Tsuki Tsuki - Volume 3 - Chapter 2

Chapter 02: Confrontation! Between the Queen and the Mad Dog….and also the Cat

“Hyaa!”
I was suddenly woken up by a high pitch voice.
What? When I opened my eyes, what came into vision was a beautiful, blonde girl.
“…Luna, huh?”
She looked shocked with her eyes wide open, but I was still sleepy. It was a long-awaited holiday. It didn’t hurt to laze around once in a while.
“Sorry, but let me sleep. I was only able to fall asleep late at night…”
“Wh- What were you doing up so late?”
Luna’s voice trembled with unease.
For a while now, Luna seemed to be confused by something. Although I found it strange, I was going to go back to sleep, until I noticed that there was a red-haired girl at a hairsbreadth from me.
It was Machina. Her long eyebrows, soft cheeks and charming well-shaped lips were pretty close. On top of that, there was suddenly a sleepy “Mm” from behind me. Someone was clinging to my back.
I felt a soft sensation and a warm body temperature. When I carefully turned my neck around, I spotted a silver-haired beauty.
It was Elni. At the break of dawn she had a nightmare, but she seemed to have calmed down now. There were no traces of her tears left and she was making an innocent sleeping face.
Yeah, that was good, but… this situation was extremely bad, wasn’t it?
I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead and shifted my gaze to Luna, since she’d misunderstood the situation like I’d expected. Tears had already started welling up in her eyes.
“….Only I am left out!”
Along with her words, Luna turned on her heel and sprinted out of the room with a “Fueeh~”.
“No, wait, Luna! It’s a misunderstanding!”
I quickly sprung up from the bed…pulled the blanket over Machina and Elni, then I hurried out of the room after Luna. I went down the stairs into the living room and called out to Luna, who had her back to me.
“Luna, listen to me. You’re misunderstanding the situation. You see, they watched a spiritual show yesterday and were scared. So, at night they came into my room to sleep in my bed all on their own. I tried to resist, but they wouldn’t get out of the bed…”
I explained desperately, and then Luna turned around and began pouting on a rare occasion. Her well-shaped eyebrows were creased into a frown and her cheeks were slightly puffed out.
That expression of hers was rather cute. I had these out of place thoughts, as Luna said dejectedly.
“Lately, you are leaving me out of things, Shinobu-san.”
“Eh? Really?”
I had no memory of occasions like that, but Luna replied with a “You are” and pressed her lips together tightly.
“Even yesterday you went into the bath with Machina and Elni and had a lot of fun…”
“Th- That was them just coming in on their own. I wasn’t really leaving you out of it….”
I tried to explain, as Luna stared at me.
“That is not the only case. Shinobu-san, when Nazuna-chan or Elni-chan hug you, you smile at them and pat their heads…yet you never do that to me….”
Well, that was only because my head goes blank whenever Luna hugged me, making me unable to react in those situations.
But Luna’s eyes became wet, with a depressed expression on her face.
“Ehm, Luna….”
I took one step forward towards Luna to attempt to cheer her up, but then my foot suddenly got caught on something and caused me to trip.
I quickly tried to regain my balance, but I bumped into Luna, who was right in front of me and we collapsed together. Therefore Luna was pushed onto the sofa, but I continued to fall and before I had noticed it, it was too late.
Luna’s beautiful face was right in front of my eyes and my lips had touched Luna’s cheek.
It was just a momentary kiss. I immediately pulled my body backwards to remove my lips from Luna’s cheek, but it obviously wasn’t a situation where I’d be able to brush it off as a joke.
The remaining sensation of Luna’s cheek on my lips was by no means an illusion. Luna turning incredibly red was real too.
Wh- What now? It might have been an accident, but I’d forced a kiss on a girl.
Confused, I stood up straight for now and put my hand on the sofa, that’s when I felt something out of place.
An indescribably soft sensation. As I pondered about the sensation and moved my hand, a pleasant elasticity repelled it and an erotic “Ahn” escaped from Luna’s mouth.
Th- This sensation, was it…? In my astonishment, I looked down doubtfully, as I realised that my assumption was correct. I was fondling Luna’s breast with all my might.
But Luna’s big breast couldn’t be enveloped by hand alone, and was spilling out of it. Furthermore, Luna didn’t say anything and looked at me completely embarrassed with wet eyes, because of that my consciousness was blown away for a moment. But soon enough, my chest filled with guilt and I quickly moved away from Luna.
I was the worst. Not only did I kiss her, I even fondled her breast…..
“S- Sorry, that wasn’t on purpose!”
Holding up the hand that I’d used to fondle her breast, I quickly spouted an excuse, but then I realised something. With my phrasing, didn’t it mean that the kiss was on purpose?
I’d dug my own grave. At this rate I would be hated by Luna. I felt my stomach ache and looked at Luna expectantly… Huh? Now this I hadn’t expected.
Luna was looking at my face with red cheeks, but then suddenly an adorable smile bloomed on her face and she softly entangled her hands around my neck.
In that moment, a sweet fragrance enveloped me and at the same time her pink, well-shaped lips slowly approached me and then softly placed a kiss onto my cheek.
From the soft sensation of her lips on my cheek, I received a shock that spread through my body. I became completely unable to utter even a single word.
Still smiling, Luna stood up from the sofa.
“I will go prepare breakfast.”
Saying that, she disappeared into the dining kitchen while humming in a good mood. ….Speaking of that, I’ve heard that a kiss is a greeting in foreign countries.
I was sure for Luna too, it was just a greeting.
But they sure were soft….
As I reminisced about the kiss, I suddenly spotted an unfamiliar travel bag.
“Ah, so I stumbled over that…”
I remembered that the bag belonged to Elni. She probably had her personal stuff in there… I bumped into it pretty hard.
“I better apologise to Elni later.”
Mumbling that, I put the bag on top of the sofa, left the living room and headed for my own room.
Luna was going to prepare breakfast, so I should go wake up Machina and Elni.
Not to mention that I couldn’t stay calm as long as they stayed on my bed….
With that in mind, I opened the door. Machina and Elni were still sleeping, while emitting sleeping sounds.
“You two, it’s about time to get up.”
I called out to them gently, but neither of them reacted.
“Hey, wake up. It’s morning, Machina, Elni.”
I raised my voice a bit, whereupon Machina and Elni raised their bodies, but shortly after fell back onto the mattress with closed eyes.
“Hey, don’t go back to sleep.”
I wearily approached the bed, but then Machina and Elni leaked quiet moans.
Upon hearing that, I noticed that something was off about them, so I peered at them to check upon their condition. Their faces were somewhat pale.
“Are you okay?”
I asked worried, and then Machina and Elni answered weakly.
“I feel weak….”
“My head hurts….”
A cold? I reached out to their foreheads with my hand and checked their temperatures. The body temperatures that I felt on my palm were slightly hotter than usual…. That was a cold without a doubt.
The reason was most likely due to them showering with cold water yesterday.
“I’ll go get a thermometer, so wait a bit.”
I should take their temperatures, just in case. I petted their heads lightly, then I left the room and once again headed for the living room. I took two thermometers from the shelf, then Luna peeked in from the dining kitchen.
“Ah, Shinobu-san, I have finished preparing breakfast. Do you want to eat?”
“Eh? You’re done already?”
“Yes, I only needed to warm it up.”
It only needs to be warmed up? I glanced at the clock on the wall, which showed half past nine.
It could be that Luna and Nazuna had already finished their breakfast. Even on a holiday, these two had well-organised life-styles. They always finished their breakfast by half past eight.
“Sorry, I’ll be back real quick, so keep it ready.”
“Yes, I will be waiting.”
When I glanced over at Luna, her cheeks had turned red.
That was somewhat erotic. I left the living room while scratching my head, and then I ran into Nazuna at the stairs.
Nazuna had worn her school uniform and had shouldered her bag for club activities. Upon seeing me, she faced me with a smile.
“Morning, Brother~”
“Yo, morning. Club activities today too?”
“Yeah! I’m going to train hard to master the cat claw!”
Nazuna replied, while filled with energy.
Lately Nazuna, who had won against everyone in the karate club regardless of their grade or gender, was working hard on a new technique.
Well, when she attended our gramps’ dojo, she’d learnt new techniques at the same speed as our super talented father.
No normal middle school student could win against her.
Either way, our father forbade Nazuna from going to the dojo when she reached middle school.
Our father had said, “Unlike Shinobu-kun, Nazuna-chan is mentally weak like me. So we can’t let her learn any dangerous techniques”.
Due to that, Nazuna was working hard at the school’s karate club today too.
“Brother, I’ll have a training match soon, so train with me again.”
“Sorry, but no. You’re no match for me.”
I turned her down bluntly, but Nazuna puffed up her cheeks.
“Now you have said it! Don’t forget these words!”
“Yeah, I’ll remember until lunch.”
“Geez! Once I come home, we’ll train!”
“Sure, whatever.”
“And after the training, you’ll play a game with me!”
“…Don’t mix in an order for playing so casually.”
I calmly pointed that out, but then Nazuna made a regretful expression.
“I thought you would fall for it….”
I wasn’t Machina, so I wouldn’t be deceived so easily.
But, it wouldn’t hurt to play with Nazuna once in a while.
“I’ll play with you when you’re home, so give it your best at club activities.”
When I petted her head, Nazuna saluted with a smile.
“Meow!”
After her energetic reply, she headed for the front door still smiling.
“She sure is energetic….”
Mumbling that, I climbed up the stairs and returned to my room.
“Okay, I got the thermometers….”
I started talking, but stopped inadvertently.
“Gnnnh…”
“Let go….”
On my bed, Machina and Elni were grabbing onto my pillow and were fighting over it.
Maybe due to their current condition, the two of them were breathing heavily and had red faces. Yet they both pulled on the pillow weakly and continued to quarrel.
“That’s mine…. Hah, hah…You have your own pillow, don’t you….”
“Why are you so obstinate… Hah, hah…. Shinobu’s pillow is mine….”
“No way. I… Ugh…. I feel sick….”
“Auh… My head…”
While saying that, they both let go of the pillow and went limp.
“…You guys have a cold, so stay put.”
I made a weary statement.
….When did it start to rain? While I listened to the soothing sound of the rain, I checked their temperatures and said with slightly widened eyes.
“Ohh, you both are perfectly synched with your temperatures at 38° C.”
“Hey, don’t say we’re perfectly synched….”
Looking quite weak, Machina said.
“What if I don’t just catch a cold, but her stupidity too?”
“Then you’ll be a Mad Dog like Elni. Try to bark.”
“Woof—-wait, don’t make me do stupid things! Don’t group me together with that idiot!”
While bright red Machina became angry, but then Elni while pouting shouted.
“Hey! What’s up with all these ‘idiots”! It’s a grave sin to call an idiot an idiot!”
“What, I’m just pointing out the truth.”
“Kuuh, how mean! You and your prolific pelvis!”
“M- My bottom has nothing to do with it! You…!”
Machina pulled on Elni’s cheek, but Elni didn’t give in and pulled on Machina’s cheek as well. But they were not feeling well. After a short while, they had depleted all their strength and collapsed exhausted onto the bed.
I let out a small sigh, and gently took Machina’s arm.
“Here, I’ll carry you to your room, so c’mon.”
When I called out to her, Machina glanced at Elni,and then sharply pointed at her and asked.
“Hey, what about that idiot?”
“Mh?”
I shifted my gaze to Elni, who had entrusted her cheek to my pillow with a smile.
It didn’t look like she wanted to leave here. Well, she had a cold, so I’ll let it slide.
“I’ll let Elni sleep here. You rest in your bed.”
I answered like so, but then Machina frowned for some reason, and shook off my arm.
“Then I’ll sleep here too.”
“…Eh? I don’t mind, but… no fighting, okay?”
I said warningly, but both Machina and Elni gave me awkward stares while not accepting my condition.
Geez. I stood up with a wry smile.
“For now, eat something and take your medicine. I’ll ask Luna to make some porridge, so behave yourselves here.”
After I confirmed it with their nods, I headed for the living room.
I realised that I had gone back and forth between my room and the living room a couple of times now. With that in mind, I opened the door to the living room.
That’s when I saw Luna sitting on the sofa absent-mindedly.
She’d probably finished the preparation for my breakfast. With a faint smile, she was tightly hugging the cat cushion against her chest.
“Shinobu-san…”
“Yes, it’s me, Shinobu-san. Good that you could tell…. So, what’s up?”
“It, It is nothing. Really. I am not thinking about the kiss. I am just surprised by your manliness. Breakfast is ready, so please eat it quickly!”
After saying that really quickly, Luna pushed against my back while turning red, so we entered the dining kitchen together.
“A Japanese style breakfast, huh?”
I sat down on the chair and looked at the dishes on the table.
White rice and tofu. Miso soup and pickled vegetables. Along with a grilled mackerel.
“I’m digging in.”
I placed my hands together and put the food into my mouth. Then I looked at Luna.
What I saw were her enchanting emerald-green eyes, her soft slightly red cheeks and her charming well-shaped lips.
I ended up being captivated by them, until Luna noticed my gaze and slightly tilted her head.
“Something the matter?”
“N- Nothing.”
I quickly averted my gaze, then I coughed to hide my agitation—wait a minute. Enticed by Luna, I had started to eat breakfast and had totally forgotten about Machina and Elni.
Those two would surely get angry if they found out about this. Feeling guilty, I opened my mouth.
“…Hey, Luna. It’s about Machina and Elni. They both caught a cold.”
“Eh? Really?”
“Yeah. I took their temperatures earlier and they were both at 38°C.”
Luna made a worried expression. I nodded to her and continued.
“I want them to take the medicine, so could you make some porridge for them please?”
“Yes, if that is all, I will make it right away.”
When I asked her that, Luna stood up immediately, faced the kitchen and put on her apron. The white-black cow-pattern apron was a present from me to Luna. It was cute and it suited Luna very well.
When I watched Luna cooking from behind, for some reason my heart started to beat faster.
Luna was so charming that for a moment I had the stupid urge to hug her from behind. I shook my head to get rid of that thought, then I stood up and returned to the living room.
Once there I took the cold medicine, sat down on the sofa and read the morning newspaper, waiting for Luna to finish the porridge….
Taking the tray from Luna, I left the living room and headed up the stairs.
In the middle of the tray was a crock and the cold medicine then on the side there were pairs of bowls, cups of water and spoons.
When I arrived at my room, I held the tray with one hand and reached for the doorknob… when I heard the sound of quarrelling mixed in with the noise of the rain.
“Go away, idiot!”
“Don’t say idiot! You go away instead, Machina!”
It seemed like Machina and Elni had begun fighting again.
I opened the door with a sigh, as Machina and Elni thrusted the pillow in their hands upon each other’s faces, while breathing heavily on the bed.
“…A new game?”
I asked wearily, but then Elni said in an attempt to seek help.
“Listen, Shinobu! Machina hit my head!”
“Mh. That wasn’t nice of Machina.”
When I said that, Machina made a shocked expression for a moment, then frowned soon after and shouted.
“It wasn’t my fault! To begin with, it’s her fault for pulling on my hair!”
“And I told you, that wasn’t on purpose!”
“Then apologise already! Since it really hurt!”
“You hit me before I could apologise! It hurt for me too!”
While saying all that, they continued to thrust the pillow at each other’s faces.
Mh, I couldn’t really allow them to waste their strength when they had a cold, so I approached them and reprimanded them by shouting.
“Hey, don’t fight, you two! Sit down!”
…Mh, the ‘sit’ was meant as a joke, but Machina and Elni sat down formally on the bed, like scolded dogs.
They were surprisingly obedient. A bit surprised, I approached them while still holding the tray. Then I sat down on the bed. Thereupon, Machina and Elni approached me curiously and sat down on either side of me. Now I opened the lid on the crock and put the porridge into(-on) the two bowls.
“Here, porridge for both of you.”
I handed each of them a bowl. Following that, I handed Machina a spoon and wanted to do the same for Elni, but
“You hold it, Shinobu.”
For some reason, Elni didn’t accept the spoon.
“Ah~”
Then she opened her small mouth, acting spoiled.
I hesitated for a moment, but since she had a cold, I was going to be generous today. I scooped up the porridge with the spoon and after I cooled it down a bit by blowing on it, I started to bring it towards Elni’s mouth.
But suddenly, a hand appeared from the side and pulled on my arm that held the spoon. Then Machina opened her mouth and ate Elni’s porridge.
“It’s good.”
Machina smiling was quite cute. On the verge of being captivated by her, I glanced over at Elni.
Elni had her mouth opened still and was blankly staring at Machina. Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes and she pulled on my sleeve.
“Yeah, that was Machina’s bad.”
I gently patted Elni’s head and made an “Ah~”, even though it was embarrassing. Elni opened her glittering, well-shaped lips with a smile and I put the porridge into her mouth.
“Hot, hot! I have a cat’s tongue!”
Due to me failing to cool down the porridge, Elni let out a small scream.
“Whoops, sorry, sorry. Are you okay?”
I did something bad to a sick person. I let her have a gulp of water and patted her head once more, but Elni’s eyes were still teary.
Okay, this time I would feed it to her after I’ve cooled it properly.
I scooped up the porridge with the spoon, but this time Machina pulled on my sleeve. I faced her and for some reason Machina raised her chin and opened her pink lips.
“…What are you doing?”
I asked bewildered, and then Machina turned bright red. After that she became teary eyed and she pinched my cheek.
“You’re so insensitive, Shinobu! Do that to me too!”
That? Could it be that she wanted the “Ah~”?
Mh, they say that one gets lonely when they’re sick and Machina could act spoiled too.
“But when I think about it, you can eat by yourself, can’t you? Why should I have to do such an embarrassing thing? Why don’t the two of you do that ‘Ah~’ by yourselves? I’m sure it’ll be fun. C’mon, try it, Machina.”
“F- Fine, here, Ah~ —wait, what are you making sick people do! You do it, Shinobu!”
While shoving the spoon into my mouth, Machina got angry.
“Sure, sure.”
I took the spoon, which was forced into my mouth, out and scooped up the porridge. This time I was going to do the “Ah~” for Machina, but then I noticed.
This would turn into an indirect kiss. Was that alright?
There I was with a spoon that had just been in my own mouth.
I considered going to wash the spoon in case she disliked it, but Machina showed no such signs and opened her mouth. Although her cheeks were reddish, that was probably due to her cold.
Mh, disliking it aside, it was still rather embarrassing.
I felt my cheeks getting hotter and once I fed Machina the porridge, Elni pulled on my sleeve right after.
“Shinobu, feed me too.”
She asked with pleading eyes, so I couldn’t turn her down. I fed her the porridge, then Machina pulled on my sleeve again. So I fed Machina again and then Elni immediately started to pull on my sleeve. Then Machina again, then Elni again…. And so that continued.
A hectic series of turning left and right.
In the end, I fed all the porridge to them with “Ah~”s.
Normally I would have stopped midway, but despite all my complaints, Machina and Elni were really sick. It wouldn’t hurt to spoil them a bit.
After making them take the medicine, I picked up the tray with the crock and everything on it, and then stood up.
“Okay, I’ll take these down. Now don’t fight, you two.”
“We won’t.”
“Yeah, we won’t.”
Machina and Elni nodded firmly, both in a happy mood.
….I wondered why I didn’t trust them at all.
I left the room with unease and went to the dining kitchen, where I planned to wash the dishes, but then Luna appeared from the living room with a smile and called out to me.
“Shinobu-san, leave the washing to me.”
“Sure and while you’re at it, wash away my dirty past too.”
I felt bad leaving all the work to Luna, so I wanted to brush it off with a cool joke, but Luna frowned for some reason and said.
“Shinobu-san, you are not dirty!”
“Ah, well, sorry. Please take care of it.”
Since I made her angry, I withdrew immediately.
How damn weak of me.
I stood there dejectedly and had become excited by Luna’s behind as she washed the dishes, but then I suddenly heard a loud clattering noise from the second floor.
“…What was that?”
Luna’s hands stopped and she tilted her head.
“That probably was Machina and Elni…”
“Eh? The two of them have a cold, don’t they?”
“I’m sure they’re just testing their limits. Leave them be.”
Soon enough they would exhaust themselves and sleep. Or so I thought, but the noise continued and I even heard their quarrelling voices.
“Geez….”
I let out a huge sigh and left the dining kitchen. I ran up the stairs and quickly flung the door open.
“Hey, you guys, cut it out al—-Eh?”
I had planned to reprimand them, but I stopped mid-sentence because I was at a loss for words.
How should I describe this situation?
In a single sentence, it would be “Two beauties entangled”.
Machina was on top of Elni and was holding her down by pressing her onto the floor. Their clothes were loose, exposing their necks, collarbones and dazzling thighs. Their breathing was heavy and their cheeks red.
“….Excuse me for interrupting you when you are busy. Take your time.”
I was surprised that their relationship was like that. It was a huge surprise.
“Okay, I should tell Luna about it.”
After I said that in a loud voice, the door was violently swung open and Machina jumped out hastily.
“S- Sh- Shinobu! You’re wrong! It’s a misunderstanding! I don’t swing that way!”
Of course I knew that. But Machina is too cute when she’s flustered, so I wanted to tease her a bit.
I smiled and gently clapped Machina on the shoulder.
“Machina-san, you do not have to deny it. I, myself am quite understanding and think that two girls should be allowed to love each other.”
“Why are you speaking so politely? Don’t take it seriously! I prefer you, Shinobu!”
“Eh? Me?”
Why would my name pop up now? I asked back in surprise, but then Machina turned bright red up to her ears and shouted in denial while shaking both her hands.
“N- No! I made a mistake just now! I prefer a man!”
“Ah, that’s what you mean.”
Geez, I wished that she would refrain from making such easily misunderstood statements. That had ended up making me excited quite a bit. To hide my agitation, I played calm. Now Machina faced Elni and shouted at her to get help.
“Hey, you say something too! Or Shinobu will misunderstand!”

To Machina’s request, Elni purposely imitated a “sob sob” crying voice.
“Shinobu, Machina forcefully pushed me down. It seems she’s an S character.”
“I see. Well, that’s her forte. Nothing we can do about it. Right?”
“Yes, you’re right. If you beg for it, I won’t mind stepping on—-wait, I don’t have such a forte! Don’t say weird stuff!”
Machina denied in a loud voice, but suddenly she staggered and was about to collapse.
I reached out to support Machina’s body, and then Machina leaned against me powerlessly, due to her making a ruckus when she had a cold.
“Hey, are you okay?”
I’d teased her a bit too much. Reflecting on my actions, I took a peek at Machina’s face.
“Shinobu…. My head hurts…”
Machina leaked out, while acting somewhat childish.
Though she herself probably didn’t intend for it, she was currently quite sexy. Wet eyes and blushed cheeks. And her pink lips made it hard for me to face her.
“Come, I’ll carry you to the bed….”
Agitated by Machina’s big breasts that were pressed against my body, I lent her a shoulder and carried her over to the bed to let her rest. Machina was moaning painfully, but that was also kind of sexy. When I turned my attention from Machina, I made eye-contact with Elni.
Elni sat on the floor and extended both her arms acting spoiled, while saying.
“Shinobu, carry me to the bed too.”
“You can walk on your own, so don’t be lazy.”
I said, while pulling Elni up and carrying her to the bed.
I might be spoiling her, but it was inevitable, since she was sick.
I made an excuse in my mind, then I sat down on my chair and watched over the two of them. I was ready to interfere if they started to fight again, but after only a few minutes Machina started to make sleeping sounds, either due to the medicine or the exhaustion from their fight.
Seeing that, Elni mumbled quietly.
“Her sleeping face is cute.”
Elni poked Machina’s cheek.
“Stop it or you’ll make her angry again.”
I warned her, when Machina, maybe half-asleep or awake, bit onto Elni’s finger. Elni let out a small scream, but didn’t say anything as she’d probably realised that she reaped what she sowed and then entrusted her cheek to the pillow.
One would think that she would close her eyes now, but instead she kept staring at me.
“What’s up?”
I asked in curiosity, but Elni only smiled and said.
“Shinobu, lend me your arm as a pillow.”
“Nope.”
I was about to be swayed by her angelic smile, but I turned her down flatly since it was embarrassing. But Elni continued to smile and mumbled an “I see” and said nothing more.
That was rare. To think she would give up so easily….
“What’s up with you being so reasonable?”
I asked surprised, but Elni smiled with a slightly lonely expression.
“As long as you stay by my side, that’s enough…”
Seeing that sad smile, I suddenly remembered what had happened at dawn today.
The image of Elni crying while having a nightmare floated in my head.
“….What do you usually do when you catch a cold?”
“Sleep through it.”
“All alone?”
Elni didn’t answer, but still continued to smile sadly.
Then, after a long silence, she mumbled quietly.
“….In the past, I liked catching a cold, since I used to be spoiled back then. I was happy when I was cared for. But now…”
Elni suddenly stopped talking and forced herself to smile.
“Just kidding. Actually I’m an idiot and I’ve never caught a cold before. To be honest, I’m faking it right now! I fooled you, Shinobu!”
“….I see. You got me there.”
I couldn’t bring myself to smile properly.
Nor could I think of anything tactful to say.
But I still had something I could do.
I slowly stood up from the chair,
“Ah….”
Elni sat up and made a worried expression for a moment.
“I’m here.”
I felt pathetic for only being able to say such apathetic words. But then I took a novel from my bookshelf and approached the bed. Once there I took Elni’s pillow, spread it and sat down on it right beside the bed.
“Shinobu?”
“I like to read while listening to the sound of the rain. Don’t mind me.”
While saying that, I drew closer to the bed and opened the book on my lap with one hand while resting my other arm right next to Elni’s head. Then I gave Elni a side-glance.
Elni shyly opened her mouth.
“…Can I, Shinobu?”
“Sure, do what you want.”
I sighed in my mind at the gruffly voice that came out of my own mouth.
Why couldn’t I say it properly even at a time like this?
I’d started to regret it, but then I suddenly felt a pleasant weight and warmth on my arm.
When I looked there, Elni wore a bright smile and happily nestled her cheek against my arm. That sight was just so cute that I had to quickly avert my gaze and looked down at my novel.
But the words didn’t make it into my head and I couldn’t concentrate on the novel at all. Only the sound of the rain rang in my ears and facing the window I mumbled.
“….It sure is pouring down.”
“Yeah…”
Elni agreed and said with a quiet voice.
“…I don’t really like the rain.”
“Mh? Is that so? Sure it’s annoying when it rains every day, but sometimes it’s soothing to hear it raining.”
“…Not for me.”
On a rare occasion, Elni strongly disagreed.
“Once it rains, no one leaves the house anymore.”
“Well, yeah, there aren’t many who like walking through the rain.”
“Yeah. That’s why… I become alone. Because everyone is at their own house…. I’m all alone…”
Elni’s hand lightly touched my arm. Her hand was slightly trembling and she made a sad expression with teary-eyes.
“It’s okay.”
I closed the novel and put it on the floor and reached out for Elni’s head with my hand.
“You’re not alone now, right? Everyone’s here.”
“…I’m happy for that. But I’m worried. …I’m scared.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone will leave me again…”
Her quiet mumbling was muffled by the sound of the rain.
But it could not do anything to hide the tears spilling out of her eyes.
“Elni?”
“It’s nothing.”
Elni wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her clothes and turned her back to me.
I wanted to say something to her, but I didn’t know where to start, so I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t notice it.
When I met her in the city, she was always smiling.
And even when we parted, not once had she shown a sad expression.
She never showed her weakness to us.
That was the reason why I’d never noticed what sad feelings Elni embraced all the time.
“…I’ll always be here.”
After a long silence, I could finally convey my own feelings.
But apparently I’d waited too long. All I got back as a reply were quiet sleeping sounds.
“Sorry for not noticing…”
I gently petted Elni’s head.
“Next time I’ll tell you properly.”
There was no point in conveying my feelings when she was sleeping. I was bad at conveying my feelings, but next time I would tell her properly face-to-face.
These thoughts crossed my mind while I listened to the rain…

* * *

….I felt a sense of discomfort in my body.
My body felt slightly heavy and somewhat hot.
Maybe I was tired because I’d nursed Machina and Elni yesterday.
Machina and Elni had completely recovered now, but since they would start to fight whenever I took my eyes off them, I’d lost count of how many times I had to interfere.
“….I better go to bed early today.”
Tomorrow there was school. Attending class tired was a bad idea.
“For now, I’ll just finish this quickly.”
Mumbling, I continued to clean up my bookshelf in my room bathed in the evening sun.
When I pulled out a book, I found a hidden book at the back.
The name of the book was “The Great Blonde Beauties Assembly – A perverted summer vacation”.
I took the book and looked at the cover. On there a blonde, scantily-clad girl winked.
“Right, I hid it here.”
The book was forced on me by my friend Asada (the pervert) and I didn’t know what to do with it, so I had completely forgotten about it. Like a squirrel, that had forgotten where it had hidden its food.
“Shinobu!”

Machina entered my room without knocking first.
She had already recovered and approached me with a steady pace and without hesitation.
“Listen to me! That idiot took my game—-“
Machina shouted angrily, but when she looked at my hands, she stopped mid-sentence and her cheeks turned red.
“S- Sorry, Shinobu. I’ll come by again later….”
“Yeah and knock then.”
It certainly was embarrassing, but I believed that it would be my loss if I let it show. I didn’t try to hide the book clumsily and continued to hold it out in the open while responding indifferently…. But that wasn’t wise. For a moment, Machina hesitated at the door and once again looked at the book in my hands. Then she frowned for some reason and her earlier embarrassment was gone. She approached me directly, snatched the book from my hands and flipped through it while turning red.
…Yeah, that was certainly awkward. I faced Machina uneasily, but then she grumpily mumbled while still looking down at the book.
“…What’s with this book?”
“Ehm, do you find anything wrong with it?”
I felt a strange pressure and inadvertently asked her politely. Then Machina suddenly closed the book with a fierce bang.
“Blonde Beauties Assembly….”
She threw the book wildly onto the bed and shouted.
“Why not a red-haired! Next time get a red-haired one!”
“Ah, yes. I will do so.”
….Mh? Wait. Why was she angry at me?
I wondered while lowering my head, and then Machina nodded satisfied with an “As long as you understand” and then pulled on my arm.
“Okay, let’s go, Shinobu.”
“Eh? Where to?”
“To my room! That idiot won’t let go of the game console that I borrowed from Nazuna. You say something to her, Shinobu.”
By that idiot she probably meant Elni. Because of the size of the room, Machina and Elni were sharing it… and had started fighting again.
Sighing, I headed for their room, but when I opened the door and went inside, Elni was nowhere to be seen.
“Huh? That’s strange.”
Machina looked around the room and tilted her head puzzled.
“Where did that idiot go?”
“….Ran out of the house? … Guess not.”
I mumbled, while taking the game console that was left on the desk. That’s when Machina raised her voice.
“Sh- She can’t! Why would she run away just because of a little fight!”
“…Fufu, despite all your fighting, you do worry about her.”
When I saw Machina’s worried expression, I smiled unintentionally.
To that Machina’s cheeks turned red and she turned her back to me. Then she tried to leave the room.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“Sh- Shut up! I’m going to look for that idiot!”
Hiding her embarrassment, Machina shouted angrily. Then she headed for Nazuna’s room. Mh, they were fighting a lot, but Machina might have taken a liking to Elni. With that in mind, I also headed out to look for Elni…. but we found Elni faster than I had imagined.
Elni was blankly watching the evening sun in the garden and for some reason she gave off an aura of incredible sadness. I hesitated for a moment to call out to her.
But Elni turned around slowly, and smiled as she made eye-contact with me.
That smile lacked her usual brightness and looked somewhat weak.
“What are you doing here?”
“…I was watching the evening sun.”
Saying that, Elni once again started to look at the evening sun.
“Why don’t you come inside? Machina is looking for you.”
“Okay.”
Even though she nodded, Elni didn’t move and continued to watch the sun.
Seeing her like that made me worry that she might disappear at any moment.
Before I noticed it, I had put on sandals like Elni and had gone down into the garden. Then I stood beside her.
Elni’s silver hair, the evening sun shining upon it, glowed orange and was really pretty. Yet Elni smiled sadly.
“…How mysterious.”
Suddenly, Elni muttered desolately.
“I see the evening sun… but I don’t have to leave….”
“…Yeah, you don’t have to leave. Stay here.”
I reached out my hand and gently petted her head.
But Elni didn’t give me her usual smile.
“If only days like this would never end….”
Still watching the evening sun, Elni made a really faint smile.
It was as if she was expecting these peaceful days to come to an end.
“It’s okay.”
I said somewhat loudly.
“Sure, everything has an end, but… everyone will be here. So it’ll be okay.”
“….Yeah.”
Elni gave a small nod and continued to watch the evening sun.
I mimicked her and continued to watch the sun together with Elni, when
“—Ah, there you are.”
Suddenly, a voice came from the side. When I turned towards it, I saw Machina standing at the window of the living room.
Machina had a somewhat worried expression, but when she looked at Elni, she tilted her head thoughtfully.
“What’s with the weird face?”
“Th- That’s rude!”
Elni retorted like she usually would, but it lacked any energy.
Machina had probably noticed that too since she swallowed whatever she’d wanted to say. She headed over to Elni and presented her with the game console.
“…Today you can play with it.”
“Eh? Really?”
Elni was surprised and while continuing to face the side, Machina brushed it off by saying.
“I, I’m going to watch TV now, so you can play with it all you want.”
“What? You’re going to watch Dora-chan?”
“Yes, that raccoon-like face is just too—-wait, I don’t watch such a childish anime! Besides, it doesn’t even air today! Shinobu, you idiot! Lech! Pervert!”
I’d just teased her a bit, but was called mean things in return.
Well, I knew that she was just hiding her embarrassment, so I honestly apologised to Machina and returned to the living room together with Elni.
Once there, Elni sat down on the sofa and started to play with the game console that she’d gotten from Machina. Machina turned on the TV while Elni glanced at her, so I decided to return to my own room.
I left the living room and reached my room, but noticed the door was open for some reason.
“Huh? Weird…”
Was someone inside? I peeked inside through the open door. In my room was Luna. What did she want? With that in mind, I opened my mouth, but… Luna was behaving strangely.
Her cheeks were red and while looking down at something on the bed, she shyly reached out her hand. But then she shook her head to stop herself.
But her gaze was still fixed on top of the bed. I curiously followed Luna’s gaze, then I saw the book with the scantily-clad blonde girl winking from earlier.
GYAAA, is what I wanted to shout, but I suppressed it and pondered how to overcome this situation.
What would a gentleman do when the blonde girl that lived with him found a forbidden book about the same blonde hair that she had?
Confused, I considered what to do, but then Luna moved. She reached out for the forbidden book with resolve.
No more. I couldn’t endure this situation. I secretly tried to leave, but because of my agitation, I carelessly hit my knee on the wall, which made a louder noise than I would’ve expected.
In that moment, Luna’s shoulders trembled greatly in surprise and she turned around anxiously. When she made eye-contact with me, she shouted with her face still red.
“I, I am sorry. I am so sorry! I was not looking! I have not looked yet!”
“…Yet?”
I asked back unintentionally, and then Luna shook her hands in denial. Saying “U- Uhm, but it says blonde beauty…. So…”, Luna was losing her head over this.
“I am sorry!”
She covered her face with both her hands and slipping past me, she sprinted out of the room.
Seeing that, I just stood there for a while…
Later, Luna came to my room with a “Dinner is ready” like always, but it was rather awkward still. On our way down to the living room, Luna looked at me like she wanted to say something and when we reached the bottom of the stairs, she turned around and opened her mouth shyly.
“Uhm, Shinobu-san… Do you like women with blonde hair?”
Luna’s cheeks turned red and she asked with a somewhat serious expression…. Now I was trapped.
Because I didn’t know the right answer.
After a short moment of hesitation, I chose to give the safe response “I don’t hate them”.
Upon hearing that Luna’s face brightened and a bright smile formed on it. Then she hugged onto me tightly and went into the dining kitchen in a happy mood.
“…Was it the correct choice?”
I wasn’t too sure, but Luna seemed happy, so it was fine. I followed after Luna relieved.
When I showed up in the dining kitchen, everyone else was already there and when I sat down, it was dinner time.
As I started to eat, Elni looked at the hamburger steak side-dish and said with her usual energy.
“I love hamburger steak. Shinobu loves them too.”
“Hey, don’t decide that on your own. Well, I do love Luna’s hamburger steaks…”
Pleased that Elni was back to her usual self, I leisurely made a retort. But Elni just said “It’s delicious!” and happily shoved the hamburger steak into her mouth as if she didn’t hear me.
Her smile was infectious and made me smile too. As I put the hamburger steak into my mouth, Elni seemed to recall something and said.
“That reminds me, do you like blonde hair, Shinobu?”
“Pft!”
I snorted unintentionally. Then I coughed to brush it off.
“O- On what basis do you ask that…?”
Careful not to let my agitation show in my voice, I said that, but Elni and Machina, who both sat across from me, looked at each other and then opened their mouths and said.
“Great Blonde Beauties Assembly.”
“A perverted summer vacation.”
Upon hearing Machina and Elni’s words, Luna’s cheeks turned red.
I covered my face with both my hands.
“I want to be a clam.”
I said that while shaking, as Nazuna who sat beside me raised her arm while filled with energy.
“And I want to be a cat! More rice!”
Yeah, I hoped that she could become a wonderful cat. But I wished that she would understand the grief of her brother.
I let out a big sigh, but then Elni raised her arm like Nazuna and said.
“I want more rice too!”
“Yes, I understand.”
Luna took the rice bowls from Elni and Nazuna, stood up and headed for the rice cooker.
With that opening, I leaned over the table to approach Elni and Machina and asked quietly.
“…Why do you know about the contents of my book too, Elni?”
“Mh? Machina told me.”
Elni answered honestly and then I faced Machina. But to that Machina answered “It just happened…” with a non-chalant attitude.
You never knew if these two were getting along or not.
I tilted my head, as Luna returned and handed Elni and Nazuna their refilled rice bowls. Taking their bowls, Elni and Nazuna made happy expressions and resumed eating their meal.
Seeing that, Machina faced Elni with a weary expression and opened her mouth.
“Unlike Nazuna, who moves around during her club activities, if you eat so much you’re going to get fat.”
Elni answered with a smile.
“It’s okay. I don’t get fat no matter how much I eat.”
“…I am envious.”
Luna said enviously, then everyone stopped eating their meal. Everyone focused their attention on Luna’s perfect body. The gazes of the girls were intently fixed upon her body.
“You aren’t really fat, Luna, so it isn’t really a problem if you eat a bit more.”
“E- Ehm…”
Luna stuttered after hearing my honest opinion. Machina recalled something upon staring at her and said.
“Ah, that reminds me, Sister, you did say that your brassiere got a bit tight. Could it be that your breasts grew bigger again?”
The moment Machina said that, Elni and Nazuna’s expressions changed.
The two of them stood up suddenly and approached Luna quickly. Upon reaching her, they started to fondle Luna’s breasts for whatever reason that was going through their heads.
“Uwa… That’s amazing, Luna-oneechan. They’re so big and soft.”
“Mh, that’s quite the volume. They were already too big for my palms, but you’re saying that they’re growing even bigger….”
“U- Uhm, you two, it hurts a bit.”
Luna said reluctantly, which caused Elni and Nazuna to look at each other before starting to fondle Luna’s breasts in a gentle, circular motion.
At that moment, Luna’s body trembled.
“Mm…Uhn…N- No, you two, sto….Hyan…”
Luna’s voluminous breasts were lifted up, squeezed together and fondled. They formed a lot of shapes.
Enjoying the sensation of Luna’s breasts, Nazuna and Elni didn’t hear Luna’s protest and continued to curiously touch her breasts. Luna’s cheeks gradually turned redder and she started to emit an erotic voice, but then Machina stood up.
“Hey, stop it, you two.”
Becoming weary of what they were doing, Machina gave Nazuna a pat-like tap on the head, while she mercilessly dropped a chop on Elni’s head.
“My sister doesn’t like it!”
Machina reprimanded them, then Nazuna and Elni bowed to Luna and apologised.
That scene put a smile on my face and then I started laughing out loud.
“You guys are just like sisters.”
When I said that, the four of them looked at each other, then gave a parrot-like reply of “Sisters?” in unison.
“Yeah. Luna and Machina are real sisters, but Nazuna and Elni fit in just as much. Luna is the oldest daughter, the second would be—-“
“Me.”
Elni raised her hand and interrupted me. But seeing that, Machina raised her own hand in opposition.
“No, the second daughter is me. Right, Shinobu?”
“That’s not true. I’m the second. Shinobu thinks so too.”
Machina and Elni leaned forward, seeking my opinion.
That’s when Nazuna stuck her head in between Machina and Elni and said with a smile.
“Brother, don’t forget about me.”
Most likely, Nazuna just didn’t want to be left out, but….strangely enough I had a really bad feeling about this.
As I watched Machina and Elni begin to quarrel like usual, Nazuna raised her hand and said.
“—Let’s decide who’s fit to be the Nanjou family’s second daughter with a contest!”
…It had become troublesome.
Looking at everyone that had gathered in the living room, I sighed in my mind.
After Nazuna’s suggestion, it was decided that the Nanjou family’s second daughter would be decided in a contest. The type of contest that was decided upon was a quiz tournament after some quarrelling.
That decision was probably influenced by the TV. But that wasn’t important now. It didn’t even bother me.
The problem was that I’d gotten involved in this.
I ended up in the predicament of being responsible for thinking up questions and being the judge. The only good thing about it was that Luna had been dragged into it like me and was appointed my assistant. It was reassuring to have Luna by my side.
When I shifted my gaze to the side, Luna who was sitting beside me smiled back.
That smile soothed me and I shifted my gaze to the table in the living room.
At the table sat Elni, Machina and Nazuna. Each of them had a table bell in front of them as a replacement for a buzzer.
The plan was that those who knew the answer would ring the bell and the fastest one would get to answer.
Now then, since I was entrusted with the role of being the moderator, I had to act my part.
I cleared my throat with a cough.
“Okay then, I hereby declare the start of the first play-offs for the Nanjou family’s second daughter. The judging will be brought to you by me, Nanjou Shinobu, and the Nanjou family’s older sister, Luna.”
Then Luna and I bowed and all the participants applauded.
“Thank you. Next I would like to introduce the participants.”
I faced the table and opened my mouth.
“First we have entry number one. She’s worshipped by the guys in class as “the Queen”, the red-haired beauty, Machina.”
“Fufuh. Well, I’ll play with you seriously.”
Machina smiled confidently and by appearances only she was the most befitting for the title of the second daughter.
“Next we have entry number two. A perfect beauty as long as she doesn’t speak. The self-proclaimed Goddess with the innocent smile, Elni.”
“Hello, I’m the Goddess. Not long ago I offered my seat to an old lady in the train, but she got off the train at the next stop. It was really awkward.”
Elni told us with a heart-rending expression. She was considered to be far away from the title.
“And lastly we have entry number three. A middle school girl that loves cats. Despite her adorable appearance, she belongs to the karate club. The Nanjou family’s lethal weapon, Nazuna.”
“I’ll try my best to win! I swear on my grandfather’s name!”
Nazuna said energetically. Her age didn’t make her look like a second daughter. Even now she was enjoying ringing the bell on the table.
Upon seeing that, Machina asked Nazuna in confirmation.
“Hey, are you really going to participate, Nazuna? I won’t show any mercy in the contest.”
“Meow!”
Machina warned her kindly, but Nazuna replied energetically and for some reason hugged Machina.
“Hey, what are you….”
Machina showed a confused expression in response to Nazuna’s hug, but she didn’t shake her off and accepted it with a faint smile.
But then Nazuna started to tickle Machina’s side as she continued to smile.
“Ahahaha, hey, Nazuna, stop it….”
Machina reprimanded her while laughing, but then Elni made her move. Following Nazuna’s example, Elni got behind Machina and tickled her sides.
“Kyaa! G- Geez, stop it, you two! Ahaha!”
Elni and Nazuna tickled Machina for a while, then they puffed out their chests for some reason and pointed firmly at Machina while saying.
“Machina-chan, pride will be your downfall. If I were serious, you would be dead now!”
“That’s right, Machina! The contest has already started!”
Nah, stop lying. You two were just playing around.
I wanted to retort like that, but looking exhausted Machina faced Nazuna with a surprised expression and said.
“N- Not bad for a girl with a cute face. You aren’t Shinobu’s sister for nothing….”
“And me?”
“You’re an idiot.”
After Machina insulted Elni, who had asked that while smiling, she then pointed at Nazuna.
“You’ll regret making me get serious. I won’t show any mercy.”
“Yeah! I’ll be serious too! I won’t to lose to either of you, Machina-chan, Elni-chan!”
Most likely Nazuna just wanted to play together with them. But her words were only fanning the fighting spirit of these two as they smiled fearlessly.
“Nazucat, you’ll regret being born into the same era as me.”
Now all three of them faced Luna and I as if to urge us to start the contest.
Okay, the talking was done, so let’s start. After I winked at Luna, I started off by saying “Okay, let’s start the quiz” and then asked the first question.
“Question one: The queen of Louis XVI of France, Marie Antoinette had a famous saying ‘If there’s no bread, let them eat XY’. Now what exactly did she say that she wanted them to eat?”
I asked this first question as a freebie and soon enough Machina rang her bell.
“Yes, Machina-san.”
When I prompted her for an answer, Machina who was filled with confidence replied.
“If there’s no bread, let them eat ‘mist’!”
“Are you a monster? That answer would shock even Marie Antoinette!”
I inadvertently forgot my role and retorted, but then Nazuna rang her bell with an “I know!”.
“Yes, Nazuna-san.”
I waited for Nazuna’s answer with high expectations and then she said with a smile.
“If there’s no bread, let them eat ‘my manly head’!”
“…Nazuna, you mean the children’s hero for love and justice. Besides, Marie Antoinette was a woman.”
I inserted a retort once again, but then Elni shouted out “…A woman! I know!” and then raised her hand with a “Here!”.
“No, don’t give me a ‘Here!’. What do you think the bell is for! Ring the bell! The bell!”
I retorted at full power, and then Elni quickly rang her bell and answered.
“The correct answer is: ‘If there’s no bread, will you have dinner? A bath? Or…me?’!”
“Totally wrong! Why is it suddenly a newlywed wife!? Sure, if she said that, I would get a bit excited—-wait, you don’t need to take notes, Luna! Does no one know the answer?”
I looked at the other members, but they all looked puzzled and clueless.
So Luna gave a wry smile and opened her mouth.
“Ehm, the correct answer is: ‘If there’s no bread, let them eat cake’. It is said to be a sentence spoken before the French revolution when the peasants were poor and short on food.”
When Luna explained, Machina said angrily.
“To tell them to eat a cake at such a time, there sure were some cruel people back then.”
“Yeah, well you’re no better, since you told them to eat mist….”
I said wearily, then Machina turned red and Luna continued with a wry smile.
“But it’s also said that these words were not actually said by Marie Antoinette. Now continuing with question two.”
Like previously arranged, now Luna would ask the question.
“Which women are said to be the world’s three great beauties? Please name all three.”
By the time Luna faced the participants, Machina had already rung her bell.
“Yes, Machina-san, your answer?”
I asked, and then Machina said, while filled with confidence like before.
“Mom, Sister and I!”
“…Yeah, I can understand where that came from, but it’s not about your personal opinion, but rather about common knowledge. Also, it’s quite arrogant to call yourself one. Wrong answer.”
After I said that, Machina made a displeased expression and then Nazuna rang her bell.
“Yes, Nazuna-san, your answer?”
When asked that, Nazuna said with a smile.
“—I don’t know!”
“Then don’t ring the bell! We’re asking for an answer! You are clearly just playing around!”
“Meow!”
Nazuna replied energetically, so it seems like it was on purpose after all, but then Elni quietly rang her bell.
“Yes, Elni-san, please give us the answer.”
When I asked her expectantly, Elni said with a smile, like Nazuna.
“I don’t know either!”
“Good, at least you’re honest—as if, idiot! Why are you guys acting so unnecessarily stupid? Take this a bit more seriously!”
I spoke out, but then Luna said with a regretful expression.
“Uhm, Shinobu-san, I do not think they are acting stupid, that is….they are being serious.”
“That’s even worse.”
“F- For now, I will give a hint.”
Well, at this rate it was unlikely that we would get the right answer, so it couldn’t be helped.
“Okay, here is the hint: The world’s three great beauties are ‘Cleopatra’, ‘Yang Guifei’ and ‘Ono no XY’. So, how does Ono no’s name continue?”
By revealing this much, everyone should know now. And as expected, Nazuna immediately rang her bell and said with a smile.
“Ono no Imoko!”
When I heard the answer, I inadvertently buried my head in my arms.
….Could it be that the question was too hard?
“Th- The correct answer would have been Ono no Komachi….By the way, abroad Helen is often named instead of Ono no Komachi.”
Luna explained with a wry smile, then the participants looked at her in admiration.
Yeah, common knowledge questions were no good for them.
I opened my mouth while sighing on the inside.
“Question three: I learned martial arts from my grandfather, but what is the school called?”
Technically, I’d talked to a few of them about the name. So I thought that someone should have the correct answer, as Nazuna mumbled “I might know this”. She rang the bell and answered happily.
“The Nanjou school of mental obliteration!”
“No! Only the mental part was right! Actually, how could you even mistake it! You went to gramps’ dojo during your elementary school days too!”
As I was shouting that, Machina said “I know”, then rang her bell and answered.
“The Nanjou Shinobu school of complacency!”
“No, no, why am I suddenly the founder of it? That’s wrong. Even looking at me with those hopeful eyes won’t make the answer correct.”
I retorted, and then Elni rang her bell.
“Yes, Elni.”
“Thanks for the wait, I’m the Goddess.”
“No one was waiting! Just answer!”
Urged to answered, Elni said with dead-serious eyes.
“Your school is called ‘Special Elni Killer’!”
“…Hoo, when did you become my master? Fufu, maybe I should ask Elni-sensei for a lesson in martial arts?”
I showed my fist as a joke, then Elni averted her gaze and shouted.
“I have nothing to teach you anymore, Shinobu! Sorry, you already know all secrets!”
“Geez… Does no one remember the name?”
I glanced at the participants and they all averted their eyes awkwardly.
….Eh? They all really didn’t remember? But I’d mentioned it to them numerous times?
Could it be that, they actually didn’t care a single bit about me…?
I felt a bit heart-broken, but then Luna raised her hand slightly and answered.
“Ehm, the correct answer is the ‘Nanjou School of the mental moon-state water”, right?”
“Y- Yeah. Nothing less from my Luna. That’s correct. Mh, currently Luna is in the lead.”
I was happy, so I petted Luna’s head, but then the other idiots shouted in displeasure.
“Wait, Sister isn’t even participating!”
“We can’t win against Luna-oneechan!”
“Shinobu only favours Luna!”
“—Okay, be quiet. Next up is question four. This is the last question. The one who answers this correctly will be the Nanjou family’s second daughter.”
I was getting tired of it by now, so I said that lazily but Machina, Elni and Nazuna were still filled with energy. Everyone nodded enthusiastically.
“Now for the last question: When Luna washes her body in the bath, where does she start?”
Now one of them should be right with their random answers. I asked this question randomly, which caused Luna to turn red with an “Ehh?”.
Regardless of that, Elni rang her bell and answered.
“Her boobs!”
“The left one or the right one?”
I questioned further, then Machina answered “Right!” while Elni and Nazuna replied “Left!”.
“Now then, Luna-san, which one is correct?”
“U- Uhm….Do I have to answer?”
Luna asked with red cheeks, after I presented her with an invisible microphone.
At that moment, all the participants who were aiming for victory shouted “Yes!” in unison.
“Ehm, I wash them…. both at once.”
“Both? And how?”
For some reason, Elni leaned over and asked. Luna answered that reluctantly.
“Uhm, by lifting from the bottom…..”
“I don’t really get it, Luna! Show us!”
In response to Elni’s request, Luna with her clothes still on, lifted up her big breasts from below and showed her washing movements. When her hands went upwards, her big breasts swayed.
That’s when I faced Luna, whose face was bright red, and said.
“Victory goes to Luna! Congratulations! Luna is the Nanjou family’s oldest and second daughter!”
Right after I said that.
“That’s unfair! Besides, I wasn’t even serious!”
Machina shouted in displeasure while Elni shrugged her shoulders and said.
“Looks like the question went around and I lost.”
“….Nah, you lost even without that. And also, your excuse is lame, Machina. Listen, the title of the oldest and second daughter of the Nanjou family goes to Luna. It’s set in stone now. The quiz tournament is over.”
I was being uncooperative, so Machina raised her hand and said.
“Then let’s decide on the third daughter now!”
“Yeah, good idea! How should we decide it this time?”
Machina and Elni were completely motivated, but I no longer had any intention of playing along. Nazuna was making a sleepy face, probably tired from playing around.
“…Then do your best, you two.”
I cleared away the bells together with Luna, which made Machina and Elni look at us in surprise.
“Eh? Why are you putting the bells away? Help us with the contest.”
“Yeah. The night is still young. Right, Nazucat.”
Nazuna was asked to agree, but she was clearly sleepy, so she rubbed her eyes and answered.
“I’m fine with being the Nanjou family’s cat…”
“Hey, hey, Nazuna. Aren’t you being too modest? Actually, you’re already half-asleep, aren’t you?”
“That’s not true. I love Brother. And Brother loves me. Luna-oneechan loves Brother too.”
“Hey, don’t drag Luna into this. You as well Luna, you don’t need to go along with her joke and raise your hand. C’mon, go to your room and sleep.”
“Mhm~ There’s no morning without a dawn….”
Saying that, Nazuna jumped into my arms and emitted sleeping sounds. With no other choice, I carried Nazuna on my back to her room.
Luna opened the door of the living room for me with a smile and left the room together with me. From behind Machina and Elni’s voices could be heard. Not like that, not like that either. They were discussing the contents for the contest.
….Actually, these two got along very well, didn’t they?
With that in mind I went up to the second floor and laid Nazuna on the bed in her room.
Then Nazuna grabbed onto Luna’s arm as she woke up.
“Luna-oneechan, sleep together with me.”
Luna replied with a nod as she smiled.
Mh, they once had a fight, but they were even closer now.
I watched over them with a smile, but then Nazuna suddenly grabbed my arm.
“You too, Brother.”
“Eh? Me too?”
I was surprised. Then Luna grabbed my hand with a red face.
“It does not happen often, so sleep together with us, Shinobu-san.”
“No, tomorrow, I….”
I turned her down like you would turn down a superior, who asked you out for a drink. But neither Luna, nor Nazuna let go of my arms.
“Brother, before you slept together with Machina and Elni, right? So it should be fine if you sleep with us too.”
“She is right. It is fine, right?”
After being told that by Nazuna with a smile on her face, Luna followed it up with a question and with that….I lost my way to escape.
With no other choice left, I laid down on the corner of the bed and quickly crawled near the wall to the point that I was about to kiss it. However, Nazuna and Luna pulled me back towards them and positioned me right in the middle of the bed.
The light was turned off then Luna and Nazuna laid down beside me. They used my arms as pillows and closed their eyes.
Mh, Nazuna had always been like that, so it didn’t bother me, but it was different for Luna. Her sweet fragrance and the sensation of her soft hair, along with her big breasts pressing against my body. Their sizes were indeed that of watermelons.
I was tired only moments ago, yet all my drowsiness was blown away instantly.
Even when these two were quietly asleep, my drowsiness didn’t come back. I pondered what to do, but then Luna suddenly moved.
“Uhn…”
She leaked an erotic voice unexpectedly. Then she moved, her hands reaching towards her own clothes and suddenly she started to take off her top.
“Eh? E- Ehm, hey, Luna-san…?”
Right in front of me as I watched in confusion, Luna also began to take off her skirt and was in her underwear now. Then she hugged tightly onto me.
….Eh? What was with this situation?
Her supple fingertips were grabbing my shoulder and her soft thighs were entangled with my legs. I distinctly felt her body temperature, but also the softness and elasticity of her breasts which melted my brain.
“Wh- What’s up, Luna?”
I called out to her, but the only reply I got was the sound of her breathing.
H- Huh? Was Luna half-asleep? Which reminded me, Luna said she always slept in her underwear…. So this was just her usual habit?
Luna smiled and tightly hugged onto me as if she was having a blissful dream.
This was certainly not good. My reasoning was about to collapse at any moment. I felt bad for Nazuna and Luna, but I would leave now.
I carefully pulled out my arm from under Nazuna’s head, then I reached out with my right hand that was now free towards Luna, when
“Shinobu-san…”
In her sleep, Luna mumbled my name suddenly and brought her body even closer to mine. As a result of this: My palm ended up pressing onto Luna’s breasts, since she moved closer when I was reaching towards her.
An enormous volume and a juicy elasticity. Luna’s erotic and curvaceous body.
“S- Sorry!”
I apologised by reflex in a small voice and got away from Luna by quickly pulling my hand back.
But probably due to the amount of force with which I had pulled back the arm that Luna had been resting on, Luna slowly opened her eyes.
Did I wake her up? I considered apologising once more, but Luna, still half-asleep, put her arm around my neck. Then like that she pulled me against her big breasts and emitted sleeping sounds.
“H- Hey, let go.”
“Don’t go wild….”
She was indeed half-asleep. But when I tried to get away, Luna hugged onto me tightly.
By doing that, her voluminous breasts were obviously pressed against my face.
Ohh, so this was the rumoured breast-pillow.
Embraced by softness, warmth and a sweet fragrance, my whole body felt pleasant and became paralysed.
But staying in this position would be bad in various ways.
I moved my head as to somehow free myself from Luna’s embrace.
In that moment, I strongly felt the sensation of her breasts. On top of that
“Yahn…”
Luna let out a charming voice.
….Just what kind of test was this?
While clinging to what was left of my self-control, I removed myself from Luna’s breasts, but then I received another surprise.
Probably due to my movements, the shoulder strap of Luna’s brassiere came off.
In other words, her ripe, bountiful fruits popped out of the brassiere and the important part nearly came into my vision.
I finally got away, however Luna once again began to cling to me still half-asleep.
That was bad. I approached my limit, but thenI heard Nazuna sleep-talking from behind me.
I faced her and saw Nazuna’s peaceful sleeping face.
“….Can’t screw up.”
She mumbled quietly while I fought, unable to sleep. Luna clung to me tightly, but I didn’t give in. For the whole night, I continued to fight my desires…