gaze to mine.
「…」
Just like children pretending to have a secret base– Hardening my own self-made fortress, I eventually let Reki inside the barrier.
Reki had just come from the bath and the scent of soap– unless I am mistaken, there is a faint scent of mint peculiar to Reki.
The look I saw in her amber coloured eyes is not simply one of reproof, but one of sympathy.
「Kinji-san, you ordered the old me 『not to kill people.』 Because of that, I can’t shut my eyes to the crime you are about to commit–that is why I oppose this relationship between you and Moe-san. To make up for it, right here, right now, if you want to use me, I don’t mind. 」
Saying something difficult…
「But I’ve noticed that you are working hard to integrate into society. And something like this is necessary for you, so…」
Sometime during that statement, Reki turned a smiling face toward me…
It’s not something that a person who didn’t know Reki would catch, just a slight change of expression but… that was a gentle smiling face. Then lowering her cute voice.
「–Hurray, Hurray, for Kinji-san.」
Saying that, Reki poked her fingertips slightly out of the long sleeves of the shirt in her tiny grip, and waved both of them slightly back and forth.
She is most likely thinking 『Is this how you cheer someone on?』 and Reki, in her own way, has put a lot of thought into it…
That’s right… Reki, you are supporting me. Even someone as dumb as me, in that moment, finally grasped the meaning of Reki’s actions.
[PICTURE GOES HERE IN THE ORIGINAL]
Reki… she is only keeping the old promise she made to me, and I shouldn’t be surprised.
Even though the rest of Baskerville laughed at my wish to 『become a normal person』– Reki decided to respect my choice.
No matter how isolated I become, no matter what I decide to do, Reki will follow me. Not because someone else wants her to, but because she wants to.
I still don’t understand this whole fuss over Moe… But I understand that Reki is selflessly devoted to me.
All this time, I’ve had a good friend. I am sure of it.
I was so struck by her honest heart, that I wanted to hug her right there, but… considering the part of her body that is forming the vertical part of the Y shape, please forgive me. I can’t.
(End Text)
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1. Kouhai = juniors. Students younger or less experienced. Opposite of ‘Senpai’, but never used a form of address.
2. In Shogi, pieces move similarly to Chess pieces, so I used that terminology. ‘Forking’ is a strategy where a piece is moved such that in the next turn it can take two different pieces. Since the opponent only has one move, they must choose which they want to lose.
3. Formal sitting posture where you kneel on your knees and sit on the ankles
4. In a skirt, it’s obvious what this means, but what’s more, it’s bad etiquette for women to spread their knees while sitting seiza.
5. Popular story to scare children. Raijin, thunder beasts, will steal kids belly buttons if they aren’t covered during thunderstorms.
6. This is a reference to a short cartoon series that depicted the misadventures an unamoured tank who lacked any kind of will to fight.
7. Apparently it’s considered romantic or a sign of romance for couples to interlock fingers. Lots of sappy emotionalism attached to it..
8. Reki is from Mongolia. There is a Mongolian word ‘dzud’ that describes the sudden onset of extended periods of frost that kills plants and drastically reduces forage-able land.
9. In Japan the initial fare covers the first 2km ( the exact figure varies by region) of the trip, afterwards you have to pay additional charges depending on the distance. Long story short, it’s not far.
10. Kanji say ‘wire tap’, ‘bug’, and ‘poison’.
11. The shop chain that owns the rights to Hello Kitty.
12. Ukemi (recieving) is Aikido training that teaches the practitioner how to absorb and minimise harm from a fall or throw. It can be a roll or break-fall. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6CzIAsFIRg
13. Reference to Tokyo Mew Mew Character of the same name
14. The joke here is that the word for ‘mingle’ can mean ‘be friendly’ or, ya know, have sex… O.O
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